La Bottega Nicastro, Fine Food Shop - ByWard Market

After months of putting it aside, me and my friend finally had the time to get together and try this place. The store layout was beautiful, the staff were amazing and friendly; not to mention, the sandwich did not disappoint 🙌🙌 Everything was fresh. There were no preservatives or anything of that sort (you could literally taste the olive oil inside the mayonnaise). The portion size you get for the price is mind blowing in this economy. (The two lovely ladies serving made the experience 100x better !)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A True Taste of Italy — Ottawa’s Finest Italian Market! La Bottega Nicastro in the ByWard Market is, without a doubt, the best Italian store in the city. I’ve been going there for years, and my mom has been a loyal customer ever since it first opened — we’re talking nearly 30 years ago! It’s a true family tradition at this point. You can find anything and everything Italian here — from the finest olive oils, pastas, and sauces to an unbelievable selection of meats, cheeses, and pantry staples straight from Italy. The quality is consistently outstanding — everything they carry is top-tier, and you can truly feel the love and passion for what they do. It’s incredible how much they offer. Whether you’re after a DOP product, fresh cheeses, or artisanal goods you’d only expect to find in Italy, they’ve got it. You can not only pick up pastries, sandwiches, and ready-made foods, but also everything you need to make authentic Italian dishes at home — top-quality flours, an amazing selection of oils and vinegars, cookies, biscotti, amaretti, Nutella, jams, and preserves. Every visit feels like stepping into a true Italian marketplace — warm, vibrant, and overflowing with incredible flavors. An absolute gem for anyone who loves real Italian food and culture 🇮🇹✨

Ever since my wife discovered La Bottega, this store has become a regular part of our lives — and without any exaggeration, we’ve been shopping there every single week. It’s a true Italian gem in the city, offering authentic products straight from Italy. Every week, we buy prosciutto and Italian cheeses here. We especially love the blue cheese (I’m not exactly sure of the name, but the taste is unforgettable!). Normally, we go for the Canadian prosciutto, but today we made an exception and tried the Italian one — it’s saltier and, in our opinion, just a bit fattier, which makes it even more flavorful. We also picked up bocconcini cheese today — it was incredibly soft and delicious. The staff at La Bottega are always kind, helpful, and welcoming. It’s always a pleasure to shop there — they’re happy to offer suggestions and recommend the best options for your meals. Today’s visit was no exception — amazing service as always. Tomorrow we’ll be making pasta — part of our ongoing love for Italian cuisine. For the past six years, we’ve mostly been cooking with Italian pasta and olive oil — and La Bottega is where we get our olive oil too. Thank you, La Bottega, for the atmosphere, the quality, and for giving us a little taste of Italy every single week.

I don't do this often but my experience at the Bottega restaurant yesterday for lunch really stuck with me. My friend told the waitress that she was interested in having a glass of wine. The waitress explained the options and my friend asked to try the red wine they were offering. The waitress agreed and pours my friend and myself some wine to taste. I was surprised she poured me one since I hadn't engaged in the conversation of wine but tried it and told her the wine was good but that I wasn't planning on having wine. She then said "you're not going to let your friend drink alone are you?", I hesitated and didn't exactly know how to respond, and before I could, she poured me and my friend a glass. She then said "she's having a glass". She likely picked up on my friend and Is facial expressions because she quickly and in a sort of panic said that she wouldn't charge for the 2nd glass (mine) and would give my friend a good price on her wine. My friend didn't hear this and asked the server what she said and the server said she would give her a good price on the wine (not the part about the 2nd glass being on the house). My friend and I make the most of it while we catch up and eat. During this time, I couldn't help but overhear the server pressure other people to have wine. She even joked that she was doing exactly that to another client. It was very odd.. and wildly inappropriate. For context, this was on a Wednesday during lunch time. At the end, when my friend and I were ready to pay. The server verbally told us how much we owe. No receipt. No way for us to know if we were being charged for the 2nd glass of wine and no way for us to know the "good price" on my friends glass of wine. My friend asked how much we were being charged for the wine, and the server said $12 dollars for both. Two points to make here : 1)that's one dollar off from the menu price 2)she charged us for two glasses of wine. I've worked in restaurants for many years and this is not something I have ever encountered. Left a sour taste in my mouth, and it wasn't from having tried the wine.

