“I even thought about starting a new business, but this was a good deal with 30 years of customers,” Altaq said. “It was a good choice.”
Altaq purchased the business in November 2021 and felt no need to change the menu.
“I thought about cutting some items, because we have a lot of items, but the customers like it, so I kept it,” he said.
The menu consists of what Altaq describes as classic Italian American fare. Items, such as garlic bread with cheese, chicken fettuccine Alfredo, fettuccine Alfredo, tortellini panna and cheese pizza, round out their most popular items.
During lunch time, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., many menu items are offered at reduced prices. There are also family-style meal specials ranging from $55-$65. The menu also features calzones and strombolis as well as seafood dishes. The restaurant is a BYOB establishment, but serves lemonade, iced tea, soda, coffee and Pellegrino.
Altaq said customers enjoy the family atmosphere, including the ambiance-enhancing vintage jazz music continuously filling the eatery.
He pointed out that some couples who routinely come in for a table for two throughout the year find themselves needing larger accommodations during the holidays.
“[At] Thanksgiving and Christmas, we saw customers who are normally a two top come in with 10 other family members who are all visiting, and they bring them here,” he said. “That’s the best season ever. We’re so happy for them.”
Another familial-type element has developed over time.
“The family spirit between the staff is amazing,” Altaq said. “We are all from different origins, but we deal with each other like family.”
While Altaq is grateful for online opportunities, which have created an uptick in younger customers—a demographic he hopes will continue to grow—he acknowledges the importance of generational loyalty to the business.
“We really have customers who proposed to each other in Bellissimo, and they come now with their grandkids,” he said. “We try to keep things as is, because we’ve had customers coming here for 30 years, and they like it the way it is.”
3 dishes to try
1. Chicken Parmigiana ($15.95) consists of crispy breaded chicken topped with marinara sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese.
2. Meat lover pizza ($14.95/small) is topped with pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, and Canadian bacon.
3. Chicken fettuccine Alfredo ($15.95) is sautéed in a creamy Parmesan sauce.
Bellissimo Italian Restaurant. 3809 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville. 817-398-4182. https://bellissimoitalianrestaurant.com. Hours: Sun. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Mon. closed, Tue.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
