Dining in Ottawa’s Little Italy

If you want to talk food, than you have to talk about one of downtown Ottawa’s most important neighbourhoods, Little Italy.

Ottawa’s Little Italy was originally an Irish neighbourhood housing employees of nearby lumberyards before an influx of Italian immigration at the turn of the century. By 1908, the Italian community around Division (now Booth) Street was firmly established, with the building of St. Anthony’s Church in 1913 and the forming of the local chapter of the Sons of Italy. A second wave of Italian immigration came after WWII, and turned the area between Booth and Preston Street from Carling Avenue north into Ottawa’s unofficial official “Little Italy,” featuring fine restaurants, street parties, and other activities (World Cup Soccer in Little Italy is a must).

The City of Ottawa officially recognized the community in 1983 by designating Preston Street Corso Italia and Gladstone Avenue as Via Marconi. Their website lists local businesses, including restaurants, night life, services and entertainment, as well as information on the annual Ferrari Festival, Italian Week Settimana Italiana, and La Vendemmia - Ottawa’s Celebration of Italian Wine & Food in September.