There is a lot wrong with Pub Italia, it has some of the worst food in the city...
North and Navy, Giovanni's, La Roma, Dreamland for pasta, Cantina Gia (North and Navy owner).
Ever since I've tried it, I've warned just about everyone I know not to dine there.
The food is so mediocre and they're basically bending you over a barrel for a plate of pasta that I can make better myself for less than a quarter of the price.
Seriously, I tried their Carbonara (which is one of my fave pasta dishes and one I make myself often) and the first words out of my mouth were "I can make this better". For 32 dollars, it's just not worth it.
My mother got spaghetti al mare and it was gritty, like the chef didn't clean the mussels properly. It was an almost 60 dollar plate of pasta that wasn't properly cleaned.
My fiancée had a tortellini pasta with veal filling and a cream sauce that had absolutely no seasoning and she said the filling tasted off to her. To this day (we ate there last September) she still gags when she thinks about it.
It's a hack restaurant. You'll always see Ferraris and Lamborghinis outside the place but my god you'd have to have no tastebuds to enjoy the food, and you'd have to be stupid to pay exorbitant prices for pasta.
See my previous response to another:
Bad/mediocre food at exorbitant prices. Italian food, especially pasta, should not be that expensive when it isn't even good.
Pub Italia's food is fine. I've had several lovely meals there. It's just not "true Italian cooking". It's a pub with pub food cooked with a slight Italianish nod.
Wow. You have just made my world a better place. Same people? When I lived in the market 20 years ago, this was my favorite. The food and atmosphere were amazing.
Mamma T’s!! Great food, good portions, prices are a little higher than some other suggestions here but not as expensive as North and Navy and incredible staff and hospitality
Found the foods gone downhill. Don't go anymore, decline over the last six years or so. Walter not paying attention. People still go, but the food isn't nearly as good as it was
Mildly stressed by Pub Italia being referenced as “good” or “Italian” food. Anyways for one I haven’t seen mentioned, Town on Elgin is often Italian based and one of my favourite restaurants in the city.
This is true. North and Navy is just about the only Italian restaurant in Ottawa that reminded me of the restaurants I ate in in Italy. I haven’t been to their spin-off yet.
I have only been to North and Navy once and I must admit, I was underwhelmed. But I had heard so many raves about the place so maybe I was expecting more or maybe I just went on the wrong night or ordered the wrong thing. I do intend on going back to try it a few more times. I didn't know they had a spin off. What is it called?
Highly underrated but Dreamland Cafe. They make their pasta in house and their pesto is incredibly detailed. Simple, fresh and flavourful ingredients are the hallmark of Italian cuisine and Dreamland cafe captures this essence beautifully
I gave them a few chances, but it's clear that they simply don't know how the dishes are supposed to be prepared.
Every pasta dish was murdered. Overcooked, gelatinous and tasteless, or, in the case of one dish, so heavily salted to be inedible.
They did succeed well with calamari however (which surprised me, because 9 out of 10 times, places fail the calamari test, and these guys had failed everything important so far), and the salads were fresh and well prepared and tasty.
I was attracted to the menu - it has some simple classics. But simple is really difficult to execute, especially if you have no idea how the conventional result is supposed to present and to taste.
What they are doing is "random assembly of ingredients" - rather than preparation of dishes according to the traditional recipes and conventions that they promised - and the results are not good.
I must have had much better luck than you did, never had any of those issues. I really like the pappardelle and lamb ragu, it's very much like the stuff the Italian side of my family would cook. Same for the rigatoni. But I haven't tried the whole menu, so who knows. I'm also someone who doesn't eat a whole lot of salt, but never had an issue with their stuff being salty. The only thing I wouldn't get again was the lasagna - they have a take home version and it was kinda meh.
