We went on a Thursday night to try and sit at the bar for the bar special. The host directed us toward the bar and said they keep track of people waiting to sit there. A nice bartender told us a few people were about to get seated and we could take their seats at the bar. We both got a glass of wine while we waited. We sat down about 20 minutes later. We both ordered the bar special: a half pizza, small side salad, and a beer all for $15. I got the mushroom, red onion, olive and cheese pizza. He got the butcher's pie. Both were delicious. When I first got my pizza, there were no olives, but they were quick to add olives and throw it back in the oven to warm it up! I asked for a side of marinara which was $3 but was big and worth it. The side salad was delicious as well, a three vinegar vinaigrette. The bartender didn't charge us for one of our beers because of the lack of olives. The service was wonderful and we loved the ambiance. Such a great price for delicious food! We will be back. read more

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Food was delicious and service impeccable. Had a round of speciality drinks before dinner that were fantastic. Will definitely be back.

Stopped in for lunch on the way through town. On the trip out had a delicious meal at the restaurant side of Bottega. Ordered a Bourbon Negroni - which is very similar to a Boulevardier - delicious drink. Ordered the Veal Scallopine with a side of Butter Beans and Dill. The butter beans were good with the dill but they wanted something. The Chicken Scallopine was very nice. I've had chicken that was more tender but that's not a major complaint. Well cooked and the salad accompaniment had a light, lemony vinaigrette that was just right and paired well with the chicken. All in all, a very nice meal. Hannah was our server - attentive, informed, delightful. read more

Bottega Cafe - Chicken Scallopine - Italian Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Hands down, a five star experience. From the location, to the ambience, food and service, Bottega Cafe is hands down one of the best restaurants in the Birmingham area. We stopped by for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon. They do have valet parking but we found a parking spot on our own easy enough. We were sat fairly quickly at a table for two where we could see everything and everyone. It's a grand place, with high ceilings and elegant touches throughout. It's a lovely place to have a nice meal. We kicked things off with some complimentary bread and olive oil, along with an order of baked feta. The olive oil was high quality with a great flavor and paired well with the soft yet firm bread. The baked feta was a tasty mix of their house made marinara and feta cheese. It came with a few thick slicea of charred bread which served as a perfect vehicle for our dip. It wasn't long until our entreea arrived. I tried a variation of their pizza (which their famous for) with cheese, sweer peppers, chicken, spinach and tomato chutney. Man, what flavor! Every bite was delicious and perfectly balanced. An appetizer, two entrees, three drinks, and a tip set us back $100. It's safe to say that without drinks, we would have spent around $65. Such a great value for an excellent Birmingham staple! read more

Bottega Cafe - Fish Sandwhich - Italian Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Bottega is one of my FAVORITE restaurants - been a long time customer here for years. Except today- the hostess, ASHLEY, was incredibly incredibly rude. Acting like we did not belong at the restaurant and being extremely condescending towards me and a friend. It ruined the experience for both of us. However, chris the bartender was incredible and made the experience all the worth. He had great suggestions for food and we enjoyed sitting at the bar. read more

Bottega Cafe - Orange thing cocktail - Italian Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

We celebrated my husbands birthday there yesterday and we're so impressed. The capellini Bottega was absolutely wonderful. It's house made pasta and was better than the steak, so that says a lot. I added shrimp and it was perfect. Some of the best Italian food I've ever had. read more

Bottega Cafe - Italian Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Running away from a hurricane doesn't mean you have to eat badly. I came to Birmingham to escape from Irma, and i found Bottega Cafe on Yelp. I went by myself and sat at the bar. An excellent Negroni set the mood for an excellent lunch. The rabbit appetizer with polenta was tender, flavorful, and delicious. The lunch "special" of prawn risotto was an absolute delight: plump shrimp, and buttery rice cooked to perfection. If i ever go to Birmingham again, Bottega will be on my "must revisit" list. read more

We waited over and hour and a half- it was actually worth the wait! Fun and busy atmosphere, reasonable prices, delicious food. Only wish we had gone earlier..it ended up being a late dinner. I had the flounder, never order that, but it was perfect. My son had the chicken piccata - highly recommended! They don't take reservations- so get there early if going on a weekend! read more

Last night, we celebrated the birthday of one of our nearest and dearest friends here. There were four of us and we were seeing a play at TNT at 8:00. We arrive at the restaurant at 5:50 and were surprised to discover there was a 30-45 minute wait. The hostess explained our situation to the manager and, after some skillful rearranging, we were told it would be only be 15 minutes! Once seated, our server answered our questions about the menu and we ordered cocktails. Three of us were crazy about ours and one wasn't. The drink was beautifully prepared but just didn't suit his tastes. Our server noticed he had not been sipping and graciously offered to replace it. Each couple split the Local Arugula salad and a pizza. The lettuces were so fresh, the dressing was light, and the fruit was sliced paper thin. There wasn't a crumb left! Our pizza was grilled chicken, pesto, and provolone. Our friends had the Shrimp, tomato, garlic, capers, Mozzarella, and basil pizza. Both were excellent with crispy, wood fired crust. Sadly, we were too full for dessert. The atmosphere is warm and inviting with extremely high ceilings and deep coral walls. We were transported to some other place during this dining experience and we cannot wait to return. Kudos to you Bottega Cafe! read more

The carrot cake that everyone raves about was overpriced, tiny, and dry! I read all the reviews and thought I had hit the jackpot in my search for the perfect coconut cake. I had planned on ordering for Christmas, so I ordered one piece curbside to try it out. I'm thankful I ordered one piece and didn't waste my money on an entire cake! That one slice set me back 12-15 dollars and I was taken aback at how small it was! Crazy how people go nuts over this cake! Side note: Oddly, the parking at this location is atrocious! If you have a nice vehicle, good luck getting out without hitting a pothole! read more

This is my favorite restaurant. Hands down some of the best dishes I have ever tasted. Their menu is always super unique and delicious. The service is beyond superb. I took my future wife on our first date here. She was more than impressed. This restaurant will always have a special place in my heart. It is worth every penny. read more

When I recently visited Birmingham on a work trip, both the clients I had lunch and dinner with recommended Bottega. I opted for lunch and as such have only visited the more casual "cafe" side of things. If and when I get the chance to go back, I'll be sure to check out dinner and update then. To start with, the only table large enough to seat my party of nine was a picnic-style table (complete with backless benches) right in the center of the dining room. This was absolutely not an issue at the time of our visit, but obviously could be uncomfortable for some diners depending on physical attributes. It should be noted that there is large, lovely patio out front and a complimentary valet. We started with the following appetizers: - Mediterranean Spreads ($10; hummus, roasted beet spread, tzatziki & hot pita wedges). This was nice for sharing and was served on an adorable rotating stand with two tiers. Easy for a group. The beet spread was gorgeous - the brightest purple you can imagine - and really yummy! - Bruschetta ($14; crab meat, avocado, crispy shallots, calabrian chili). Our waitress was great - not only did she actually pronounce this bruSKetta, she also had the kitchen split each serving of this in half so that we wound up with eight wedges instead of the standard four. Great flavor and texture. The chili was spicier than I expected but not so hot it was unpleasant. - Arancini ($7): arancini are rice balls which are coated with bread crumbs and then deep fried. They are absolutely decadent and I'd say a must-try at Bottega! - "Nancy's Meatballs Al Forno" ($9): golf ball-sized meatballs served in a cute little cast iron dish filled with a tomato sauce. Entrees: - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday there is a daily special. On this particular day it was a market-priced crab cake and nearly everyone in our group tried it and DEVOURED it. I didn't get a chance to sample because they went so fast! Must have been delicious. - I had the Bottega Bowl ($13; quinoa, pumpkin seeds, shaved raw beets, farm egg, kale, feta, and olives), though I did no olives and swapped the feta for goat cheese. Fresh, healthy, and so good I took a picture to try and recreate it at home! Highly recommended for lunch (and dinner, but that's more by word of mouth at this point!). read more

Bottega Cafe - Bottega Bowl $13 - Italian Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Such a beautiful location. Perfect for meeting up with friends for lunch. The wait service was very knowledgable and patient The baked feta and marinara made for a good starter and I kept it simple with Macaroni & Cheese and a side of Grilled Chicken. read more

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I never get tired of eating Bottega's thin crust pizza, meatballs and coconut cake. Personally, I hate arugula in any form, except when it is on their pizza, yes it is that good. Finding a parking spot near the restaurant might be little difficult, but food is totally worth it. read more

I came here on recommendation from a friend who said Bottega was one of her favorite places in Birmingham. I was surprised to hear she meant the Cafe and not the esteemed restaurant, but she said she loved the slightly more laidback atmosphere on the right side of the building, and I definitely agreed with her! I scoped out the menu before I came and was immediately drawn to the pizzas... they all sounded delicious! And then, my eyes were drawn downward to the specials where I saw that they have a pizza special at the bar: 10$ for half a pizza, a draft beer and a side salad. I expected it to be a prespecified beer and pizza type, but was pleasantly surprised to hear that I could pick any of their pizza flavors and any of their draft beers. The saison that I ordered is normally 8$ on its own, too! I ended up choosing the goat cheese pizza with pancetta which was fantastically amazing. Crispy, brickoven crust with onions, baconesque pancetta and some julienned onions. I was very impressed by the bartender's attentive service... at some restaurants, sitting at the bar buys you half the warm service you would get at a table-- not at Bottega! The bartender made sure my glass was always full and even brought me some of Bottega's delicious housemade bread. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu! read more

Bottega Cafe - Italian Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I love this place. The outside decor looks just like your stepping into a beautiful Italian stately home. The front porch is always bustling and you can even order drinks from an outdoor indoor bar. The cafe side is where I had dinner and it is very affordable. I had a glass of a red and the farm egg pizza. They brought my friend and I bread and oil to share as a starter. The service and atmosphere are prompt and lovely. My only remark is that with the high ceilings it can become extremely noisy and hard to talk or hear yourself think for that matter. The food was outstanding. One of the best "fancy" pizzas I've had and definitely my favorite in town. It is an affordable and classy option for lunch or dinner as they stay open quite late. I highly suggest trying this place out! read more

Ok - so I'm going to come across as a California snob -- but then again, I travel alot for work and have a pretty open mind for the local fare wherever I go. That being said, this place was fantastically uninspiring: ** The calamari was bland and rubbery -- and cold too. ** Mussels tasted wonderfully like --- nothing, except salt -- lots of salt. So I guess that's good if you're into that sort of thing. ** Pasta was like eating warmed hay. ** Waitress was spacey and I think checked on us twice during the 2 hours we were there. ** And what's with all the 20 year olds pretending they're in Beverly Hills? There are better places in the area (e.g. Avo/Dram). Go there instead --better food, better staff. read more

You know it's going to be amazing, food wise, because of it's well known owner/chef. But wait, there's more... I'm generally turned off a bit by fancy pants restaurants that take themselves too seriously. The Cafe meets you right in the middle. They cut the prices in half, let the wait staff and bartenders become more relatable, and still give you the award winning food. While everything on the menu is top notch, I generally stick with the baked feta with focaccia and spicy marinara to dip appetizer (it's hot, melted, and ridiculously delicious) and a chicken Caesar salad with anchovies. If you add alcohol, you will clearly add to the price. If not, you will escape with a meal that's hard to beat, at a price that beats most. read more

Lunch today was so wonderful! My guest and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The service could not have been better and my Rainbow Trout on sweet corn with green beans was spot on! Needless to say, the Coconut Pecan cake was just as delicious as ever! Thanks for a great lunch! read more

I have always heard the hype about Bottega being amazing and a must visit in Birmingham. For as many times as I was told about it, I was a little disappointed. The service was great which is a plus. However, the food was nothing over mediocre. Overall, for the pricing and food I won't return. I would rather go to other places in Birmingham read more

What is the difference between this place and the High Land Bar and Grill? I know that it's supposed to be an Italian restaurant but the menu is almost identical to its sister's restaurant (Highland). I am a frequenter of the Highland so I thought I would give Bottega a try. The food was excellent - very much like the Highland. The reason why I gave it a three star is the poor service and the attitude that my party received from the Front of The House. We waited forever for our table even though we had a reservation. There were many empty tables but they didn't seat us until 15 minutes after our reservation. Worst is that they didn't feel apologetic for it. Just a bad impression overall. Why would I come back here when I can go to the Highland and eat the same caliber of food but with a more hospitable environment. read more

I was in town a few months ago visiting a friend in Montgomery, Alabama. We headed up to Birmingham for a night of kicking up our heels, which started here and ended with a performance by the divine Miss Trinity Taylor. Clearly, good times were had by all. None better. But the restaurant! The restaurant was great. I hate to go around fulfilling stereotypes, but we San Franciscans are indeed restaurant snobs and we tend to think we have all the good ones (allowing that maybe New York does okay, too). This place honestly put to shame anywhere I had been out to eat in San Fran for a while! The food was top-notch. There was gourmet pizza and a nice seafood pasta and a fancy burger, and some excellent mussels in broth and carpaccio, if I am remembering correctly. Something along those lines. And delicious cocktails! Extremely generous and strong, too. Real kick to 'em. They practically give you two drinks, because you get the whole shaker full of extra cocktail. The service was also ridiculously friendly and warm and fun. Here I go again with the stereotypes, but I really enjoyed the Southernness of it all. And the warm nights! We sat outside until 10 or 11 p.m. with hardly a jacket. You can't do that in San Francisco! This restaurant is only one of the reasons I'd love to go back to Birmingham, but it's definitely near the top of the list. read more

Dan, sorry you had a bad outing at Bottega. Hopefully it was just a single misfire. Avo/Dram does not come close to comparing to Bottega Cafe. read more

I definitely get the mixed the reviews of this place.. some things are much better than others! I've been wanting to try one of Frank Stitt's restaurants for a while and decided to start with Bottega Cafe and work my way up as to not be disappointed with it compared to the others. I was not disappointed in the least, but here is a breakdown of what we ate: Beef carpaccio: amazing!!! A solid 10 (out of 10) for me. If you like rare steak this is the appetizer for you. I think next time I would just order two of these as a main course. It's so smooth and buttery but also really fresh and clean tasting. One of the best things I've ever eaten in my life. Homemade potato chips with French onion dip: probably as good as potato chips can get, so I give these babies an 8.5 the French onion dip is a slightly more gourmet version of the kind you get at the the grocery store , and the chips are pretty great in all their rustic glory Smoked salmon pizza: probably also an 8.5. The dough is amazing: crispy and fluffy; I don't mind the burnt bits as much as some reviewers did. Just eat around them, it's NBD. The dill mascarpone was amazing, as we're the capers and smoked salmon. It was just a little too salty for me but I know that's kind of how smoked salmon rolls. Tiramisu: 10 10 10! Best Tiramisu Ive ever had. I love how they used chocolate shavings instead of cocoa powder. There was some sort of creamy deliciousness all over the plate which made it even more divine. Drinks: next time I'm just going to forego cocktails and stick with the wine. I had something with prosecco and grapefruit juice in it.. it was a glorified mimosa and not worth $10. My husband had something with tea syrup and it was waaay to sweet. Maybe I just think of myself as a pretty darn good home bartender but I'd only give the cocktails here a 5 . I definitely recommend Bottega Cafe for a fun date night or group outing. You won't be disappointed! read more

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Hands down the best pizza in town. Classy, amazing, never disappoints. Go here if I'm Birmingham. You won't regret it.

Perhaps it was the tornado sirens in the air, perhaps it was the lack of sleep, or perhaps it was simply a great time with a group of friends but Bottega Cafe was truly enjoyable dining experience. Since they don't take reservations you can expect a bit of a wait (45min for us) but this is fine as long as you don't mind $6-8 beers, ouch! The food menu is the opposite of the drink menu, straight forward, unpretentious, and reasonably priced. A great place with good food and good prices! read more

Great atmosphere and excellent service. Went on a Tuesday around 7 which seemed to be a good time as there was no issue getting a table or seat at the bar. Ordered the farm egg pizza which people have questioned me on this statement but I do consider to be one of the best pizzas I've had in North America. Well worth the visit. read more

After living in Birmingham for many years and hearing about Frank Stitt's Bottega Cafe, it's hard to believe that this is my first visit, but it surely won't be the last. From the moment we entered until we left we felt catered to and our every whim was met. Simply stated, the food was delicious! I got the Friday special menu item, sea bass with capers on fingerling potatoes and served with a salad of spinach and arugula. From the first bite I was hooked due to the explosion of flavors in my mouth. Paired with an excellent Pinot Grigio and fresh focaccia with olive oil, this meal is one I will remember for a long time. Now to plan our next outing...wonder what other deliciousness I will choose then? Believe me, there are many options and they all looked so good! read more

We enjoyed a fantastic lunch here a few weeks back. Really nice decor and atmosphere. We sat at the bar in order to avoid the wait and I would recommend it for sure. Service was great and the food was perfect for a nice lunch. We enjoyed some Good People beer (which is always 5 stars in my book!) and the delicious goat cheese/marinara appetizer. The rate at which we atethe dish was seriously embarrassing. The bartender noticed and joked "wow, that must have been terrible" :) The 1/2 pizza and salad lunch special was perfect and absolutely worth the price. Toppings were fresh and the salad had some zip to it. All in all, it was a truly great experience. I can't wait to go back and dine on "the other side"! read more

The friendly waitstaff here would be one of the reasons I would consider giving this place four stars. I actually came here from a recommendation to try their pizza, but the waitstaff, while helping me with alcoholic choices, recommended that I get the piadine. It was a great choice- except half the bread was burnt. Which may be the way that it's supposed to be, but charred bread and arugula aren't my preferable choice. The waiter was polite enough through my nitpicking and offered to return it to the kitchen. The ambience of this place is like a private club. There's more than a few individuals who have grown up from a higher socioeconomic status, and it percolates into the way that everyone dresses and talks. Not like I wanted to overhear people's conversations, but they were as plastic as much as I love that bracelet that your mom gave you from Africa. Dress up more than down. Oh, and for parking, you better make sure to carpool. There aren't that many non-valet spots. read more

I was excited to go here but the food did not live up to the hype. Pork belly and watermelon was horrible and I didn't eat it. Nice atmosphere but very overpriced. read more

Be prepared to valet the car! Limited parking. Fantastic dinner and experiences. Naturally everything was above average or spectacular that is the standard with any of Frank's Restaurants. read more

I have been going to Bottega for almost 10 years and in that time it hasn't lost a step and has actually improved with age. The atmosphere is absolutely gorgeous and it is hard to beat sitting outside on a nice day with friends and getting some food and drink. The service has always been exceptional and the people themselves are quite friendly and chatty. The cocktail menu changes with the seasons and I always gravitate towards something with peach in it. This afternoon we decided to stop in for some drinks and appetizers and a few pizzas. We did some cocktails along with the shrimp app, the baked feta, the beef carpaccio, the farm pizza, and another one whose name escapes me. Anyways everything was wonderful and we had the best time just eating and chatting. Once again Bottega lives up to the hype and I can't wait to return in the future. read more

