La Bottega Nicastro, ByWard Market

Bottega Nicastro is much more than a “speciality grocery store”. It’s an experience of how the Italian way of food shopping and casual dining can be successfully exported to another country. Whether you want to cook from scratch or put together a quick meal, you will find all kinds of packaged and fresh ingredients. Dozens of varieties and top brands of pasta, sauces, oils, vinegars, pickles, sott’olio, preserves, cookies and cakes fill the shelves. The gluten free section is well stocked. Elegantly packaged Nicastro brand products guarantee affordable quality. The deli area offers a rich array of cheeses and cured meats, and they will freshly grate the parmigiano for you. The founders, Rocco senior and Giuseppe, and their sons, Rocco junior and Pat, are always welcoming and ready to advise. If you chat with them and hear their stories, you will appreciate their relentless, decades-long pursuit of high quality and service. There’s more to Bottega than grocery shopping. For many Ottawans, it’s a place to meet and have a chat. You can sip an excellent Illy espresso at the coffee bar. In the cosy, bustling restaurant at the back, the award-winning chef prepares a seasonal menu and customers enjoy a friendly, gourmet experience. My Italian husband and I eat healthy, quality Italian food every day in Ottawa as if we still lived in Italy. Thank you, Bottega Nicastro, for making that possible.

One of the best place in town to buy Italian products! Great selection of gluten free products as well