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“

“Opening day in Old Ottawa South -- delicious sandwiches and the best cannoli I have had in years... welcome to the neighbourhood Roberto's Corner!“

“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!“

“What a wonderful evening we had, the staff are very knowledgeable, they take pride in their work and they work hard to make sure the clients have a great experience. Our server was also the bartender, he provided excellent recommendations and mixed a mean Negroni Sbagliatto! Our pizza's were outstanding, it's become our favourite place to come for well made pizza, and the Canolli are not to be missed, freshly filled on order to keep the shell perfectly crisp, very generous amount of pistachio, and the perfect amount of sweetness. Retro Gusto has quickly become one of our favourite restaurants in Ottawa.“

“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“

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

“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!“

“We absolutely love coming here — it’s become our family’s go-to spot for both regular dinners and all our special celebrations. The food is always incredible, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and every visit feels like a treat. A huge part of what makes our experience so special is Jenifer. She is hands-down one of the most amazing waitresses ,. She remembers us, makes us feel valued, and always goes above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect. It’s rare to find a place that consistently delivers such great service and quality, but this restaurant does every single time. Highly recommend !“

“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“

“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!!!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Have lived in the area since 1966 and this was the first time I actually ordered from this restaurant and I was surprisingly super happy and will continue to purchase food from them. It is a Mom and Pop restaurant with love and that’s all we need in this world.“

“We visited Napoli’s on a quiet Wednesday evening and had such a fantastic experience. The atmosphere was calm and relaxing, the perfect way to unwind after a full day. The food was absolutely phenomenal. You can truly taste the attention to detail and the quality of the ingredients in every dish. The pizza was hands down some of the best I’ve ever had, fresh, flavorful, perfectly prepared, and very generously portioned. The meatball subs were incredibly delicious, and the poutine was smothered in a generous amount of rich gravy and cheese. Nothing was skimpy, everything felt thoughtfully made. The service was just as impressive as the food. Friendly, welcoming, attentive, and quick, they made us feel completely relaxed and genuinely appreciated as guests. For the quality and portion sizes, the prices are very reasonable. Highly recommend Napoli’s to anyone looking for authentic Italian food in Ottawa. Thank you for such a wonderful dining experience. We will definitely be back.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Great ambiance, food and music“

“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 👍“

“I took my wife here for Valentine's Day and the food was excellent! We had the beet salad, arancini, beef tenderloin and the pistachio torte for dessert and it was all excellent.

Service was a bit slow, but I think it is safe to say that was due to the Valentine's Day rush.

Service was very friendly.“

“Absolutely wonderful food! We had a fennel salad, rapini with garlic and lobster ravioli! All the specials! It was incredible. George was a very attentive server and we never had to seek him out, he was on top of everything! Nick the owner personally visited our table and made us feel like we were so welcome ! 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.“

“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“

“Excellent service; wide range of Italian menu items. Fried zucchini, salad, complementary bread, deserts were excellent. Very good chicken parm, although I would have preferred a thicker pasta sauce. Restaurant atmosphere was great and we had a fairly quiet corner. All round Excellent dining experience.“

“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 !!!“

“Excellent location, atmosphere, service and food.“

“Always a wonderful and great experience ❤️ Great 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 !!!“

“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.“

“We tried Maple Delight Pizza on Merivale Rd and absolutely loved it! The Honey Garlic Pizza was both sweet and garlicky, the Veggie Delight was loaded with cheese and vegetables and the BBQ Chicken Pizza had a perfectly smoky flavour that was delicious. I highly recommend it!“

“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!“

“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 food is great and the staff is amazing!“

“Loved the Salmon and bread. Great place.“

“We were visiting Ottawa from Nova Scotia over the holidays and my mom was looking for a good pasta meal. A good friend said his chef friends highly recommended Parma Ravioli. I called ahead to make sure they were going to be open and have product on the 27th. A lovely young lady took my order and was very professional in all manners of the phone call. About 5-10 minutes later she called back to confirm details on the lasagna. When we arrived to pick it up on the 27th they young lady behind the cash had the same voice and style when she talked and I asked her if she had taken our order initially. She replied that she had as her father I believe was from the Maritimes, so she remembered our conversation. I thanked her for how she had handled our initial order in todays age of lack of good service, and thanked her again once we had our order and headed out. Amazing how a small interaction which was so well done, sits with you a long time and we have been in hospitality for over 30 years. Thank you to her - I forgot to get her name - but outstanding service.“

“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!“

“Been living in Westboro for a few years and we wanted to try this new place that our neighbours told us about. What a lovely atmosphere! The service is very friendly, and they were accomodating for us to send one of their employees outside to our car to give us the pizza!! And the food is delicious!! We ordered a large pizza and the club sandwich and it was served with fries and a delicious salad on the side. Great stuff. Can't wait to come here in the summer!!“