Have been coming to La Bottega in the Byward Market for more than a decade. It is a well managed family owned business with authentic Italian products, wide selection, and great prices. Whether it is grocery items (pastas, coffees, biscotti, olive oil etc.), cheeses and deli meats, or their freshly made paninis, you will always leave this store satisfied. Highly recommend La Bottega and will continue to support this Italian family-owned establishment. Bravo!

Delicious and authentic Italian and European produce. Signature sandwiches are still the best in town. Very affordable prices if you shop based on their biweekly flyers and also good opportunities to try out new items. The staff and owners are great and always a pleasure to interact with!

La Bottega is an absolute gem. A true family-run business where every visit feels like an experience, not just a stop. The atmosphere is lively, welcoming, and full of authentic Italian charm. So friendly, so fun, and genuinely Italian in the best possible way. A place I love returning to and fully supporting.

Came here with a friend who used to lived in the area and highly recommended we eat lunch here. You may not realize there’s a sandwich shop in the back unless someone shows you. It’s quite the hidden gem and so worth your time. Not only do you get a choice between four different fresh breads to choose from but there’s a dozen different meats and cheeses and toppings to create amazing sandwiches. Then there’s real Italian espresso drinks to pair with your lunch. Can’t really say much about the grocery store (though it did look amazing) but I can definitely recommend the deli and cafe!

Bad service at the deli counter. Wife went yesterday to get our weekly meat order and was served by a lady behind the counter, she was very rude with my wife and when she ordered Italian prosciutto and the lady behind the counter that severed her, she end up getter her porchetta. When my wife said to the lady that's not that I order, the lady told her while tapping on the meat with a mean demeanor "this is what you order"... and when she redid the prosciutto she purposely cut the meat thick. The lady tried to force my wife to take the porchetta as well. She ended up to leaving it there on the counter. But it doesn't stop there, my wife went to see a manager and the manger blamed my wife that she didn't pronounced it properly and it was my wife's fault. Didn't address the lady's attitude and service. When I call "Italian prosciutto" does that sound like "porchetta"? With all being said, this store has lost a loyal customer. This has upset me to no end! I hope they revisit how they treat their customers, because now this customer will be shopping elsewhere from now on.

This is a store if you are looking to splurge a bit on groceries and honestly it is worth every penny. I came here specifically for cheese, cold cuts and canned goods. I do have a chip obsession and bought chorizo chips. I'm sorry to tell you but the taste was off putting and I didn't finish the bag. I can't even describe the flavour . If you like authentic sandwiches, you have reached the jackpot since the bread is made fresh everyday and they cut the cold cuts in front of you. Too bad I had lunch before coming here. This place is always busy. I do appreciate the table and chairs they have in the front in case you want to eat. The food speaks for itself and you can see management means business and take pride in delivering the community Italian products.

I've come to Ottawa many times, but this is my second time coming to this place. This is probably one of the best Italian grocery stores I've been to so far. This place is filled to the brim with quality Italian groceries and treats. One of these days, I really want to come here and get stuff to make an Italian charcuterie board! Other than having quality groceries, this place is known for making the best Italian sandwiches. They deserve that title, lol. Every time I came here for a sandwich, the line was long, and it's for good reason. You get to customize it how you like it. You pick a type of bread, cheese, two meats, and whatever condiments you want. I got flat looking bread( can't remember the name of it), provolone, spicy Capocollo, mortadella, onions, and spicy eggplant. It was BOMB lol so delicious. It only costs about $10 CAD, so $7.50 USD. The service here is great and the people are really nice and helpful. Come and treat yourself to real Italian food!

They do great sandwiches in the back and it's not too expensive, which is nice in this inflationary economy! You can pick the bread, meats, cheese and other toppings. It's not better than anything I've ever tasted but it's a good sandwich, decent portion for a good price. The lines can get a bit long but when I was there, I found it moved quickly enough. They only have a few seats, so it's more of a to go spot.

My family and I absolutely loved the sandwiches we got here. You build your own by choosing your bread, meat, cheese, and toppings. My husband hates sandwiches and he said it was fantastic. We also picked up tomato and olive focaccia for later. I wish we had one at home.

La Bottega is on the smaller side, but they have really made the most of the space. It is absolutely filled wall to wall with high quality grocery items. The prices are quite reasonable and not as high as you might expect for a specialty store. Head to the back of the store and you will find their phenomenal sandwich bar. The portions are large, the ingredients are fresh, and the prices are cheaper than the popular sub shop that shall not be named.

