Ciao! Bella - Lee's Summit

I would drive 50 miles for the seafood chowder alone! I try to avoid hyperbole as much as possible, but Ciao Bella is the real deal. I know I’m on record as being ok with Zio’s, but when a chain is better than a local joint like Johnny Cascone’s, I don’t feel like apologies are in order. On the other hand, Ciao Bella is both local and exceptional. Ciao Bella’s atmosphere is warm and romantic. Oak ceiling (really, I studied it), brick wall, hardwood floors, and moody, but functional lighting creates a terrific environment. Enough about atmosphere, I came here to eat. Like I said, the seafood chowder is utterly spectacular – I’ve never had better. I actually started with Pasta Fagiole soup, but when I sampled my bride’s chowduh, I begged the waiter to let me “have what she’s having.” Wow! The soup was accompanied by steaming-fresh-from-the-oven sesame-topped Italian bread. Again, I’m trying to not go over the top here, but the bread was sensational. Around the table, our party of four enjoyed Crab Stuffed Tilapia (two perfectly pan seared slabs of tilapia with a generous layer of crab in between and topped with a sauced laden with whole shrimp), Grilled Salmon Risotto (perfectly grilled), Shrimp Tortellini Primavera, and I had Chicken Parmesan. Every dish was excellent. I would not order the ChxParm again, but I like to compare entrées common to the cuisine to see how they stack up with other places. The Crab Stuffed Tilapia was a homedangrun. It was exceptional; a signature dish in my mind. Atmosphere, A+ (a great place for a family meal or a quiet date). Food, A+. Service, A+. I really enjoyed our waiter. He was humble, helpful, and unobtrusive. I’m pretty stingy with over-the-top reviews, but Ciao Bella was one of the finest dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. I’m eager to try sister restaurant Perazelli’s in Greenwood, Mo, but by and large, it’s all I can do to keep from going back over tomorrow for more of that chowder. Foodies, put Ciao Bella r-e-a-l high on your must-eat-at-next list.