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    Bottega Cafe

    4.1 (213 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Salad, Wine Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Bottega Cafe Photos

    BOTTEGA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Bottega Cafe

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    Zuppa inglese- Italian trifle with kahluan chocolate pudding and chocolate cake crumbles and candied hazelnuts
    Tia J.

    The cold weather did NOT keep away the crowd!! It was 22 degrees outside but warm and friendly inside :) I went during lunch time, and had to wait about 30 minutes before I was sat. My waiter was very kind and treated me well. I ordered the baked feta and it came with bread that was crunchy outside but soft inside and it hit the spot!!! I also got the roasted cauliflower but was so full I could only eat a couple bites, plus I was saving for dessert! I got the zuppa inglese, which is like an Italian trifle? With a kahlua pudding, chocolate cake crumbles, and candied hazelnuts. O.M.G.

    Eggplant crostini
    Delia S.

    I've only eaten at Bottega for dinner so I was delighted to try the Cafe for lunch. No reservations available but it's pretty easy to get seated. We came at peak lunch time and we didn't have a wait. We started with the eggplant crostini and the focaccia. Both were great. I wish the focaccia had been warm but even served at room temp we ate it all (so soft..yum!). For our meal we had the fish sandwich (oven baked swordfish today) and the chicken scaloppine. Fish was cooked perfectly and the home made potato chips were a nice side! The chicken scaloppine was a clear standout and the polenta that it is served with just makes every bite so delicious. We finished off the meal with the honey cake. It. Was. Superb!! Not too sweet and definitely big enough for two or even three to share. I'll definitely be back for another slice!!

    Mike C.

    Best dining experience in Birmingham! Everything was exquisite from the food to the service to the ambiance. Looking forward to returning at the first opportunity!

    Lindsay S.

    I met some coworkers here for lunch today and this was my second visit here, with the first being in September 2022. Last time, I rode with others, but today I drove. Why does this matter? Because parking situations, especially in unfamiliar urban areas, drive my anxious brain crazy and Bottega's "valet only" is no exception. Full disclaimer, I'm not from Birmingham so I'm not super familiar with the city. Anyway, I arrived a few minutes before they opened and was the 2nd car waiting for valet. He was fast and friendly but watching him back my car into the busy street and park literally across the street a stone's throw away in the "do not enter, valet only" lot that I could have so easily parked in... well, the whole charade seemed silly and pretentious. My coworkers chose to park up the street, but they live in Birmingham and were already familiar with the area. We were seated immediately and service was professional and kind, but they're not exactly fast... but it's not that type of place. You order your appetizer (called "Snacks" on the menu), then the Snack is brought out, you eat it, then they take the plate and you place your entree order... you get the picture. We ordered 2 "Snacks": spinach arancini and bear creek beef carpaccio. Both were good, but I preferred the spinach arancini. My entree was the Bottega Bowl, mainly because I'm trying to eat healthy. It was very good, but I was starving 3.5 hours later. Also, the place filled up very quickly, with no empty chairs in sight, which made the room extremely loud. My noise app on my watch even went off, giving a "loud environment" alert. We left, my coworkers heading to their vehicles and I stood on the sidewalk, looking around in confusion for the valet guy. Bless him, he was working so hard, handling everyone's vehicles and he eventually appeared, but it's a weird feeling when you're standing there alone looking at your car, but you don't have your key fob. Haha! He pulled my car into the busy street and parked it (!!) and I quickly tipped him and jumped in as cars whipped past me. The food is good, but does it offset the parking mayhem along with the loud dining room? Eh. But based on the extremely crowded restaurant, I must be in the minority on this one.

    Cafe dining
    Natalie F.

    Every town has a gem, for Birmingham, it's Bottega Cafe. They have a restaurant and a café side and I've dined at both but a general consensus is that the Café is the way to go. They serve a lot of the same foods, in addition to the fact they have pizzas and other menu items on the café side. It's a great spot to come for lunch dinner or even happy hour. Their pizzas are amazing, but you must get their baked feta and their café mac & cheese. They have one drink that's not even on the menu, but it's their most famous drink and it's called the Orange Thing. I even have an Orange Thing tshirt, it's that popular. It is a delicious fresh squeezed orange martini, and the best part is, is that they give you the shaker with the rest of the martini in it, and you can continue to pour the rest of the drink. It is literally the drink that keeps on giving. The service is always impeccable and I like that inside the café you can dress up or be even a little more laid-back. It's such a cute spot and on the patio when the weather is nice it makes you feel like you're in a little garden.

    Smoked salmon
    Bishop

    The food was amazingly put together. The tuna bread was delicious. The fried oysters were cooked to perfection. The lamb shoulder was nice and tender. The pizza was amazing. The coconut cake was definitely chef kiss. The service was great. The ambiance was soft lite.

    Dinner menu
    Jamie J.

    Perfect date night or girls night out spot! Started with the baked feta and focaccia bread. Easy and delicious dish for sharing if bread is your thing. Will never pass up a dirty martini with blue cheese olives! While most girls got the chicken scaloppine, which is an all time favorite, I opted for the hanger steak. They cooked it perfectly medium rare. Only downside is that I wanted a few more slices! Our server was very attentive on a busy night and was super accommodating. Look forward to going back and sitting on the patio on a nice night!

    Alison L.

    Gorgeous atmosphere with attentive staff. The beef cheek orecchiette is the best in Birmingham in a delicious wine based sauce. It is a must! The seafood risotto was delicious as well, with ample shrimp and scallops. The bottega bar was delicious, and the flavor kept building upon itself with every bite.

    Basque Cake

    Another amazing meal at a Frank Stitt' restaurant! We are so fortunate to have him in Birmingham! I started with the perfect t icy Cosmopolitan with just the perfect sweetness! No appetizers since we were saving room for dessert. We both ordered the dry aged NY strip medium rare with the panzanella salad and it came out perfectly cooked. A side order of field peas with purslane completed our dinner. As good as those steaks were, the field peas were the star of the show! For desert, we ordered the peach and blackberry cobbler and the basque cake with creme anglaise and chantilly creme. The basque cake is one of the best things I've ever eaten! So delicate, but so incredibly flavorful! The service was perfect! There when we needed him, but gave us time to savor our meals and visit together! A perfect anniversary dinner for two! We will be back!

    Orange thing
    Jasmine M.

    The orange thing cocktail is all you need to know about for Bottega. It's phenomenal and you get plenty of it. It's sweet with a little tang. We had the feta dip for an appetizer and it was delightful. For our entrees we had the chicken and the steak. Now I typically don't prefer chicken at nicer restaurants but this was the one exception I don't regret. The steak was asked to be prepared medium however some of it was little more medium rare, but my husband enjoyed they way it was cooked. Additionally the pizzas are amazing here too! The area and ambiance of this place is cute and intimate. We went with a group of friends and had to wait around 45 minutes, however there is a place across the street where we had cocktails while we waited. Overall I recommend this place for a Friday date night or catching up with old friends!

    Rigatoni
    Ryanne S.

    Great as always! I love the laidback atmosphere of the Cafe- I always get the "Orange Thing" a Bottega cocktail staple. I had the rigatoni with chicken thighs & mushrooms which was delicious!

    Angela B.

    This place is one of my absolute favorites. It is part of my regular lunch rotation with friends. I have visited numerous times. During lunch, only the cafe is open. So you cannot make reservations. So we generally get there around 11-11:15. I usually do valet because there is no parking lot, only street parking close by, and it's a bustling area. So valet is an excellent option if you are like me and don't like to circle the block or park far away. Everything that I have at Bottega is absolutely great. I mainly get the Chicken Scallopini. It comes with polenta and the capers make for an amazing dish. It also comes with a mixed greens salad. I always recommend getting their bread with olive oil, too, as an appetizer. It is the best! The dessert is also the perfect ending to a great visit. Their coconut cake is always a hit, but I absolutely love their Tiramisu and their chocolate budino. Their cappuccinos are also the best!! You have to get one while you are there. This place is such a gem. Their service is always great, and there is no long wait for your food. I highly recommend that you give them a try! You won't be disappointed.

    White bean dip
    Davida B.

    My friend picked this place for her birthday. I ate pretty light and paid too much for what I ordered but it's Bottega, so.. I got the white bean dip app, the winter salad and the least expensive glass of red. Bill was $50. This was expected - just a heads up. My selections were fresh and well prepared. The bread was excellent. The salad was like an art project. Beautiful. My friend ordered the tiramisu and loved it. The restaurant was busy and loud.

    Bolognese

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    3 months ago

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    7 months ago

    Great service, drinks were delightful. Lamb chops were exquisite. Definitely get a reservation

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    1 year ago

    The food and service were outstanding, and I highly recommend the burger! I will definitely be returning!

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    1 year ago

    Always delicious, great service and ambience! Beautiful garden area to dine and have drinks if you like

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    2 years ago

    Delicious! Service was great, wine was delicious, and we just had a great time with the environment. I got a pizza and it was great.

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    Ask the Community - Bottega Cafe

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