Bottega di Capri tears down the notion that Italian food needs to be expensive to be good. It also tears down the notion that the best Italian food in Boston needs to be in the North End with a line wrapping around the block. A small restaurant with a primarily counter service system, this restaurant seems to have steadfast regulars (me included) that either order carry-out or drop by for a quick quiet bite. Because of this, it is rarely difficult to find a seat, even though the seating is limited. If you want affordable and great Italian food without the lines, this is your place.
(5)
Kevin L.
Came here for lunch with some friends after spending a whole day moving and their dishes definitely fill you up if you're really hungry. They used to be affiliated with Bottega Fiorentina in Coolidge Corner, but the two brothers that used to work there decided to buy/start their own restaurant in the Village. They have a completely different menu than Fiorentina and they give you a lot more food too (they have daily specials too so keep an eye out on what day you go!). The staff here is very friendly and welcoming; definitely has a family/homey vibe inside! I ordered the: -Penne de Georgio's: it has breaded chicken, mushrooms, onions, peppers, peas and asparagus in a vodka cream sauce (they also give you a fresh loaf of bread and it goes great with the sauce). The penne pasta was cooked al dente and all the ingredients in the dish blend together very nicely with the pasta and cream sauce. There was a bit of imbalance between the amount of pasta and everything else (too...many...carbs), but since I was super hungry, it definitely hit the spot. However, it would probably last me two meals normally. Overall, great food and nice atmosphere for a very reasonable price! This little restaurant in the Village probably has some of the best Italian food in the area (I prefer this place over the one in Coolidge Corner based on quality, quantity, and cost). I will definitely be back for more! :)
(4)
Jeffrey N.
Pollo alla parmigiana, more commonly known as chicken parmesan, is a Tuesday special which I had ordered. I'm not usually a big fan of pasta but this was pretty quality pasta. The pasta was just right in terms of firmness and was complemented well by a rich, fresh tomato sauce. I think the chicken was also done quite well. They had the chicken already prepared so I thought it would be soggy but it was actually quite crispy. It's easy to mess up chicken parmesan by having soggy breading but it was covered nicely with breading. The only thing I would say could improve for the chicken is that towards the center, it wasn't quite as flavorful and could use a bit of salt, but the tenderness of the chicken balanced it out nicely. The staff is also very personable and welcoming, providing bread and speedy service.
(4)
Fey S.
I found this little hole in the wall on yelp and took a chance, best decision I've had! We're from out of state and seeing the expensive prices at the other Italian places right in Boston was alarming, this place is actually affordable and authentic as can be! No bells and whistles of a waiter, it's a deli style shop, but the waiter was nice enough to come to our table and chit chat with us. He even poured us our drinks. I got the sea food special, it was an amazing portion with tons of seafood, at least 5 muscles, 5 shrimp, and tons of calamari. We also got the lobster ravioli, not only did we get fat ravioli pieces, but we got like 8 or 9 large pieces in a delicious sauce. The place also has fresh cut meat and delicious olives. Way better than any place we went to in Little Italy, NYC, must try!!!
(5)
Norma T.
When going to Bottega di Capri, we knew what we were in for. The location itself is quite small, and easy to miss if quickly walking by harvard street. Once inside, it was empty due to a weird afternoon time and a rainy day. Almost immediately, a very charismatic man came over and handed menus. He had a very thick accent, and was speaking Italian to someone in the back of the kitchen as we decided on what to order. The menu consisted of some specialties, but mostly was impressed by their long list of sauces to choose from with different pasta choices as well. Once we decided, he came over and quite enthusiastically gave us a quick rundown of some of their specials. All of which sounded delicious, so much so that my friend decided to get one of the specials: seafood risotto. The food itself came out pretty quickly, and the portions were bigger than anticipated for the very affordable prices. (much cheaper than most places at the north end) Overall the gnocchi with bolognese was good, and had no complaints but have had better. However, the seafood risotto was plentiful in varied seafood from big clams, scallops, calamari and shrimp. It was silky and had the right amount of cream, texture and kick. Would certainly return and listen out for the specials of the day next time since its bound to be more fresh and unique, the bill came out at about $25 for both plates and bread was provided free of charge. Overall, great italian authentic place in Harvard street. Price, easiness and taste can't be beat.
(4)
Jodi N.
My boyfriend and I have eaten at Bottega di Capri pretty much every week since we began our 8 week stay in Brookline. The staff are so genuinely nice and hospitable, it makes you feel right at home! I don't think we've tried anything that we haven't liked, but we do have some favorites! - Bruschetta - Lobster Ravioli with Pesto Alfredo - Beef Ravioli with Pesto Rosa - Meatballs with Spaghetti - Chicken Parmigiana - Risotto with Seafood It's such a wonderful little hole in the wall restaurant, I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a filling and delicious dinner while roaming Harvard Avenue in Brookline.
(5)
Vicky H.
I remember this when it used to be "Bottega Fiorentina" and the sandwiches were awesome as they were shaved right on front of you in toasted breads and whatever else you want in them. I used to always order the meatball and spaghetti or Chicken Parm. The folks were here were nice people. Water were in pitcher and you can just help yourself as there are no waitstaff. It's a nice little gem. The price was on the higher end for a little place like this but so worth it to support a local spot. Bottega di Capri is pretty good and fairly priced as well. The only thing is, sometimes when you call the order in, it's made wrong. Otherwise, would deserve at least 4 stars.
(3)
Ben O.
Awesome neighborhood place. Nowhere else have I ever seen anything like it: a quiet neighborhood cafe that serves a wide array of gourmet Italian fare at an incredibly reasonable price. This is especially applicable with regards to the pasta menu, which features something like 20 sauces, all of which are fantastic. Cozy and accessible place, friendly staff, and superb food at a very fair price. Love this place
(5)
Amanda G.
Bottega di Capri is a tiny, cozy deli/restaurant in Brookline. It's a total gem- the food was excellent, prices are beyond reasonable, and the service was genuinely warm. The menu at first seems to be pretty big, but it includes sandwiches, salads, pastas, specials for every day of the week, and a "create your own pasta" section with descriptions of all the different sauces. Pasta dishes are priced at roughly $10-14 & sandwiches were $5-7. Even dishes like lobster ravioli, which can easily go for $30 a plate at bigger, fancier places, are under $15 here. My family & I had three entrees, drinks, & a dessert for a total of $53 and the quality of everything was top. Focaccia bread & good quality olive oil were brought to the table before our entrees came up. I noticed another review complained that the bread was cold, but from the texture you could tell it had been baked earlier that day, and I'd rather have room temperature recently baked bread than frozen & reheated (which is what a lot of restaurants actually do.) We didn't have to wait long for our entrees. I had one of the specials, seafood risotto- the risotto was full of flavor and cooked perfectly & there were generous amounts of shrimp, scallops, squid, & mussels. Definitely one of the best dishes I've ever had. We finished the meal with a light, delicious passionfruit gelato, the portion of which was enough for three to share. Everything was fresh & nothing about the place is pretentious; it's all love out here. I never write reviews this long & detailed, but Bottega di Capri deserves it. For me this was a perfect experience. I'll be back every time I'm in Boston for sure!
(5)
Ashley A.
One of my favorite places in Brookline Village! I'm not sure the service gets any better..the staff is ALWAYS warm and courteous and you can tell they really love what they do and appreciate each and every person who walks in the door. The fact that the food is fabulous is really just a perk. I have stopped by on numerous occasions and have been blown away by how phenomenal the food and service is each and every time. I try not to stop in too often though because I'm pretty sure it's the type of place you can easily gain several pounds without really trying..but really..go here..you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Ashley D.
This small restaurant/Italian deli is easy to miss but is a true neighborhood gem. I came in to carbo load before a race with some friends and indeed left loaded and satisfied. I was instantly attracted to huge homemade meatballs and then had my choice of which type of pasta I wanted to complete the dish. They have a number of different options and combinations of sauce, pasta, and other additions or if you're feeling creative you can make your own combination by picking your sauce and type of pasta from a long list of options. I was also lucky enough to be able to have my friend's leftovers the next day and can be a testament for how creamy and savory the farfalle davinci is. The garlic cream sauce with peas and chicken was simply outstanding (even the day after). They also have a number daily specials you can choose from each day that look amazing. Next time I'm in the neighborhood I'll be sure to stop by to check those out.
(4)
Yuka Y.
Rating lies at 3.5. Bottega di Capri is a small, little known gem in Brookline specializing in pastas, though there are sandwiches and paninis offered. It's only a store away from Martin's diner. From a quick look at the exterior (having passed this street for 4 years), I've mistaken this place as a cafe. But it is a restaurant with service, though it can be confusing. You pay at the counter- it is your choice as to whether to pay before sitting down or after you finish your meal. Your orders will be brought out to you and cleared for you. The owner seems charismatic to customers. My honey and I were looking at their menu taped to the wall as we stood outside. The owner approached the window wanting to re-tape the menu more firmly. Upon seeing us, he made a non-verbal, classic Italian gesture that their food is great and opened the door telling us to come in since there's aircon. Great effort was made by him showing their daily specials and giving recs. My only concern with him is he's quite disrespectful to his waitress. She's a young Indian girl and the tone that he gives orders in gives me the impression he is definitely someone I would not want to work with. Granted, she does seem inexperienced and new to the inner workings of the restaurant, but her service was courteous. These nuances are something I managed to catch and found unpleasant/uncomfortable the entire dinner- the place is small, you can hear almost everything. Good bosses shouldn't have to instill fear or be condescending. Let's get to the food! -Bread was cold. It's unnecessary every table has to be asked whether they want olive oil or butter with their bread. Just provide olive oil by default, I'm sure most don't like plain bread anyways & you're an Italian restaurant. ++The 'Linguini, Scallop, Clams and Shrimp' was worth it. ~5 pieces of big shrimp with shrunken scallops scattered around the linguini. Their pastas are perfectly cooked in duration. Sauce was not salty with a light taste of tomato. +Homemade meatballs in spaghetti and tomato sauce was good. They charge per meatball. Overall, I will have to agree with other yelpers it is annoying Bottega di Capri's business concept relies a lot of 'adding extra for x $' if you want x.' I'd rather pay a little more and get a heartier dish by default than having to make more decisions. I suppose much of that concept is due to a bulk of their menu being catered to creating your own pasta blend from scratch. 2 entrees + 2 drinks will set you around $32 including tips, most likely a cheaper endeavor for Italian vs. Northend. Good homemade quality and excellent taste, though I don't appreciate the way staff are being treated and the change in face of the owner.
(3)
Alex L.
This place is adorable. We were having an office party and decided to get catering from Bottega. Not only were the gentlemen behind the counter unbelievably accommodating (explaining how everything was packaged, providing anything else we could possibly need, running to open the door for us, being generally lovely humans), but the food was AMAZING. We got an antipasto platter and bruchetta, both of which were wonderfully authentic Italian and delicious. I love this place and can't wait to go back to try some of their pasta!
(5)
Natalie T.
When you walk past it you don't expect much, but there is an amazing menu. I love the different combinations of pastas and sauces. I recommend the pesto rosa sauce and the Capri sandwich. The food is very simple but delicious! Run by two guys who don't say much but they can make good food. I come back whenever I'm in Brookline
(5)
Debora M.
Unexpectedly really good. Came here for lunch after taking my cousin on a college visit. I was driving by and thought "there's a small spot I can quickly stop and get lunch at"-not expecting anything special. Boy was I surprised. What a delight. Such a cozy and tasteful little cafe. I felt like I was actually in Italy but not because of any cheesy decor but the feel in there was neighborly, friendly and warm. I think mainly because the worker there (I believe the Argentinian owner) is so friendly and has a great welcoming personality. Most importantly the food: The menu is on a chalkboard and you pick your choice of pasta, sauce and meat/seafood. Simple concept excellent results. There is a lot to choose from but from what I could see you can't lose. I got the Angel hair with Arrabiata sauce with Shrimp. mmmm mmmm mmmm. Wish I had it right now! Divine. The pasta was so fresh and cooked to al dente perfection. The sauce so packed with flavor- you could taste all the ingredients. Shrimp also tasted fresh and perfectly cooked-they were firm and flavorful. Uh and the price? Yeah, both my cousin and I lunched like bosses for under $25. Can't wait to return. Thank you Bottega di Capri!
(5)
Adam T.
Just wonderful! Cozy little deli with personable staff and great service. Reasonably priced. Excellent food with variety of choices. Meatballs are a must for only $2.50 each. Perfect for those in need of a quick bite. Smaller location so not ideal for big groups but perfect for 4 or less. In short, I'll be back soon.
(5)
Susan G.
Great food, I like to take the yummies from here and do a picnic at nearby Jamaica Pond.
(4)
Irene W.
It is amazing! Very nice Italian Deli. I loved the food and the nice staff. I would highly recommend to my friends. We had 9 people there for a friend's birthday! It worked out. The place is not huge. But it worked well for our party. The owner even gave us a bag of tiramisu cookie to celebrate the friend's birthday. That was very nice. The food is yummy and is very affordable as well. Loved it! Will be back soon!
(5)
Drduru A.
All sorts of authentic Italian dishes. I wanted to try so many, but I made a beeline for the risotto. Particularly good for those who like a light and subtle flavor. I actually prefer a little more creamy and seasoned, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
(4)
Chris S.
Friends in Brookline took me to this small Italian place, and it is delicious. I still don't understand whether I'm supposed to order at the counter or sitting down, but the food is so good. I went twice, once getting a more traditional prosciutto/cream pasta dish, the other time gnocchi. The staff was pleasant and accommodated my late evening coffee needs. I wish I lived next door.
(5)
Tom R.
I love this place, small family owned, family friendly, ownership is really friendly, the pasta is awesome and they have tons of variety even on a weeknight.
(5)
Shauna H.
