A casual, budget-friendly Laurel restaurant whose standout Indian-inspired pizzas—especially butter chicken pizza—make it worth visiting, though execution and service can vary.
Bella Indian & Italian Cuisine delivers solid food quality across its fusion menu, with Indian entrées, naan, and specialty pizzas earning consistent praise from a loyal repeat-customer base. Inconsistent execution across visits and dishes prevents a stronger grade, though friendly service and affordable portions keep it a reliable neighborhood choice for casual dining.
Bella is a casual, unpretentious Laurel dining room that wins people over with a premise that sounds improbable on paper: Indian food, Italian staples, and pizzas topped with curry flavors. Reviews describe a clean, cozy room with friendly staff, while the most vivid recurring reaction is essentially, “the tucked-away spot was far better than expected.” It is also a substantial takeout destination, though service is not perfectly uniform. The cooking is strongest when it embraces the restaurant’s Indian-Italian identity rather than trying to be a conventional Italian restaurant. Butter chicken pizza, chicken tikka pizza, naan, curries, biryani, and tandoor dishes receive the most enthusiasm; the fusion pizzas deliver crisp crust, creamy sauces, and adjustable heat. The menu is genuinely creative rather than merely premium, so diners wanting classic Italian alone may find some dishes less polished, and one recent critical review reported bland tandoori and biryani. Expect a lively mix of familiar comfort food and adventurous cross-cultural combinations, with full meals generally landing around $22-$35 before tax and tip. Families are especially well served: the current menu includes spaghetti, chicken fingers, nuggets, kid-sized pizza, Alfredo, and macaroni and cheese, and a family review says children ate across the pizza, nuggets, and pasta. That makes Bella an unusually practical choice for mixed groups, even if picky diners should stick to the kids menu or familiar Italian dishes while adventurous adults explore the curries and fusion pizzas.
Area vibe: Suburban commuter town with strip malls and car-oriented commercial corridors.
Safety: Generally safe during daytime; typical suburban caution at night with quieter streets and limited foot traffic.
What's nearby: Near Route 1 and I-95 corridor, shopping plazas, chain restaurants, and commuter access to DC/Baltimore.
The signature move is a curry-topped pizza, but the menu also has dependable Indian classics and substantial vegetarian choices.
Expect an easygoing family meal and an inventive menu, but allow for uneven service and choose carefully if you want strictly traditional Italian food.
The menu offers generous variety and memorable fusion dishes at moderate prices, though consistency can determine whether the meal feels like good value.