My friends with Italian backgrounds told me that here is the best place to get a proper sandwich. Curiosity finally bit me and I went in for a try. There was quite a long line for the sandwich bar. I waited about 10 minutes. You get the sandwich for takeout (you can dine outside, though there wasn't much shade in the late afternoon) and check out at the register. In the end, I heartily enjoyed my sandwich with its fresh ingredients. You can customize your own sandwich with the choice of a type of bread, cheese, up to two types of meat, and as many toppings as you'd like. I opted for a sandwich with a soft panini base, provolone cheese, Genoa salame and mortadella for the meats, and toppings of lettuce, tomatoes, hot peppers, and mayonnaise. Please let me know if my creation is deemed heretical. Very much worth noting that La Bottega also has a small grocery selection of Italian products, ranging from pantry items to unique confections. I didn't get anything from my visit here, but I'd say it's worth checking out. This was overall a nice experience. I'd like to come back with a friend who can offer recommendations on what to get.

Perfect little (not so little) Italian market located in the heart of Byward. Gives you the taste of Italy without having to go to Italy. Sandwiches are like no other and they have everything from olive oil to wine to Nutella and everything in between.

HOLY MOLY! I took my Italian boyfriend here and he LOVED IT. The sandwiches were incredible and even I who doesn't love sandwiches (I know that sounds crazy) could probably eat 50 of them!

Very fine collection of Italian pasta, sauces, oils and.... Their famous sandwiches that we heard they have was really nothing special... portion was very small ( the fillings was less than normal I think) their coffee was good.

The best sandwich in Ottawa hands down and only for $9. I live in Gatineau and this place is worth the trip.

1 star out of 5 for: It was a HUGE disappointment on the service & courtesy we received from one of the staff at your café / kitchen. Is it because my brother (visiting from out of town) & I looked like students? We paid for our food. But we got relegated to the benches outside of the kitchen because they were apparently closed BUT then kept other people to come in and sit. So it was mot a hard rule - when the kitchen is supposedly "closed". And - I've been a customer of this place for years. Really disappointed. #fail

Best hidden gem!! I wasn't expecting to find a small casual cafe/restaurant at the back of this bottega, and I was so impressed with how fresh and affordable my meal was. If you're dining at the cafe, grab a seat at the counter to get a view of the open kitchen; my group was seated here and loved watching each dish being freshly prepared. We were tempted to try everything on the menu so we ended up sharing several dishes family-style, including the Rucola salad, Zafferano pasta, Viola pasta, and the Pietro pizza. Everything tasted fantastic...the salad was vibrant and appetizing, the pastas were full of flavor and perfectly cooked al dente, and the pizza had just the right topping to base ratio along with a soft and chewy crust. There wasn't a morsel left on our plates! And upon hearing that we were sharing, the kitchen was even so kind to split up the dishes for us (not something many restaurants voluntarily do). Excellent food and service here. As for the bottega itself, you wouldn't expect to find so much in this store from just passing by outside. Along with the cafe, there's a deli section of meats and cheeses towards the back as well as several aisles of Italian goods and imports. If I lived near here, I'd come all the time to pick up lunch or ingredients to bring home to cook!

YUM! Looking for Scrumptious Sandwiches? Look no further. This is my go to. The sandwich bar is in the back of the store. There tends to be a line up which is only a testament to their quality. After choosing your bread (Focaccia forever!), meat, and sides, you are served with a hefty sandwich full of fresh ingredients. Truly filling while affordable. I also love exploring their wide array of cheese, chocolates and pastas! Give this place a try!

Great selection of Italian grocery items, wine and cheese shop, deli!! Everything you can think of. Great place to find products from all over Europe without having to travel there!

I love this place! So many options that you can't get at a regular grocery store. Love going to their sandwich and coffee bar. Everyone who works in the back is very friendly. If you go, get one of their sandwiches, such a good deal for $7.95 with choice of bread, cheese, 2 meats and other toppings! Always tastes very fresh. Can't wait to go back.

My most recent experience with La Bottega was excellent (before the pandemic ). I ordered quite a bit of food for an international welcome event at a local hotel, and each step was simple and flawless. From my first call with the catering rep discussing how much food we will need and what types of items to offer, to delivery and payment, it was a good news story every step of the way. The food was also fresh and delicious and there were enough leftovers that I got to try everything: meats, cheeses, olives, breads, little sandwiches - a shmorgousboard of yummy. Can't wait to go back and have an in-house made sandwich again!

