50 Best Italian Restaurants in Ottawa

“Omg how did I not know about this place before today. The food was amazing. The wine was affordable. The desert was to die for and the check was decent priced. I don’t remember the last time I finished my main and dessert and the wine. :) loved it and the server Deb was amazing. 10 stars out of 5“

“Fantastic sandwiches and amazing staff and ownership. Actually the arancini and desserts are great too - everything is!“

“Went here for our 2nd wedding anniversary. A very delicious widespread of food! We were not disappointed. Amazing customer service, cute drinks, and yummy food. What more could we ask for?! One of our favourites was their unique dinner for two, fried chicken pizza and salad! Very filling, a good contrast, and not greasy! We will definitely be back!“

“Great space. Warm service. Great for a quick bite, or a multiple course adventure. Everything was seasoned incredibly. The pizzas are nice and light, and balanced. I recommend getting a couple and sharing. Beers are cold. Cocktails are dope. The staff seemed stoked. Everything was great. Ottawa staple for me.“

“We enjoyed our dining experience very much! The ambiance and service was fantastic! The food was fresh and delicious with excellent size portions! Highly recommend!“

“Arguable the best pizza I've ever eaten. So good I had to let the owner know. I've tried alot in my lifetime and nothing compared to this spot, its in a bracket of its own.

I tried to buy a coffee cup as a reminder of the spot, I know a coffee cup from a pizza joint, but it was a cool cup. But Eric (the owner) or maybe co-owner, gave me one for free.

As a maritimer visiting ottawa on a work trip, I've heard of the spot and don't get me wrong. I understand people have their views on pizza, but this was light, crust was crispy, and it sit well when picking up a slice.

I tried the deluxe I believe, I wanted to stay on the safe side for a first timer, but I'll definitely be trying more if or when I get the chance to go back.
9.1/10“

“Fabulous place with Great food and Service!! You should definitely give it a try. Have gone a few times now and every time has been great.“

“Amazing sandwiches, bought many frozen meals especially lasagna different sizes, ALL amazing. Just tried the beef barley soup…best ever had! Top notch customer service as well!“

“As always, a fabulous experience from the moment you walk in the door to the moment you leave. Love supporting this family run business that has been a fixture in my hometown for over 30 years. Basil and family - you never disappoint! A great place to celebrate my last birthday of my 40’s (shhh, I kept that quiet). Cheers to you all! ❤️🥂“

“We went tonight for our friend’s birthday. Food was amazing, drinks were good, service was excellent. 10/10 recommend. Note it is small inside, very quaint. As a person with a young baby, I won’t be bringing her (my daughter) there; we’ll keep it for a date night 😅“

“was a great experience 10 outta 10“

“Great food! Atmosphere was great, and the waitress was very accommodating. Only thing I can suggest was the tables are too small.“

“We had a wonderful Anniversary Dinner last night, and will ABSOLUTELY return! Thank you for you attention and for a FANTASTIC meal. Thanks again“

“Super nice service and very delicious food. The carbonara was a bit of a surprise for me, as I lived for a while in Italy, but never had a Carbonara with onions before,... but maybe it's a variaty of a specific Italian region 😅😎 which I haven't heard of 🤔 Overall : it's a five star experience with brilliant staff and atmosphere 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 👍🎉❤️“

“I visited recently with my extended family for my aunt’s celebration of life. The staff were amazingly considerate to our needs. My son and I have a number of anaphylactic allergies, which we made the staff aware of in advance. The staff were so kind as to point out which items would be safe for my son, and which to steer clear of. I then asked if they might be able to make me a dish that was no longer on their menu, and they obliged. It was just as delicious, if not better than I had remembered! 10/10 service, and 10/10+ food! We’ll be back soon, my son is still talking about the delicious Mac and cheese!“

“We were looking for authentic Italian and this is it!! We highly recommend you make time to stop here!!!“

“We celebrated my mother's 85th birthday at Mr. B's last night and it was fantastic. The food was amazing, our server was amazing and really seemed to genuinely enjoy being there. The owner was very accommodating and attentive and came by several times. We will be back for sure.“

“Ordered the vegetarian pizza, chicken wings with honey garlic sauce, and deep fried shrimp. The owners/staff were absolutely amazing people and took care to provide incredible service to every customer. I didn’t even get any pictures because of how much we were enjoying the food 😅 The pizza was absolutely the star of the show, a must try! We will be returning <3“

“Wonderful restaurant! We went for dinner on a Wednesday night and my date was right about needing reservations, the place was packed and with good reason! The service was stellar despite the crowd and the food was excellent. We shared the zucchini sticks, which we've tried at many places, and these are hands down the favourites! I had the lobster ravioli which was rich and flavourful and the limoncello tartufo, definitely the best lemon ice cream I've ever had, fresh and bright flavour. Highly recommend!“

“My experience was amazing. The food and service was genuinely outstanding. I was blown away by the customer service and friendliness of the staff. The server had impeccable knowledge of the menu and the food was to die for. I would definitely 10/10 recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to be blown away by a local restaurant with unique interior and delicious one of kind cuisine.“

“This was our third year in a row hosting a large dinner (13 people) in the private room downstairs, and each and every time it's been the perfect experience. The AV equipment is a breeze to set up, we control the volume of the music and the temperature in the room. That space, the team, the set menu they offer- just the best!“

