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La Bottega Nicastro Fine Food Shop
Categories: Restaurants Delis Restaurants Sandwiches Food Specialty Food Delis, Sandwiches, Specialty Food [Edit]
64 George StOttawa, ON K1N 5V9
(613) 789-7575
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sat 9 am - 6 pm
Thu-Fri 9 am - 8 pm
Sun 11 am - 5 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
30 reviews for La Bottega Nicastro Fine Food Shop
Review Highlights
30 reviews in English
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Review from Ashley A.
Ottawa, ON
5/3/2012
Fantastic Italian grocery in the heart of the Market.
The aisles are a bit close together, and the store is tightly packed with great products. If you are a bit claustorphobic, I would avoid doing your shopping on the weekends as the store fills up with patrons quickly. Excellent olive bar, cheeses, deli meats, and infused and balsamic oil selection, as well as fresh and dried pastas.
A great place to go for more specialty Italian products you may not find at a larger chain store.
When they're in season, they stock crates of fresh figs right up by the cash registers! Yum.
The best reason to come in - imported Panforte from Siena! -
Review from Gabby F.
Gloucester, ON
4/30/2012
All of the nice things that have been said, are true.
This is the greatest place for high quality Italian-influenced goods and amazing, inexpensive sandwiches. I'm also in love with their pickled spicy eggplant and their choices of olives and cheese.
I bought some olive oil infused with truffles the other day and I've been using drops on my salads and sandwiches. It's amazing.
Everything is reasonably priced. If it's high quality, it may set you back 10, 15, 20 dollars but that is the price you'd find anywhere.
I've tried their deli and butcher meat before and everything was fantastic. Not only that, but they make sure their staff stays well-informed about products and foods.
Only downside is that it's kind of ridiculously crowded at times, with lines going into the aisles. Other than that, make sure to explore the entire place and don't spend all your money. -
Review from Emily O.
Ottawa, ON
4/17/2012
La Bottega Nicastro fulfils many needs, and is worth a trip to the Byward Market in any season!
First and foremost comes their exceptional selection of sauces, antipasti, condiments, teas, coffees and sweets. I make a stop here every December to shop for unique stocking stuffers for the various individuals on my shopping list. For my summer patio loving father: a unique, all-purpose barbecue sauce, perhaps of the smokehouse or even chipotle variety. For my zen yogi a of roommate: an aromatic and flavourful tea. Even my mother with "particular taste" is thrilled with the chocolates and sweets she ate while living in Europe.
In addition, while I have not grown tired of this little shop despite my frequent visits, La Bottega is a must see for all tourists. Grabbing a delicious, affordable deli sandwich and a cold beverage makes for a perfect lunch to have while exploring the sites of Downtown Ottawa. My family and friends have always been impressed with the picnic smorgasbord we are able to create at this one top shop!
Patrons are allowed to build their own sandwiches choosing from a variety of fresh cheeses, deli meats and delicious toppings (spicy eggplant? YES PLEASE!).
La Bottega is a most see for anyone visiting the market, in fact, I'm craving it right now! -
Review from Kimberly R.
5/25/2012
I LOVE THIS PLACE! sandwiches were wonderful and the variety of speciality items was overwhelming! While in Ottawa i would go here daily to pick up snack items!
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Review from Mercedes D.
Gatineau, QC
4/14/2012
This is one of my absolute favorite specialty grocery and sandwich bars.
You walk into busy, well-stocked rows of imported Italian products - it feels like when I shopped for dinner in Florence. If you peak around the corner to the next row, you'll see an old woman comparing olive oils, a couple buying spicy egglant and garlic, kids eyeing a plethora of chocolates and young professionals queuing for La Bottega's famous sandwiches. At the very back, there is a little trattoria, and a capuccino bar, where you can experience just a little more of Italy...
Their products may be priced at a higher cost than a supermarket, but you are paying for quality, expertise and experience; nothing compares to the taste of authenticity. Besides, if you are on a budget, you should at least try one of the foccacia sandwiches... for about $5.50 with tax, you get plenty to fill your appetite.Listed in: Best Food -
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Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
2/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a pleasant surprise. Behind the oodles of noodles, cans of tomatoes, vats of olive oils, is what you really came here for: freshly made sandwiches, a stinky cheesy section, an antipasta bar. Admit it, that is what you want for lunch too!
Kicking it wheat and dairy free, I sulked for a full 30 seconds as I scanned the cheese section and listened to the sandwich orders. Then, gingerly bypassing the sandwich line, I picked a healthy looking green salad and went to town on the antipasta bar, filling up a small container, all for myself.
