Is it a specialty store, a deli, or a restaurant?
The answer is yes, to all three. Bottega Fiorentina offers imported Italian food specialties, deli items, and sandwiches, pastas, and entrees for eating in or take out. It's a small space, with a few counter seats and a long communal indoor picnic table. Seats can be at a premium, since Bottega Fiorentina attracts a steady stream of regulars. The pastas of the day are listed on a board near the deli counter, while the sandwiches and daily entree specials are listed on paper menus on the top of the counter (not always easy to notice if you're not looking). While some of the staff can be brusque, most are friendly, and they seem quite willing to accomodate special requests. Most speak Italian, if you're looking for authenticity. The sandwiches are, in the Italian style, made from fresh, high-quality ingredients. They aren't overstuffed like many American sandwiches, relying on the intensity of the flavors, rather than on sheer quantity of ingredients. Pastas are made to order, with a wide variety of homemade sauces. Why is the Bottega so successful? Good food, made from high quality ingredients, at reasonable prices. It's not a complicated formula, but this is one of the few restaurants that actually manages to get it right.
Recommended: Panino with tomato, basil, fresh mozzarella, and Proscuitto di Parma
Food: 8
Service: 8
Ambiance: 6
Overall: 8