La Bella Roma – Family-owned and operated since 2006

Richard Camacho, owner of La Bella Roma

By Jackie Devereaux

CATHEDRAL CITY –When Richard Camacho purchased the La Bella Roma Italian restaurant in 2006, he knew he had the chance of a lifetime to make his American Dream come true for not only himself, but for his entire family. Camacho, 49, put his wife, Maria Eugenia in charge of coordinating the family-run restaurant with his four adult children and one son-in-law working every position from chef to waitress to bookkeeper to manager.

Six members of the Camacho family – son Randy, 25, daughter Jocelyn, 23, son-in-law Ozzie, 25, and Sophia, 18 – rotate shifts working seven days a week to provide excellent Italian style cuisine at their restaurant located at 68-100 Ramon Road (at the northeast corner of Landau) in Cathedral City. They are open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 3 to 9 p.m.

Inside the restaurant, La Bella Roma

House favorites include: Linguine with Clams ($9.99 Lunch and $10.99 Dinner). All dinners are served with soup or salad, homemade bread with garlic butter that is absolutely delicious. Other house favorites include: Chicken Limonigio made of tender boneless chicken sautéed in garlic lemon butter sauce with mushrooms and broccoli served on a bed of pasta shells. A House Specialty is their Shrimp Sophia, named after the youngest daughter, made with Shrimp and broccoli served over a bed of fettuccine in a creamy Alfredo sauce ($10.99 Lunch and $11.99 Dinner).

From their Sandwich Menu be sure to try their delicious Hot Pastrami ($6.99 Small or $7.99 Large) or Club Sandwich ($7.99). All Specialty Sandwiches are served with pasta salad, French fries, potato chips or a house salad. You can add one of their soups, Italian Wedding or Minestrone for a mere $1.50. Don’t forget to try one of their nine Lunch Specials for only $6.99.

Camacho, who was born and raised in Mexico City, said his journey into cooking Italian food started more than 30 years in San Bernardino where he worked for Alfredo’s I and II and Cicero’s for years before moving to Banning where he worked for Johnny Russo’s restaurant.

“I decided to try it on my own and bought this restaurant in 2006,” he said smiling while cooking my Chicken Parmesan in the kitchen.

It’s heart-warming to see an entire family working to make their dream come true, and the Camacho family is a perfect example of what a family can do when they all work together.”

Richard Camacho, owner of La Bella Roma serves a customer

But let’s not forget their fabulous Pizzas, which could possibly be the best pizzas in Cathedral City. Camacho offers the La Roma Special with sausage, green pepper, mushroom, onion, pepperoni, black olive and Canadian bacon. Who could ask for more? If you’re looking for something with a Mexican flair, try their Carne Asada Pizza with grilled steak, onion, bell pepper and jalepenos; their Taco Pizza served with seasoned ground beef, onion, jalapeno, lettuce and tomato; or the Acapulco Pizza served with Shrimp, bell peppers, onions and jalapenos. All Specialty Pizzas cost $14.99 small, $16.99 medium and $18.99 large.

You can also get the Camacho family to cater any of your events. They offer a Half Tray for $59.99 that serves 8 to 10 people; a Full Tray that serves 15 to 20 people for $109.99. Each tray offers your choice of Lasagna, Baked Ziti, 3-Way Combo, Chicken Cacciatore, Mushroom Garlic Chicken, Chicken Scallopine, Pasta Primavera. You can add Stuffed Pasta or Shrimp for $10 extra half tray or $20 extra full tray.

The Camacho Family is proud of what they’ve accomplished and built over the past six years during what many say is the worst economic recession in our nation’s history. It’s time you gave La Bella Roma a chance. Call them at 760-202-8181 or 760-321-4063 to place a take-out order. Visit them online at labellaromaitaliancuisine.com for more information and to see their extensive menu selections.

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