For a whopping $5 I had the perfect sized lunch, or as my case ended up, my airplane dinner. Was everyone around me jealous - but of course! And the shaking of my dressing that came in its own little clam shell in the security line made for a strange conversation, but so what. That vinagrette was mightly tasty, and I would have wrestled it away from the security guard. In the words of Bravehart, "They can take my water and my full size bottle of hand cream, but they can NEVER TAKE MY salad dressing!" Okay, that's a little extreme. But seriously, that's one of the best grocery store salads that has crossed my lips!Listed in: Planning a Trip to Ottawa
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Review from Andrew K.
Ottawa, ON
4/11/2012
Newish to La Bottega are the biscottis, imported from Montreal, which you can get at the checkout. They are really really good.
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Review from Kaitlin W.
Ottawa, ON
2/18/2012
I've been coming to La Bottega for six years - since I moved to Ottawa. This amazing shop is quintessentially Ottawa to me. When I first visited it, the store was about a third to one-half the size that it is now. About a year later, major renovations allowed it to grow into the space next door, and allowed the Nicastro family to offer a much larger selection of products.
In addition to being home to a fantastic little bistro (meals like your Italian nonna would make) in the back, and arguably Ottawa's best sandwich bar, La Bottega offers a huge selection of deli meats, cheeses and grocery products, with an emphasis on that which is good and Italian.
And yes, the products are good, but they're also wide ranging: They have a vast selection of prosciuttos, salamis, hams, with various salt levels and prices. They're one of the few places in Ottawa (if not the only one) that sells Iberian ham, which is a melt-in-your-mouth cured ham from Spain, where the Iberian pigs feast on only acorns.
How do I know about the huge selection? Because their staff care tremendously and stand behind their product. John, their cheesemonger, is fantastically knowledgable about the different sorts of cheeses, while their deli staff has not once steered me wrong in my choice of prosciutto or salami. The owner, Pat Nicastro, loves what he does and treats his business like an extension of himself.
I would unequivocally recommend La Bottega as a spot for tourists and residents alike, whether for its fancier fare or for a simple (but incredible) sandwich. -
Review from Coy W.
Updated - 1/2/2012 15 Check-ins Here
Since my return from Italy I've come here more often and really expanded what I use in my kitchen. I have really dug through this store and found a lot more items that I never knew were here.
- Deli meats are really nice and they carry local and imported. Expect a price tag on imported
- Cheese selection is very nice
- Decent selection of spices
- Fresh and imported pastas, sauces, tomatoes and olives
- Homemade pizza dough, raviolis and other flour based items (frozen)
- Imported oils, vinegars and other sauces
- Illy coffee to go or by the cans
- Deli sandwiches made to go, up to 3 meats, cheese and any veggies.
- Fresh bread from Artisan and other places in Quebec.
- Cafe in the back
There are other items here that I'm definitely missing but you get the hint. There's a lot that is packed into this tiny store.Listed in: 2012: 366 Day Challenge, Ottawa: Cheap Eats, Ottawa: Roasted beans and…, Ottawa: Sandwich Fever
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/7/2011
I like coming here to pick up pantry items as well as fresh meats for BBQs in the summer. The shop… Read more »
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Review from Reg A.
Ottawa, ON
3/13/2012
Great location! Great staff! Very knowledgeable! There's a great mini resto in the back, but they're hours of operation are slim. Every kind of pasta, cheese, olive oils and dressings!
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Review from So H.
Orléans, ON
11/17/2011
Great Place!
Sandwiches are awesome! the multi-grain bread is amazing (which they do not sell there, only with the sandwich)
Great prices as well! -
Review from Dawn M.
10/24/2011
Went in because window sign said they had coffee and deli sandwiches - was expecting to find a little cafe inside. Walked in... saw nice selection of pastas - if you need a specific pasta, pretty good chance you can find it here - including high-end colored (think black/white) for the real foody.
Carried on - came to the back of that aisle - and realized the cafe is really a full fledged grocery, which is bigger than it looks from outside. Still small, but mighty! They make great use of their space. At the back is a small cafe (closed already at about 5 on a Sunday - guessing it's a lunch destination) - though the coffee bar was still open. Also at the back is a nicely stocked deli (meat/cheese/anti-pasta bar). The shelves are crammed with wonderful grocery items, including things might want for a well stocked bar.
I thought the prices were great. Hubby wondered why they didn't do a better job with their signage. Based on the number of people in that small space late on a Sunday, I don't think they need to adverstise! :-) Despite the busyness, we did not have a long wait in line to pay (perhaps 3 minutes). They seem to move customers through efficiently and staff were great!
Would I return: Yes
Would I recommend: Yes -
Review from Moufazal A.
