Our Story
Meet the Owners
"Alex and I [Diana] met working at Iannelli's Ristorante in 1999. We were blessed to have worked for Michael and Anna who instilled in us the work ethic and business mind that we needed to open Bella Michael's Restaurant in June of 2007. We were fortunate enough to start with staff we had worked with may years previously at Iannelli's, along with an established and faithful customer base. We knew we wanted to start our business here, as we loved the smaller city feel and the Oneonta community. Our loyal customer base got us through the pandemic and allowed us to continue to grow, by offering outdoor seating during the summer months. We like to think of our establishment as a family restaurant and enjoy getting to celebrate many wonderful occasions with our customers. We also have a strong family of employees who have worked for us for several years and continue to amaze us with their commitment to us and our customers. We hope you enjoy your dining experience with us and walk away with the appreciation of a fine prepared meal and a feeling of community that we strive to achieve with each and every one of our customers."
~ Alex, Diana, and Bella Gracias
The Chef
Alex was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States in the 1980's. He started out working in Italian restaurants where he worked his way from dishwasher, to buss boy, to prep cook, to chef. He was very proud to become an American Citizen in 2015. He loves to cook and his passion shows in the meals that he prepares. Along with out favorite Italian entrees you will note some pretty amazing specials, many with a hint of El Salvadorian flair incorporated into the dish. He enjoys going out of his comfort zone to meet any special requests you may have. Alex looks forward to continuing to serve you for many years to come.