Bella Vista, Hastings

In 2014, with nearly a half-century of restaurant experience between them, Jennifer and Bernardo Melecio realized it was high time they opened their own place. They set up shop in the historic Mississippi Belle building, investing in some much-needed renovations to give it new life as Bella Vista Ristorante Italiano. Before long, the restaurant became a family affair. Jennifer's husband, a chef, took the reins in the kitchen, and Jennifer's mother decided to chip in as the pastry chef and bread maker, respectively. Together, their efforts have created a menu of northern Italian cuisine that spans dishes both fresh and familiar. Fans of Italian classics will love the bolognese with sausage and the lobster fettuccine, while adventurous appetites can dig into inventive creations like the Birds Nest—scallops and broccoli rabe entangled in a web of deep-fried angel hair.