I ordered the assorted meats antipasto, which was INCREDIBLE! For that I'd give 5 stars, tons of delicious fresh meats and mozzarella and fragrant basil. I'm glad I made the snap decision to get this because it's taking the edge off the disappointment from my pasta. I ordered the shrimp, scallops, and clams linguine. As a procedural note, I should mention they gave me spaghetti instead of linguine, but whatever, it's cooked correctly so I'm not upset about it. It's the sauce that really fails here. There's NO wine flavor. In fact, there's no flavor at all except black pepper. Mountains of black pepper. Disgusting. I have a high spice/heat tolerance, and it's actually not really that spicy, (it's just back pepper after all), but it is ONLY that flavor. An onslaught of one-dimensional nastiness. Awful. BUT... I will give them another chance. I noticed someone else posted a photo on yelp of the same dish I ordered, and that dish has little to no black pepper in it. So that's a ding for consistency but at least maybe there's a chance for redemption.
(2)
Carlos B.
You can skip your trip to the North End for an italian dinner. La Bottega is by far the best italian restaurant I've tried in Boston. Small and unpretentious, the restaurant manages to wow with great flavors and a italian-grandma-cuisine feel.
(5)
Kelly H.
I just happened to be picking up an instrument a couple stores down and needed something to eat on the run. I stopped in, and ordered the veggie panini. They had multiple vegetarian options to choose from, but I needed something I could eat in the car. The gentleman who helped me was really friendly. The panini was delicious! The atmosphere is cozy. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone in the area.
(5)
Ibeth T.
Excellent service and exquisite food ! My family love the food I will come back anytime !
(5)
Kanika M.
Brookline Village is the absolute cutest and Bottega di Capri follows that standard perfectly! This little restaurant can be easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for, but definitely a place worth stopping in. The kindest Italian man comes and takes your order if you decide to sit down and prepares everything himself behind the counter, with the help of just one other woman in the kitchen. He's such a sweetheart and takes the time to make sure you really enjoyed your meal. The prices are unreal for the portion, also! I went with 3 friends and all of us got paninis/sandwiches for about $8. Expecting to be a good sized meal but nothing too huge, we were more than pleasantly surprised when our food came out MUCH bigger than expected. The food tastes great, the atmosphere is calm and friendly, and you don't put a hole in your wallet while enjoying it all. Definitely a great place to pop in if you're craving some good Italian. The only downside is that there isn't a ton of seating, but what can you expect from a cute little Bottega? It's almost more fitting for it to be a bit small! Ps. They have lobster ravioli....which none of us tried but are all determined to go back for one day... Let a girl know how it is if you beat me to it!
(4)
Matt R.
Authentic homemade meatballs that keeps me coming back time and time again. I have tried many items on the menu but I always see myself coming back to there meatballs. The owner is super nice and welcomes you like your family.
(5)
Beth H.
The menu here makes it hard to choose what you want -- everything sounds great. It is a little hole-in-the-wall, so I missed this place altogether for quite a while even though I work in the area. Note that it is cash only. I had the chicken parmesan both times I went, but made an important change to my order the second time. The chicken parm comes on Italian bread regularly, and, think about it, as messy and saucy as chicken parms are (and ought to be!!), the bread was totally soaked through and mushy/gross by the time I arrived back at work to consume it. I wound up having to forego the bread, and eat the innards with fork and knife. The second time, I requested a sub bun, and everything went swimmingly! No more mushy bread, just glorious glorious food for my belly. Portions are very large! If I hadn't had a blegh experience the first time, this review would be a 4. I recommend coming by Bottega di Capri -- but when you do, ask what bread your sandwich comes on and make changes if necessary.
(3)
Anthony G.
The food was amongst the worst I've ever had in my life. Just awful. OMG. not that it tasted horrendous, just that it was without taste.
(1)
Caitlin M.
Went to Bottega di Capri at 8 on Friday night. We just didn't feel like cooking but also didn't want to spend a lot of money. The food was really good and very affordable. I will go back to try the other sauces.
(4)
Bill G.
I can't say enough great things about this restaurant. We came across Bottega di Capri on a walk one day, stopping in when we noticed they sell sandwiches. The sandwiches are amazing. Better than most deli's in Boston. Try the italian or the meatball. And reasonably priced! We loved lunch so much that we came back to try dinner. Go with their daily special! Lasagna & spaghetti with meatballs are made with italian family love. its like my grandmother was making dinner. And for only $10/dish! Its our go-to when we're craving italian. skip the trip to the north end and go to Bottega di Capri!
(5)
Nicole B.
This small restaurant in Brookline Village has a market-type feel and an expansive menu where you can create your own pasta dish by choosing a pasta, meat and sauce. All come with freshly sliced bread (no butter or oil to accompany, sadly). I had the pesto sauce on spaghetti with chicken. It was alright, but definitely needed some seasoning (salt & pepper) and the chicken was not worth the extra charge. $10 minimum on credit card charges and the owner (?) is a pushy Italian man that is happy to take your payment before or after you eat (no rules here). Authentic feel, standard food.
(3)
Shannon M.
I don't think I've ever seen so many sauce options! The choices can be overwhelming so I asked for a recommendation on my lobster ravioli. The arrabiata was bit too strong for the lobster but very hearty and tomato-y with a spicy kick! The pasta and sauce was fresh, and the bread they serve on the side was nice and crisp. This place is a great stop for a quick bite of classic italian pasta and sandwiches.
(4)
An L.
Best Italian eatery in Brookline we've had. Carbonara and Pesto Rosa were delicious. Lots of sauce choices. Fast service. They also have gelato. We'll be coming back for more.
(5)
German G.
Great Italian food at reasonable prices. They have a few specials each day and a list of premade dishes, or you can make your own pasta/sauce combination; all the dishes I've tried are quite good or at least solid, and also pretty authentic (reminiscent of eating with your Italian grandma). This place makes North End all but obsolete, unless you're looking for something fancy. That being said, this place is all about the food, so don't expect great atmosphere or service. You place your order at the counter and they bring it out when it's ready. While the food is Italian, most of the servers are actually Colombian. Some are friendly, others not so much (there is one guy in particular that has terrible manners and his English can be hard to understand, but that's just how he is). In my experience they are chattier and nicer if you engage them in Spanish, assuming you speak the language well.
(4)
Tanya Y.
Pasta alla Pesce (Bowtie pasta with shrimp, scallops and sun-dried tomato topped with a white wine scampi sauce) all for $11.41, tax included?! Yes please! Bottega di Capri is another hole in the wall type of place that you would never bother venturing into unless you've heard how great it was through word of mouth. Their menu is loaded with yummy Italian goodies ranging from hot and cold subs to customizable pasta dishes with handcrafted sauces and daily specials. Everything is ordered over the counter; meaning no waiter service: you go up there, order yourself, take the food yourself, and go up to pay yourself. There was one guy behind the counter manning everything. He did this as well as he could with the dinner rush. He even remembered our orders as we went up to pay the bill. The portions were just enough, seafood cooked right, and very flavorful. All pastas come with bread that you can dip in to olive oil that you customize yourself at the table. Deli meats and antipasti are available as well to snack on. There's a $10.00 minimum purchase required to use a credit or debit card, parking can be found on the street, and the food came out hot and fast. If I'm ever in the area and want some good quick and delicious Italian, I know that I'll definitely be coming here again,
(4)
Gustavo M.
This small 'italian' place is by far one of the best 'home made' style restaurants in the city. Every time we came here we got the most tasty food, my favorite: the gnocchi pesto rosa...you will come back for more. And super affordable
(5)
Harry H.
Occasionally conditions align and the multitude of bookmarks I've collected over the years become unfeasible and the decision falls in the hands of others. In this case, the brothership located this spot on Yelp and we headed over not long before closing. We sidled up to the counter and the charming overzealous staffer took our orders for some satisfying Italian-American fare dished out by the brusque but entertaining a few steps behind him.
(4)
Van N.
I went here on a Sunday afternoon with a couple of peeps. There was plenty of seating. The menu has a nice selection of pastas and sauces however, they didn't have a few pastas and dishes my group ordered. Maybe the selection is better if I went during a weekday and it is busier. Service was nice but they forgot my dish and given how slow it was, raised a few eyebrows. It was no big deal since my order came a few minutes later with an apology. The actual food was okay. I got the pumpkin tortellini with meat sauce. I admit it might have not been the best combination of sauce and pasta, but I left unimpressed with the so-so quality and small portion size. Overall, I couldn't shake the feeling that I could just go down the street to Trader Joe's and make the meal at home.
(2)
Chris B.
Yum yum yum!! Came here for a blizzard-y Valentine's Day and loved it. The lasagna was particularly amazing. We are definitely coming back to this neighborhood cafe.
(5)
Julia K.
The two stars come from the fact that the food I ordered was actually really tasty. Buuuuut...service was downright weird and dodgy. I had trouble understanding the accent of the man working there, but I figured I had it down close enough. I ordered eggplant parmesan. It sounded like the man said, "Do you want pasta or penne?" I asked him to repeat it and it sounded the same, which didn't make sense to me because penne *is* pasta...but whatever, I didn't want to keep asking him to repeat himself, so I just said I'd have pasta. I then decided I wanted a cannolo so I went to the self-service fridge, took a boxed one out, and told the man I'd have one. A couple minutes later, when my food was ready, he gave me my total...ten dollars and change...but then told me after he swiped my debit card that he hadn't included the cannolo. I figured, forget it, no big deal, and put the box back in the fridge. But then I wondered, how come the total for the eggplant is so much higher than the $7.50 the menu said it would be? I asked the man working there, and he told me the pasta was an extra $2. Now...this is my pet peeve. Sure, two dollars isn't a big deal for my wallet, but when restaurants do things like this, it's a sign that they're sneaky and out to get every last penny they can squeeze out of customers. If you offer something to a customer and don't tell them there's an extra charge, it should be free, end of. I was disappointed in them, but I figured, "Oh, it must have said this in the small print in the menu and I missed it, I guess it's my fault, no big deal." But then I looked at the menu and there was not a word about extra charges. If I had known it was going to be an extra charge, I wouldn't have taken it, especially because the pasta wasn't very good. I never wanted it in the first place. It is a pathetic grab for money, it's deceptive, it's just sneaky and sad. And it pretty much guarantees that people like me are never going to come back, because I don't like being cheated as if I'm too stupid to notice. If you're going to add-on extras to somebody's order, either make it clear that it costs extra, or make it free. It's that easy. I don't care about two dollars; I do care about dishonesty. The thing is...the eggplant parmesan was good. But I'm not going to keep giving money to a business that tries to sneakily squeeze every last penny out of customers without telling them about extra charges. Hope those two dollars were worth losing a customer, guys, because I'm not coming back.
(2)
Jamie P.
It's a cute little spot in Brookline Village. It wasn't too far from the T, it wasn't too busy in the afternoon, so it seemed the perfect place to grab lunch while scouring the area for a potential apartment. I had the shrimp pasta, which was good. Overall, a nice place to enjoy a leisurely lunch.
(3)
Conor S.
Pretty small place, but the food seems pretty great quality for a fair price. I grabbed a Daniel's Panini for lunch, and it was excellent! Fresh breads, flavorful ingredients. I'll have to go there for pasta at some point.
(4)
D Z.
Used to be better when it was Fiorentina. Just nothing special.
(2)
Nelson E.
Great people who work here. Prices are the best and the same with the quality. I usually cycle through a few different items, all have always been good. Order at the counter. Don't waste your time going to the north end, just go here.
(5)
Pat M.
I'm a meatball fanatic, and I absolutely love their meatballs - among the best I've ever had. I've had at least 30 meatballs subs from there....even got 40 of them along with an antipasto platter a few Christmas's ago - totally made up for the coal in my stocking HAHAHAHAHAH! This place doesn't stop at meatballs though, they make a ton of sauces and all the ones I've tried (including the marinara for the meatballs) have been top notch - my fav is the amatriciana.....incredible. Their wide variety of sauces can be served with just about any pasta you can think of. One more thing I must rave about is the Capri, it's truly one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Prosciutto, sopressata, fresh mozzarella, red peppers (that bathe in garlic) along with olive oil - amazing. There's a similar place down the street that's very good too, bottega di florentine (can't be bothered to look up the spelling) which is more toward Coolidge corner. Their menus are so similar that it's almost like they use to be partners that had a falling out or something....maybe two brothers that hate each other. Di Capri gets the edge cuz they make meatballs, that's essentially the only difference. If there's more than 3 people in line you may be in for a bit of a wait, it's usually one guy in the front taking orders, making sandwiches and taking your money....it's worth the wait tho.
(4)
CL S.
This is by no means fast food...as in, it'll take a little while to get your food if you show up during the lunch rush. But it's well worth the wait. The panini are fantastical.
(4)
Amanda O.
I've been here dozens of times and it is one of our favorites. Every time we decide to go somewhere else for Italian/pasta we realize afterwards that we should have gone to the Bottega. Pasta is as good, better, than anything I've had in the North End. They make fresh pastas, tortellini (try the pumpkin!) and ravioli, and have dozens of sauces to choose from. I've never had a disappointing combination. We usually go a couple times a month for a weekend lunch. Eating in is casual yet comfortable, though when the weather is good we get take-out and go to the small park around the corner on Linden St.
(5)
Lucy W.
Stopped in on a windy chilly day, so perfect for hearty Italian pasta. I ordered at the counter- gnocchi with pesto rosa sauce (which costs extra but came highly recommended). I sat down and only minutes pass before my order is called and a plate of hot pasta is ready for me. Gnocchi is pillowy and perfect, and the pesto rosa sauce is flavorful or 2 of my favorite pasta sauces...worth the extra $1. The portions were plenty big for me...though I scarfed it all down due to my extreme hunger, it definitely wouldn't be considered a small portion like some other Yelpers commented on. The place is small and cozy, with only a few tables and a long counter where you order and pick up the food.
(4)
Erica F.
I love this place! I've eaten here many times. The food is always fresh and delicious! Great meatballs and pomodoro sauce! The chicken broccoli ziti is excellent too! Very easy to call in an order to go.
(5)
gary m.
Just out for a walk before work and came across this wonderful little cafe The food is fresh, fresh, fresh, and the expresso is just great. Reasonably priced with a more than sufficient serving. The following weekend my wife and I who live outside the city, drove the 20+ miles so I could show off my great find. I've been to Capri, and can honestly say this reminds me very much of Italy.
(5)
Keith F.
Good service, great italian food and affordable.
(4)
Shankar D.
