Vita Bella is a welcoming Italian restaurant in East Hanningfield, Essex, and has been a family favourite since its establishment in 2012. Embracing the essence of traditional Italian dining, the team prides themselves on crafting dishes using locally sourced ingredients and offering an extensive selection of wines.
Explore the cold starters, featuring the freshness of mozzarella paired with sliced tomatoes, rocket salad, and a touch of virgin olive oil and pesto. For a unique twist, indulge in the carpaccio di manzo — a creation of sliced matured English beef that has been marinated for 90 days, complemented by lemon dressing, rocket salad, and Parmigiano Reggiano. The menu continues with the hot starters, including the daily zuppa del giorno and cozze alla napoletana — a delicious bowl of fresh Maldon mussels in a rich, fruity white wine sauce, cooked with cherry tomatoes, chilli, and garlic.
As you move to the main courses, enjoy the melanzane parmigiana, a layered masterpiece of sliced aubergine baked with tomato, basil, fontino, and Parmesan cheese. Indulge in the slow-cooked rolled pork belly, served with wild mushrooms and a creamy sauce. The pasta and risotto dishes feature classics like lobster linguine all'aragosta, lasagne, penne arrabbiata, and gnocchi ai porcini with mushrooms and aubergines.
Complete your Italian feast with some divine desserts, including a chocolate mousse with a raspberry jelly on a chocolate biscuit base, a classic sticky toffee pudding coated in butterscotch sauce, and the restaurant’s ever changing homemade panna cotta of the week. If you visit on a Sunday, you'll also find a set menu for either two or three courses, with specials for children. Each day of the week, there is also a special children's menu, featuring all the classic Italian favourites.