The Boot Italian Restaurant

the local review in The Cochrane Post, Cochrane's favourite community paper: rating: ★★★★★ I decided to review this restaurant since I got so many requests to include it in the Reader’s Choice Awards in the community paper, both for Best Pizza and Best Restaurant. I can see why! Easy parking, it’s in the little strip mall just west of River Avenue. When I arrived, it was pretty busy for a Tuesday evening with 4 of the 6 available tables taken and a driver picking up an order for delivery. It’s a small, comfortable spot with most of the tables along the windows. Extensive menu with all the usual Italian favourites – bruschetta to pasta to pinsa (Romana Style pizza with a gluten free option) to risotto, Tiramisu and more. I called my order in mid-afternoon and it was ready on time when I arrived at 5:30 pm. They seated me at a little table by the door as they got it ready and offered me a glass of water. The staff are friendly and made good suggestions for my order. What I liked in particular was the fresh traditional Italian greens with tomatoes and a light balsamic dressing and the Ortolana Pinsa – fresh and light with good quality cheese and an excellent crust that wasn’t too heavy (so you can have more!). The tiramisu – love at first bite. It comes in a little jar and is just right – light and not too sweet. Excellent value, good fresh food and I’m happy to recommend. This business did not know I would be doing a review until after I placed & paid for my order.

If you are celiac or gluten intolerant DO NOT eat here. They have an open window into the kitchen so you can see how they’re preparing the food. They took no extra precautions with my gluten free pizza, they put it on the same oven as all the other pizzas with nothing underneath of it to prevent contamination. After it was done cooking, they removed my gluten free pizza with the same massive spatula that was used on all the pizzas that contained gluten. Our service was subpar we wanted drinks and no one came back to take a drink order after we got our food. The plates that were provided to us on our table (meant for sharing appetizers)weren’t used, and the server put them back in the plate pile that the kitchen and servers were grabbing for other tables. If a plate that was on someone else’s table and then given to me without being washed first id be concerned about a multitude of health violations and more gluten cross contamination. As a restaurant that markets their meals as gluten free, please do better. I shouldn’t have to leave your establishment puking because you don’t take any precautions with prepping gluten free meals.