From Rome to Columbus,
With Love

My Grandmother's Kitchen

I grew up in Trastevere, Rome — a neighborhood where cooking is a language, and every Sunday lunch is a sacred gathering. My grandmother, Nonna Elena, taught me that food is love made visible. She would spend three days preparing ragù for family gatherings, and the smell of it still takes me home.

After culinary school in Rome and training under Chef Gianluigi at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Milan, I knew I wanted to bring this tradition to America. I chose Columbus because of its warmth, its growing food culture, and the wonderful Short North community.

When I opened Bella Roma in 2009, my only promise was this: every dish will be made with the same love I learned from Nonna Elena. Fifteen years later, that promise still guides everything we do.

— Chef Marco Romano, Founder & Executive Chef