Iconic Isabella’s Ristorante Italiano to close Redlands doors after 31 years

By: JULIE FARREN, Contributor to Community Forward Redlands

Isabella’s Ristorante, an iconic Italian restaurant for 31 years in Redlands, will serve its last dinner this Sunday, Nov. 24.

Owners Martin and Ruthie Felix will be closing the Redlands site on North Sixth Street after the lease ran out on the popular restaurant.

The couple, who have been married for more than 40 years, could not find a building in Redlands that would be comparable to the site they had for three decades. So the restaurant has re-opened in Yucaipa as of a few weeks ago

It is now at 12045 Fifth St., Suite F, in Yucaipa.

Ruthie Felix lived in Riverside and Martin Felix moved up to the Inland Empire to help out his mother after his father died. Martin was helping to take care of his younger brothers and sisters.

Ruthie and Martine worked together at Pino Italian Cuisine on Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino. The owner had passed away unexpectedly and that’s when they decided to open their own restaurant.

In 1991, they opened the original Isabella’s on E Street in San Bernardino, right next to San Bernardino City Hall. They served lunch and dinner, but there weren’t as many customers for dinner, said Ruthie.

The couple kept the San Bernardino location and opened a second location in Redlands at 330 N. Sixth Street to serve lunch and dinner. That was in 1994 in a former restaurant.

The Redlands location soon became quite popular. “The clients basically have been kind and loving and that’s what we appreciated,” Ruthie said.

Isabella’s has unique menu items created by Martin Felix. They include scampi el diablo, filet medallions in red wine reduction sauce, hand-folded ravioli, scratch made lasagna and manicotti, and homemade bread.

The Yucaipa location will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and dinner from 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Monday.

Ruthie Felix said there may be customers who don’t want to drive to Yucaipa, but they anticipate that many of their loyal customers will visit the new location.

Felix said the restaurant will be serving from the same menu as in Redlands.

Many of the staff will make the transfer.

There will not be a private room in Yucaipa like the one in Redlands. They will be building a patio for al fresco dining. 

They have had two special events where the whole restaurant was rented out for occasions.

Three of the Felix brothers have helped him at multiple locations throughout the years, Ruthie said.

Three decades of memories will always be treasured, Felix said.

“I think the biggest thing I will miss is the clients,” she said.

Isabella’s is at 12045 Fifth St., Suite F, in Yucaipa. The phone number is (909) 797-2006.