Bella Restaurant & Pizzeria Cha-Am

BELLA RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA More Than Just Beautiful Pizza.

Bella Restaurant & Pizzeria Cha – Am, More Than Just Beautiful Pizza.

Bella Pizza was a well-known culinary institution in Cha – Am for over 6 years. With an established clientele of diners, often travellers who would return year after year, the restaurant could always be relied upon to serve the finest Italian and European cuisine in town. The friendly Thai owners were also well known to both regular visitors and the locals, speaking English, Danish, Norwegian and even a smattering of Polish, as well as Thai.

However things needed to change. Not only had the restaurant outgrown the premises, but there were also family needs to be considered. A decision was made to move to purpose built premises. Purpose built for a fine European dining experience and purpose built as a new home for the owners and their two young sons.

Just before Christmas 2012, enter Bella Restaurant & Pizzeria.

After all, the name Bella Pizza did not really do justice to a menu which has much more to offer than just sensational pizza. The setting is away from the main entertainment precincts and allowed the owners’ dreams to be realised.

Apart from a relaxing indoor / outdoor garden setting, the premises boasts a full size snooker table if you are in the mood for a gentle game with your favourite tipple after dinner.

Very civilised!

The owners of this fine Italian restaurant are Kesron (Tip) and Surapun (Dang) Watanasombut. You may ask how these two Thai people know so much about authentic Italian cooking. One answer is that Khun Dang has a background of more than 20 years in Europe as well as in Bangkok. Khun Dang began his restaurant resume in Sweden. He was sent there as a 20 year old by his parents to study hospitality.

His family, including a brother who manages a restaurant in Bangkok have a long history in the business of restaurants.

Eventually he took over an Italian restaurant in Sweden which he operated for many years before returning to Thailand.

Despite the Italian emphasis Khun Dang is eager to comment that there are many other European and Thai options available. However it’s hard to resist pizzas with names such as Vesuvio, Capricciosa, Quattrostagioni and Pescatore. I know them all well, although I would find it hard to recommend one over the other. Each is presented on a pizza base home made from a recipe which is a guarded family secret! I’ve also tasted the delights of the pasta, spaghetti and lasagne dishes available in many different combinations.

Plank steak is one of the many European options. Khun Dang explained to me that plank steak requires the cooking process to include an infusion of the smoky qualities of the wooden serving platter into the ingredients for a quite unique flavour experience. Presentation is very important aspect of this dish with a perimeter of very light and ‘fluffy’ mashed potato on the platter as well as a cooling salad accompaniment. Additionally you may consider Vienna Schnitzel or Pepper Steak if you wish to choose an alternative to the Italian offerings. Khun Dang explained that Thai people often accompanying European diners will not be disappointed as Thai food of many varieties is always on the menu. After all the menu is more than 8 pages long so no one will go away without finding a dish to satisfy their taste buds.

I may add that Khun Dang’s penchant for things Italian also extends to a choice of motor vehicles. Khun Dang is the proud owner of three Alpha Romeo Bertoni GTC 2000 motor vehicles produced in the mid 1970’s. These days he usually drives a latter model vehicle although also an Alpha!

I am sure many will know that ‘bella’ is Italian for ‘beautiful’.

The word really means both beautiful in appearance and beautiful within. Yes, it looks beautiful when it arrives at the table and yes, it tastes beautiful in your mouth!

Bella Restaurant is the Northern side and Western end of Nongjong Road, Cha- Am. This is the dual carriage-way road from the beach to meet Petchakasim Road opposite the Cha - Am Forest Park.

Bella Restaurant & Pizzeria 328/19 (Bong Hang Rd.), Cha-am, Petchburi 76120 Tel. +66 32 470 980