The reasons to visit Bottega are endless. Bottega is an intimate Italian restaurant located in one of Lebanon's mountainous suburbs, offering amazingly memorable food including their exquisite fresh mushroom soup, artfully created pizzas, Aldente pastas, mouthwatering desserts, enjoyable music and ambiance...
Bottega is one of those places you may have passed by several times but have never stopped. But today I decided to do so after many of my friends have recommended their premium Italian food. It's true, La Bottega, with its simple decoration and setup serves one of the tastiest Italian creations in the Metn region. Stopping by was not a bad idea at all.
We ordered:
- Fresh mushroom soup
- Bruschetta Bottega (Toasted bread, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, rocket leaves, prosciutto)
- Fiorentina (Markoik bread, tapenade sauce, goat cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers)
- Primavera pizza (Tomato sauce, mozzarella, bresaola, rocket leaves, cherry tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, Parmesan)
- Al Salmon pizza (Mozzarella, fresh cream, salmon, capers, lemon slices, rosemary)
The service might not be the most professional although the waiter was very charming. The place might not be the most beautiful restaurant you have ever seen, but believe me the minute you start ordering and eating, you will forget about all those details and indulge in good, simple, tasty and unsophisticated Italian food.
The food:
- I started with the mushroom soup as suggested by the waiter. It was just perfect. Served with two slices of toasted bread decorated with a line of olive oil, this soup is fresh and light at the same time. I enjoyed every single spoon of it. A gentle feel of aromas caressing my palatal buds
- The Bruschetta Bottega is incredible. The simplest dish ever made tastes so heavenly. The ingredients used are so unique. Unbelievable! The crunch, the softness... cheese, ham, greenery, bread: a complete mix of passionate ingredients simply layered one over the other in a nice mountain of colors waiting to be devoured
- Florentines is simply yummy. Have you have ever imagined the Lebanese Markouk bread with tapenade and goat cheese. This plate marked me more than all the others. Light, thin and crunchy with a touch of finesse that really makes you want to talk about it instantly. I couldn't stop saying: Bravo! Imagine a thin crusty layer of Markouk bread heated with melted goat cheese in the oven - all roaming around between your tongue and palate with a strong taste of the tapenade which only adds strength to this unique creation
- The Primavera Pizza with its rich ingredients can be described as a piece of art. It's colors and shape form a nice looking round UFO. It doesn't stop here as the taste is close to perfection.
- I loved or even fell in love with the salmon pizza. The sour effect created by the lemon slices is like a fairy tale. Salmon slices layered on a thin Italian crust covered with capers and unique and beautifully pealed lemon pieces. Every bite is a journey of dreams. You feel the sour and lemony touch caressing your palatal buds with every bite
The minuses:
- The menu needs to be changed into thicker and cleaner papers
- The place needs an uplifting soon
- The terrace chairs and tables are from a very low quality
Let me rephrase all I said in a simple sentence. I am happily surprised with the outstanding service and food enjoyed in this simple Italian restaurant down the road of Bickfaya. At only $25 a person, we enjoyed premium quality and great taste. La Bottega is the address of unpretentious non sophisticated delicious Italian food. It's not to be missed.
Suitable For:
Casual Dining