This is the best Italian food I have had. They are local and unique in many ways. It is a very small place and the ambience in such will not impress you but the food is very impressive. They have a range of sauces for pasta. Quite a few of them are unique to them. I had tried primavera and it was great. Forfirst timers, I would recommend a sauce - something pesto. Ask the guy at the counter and he would tell you the exact name.
(4)
Megan R.
AMAZING food! Not only do they have a huge (and delicious) menu, but this is definitely one of the most affordable dining out options in Brookline (especially Brookline Village). I think that this is some of the best Italian food I have had in Boston aside from the North End- the vodka sauce is my favorite, which comes with a choice of several different pastas and fresh baked bread. I live right up the street so I typically take out, but they have a cute dining area as well and really gives the feel of a little Italian deli. The food is always still hot by the time I get it home. They also have some interesting sauce combinations like Pesto Rosa that are great. Bottega di Capri does take credit cards, but it is a $10 minimum and have gone before to pick up food to find out that their credit card machine is broken. I would definitely recommend just stopping to get some cash before you get there, just in case!
(5)
Alan W.
I have eaten at this restaurant many times and love the pasta. It is a simple menu and has many different pasta choices, sauces, and offers chicken, shrimp, and meatballs with your pasta dish, if you so desire. You can create your own antipasti salad, and the prices are very reasonable ie., two pasta dishes with salad under $25, and while tipping is optional, I would recommend leaving something.
(4)
Anchalee M.
We love their sandwiches. The Italiano is my favorite. Only complaint about this place is that they mess up my order or forget to make my order when I call it in about 85% of the time. The owner gets stressed out easily and can't keep things straight. Nevertheless, I keep coming back bc he's always sincerely apologetic and the food is so good.
(4)
Laura K.
LK: "Erin, this is a deli. Check again." EK: "It's the right address! It's the same name! This must be it." RK: "Well, whatever; we're here -- we're eating." On a rainy Tuesday night in Brookline Village -- post-357th lifetime visit to the Children's Hospital Sports Medicine clinic for my sister -- Dad, Erin and I found ourselves hungry in a yet-unexplored part of town. ::Go-go-gadget, Yelp App!:: Bottega di Capri: Strong reviews? Check! Within a mile of where we're standing right now? Check! Street parking? Check! OK, Sounds good. We're in. I'm glad that Dad was hungry and Erin was undeterred by the deli-esque setup of Bottega di Capri, because in this alternate universe six tables and a drink cooler with food passed to you over a counter equals the best Italian I've had in Boston. AND IT'S CHEAP! Erin's bowties with Vodka sauce and Dad's Chicken Cacciatore were fresh and enjoyable, but the real gem of the meal was my linguini with alfredo pesto and chicken. The sauce was rich but light, the pasta was fresh and perfectly portioned and the chicken was so moist and delicious I almost cried at my inability to force it all into my belly. I can't stop thinking about it. [Noodle Mirage #46: chairblog.eu/wp-content/… In addition to amazing foodstuffs, this tiny restaurant also offers great customer service in the form of jovial Italian men. Not that it'd matter, because the food is THAT good. I live in the North End -- but I plan on travelling to Brookline from now on when I want Italian. This. Love. Is. Real.
(5)
Andrew B.
The best Italian food in Boston. Hands down... You can't beat their Pesto Rosa sauce on a huge meatball... or in a cup... I don't care if I occasionally get a hard end of a homemade loaf of bread the food is homemade and delicious. This place is LEGIT, staff imported from F'ing Tuscany or something. I've never been let down... and you can feed a family of 4 for 40 BUCKS! Inexpensive to say the LEAST. It's pretty easy to taste the difference between store bought pasta and sauce and the homemade stuff. I Feel bad for our North End Yelp brothers and sisters who won't like an Italian restaurant unless it has a wine bar... But this place is as authentic as it gets. (btw.... Many of those North End Trattorias don't quite have Italians or Sicilians in the back cooking... 95% of all restaurants in major cities in America have people of Mexican or South American descent. The food can still be great and if the Owner or whoever runs the place knows what they're doing the food will be authentic too, but most of them are not run by those kind of people and you get expensive crappy food at a hip looking place to eat!) - No Thanks! I'll stick with Bogetta Di Capri. Homemade and authentic food at a GREAT price!
(5)
madine c.
We happened upon this place on a whim and were very pleasantly surprised! We dined in, and while it would have been nice to have a glass of wine with the meal (they don't sell any alcohol here), the food and value outweighed that shortcoming. Between the three of us, we had linguini with carbonara sauce, fettucini alfredo, and meat ravioli with the simple tomato sauce. All were outstanding -- fresh, very tasty -- and all were priced extremely reasonably (ravioli was $8.95, the other two were $6.95). We've spent more at a sub shop on greasy (and bad) cheesesteaks. The friendly guy behind the counter made us a dinner salad to split, and it was lovely ... super thin onions, tomato slices, and about a dozen big green olives over a bed of greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Next time I'll probably order to go, because a meal this good deserves to be accompanied by wine.
(5)
Joe F.
Food is unreal. Prices are decent. Anything I've gotten has been stellar. Definitely check it out for a good lunch.
(4)
Dirgni S.
A-OK. If they didn't bill themselves as gourmet food, I'd probably give them 4 stars. But, really, this is comfort food, not gourmet food. I got stuffed peppers, my husband got the Tuscan panini. I thought the peppers were very good. Nicely seasoned. I thought my husband's panini was pretty bland though. Portions are large and prices are very reasonable. Service was friendly and good, for what it is. (You order at the counter and they bring over your meal when it's ready. That's it.) Overall, I'd recommend stopping here if you need a quick bite to eat. But, downshift your expectations from gourmet food to comfort food.
(3)
Mishy K.
I cannot believe there are people who can possibly put Di Capri down.. GO BACK TO OLIVE GARDEN!! :) I find the best time to come is for lunch especially on a nice warm day, My personal favorite is Cheese Tortellini with rosantina sauce.. The rosantina sauce is amazing, but so is the Primavera. Everything is homemade, fresh, and delicious, the bread is soft on the inside, nice and crusty on the outside, perfect for dipping in the sauce! Nothing really beats sitting down with a plate of cheese tortellini and rosantina sauce with a nice cold Orange soda. The staff is very friendly, always helpful. Despite what people think they are not a part of Bottega Florentina.
(5)
Marina B.
I'd never been to this place before, but I was starving, after having just waited close to an hour at another local restaurant who essentially forgot my order and could have cared less. So I thought I'd give Bottega di Capri a try. Not only was everything delicious, but I can honestly say I had he beat grilled cheese of my life here. The portions were a good size but not ridiculously huge. The prices are fair. The employees are pleasant and sweet. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. You walk in, order, sit down at one of the few tables present, eat your meal slowly, and pay before you leave. Definitely coming back here again, and I'm recommending it to all my friends and family in the area.
(5)
Joe M.
I discovered this "hidden gem" just 2 months before changing jobs and leaving Brookline Village behind. But I went there 2 or 3 times a week until I left! Small and unassuming, Bottega di Capri's food more than makes up for the lack of ambiance. The staff is pleasant and eager to please. Excellent panini, with freshly sliced cold cuts, and overflowing with roasted peppers on my favorite, "the Tuscan". Almost as good was "the Caprese" which reminded me of my Nana's tomato and mozzarella salads. The soups were very good too, my favorite being the Pasta Fagioli. And the lamb stew was spectacular! The folks I worked with tended to go with the pasta and sauce combos. Any pasta with any sauce! I can only speak for the Cheese Ravioli with Bolognese and the Linguine Puttanesca, both of which were outstanding. While I don't miss the traffic, parking and congestion of Brookline Village, I do miss Bottega di Capri.
(5)
Paul R.
Just okay. Most of the reviews seem to be relatively spot on but award 4 stars for what I'd give a 3. The sauces are delicious but the pasta isn't anything extraordinary and the portion sizes I find to be way too small. I always expect to be full on the side of gaining a few pounds after some italian, but I've left here still hungry both times I've been. Good for takeout or a quick eat-in but not a place I'd go out of my way to recommend to a friend.
(3)
Meggie C.
I have lived in the neighborhood for the past two years and sometimes can't resist my Bottega cravings. It is a simple yet delicious place for a quick meal. For about $6 you can pick your noodle and sauce and they will give you a basket of crunchy Italian bread (necessary to soak up every last drop of the sauce). They also have daily specials and entrees, though I generally order some variety of pasta. The sandwiches are good as well - perfect to pick up if you're taking a day trip to the beach or something. The service is great. The guy who takes your order is friendly and chatty (and patient with me if I'm being indecisive). There's no table service just no-nonsense delicious Italian food. I'm 99% sure the last time I was there, my chatty friend told me they just hired a delivery man. One downside (like everything else in the village) is they close at 9 :(
(4)
Nora B.
Amazing! I discounted this place after I got just a so-so Caprese panino from here for lunch one day. Big mistake! Yesterday my husband and I stopped in, again for lunch. He got a meatball sub with cheese, I got a plate of porcini tortellini with pomodoro sauce. After I ordered it, I worried it would be overly basic and bland. Not so! It was one of the best plates of pasta I've ever eaten in the states. The tortellini was clearly homemade by somebody, with a delicious mushroomy/cheesy filling. And the sauce was indeed basic, but with a delicious blend of tomato, garlic, and fresh fresh basil flavors. Homey but not dumpy atmosphere and nice fellows behind the counter as well.
(5)
Lauren S.
We went here after reading a review in Zagat that marked it as one of the best places to get Italian food in the city. A familiar face in the North End, I was ecstatic to hear there was a cheap, authentic pasta place right up the street, meaning I wouldn't have to shlep all the way across the city when I wanted Italian. Unfortunately, Bottega di Capri hardly lived up to the hype I was expecting and, while the food was fine, it was certainly no rival for North End trattorias. When I think of a stellar take-out pasta place, portions are essential. Pasta costs a meager 99 cents a pound in the super market (much less wholesale) and takes 15 minutes to prepare. While $6 for a bowl of pasta and homemade sauce is cheap take-out for Brookline, I wouldn't exactly call it a bargain. They gave us probably 1/5 of a pound each, covered in generous amounts of sauce (which weren't anything special either). I was also surprised to see that they only serve some of the most popular sauces on certain days... what's the deal? Why do I have to wait for Friday for pesto? I like the idea of a rotating menu, but some of the sauces served every day were atypical and bizarre combinations. Sadly, I don't think Bottega di Capri will be replacing my trips to the North End anytime soon. For a few bucks and a subway fare more, you get huge portions, better atmosphere and happier service.
(3)
Joe J.
This place is overall OK. I have been here a couple of times, tried a few different items, from salad, to penne, to lasagna. Sometimes it is really good, and sometimes it is too saucy and seems watered down. The service is pretty good, deal with the same kid everytime I am there, but the consistency of the food is what drives the ratings down. When it's good, it's really good ... when it's bad ....
(3)
Kneekey T.
This is the best pasta in town at a reasonable price and I don't mean just outside of the north end. They have a good homemade lobster ravioli for $10, you can't beat that. You must must must try the pesto rosa sauce. It has everything you want in a sauce: cream, tomato, pesto, delicious! The staff is really nice too.
(5)
Drew G.
Delicious sandwiches (we really liked the namesake panini) and tasty meatballs (you can buy them individually and share). I've taken two different groups here and they raved about it afterwards. I'm excited to explore the rest of the menu. Oh, and I had a friend with weird dietary concerns and, after walking through the ingredients of all of their dishes, created a pasta dish just for her to suit her eccentric needs. Excellent service.
(5)
Adam B.
If you don't eat here you will get herpes. This place is awesome! I usually always get whatever is on special and am never disappointed. I don't know what one of the other reviewers were talking about with the service they seem very nice to me.
(5)
Lee L.
Looking for some Italian takeout near home. This place was very disappointing. We tried the special of the day Lasagna Bolognese & the Meatball Sub. Both were lacking flavor and freshness. I am not sure how they stay in business.
(2)
Anna I.
Bostonians know to go to the North End or our Little Italy to get great Italian food. But delicious Italian food can be had for reasonable prices outside of the North End too. Nestled in between Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village off Harvard Street is a great Italian Gourmet Deli called Bottega di Capri [41 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02445 (617) 738-5333]. This great hole in the wall serves both lunch and dinner that has a few tables. Customers walk up to the counter to order and pick up their meals. There are daily specials and all their pastas (spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, fettuccine, linguini, and bow tie to name a few) are freshly made. Their extensive menu includes Panini sandwiches, risotto, antipasto, salads along with tortellini (meat, cheese, porcini and pumpkin) and ravioli (Cheese, Meat, Tuscan, Spinach, and Lobster) are served with a broad selection of sauces to choose from. Pollo Alla Parmigiana-fried chicken with a tomato sauce and parmesan cheese served on linguini is a bargain at $8.50. A heaping portion came out with a big piece of breaded chicken smothered by tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese over al dente penne pasta. This dish satisfied and was delicious with the fresh tomato tasting sauce. Also we chose the porcini tortellini with parma-sausage, porcini mushrooms and white wine sauce, a great combo for mushroom lovers. This dish was not overly sauced but lovely in its simplicity. For sweet tooths, they should check out the butter sage sauce (not listed) with the pumpkin tortellini. Per the counter person's suggestion, it was the only way to eat pumpkin tortellini for only $7.95! Tomato sauce is too acidic for pumpkin and anything else would be a poor match. The sweetness of the pumpkin pairs well with the buttery sage sauce. Gnocchi (a very traditional Italian pasta) and carbonara (pancetta aka Italian bacon in a cream sauce) were not well matched as the sauce was too rich with this starchy pasta. Later learned traditionally gnocchi is paired with only tomato, pesto (garlic, basil, pine nuts, olive oil & parmesan) or butter sauces. Another pasta dish we had was the tagliatelle $6.50 had a puttanesca sauce (olives, anchovies, capers, hot peppers and tomato) had a lovely heat with nice slant to this dish. All their pasta dishes come with toscano bread. The Italian food here were reminiscent of my times traveling through Italy. I enjoyed that the pastas were cooked al dente without being over sauced. The quality and freshness of the ingredients is crucial to delicious food. So when the mood strikes and you are in Brookline Village area, check out this neighborhood gem outside of North End.
