Review: Italy Bottega July 2020

Haley Haman · Jul 29, 2020 · 3 min read

If you're hankering for authentic Italian food, a stellar wine selection, and a mini market to gather ingredients to prepare Sunday's pasta sauce, look no further than Italy Bottega in downtown St. Pete. This quaint storefront on Central Avenue has a focus on impeccably crafted paninis, Nutella filled donuts, and so much more! Being from Rome himself, the owner at Italy Bottega knows his stuff, and definitely cares about providing the highest quality of food and wines to his guests. Transport yourself to Italy right here in downtown St. Pete by visiting Italy Bottega!

Since America created chicken parm, don't be shocked when it's not on the menu here! The choices at Italy Bottega are traditional and true to Italian roots. Whether you're in the mood for a generous pasta dish or a quick sandwich at lunch, Italy Bottega will easily become your favorite new go-to spot.

So, usually, dessert is last, but I'm too eager to wait to share this!

Bombolone Nutella

Close up Bombolone Nutella

The bombolone Nutella at Italy Bottega is exactly what you need in your life! This fluffy donut is filled with creamy, ooey-gooey Nutella, or you can get it with regular cream, crema. Bombolone is an Italian donut that pairs perfectly with a Sunday morning cappuccino whilst taking in the hustling and bustling entertainment on Central Avenue.

Pastries

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They have a variety of comforting pastries that will make you never want to give up carbs again.

Macchiato

For the mornings where you need a little extra pep in your step, this macchiato completed the job of curing my caffeine fix! It's deliciously smooth and the espresso was super fresh.

Quiche Artichokes: Eggs, artichokes, ham, fresh mozzarella, lemon zest

Usually, the camera eats first, but I couldn't help myself. The quiche artichoke is created with incredibly fresh ingredients: eggs, artichokes, ham, fresh mozzarella, and lemon zest. It comes out hot and steamy which helps the mozzarella melt away. The crust is flaky with a perfect, light crunch to it. I could eat this for every meal.

When lunch comes around, Italy Bottega offers a great selection of paninis, served with classic Lays potato chips, and your choice of bread.

Prosciutto Panini: prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, fresh tomato, and basil pesto spread

Prosciutto sandwiches are my personal favorite whenever I'm given the option, I don't even hesitate to order it. The prosciutto panini at Italy Bottega includes prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, fresh tomato, and basil pesto spread. The quality of these simple ingredients is beyond amazing with so much flavor in every bite.

Speck Panini: speck, smoked scamorza, mushroom spread, and grilled zucchini

The owner said it himself that you won't find a speck panini around St. Pete, so we had to try it! Packed with delicious speck, smoked scamorza, mushroom spread, and grilled zucchini, this is a wonderful sandwich. Speck, if you didn't already know, is lightly smoked Proscuitto. We really enjoyed this sandwich and I especially liked the cured-like taste of the speck and the slight crunch from the zucchini.

The Italian specialties portion of the menu includes lasagna bolognese, Tomino melt, eggplant parmigiana, and more!

Eggplant Parmigiana

Cheese-lovers, this one is for you. The eggplant parmigiana oozes out with Parmigiano and mozzarella cheese, which pairs perfectly with the marinara sauce. The eggplant itself is very fresh and soft, it nearly melts in your mouth!

Italy Bottega sells impressive meats in their deli case, fresh pasta and ravioli to-go, authentic ingredients in their mini-market, and especially good wine options from trusted sources in Italy. Also on their menu are salads and two charcuterie boards.

Deli Case

Mini Nutella

Olive Oil

Whether you're looking for a wine and charcuterie board night or an iced Caffe crema and croissant chocolate twist, Italy Bottega is a wonderful place to visit. Fuel your soul with genuine and true Italian food and wine right here in the Burg!