![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Bella Saratoga: A harmony of history and the heart of Italy
November 7, 2017
Sporadic roars of motorcycle engines hammering their ways up Big Basin Way interrupts the otherwise serene atmosphere of downtown Saratoga on a quieter Sunday evening. The pairing of modern bikes and late 19th century buildings seems peculiar, and even unfitting, but the sound of vehicles is regular music for locals, and each dinner party is immersed in soft chitchat.
Bella Saratoga, serving classic Italian cuisine, sits in two-story Victorian home built in 1895. The restaurant continues to preserve the home, while utilizing all corners for dining space, including an outside patio warmed up by hanging gas heaters. Up in a corner, speakers sing upbeat jazz music that further sways away the feeling of chills. A joyful banter erupts about record players as the server presents a basket of fresh bread to a table in the back.
Complimentary fresh bread garnished with herbs is always complemented with a spicy butter-cream dip that starts every meal. Only minutes later, servers would introduce daily specials, including a soup and entrée, before taking orders.
Gloria Zhang
Popular appetizers include crab cakes and caprese, while customers also have the option of salads and soups to begin their meals. A personal recommendation is to order the soup of the day; it is often prepared with seasonal ingredients, such as a cauliflower and parsnip soup in late October. For dinner entrées, the restaurant offers seafood, meat, and pasta. The linguine bolognese is a children’s favorite: not-too-fancy, yet appetizing. There are also vegetarian options, which are embellished with an asterisk in the menu.
Gloria Zhang
Prices vary from 10 to 17 dollars for appetizers, 18 to 48 dollars for entrées and 9 to 10 dollars for dessert.
All desserts, excluding sorbet and ice cream, are handmade from scratch. A customer favorite is the tiramisu, a cake with espresso-and-rum-soaked lady fingers adorned with cocoa powder and mascarpone. For the people who prefer concluding a meal with a fresh palate, fresh berries with a cream sauce or a scoop of raspberry sorbet can do the trick.
Other than lunch or dinner, Bella Saratoga serves breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Breakfast include omelettes, bakery items, pancakes and more, while brunch offer from poach eggs to pasta entrées. Both meals offer children options.
Customers will continue to journey into the past at Bella Saratoga with its romantic-styled patio and sign “Please, no cell phones” inscribed in the menu.