(4)
Chu C.
I like these small, no-nonsense places. No fanfare or funky-shaped plates, just really solid Italian food. Prices are really reasonable, and they have daily specials and coupons available in the store for you to use. We catered from here yesterday for a 30-person dinner, and it was really good overall. Definitely a step up from the chain restaurants, with a lot of attention to detail. So disappointed they didn't have the lobster ravioli, but the meat ravioli was also really good; it just melts in the mouth. The chicken parmesan was thick and hearty, with tangy sauce, though slightly soggy from the car ride probably. The baked ziti and broccoli was very good, and the seafood linguine was fine, maybe a little bland. Service was great - not only did they give us a discount on our order, but they threw in a free salad, and they helped me load everything into my car. Thanks guys!
(4)
Erica T.
I love this place... when I work in the area I come here a few times a week. They have a large menu of items which include salads, sandwiches, paninis, pasta dishes, and specials! I really want to try their pasta or lasagna but since I normally come here for lunch both of those are a bit too heavy. Although I think picking up a to-go order of their pastas or specials on the way home from work is something I should try! I almost always get their chicken salad sandwich. My coworkers and I all agree that is honestly the best chicken salad we have ever had. Once I went earlier in the day and they hadn't made the batch of chicken salad so they cut pieces of chicken off and made a batch just for me. Regardless it is always delicious. For their sandwich toppings everything is cut fresh to order regardless of it is cheese, lettuce, or tomato. Although everything on the menu looks delicious my coworkers and I always end up ordering our normal sandwiches every time we go. Once we each tried something we loved it so much that we can never talk ourselves into trying something else. It is small inside but we never have had a problem sitting down. As far as prices go you can't beat them they are more than reasonable. The staff is also very friendly and they really add to the experience!
(5)
Karen G.
Tried them yesterday. Ordered the Wednesday special Chicken Picata, the Shrimp Scampi, the Prosciutto Di Parma Cold Sandwich, and the Assorted Meats Antipasto Plate. My family and I eat family style so we cut everything up and everyone helps themselves. Maybe I should have stuck with pastas. It was okay, but when I asked everyone if we should order again the answer was 'meh'. The boys (5 & 7) liked the scampi, my husband and I liked the picata even if it was a little over cooked, and our au pair liked the sandwich. No one really liked the antipasto and the boys ate off all of the tomato, mozzarella and basil. Also everyone was sad at the skimpy portions of the fresh basil, everyone wanted more, and no one liked the supermarket style Italian sub roll and foccacia. The sauces were good and the pasta cooked right, but over all we were underwhelmed. I would say it is decent homestyle Italian with no fuss, but their proportions are a bit off. If you want outstanding homestyle Italian, with amazing bread and specials that will knock your socks off go to Domenic's in Waltham. yelp.com/biz/domenics-it…
(2)
robert o.
I had to go a few times before reviewing. An excellent little place. On my first visit I had the special of the day and a rigatoni with pesto tomato sauce. Very fresh and extremely tasty. My partner had a chicken pasta dish. Bread was great. The staff could not have been nicer. Went back tonight for another visit. I had the meatball and rigatoni and my partner had lasagna. Excellent!! We are looking forward to returning for a pasta fix
(5)
Tim F.
There is no better a place for delicious noodlely delights in Brookline and in my opinion the North End (added bonus, no irritating tourists). The ingredients are fresh, the pasta is cooked to near perfection, and the portions are generous. I suggest wearing loose pants and pre-boozing as alcohol is sadly not permitted. On a side note, the two owners (brothers) are friendly and remember me only after visiting two times. It certainly makes this eatery feel very homely. I will certainly be making frequent visits. Edit: I like the word "certainly".
(5)
Jessica C.
Cute, Casual and Cozy little restaurant for quick and fresh Italian food. If your current mood is scrumptious and savory, come to Bottega because the flavors here are right on! After all, isn't Italian food all about the sauce? Doesn't really matter what noodle you get, since they all taste the same. Bottega is unique because you can pick your own pasta and sauce combination. I love that! From linguine to penne to bowtie to spaghetti and more... Sauces seems to be delicious by the ones I tried...Arrabiata and Pesto Rosa. Arrabiata is one of my faves and I love the way they make it...tasty, spicy with chunks of tomato, and not too tarty. Pesto Rosa was also delicious. I am normally a RED sauce girl, but this seemed to be a combination of both and was done very well. In addition, you can choose to add chicken or shrimp to the pasta for a few additional dollars. Totally worth it. My pasta came out to less than $10! Perfect portion for perfect price and taste. Take 20 minutes, dine in the restaurant and enjoy the fresh bread offered to wipe your plate clean. (Don't be tempted like me to lick your plate clean) Daily specials are also offered and I will definitely be back to make more combinations for my eager Italian appetite!
(4)
Erin A.
Ok, this place, I admit has pretty yummy Italian food HOWEVER, the service is horrible! I went there years ago-say about 8 and they were so rude! Like they were doing me a favor. Then I thought, well that was 8 years ago, let's give it another shot. Nope! Still rude after all these years! A word of advice to Bottega: Just be NICE to your customers!
(2)
Jackie P.
I'm so glad that Bottega delivers now, I would only get food from there when i was in Brookline Village but now i can get it whenever i want, which will be often! Their pumpkin tortelli is delicious, it's the right combination of sweet and savory and you can pair it with a multitude of their great sauces but i like to pair it with a cream sauce. The meatballs are a meal in itself, they are huge. All of the sauce/pasta combinations are delicious and even though it is plain their rigatoni with pomodoro sauce (with the meatballs of course) is probably one of my most ordered items. Also, you cannot beat the friendliness from the guys behind the counter, they are always a pleasure.
(5)
Taryn C.
We decided to drop in because we live in the area. Have to say we were pleased with the service, food was fresh and the price was okay. We had great pressed sandwiches where they sliced the bread and meat to order. We'll probably try the pasta dishes next time.
(4)
Christina S.
What a hidden gem! The food is fantastic. Every time I go I get the Tuscan ravioli with gorgonzola sauce =INCREDIBLE!
(5)
Ben Y.
Was introduced to this place through yelp, was looking for a good place to grab some takeout for a late night dinner. I called my order in, i had ordered the lobster ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs and the rosette (sp?), which was one of the specials for friday. The atmosphere was very friendly, the hours kind of suck though, they close at 9 which i feel is a bit on the early side, i would assune tgat most places that primarily are for takeout would be open till at lease 10, but that is beyond me. when i got the food home, i realized that i only got two of the three dishes that i ordered. the spaghetti and meat balls and the lobster raviloi. and thinking back, i was only charged for the two dishes that i got, so no harm done right ? the portions of the two dishes were decent. so it was enough for two people. the spaghetti and meatballs were good, the meatballs were huge. the lobster ravioli was delicious, but depending on whether you got lobster in it or not. the dish came with 4 ravioli's, my first one had barely any lobeter in it, but the second one i ate had a ton of lobster, so i guess it makes up for it ? overall the food was good and that is the most inportant.
(4)
Alison H.
All right, listen up people, because I can't believe I'm going to tell you this. Bottega di Capri is INCREDIBLE. SUPERB. and PURE DELICIOUSNESS. And I wasn't ever going to broadcast that information to anyone. As soon as I ate my first bite of ravioli there, I resolved that I was going to keep the secret of how good this place is, because it's small, and I never wanted to have to wait in long lines or not be able to sit down and have a fantastic lunch there. Then I realized that not only was this place a secret, it was a little too secret. Nearly every time I go there, we are the only ones there, or we happen across one or two other customers. Even on Sunday at lunch, when church gets out we watch the crowds of people streaming by, no one stops in - folks, this is insanity. So now I have a new selfish motivator: keep Bottega di Capri in business so I can eat there forever. You can pick your own combination of pasta and sauce, and to let you in on another tip, the best of the best is the stuffed pasta, either the tortellini (cheese, pumpkin - yes, surprisingly good), or the ravioli - try the Tuscan ravioli or the mushroom. My top sauces: arrabiata, rosantina, caprese. And all this fabulous food can be yours for less than $10 a plate (the reviewer below who called this price just "okay" must be smoking something if they live in the same Brookline I live in) - compare to the highly rated Pomodoro just a few doors down and I cannot believe anyone pays so much for that food, which is not even as good as the Bottega. Brookline Spa, also much lauded and often crowded, is only about a block away, but Bottega di Capri has authentic Italian sandwich ingredients at the deli counter. I'm vegetarian but the prosciutto and other meats make me jealous! So now that I'm grouchy because I shared my ultimate favorite food place in Boston with you, I order you to EAT HERE. p.s. don't forget to ask what the specials are in the metal containers behind the counter. They keep their own hidden secrets in there like a luscious eggplant lasagna!
(5)
Kaleel S.
So, what do you get when you cross six intimate tables, two very handsome,fun Italian guys (from Italy!) and a case full of choice meats, cheeses and deeply purple and black olives? Well, add a big plate glass window looking out at people walking by and having a good time, and you get the Bottega de Capri. Of course the place is intimate and the conversations subdued, but the feeling is one of genuine welcome and the menu is more varied than a place this size has any right to have. There are the usual paninis and pastas, but what was very impressive was the Pasta Alla Pesce (seafood pasta with shrimp, scallops and sun-dried tomatoes) and the range of daily specials. On Tuesday, for example, there's a wonderful Ariste di Maiale, or so my companion told me, because I don't eat meat... and the dish is a roasted pork loin stuffed with mortadella, herbs and a dry, spicy prosciutto. Which brings me to my only two reservations. I appreciate the authenticity of the Italian cuisine, but like Italian food, the meals are predominately meat and more meat. Should they modify their offering? Not sure. And then, I wish we could bring wine in. The feel of the place (no, no checkered tablecloths, thankfully) does cry out for a good bottle or cheap bottle of red wine to complete the experience, which can be a touch romantic, without ever trying to be so!
(3)
Bill S.
When you're not in the mood to cook but don't want to spend a fortune on dinner, this is a fabulous place. I'm partial to the linguine with white clam sauce and the pumpkin tortellini. I've not yet been disappointed. The owners are incredibly nice and remember our orders each time we come in. For those who like traditional Italian restaurant bread, you won't be disappointed, but I like something a bit chewier.
(4)
ms m.
Love this place! It's owned by 2 brothers, one of which was an employee when it was still Bottega Fiorentina and I think the student has surpassed the master in this case. Their pumpkin tortellini in a butter and sage sauce is hands down the best I've had and is better than Fiorentina's (which is no slouch either). Every pasta meal is served with delicious bread that you can scoop the sauce up with. Service is always excellent and I like that this is a great take-out place and is comfortable enough sit at and have a nice meal (though it is self serve).
(5)
Joe M.
I found this place for lunch and it seemed like a nice spot with a good menu, so I came in for a bite to eat. I opted for the Tuscan panini with prosciutto, sopresata, red peppers, mozzarella, and oil. It wasn't bad by any means, but I've certainly had better - both in more upscale Italian restaurants and other delis and places like this. The sandwich was big, more than enough for my lunch, but my main complaint was that it was just too oily and greasy. I know basil oil was advertised as an ingredient, but this sandwich was dripping inside and out... just too heavy, and that's saying something coming from me. Again, I wasn't unhappy, it just didn't blow me away. I would go back if a friend wanted to go or something, but probably wouldn't recommend it as a first choice.
(3)
Jessica R.
I usually eat here for my lunch break and I always order the tachinno panini. This panini is absolutely delicious with mozzarela, turkey, basil. and other seasonings. Although, one time I was craving spaghetti and meatballs and I was really disappointed by the meatballs because it just tasted blahh. Also, the desserts they keep in the fridge are realllly good, but a little pricey ($4-5) for the portion they give, Overall, this a great place to grab a quick bite to eat.
(4)
Abbie T.
Delicious! Choose your pasta and choose your sauce, or try one of their daily specials. I'm partial to the gnocci or tortellini with either pesto rosa or caprese sauces. There's not much seating and the ambiance isn't noteworthy one way or the other, but I usually do takeout from there anyway so that's okay by me.
(4)
Michelle A.
A cozy, neighborhood spot with the best panini ever! Great value for the money. We'll be back.
(4)
Golo D.
Certainly overrated. If our meals were not prepared from penne to meatwad from components purchased down the street at Trader Joe's then microwaved specially for us, I will eat my Homburg, but I will not press teeth into this bachelor-pad gourmet cuisine again. And somehow the stale bread didn't help to push it over the top. Addio!
(2)
Ken S.
Just lovely...
(5)
Sham Y.
We came in this place on a random afternoon with no one else in the place. It's a small friendly place with a very large selection of pasta, sauces and other foods. The food was good and we left happy and full which is all I really want when I eat pasta.
(4)
Vincent C.
Live right down the road.. go here often. My first time trying it out I got the lobster ravioli..you can tell it was fresh, however, the sauce was lacking and the ravioli was a little overcooked. I like al dente, and got far from it. However, the Tuscan sandwich makes up for that experience. That is the only sandwich I get from there. The tuscan as a panini on foccacia bread is the best sandwich there. The italian subs lack quality meat. But all in all, a great, local, mom and pop shop.
(4)
David B.
I love this restaurant! From the daily specials to the signature Bottega Di Capri panini, you can't go wrong. I live in the neighborhood (Brookline Village) and have been going here for a little over 2 years and haven't had a good meal here yet; they were all GREAT!
(5)
Lynda M.
Holy Moly what took me so long to find this place? My coworker and I decided to take a walk at lunch (I needed to buy stamps anyway) so we headed up to Brookline Village. We walked by this place, saw the menu in the window, and drooled. Upon entering we were greeted by two very nice men behind the counter, and they gave us the lay of land in regards to the menu. Daily specials, pastas, sauces, sandwiches, etc. So much to choose from! I went with the Caprese panini and my friend got the Caprese sandwich. Both were delicious, fresh basil, mozzarella and tomato, on fresh bread (mine was toasted and gooey--so good!). Nice cozy space with several tables. My huge panini was $5.75, such a deal! Very reasonable prices, I will definitely make a trip here on weekends for take-out, my husband will love the lasagna. They also have fresh desserts, and Italian groceries. I rarely treat myself to lunch away from my office, but thank God I forgot my lunch today!