Montréal, QC
2/17/2012
So surprising. You walk into a upper-class supermarket filled with italian products and you wonder why Yelp reviewed it as one of the top Ottawa restaurants. That's when you walk all the way to the back to find, hidden behind piled-up Olive oil cans, a homestyle kitchen tucked in the corner. They only serve hot, homemade, authentic italian meals from 11 to 3pm and the place is jampacked. Try their award-winning sandwiches and deli-meats at the counter, and their freshly baked biscotti that just melt in your mouth. Totally deserved 5 star reviews on yelp.
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Review from Chloe P.
Ottawa, ON
Updated - 1/6/2012
Literally can't get enough of this place. I want to go everyday and stock up.
Listed in: places i've eaten.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/20/2010
everyone must try one of their sandwiches. plently of options, toppings, and the bread! mmm!
plus,… Read more »
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Review from Danielle M.
Oakville, ON
1/23/2011
Great lunch spot in the market. When you first walk in this looks just like a European grocery store, however head straight to the back and there is a hot-food section and a deli counter with the best looking italian sandwiches. The hot foot area is also licensed.
I had the pasta special of the day which was a cheese ravioli - it was declicious!
would definately go back on my next visit to ottawa -
Review from Samantha M.
Ottawa, ON
11/14/2011
Lots of variety, picked up a few things here for the first time. The homemade arrabiata sauce is absolutely fantastic, and I got enough pasta for 2 people for 2 dollars... Under 10 dollars to feed two people, and it tasted awesome. I had to try one of the sandwiches, very fresh ingredients, pretty tasty... Would try a different meat though I wasn't fond of the Hungarian Salami I got, every other aspect of it was great though. Only complaint and the reason I'm rating it a 3 instead of 4 is that I found the employees to be quite rude. The woman making my sandwich got angry when i asked about an ingredient, after standing to get pasta for like 10 minutes and having the guy ignored me I had to say something to him, the cashier didn't say anything while she was ringing me in either. Oh well, didn't compromise the food at all. I'll probably be back for more of that homemade pasta sauce.
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Review from Original E.
Toronto, ON
2/18/2011
If you're hungry and on a budget, go down to the Byward market for a heafty sandwich from la Bottega... Four step system towards building your ideal sandwich... With breads, spreads, and all kinds of fun stuff to stack together.
The pickled eggplant is a must for fillers, and along with your favorite bevy, cost is about $7...
They also serve the best espresso in Ottawa, and why not shop around and get that hunk of Pecorino for your evening pasta dish... You can find everything from harrisa to truffle scented rice!
Good service, a welcome mat to the Ottawa food scene. -
Review from Christian L.
Ottawa, ON
Updated - 1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Simple the bottega kitchen is solid place for a quick, inexpensive and very tasty italian meal for lunch. They have small seating area inside the store. They also have great sandwiches. Perfect place to stop on a saturday prior to shopping. Wish there was more of these places in Ottawa.
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Review from Joe P.
Toronto, ON
6/7/2011
The made to order sandwiches are a steal.
Also, Olive bread FTW! -
Review from Paul B.
3/4/2011
Great deli feel with people, food, smells and activity all around. The eating area at the back is very tight and crowded. Food is coming in from all angles. The food is great. The pizza and the hot salami sandwich was great. The wine was very ordinary and the first few sips were very rough. Finishing off the meal with a latte was the way to go. Full, hot with thick foam was a lovely treat.
For what it is - it is great and worth the stop. -
Review from Angel Z.
Toronto, ON
4/19/2011
I found this through Yelp and am very happy I did. I am a fan of delicious and inexpensive, in that order. It turned out La Bottega was too smart for me on the latter.
The instructions are clear on blackboards for newbies and the deli man was very friendly. I had a $5 sandwich of whole wheat foccacia with Prosciutto, Mozzarella, black olives, spicy eggplant, and hot peppers topped with mustard. The portion was huge, half as wide as it is tall, and deliciously packed with flavor. They salt everything just right so that the piquant and spicy and mellow are able to blend into one harmonious sandwich.
The little Tiramusus in a display fridge in front of the sandwich area are heavy on the liquor and light and fluffy in texture. Worth the $3.
So pleased with saving on my lunch and spending less than $5 on it, I bought a $30 bottle of olive oil. Gotta love a place where you can do that! -
Review from Darren M.
Ottawa, ON
12/17/2010
La Bottega sandwiches are delish.
I walked past this place for a couple of years while working in the Byward Market and knew nothing of their sandwiches. Then I was told about the goodness that was inside and at the back of the store.
Upon having my first sandwich from here I was extremely impressed.
The staff make the thing to your exact liking using very fresh bread and a wide selection of cheese and your choice of meat and other ingredients.
The staff are not only fast but also friendly and are good for giving recommendations for ingredient mixing.
