Del Piacere

We had a terrible experience at Del Piacete over the italian week weekend. Our waitress was unprofessional, yawning while taking our order and never checking on us. Despite arriving before other customers, we waited 50 minutes for our food while watching others get served first. Both of our pizzas had a couple mussels that smelled and tasted absolutely rotten. Beyond this serious food safety issue, my gluten-free pizza was also completely undercooked. When I complained, the waitress said reheating it might burn it so she gave me the option of either burned or undercooked. The chef explained they use new rice-based GF dough that “doesn’t cook well” - even after returning it to the oven, it remained inedible. To their credit, they removed the undercooked pizza from our bill when I asked not to pay for it. However, the restaurant feels dated with sticky tables, and the high prices don’t match the poor service and atmosphere. This was my second visit and will definitely be my last.

Best kept secret in Ottawa! Nestled away in the corner of Preston & Beech, this inconspicuous establishment holds immense value in the Ottawa pizza landscape. The pizzas served here have a dough that is to die for! The crispy outer layer, with that charred taste from their oven, has a deep flavour that adds to the already fantastic toppings. The Inferno, Romana, Zingara and Genovese are my favorites. Service can be slow at times, but I have nothing but respect for these folks who are clearly always busy, delivering high quality food. The wait is more than worth it.

Had some of the best italian food i’ve had in the city! Atmosphere is kind of giving family run restaurant, not too fancy - but not too cheap. Prices were average, portions were good. DEFINITELY recommend the arancini, you’ll need to get a few of those for sure. Had a small issue with one of the items - but the waiter was quick to fix the issue and went above and beyond to assure the rest of our meal went well. Loved this restaurant!

Edit: I would like to update my review after reading the owner’s response to my original review, because he clearly made this personal. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were the only people in there at the time; two gentlemen were already served. We waited 40 minutes for our food to arrive. As I said previously, my meal was clearly overcooked. If I wanted eggs without a yolk for dipping, I would have ordered scrambled, or over-hard. I would have told the server, but she never returned to our table to check on us after the food arrived. Is it not the restaurant’s onus to check on the customer after the food is served? We are the customers. We pay to come to your restaurant, not just for the food, but the service. Waiting as long as we did, and by the time the bill arrived, we were already late for an appointment and didn't have time to stay and explain what went wrong. I was overcharged for coffee. I was not asked if I wanted a refill. It wasn't until we received the bill that I realized our server charged me for an Americano. The owner made this a personal attack instead of offering to address the issue. I have given many 5 stars reviews. In fact, I reviewed a restaurant located down the block only a few days earlier because the food and the service were outstanding. I am offended that the owner thinks that I am out to damage his reputation. If he thinks that one opinion can do that, then he is not confident as a business owner. ********************* What a terrible experience! First of all, we waited 40 minutes for our food. The menu CLEARLY states that drip coffee is $2.50 with the 3 egg breakfast. She charged us $4.00 for an Americano. There was approximately 2 inches of coffee in that cup. FOUR dollars for 2 inches of drip coffee? I had to ask for milk, and she didn't come back to check on us and see if I wanted a refill. The eggs were overcooked, under seasoned, and covered in herbs. I received one piece of toast for 3 eggs, and the Italian sausage tasted so bad, I had to spit it out. I'm Italian and expected much better food and service, because that's the Italian way. We won't be returning.

Nice restaurant in Little Italy. I got a risotto with wild mushrooms, I think from the limited spring menu. It was a little more al denté than I expected but still good and the portion was large. I'd like to come try some of the other dishes here in the future. The server was nice and friendly, albeit a bit slow. Homey ambiance, and it was busier than I expected on a Wednesday evening.

Best pizzas in authentic Neopolitana way! Also good range of vegetarian options available. The staff is also very helpful and friendly. The best part is their tiramisu. It’s best in town!

It is a rare and rewarding experience to encounter a restaurant that so thoroughly embodies the spirit and flavour of authentic Italian cuisine as Piacere – “Del Piacere.” Situated discreetly within Ottawa’s culinary landscape, this establishment offers a transcendent dining experience distinguished by exceptional hospitality, culinary integrity, and genuine Italian charm. We had the privilege of dining at Piacere to celebrate my husband’s 28th birthday. From the outset, the atmosphere was one of warmth and refinement. The owner, Peter—a native Italian with an evident passion for preserving culinary tradition—personally ensured that our evening was not only memorable but profoundly joyous. The attention to detail and commitment to delivering a heartfelt celebration exceeded all expectations. Peter crafts his pizzas entirely from scratch, adhering faithfully to traditional Italian methods. The dough is light yet flavourful, the ingredients are unmistakably premium—organic, locally sourced where possible, and deeply respectful of time-honoured Italian recipes. The mozzarella, tomatoes, and olive oil tasted as though they had been imported directly from a Neapolitan market. It is exceptionally rare to encounter such a level of authenticity and culinary craftsmanship in Ottawa, and Piacere stands out for precisely this reason. Service was equally impeccable. Our server, Alyssio, offered gracious, attentive, and highly professional service throughout the evening, balancing warmth with discretion. The ambience—marked by elegant simplicity and inviting decor—contributed to an overall sense of intimacy and celebration. I unequivocally recommend Piacere for any special occasion, whether a romantic evening or a private event. It is the quintessential setting for those seeking a meaningful dining experience with exceptional food and refined service. I will undoubtedly be returning, not merely for the cuisine, but for the enduring sense of hospitality and joy that Piacere so beautifully delivers. A hidden gem that truly honours the art of Italian dining.

