I’ll begin tonight’s review by saying this, “Many, if not most, of you will not like my choice of meal.” No, it’s not a controversial meat, nor is it some Asian delicacy of discarded bits of some un-named sea creature. The dinner I chose is actually quite common in many parts of Europe. It’s funny how people form their opinions on what is tasty and what isn’t. Of course I can’t deride anyone’s choices when it comes to food dislikes, I can’t stand eating eggs. Be they hard-boiled, scrambled, poached, fried or en flambé, to me, eggs are the bane of my existence (How’s that for melodrama?). So what is it that I ate that so many of you will choose to abandon this page rather than continue to read on once I say? First let me tell you about the restaurant because, really, outside of my one choice the menu at La Vita E Bella is sure to contain something which you would be drawn to.

The restaurant is broken up into two multi-colored dining areas; one side a tiled more formal area and the other more of a cafe/pizzeria atmosphere. There is also extensive outside seating in front of the building by way of a fenced off “patio” area. But since the evening was overcast in Seattle and overhead grew scaffolding, I decided on an interior seat in the cafe section. As I was the only diner in the restaurant I received quite prompt service. After a brief exchange of the lunch menu I was holding with the dinner menu I was supposed to be reading, I placed my order for a pizza.

But don’t think that pizza is all that this Belltown Italian restaurant has to offer; there were also panini, pasta dishes and several antipasti offerings. It was only because it had been so long since I’d had pizza last that I decided on that for dinner. Of course, “How should I mix it up,” I thought. Instead of a Margherita or even a fungi I decided to get Napoletana ($11.95). What is that you ask? It is a cheese-less pizza that is topped with capers, garlic and anchovies. That’s right; those little, “hairy” fish in a can. I’m sure those of you that are still reading this are asking, “How is it you don’t eat eggs but you’ll eat anchovies?” or “Were you dropped on your head as a child?” Believe it or not it was only in the past ten years that I’ve grown to enjoy eating these salty little devils. It started as more of a dare really. Someone ordered a side of anchovies with an order from Pizza Hut ™ and bet me I wouldn’t eat them. At the time it just wasn’t in my nature to lose that kind of a bet, so I ate them. Yes, they were of low quality and tasted horrible; so very fishy. But what arrived on my pizza was milder in flavor. Much like little tuna steaks the anchovy did have a distinct fish flavor and were very salty but had a meatiness that played nicely with the sweetness from the conservative application of tomato sauce. Adding to the flavor profile were briny capers, mild, freshly minced garlic and a generous dusting of herbs. All of these were atop a crispy chewy crust that was dotted with some dark spots but was overall fairly evenly browned. I think this comes from the type of oven they use. I didn’t detect a smoky wood flavor, nor did it have a mineral taste so I’m pretty sure the oven was neither wood nor coal fired. Most likely it was a gas jobby. The edges were a bit thicker than some Neapolitan places would make here in town but, overall, it still came with the requisite crispiness.

While La Vita E Bella may lack the charm of a Via Tribunali or the modern design of Wallingford’s Tutta Bella, it does have character. Perhaps that’s all a Neapolitan pizzeria really needs. But along with that the service was very friendly, never rushed and the feeling one gets is warm, both psychologically and physically. While your tastes may not run the same as mine, I’m sure, based on the elements from my meal, that you’ll find something made with quality ingredients and care for the customer. Something to tempt and fill you.