So glad I tried this adorable local Italian speciality grocery store today. I got a sandwich at their sandwich bar for $7 and its a pretty generous portion size with fresh bread, meats, and veggies. For $7 you getyour choice of bun, TWO meats from a ton of options, and unlimited toppings. Will definitely be my new go to sandwich place in Ottawa, much fresher and healthier than subway, and supports local owned businesses. I also picked up some specialty brie and paté which was considerably cheaper than at a chain grocery store. This would be a great place to pick up food/w for a cute picnic or charcuterie board. Overall, I look forward to going here much more often and highly recommend to anyone living/visiting downtown Ottawa.

When in Ottawa, I have to come here. I always get dried pasta imported from Italy here because it is the next best thing to fresh. At the back of the shop, you can grab lunch or a cappuccino done the right way. Lots of meats, cheeses. I love Italian markets. This one feels like the real deal. The aisles are very narrow so be patient when it is busy to get through the crowd to find that special tomato sauce or hard to find jar of olives.

I go to la Bottega quite often and absolutely love it here. It's a small Italian grocery store with a small restaurant and sand which and deli bar in the back of it. I'll start with the store itself. They have a lot of variety of Italian goods. Various pastas, sauces, oils, dressings, cheeses, beverages, meats, Candies, chocolates and deserts. You name it. Al though the store is small and the isles are tight, you can likely find what you came in for and the quality of products is great. I've never been disappointed. They have two cash lines that usually go by pretty fast. It's usually pretty busy in the store. Now for the restaurant. It's located in the back and has a few tables to eat your meal at. It's full service so you order and get served your meal. They have a few pastas, pizzas and other lunch items. I loved their pizza with chorizo. It was delicious. I also really enjoyed the charcuterie board. The prices are decent with good serving size. They also have wine and beer if I'm not mistaken. My favourite part of the store is the sand which bar. I love going here for lunch especially in the summer. The sandwiches are really worth the minimal 7$ that you pay for it. It's stuffed with deli meat and cheese and whatever other toppings you like (I love spicy egg plant). They have ready made salads to go (Greek, ceaser, pasta salads and caprese etc). Highly recommend everyone try their sandwich at least once.

I heard La Bottega was a good spot for sandwiches. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it wasn't a restaurant and was more of a fine foods grocery. Its a definite destination if at Byward Market. I could roam the aisles of La Bottega for hours. It brought so many memories back of my Italy travels since many of the items are imported from Italy! Nothing but the best stuff in this market. They also have a great deli section of fresh antipasto, breads, sandwiches made to order, meats, etc. I love the fresh focaccia bread. On my first visit to La Bottega, I ended up getting some arugula, focaccia, and prosciutto for an easy dinner at my airbnb. On my second trip to La Bottega I got more focaccia, chocolate, and dried pasta to bring home. Half of the items ended up consumed on the road trip. Oops. Highly recommend La Bottega when at Byward Market. There is just so much to choose from and the quality is fresh and top notch.

My all-time favourite food store in all of Ottawa-Gatineau. # 1 for sure. Everything fresh from meats, cheeses, pastas, olive oils, specialties and delicacies......they've got it. A pleasure going in there every time. My fave employee is John Adamo, the Cheese Guru.....just a very nice guy...very friendly and knowledgable. La Bottega is a true taste of Italy,,,,authentic, fresh, tasty and pure. Glad they are doing very well. Rocco always friendly. The sandwiches are second to none...tasty, fresh and eclectic. Viva La Bottega. Viva Italia ! Raymond Anka Ottawa

A Yess for me. That is simply the best Italian grocery shop in Ottawa. If you need to get a "00" flour for your pizza or bread that is the right place. I haven't seen tomato sauce with the price tag they have, $1.99 for a perfect can of tomato sauce for my pizza. They have great green products like arugula etc. I would recommend trying Loaker waffle products, as they are just amazing! Another great product is their Hazelnut syrup for your morning coffee! Enjoy!