(5)
Mo O.
So i have been in the area for about 16 years now and before Bottega di Capri it was Bettega Florentina which still resides on 313B Harvard st. cozzy place in coolidge corner! nothing to do with Bottega di Capri 41 Harvard st near me :) LOL. it is now under new ownership 2 brother's that not only make delicious Italian home made dishes the place has a great feel of Italy. just like my grandmother use to make. love all the pasta dishes there! and the best meatball's i have ever had, a must check out.. and very reasonable prices.
(5)
Nathan P.
Food here is great and the guys that work there are really helpful.
(4)
Stephen T.
If you want a cheap Italian lunch or take-out in Brookline Village, this is your place. Sandwiches and pasta are both tasty. Ingredients tend to be very fresh. They do have seating but barely have table service, so expect much in that regard. Excellent value for the money though.
(5)
Nicole J.
Definitely had better. I'm always disappointed with the food here, the main reason being the sauce. Their tomato creme sauce is super thick and chunky, when it should be a little lighter and smoother, and it leaves a weird taste in my mouth. However, living just down the street from this place, is an OK place to get some pasta when you don't feel like going all the way to the North End.
(3)
Matt B.
I love this place... it's near my office so I often stop by for a quick bite for lunch or dinner. The food is fantastic, the prices are reasonable, and there's absolutely no BS or fanfare to it. Guaranteed you will walk away happy and full. In addition to all the pasta dishes, they make enormous sandwiches on focaccia, not to mention really good cappuccinos.
(5)
Aimee B.
cute little italian cafe in the neighborhood. i had a really good cannoli and cappuccino. my friends shared chicken parm with pasta and seemed like happy campers.
(5)
Gail J.
I wish I lived closer to this gem. Well, then again better that I don't. I'd be here every day. Four of us ordered something different and each dish was fabulous. We never expected such a small cafe to reach such perfection. The meatballs in the sub were large, homemade, perfectly seasoned and topped with a fresh, light tomato sauce and placed in a fresh baked roll. Similarly, the pasta caprese was fresh and light and oozing with fresh mozzarella. The pasta Alfredo with chicken and broccoli was full of flavor. The broccoli was freshly prepared -bright and tender but not overcooked. The sauce was not too heavy. Finally, my own entree was tortellini with creamy pesto. I was given a choice of three types of tortellini. I chose the cheese filled tortellini and it stood up perfectly to the delicate pesto. The staff was eager to please. Even though everything was prepared to order, the wait was very minimal. We were served a basket of bread while we waited and everything arrived piping hot. Will definitely head back soon. Oh and I can't forget to mention how reasonably priced it was. We had four entrees and three soft drinks for around $35. Hard to beat Bottega di Capri.
(5)
Susan P.
The vegetable lasagna is delicious. I also love the pesto. I would go here every week if I lived nearby, I love it so.
(5)
J B.
Yummy and affordable! I've only tried the pastas and risotto so far. A great neighborhood place, with big portions. I recommend the focaccia over their other bread, which can be a little dry.
(5)
Lynda M.
Holy Moly what took me so long to find this place? My coworker and I decided to take a walk at lunch (I needed to buy stamps anyway) so we headed up to Brookline Village. We walked by this place, saw the menu in the window, and drooled. Upon entering we were greeted by two very nice men behind the counter, and they gave us the lay of land in regards to the menu. Daily specials, pastas, sauces, sandwiches, etc. So much to choose from! I went with the Caprese panini and my friend got the Caprese sandwich. Both were delicious, fresh basil, mozzarella and tomato, on fresh bread (mine was toasted and gooey--so good!). Nice cozy space with several tables. My huge panini was $5.75, such a deal! Very reasonable prices, I will definitely make a trip here on weekends for take-out, my husband will love the lasagna. They also have fresh desserts, and Italian groceries. I rarely treat myself to lunch away from my office, but thank God I forgot my lunch today!
(5)
Mo O.
So i have been in the area for about 16 years now and before Bottega di Capri it was Bettega Florentina which still resides on 313B Harvard st. cozzy place in coolidge corner! nothing to do with Bottega di Capri 41 Harvard st near me :) LOL. it is now under new ownership 2 brother's that not only make delicious Italian home made dishes the place has a great feel of Italy. just like my grandmother use to make. love all the pasta dishes there! and the best meatball's i have ever had, a must check out.. and very reasonable prices.
(5)
Nathan P.
Food here is great and the guys that work there are really helpful.
(4)
Stephen T.
If you want a cheap Italian lunch or take-out in Brookline Village, this is your place. Sandwiches and pasta are both tasty. Ingredients tend to be very fresh. They do have seating but barely have table service, so expect much in that regard. Excellent value for the money though.
(5)
Nicole J.
Definitely had better. I'm always disappointed with the food here, the main reason being the sauce. Their tomato creme sauce is super thick and chunky, when it should be a little lighter and smoother, and it leaves a weird taste in my mouth. However, living just down the street from this place, is an OK place to get some pasta when you don't feel like going all the way to the North End.
(3)
Matt B.
I love this place... it's near my office so I often stop by for a quick bite for lunch or dinner. The food is fantastic, the prices are reasonable, and there's absolutely no BS or fanfare to it. Guaranteed you will walk away happy and full. In addition to all the pasta dishes, they make enormous sandwiches on focaccia, not to mention really good cappuccinos.
(5)
Aimee B.
cute little italian cafe in the neighborhood. i had a really good cannoli and cappuccino. my friends shared chicken parm with pasta and seemed like happy campers.
(5)
Gail J.
I wish I lived closer to this gem. Well, then again better that I don't. I'd be here every day. Four of us ordered something different and each dish was fabulous. We never expected such a small cafe to reach such perfection. The meatballs in the sub were large, homemade, perfectly seasoned and topped with a fresh, light tomato sauce and placed in a fresh baked roll. Similarly, the pasta caprese was fresh and light and oozing with fresh mozzarella. The pasta Alfredo with chicken and broccoli was full of flavor. The broccoli was freshly prepared -bright and tender but not overcooked. The sauce was not too heavy. Finally, my own entree was tortellini with creamy pesto. I was given a choice of three types of tortellini. I chose the cheese filled tortellini and it stood up perfectly to the delicate pesto. The staff was eager to please. Even though everything was prepared to order, the wait was very minimal. We were served a basket of bread while we waited and everything arrived piping hot. Will definitely head back soon. Oh and I can't forget to mention how reasonably priced it was. We had four entrees and three soft drinks for around $35. Hard to beat Bottega di Capri.
(5)
Susan P.
The vegetable lasagna is delicious. I also love the pesto. I would go here every week if I lived nearby, I love it so.
(5)
J B.
Yummy and affordable! I've only tried the pastas and risotto so far. A great neighborhood place, with big portions. I recommend the focaccia over their other bread, which can be a little dry.
(5)
Tom R.
I love this place, small family owned, family friendly, ownership is really friendly, the pasta is awesome and they have tons of variety even on a weeknight.
(5)
Vicky H.
I remember this when it used to be "Bottega Fiorentina" and the sandwiches were awesome as they were shaved right on front of you in toasted breads and whatever else you want in them. I used to always order the meatball and spaghetti or Chicken Parm. The folks were here were nice people. Water were in pitcher and you can just help yourself as there are no waitstaff. It's a nice little gem. The price was on the higher end for a little place like this but so worth it to support a local spot. Bottega di Capri is pretty good and fairly priced as well. The only thing is, sometimes when you call the order in, it's made wrong. Otherwise, would deserve at least 4 stars.
(3)
Evan J.
Bottega di Capri tears down the notion that Italian food needs to be expensive to be good. It also tears down the notion that the best Italian food in Boston needs to be in the North End with a line wrapping around the block. A small restaurant with a primarily counter service system, this restaurant seems to have steadfast regulars (me included) that either order carry-out or drop by for a quick quiet bite. Because of this, it is rarely difficult to find a seat, even though the seating is limited. If you want affordable and great Italian food without the lines, this is your place.
(5)
Kevin L.
Came here for lunch with some friends after spending a whole day moving and their dishes definitely fill you up if you're really hungry. They used to be affiliated with Bottega Fiorentina in Coolidge Corner, but the two brothers that used to work there decided to buy/start their own restaurant in the Village. They have a completely different menu than Fiorentina and they give you a lot more food too (they have daily specials too so keep an eye out on what day you go!). The staff here is very friendly and welcoming; definitely has a family/homey vibe inside! I ordered the: -Penne de Georgio's: it has breaded chicken, mushrooms, onions, peppers, peas and asparagus in a vodka cream sauce (they also give you a fresh loaf of bread and it goes great with the sauce). The penne pasta was cooked al dente and all the ingredients in the dish blend together very nicely with the pasta and cream sauce. There was a bit of imbalance between the amount of pasta and everything else (too...many...carbs), but since I was super hungry, it definitely hit the spot. However, it would probably last me two meals normally. Overall, great food and nice atmosphere for a very reasonable price! This little restaurant in the Village probably has some of the best Italian food in the area (I prefer this place over the one in Coolidge Corner based on quality, quantity, and cost). I will definitely be back for more! :)
(4)
Jeffrey N.
Pollo alla parmigiana, more commonly known as chicken parmesan, is a Tuesday special which I had ordered. I'm not usually a big fan of pasta but this was pretty quality pasta. The pasta was just right in terms of firmness and was complemented well by a rich, fresh tomato sauce. I think the chicken was also done quite well. They had the chicken already prepared so I thought it would be soggy but it was actually quite crispy. It's easy to mess up chicken parmesan by having soggy breading but it was covered nicely with breading. The only thing I would say could improve for the chicken is that towards the center, it wasn't quite as flavorful and could use a bit of salt, but the tenderness of the chicken balanced it out nicely. The staff is also very personable and welcoming, providing bread and speedy service.
(4)
Fey S.
I found this little hole in the wall on yelp and took a chance, best decision I've had! We're from out of state and seeing the expensive prices at the other Italian places right in Boston was alarming, this place is actually affordable and authentic as can be! No bells and whistles of a waiter, it's a deli style shop, but the waiter was nice enough to come to our table and chit chat with us. He even poured us our drinks. I got the sea food special, it was an amazing portion with tons of seafood, at least 5 muscles, 5 shrimp, and tons of calamari. We also got the lobster ravioli, not only did we get fat ravioli pieces, but we got like 8 or 9 large pieces in a delicious sauce. The place also has fresh cut meat and delicious olives. Way better than any place we went to in Little Italy, NYC, must try!!!
(5)
Norma T.
When going to Bottega di Capri, we knew what we were in for. The location itself is quite small, and easy to miss if quickly walking by harvard street. Once inside, it was empty due to a weird afternoon time and a rainy day. Almost immediately, a very charismatic man came over and handed menus. He had a very thick accent, and was speaking Italian to someone in the back of the kitchen as we decided on what to order. The menu consisted of some specialties, but mostly was impressed by their long list of sauces to choose from with different pasta choices as well. Once we decided, he came over and quite enthusiastically gave us a quick rundown of some of their specials. All of which sounded delicious, so much so that my friend decided to get one of the specials: seafood risotto. The food itself came out pretty quickly, and the portions were bigger than anticipated for the very affordable prices. (much cheaper than most places at the north end) Overall the gnocchi with bolognese was good, and had no complaints but have had better. However, the seafood risotto was plentiful in varied seafood from big clams, scallops, calamari and shrimp. It was silky and had the right amount of cream, texture and kick. Would certainly return and listen out for the specials of the day next time since its bound to be more fresh and unique, the bill came out at about $25 for both plates and bread was provided free of charge. Overall, great italian authentic place in Harvard street. Price, easiness and taste can't be beat.
(4)
Jodi N.
My boyfriend and I have eaten at Bottega di Capri pretty much every week since we began our 8 week stay in Brookline. The staff are so genuinely nice and hospitable, it makes you feel right at home! I don't think we've tried anything that we haven't liked, but we do have some favorites! - Bruschetta - Lobster Ravioli with Pesto Alfredo - Beef Ravioli with Pesto Rosa - Meatballs with Spaghetti - Chicken Parmigiana - Risotto with Seafood It's such a wonderful little hole in the wall restaurant, I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a filling and delicious dinner while roaming Harvard Avenue in Brookline.
(5)
Tim F.
There is no better a place for delicious noodlely delights in Brookline and in my opinion the North End (added bonus, no irritating tourists). The ingredients are fresh, the pasta is cooked to near perfection, and the portions are generous. I suggest wearing loose pants and pre-boozing as alcohol is sadly not permitted. On a side note, the two owners (brothers) are friendly and remember me only after visiting two times. It certainly makes this eatery feel very homely. I will certainly be making frequent visits. Edit: I like the word "certainly".
(5)
Kneekey T.
This is the best pasta in town at a reasonable price and I don't mean just outside of the north end. They have a good homemade lobster ravioli for $10, you can't beat that. You must must must try the pesto rosa sauce. It has everything you want in a sauce: cream, tomato, pesto, delicious! The staff is really nice too.
(5)
Amanda G.
Bottega di Capri is a tiny, cozy deli/restaurant in Brookline. It's a total gem- the food was excellent, prices are beyond reasonable, and the service was genuinely warm. The menu at first seems to be pretty big, but it includes sandwiches, salads, pastas, specials for every day of the week, and a "create your own pasta" section with descriptions of all the different sauces. Pasta dishes are priced at roughly $10-14 & sandwiches were $5-7. Even dishes like lobster ravioli, which can easily go for $30 a plate at bigger, fancier places, are under $15 here. My family & I had three entrees, drinks, & a dessert for a total of $53 and the quality of everything was top. Focaccia bread & good quality olive oil were brought to the table before our entrees came up. I noticed another review complained that the bread was cold, but from the texture you could tell it had been baked earlier that day, and I'd rather have room temperature recently baked bread than frozen & reheated (which is what a lot of restaurants actually do.) We didn't have to wait long for our entrees. I had one of the specials, seafood risotto- the risotto was full of flavor and cooked perfectly & there were generous amounts of shrimp, scallops, squid, & mussels. Definitely one of the best dishes I've ever had. We finished the meal with a light, delicious passionfruit gelato, the portion of which was enough for three to share. Everything was fresh & nothing about the place is pretentious; it's all love out here. I never write reviews this long & detailed, but Bottega di Capri deserves it. For me this was a perfect experience. I'll be back every time I'm in Boston for sure!