Amazing food. Everything was perfect. Salad, appetisers, lamb, tiramisu ❤️❤️❤️. Definitely will come again. Thank you for complimentary desserts.

Omg! Why did I not try this place earlier? TLDR: delicious pizzas and calzones. Del Piacere is where Stone Face Dolly's used to be before it closed down in 2020. My husband and I walk around Little Italy all the time and we've walked by Del Piacere many times, but for whatever reason we never tried it until recently. Our original plan was to get some Banh Mi at the newly opened Pho Bo Le on Somerset (which was on their online menu), but when we arrived they said they aren't serving Banh Mi yet, maybe later that week. Ok, so we headed to K, Let's Eat on Preston for a Twisted hotdog and when we arrived they said they were sold out. By this time I was getting hangry, and I remembered walking past Del Piacere and saw they had some "fast take out" specials advertised out front. So I went in and ordered a slice of pizza ($4.50) and a mini Calzone ($5) for us. I asked what types were available, and the staff member gave me the regular menu and said I could choose whichever type. So I got the Hawaiian pizza (ham and pineapple) and the Farcito Calzone (ham, artichokes and black olives). We walked over to Ev Tremblay Park and ate at one of their picnic tables. Omg! So delicious! The Hawaiian pizza had fresh pineapple chunks, not the canned stuff and the ham was high quality, not like the stuff you get at the chain restaurants. The crust was thin and had the right amount of chew. The tomato sauce was tasty and they weren't too heavy-handed with it, which I appreciated. My husband ate most of the calzone, but I managed to get a few bites and it was also delicious! The melted cheese was extra stringy and provided an awesome cheese pull, lol. It was amusing to watch him eat it, haha. It had the same ham as the Hawaiian pizza. The olives and artichokes added good flavour. It was a bit messy to eat though because it leaked hot juices as it was bitten into and part way through, it opened at the seams and more hot liquid poured out, lol. Despite the mess, it was excellent. I told my husband that I think we should make it a weekly tradition to go there, at least until we try every type of pizza and calzone they have, lol. I also noticed that they have gelato. We will have to try that next time, in addition to getting another pizza slice and another mini Calzone ;) Service was good. They have seating indoors and outdoors if you want to dine there. The decor is casual. Street parking only.

I had the chance to try this establishment this week. Just wanted to check their pizza so I ordered the classic Margherita (tomato sauce and fior di latte) as I consider it my reference pizza in any new restaurant I go to. Let me start with the service. We had to wait a good 15 minutes just to get a bottle of sparkling water. Not so good to start. Then we ordered the pizzas (there were 2 of us in this party) and we waited... and waited ... and waited. After 35 minutes the pizzas arrived. It wasn't a super busy night so I'm not sure why it took so long. The ambiance was a bit underwhelming. Giving me the idea of an old restaurant by sea in the Rimini coast (Emilia Romagna region in Italy) or in the Versilia coast (Tuscany region in Italy). But at the end I really don't care too much about if the place looks a bit run down as long as the pizza is good, right!? Well, about the pizza ... the size is OK actually quite generous for a standard pizza. So no complaints there. (Check) the look of it is somewhat not quite the classic Margherita look. The mozzarella used was blending too much with the tomato sauce. And you could not really tell if it was real mozzarella or grated mozzarella bought from a grocery store. Then there was no real crust like the classic Neapolitan pizza. The whole thing was flat, super thin and a bit dry. Now i would even be ok with it as the overall flavour was pretty good (not exceptional, just ok), but when I go to a place that has a big writing on the windows saying "Neapolitan pizza" and they serve a very thin piadina style northern Italian pizza... I'm am not ok with it. If the writing was not there I would have written a different review. Anyway to make a long story short. Pizza was ok, not the authentic Neapolitan pizza (for that you need to go to Anthony's or Da Romolo) but a good wood oven thin style Italian pizza. Price very fair and competitive. Tomato Sauce and mozzarella not the best but very respectable. The waiting time ... way too long. Almost unacceptable for a pizzeria. It takes less than 5 minutes to make and cook a pizza from scratch from a professional pizzaiolo in Italy. Looking at the menu I also read another profanity... pasta carbonara has "bacon and cream" listed as ingredient. This is a real profanity as Carbonara needs guanciale (or in the worst case pancetta) and no cream!! Just eggs. I will go back to try the prosciutto and funghi pizza and I will update my review. I think this place is very good as long you don't go there with the expectation to find Neapolitan pizza.