A friend recommended this place to and I absolutely love it. If you go to the back, you can get one of the best sandwiches in town for $7. They layer your sandwich with so many layers of meat it's actually insane. It's a very good portion, for someone that eats a lot 1 is enough for a meal. You have a wide variety of cheese and meat to choose from to put in your sandwich. Im not sure when they close but they close the sandwich area a bit earlier, I was still able to get one at 3 PM. At peak times there will be a lineup but it's fairly quick about ~10 - 15 mins wait maximum. The people here are one of the kindest and nicest people I have meet, your typical Canadian apologizing for anything, saying hi/good morning to you. I come here every single Saturday and Sunday to grab 2 sandwiches.

This review pertains only to the deli. If I lived in the Byward Market area, I would probably be here all the time. The gourmet grocery options are endless, but as a visitor just in need of lunch on the go, I wasn't blown away by the quality of their sandwiches. I went here at least 3 times, probably because of the lack of competition in the Byward Market area and the prices. For less than $6, you pick 1 of 4 breads, select up to 2 meats from about 8 options, 1 of 4 cheeses and about 8 condiment options. The portion sizes are average so you definitely get your money's worth. I think all they really need to do win 4 stars from me is expand their options and offer oil and vinegar. Then again, other customers don't seem to care, as evidenced by the inevitable line here during lunch time. Expect to wait anywhere between 10-15 minutes to order. No minimum purchase for credit card transactions.

I found this place thanks to Yelp, the high ratings are well merited! I was here for lunch on Canada Day and was surprised that there weren't more people. Even though La Bottega seems very popular online, I felt like I was entering a hidden gem in Ottawa and in my head, I was laughing at all the other tourists paying for their overpriced special menu lunches in the Byward Market. I came strictly for the sandwiches prepared at the end of this little shop and didn't really browse through any of their other products. For about 6$ a sandwich, it was great value for money. Quality ingredients, generous serving that could have fed two people with a normal appetite- made how you want it and truly better than Subway! Simple and satisfying, a must try.

A small restaurant in the back of an Italian product store. I followed recommendations from the waiter so I do not know exact thE name of the dishes but theyy were very good. I had the soup of the dayy Butternut Squash, very good, it reminds me of another good soup that I had in Munich,with a fresh spice touch. The past was a carbonara like pasta, but not carbonara, as it was made with a lighter sauce, some Italian sausages onions and more. Another very good restaurant on this town. It seems that I'm finding the right ones or the food hear is very good!

I can't tell enough how glad I am that I've found this place. This is my go-to place to buy cheese, pasta and chocolate and here is why - they import most of their products from Europe and have an amazing variety! Not only they offer a wider variety, their pricing is so much more reasonable than some other stores around the area and it is always fresh! It gets busy on weekends so I recommend going on a weekday if you want to avoid the wait but this place is a real gem for

Excellent sandwiches, in the one week I'm in Ottawa I went 3 times! Also the cheese and crackers are great, we went there before picnics to pick up the essentials!

I was in Ottawa over the weekend just taking a stroll through Byward Market with some family and decided we needed a place to eat and my research brought me right at the door of La Bottega. At first glace, this place looks like your authentic italian grocery store with all sorts of goods imported from Italy to give those Italians a nostalgic feel but the real star of this place is the little sandwich shop tucked away in the back. You get to choose your bread, cheese, meat (ANY 2 kinds) and toppings all for about $7. I must say this place really delivered and exceeded my expectations. I will definitely be returning back and ironically the gentleman who prepared my sandwich said "is this your first time here? well it certainly won't be your last! see you soon"

My favourite sandwich in all of Ottawa. It used to be around $5, now it is $6 including tax, but a good price for what you get. I think that overall, it has much more flavour than Di Rienzo's. I usually get: white focaccia (lots of herbs/spices makes it very flavourful!), swiss, spicy salami + prosciutto, ALL the toppings, and mayo. I actually only eat half of it for Lunch, then eat the other half after work! You can also add olive oil on your bread to make it more tasty! Lines are longest at about 12:00-12:30PM, so go before or after then. You can also buy the white focaccia and the multigrain focaccia bread to take home ($3.99!), and pick up some deli meats and cheeses while you wait. Recently at a work event, a colleague brought a deli platter from La Bottega, and I was very impressed! It had different cheeses, figs, and accompaniments. Definitely pricier than grocery store platters, but also higher quality! I'm going to get one in the future to bring to other events.

Used to go here on a regular basis, enjoyed a lot of their imports from Italy and their sandwich bar is nice and well. One of my favorites in the market.

