Bella Napoli

Bella Napoli, located on El Paso's westside, is another one of El Paso's hidden gems. I had never heard of the restaurant and probably never would have found it even if I had been looking for a unique, Italian restaurant. Fortunately, I'm friends with several, native El Pasoans who know where to find a local and distinctive restaurant.

When I entered Bella Napoli's portico, I felt as though I had stepped into a Dean Martin song. I kept expecting to hear strains of "Napoli" or "That's Amore." I suppose that sensation was one of the reasons I fell in love with the restaurant and its atmosphere.

Another reason for enjoying Bella Napoli was the friendly waitstaff. They were welcoming and accomodating, although my friends and I didn't get to sit on the back patio as we had hoped. Instead, we were seated by one of the larger windows, which did provide us with a view of the back patio area. Our waiter was very nice; he offered suggestions and helped us with wine choices.

The food, too, was delicious. I ordered the vegetable canneloni - mmm. I've never had it previously, but I enjoyed it very much. It was an oven baked crepe filled with Primavera vegetables - broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and zucchini - that were pan seared in a creamy bichamel sauce and baked with light mozzarella cheese. The bread that came with our entrees was wonderful as well; it had just enough garlic to please the palate. 

Although the food and waitstaff were key ingredients of my experience at Bella Napoli, my favorite part - besides the conversation and fellowship with my friends - was the live music. On Sundays, Bella Napoli has guest opera singers. I don't know that much about opera, but the four singers - two men and two women - were amazing. I was particularly pleased to recognize some of the songs they sang, including pieces from The Phantom of the Opera and Madame Butterfly.

Of course, no dining experience is complete - at least it's not for me - without the company of friends. My adventure to Bella Napoli was shared with three of my friends, who made the evening even more perfect. I'm looking forward to continued explorations of El Paso and the discovery of more hidden treasures with them. 

Thyme Matters

Most restaurants know that presentation is everything, and, last evening, I was quite impressed by the "presentation" given by Thyme Matters, a restaurant located on the westside of El Paso. From the folded napkins - an art in and of itself - to the hot tea set, Thyme Matters knows how to please the customer's eye. Even the entrees were presented artistically; the food provided all the colors of an artist's palette and was arranged on lovely, modern place settings.

An equally important consideration in a restaurant is ambience, and I found that Thyme Matters had a lovely one. The music provided a nice background. It seemed like a quieter and classier version of house music. The music also was set at the perfect sound level; I could easily converse with my friends. The restaurant had a wonderful design - a lot of open space created by the high ceiling and second-story loft area. The restaurant also featured an outdoor patio, which would have been tempting if it hadn't been windy yesterday. The artistic pieces in the restaurant were what I call "muted contemporary" and placed in strategic places to heighten the space's effect.

Of course, even with ambience and presentation, no restaurant is complete without a good menu. Thyme Matters did not disappoint. I ordered the eggplant parmesan, which came with a side salad. It was very palatable, but what I enjoyed most was trying my friend's tilapia. I'm not that fond of seafood, but I was pleasantly surprised by the fish. It had a wonderful flavor due to the chipotle spices, and it was very tender. I think the next time I visit Thyme Matters, I may have to order it.