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Much like Frank Stitt's Chez Fon Fon, Bottega Cafe is a wonderfully accessible and extremely appetizing restaurant. The quality of the food is nearly unmatched by any other in this price point in the Birmingham area. This is a perfect spot for lunch or a casual dinner. There is something magical about their olive oil. It is out of this world. And if you want some to take home they even sell bottles of the stuff. A little known fact is that Bottega cafe supplies all the desserts for Frank's other restaurants. If you are interested in getting a whole coconut cake from Chez Fon Fon call Bottega Cafe and they'll usually be able to accommodate you given enough notice. Besides all the consistently wonderful food on the menu you must try the Cellotini. It is a phenomenal limoncello and vodka martini. Truly delicious. read more

Very nice staffs with nice interior. The food was on point. I would come here everyday if I had $$. And I like the location of it as well read more

Bottega Cafe - Nicoise salad with grilled tuna was the best salad I've ever had!! - Italian Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Usually when you're from out of town and you ask the front desk at the hotel for a dinner recommendation you get sent to Ruby Tuesday or something along those lines (Nothing against Ruby Tuesday,always a safe, albeit unexciting dining experience). Thankfully that didn't happen this time around as I was told to turn left past the Ruby Tuesday and proceed to Bottega. I throughly enjoyed the Rustica Pizza (prosciutto, coppacola, provolone and ricotta with caramelized onions) and noted that it was cooked in a wood fired oven (pizza crust perfection). Although initially a little salty for my taste, the server brought some crushed red pepper and a side of marinara sauce which smoothed things out for me. I washed it down with an ice cold draft Guinness (for good health), which complimented the pizza and would have been perfectly content... It appears however, that I made the same mistake that others have made, and went to the "cafe" side as opposed to the "restaurant" side of Bottega (which apparently has a different menu). Prior to ordering, but after sitting down, I had mentioned to the maître d' that I was really in the mood for ravioli, but he said this was only available on the menu in the formal side. Oh well! I resigned myself to pizza. While I was munching on my pizza, and to my surprise, the maître d' brought out a small plate of ravioli compliments of the chef which was perfectly prepared and extremely tasty! Wow! I have very rarely experienced this level of service, which in my mind is unsurpassed and for me this small gesture turned an otherwise "four star" rating into a "five star" rating! A nice restaurant with both great food and great service! What a novel concept! This place gets it! read more

The atmosphere was relaxing and the service was good. Didn't have to ask for a drink, it was refilled constantly. The food was delicious and the portion size was pretty large. We went here for lunch, it was pretty busy so a bit slow. Otherwise, everything was great. Definitely a choice on the list. read more

Lower-key bistro-type ambience with the same outstanding food from Frank Stitt Ambience/Service: The Cafe side of Bottega is a more low-key place compared to the restaurant next door. Everything from being able to watch the staff in the back working the woodfire grill for their pizzas to more open seating and a big communal table. Service is always polite. I typically go to sit at the bar and the bartenders are all good at what they do. Food (I'm vegetarian): There are always some vegetarian dishes at all of Frank Stitt's restaurant which I appreciate. I've sampled a lot of his recipe but always come back for the pizzas. From margherita (which isn't on the menu but really delicious) to their seasonal menu which changes every few months, they are always excellent with a light and crispy crust and some of the best flavor combinations you can think of. The last one I had was asparagus, buffalo mozzarella and mint. Who knew. Their salads are great too. The food can't be beat. Overall: I've started to make this a regular place I go to for a high-quality but relaxed atmosphere place. Would highly recommend to anyone who wants great food without needing to get dressed up. read more

When I moved to Birmingham 14 years ago this is on the first restaurants I went to because of the Food Network. The mac & cheese is one of my favorite comfort food dishes in Birmingham. The service is impeccable you can't go wrong here read more

I was in Birmingham for work and went here with a coworker after work based on a recommendation from the hotel. When we arrived there weren't that many people but thirty minutes later it was packed with a nice professional crowd. Our waitress was very attentive and made great recommendations. I had bruschetta and margarita pizza and they were both delicious. I will return when I'm back in Birmingham. read more