Top ranked by Travelocity members. Small cafe in back serving great Italian lunch. Lucky to snag a seat at lunch. Split the special pasta of the day with wild boar and porcini sauce, and ham and cheese board.; enough for two. Most professional server handling all tables with great skill and attention. Also Great specialty food market.

This place is great, amazing prepared food and great selection of italian imported ingredients.

A pretty cool grocery store with great sandwich. The line can be pretty long, come to be prepared. You can choose the what you want for sandwich, one interesting top is the spicy eggplant. You should try it if you are ok with spicy. They actually make sandwich really fast, probably the fasted I've ever seen, but just too many people want it and you have to wait a while. I think it worth it. Not too many seats available. Only 3-4 small tables outside the store.

If you are craving for italian/french grocery items, this is the place to go. We especially like their cold cuts and variety of cheese. The place is nice and the people working there are very pleasant and helpful.

Head to the back of this store for some big, well priced (~$7), fresh made-to-order sandwiches. You choose your bread, meat, cheese, sauces, and toppings. I went around 1:30pm and didn't have any problems with a line. The staff are friendly and put up with me struggling through my first order. Sandwiches were huge and I was happy with the quality of everything! They pack lots of meat and toppings in these for a product that's at least a pound (0.5 kg) each. I went with a friend and he couldn't finish his. I think you'll get a sense of the quality from the overall store when you walk in. My only wish is that they had more options for sauces. The only options are mustard, dijon, and mayo. Some house-made options, maybe one with an olive oil base, would be a good addition. This place isn't big in the back so I would expect a wait during prime lunch hours. Sandwiches are CASH ONLY.

We came here twice during our stay in Ottawa. We tried the sandwiches and ready made pastas. This is the best bang for your buck and it tastes incredible as well. A sandwich is 6.75 and you can build your sandwich with different bread, cheese, meat and toppings. Everything is fresh and they offer big portions.

Finding myself more and more adjust to cold sandwiches :) find this fine food store on Yelp, and decided to grab a quick lunch after finishing my walk tour. These is quite a line at lunch time, but the staff make sandwiches really fast. Got soft panini, roast beef and the first cheese on board ( I don't remember the name!). My topping is spicy eggplant, lettuce and tomato. To me the sandwich is just okay lol.. Again I prefer hot meals more, and I always find meat and cheese too salty for me.. Hahaha guess it takes time for me to get used to that!

Dropped in here for lunch one Sunday. It was just before noon so their little cafe inside the store wasn't open yet, but you could still buy the sandwiches at the deli counter. Its the typical setup you see in an Italian store. You pick your bread, meat, cheese and toppings and the staff makes you up a sandwich. Very very good sandwich, with excellent meat. Bread was also excellent. The main setup is a small grocer so we grabbed a salad, extra bread, as well and a couple of drinks and ate on their sidewalk patio table overlooking the market. We shared the sandwich and salad and bread and it was enough for a light lunch. Pleasant experience and we felt the prices really reasonable! For a downtown Ottawa By-ward Market location you expect to pay extra, but I didn't feel that here. We will most likely be back again.

I've only tried the sandwiches here, which are AMAZING. They are probably the best sandwiches that I've had in my life. I usually get the focaccia bread with prosciutto, and they really cram a lot of stuff inside that sandwich! Good value and good portions -- they cut the sandwich in half as well so I can eat them as two meals or share with someone. Take that with a grain of salt though because it doesn't take much to make me full. There is usually a line-up during lunch for the sandwiches, but they're worth the wait (try to go early to beat the lunch rush) and the price (they have raised their prices to $7 including tax now).

Such a hidden gem in the Byward Market. I came here based on Yelp reviews and was meaning to try one of their sandwiches because they are so highly rated. I would have never imagined that there was a quaint little restaurant in the back of the aisles of groceries. My plan to try one of their sandwiches changed when the waiter gave us his own recommendation: the pasta of the day, bucatini alla carbonara. I took him up on his recommendation and was so glad I did! It was amazing. Pasta is a bit al dente, just the way I like it. The sauce and texture just melted in my mouth. Service was great. The price was reasonable at $12. I will definitely come back on my next visit!

