Ottawa Foodies

Maybe I went on a bad day... My salad had no flavor, my sandwich flavors were mismatched... I think the only person who enjoyed his food at the table was our 19 month old. He had goat cheese pizza.

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Simply put; I want a cot in the back.

My go to spot for all things Italian. The selection of prosciutto is positively dizzying. Love the narrow aisles and shelves upon shelves of things that make me dream of Rome, Milan and Tuscany.

I have been known to be so stupefied by selection at La Bottega that I cannot make a decision and leave with nothing. (I know!)

Maybe it's the smell of food that does it.

Yet to try the cafe, mostly because it's always packed. These are a few of my favourite things...

More photos and info on my blog: www.foodgypsy.ca

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This is one of my favourite shops in the Market. They have a great selection of cheeses, pasta, olives, coffee, deli meat and European treats, and those sandwiches! Mmmm... I'm getting hungry just thinking about them.

The only thing I'm not fond of is the homemade pasta sauce. I've tried several varieties, but they were all too salty and oily for my taste.

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The perfect spot if you're looking for low prices and delicious food in the downtown area. When my brother moved to Ottawa, this is the first place I took him. We loved it :)

This place now consumes a surprising amount of my regular grocery-shopping dollar...

Yes: house brand "artisan style" pasta, house brand pasta sauces. No sugar in the tomato sauces! They are on the watery side but I'll overlook that for the complete lack of similarity to Ragu et al. Also yes to the frozen house brand pastas.

No: house eggplant parm. WTF. Not impressed at $15 worth of total inedibility. The eggplant was basically raw, and there was no way to cook it in the finished format without leaving it in the oven for hours and overcooking the rest of it. Huge disappointment; back to Fettucine's...

yikes, LWB, i hate when time passes by so quickly! Yes, I guess it's been that long now that i think of it. that's what happens when you have kids. your mind just goes... ha! still, loved the vibe at La Bottega :)

Haha. Greenqueen, unless they did a 48-hour flip, the renovations (ie. expansion of the deli area) will be two years old in November. Just so people don't rush out to see the changes ;)

Wow! just went to the newly expanded Bottega this past weekend to get ingredients for a spanish meal. Found delicious 3mo and 12mo aged Manchego and delicious fresh Chorizo. Usually go to Nicastro's on Merivale. LOVED the new La Bottega. Great products, knowledgeable staff, efficient and friendly service. oooh, it's getting to be like a mini Pusateri's! Gonna try me some of those sandwiches next time I'm in the Market. Great Ottawa business.

What a great panino and i really love the new look. I love bringing my friends from out of town here. Great food great location!!

I can't believe that I have yet to review what is quite possibly one of my favourite vendors in Ottawa!

When I first moved to Ottawa, I worked in the Rideau Centre and was introduced to Bottega by my coworkers. My SO + I had a tradition (albeit, a sort of sad tradition) when I worked Saturday mornings: He would drop me off, go to Planet Coffee and sit and read the paper/write, I would work and then we would meet at Bottega for groceries and sandwiches (granted this works far better in the summer).

I really do not have a bad thing to say about them, as a customer, nor as a former employee (I worked there for about three months). The staff is very knowledgable and quick to share their knowledge and the food is fresh, fresh, fresh! As far as I know, they also have the lowest price on boneless (but not skinless) chicken breasts anywhere (regularly it's $5.99/lb, and on sale $3.99).

My only criticism of them is that their website isn't particularly useful (it has a handful of recipes and a list of cheese/meat types). I would love to see them post the biweekly flyer online so I know where I'm getting my chicken and sausage from before we go for groceries.

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I have never had the chance to experience the little cafe at the back of La Bottega. It seems that it is always either closed or completely full.

That being said, their sandwiches at the deli counter are fantastic. My go-to La Bottega sandwich: foccacia bread, proscuitto, spicy salami, spicy capicollo, provolone, pickled peppers, pickled eggplant, mayo, lettuce, tomato. Fantastico! Great sandwich for a great price.

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Best bang for your buck in terms of sandwiches in O-Town. I always end up eating them on the move and inevitably spill some (usually on my shirt). A testament to how deliciously overloaded these puppies are.

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I love these sandwiches SO MUCH, especially the turkey. I've introduced several friends and relatives to La Bottega and they all rave about the quality. The bread and toppings are always fresh, and you get so much meat; it's an amazing deal. I usually end up sharing a sandwich or taking half home for later since I can rarely finish one by myself!

It's too bad there isn't more room to sit outside the shop and enjoy a sandwich in the summer.

LadyWB: I was there about 5:30pm, I have to visit it after work. I'm sure it's excellent at midday, but I'm never there at midday.

