No one is a stranger for long at Pizzeria Bello Forno in Old Orcutt, where owner Bob Spallino and his team serve up authentic Italian pizza with a Central Coast twist. 
Pizzeria Bello Forno is located at 119 E. Clark Ave. in charming Old Orcutt. 
You may plan to eat just a slice or two, but the pizza pie will be gone before you know it. 
Pizzeria Bello Forno is a labor of love for ownersKirsten and Bob Spallino. 
On a recen Keys 2 the Coast trip to Italy, I had the opportunity to explore Sicily, Venice, Florence and Portofino. While every moment was wonderful, every bite of food delicious and the scenery magnificent, it did not escape me that some of the magnificence of Italy is similar to what we have here on the Central Coast.
Specifically, the beautiful vineyards, pristine coastline and fantastic food.
Home Sweet Home
One of my favorite restaurants in northern Santa Barbara County is Old Orcutt’s Pizzeria Bello Forno, at 119 E. Clark Ave. Old Orcutt is a charming town brimming with great places to eat, quaint cottages and boutiques, tasting rooms, breweries and a fantastic wine bar called Vino et Amici.
Keys 2 the Coast loves Pizzeria Bello Forno for the matchless warmth guests experience. It’s comparable to walking into a roomy, welcoming Sicilian family kitchen.
The glow of the wood-fired pizza oven sets the mood. Owner Bob Spallino named the restaurant Pizzeria Bello Forno, an American rendering of “beautiful oven” in Italian.
Wine and Dine
Seat yourself at a high, party-size table or select a cozy booth for a romantic meal. The charming outdoor patio is an ideal place to sip and savor in the California sunshine.
The bar in the main dining area is where locals frequently belly up for great conversation, a cold brew, a glass of Italian or local hand-selected wine, and where guests can enjoy the entertainment of watching their pizzas being artfully prepared in an oven imported from Tuscany.
I can honestly say that Pizzeria Bello Forno’s pizza rivals the best of what we enjoyed in Italy.
Family Inspiration
Spallino traces his roots to Castelvetrano, Sicily. One of seven children growing up in Southern California, his first job in the restaurant business was at age 13 selling hot dogs on the beach in Malibu.
He has come a long way since working the hot dog stand at Neenie’s Famous Weenies. His love for making pizza and vision for business and quality of life turned into a beautiful restaurant and catering service.
“My wife, Kirsten, and I have created Pizzeria Bello Forno as the space for our family to prepare home-style delicious food in a place that has brought our dreams to fruition,” he said. “We are dedicated to our family, faith and community, and feel truly blessed to live in such a beautiful place.
“It’s hard to believe we’ve already been here in Old Town Orcutt for two years.”
The Spallinos clearly work well together and have a passion for what they’ve created. Son Stefan always has a big smile and a great sense of humor to make the experience even better. You can catch his brother, Gian, at the pizza oven, cooking up a masterpiece. The pride the staff exudes speaks volumes.
“Our motivation for the business has always been to make people feel loved through thoughtfully prepared food and caring service,” Kirsten Spallino shared.
Locals Love It
We recommend reservations for dinner due to the restaurant’s popularity.
Spallino became certified as a pizzaiolo through the Vera Pizza Napoletana training program and the food closely models the guidelines, with some “poetic license” to craft California-inspired cuisine.
The family’s decision to be independent allows for more creativity, the ability to utilize local ingredients and create different types of pizzas inspired by seasons and our region.
One of the newest menu additions is the Three Beer Naughty Oak Pizza inspired by Naughty Oak Brewing Company down the street. Andouille sausage and Cajun spices give this pie a kick that may have the guests lingering over just one more brew!
Italian Food on the Central Coast
We are lucky to have a number of Italian family restaurants offering a taste of Italy in our own Central Coast backyard. In addition to Pizzeria Bello Forno, Arnoldi’s Café and Toma in Santa Barbara and Giuseppe’s Cucina Rustica in San Luis Obispo are some of our top Italian choices.
“I’ve seen so many posts on Facebook about Pizzeria Bello Forno, that I’ve been dying to try it,” new fan Teresa Coelho Halvorson said. “My lunch is delicious, and this place is so warm, inviting and friendly. I love family-style Italian cuisine.”
She said she would be back to try a few more of the menu items, and called the Chicken Bianca Pizza “incredible.”
“I think my fiancé and I are Pizzeria Bello Forno’s biggest fans,” Kris Neely added. “We eat there two to three times per week and everything we order is absolutely delicious.”
Pizzeria Bello Forno is a place to go for superb Italian Cuisine, but you’re just as likely to go back because the ambiance, food and people are incredibly enticing.
The restaurant is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. On the weekends, it’s open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Reservations are available for parties of four or more and Pizzeria Bello Forno is an excellent choice for catering.
— Donna Polizzi is a travel writer and founder of Keys 2 the Coast, a trusted travel resource for the Central Coast and beyond, including sharing favorite places to “Wine, Dine and Explore.” She can be contacted at news@noozhawk.com. Connect with Keys 2 the Coast on Facebook. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are her own.