50 Best Italian Restaurants in Ottawa

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

“Great food and drinks. Large portions and rustic vintage look. Bit of a drive but very good!“

“I’ve had all the Italian sandwiches in Ottawa and this one takes the cake hands down. Can’t recommend it enough“

“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!“

“was a great experience 10 outta 10“

“We had the Hawaiian pizza and goat cheese pizza for our first dinner at this restaurant and they were amazing! Delicious light crust and delicious toppings, we thought we would need takeout containers but we were wrong! 😅

The White Russian and Ashton cider were also very yummy. Ashton is a dry cider, quite refreshing!“

“A seamless blend of vintage style and Italian soul. Retro Gusto delivers bold, beautifully crafted dishes—like Roman-style pizza and house-made pasta—in a space that nods to classic automotive design without feeling like a theme. Every detail feels intentional: from the crisp crusts to the curated wine list and thoughtful service. It's elevated comfort with character—cool, confident, and completely satisfying.“

“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 😅“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 👍🎉❤️“

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

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

“The service and attention to detail is unmatched, the food is vibrant and delicious. Tonight I had the most beautiful cut of Veal I have ever had in my life, recommend by Rick. Me and my girlfriend had a truly amazing experience together at La Strada!“

“Hands down best spot for food“

“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!“

“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!“

“Such a little hidden gem. The food is good and there is something on the menu for everyone. We tried their Donair Sub And meatball sub which were both fantastic. Based on the marinara sauce and the meatball sub, I bet their spaghetti is really good. The owners are very lovely And the prices are fair.“

“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.“

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

“The service was top-notch. The waiter was very respectful and nice.

The food was good overall, but unfortunately the poutine contained pieces of meat with a strong, overwhelming charcoal taste. There were also many black pieces which I had to separate from the rest of the poutine. You can see an example in the second image at the bottom left and pieces in the poutine.

Other than that, the food was great. I especially liked the regular fries.

Parking: Good size parking lot, there is an area that can be used as a drop-off if needed.

Kid-friendliness: They were friendly to children.

Wheelchair accessibility: There are no big obstacles inside the restaurant to wheelchairs, although it may be a bit tight getting through to the seating area.“

“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!!“

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

“Chef Ian made one amazing meal! Perfectly made zucchini flower bites to start followed by proper-seasoned olives, risotto balls and a few slices of fresh bread. Was very impressed with the ravioli and gnocchi while having a great family outing. Service was regular and always friendly. Look forward to the next time!“

“My husband and I come here every year for our wedding anniversary and for monumental events in our life! We love this restaurant! The food is amazing and the service is always fantastic! If you want authentic fancy Italian food, this is the place to go!“

“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.“

“La Favorita catered my son’s groom shower party for 80 guests on August 15, and they were fantastic! The food was fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. Everyone loved the food , there was plenty for everyone.

Nick and his team were professional, on time, and easy to work with. Their service helped make the event smooth and memorable.

Highly recommend them for any special occasion! Thank you Nick !!“

“Great ambiance, food and music“

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

“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!“

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

“Awesome food great staff !!!“

“One of the best pizzas I’ve had in our neighbourhood.

The guy at the counter was pleasant to chat with and recommended the right pizza for us. We were in the mood to have a spicy pizza and the tandoori chicken pizza was a perfect match.

I wish I had taken a picture but the pizza was put together very nicely. The base was crunchy and pizza was surprisingly fresh, well-balanced and delicious even though we had it after a short gap.

I generally choose to build my own pizza, but this restaurant has many interesting combinations to choose from. I will be sure to try more options in the future.“

“Excellent location, atmosphere, service and food.“

“Excellent food!!!! Nice place!“

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

“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 !!!“

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

“Excellent lunch menu’s. Great place to buy lunch meets and so much more.“

“Loved the Salmon and bread. Great place.“

“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!“

“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 !!!“

“great pizza and excellent staff plus one litre mugs of beer it don't get no better“

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

“Unbelievably amazing. Simply the best lasagna and pizza I’ve had in recent memory. Wish I hadn’t forgotten my ball cap there (I was visiting for work), but the whole group were blown away at how ridiculously good and reasonably priced it all was. Routinely rave about it to all who will listen, 100% will go again every time I’m in the city.“

“First time ordering takeout from this restaurant, was not sure what to expect....absolutely delicious food! Whoever the cook is there is excellent...thank you!“