South Tampa Legacy Lives On

Bella’s Italian Café has been providing South Tampa with authentic Italian cuisine for 21 years…and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.

Bill Shumate and Joanie Corneil shared one vision, to provide the people of Tampa with authentic Italian cuisine.  Twenty-one years later, they’re still doing it.

Bella’s Italian Café, located at 1413 South Howard Avenue in South Tampa, is considered one of the longest-standing, and one of the most popular, establishments in the area.  Outlasting many trends and come-and-go concepts, Bella’s continues to be a favorite destination of those seeking distinct flavors of Italy.

“We’ve been very fortunate to be located in such a wonderful area, such a booming area,” said Bill Shumate, co-owner of Bella’s Italian Café.  “We’ve seen so many other restaurants come and go, but because we offer great, authentic Italian food, our customers keep coming back.  There’s nothing more we love do to than feed the people of South Tampa!”

It’s that mantra that keeps Bella’s patrons happy.  A single unit restaurant, Bella’s Italian Café boasts more than a 5,000 square foot dining area, with a full bar and top-notch service.  With a relaxed, inviting and rustic ambience along with a wood-fired oven burning near the back, the atmosphere encourages customers to relax and enjoy a fine-dining experience.

Shumate is no stranger to the restaurant business.  For more than 40 years, he has owned and operated a variety of restaurants all over the country.  Additionally, he is the former chairman of the Hillsborough Chapter of the Florida Restaurant Association and president of the Florida Restaurant Association.

Joanie Corneil, co-owner and executive chef of Bella’s, is also a seasoned restaurant professional.  Having successfully operated two establishments, Butterfield Overland Express and 63^rd Street Grille in her home state of Oklahoma, she’s traveled extensively throughout Europe garnering influences and recipes along the way.  More importantly, the time she spent in Italy provided her to study Italian cuisine and enhance her extensive knowledge of wine selections.  Currently, Joanie oversees all day-to-day operations and makes sure every dish served is of the highest quality.

“Spending so much time in Italy enabled me to not only see the culture, but to learn how and why different ingredients are used,” Corneil added.  “Starting with the freshest ingredients, each entrée at Bella’s is prepared exactly the way it would be in Italy.”

Those dishes include what one would expect from an authentic Italian restaurant: delectable antipastos, a wide-range of pastas and brick oven pizzas.  After the entrees are served, guests are typically encouraged to savor a dessert, such as homemade Chocolate Toffee Tort or a Tiramisu.

Bella’s Italian Café is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday.  On Saturdays and Sundays, the restaurant opens at 4:00 p.m.