Bella Balducci: Belly dancing and fine Mediterranean cuisine in Monroe

Published 12:01 am Friday, January 14, 2011

The star of the meal turned out not to be the food.

The food at Bella Balducci was good, for sure, but the belly dancer really stole the show.

My husband and I headed to Monroe recently to try out Bella Balducci, which had been suggested by a friend. Our 6-month-old came along as we’re trying to enjoy meals out until we lose that chance when she becomes mobile.

We didn’t realize that dancing was planned that evening, but it was an extra treat, and apparently others knew about it, because the place was nearly full.

Before the show started, though, we had time to peruse the menu and decide what we wanted.

We ordered a sampler for an appetizer. The Maze Platter ($11.95) included tzatziki, humus, baba ganoush and feta dip, all served with warm pita bread.

My favorites were the feta dip and baba ganoush. The feta dip was made with roasted red pepper, sun-dried tomato and feta cheese. The baba ganoush included smoked eggplant and tahini. The smoky flavor of this classic Middle Eastern dish was fabulous; if you’re looking for a single appetizer, I’d suggest trying it.

My husband and I both had a Greek salad to go with our entrees. The dressing and feta cheese were both tasty, but the iceberg lettuce watered down the flavors.

I let the server pick a glass of wine for me. I wanted a slightly fruity red that would go well with my entree. She picked the Tsantali Makedonikos and it was perfect, fruity, not too sweet and it went well with what we ordered.

I ordered the Linguini al Pesto with chicken ($13.95) for my entree.

I hesitated when deciding to go with the chicken, prawns or Italian sausage. The server noticed my indecision and asked if I’d like a suggestion. She recommended the chicken, which she said soaked up the flavors of the pesto nicely.

She was right. The chicken did pair well with the garlicky pesto. If anything, and it’s hard for a garlic addict to say this, the pesto was a bit too garlicky. The flavor overwhelmed the basil completely and nearly overwhelmed the chicken as well. I still enjoyed it, but generally prefer a fresher, stronger basil taste in my pesto.

My husband picked the rack of lamb ($16.95). The lamb was in a red-wine mushroom sauce and was served with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables.

The lamb was fabulous and well worth the price. The sauce had a nice tang to it, and the lamb was tender and full of flavor. The potatoes were a rustic style, roughly mashed and the vegetables were cooked until just tender and well-seasoned. I can’t recommend this dish enough.

We finished off the meal with an interesting ice cream ($4.95) I’d never seen before. It was pistachio with saffron and rose water. I loved it.

I had considered ordering the baklava, but am glad we went for the ice cream. I’ve had baklava before. I’d never tasted anything quite like this ice cream. It wasn’t particularly sweet, but very creamy, with a nice flavor of the pistachio and saffron.

The staff at Bella Balducci was uniformly friendly and helpful, but seemed to be struggling with the full restaurant. Our appetizers arrived after our entree, and small requests, such as for a to-go box, had to be made several times.

Overall, though, we had a lovely meal. The dancer was entertaining and charismatic. She charmed everyone in the room, including my daughter.

If you’re interested in seeing belly dancing, check in with the restaurant. There is a performance the second Saturday of every month, and more may be planned.

You don’t need to wait for a belly dancer, though, to enjoy Bella Balducci. I still would have enjoyed the dinner if we’d had just the food to keep us entertained

Bella Balducci

19565 U.S. 2, Monroe; 360-863-9999

Specialty: Mediterranean

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays

Prices: Moderate