Ottawa Italia

Once you’ve gone through cooking school, or if you want to forego that step, simply head over to Little Italy’s Trattoria Caffé Italia. With one of the best wine cellars in the city, it has been run by the Carrozza family for over 20 years, originally opening in the 1950s as a billiard and card-laying social club for the Preston Street community. On the corner of Gladstone and Preston.

Some other recommended Italian restaurants: Allegro Ristorante (422 Preston Street, 235-7454), Ciccio Caffe (330 Preston Street, 232-1675), Giovanni’s, featuring Toscany Regional Cuisine (362 Preston Street, 234-3156), La Dolce Vita (180 Preston Street, 233-6239), La Roma (430 Preston Street) and La Vecchia Trattoria (228 Preston Street, 230-0009).

If straightforward Italian doesn’t float your boat, get down to Little Italy’s The Prescott (379 Preston Street, 232 1136. One of the oldest taverns in town, they cleaned up a few years ago, somewhat taking the point out of going to a cleaned up “gritty tavern,” but they still have some of the best pasta and meatball sandwiches in town. Grab a quart and watch the game, even.