American Fast Food Stories
This was our first dining experience in Fredericksburg, and it exceeded expectations. Ruth and Jose created a warm, personalized atmosphere that made the evening especially memorable. The baked meatballs were beautifully prepared and tasted just like a traditional homemade recipe. The Chicken Parmigiana was perfectly portioned — satisfying without being overwhelming. The Italian salad was a fresh and well-balanced start to the meal. We’ve found our new go-to destination in Fredericksburg for authentic, thoughtfully prepared Italian cuisine. We look forward to returning.
… moreGarrett Denison
Ordered the large salad. Salad was very good but our plates were small bread plates and the tongs we were given are typically used for picking up garnishes at a bar like cherries or limes. Ordered the pasta Manzo with Salmon. The salmon was way over cooked and not fresh. The plating was very sloppy. Portion sizes were not the same and the plate looked like plates from our house. Besides the salmon which was over-cooked, food was ok but presentation had much to be desired. $70 for two plates of pasta, large salad, and a beer and wine at happy hour.
… moredaniel meltsner
What an amazing meal. I had the Italian beef and my wife had the chicken sandwich. We also had a side of garlic fries. Everything tasted fantastic. Never had giardiniera before. What a great flavor. Server friendly and helpful. You should give them a try
… moreAndi Turner
I was so hoping this would be a great new hotspot on our list but was disappointed in a big way. I appreciated the ability to make a reservation; however, they weren’t ready for the party. The waitress assumed I wanted the whole bottle (and opened it) when I ordered a glass on special, no biggie…. We repeatedly had to ask for refills and if one in the party asked, it wasn’t obvious to the waitress to refill others (unless asked)…. Frustrating given the sauce was so salty, we are guzzling water a day later. Both the Mahi Mahi over couscous and the salmon over Caesar salad were horridly overcooked and nearly inedible…. The bread – obviously frozen after it had baked required sauce to alleviate the frozen aftertaste…. Like how hard is bread to make, even from frozen prepared loaves, in order to serve freshly baked? The arancini balls weren’t …. They just weren’t, they were cheese sticks masked in round shapes…. Bottom line – it doesn’t appear there was an Italian present for this Italian food…. And finally – had to ask for the check from another server, our waitress never returned after turning down the dessert offering. Just bad.
… moreOphelia Grace777
Bello Manzo was my final destination & end to a beautiful day in downtown Fredricksburg, Virginia. My husband came to Bello to eat by himself and I met up with him later after seeing some shops. He raved how delicious the food was and was finishing his dessert of tiramisu. He never orders a dessert especially after eating an appetizer and meatball sandwich at Bello Manzo. I was still full from an early brunch and ordered their chilled dry white wine from Italy and Diet Pepsi with ice water. Our server was very nice and professional. She refilled my Diet Pepsi several times without prompting and noticed how quickly I drank each glass she refilled. This restaurant was a nice place to rest and take a break from a long hot day of window shopping and walking. I liked how clean the place was and the menu items. Local art and paintings were displayed in the restaurant for sale.
My husband got me an iced Diet Pepsi to go after paying the bill. Before we left , one of the ladies eating there recommended the semi sweet sparkling cava white wine to me. I made a mental note to try it next time we go there.
… morePhillip Campbell
OUTSTANDING! We just had a family celebration (20+ people) at Bello Manzo, and we could not be any happier. We reserved the outside patio. The food was amazing, the prices were very reasonable, and most importantly, the service was the best I have ever seen. Ruth and the entire staff went out of their way to make sure we were satisfied. They worked with us to ensure we had the correct amount of food without ordering too much. They were very accommodating with how we wanted the patio to look with our decorations. You can tell that this is a family-owned business that really cares about its customers. If you are looking for a great place to host a party, or just a nice dinner, you will not be disappointed with Bella Manzo. There is no doubt that we will be returning here again and again. Thank you to Bello Manzo!
… moreB.D. Olsen
I stopped in for a quiet lunch on a weekday. I enjoyed a fantastic Italian wedding soup and a delicious meatball sandwich. I will definitely be a reoccurring customer at this fine establishment. Can’t wait to try more of the menu items.
… moreDana Cohen
We had a lovely dinner here at Bello Manzo. Ruth (she and her husband own the restaurant) made us feel very welcome. We took the only outside table on the street. It was First Friday so there were lots of people walking by and it was clear that in its 10 months, Bello Manzo has developed relationships with a lot of the locals. We split a house salad (very nice) and we both ordered the Pasta Manzo (with marinara sauce; the man ordered his with sausage) and we both thought it was delicious. I had a glass of the house wine – an Italian red – and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. We were too full for dessert so I can’t comment on the selection. After we ate, Ruth walked us through the restaurant and we were shocked to see how big it is. It just goes on and on, culminating in the back with backyard outdoor patio seating and a bar with a dance floor. This is a great place for a quiet dinner for two or a large party. We loved it and will be back.
… moreBryanna Perkins (SimplyxoBri)
The restaurant was hot and it felt like I was burning up. The food was good. The lobster bisque was AMAZING. My server took way too long to come back to the table, after feeling hot that made me feel like she was taking FOREVER.
Please check on your customers more often and turn the AC UP!
… moreAlyssa Lane
My husband had the creamy chicken, and I had the breakfast toastie, and we were completely blown away. Fantastic food, lovely service, relaxed atmosphere, and amazing coffee. Definitely will be coming again.
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