I finally was able to get a seat at the little eatery in the back of the store. I ordered the warm roast beef sandwich (garnished with onions and provolone) which came with a side of mixed green salad with a balsamic vinaigrette. I ordered a blood orange San Pellegrino as drink. I really liked the sandwich. It was grilled enough to melt the cheese and bring out the flavour. The roast beef was moist and the onions slightly caramelized. I am not a great fan of plain mixed greens salads but this one was very fresh. The service was prompt and polite. It looks like a spot where a lot of regulars go to and I can see why. If only I lived or worked closer to this location, I would be a regular too. Eatery aside, the store is stocked with a lot of fresh and decently priced Italian food, many that can be bought by weight: cheeses, deli meats, olives, marinated eggplants, biscotti, etc., etc. and served by helpful staff. I give it 5 stars because it is all around a great experience and everything you can wish from a trip to the store, including getting a great meal.

Great value at Byward. It's not mind-blowing or anything, but you do get a filling sandwich with quality ingredients for $5.31 ($6 after tax) in an otherwise pretty expensive city. The counter is at the back of the store with the cheeses and meat counter. The line at lunch time was long, but it was only about a 15 min or so wait. You get to choose a bread, cheese, meat (up to 3), and condiments. The first time we went I got the whole wheat foccacia with provolone, prosciutto, Genoa salami (spicy salami), spicy eggplant, mayo, lettuce, and onions. My bf got the pastrami. Mine was delicious, but I actually liked the pastrami better (surprisingly). The pastrami wasn't as salty and tasted more moist than the salami/prosciutto combo. The second time was even better- we had the spicy salami, Italian ham, and turkey on multigrain bread with the works (hot peppers, spicy eggplant, lettuce, tomato, olives). Really delicious. Get the multigrain bread- it's apparently a staff favorite, but doesn't seem to always be available. Pick up some other snacks and drinks and head to the checkout line. Then, you can take your sandwich outside or into the back restaurant area for seating.

One of our all-time favorites! This is one of OTTAWA's little gems! Their lunches are delicious and they carry everything a foodie could need or want! Their sandwiches are worth the lineup!

I heard a lot appraisals of La Bottega before I visited Ottawa, but I felt it was a little overrated. The shop provides various kinds of Italian fine good and fresh made sandwich inside. And there is a little restaurant served some pasta and pizza in the back of the shop. I came there twice when traveling around Ottawa. First for the cold sandwich, you pick your bread, meat, cheese and some vegetables to make a sandwich without toast. Actually, it tasted very salty and not very comfortable. Latter, I seat in the restaurant for lunch combo a bowl of lentil soup and an individual size of pizza. There were good but just normal. But the tiramisu was pretty good! It was moisture and sweet. The price of this meal was not cheap at all... At lunch time, it was very crowded. Staff sometimes were too busy to keep being kind to customers. Many people came here for sandwich, but I could only say trying once is enough.

A lot of people I know kept suggesting I go to La Bottega, but I put it off for awhile after hearing about the long lines. When I had some time to go for lunch during the week, I made a stop here to get a sandwich and stood in the long line while checking out the menu on the board. It's actually quite simple - you pick your bread, cheese, meats, and extras/condiments. Because I'm so indecisive and pretty greedy, I asked how many different meats you can choose and they told me 3-4. I made a few random picks was good in the panini I chose, but I was very disappointed to get back to work with little time to eat, only to discover that they forgot the ingredient I was looking forward to the most - the marinated spicy eggplant! It sounds ridiculous but after waiting in line for so long (almost half an hour), you start to get hangry and really look forward to finally eating what you ordered. There were tons of people so it was easy to miss something small, but it was something I was craving and my sandwich felt a bit incomplete without it. The sandwiches are affordable, a little over $5 plus tax, and the groceries are priced similarly to other specialty food shops. I'll have to back when it's a little less busy (if there's ever a time), and write an updated review.

What an amazing little market. I'd shop here all the time if I lived in Ottawa. The sandwich shop was fantastic. Quite a line but it moved quickly. They put such a pile of delicious prosciutto on the sandwich that it would make Subway ashamed of how stingy they are with their crappy bologna. Awesome place. Highly recommend.

Delicious fresh sandwiches. Scored on balsamic vinegars on clearance that have real pizzazz. Prices for specialty cheeses better here than in other market cheese shops. Burrata, for example was $2.00 less here than elsewhere. Great spot to browse and look for special items. Only place I have seen that carries Bottarga. Fresh figs by the cash. Must try their cannolis. Each time I am there, I keep thinking I will get one but haven't yet.