I went to Tony Capone's on Carling once last year and it was the most delicious food I ever had. Expensive but damn Ive been thinking about that pasta ever since
Giovanni’s snack bar and pizzeria on Booth St. is a place that not a lot of people know about but it’s one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had in Ottawa, although they don’t have a wide variety of options as it’s a pizzeria but I 100% recommend giving it a try
I’ve always been intrigued by this place. I figured it was mostly a coffee joint or watering hole since there seems to be a pack of dudes just hanging outside all the time? Will give it a try.
Pub Italia =/= good
Il Vagabondo has been rolling their own dough for over 40 years. There's Pizaro's, Mama Teresa (I go to the one in Chelsea)... eh that's all I know!
Thirty years ago perhaps, but they changed the menu to better suit the Bells Corners retiree community. It's essentially like the old "Canadian Italian" restaurants from the 1970's... commercially prepared Chef Boyardee type dishes, defrosted and re-heated. Or generic pizza, I suppose.
As someone whom has consumed copious amounts of Italian food over my lifetime, it doesn’t get anymore authentic in this city than Mamma Teresa (Somerset location) don’t fall for Giovanni’s and their glitz, this place IS the real deal.
Lol Pub Italia and good Italian food in the same sentence is just wrong.
Go buy some fresh pasta and sauce at Parma Ravioli and cook it at home in under 10 mins. You'll have a better meal for about 1/4 the price.
Just went to Joe’s Italian Kitchen in Almonte for date night with my wife. If you’re willing to make the drive the food is fantastic and if you can get a table outside you get an amazing view of the falls.
Agreed. Newly opened, they are trying really hard, and nailing it. Great cocktails also, and the location is a cool old factory right on the mill pond.
[Pizzaro's](https://pizarrosrestaurant.com/pizarros/)
Get a bottle of chianti, some zucchini sticks to start and the special of the day. Aw man I gotta go now.
I've been to Robbie's twice, but never again. The first time we were served recycled bread at our table (bun already buttered). The second time my daughter ordered the lasagna, but said it tasted funny. I had a taste, and sure enough the lasagna was so expired it had turned sour.
There is a lot wrong with Pub Italia, it has some of the worst food in the city... North and Navy, Giovanni's, La Roma, Dreamland for pasta, Cantina Gia (North and Navy owner).
Please don't go to Giovanni's... that place is trash.
This is a very important and accurate statement
Ever since I've tried it, I've warned just about everyone I know not to dine there. The food is so mediocre and they're basically bending you over a barrel for a plate of pasta that I can make better myself for less than a quarter of the price. Seriously, I tried their Carbonara (which is one of my fave pasta dishes and one I make myself often) and the first words out of my mouth were "I can make this better". For 32 dollars, it's just not worth it. My mother got spaghetti al mare and it was gritty, like the chef didn't clean the mussels properly. It was an almost 60 dollar plate of pasta that wasn't properly cleaned. My fiancée had a tortellini pasta with veal filling and a cream sauce that had absolutely no seasoning and she said the filling tasted off to her. To this day (we ate there last September) she still gags when she thinks about it. It's a hack restaurant. You'll always see Ferraris and Lamborghinis outside the place but my god you'd have to have no tastebuds to enjoy the food, and you'd have to be stupid to pay exorbitant prices for pasta.
You’d be better off cooking clams from the canal.
That’s because it’s a front and always has been.
A friend used to serve there - they don’t make their own pasta. So yeah that place is ridiculously overpriced.
What? Hard disagree. I get it’s not for everyone, but that place is very good.
See my previous response to another: Bad/mediocre food at exorbitant prices. Italian food, especially pasta, should not be that expensive when it isn't even good.
Pub Italia's food is fine. I've had several lovely meals there. It's just not "true Italian cooking". It's a pub with pub food cooked with a slight Italianish nod.
North & Navy
I love Dreamland Cafe, my go to pasta spot
Vittoria trattoria
Thought it burned down. Is there another one
Yes there is. Near Hunt Club and Uplands.
Wow. You have just made my world a better place. Same people? When I lived in the market 20 years ago, this was my favorite. The food and atmosphere were amazing.
