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!“

“My friend and I just had dinner at Retro Gusto. Super busy p’ave for a Monday night. Food was amazing; excellent Cesar Salad and that Margherita pizza was to die for. On Monday night, they had a «happy hour » for the Negroni drinks which were amazing. Service by Emma was amazing! Super nice smile and always happy to answer our question. Definitely on my « let’s go back » list.“

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

“Went in on wednesday afternoon, had a wonderful meal and even better service. There was a large group being quite loud at the time but it seems like the server had it handled and insured that my experience was still a 10. I would add stars if I could.

Pictures of the pies attached:“

“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 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 😅“

“Last nights outing (2 couples) was a real treat. Excellent food and cocktails at very reasonable prices given the quality. Highly recommended for good value and great service.“

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

“was a great experience 10 outta 10“

“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 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.“

“Just yesterday I had the pleasure of throwing my mother a surprise 70th birthday party here. Sarah and her staff pulled off an evening we won’t soon forget! Thank you everything. 🙏 We’ll be back!“

“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.“

“This is about a block away from my apartment, and it's to my shame that I didn't go there until last year.
The food is AMAZING! What I have had plated to me is even better than the pictures. The last time I had a burger there, I had to wait to eat the fries as they were too hot from being cooked!
That's how fresh the food is there.
And the chicken parm - chef's kiss - as how good it was!
Pizza is about 3 steps above any chain in Ottawa.
I now try to get there at least monthly - more in the summer - as a small family-owned place with reasonable prices deserves the business over any chain.“

“Giuseppe was our server and he was of the most spirited nature. He was very helpful on our choice of wine, the wine was very full and very Tuscany. The grapes could be tasted through every taste bud. We started our dinner with Lumache (Snails covered in cheese and garlic butter) and that was good for two people. Then we reached our main course, we both got the combo plate (Veal Parmasean, cannelloni and gnocchi) We ended the night by talking to Rick, he was a very pleasant conversation piece that offered insight into the history of La Strada. Before tip, the price for two was $142.40 (163.76 with 15% tip) Our night was amazing, shout out to @sparkthegenius on tiktok who made me aware of this establishment.“

“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.“

“I recently celebrated my 50th birthday at Mezzanotte and it was a very nice experience. Not only is the restaurant aesthetically pleasing, the ambiance was amazing. I can’t say enough about our server Sue, she was attentive, personable, funny and made my first experience here a memorable one. We were a bigger group so I got to taste quite a few appetizers and everything was delicious. Main course was also to perfection! I can’t wait to pay them another visit soon.“

“We've been working right behind La Roma for weeks and finally decided to try their pizza—and wow, we're glad we did! 🤩🍕i placed an order for take out and it was no problem!

This is honestly the BEST pizza we've ever had! The crust was incredibly light and airy, the sauce tasted fresh and homemade with beautiful basil flavor, and you could actually taste the fennel in the sausage. Every bite was amazing.

You can tell they use quality ingredients and take pride in what they make. We'll definitely be back! 🍕🍕😁“

“Excellent food…. Chicken Marsala was superb. We were there during Tulip Festival weekend and were warned that entrees would take a little longer. Drinks and appetizers were quick to arrive. A great atmosphere even though one patron was disrespectful and disruptive.
The situation was handled coolly by the owner and the rest of the evening was great. Ended with dessert and Limoncello!
A neighbourhood jewel in Little Italy“

“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“

“One of the best Italian restaurants in Ottawa.
Great food, great service, and great atmosphere. We were a party of 4, tried seafood pasta, pasta with clam sauce, Mama Teresa chicken with lemon sauce, beef with parmigiana and spaghetti, calamari and ceaser salad, eggplant with parmigiana appetizers, and clams..
Everything was perfect
A must visit place.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Excellent food!!!! Nice 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!“

“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.“

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

“Great food and fantastic service Highly recommended“

“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!!“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“