(5)
Ashley A.
One of my favorite places in Brookline Village! I'm not sure the service gets any better..the staff is ALWAYS warm and courteous and you can tell they really love what they do and appreciate each and every person who walks in the door. The fact that the food is fabulous is really just a perk. I have stopped by on numerous occasions and have been blown away by how phenomenal the food and service is each and every time. I try not to stop in too often though because I'm pretty sure it's the type of place you can easily gain several pounds without really trying..but really..go here..you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Ashley D.
This small restaurant/Italian deli is easy to miss but is a true neighborhood gem. I came in to carbo load before a race with some friends and indeed left loaded and satisfied. I was instantly attracted to huge homemade meatballs and then had my choice of which type of pasta I wanted to complete the dish. They have a number of different options and combinations of sauce, pasta, and other additions or if you're feeling creative you can make your own combination by picking your sauce and type of pasta from a long list of options. I was also lucky enough to be able to have my friend's leftovers the next day and can be a testament for how creamy and savory the farfalle davinci is. The garlic cream sauce with peas and chicken was simply outstanding (even the day after). They also have a number daily specials you can choose from each day that look amazing. Next time I'm in the neighborhood I'll be sure to stop by to check those out.
(4)
Yuka Y.
Rating lies at 3.5. Bottega di Capri is a small, little known gem in Brookline specializing in pastas, though there are sandwiches and paninis offered. It's only a store away from Martin's diner. From a quick look at the exterior (having passed this street for 4 years), I've mistaken this place as a cafe. But it is a restaurant with service, though it can be confusing. You pay at the counter- it is your choice as to whether to pay before sitting down or after you finish your meal. Your orders will be brought out to you and cleared for you. The owner seems charismatic to customers. My honey and I were looking at their menu taped to the wall as we stood outside. The owner approached the window wanting to re-tape the menu more firmly. Upon seeing us, he made a non-verbal, classic Italian gesture that their food is great and opened the door telling us to come in since there's aircon. Great effort was made by him showing their daily specials and giving recs. My only concern with him is he's quite disrespectful to his waitress. She's a young Indian girl and the tone that he gives orders in gives me the impression he is definitely someone I would not want to work with. Granted, she does seem inexperienced and new to the inner workings of the restaurant, but her service was courteous. These nuances are something I managed to catch and found unpleasant/uncomfortable the entire dinner- the place is small, you can hear almost everything. Good bosses shouldn't have to instill fear or be condescending. Let's get to the food! -Bread was cold. It's unnecessary every table has to be asked whether they want olive oil or butter with their bread. Just provide olive oil by default, I'm sure most don't like plain bread anyways & you're an Italian restaurant. ++The 'Linguini, Scallop, Clams and Shrimp' was worth it. ~5 pieces of big shrimp with shrunken scallops scattered around the linguini. Their pastas are perfectly cooked in duration. Sauce was not salty with a light taste of tomato. +Homemade meatballs in spaghetti and tomato sauce was good. They charge per meatball. Overall, I will have to agree with other yelpers it is annoying Bottega di Capri's business concept relies a lot of 'adding extra for x $' if you want x.' I'd rather pay a little more and get a heartier dish by default than having to make more decisions. I suppose much of that concept is due to a bulk of their menu being catered to creating your own pasta blend from scratch. 2 entrees + 2 drinks will set you around $32 including tips, most likely a cheaper endeavor for Italian vs. Northend. Good homemade quality and excellent taste, though I don't appreciate the way staff are being treated and the change in face of the owner.
(3)
Susan G.
Great food, I like to take the yummies from here and do a picnic at nearby Jamaica Pond.
(4)
Irene W.
It is amazing! Very nice Italian Deli. I loved the food and the nice staff. I would highly recommend to my friends. We had 9 people there for a friend's birthday! It worked out. The place is not huge. But it worked well for our party. The owner even gave us a bag of tiramisu cookie to celebrate the friend's birthday. That was very nice. The food is yummy and is very affordable as well. Loved it! Will be back soon!
(5)
Drduru A.
All sorts of authentic Italian dishes. I wanted to try so many, but I made a beeline for the risotto. Particularly good for those who like a light and subtle flavor. I actually prefer a little more creamy and seasoned, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
(4)
Chris S.
Friends in Brookline took me to this small Italian place, and it is delicious. I still don't understand whether I'm supposed to order at the counter or sitting down, but the food is so good. I went twice, once getting a more traditional prosciutto/cream pasta dish, the other time gnocchi. The staff was pleasant and accommodated my late evening coffee needs. I wish I lived next door.
(5)
Shauna H.
I ordered the assorted meats antipasto, which was INCREDIBLE! For that I'd give 5 stars, tons of delicious fresh meats and mozzarella and fragrant basil. I'm glad I made the snap decision to get this because it's taking the edge off the disappointment from my pasta. I ordered the shrimp, scallops, and clams linguine. As a procedural note, I should mention they gave me spaghetti instead of linguine, but whatever, it's cooked correctly so I'm not upset about it. It's the sauce that really fails here. There's NO wine flavor. In fact, there's no flavor at all except black pepper. Mountains of black pepper. Disgusting. I have a high spice/heat tolerance, and it's actually not really that spicy, (it's just back pepper after all), but it is ONLY that flavor. An onslaught of one-dimensional nastiness. Awful. BUT... I will give them another chance. I noticed someone else posted a photo on yelp of the same dish I ordered, and that dish has little to no black pepper in it. So that's a ding for consistency but at least maybe there's a chance for redemption.
(2)
Carlos B.
You can skip your trip to the North End for an italian dinner. La Bottega is by far the best italian restaurant I've tried in Boston. Small and unpretentious, the restaurant manages to wow with great flavors and a italian-grandma-cuisine feel.
(5)
Kelly H.
I just happened to be picking up an instrument a couple stores down and needed something to eat on the run. I stopped in, and ordered the veggie panini. They had multiple vegetarian options to choose from, but I needed something I could eat in the car. The gentleman who helped me was really friendly. The panini was delicious! The atmosphere is cozy. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone in the area.
(5)
Ibeth T.
Excellent service and exquisite food ! My family love the food I will come back anytime !
(5)
Kanika M.
Brookline Village is the absolute cutest and Bottega di Capri follows that standard perfectly! This little restaurant can be easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for, but definitely a place worth stopping in. The kindest Italian man comes and takes your order if you decide to sit down and prepares everything himself behind the counter, with the help of just one other woman in the kitchen. He's such a sweetheart and takes the time to make sure you really enjoyed your meal. The prices are unreal for the portion, also! I went with 3 friends and all of us got paninis/sandwiches for about $8. Expecting to be a good sized meal but nothing too huge, we were more than pleasantly surprised when our food came out MUCH bigger than expected. The food tastes great, the atmosphere is calm and friendly, and you don't put a hole in your wallet while enjoying it all. Definitely a great place to pop in if you're craving some good Italian. The only downside is that there isn't a ton of seating, but what can you expect from a cute little Bottega? It's almost more fitting for it to be a bit small! Ps. They have lobster ravioli....which none of us tried but are all determined to go back for one day... Let a girl know how it is if you beat me to it!
(4)
Matt R.
Authentic homemade meatballs that keeps me coming back time and time again. I have tried many items on the menu but I always see myself coming back to there meatballs. The owner is super nice and welcomes you like your family.
(5)
Beth H.
The menu here makes it hard to choose what you want -- everything sounds great. It is a little hole-in-the-wall, so I missed this place altogether for quite a while even though I work in the area. Note that it is cash only. I had the chicken parmesan both times I went, but made an important change to my order the second time. The chicken parm comes on Italian bread regularly, and, think about it, as messy and saucy as chicken parms are (and ought to be!!), the bread was totally soaked through and mushy/gross by the time I arrived back at work to consume it. I wound up having to forego the bread, and eat the innards with fork and knife. The second time, I requested a sub bun, and everything went swimmingly! No more mushy bread, just glorious glorious food for my belly. Portions are very large! If I hadn't had a blegh experience the first time, this review would be a 4. I recommend coming by Bottega di Capri -- but when you do, ask what bread your sandwich comes on and make changes if necessary.
(3)
Anthony G.
The food was amongst the worst I've ever had in my life. Just awful. OMG. not that it tasted horrendous, just that it was without taste.
(1)
Caitlin M.
Went to Bottega di Capri at 8 on Friday night. We just didn't feel like cooking but also didn't want to spend a lot of money. The food was really good and very affordable. I will go back to try the other sauces.
(4)
Bill G.
I can't say enough great things about this restaurant. We came across Bottega di Capri on a walk one day, stopping in when we noticed they sell sandwiches. The sandwiches are amazing. Better than most deli's in Boston. Try the italian or the meatball. And reasonably priced! We loved lunch so much that we came back to try dinner. Go with their daily special! Lasagna & spaghetti with meatballs are made with italian family love. its like my grandmother was making dinner. And for only $10/dish! Its our go-to when we're craving italian. skip the trip to the north end and go to Bottega di Capri!
(5)
Nicole B.
This small restaurant in Brookline Village has a market-type feel and an expansive menu where you can create your own pasta dish by choosing a pasta, meat and sauce. All come with freshly sliced bread (no butter or oil to accompany, sadly). I had the pesto sauce on spaghetti with chicken. It was alright, but definitely needed some seasoning (salt & pepper) and the chicken was not worth the extra charge. $10 minimum on credit card charges and the owner (?) is a pushy Italian man that is happy to take your payment before or after you eat (no rules here). Authentic feel, standard food.
(3)
Shannon M.
I don't think I've ever seen so many sauce options! The choices can be overwhelming so I asked for a recommendation on my lobster ravioli. The arrabiata was bit too strong for the lobster but very hearty and tomato-y with a spicy kick! The pasta and sauce was fresh, and the bread they serve on the side was nice and crisp. This place is a great stop for a quick bite of classic italian pasta and sandwiches.
(4)
An L.
Best Italian eatery in Brookline we've had. Carbonara and Pesto Rosa were delicious. Lots of sauce choices. Fast service. They also have gelato. We'll be coming back for more.
(5)
German G.
Great Italian food at reasonable prices. They have a few specials each day and a list of premade dishes, or you can make your own pasta/sauce combination; all the dishes I've tried are quite good or at least solid, and also pretty authentic (reminiscent of eating with your Italian grandma). This place makes North End all but obsolete, unless you're looking for something fancy. That being said, this place is all about the food, so don't expect great atmosphere or service. You place your order at the counter and they bring it out when it's ready. While the food is Italian, most of the servers are actually Colombian. Some are friendly, others not so much (there is one guy in particular that has terrible manners and his English can be hard to understand, but that's just how he is). In my experience they are chattier and nicer if you engage them in Spanish, assuming you speak the language well.
(4)
Tanya Y.
Pasta alla Pesce (Bowtie pasta with shrimp, scallops and sun-dried tomato topped with a white wine scampi sauce) all for $11.41, tax included?! Yes please! Bottega di Capri is another hole in the wall type of place that you would never bother venturing into unless you've heard how great it was through word of mouth. Their menu is loaded with yummy Italian goodies ranging from hot and cold subs to customizable pasta dishes with handcrafted sauces and daily specials. Everything is ordered over the counter; meaning no waiter service: you go up there, order yourself, take the food yourself, and go up to pay yourself. There was one guy behind the counter manning everything. He did this as well as he could with the dinner rush. He even remembered our orders as we went up to pay the bill. The portions were just enough, seafood cooked right, and very flavorful. All pastas come with bread that you can dip in to olive oil that you customize yourself at the table. Deli meats and antipasti are available as well to snack on. There's a $10.00 minimum purchase required to use a credit or debit card, parking can be found on the street, and the food came out hot and fast. If I'm ever in the area and want some good quick and delicious Italian, I know that I'll definitely be coming here again,
(4)
Gustavo M.
This small 'italian' place is by far one of the best 'home made' style restaurants in the city. Every time we came here we got the most tasty food, my favorite: the gnocchi pesto rosa...you will come back for more. And super affordable
(5)
Harry H.
Occasionally conditions align and the multitude of bookmarks I've collected over the years become unfeasible and the decision falls in the hands of others. In this case, the brothership located this spot on Yelp and we headed over not long before closing. We sidled up to the counter and the charming overzealous staffer took our orders for some satisfying Italian-American fare dished out by the brusque but entertaining a few steps behind him.
(4)
Van N.
I went here on a Sunday afternoon with a couple of peeps. There was plenty of seating. The menu has a nice selection of pastas and sauces however, they didn't have a few pastas and dishes my group ordered. Maybe the selection is better if I went during a weekday and it is busier. Service was nice but they forgot my dish and given how slow it was, raised a few eyebrows. It was no big deal since my order came a few minutes later with an apology. The actual food was okay. I got the pumpkin tortellini with meat sauce. I admit it might have not been the best combination of sauce and pasta, but I left unimpressed with the so-so quality and small portion size. Overall, I couldn't shake the feeling that I could just go down the street to Trader Joe's and make the meal at home.
(2)
Chris B.
Yum yum yum!! Came here for a blizzard-y Valentine's Day and loved it. The lasagna was particularly amazing. We are definitely coming back to this neighborhood cafe.
(5)
Julia K.