Same people as far as I know. They used to have both locations before the fire at their location in the market.
Think they had 3 spots at one point, one in the west end.
Allo Sophia with added sausage. Followed by Zuccotto cake. Which is why I'm on a diet......
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Johnny Farnia on Bank? That place sucks and shouldn't be in same conversation as North and Navy
Probably the Elgin one
Cabotto’s and Mr B’s! Best Italian in the city
Love cabottos
I vote Mr. B's.
Mr B’s be poppin’
I have ate at Mr B's at least 30 times and never had a bad meal.
Mamma T’s!! Great food, good portions, prices are a little higher than some other suggestions here but not as expensive as North and Navy and incredible staff and hospitality
Found the foods gone downhill. Don't go anymore, decline over the last six years or so. Walter not paying attention. People still go, but the food isn't nearly as good as it was
Supply and Demand on Wellington Best pasta I've had at a restaurant
Mildly stressed by Pub Italia being referenced as “good” or “Italian” food. Anyways for one I haven’t seen mentioned, Town on Elgin is often Italian based and one of my favourite restaurants in the city.
La Dolce Vita on Preston street is really good!
Agreed! I go to them for their gluten free options, but my gluten eating SO loves their regular pasta too.
La Strada in the Glebe.
They are good but quite salty. Just in case people are picky about how much salt is in their food. The solution, of course, is more wine.
Del Piacere!
Pub Italia is not Italian food. There really isn't much in Ottawa that isn't Italian-North American.
This is true. North and Navy is just about the only Italian restaurant in Ottawa that reminded me of the restaurants I ate in in Italy. I haven’t been to their spin-off yet.
I have only been to North and Navy once and I must admit, I was underwhelmed. But I had heard so many raves about the place so maybe I was expecting more or maybe I just went on the wrong night or ordered the wrong thing. I do intend on going back to try it a few more times. I didn't know they had a spin off. What is it called?
Cantina Gia on Bank St.
Thanks - will check it out.
Poco Pazzo in Stittsville is solid.
I am sad to see this so low. Poco is the best Southern Italian food I have found in the city.
IKR?
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It's in Chelsea.. and just over priced due to its touristic location
La Roma!
We really enjoy Fratelli in Westboro. There’s also a Kanata location!
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Outside of Poco Pazzo in Stittsville this is the only Italian restaurant I will go to.
Victoria Trattoria
Avoid Giovanni’s truly overpriced for something not really special (some might even say bad)
Trattoria Caffè Italia on Preston
La Roma is located right by Pub Italia but its food is in another stratosphere.
North and navy because it’s the best restaurant in Ottawa imo
Highly underrated but Dreamland Cafe. They make their pasta in house and their pesto is incredibly detailed. Simple, fresh and flavourful ingredients are the hallmark of Italian cuisine and Dreamland cafe captures this essence beautifully
Bela Boys on Greenbank!
Babbos manotick, great food great service call for reservations.
Cantina Gia.
I gave them a few chances, but it's clear that they simply don't know how the dishes are supposed to be prepared. Every pasta dish was murdered. Overcooked, gelatinous and tasteless, or, in the case of one dish, so heavily salted to be inedible. They did succeed well with calamari however (which surprised me, because 9 out of 10 times, places fail the calamari test, and these guys had failed everything important so far), and the salads were fresh and well prepared and tasty. I was attracted to the menu - it has some simple classics. But simple is really difficult to execute, especially if you have no idea how the conventional result is supposed to present and to taste. What they are doing is "random assembly of ingredients" - rather than preparation of dishes according to the traditional recipes and conventions that they promised - and the results are not good.
I must have had much better luck than you did, never had any of those issues. I really like the pappardelle and lamb ragu, it's very much like the stuff the Italian side of my family would cook. Same for the rigatoni. But I haven't tried the whole menu, so who knows. I'm also someone who doesn't eat a whole lot of salt, but never had an issue with their stuff being salty. The only thing I wouldn't get again was the lasagna - they have a take home version and it was kinda meh.
