The scenesters who filled the interior of the Bella Vita Restaurant and Ultra Lounge appeared to be enjoying posh cocktails and yummy looking plates â€" due to my attendance sans date I was standing around, milling awkwardly in a sea of unfamiliar faces. 

The parking lot alluded to the crowd inside, filling the lots at Tacoma's Bella Vita, the as-yet-unopened Opa, and even spilling over to Safeway across the street.

“Appropriate attire” ranged from high-end jeans to wool trousers, for men, and flowing frocks to Capri khakis, for women. 

The food appeared to be snack-like, though as a VIP “soft open” that doesn’t mean anything for the menu later on (which promised to be high-end Italian.)

What I loved about the space, a mere two miles from my home, was the potential for lounge-cocktails, similar in feeling (and lighting) to the Blue Olive, with a cozy section defined by opulent blue fabric that spans the entire width of the restaurant, to either side of the front door.

At first I thought the low-slung table heaped with fruit sitting in one portion on the area alluded to a Tatami-style dining experience (which confused me: Italian eats in a former casino a’ la Japan?) but I read the writing on the wallâ€"actually, the computer-generated sign â€" apologizing for the lack of couches, which would be arriving soon for lounging enjoyment.  The other side of the door showed how the space will work, and showed full occupancy.

There looked to be a dance floor, CG fish swimming on flat-panel TVs (apparently, today’s décor piece de riguer) and low key lighting tucked in a well-shaped black ceiling that did a nice job of wiping out the feeling of the former business in the pace, though I have to wonder how the whole car wash/Carl’s Jr./pawn shop/bowling alley/Arby’s location will work for them in the long run.
My suspicion is that once word gets out about how cool the interior is, and providing the service, food, and drinks remain good,  the location will work great as a good central place that UP residents, North Enders, West Enders, and  Fircrest residents  can go to for a night out on the town.

For us, I think it’ll work great â€" once inside, the location is a moot point, and it’s close enough to the house that we’ll be able to sneak away for a quick bite and sip pretty easily.

We shall see though, once service (and the couches) are up and running in a full capacity. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler