On a recent Keys 2 the Coast experience in Italy, I had the possibility to explore Sicily, Venice, Florence, and Portofino. While each second turned into great, each chunk of food delicious and the surroundings marvelous, it did not escape me that a number of the elegance of Italy is just like what we have right here on the Central Coast.
Specifically, the beautiful vineyards, pristine coastline, and first-rate food.
Home Sweet Home
One of my favored restaurants in northern Santa Barbara County is Old Orcutt’s Pizzeria Bello Forno, at 119 E. Clark Ave. Old Orcutt is a fascinating metropolis brimming with perfect locations to devour, quaint cottages and boutiques, tasting rooms, breweries, and an incredible wine bar referred to as Vino et Amici.
Keys 2 the Coast loves Pizzeria Bello Forno for the matchless warm temperature guests enjoy. It’s similar to taking walks into a roomy, welcoming Sicilian circle of relatives’ kitchen. The glow of the timber-fired pizza oven units the mood. Owner Bob Spallino named the restaurant Pizzeria Bello Forno, an American rendering of “stunning oven” in Italian.
Wine and Dine
Seat yourself at a high, birthday celebration-length table or pick out a secure sales space for a romantic meal. The fascinating outside patio is a perfect place to sip and take pleasure in the California sunshine.
The bar within the fundamental dining area is where locals regularly sit up for the first-rate verbal exchange, a cold brew, a glass of Italian or neighborhood hand-selected wine, and visitors can enjoy the entertainment of watching their pizzas being artfully organized in an oven imported from Tuscany.
I can virtually say that Pizzeria Bello Forno’s pizza opponents first-class, what we enjoyed in Italy.
Family Inspiration
Spallino strains his roots to Castelvetrano, Sicily. One of 7 children growing up in Southern California, his first job in the eating place commercial enterprise began at age thirteen, selling warm puppies on the beach in Malibu. He has come a long way considering that operating the hot dog stand at Neenie’s Famous Weenies. His love for making pizza and imagination, and a prescient vision for commercial enterprise and an excellent lifestyle changed into a stunning restaurant and catering provider.
“My wife, Kirsten, and I have even created Pizzeria Bello Forno as a place for our circle of relatives to prepare home-style delicious meals in a place that has delivered our desires to fruition,” he stated. “We are devoted to our circle of relatives, faith, and community, and we experience ourselves sincerely blessed to live in this type of stunning region.
“It’s difficult to accept as true with we’ve already been here in Old Town Orcutt for two years.”
The Spellings virtually paintings well together and have a passion for what they’ve created. Son Stefan always has a big smile and a tremendous sense of humor, to makes it even better. You can seize his brother, Gian, at the pizza oven, cooking up a masterpiece. The delight the body of workers exudes speaks volumes.
“Our motivation for the enterprise has usually been to make human beings experience love through thoughtfully organized food and caring service,” Kirsten Spallino shared.
Locals Love It
We propose reservations for dinner because of the restaurant’s recognition.
Spallino became licensed as a pizzaiolo through the Vera Pizza Napoletana schooling program, and the meals intently model the recommendations, with a few “poetic licenses” to craft California-inspired cuisine.
The family’s selection to be impartial permits for extra creativity, the capacity to use neighborhood substances, and create different forms of pizzas inspired by seasons and our region.
One of the most up-to-date menu additions is the Three Beer Naughty Oak Pizza, inspired with the aid of Naughty Oak Brewing Company down the road. Andouille sausage and Cajun spices provide this pie a kick that may have the guests lingering over just one more brew!
Italian Food on the Central Coast
We are fortunate to have some Italian-owned family restaurants providing a taste of Italy in our very own Central Coast outdoors. In addition to Pizzeria Bello Forno, Arnoldi’s Café, and Toma in Santa Barbara, and Giuseppe’s Cucina Rustica in San Luis Obispo are some of our pinnacle Italian selections.
“I’ve seen so many posts on Facebook about Pizzeria Bello Forno that I’ve been dying to try it,” new fan Teresa Coelho Halvorson stated. “My lunch is scrumptious, and this area is so heated, inviting, and pleasant. I love family-fashion Italian cuisine.”
She said she would be back to try a few greater menu items, referred to as the Chicken Bianca Pizza “high-quality.” “I assume my fiancé and I are Pizzeria Bello Forno’s biggest fanatics,” Kris Neely said. “We devour there two to a few instances in keeping with week, and the entire thing we order is delicious.”
Pizzeria Bello Forno is an area to move for super Italian Cuisine. However, you’re just as likely to move lower back because the environment, food, and those are noticeably engaging.
The restaurant is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. To 2 p.m. Wednesday via Friday, and dinner from five to nine p.m. On the weekends, it’s open from 11:30 a.m. To 10 P.M. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. To 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Reservations are available for parties of four or more, and Pizzeria Bello Forno is an amazing choice for catering.