“Hands down best spot for food“

“Had a wonderful time at the new Barrhaven location. Food was good, staff was friendly and overall it was a great experience.“

“My husband and I just ate the BEST burger we have ever had!! And we eat a lot of burgers. This burger has ruined all other burgers for me. It was SO delicious!!“

“The pasta was pretty decent and actually not too pricey compared to other spots around. The meat, though, felt a bit on the expensive side for such a small portion. I wasn’t really into the coffee either; it tasted burnt to me. Overall, it was a decent experience, but there are definitely some things that could be improved.“

“Zola's is hands down my FAVORITE restaurant and they nailed everything we ordered. Food was delicious, our server was personable and friendly. As always, the dining room was stunning! I love that the artwork is made up of featured artists so the decor is different every time we come. A++++ HIGHLY recommend for any occasion! They also had a market at the front of the house so you can take home meals and treats as well as pantry items. Lots of delicious Gluten free options 👍“

“Our first but definitely not last time coming! Fresh food and amazing service. We had the lasagna and ravioli and it was 10/10!! The sauces and flavours in both dishes were incredible. To finish off we had the chocolate mousse and that was amazing.“

“We had a great experience at this restaurant. The food was truly impressive: the chicken parmigiana, in particular, was cooked to perfection. It had a wonderfully crispy exterior while staying juicy and full of flavour inside. The pasta was perfectly cooked as well, complemented by a tomato sauce that was noticeably fresh, savoury, and just sweet enough.

We were also lucky to have very attentive and friendly service. The only downside was that the wait was a bit long, but in a way it reassured us that the dishes were being freshly prepared, and it gave us plenty of time to relax and chat.

Overall, it’s a great spot for an informal meal or a casual dinner. Highly recommend if you’re looking for good food in a comfortable setting.“

“Great ambiance, food and music“

“We had Canneloni and the Chicken Alfredo and both were really good! And service was super firendly and attentive! Definitely coming back!“

“Yessss very good , me and my wife is are best restaurant now and very nice people“

“Wonderful evening in this warm and charming high end restaurant. Food was delicious, service was great. The Christmas decorations added to the warmth of the season. The sound level made conversation easy-flowing through our party of six. Highly recommend Mamma Teresa Ristorante for a special night out.“

“Excellent location, atmosphere, service and food.“

“First time trying the pizza here at Giovanni’s Snack Bar and Pizzeria. Absolutely delicious!! Ordered the Margarita Pizza. Giovanni was extremely kind from the moment I walked in until I left today. I would highly recommend choosing Giovanni’s the next time you are craving pizza or when you’re in the area!“

“Awesome food great staff !!!“

“Always a wonderful and great experience ❤️ Great food 😋“

“This place made me feel like if I was in Italy once again! The food was great and the staff was welcoming and attentive. We shared a sandwich between two people since the portions were big. And we finished it off with 2 cannoli. The atmosphere was definitely pleasant, very relaxed. You can play some board games while you wait for the food. Will come back to try the other sandwiches.“

“I absolutely recommend Dalmoro’s Fresh Pasta To Go.. the freshest pasta that one can ever find in Toronto. their pesto is my all time favourite. Their housemade classic Tiramisu and Nutella Tiramisu deserves a special mention !!!“

“Was attending a meeting nearby and after a long and tiring meeting my friend and I felt hungry and found this Halal pizza place in the area. Honestly, one of the best pizzas I have had so far in Ottawa. The dough was perfect and the toppings were generous. Coming again with family for sure.“

“Excellent food!!!! Nice place!“

“Highly recommend this place.The original authentic taste of food.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The food is great and the staff is amazing!“

“My boss recommended a sandwich from here today and I am glad he did! I had the turkey sandwich on a focaccia bun and it was amazing! Highly recommend!“

“I absolutely recommend Dalmoro’s Fresh Pasta To Go.. the freshest pasta that one can ever find in Toronto. their pesto is my all time favourite. Their housemade classic Tiramisu and Nutella Tiramisu deserves a special mention !!!“

“Loved the Salmon and bread. Great place.“

“The best in 13 years! Seasoning and quantity and guality are superb“

“Amazing food, amazing staff. Absolutely loved our experience!!“

“Fantastic First Visit – We’ll Be Back! We had a great first experience at this lovely Italian restaurant. The atmosphere was classy yet comfortable, and the food was excellent. We shared a tasty calamari appetizer, I had a huge gourmet personal pizza, and my husband enjoyed the shrimp linguine—everything was delicious. Despite a busy restaurant and patio, the two servers handled it all with speed and care. Service was attentive, and the prices were very reasonable for the generous portions. We’ll definitely be returning!“

“Strolling through the Glebe while visiting from Yellowknife, we found this gem. We had such a lovely conversation about cheeses, truffles and even a tasting. It is so nice to have such a warm experience and support local shops. We look forward to enjoying our cheese selections and coming back the next time we visit. ❤️ If you are in the area, stop by for incredible Italian treasures and warm, heartfelt service, and a perfect Americano!“

“Amazing Italian food from pasta, salad, panni to desserts - all incredibly delicious! This cafe style restaurant with its friendly and wonderful service has become a favorite lunch spot for our office. They also offer a gluten free pasta option.“