I asked for Mortadella and Cappo and they were nice enough to slice it up and not tab me more for it.

Assuming you went for lunch and not at 6, just as they were closing, then the bread hadn't been sitting out for more than four hours, tops.

The rosetta buns and paninis are delivered fresh, first thing in the morning and the foccacia and baguette is baked in house.

One of my favourite things about Bottega sandwiches is the freshness; don't get too crazy in asking for extra meat, otherwise they will charge you, but only about a $1, for an extra 50-75 grams, which is well worth it.

One of the things I was flipping out once I moved here was not having access to a good Italian bakery and deli ever mile or so in any direction. I was not pleased with the idea that the best Italian sub I might be able to get is from Quiznos or Subway, as one can imagine.

Then I saw everyone chowing on sammiches out in front of La Botega when I was down in the market.

I asked for extra meat and they didn't charge me extra. The pile of Cappocola and Mortadella was gigantic on my sandwich and while the bread was a bit stale, the sub was exactly what I was looking for in Ottawa.

Even at five dollars, it was worth -every nickle-. Next time I'll go get a 'Galley' special of Mortadlla, Cappocola and Genoa sammich and try not to die from a bliss attack.

smartcookie I'm there almost every Tuesday after work and the service has its ups and downs; there's one really friendly guy, but the other times, they range from amicable to drone-y to curt. But I'm sure you agree with me in the fact that the sandwiches are a steal at $5+change and they're delicious to boot! :)

Now I know what all the hype is all about. Tried the turkey on foccia bread, with mayo, lettuce and black olives. Service wasn't as friendly as I'd like it to be, but maybe it was just an off day for them.

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F&T
yes to all your thoughts

in my defense:

currently, I work alone with absolutely no help
I adhere to health codes
he is here almost every 3 months and we always discuss HACCP codes and procedures and he brings in new vendors to see my techniques
but allergies are a hard thing

I sanitize between each protien and vegetable matter but if you are severely allergic, that is not enough

when I worked at the pizza place when I did gluten free doughs there had to be a full day between doing wheat dough with no activity between

still that might not be enough

and honestly some special orders are rediculous
(perhaps not from the patron's standpoint but mostly from mine)
I constantly get an order with no onions on the salad....in 2+ years, I have never put onions on a salad unless it was a nicoise
now the server (of 3 years) should know that
but that is needless *c*R*a*P I need to read on barely legible tickets

if in the end this deminishes your view of me, so be it, but I am sure the other 40+ waiting for their food neither noticed nor cared but were glad they got their food in a timely manner

these are things that a struggling establishment has to weigh and decide how to respond

Chef Obi - RE: SPECIAL ORDERS... I am hoping that you wrote the following words after a really long shift, and perhaps a couple of brewskis... otherwise I must say as a Consumer / Customer that I am highly "bothered"...

"we all go into establishments wanting to be treated right (special/individual) but when there are 20 other tables waiting..... it's just another ticket"

and, in particular...

"if you are allergic, I do my best but no guarantee"

I agree that the prices and selection of cheese are wonderful at La Bottega. I just enjoy browsing and choosing different ones each time. Very friendly staff and deliciously fresh cheeses, will go back again!

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We have found that the prices and selection of cheese is excellent. John, the certified cheese guy is very knowledgeable and more than willing to assist. Living in the Market there are plenty of cheese stores to choose from, but we have found that LaBottega never disappoints.

la bottega serves illy coffee - regular, decaf and dark roast. i tried the dark roast and i was very impressed!

They have the nicest dark roast decaf. We love coffee but can't do the caffeine, that normally means bland, tasteless, or even worse, instant! We buy the bulk decaf from the bin for the same price as all of their other coffees. (Don't buy the kilo bag of beans, it is the same stuff but more expensive) Delicious.

La Bottega sells L'Aspromontano virgin olive oil. It has a high smoke point so I can use it for stir fries and it is much more flavourful than grape seed oil.

Anytime I buy sundried tomatoes anywhere else I usually regret it. Bought them at La Bottega a few weeks ago and nothing else has compared.

Their boneless, "skinless" chicken breasts are quite tasty and are consistently a reasonable price (regularly $5.99 lb, occassionally only $3.99/lb). However, I have been known to complain about how much fat and skin there is left on the breast--you jsut have to be a bit picky with whomever is serving you.

For those of you who love Italian chocolate like me, la bottega sells, for time to time, the famous Gianduja (Gianduiotto) from Turin.
The best brand is Caffarel.
Expensise (~$20) but so yummmmmmy.

La Botega in the market sells Harissa right next to the tomato paste tubes.