The two stars come from the fact that the food I ordered was actually really tasty. Buuuuut...service was downright weird and dodgy. I had trouble understanding the accent of the man working there, but I figured I had it down close enough. I ordered eggplant parmesan. It sounded like the man said, "Do you want pasta or penne?" I asked him to repeat it and it sounded the same, which didn't make sense to me because penne *is* pasta...but whatever, I didn't want to keep asking him to repeat himself, so I just said I'd have pasta. I then decided I wanted a cannolo so I went to the self-service fridge, took a boxed one out, and told the man I'd have one. A couple minutes later, when my food was ready, he gave me my total...ten dollars and change...but then told me after he swiped my debit card that he hadn't included the cannolo. I figured, forget it, no big deal, and put the box back in the fridge. But then I wondered, how come the total for the eggplant is so much higher than the $7.50 the menu said it would be? I asked the man working there, and he told me the pasta was an extra $2. Now...this is my pet peeve. Sure, two dollars isn't a big deal for my wallet, but when restaurants do things like this, it's a sign that they're sneaky and out to get every last penny they can squeeze out of customers. If you offer something to a customer and don't tell them there's an extra charge, it should be free, end of. I was disappointed in them, but I figured, "Oh, it must have said this in the small print in the menu and I missed it, I guess it's my fault, no big deal." But then I looked at the menu and there was not a word about extra charges. If I had known it was going to be an extra charge, I wouldn't have taken it, especially because the pasta wasn't very good. I never wanted it in the first place. It is a pathetic grab for money, it's deceptive, it's just sneaky and sad. And it pretty much guarantees that people like me are never going to come back, because I don't like being cheated as if I'm too stupid to notice. If you're going to add-on extras to somebody's order, either make it clear that it costs extra, or make it free. It's that easy. I don't care about two dollars; I do care about dishonesty. The thing is...the eggplant parmesan was good. But I'm not going to keep giving money to a business that tries to sneakily squeeze every last penny out of customers without telling them about extra charges. Hope those two dollars were worth losing a customer, guys, because I'm not coming back.
(2)
Ben O.
Awesome neighborhood place. Nowhere else have I ever seen anything like it: a quiet neighborhood cafe that serves a wide array of gourmet Italian fare at an incredibly reasonable price. This is especially applicable with regards to the pasta menu, which features something like 20 sauces, all of which are fantastic. Cozy and accessible place, friendly staff, and superb food at a very fair price. Love this place
(5)
Alex L.
This place is adorable. We were having an office party and decided to get catering from Bottega. Not only were the gentlemen behind the counter unbelievably accommodating (explaining how everything was packaged, providing anything else we could possibly need, running to open the door for us, being generally lovely humans), but the food was AMAZING. We got an antipasto platter and bruchetta, both of which were wonderfully authentic Italian and delicious. I love this place and can't wait to go back to try some of their pasta!
(5)
Natalie T.
When you walk past it you don't expect much, but there is an amazing menu. I love the different combinations of pastas and sauces. I recommend the pesto rosa sauce and the Capri sandwich. The food is very simple but delicious! Run by two guys who don't say much but they can make good food. I come back whenever I'm in Brookline
(5)
Jamie P.
It's a cute little spot in Brookline Village. It wasn't too far from the T, it wasn't too busy in the afternoon, so it seemed the perfect place to grab lunch while scouring the area for a potential apartment. I had the shrimp pasta, which was good. Overall, a nice place to enjoy a leisurely lunch.
(3)
Conor S.
Pretty small place, but the food seems pretty great quality for a fair price. I grabbed a Daniel's Panini for lunch, and it was excellent! Fresh breads, flavorful ingredients. I'll have to go there for pasta at some point.
(4)
D Z.
Used to be better when it was Fiorentina. Just nothing special.
(2)
Nelson E.
Great people who work here. Prices are the best and the same with the quality. I usually cycle through a few different items, all have always been good. Order at the counter. Don't waste your time going to the north end, just go here.
(5)
gary m.
Just out for a walk before work and came across this wonderful little cafe The food is fresh, fresh, fresh, and the expresso is just great. Reasonably priced with a more than sufficient serving. The following weekend my wife and I who live outside the city, drove the 20+ miles so I could show off my great find. I've been to Capri, and can honestly say this reminds me very much of Italy.
(5)
Keith F.
Good service, great italian food and affordable.
(4)
Pat M.
I'm a meatball fanatic, and I absolutely love their meatballs - among the best I've ever had. I've had at least 30 meatballs subs from there....even got 40 of them along with an antipasto platter a few Christmas's ago - totally made up for the coal in my stocking HAHAHAHAHAH! This place doesn't stop at meatballs though, they make a ton of sauces and all the ones I've tried (including the marinara for the meatballs) have been top notch - my fav is the amatriciana.....incredible. Their wide variety of sauces can be served with just about any pasta you can think of. One more thing I must rave about is the Capri, it's truly one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Prosciutto, sopressata, fresh mozzarella, red peppers (that bathe in garlic) along with olive oil - amazing. There's a similar place down the street that's very good too, bottega di florentine (can't be bothered to look up the spelling) which is more toward Coolidge corner. Their menus are so similar that it's almost like they use to be partners that had a falling out or something....maybe two brothers that hate each other. Di Capri gets the edge cuz they make meatballs, that's essentially the only difference. If there's more than 3 people in line you may be in for a bit of a wait, it's usually one guy in the front taking orders, making sandwiches and taking your money....it's worth the wait tho.
(4)
CL S.
This is by no means fast food...as in, it'll take a little while to get your food if you show up during the lunch rush. But it's well worth the wait. The panini are fantastical.
(4)
Amanda O.
I've been here dozens of times and it is one of our favorites. Every time we decide to go somewhere else for Italian/pasta we realize afterwards that we should have gone to the Bottega. Pasta is as good, better, than anything I've had in the North End. They make fresh pastas, tortellini (try the pumpkin!) and ravioli, and have dozens of sauces to choose from. I've never had a disappointing combination. We usually go a couple times a month for a weekend lunch. Eating in is casual yet comfortable, though when the weather is good we get take-out and go to the small park around the corner on Linden St.
(5)
Lucy W.
Stopped in on a windy chilly day, so perfect for hearty Italian pasta. I ordered at the counter- gnocchi with pesto rosa sauce (which costs extra but came highly recommended). I sat down and only minutes pass before my order is called and a plate of hot pasta is ready for me. Gnocchi is pillowy and perfect, and the pesto rosa sauce is flavorful or 2 of my favorite pasta sauces...worth the extra $1. The portions were plenty big for me...though I scarfed it all down due to my extreme hunger, it definitely wouldn't be considered a small portion like some other Yelpers commented on. The place is small and cozy, with only a few tables and a long counter where you order and pick up the food.
(4)
Erica F.
I love this place! I've eaten here many times. The food is always fresh and delicious! Great meatballs and pomodoro sauce! The chicken broccoli ziti is excellent too! Very easy to call in an order to go.
(5)
Shankar D.
This is the best Italian food I have had. They are local and unique in many ways. It is a very small place and the ambience in such will not impress you but the food is very impressive. They have a range of sauces for pasta. Quite a few of them are unique to them. I had tried primavera and it was great. Forfirst timers, I would recommend a sauce - something pesto. Ask the guy at the counter and he would tell you the exact name.
(4)
Megan R.
AMAZING food! Not only do they have a huge (and delicious) menu, but this is definitely one of the most affordable dining out options in Brookline (especially Brookline Village). I think that this is some of the best Italian food I have had in Boston aside from the North End- the vodka sauce is my favorite, which comes with a choice of several different pastas and fresh baked bread. I live right up the street so I typically take out, but they have a cute dining area as well and really gives the feel of a little Italian deli. The food is always still hot by the time I get it home. They also have some interesting sauce combinations like Pesto Rosa that are great. Bottega di Capri does take credit cards, but it is a $10 minimum and have gone before to pick up food to find out that their credit card machine is broken. I would definitely recommend just stopping to get some cash before you get there, just in case!
(5)
Alan W.
I have eaten at this restaurant many times and love the pasta. It is a simple menu and has many different pasta choices, sauces, and offers chicken, shrimp, and meatballs with your pasta dish, if you so desire. You can create your own antipasti salad, and the prices are very reasonable ie., two pasta dishes with salad under $25, and while tipping is optional, I would recommend leaving something.
(4)
Anchalee M.
We love their sandwiches. The Italiano is my favorite. Only complaint about this place is that they mess up my order or forget to make my order when I call it in about 85% of the time. The owner gets stressed out easily and can't keep things straight. Nevertheless, I keep coming back bc he's always sincerely apologetic and the food is so good.
(4)
Joe F.
Food is unreal. Prices are decent. Anything I've gotten has been stellar. Definitely check it out for a good lunch.
(4)
Dirgni S.
A-OK. If they didn't bill themselves as gourmet food, I'd probably give them 4 stars. But, really, this is comfort food, not gourmet food. I got stuffed peppers, my husband got the Tuscan panini. I thought the peppers were very good. Nicely seasoned. I thought my husband's panini was pretty bland though. Portions are large and prices are very reasonable. Service was friendly and good, for what it is. (You order at the counter and they bring over your meal when it's ready. That's it.) Overall, I'd recommend stopping here if you need a quick bite to eat. But, downshift your expectations from gourmet food to comfort food.
(3)
Laura K.
LK: "Erin, this is a deli. Check again." EK: "It's the right address! It's the same name! This must be it." RK: "Well, whatever; we're here -- we're eating." On a rainy Tuesday night in Brookline Village -- post-357th lifetime visit to the Children's Hospital Sports Medicine clinic for my sister -- Dad, Erin and I found ourselves hungry in a yet-unexplored part of town. ::Go-go-gadget, Yelp App!:: Bottega di Capri: Strong reviews? Check! Within a mile of where we're standing right now? Check! Street parking? Check! OK, Sounds good. We're in. I'm glad that Dad was hungry and Erin was undeterred by the deli-esque setup of Bottega di Capri, because in this alternate universe six tables and a drink cooler with food passed to you over a counter equals the best Italian I've had in Boston. AND IT'S CHEAP! Erin's bowties with Vodka sauce and Dad's Chicken Cacciatore were fresh and enjoyable, but the real gem of the meal was my linguini with alfredo pesto and chicken. The sauce was rich but light, the pasta was fresh and perfectly portioned and the chicken was so moist and delicious I almost cried at my inability to force it all into my belly. I can't stop thinking about it. [Noodle Mirage #46: chairblog.eu/wp-content/… In addition to amazing foodstuffs, this tiny restaurant also offers great customer service in the form of jovial Italian men. Not that it'd matter, because the food is THAT good. I live in the North End -- but I plan on travelling to Brookline from now on when I want Italian. This. Love. Is. Real.
(5)
Andrew B.
The best Italian food in Boston. Hands down... You can't beat their Pesto Rosa sauce on a huge meatball... or in a cup... I don't care if I occasionally get a hard end of a homemade loaf of bread the food is homemade and delicious. This place is LEGIT, staff imported from F'ing Tuscany or something. I've never been let down... and you can feed a family of 4 for 40 BUCKS! Inexpensive to say the LEAST. It's pretty easy to taste the difference between store bought pasta and sauce and the homemade stuff. I Feel bad for our North End Yelp brothers and sisters who won't like an Italian restaurant unless it has a wine bar... But this place is as authentic as it gets. (btw.... Many of those North End Trattorias don't quite have Italians or Sicilians in the back cooking... 95% of all restaurants in major cities in America have people of Mexican or South American descent. The food can still be great and if the Owner or whoever runs the place knows what they're doing the food will be authentic too, but most of them are not run by those kind of people and you get expensive crappy food at a hip looking place to eat!) - No Thanks! I'll stick with Bogetta Di Capri. Homemade and authentic food at a GREAT price!
(5)
madine c.
We happened upon this place on a whim and were very pleasantly surprised! We dined in, and while it would have been nice to have a glass of wine with the meal (they don't sell any alcohol here), the food and value outweighed that shortcoming. Between the three of us, we had linguini with carbonara sauce, fettucini alfredo, and meat ravioli with the simple tomato sauce. All were outstanding -- fresh, very tasty -- and all were priced extremely reasonably (ravioli was $8.95, the other two were $6.95). We've spent more at a sub shop on greasy (and bad) cheesesteaks. The friendly guy behind the counter made us a dinner salad to split, and it was lovely ... super thin onions, tomato slices, and about a dozen big green olives over a bed of greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Next time I'll probably order to go, because a meal this good deserves to be accompanied by wine.
(5)
Mishy K.
I cannot believe there are people who can possibly put Di Capri down.. GO BACK TO OLIVE GARDEN!! :) I find the best time to come is for lunch especially on a nice warm day, My personal favorite is Cheese Tortellini with rosantina sauce.. The rosantina sauce is amazing, but so is the Primavera. Everything is homemade, fresh, and delicious, the bread is soft on the inside, nice and crusty on the outside, perfect for dipping in the sauce! Nothing really beats sitting down with a plate of cheese tortellini and rosantina sauce with a nice cold Orange soda. The staff is very friendly, always helpful. Despite what people think they are not a part of Bottega Florentina.
(5)
Marina B.
I'd never been to this place before, but I was starving, after having just waited close to an hour at another local restaurant who essentially forgot my order and could have cared less. So I thought I'd give Bottega di Capri a try. Not only was everything delicious, but I can honestly say I had he beat grilled cheese of my life here. The portions were a good size but not ridiculously huge. The prices are fair. The employees are pleasant and sweet. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. You walk in, order, sit down at one of the few tables present, eat your meal slowly, and pay before you leave. Definitely coming back here again, and I'm recommending it to all my friends and family in the area.
(5)
Joe M.
I discovered this "hidden gem" just 2 months before changing jobs and leaving Brookline Village behind. But I went there 2 or 3 times a week until I left! Small and unassuming, Bottega di Capri's food more than makes up for the lack of ambiance. The staff is pleasant and eager to please. Excellent panini, with freshly sliced cold cuts, and overflowing with roasted peppers on my favorite, "the Tuscan". Almost as good was "the Caprese" which reminded me of my Nana's tomato and mozzarella salads. The soups were very good too, my favorite being the Pasta Fagioli. And the lamb stew was spectacular! The folks I worked with tended to go with the pasta and sauce combos. Any pasta with any sauce! I can only speak for the Cheese Ravioli with Bolognese and the Linguine Puttanesca, both of which were outstanding. While I don't miss the traffic, parking and congestion of Brookline Village, I do miss Bottega di Capri.
(5)
Paul R.
Just okay. Most of the reviews seem to be relatively spot on but award 4 stars for what I'd give a 3. The sauces are delicious but the pasta isn't anything extraordinary and the portion sizes I find to be way too small. I always expect to be full on the side of gaining a few pounds after some italian, but I've left here still hungry both times I've been. Good for takeout or a quick eat-in but not a place I'd go out of my way to recommend to a friend.
