Bella Napoli Celebrates 15 Years In The ‘Dena

When Biagio Carannante and his son, Pasquale, opened Bella Napoli Italian Restaurant in 2002, they had little doubt that their enterprise would thrive in Pasadena. Biagio, a one-time co-owner of 17 Mamma Lucia’s restaurants in the mid ‘90s, had the necessary entrepreneurial experience and Pasquale had the necessary ambition.

“When we started, Pasadena was begging for businesses. Now you look around and there’s a chain or restaurant on every corner,” Pasquale said. “We have watched it grow right in front of us, and we have a lot of longtime costumers that have continued to come here.”

Those customers have continued to patronize Bella Napoli for the last 15 years, Pasquale said, because of the authentic Italian food and hospitality.

“[Biagio] came here as an immigrant in 1976,” Pasquale said. “It doesn’t get any more authentic than that. We stay true to our recipes and heritage.”

Bella Napoli translates to “beautiful Naples,” the Italian city where Biagio spent his youth. With a family of restaurateurs back home, it made sense for Biagio to pursue that career path after he came to the U.S.

After flipping free, whopping chunks of a 15th anniversary cake into containers for customers and staff during a mid-March evening, Pasquale and Biagio reflected on their success and their relationship inside and outside of the kitchen.

“We get along pretty well,” Biagio said with a grin.

“He’s my best father,” Pasquale agreed.

“He’s my best son,” Biagio acknowledged, though he has just one son.

That playful banter at Bella Napoli is known to customers, many of whom feel as though they are part of the Carannante extended family. They also salivate over the menu. With pasta, salad, pizza and seafood options, the menu has undergone just a few changes since 2002. Biagio and Pasquale have added chicken alla chef (served with jumbo shrimp and crabmeat over angel-hair pasta), chicken principessa (smothered in a white cream sauce with asparagus and crabmeat over fettuccine) and porterhouse steak. “We did that because it’s important to adapt to the area,” Pasquale said.

Adapting to the area also meant becoming ingrained as a fixture in the community, whether that was by donating funds to local schools or participating in the Lake Shore–Severna Park Rotary’s crab soup cook-off. “We pride ourselves in making sure that everything we do is for the benefit of the community,” Pasquale said.

Regardless of what building they occupy over the next 15 years, and what business changes they make with expansion in mind, they will be steadfast in that mission of improving the community.

“We’re going to continue to grow,” Pasquale said, outlining plans to add a standalone location with a bar and outdoor seating. “We’re looking for a place, but we plan to stay in Pasadena.”

Fifteen years into existence, at a point where many businesses slow down, Bella Napoli has yet to become stagnant.

“Someone recently asked me, ‘Don’t you have to like everything on the menu?’ No, I don’t,” Pasquale continued. “I just have to make good food, and as long as you stay true to your best quality and standards, you will never have to worry about going out of business.”