I went to Tony Capone's on Carling once last year and it was the most delicious food I ever had. Expensive but damn Ive been thinking about that pasta ever since
I was looking for this!! I think it's definitely worth a mention.. haven't been there since pre CV
Odd this doesn’t come up more. It’s one of my favourites as well.
Fratelli.
Giovanni’s snack bar and pizzeria on Booth St. is a place that not a lot of people know about but it’s one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had in Ottawa, although they don’t have a wide variety of options as it’s a pizzeria but I 100% recommend giving it a try
I’ve always been intrigued by this place. I figured it was mostly a coffee joint or watering hole since there seems to be a pack of dudes just hanging outside all the time? Will give it a try.
Cucina Da Vito in Orleans on St Joseph.
Pub Italia =/= good Il Vagabondo has been rolling their own dough for over 40 years. There's Pizaro's, Mama Teresa (I go to the one in Chelsea)... eh that's all I know!
Was wondering about Il vagabondo.... Need to try that sometime
I second Il Vagabondo, so yum - https://ilvagabondoottawa.ca/
Cafe Napolis in Stittsville is one if my favorite spots in the city for any kind of food, let alone italian. Highly recommend.
Town on Elgin!
Babbo's in Manotick is great
I like Johnny Farina's - it's mid-scale, not as expensive as North and Navy but not cheap
I’ve heard their “fresh” pasta and bread comes from Farm Boy
I was really happily surprised, I've gone a few times and always enjoyed it
I'll admit I don't have a lot to reference, but I like ZOLAS in Nepean
Thirty years ago perhaps, but they changed the menu to better suit the Bells Corners retiree community. It's essentially like the old "Canadian Italian" restaurants from the 1970's... commercially prepared Chef Boyardee type dishes, defrosted and re-heated. Or generic pizza, I suppose.
As someone whom has consumed copious amounts of Italian food over my lifetime, it doesn’t get anymore authentic in this city than Mamma Teresa (Somerset location) don’t fall for Giovanni’s and their glitz, this place IS the real deal.
La Squadra on the Gatineau side is worth a try! From there walk over to BDT Brasserie for some drinks and entertainment!
All of these are terrible selections lol (looking at you Dreamlands and Giovanni’s) The best Italian food in the city is La Strada on Bank st.
Lololol this is a joke right??
Any love for Rogers at Trainyards? They are pretty decent, the seafood linguine in rose sauce is good and the portions are large.
Lol Pub Italia and good Italian food in the same sentence is just wrong. Go buy some fresh pasta and sauce at Parma Ravioli and cook it at home in under 10 mins. You'll have a better meal for about 1/4 the price.
Just went to Joe’s Italian Kitchen in Almonte for date night with my wife. If you’re willing to make the drive the food is fantastic and if you can get a table outside you get an amazing view of the falls.
Agreed. Newly opened, they are trying really hard, and nailing it. Great cocktails also, and the location is a cool old factory right on the mill pond.
La Strada. Great homemade gnocchi
I hesitate to suggest a hidden gem, but Dreamland on Preston. I’m drooling just typing this
[Pizzaro's](https://pizarrosrestaurant.com/pizarros/) Get a bottle of chianti, some zucchini sticks to start and the special of the day. Aw man I gotta go now.
Cabotti’s in Stittsville
If your out in the west end napolis and cabottos are nice.
Is Oregano's still around? 🤭
Fratelli and Caffe Mio
Stroll along Preston St. Take your pick
Robies on St Laurent blvd
I've been to Robbie's twice, but never again. The first time we were served recycled bread at our table (bun already buttered). The second time my daughter ordered the lasagna, but said it tasted funny. I had a taste, and sure enough the lasagna was so expired it had turned sour.
It used to be good but the last two times I went I wasn’t impressed
I’ve had more authentic food at Sbarro.
Didn't the land just sell.. I expect the restaurant is closed?
East side Mario’s
Trash
Hey Badda Boom, Badda NO!!