The rest of the store has groceries and although I only go for the sandwiches if the rest of their products are just as good then I'd highly recommend their services. -
Review from Adam P.
Toronto, ON
11/2/2009
Since this place is in the Byward Market, I thought that it was purely a restaurant like 90% of everything else in that area. When I walked in I was a bit confused. Reading reviews on this place people were saying how awesome the sandwiches are. When I walked in all I saw were shelves of groceries. A little confused I walked around to place to find tucked away in the back, and small cafe style places that seats about 20 people and has a menu consisting of salads, pizzas and sandwiches.
Going on what I read I had to try their sandwiches. My wife ordered the manzo arrosto and I had the club italia. My wifes sandwhich was awesome. It basically tasted like a beef dip sandwich that had already been dipped in the au jus and ready to eat. My sandwich was also really good but I'd prefer the beef one. I would easily say that the hype is worth it.
After we ate we got up to go and decided to peruse the deli/cheese area to see what they have. Man do they have a lot of stuff. Fresh made pastas and sauces, olives, a variety of cheeses and a large deli section. Then in the corner of this area is a place where you can create your own sandwich to go. There was 5 or so choices for bread, meat and cheese type. When everyone talks about their sandwiches I'm not sure which part they are referring to. All I know is that I would like to try the take out sandwiches too.
This place is not a place to hang out very long. The area to eat in is very small and when we were there was full so I can see people wanting to get in and out pretty quick. I'm sure people would be willing to wait to eat here.
Check this place out if you want a really good fresh italian sandwich.Listed in: VIVA ITALIA!
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Review from Sheila B.
Ottawa, ON
3/4/2011
Hands down best sandwich east of Preston Street, done exactly to your specifications: choice of bread, choice of meat, choice of cheese (GOOD cheeses too like a nice Provolone or Emmental if you swing more Swiss than Italian), and THEN you'll be asked to choose from a list of tasty toppings like roasted peppers and marinated eggplant. All for around four bucks... Seriously, why would you eat a sandwich anywhere else in the Byward Market?
The lineups can be long if you walk in during the lunch hour, but it's amazing how fast they can whip up a sandwich.
What's wierd though, is the lack of consistency among all the Nicastros
in Ottawa they must be related, but each one seems to have a different approach. -
Review from Tom M.
2/11/2011
What a great Italian grocery. Wonderful selection of pastas, olive oils, cheeses and balsamic vinegars.
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Review from Ken C.
Ottawa, ON
11/23/2011
Very good prices for delicious sandwiches prepared in front of you. Groceries are a bit overpriced but this review is for food and it's great.
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Review from Tamar K.
Toronto, ON
10/20/2011 1 photo
i just love everything about this place! yes their sandwiches are amazing, and a great deal too (under $5 and they are huge).. and they have amazing desserts in the fridge right where u get your sandwiches from, they alternate between tiramisu and this other heavenly chocolatey creamy dessert.. they are both excellent! and their deli meats and cheeses are amazing.. fresh pasta and tortellini and ravioli are all delicious! and their olive bread and focaccia bread are soooo good! everything here is just delicious and very reasonably priced for what it is!
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Review from Kat T.
6/10/2010
I was without my Yelp app the weekend I visited Ottawa. Had I known, I am not sure I would have made it to La Bottega. I needed a quick lunch on a Saturday afternoon. After walking through the Byward Marché, I didn't see exactly what I wanted. The Panini advertised within La Bottega looked about right. The line-ups confirmed this was the right place!
Between the shelves of pasta, you must traverse your way back beyond the cases of cheese to see the deli tucked away in the back.
With 4 or 5 options of bread- I got the whole wheat foccacia (what a crazy combo of healthy and not) and no meat, just cheese. The deli man offered all the cheeses to me, so of course I said Yes.
this whole sandwich that I could hardly finish- stuffed with veggies, cheese was only $5!
This is definitely a bargain and now that I'm thinking of it, I need to get back to ottawa for another of those- yum!
Sometimes you can get lucky, without Yelp! -
Review from Jimmy G.
8/28/2010
Wow, is about all I can say. A true gem in a rather touristy place. I genuine small Italian market that does great simple authentic Italian sandwiches. I read the reviews and decided to head over for a quick lunch. I was not disappointed. Fresh proscuitto mozzerella on fresh bread. Simple but amazing.
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Review from diane d.
8/8/2008
An amazing Italian deli downtown by the market. We ordered a dozen sammies to go for an event and OMG...they were HUGE for starters but also amazingly flavourful. They came with a variety of yummy items like spicy marinated eggplant...LOVED them. They also have a great Italian market in front with the deli and mini restaurant in back. Loved it, would go back in a heartbeat.
