A Dream for Some: Bluebonnet Circle
Story by Bryan Perkins u Photo by Yvette Herrera

As you travel south on University Drive past the campus of TCU and Berry Street, you will eventually come upon a quaint, circle drive, host to two very similar, yet very different Italian restaurants.

Bellagio Italian Bistro and Bella Pasta and Pizza highlight the unique and friendly culture of Bluebonnet Circle and maintain the philosophy that friendly service and a personal touch are always in demand.

Although Bluebonnet Circle dates prior to the 1940s, these two restaurants are very new to the circle. Bella Pasta and Pizza began serving customers in January 2000 while Bellagio Italian Bistro opened its doors for business in June 1999.

Sal Kaba, owner of Bella Pasta, and Norman Nazar, owner of Bellagio, both like Bluebonnet Circle because it offers a unique local atmosphere. Kaba said Bluebonnet Circle is a great place for the restaurants.

“The circle is unique. It is an old neighborhood with a lot of culture,” he said. “It has a great past, and the neighborhood setting makes people feel at ease with their dining experience.”

Nazar agrees with Kaba that Bluebonnet Circle is unique and an excellent location for the restaurants.

“Bluebonnet is all about tradition. A lot of good people enjoy coming here to get away from a crowded atmosphere,” Nazar said. “We enjoy being a place people can come relax and forget about the daily grind.”

The two restaurants have very distinct looks and ambiances. While others may have looked at 3455 Bluebonnet Cir. and seen an old, run-down Dairy Queen, Kaba said he envisioned building a place where people could eat good Italian food at a reasonable price.

Nazar took a similar approach with Bellagio, but rather than creating a restaurant for casual dining, he decided to convert an old sports bar, Bluebonnet Grille, into an upscale Italian bistro.

“I have been a native of Fort Worth since 1866, and in my time I have been the owner and manager of numerous nightclubs in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri and Tennessee,” Nazar said. “I decided that I wanted to retire in a place that gives back to families and the community.”

Similarly, Kaba has owned restaurants in Florida, New York and Texas.

“I saw the potential of Bluebonnet Circle because of its unique qualities,” he said. “I wanted to be able to live close to my restaurant and live in a place that reminds of the ‘old country.’”

When Kaba mentions the “old country,” he is referring to his home town of Struga, Macedonia, where he lived for 18 years.

“I chose the name Bella because it means beautiful,” he said. “When I think of living in Italy and Macedonia, I remember the beautiful country. It is important to remember the things you love.”

Nazar and Kaba have found their true love by way of Italian food, for both of these owners feel that you will be hard pressed to find a better Italian dish in Fort Worth at a reasonable price. Kaba said his success can be attributed to the way he does business.

“In order to be successful and do things the old fashioned way, you must be present. You can’t afford to miss out on what is going on,” he said. “If you are not there as an owner or manager, the quality of food will begin to change. This is why I like to play an active role with Bella.”

Likewise, Nazar stresses the importance of personal touch. In fact, he engraves the names of his repeat customers on brass plaques next to their favorite table.

“My goal is to make sure that everyone who comes in is treated right. They are not customers to me,” he said. “Rather, they are my guests of my home. I would expect them to treat me with hospitality if I were to come to their place and eat. Therefore, I give them the best service and food I can offer, every time.”

Look at both menus and you will find a wide variety of appetizers, pasta selections, pizza, veal and chicken entrees and popular Italian desserts. The prices are a bit lower at Bella, but both establishments offer bigger portions at comparable, if not lower, prices than that of their major franchise and corporatly-owned competitors.

“I like to think that my food is delicious and that I can offer it to customers at a better price than you would find down the street at a place like Macaroni Grill,” Kaba said.

Both restaurants are small establishments that boast close-knit staffs.

“I have four waiters and three people working in the kitchen. That is all I need to make the restaurant successful,” Kaba said. “We enjoy each other because this is a fun place to work.”

“My chef, Arturo Limon, is one of the finest in Fort Worth. He has been working with me for years, and it would be tough to find someone as skillful as him,” Nazar said. “We have five waiters, a prep-cook, a dishwasher, a bartender and a manager. I run the host stand to make sure my customers know that I am here for them.”

Nazar and Kaba both offer discounts to kids under the age of 16. Bellas’ meals will run parents $3.95, while Nazar insists that kids eat dinner for free.

“Children need to value dinnertime with their parents. Now, more than ever before, families have stopped eating at the dinner table together,” he said. “I feel that it is important to bring back the value of the family.”

The slogan of Bella Pasta and Pizza is “We do things the old fashion way.”

“There is no substitute for quality food and products. My meats are top of the line and my sauces are prepared fresh everyday. You have to do your best and let the customer be the final judge. I think this is why we have been generating a lot of our business.

People talk to others and they come see what we have to offer,” Kaba said.

Both restaurants offer daily lunch and dinner specials and feature items. Smoking and non-smoking sections are available at both Bellagio and Bella. However, neither establishment is licensed to serve liquor. Bellagio, on the other hand, does offer beer and wine.

Its wine list, which includes a variety of Chianti, chardonnays, merlot and cabernets, offers drinks by the glass and by the bottle.

Reservations are highly recommended at Bellagio, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Walk-in seating is also available. Bella, on the other hand, does not take reservations, except for large parties. Both restaurants cater and offer carry-out orders.

Kaba and Nazar said they have brought something special to Bluebonnet Circle. They both agree they are offering the local community good value-based business that is tough to beat.

These two very similar, yet very unique Italian restaurants, have found a home close to TCU on Bluebonnet Circle. By combining good food with old-fashioned thinking and preparation, Bella Pasta and Pizza and Bellagio Italian Bistro have given patrons a new type of dining experience on the circle.

Bryan Perkins
b.d.perkins@student.tcu.edu