Alright, hold on to your pizza slices, folks, because del Piacere in Ottawa's Little Italy is the bomb dot com! I went there for lunch on a beautiful afternoon, and let me tell you, their Prosciutti E Funghi pizza is a flavor explosion in your mouth. I mean, it's got everything you want in a pizza - tomato sauce, cheese, mushrooms, and Italian ham. It's like a party in your mouth, and everyone's invited! And don't even get me started on their wood-fired oven from Forno Bravo. You can taste the difference in the pizza crust - it's crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. It's like biting into a cloud made of pizza. I don't know how they do it, but they do it so well. But wait, there's more! We also ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara, and while it was good, I have one criticism. They used North American-style bacon instead of guanciale. Now, I don't know about you, but I like to keep things authentic, and using North American bacon is like putting ketchup on a hotdog - it's just not right. But hey, maybe they're trying to please the Ottawa palette. Who am I to judge? I guess this is Yelp - so I am the judge right? To wash everything down, we ordered cappuccinos, and they were pretty damn good. I mean, I don't know if they put some magical Italian fairy dust in there or what, but it was delicious. And to top it all off, the chef even gave my son a delicious cookie. I mean, who does that? Only the coolest chef in town, that's who! So if you want a pizza experience that will make your taste buds do the cha-cha slide, go to del Piacere. It's like a pizza party in your mouth, and everyone's invited - even the picky eaters! And if you're a stickler for authenticity, make sure to ask for guanciale in your Carbonara. Trust me, it's worth it!

Ordered the veggie and hawaiian pizza through Skip. Pizza was bland, and just overall not super fresh - cheese seemed... not like cheese, and well portioned. To be fair - wasn't right out of the oven in restaurant, but if you like left over pizza / day old pizza / hang over pizza, this is it. I do - but not for nearly $50

The food was good, but here's the problem: we arrived at 7:15, waited 15 minutes before getting even a glass of water, then ordered drinks, salads, and dinners all at once. We then waited an additional 25 minutes to get a bottle of wine, and 15 more minutes to get two cocktails others in our party had ordered. At 8:20 our salads arrived. At 8:30 the first of four entrees arrived. At 8:45 (!) two other entrees arrived. At 8:55 the fourth entree arrived. The servers spent all their time apologizing to diners at every table. Avoid this place until they clean up their act!

A work colleague and I decided to go for lunch in Little Italy and choose this quaint little Italian restaurant in the middle of Little Italy. What a most unexpected yet welcome surprise. The atmosphere was inviting and warm (small yet spacious seating with melodious music playing in the background). Our server was simply amazing and attentive. Even my drink, a rum and coke, was excellent with a hint of lime. But, the absolute best was the food. I ordered a Hawaiian pizza and it was out of this world. Delicious, tasty, and done to perfection, the best pizza that I have ever eaten. Normally, I only eat half and bring half home in a doggy bag, but this pizza was so good that I actually ate it all. Del Piacere was an awesome dining experience and I look forward to returning to eat here soon. Highly recommended.

This is the best pizza in Ottawa On.. For anybody that has tasted it will attest to it as being the ultimate best pizza in Ottawa. Their crust is to die for and for anyone that knows anything about pizza crust will agree. Most of the other listings , other than Pizza Nerds, are but sub-standards or junk pizzas !!!!

Good food . Worst service ever. I cleaned my own table with a wet-nap from my pocket. Forget fresh ground pepper- I had to get up and grab salt and pepper shakers. I ordered Pellegrino- server said they only had Perrier; I declined. Then I saw a cooler with 1 small and 4 large bottles of Pellegrino. I served myself. No check came to my table, I had to go to counter to pay. Worth noting: I ordered a vegetarian entree with Caesar salad. The salad came with bacon, which is not a Caesar salad ingredient. I asked for bread, was told they had none. This was in the late afternoon. After the Pellegrino lie, I'm guessing this was another one.

My tour of the Ottawa food scene continues with Little Italy's Del Piacere. The sauce for my lamb pappardelle was really nice: light but with the flavour of the lamb still coming out nicely and coupled well with the texture of the pasta and flavour of the grana padano (or was it parmigiano?). The rigatoni al forno was incredible; the bolognese sauce was so richly meaty, with the flavour of the wine coming through subtly and adding a lot of extra depth to the overall flavourscape. Both were complemented so well by the milder flavours of the grana padano. The fritti misto we started with consisted of lightly breaded squid and prawns. The latter of which were generously sized and meaty, although, unfortunately, there were only 3. They went well with the horseradish sauce. The chocolate gelato and lemon gelato flavours were great too. Super intense chocolatey flavours in the former (I think it was probably dark chocolate). The lemon was really refreshing, having just the right amount of tanginess. Both were great for the hot weather we had at the time. There are doubtless a lot of great places in this neighbourhood I've yet to try, but this was a promising introduction!