(3)
Meggie C.
I have lived in the neighborhood for the past two years and sometimes can't resist my Bottega cravings. It is a simple yet delicious place for a quick meal. For about $6 you can pick your noodle and sauce and they will give you a basket of crunchy Italian bread (necessary to soak up every last drop of the sauce). They also have daily specials and entrees, though I generally order some variety of pasta. The sandwiches are good as well - perfect to pick up if you're taking a day trip to the beach or something. The service is great. The guy who takes your order is friendly and chatty (and patient with me if I'm being indecisive). There's no table service just no-nonsense delicious Italian food. I'm 99% sure the last time I was there, my chatty friend told me they just hired a delivery man. One downside (like everything else in the village) is they close at 9 :(
(4)
Lauren S.
We went here after reading a review in Zagat that marked it as one of the best places to get Italian food in the city. A familiar face in the North End, I was ecstatic to hear there was a cheap, authentic pasta place right up the street, meaning I wouldn't have to shlep all the way across the city when I wanted Italian. Unfortunately, Bottega di Capri hardly lived up to the hype I was expecting and, while the food was fine, it was certainly no rival for North End trattorias. When I think of a stellar take-out pasta place, portions are essential. Pasta costs a meager 99 cents a pound in the super market (much less wholesale) and takes 15 minutes to prepare. While $6 for a bowl of pasta and homemade sauce is cheap take-out for Brookline, I wouldn't exactly call it a bargain. They gave us probably 1/5 of a pound each, covered in generous amounts of sauce (which weren't anything special either). I was also surprised to see that they only serve some of the most popular sauces on certain days... what's the deal? Why do I have to wait for Friday for pesto? I like the idea of a rotating menu, but some of the sauces served every day were atypical and bizarre combinations. Sadly, I don't think Bottega di Capri will be replacing my trips to the North End anytime soon. For a few bucks and a subway fare more, you get huge portions, better atmosphere and happier service.
(3)
Joe J.
This place is overall OK. I have been here a couple of times, tried a few different items, from salad, to penne, to lasagna. Sometimes it is really good, and sometimes it is too saucy and seems watered down. The service is pretty good, deal with the same kid everytime I am there, but the consistency of the food is what drives the ratings down. When it's good, it's really good ... when it's bad ....
(3)
Nora B.
Amazing! I discounted this place after I got just a so-so Caprese panino from here for lunch one day. Big mistake! Yesterday my husband and I stopped in, again for lunch. He got a meatball sub with cheese, I got a plate of porcini tortellini with pomodoro sauce. After I ordered it, I worried it would be overly basic and bland. Not so! It was one of the best plates of pasta I've ever eaten in the states. The tortellini was clearly homemade by somebody, with a delicious mushroomy/cheesy filling. And the sauce was indeed basic, but with a delicious blend of tomato, garlic, and fresh fresh basil flavors. Homey but not dumpy atmosphere and nice fellows behind the counter as well.
(5)
Anna I.
Bostonians know to go to the North End or our Little Italy to get great Italian food. But delicious Italian food can be had for reasonable prices outside of the North End too. Nestled in between Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village off Harvard Street is a great Italian Gourmet Deli called Bottega di Capri [41 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02445 (617) 738-5333]. This great hole in the wall serves both lunch and dinner that has a few tables. Customers walk up to the counter to order and pick up their meals. There are daily specials and all their pastas (spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, fettuccine, linguini, and bow tie to name a few) are freshly made. Their extensive menu includes Panini sandwiches, risotto, antipasto, salads along with tortellini (meat, cheese, porcini and pumpkin) and ravioli (Cheese, Meat, Tuscan, Spinach, and Lobster) are served with a broad selection of sauces to choose from. Pollo Alla Parmigiana-fried chicken with a tomato sauce and parmesan cheese served on linguini is a bargain at $8.50. A heaping portion came out with a big piece of breaded chicken smothered by tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese over al dente penne pasta. This dish satisfied and was delicious with the fresh tomato tasting sauce. Also we chose the porcini tortellini with parma-sausage, porcini mushrooms and white wine sauce, a great combo for mushroom lovers. This dish was not overly sauced but lovely in its simplicity. For sweet tooths, they should check out the butter sage sauce (not listed) with the pumpkin tortellini. Per the counter person's suggestion, it was the only way to eat pumpkin tortellini for only $7.95! Tomato sauce is too acidic for pumpkin and anything else would be a poor match. The sweetness of the pumpkin pairs well with the buttery sage sauce. Gnocchi (a very traditional Italian pasta) and carbonara (pancetta aka Italian bacon in a cream sauce) were not well matched as the sauce was too rich with this starchy pasta. Later learned traditionally gnocchi is paired with only tomato, pesto (garlic, basil, pine nuts, olive oil & parmesan) or butter sauces. Another pasta dish we had was the tagliatelle $6.50 had a puttanesca sauce (olives, anchovies, capers, hot peppers and tomato) had a lovely heat with nice slant to this dish. All their pasta dishes come with toscano bread. The Italian food here were reminiscent of my times traveling through Italy. I enjoyed that the pastas were cooked al dente without being over sauced. The quality and freshness of the ingredients is crucial to delicious food. So when the mood strikes and you are in Brookline Village area, check out this neighborhood gem outside of North End.
(4)
Chu C.
I like these small, no-nonsense places. No fanfare or funky-shaped plates, just really solid Italian food. Prices are really reasonable, and they have daily specials and coupons available in the store for you to use. We catered from here yesterday for a 30-person dinner, and it was really good overall. Definitely a step up from the chain restaurants, with a lot of attention to detail. So disappointed they didn't have the lobster ravioli, but the meat ravioli was also really good; it just melts in the mouth. The chicken parmesan was thick and hearty, with tangy sauce, though slightly soggy from the car ride probably. The baked ziti and broccoli was very good, and the seafood linguine was fine, maybe a little bland. Service was great - not only did they give us a discount on our order, but they threw in a free salad, and they helped me load everything into my car. Thanks guys!
(4)
Erica T.
I love this place... when I work in the area I come here a few times a week. They have a large menu of items which include salads, sandwiches, paninis, pasta dishes, and specials! I really want to try their pasta or lasagna but since I normally come here for lunch both of those are a bit too heavy. Although I think picking up a to-go order of their pastas or specials on the way home from work is something I should try! I almost always get their chicken salad sandwich. My coworkers and I all agree that is honestly the best chicken salad we have ever had. Once I went earlier in the day and they hadn't made the batch of chicken salad so they cut pieces of chicken off and made a batch just for me. Regardless it is always delicious. For their sandwich toppings everything is cut fresh to order regardless of it is cheese, lettuce, or tomato. Although everything on the menu looks delicious my coworkers and I always end up ordering our normal sandwiches every time we go. Once we each tried something we loved it so much that we can never talk ourselves into trying something else. It is small inside but we never have had a problem sitting down. As far as prices go you can't beat them they are more than reasonable. The staff is also very friendly and they really add to the experience!
(5)
Karen G.
Tried them yesterday. Ordered the Wednesday special Chicken Picata, the Shrimp Scampi, the Prosciutto Di Parma Cold Sandwich, and the Assorted Meats Antipasto Plate. My family and I eat family style so we cut everything up and everyone helps themselves. Maybe I should have stuck with pastas. It was okay, but when I asked everyone if we should order again the answer was 'meh'. The boys (5 & 7) liked the scampi, my husband and I liked the picata even if it was a little over cooked, and our au pair liked the sandwich. No one really liked the antipasto and the boys ate off all of the tomato, mozzarella and basil. Also everyone was sad at the skimpy portions of the fresh basil, everyone wanted more, and no one liked the supermarket style Italian sub roll and foccacia. The sauces were good and the pasta cooked right, but over all we were underwhelmed. I would say it is decent homestyle Italian with no fuss, but their proportions are a bit off. If you want outstanding homestyle Italian, with amazing bread and specials that will knock your socks off go to Domenic's in Waltham. yelp.com/biz/domenics-it…
(2)
robert o.
I had to go a few times before reviewing. An excellent little place. On my first visit I had the special of the day and a rigatoni with pesto tomato sauce. Very fresh and extremely tasty. My partner had a chicken pasta dish. Bread was great. The staff could not have been nicer. Went back tonight for another visit. I had the meatball and rigatoni and my partner had lasagna. Excellent!! We are looking forward to returning for a pasta fix
(5)
Jessica C.
Cute, Casual and Cozy little restaurant for quick and fresh Italian food. If your current mood is scrumptious and savory, come to Bottega because the flavors here are right on! After all, isn't Italian food all about the sauce? Doesn't really matter what noodle you get, since they all taste the same. Bottega is unique because you can pick your own pasta and sauce combination. I love that! From linguine to penne to bowtie to spaghetti and more... Sauces seems to be delicious by the ones I tried...Arrabiata and Pesto Rosa. Arrabiata is one of my faves and I love the way they make it...tasty, spicy with chunks of tomato, and not too tarty. Pesto Rosa was also delicious. I am normally a RED sauce girl, but this seemed to be a combination of both and was done very well. In addition, you can choose to add chicken or shrimp to the pasta for a few additional dollars. Totally worth it. My pasta came out to less than $10! Perfect portion for perfect price and taste. Take 20 minutes, dine in the restaurant and enjoy the fresh bread offered to wipe your plate clean. (Don't be tempted like me to lick your plate clean) Daily specials are also offered and I will definitely be back to make more combinations for my eager Italian appetite!
(4)
Erin A.
Ok, this place, I admit has pretty yummy Italian food HOWEVER, the service is horrible! I went there years ago-say about 8 and they were so rude! Like they were doing me a favor. Then I thought, well that was 8 years ago, let's give it another shot. Nope! Still rude after all these years! A word of advice to Bottega: Just be NICE to your customers!
(2)
Jackie P.
I'm so glad that Bottega delivers now, I would only get food from there when i was in Brookline Village but now i can get it whenever i want, which will be often! Their pumpkin tortelli is delicious, it's the right combination of sweet and savory and you can pair it with a multitude of their great sauces but i like to pair it with a cream sauce. The meatballs are a meal in itself, they are huge. All of the sauce/pasta combinations are delicious and even though it is plain their rigatoni with pomodoro sauce (with the meatballs of course) is probably one of my most ordered items. Also, you cannot beat the friendliness from the guys behind the counter, they are always a pleasure.
(5)
Taryn C.
We decided to drop in because we live in the area. Have to say we were pleased with the service, food was fresh and the price was okay. We had great pressed sandwiches where they sliced the bread and meat to order. We'll probably try the pasta dishes next time.
(4)
Christina S.
What a hidden gem! The food is fantastic. Every time I go I get the Tuscan ravioli with gorgonzola sauce =INCREDIBLE!
(5)
Ben Y.
Was introduced to this place through yelp, was looking for a good place to grab some takeout for a late night dinner. I called my order in, i had ordered the lobster ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs and the rosette (sp?), which was one of the specials for friday. The atmosphere was very friendly, the hours kind of suck though, they close at 9 which i feel is a bit on the early side, i would assune tgat most places that primarily are for takeout would be open till at lease 10, but that is beyond me. when i got the food home, i realized that i only got two of the three dishes that i ordered. the spaghetti and meat balls and the lobster raviloi. and thinking back, i was only charged for the two dishes that i got, so no harm done right ? the portions of the two dishes were decent. so it was enough for two people. the spaghetti and meatballs were good, the meatballs were huge. the lobster ravioli was delicious, but depending on whether you got lobster in it or not. the dish came with 4 ravioli's, my first one had barely any lobeter in it, but the second one i ate had a ton of lobster, so i guess it makes up for it ? overall the food was good and that is the most inportant.
(4)
Drew G.
Delicious sandwiches (we really liked the namesake panini) and tasty meatballs (you can buy them individually and share). I've taken two different groups here and they raved about it afterwards. I'm excited to explore the rest of the menu. Oh, and I had a friend with weird dietary concerns and, after walking through the ingredients of all of their dishes, created a pasta dish just for her to suit her eccentric needs. Excellent service.
(5)
Adam B.
If you don't eat here you will get herpes. This place is awesome! I usually always get whatever is on special and am never disappointed. I don't know what one of the other reviewers were talking about with the service they seem very nice to me.
(5)
Debora M.
Unexpectedly really good. Came here for lunch after taking my cousin on a college visit. I was driving by and thought "there's a small spot I can quickly stop and get lunch at"-not expecting anything special. Boy was I surprised. What a delight. Such a cozy and tasteful little cafe. I felt like I was actually in Italy but not because of any cheesy decor but the feel in there was neighborly, friendly and warm. I think mainly because the worker there (I believe the Argentinian owner) is so friendly and has a great welcoming personality. Most importantly the food: The menu is on a chalkboard and you pick your choice of pasta, sauce and meat/seafood. Simple concept excellent results. There is a lot to choose from but from what I could see you can't lose. I got the Angel hair with Arrabiata sauce with Shrimp. mmmm mmmm mmmm. Wish I had it right now! Divine. The pasta was so fresh and cooked to al dente perfection. The sauce so packed with flavor- you could taste all the ingredients. Shrimp also tasted fresh and perfectly cooked-they were firm and flavorful. Uh and the price? Yeah, both my cousin and I lunched like bosses for under $25. Can't wait to return. Thank you Bottega di Capri!
(5)
Adam T.
Just wonderful! Cozy little deli with personable staff and great service. Reasonably priced. Excellent food with variety of choices. Meatballs are a must for only $2.50 each. Perfect for those in need of a quick bite. Smaller location so not ideal for big groups but perfect for 4 or less. In short, I'll be back soon.
(5)
Alison H.
All right, listen up people, because I can't believe I'm going to tell you this. Bottega di Capri is INCREDIBLE. SUPERB. and PURE DELICIOUSNESS. And I wasn't ever going to broadcast that information to anyone. As soon as I ate my first bite of ravioli there, I resolved that I was going to keep the secret of how good this place is, because it's small, and I never wanted to have to wait in long lines or not be able to sit down and have a fantastic lunch there. Then I realized that not only was this place a secret, it was a little too secret. Nearly every time I go there, we are the only ones there, or we happen across one or two other customers. Even on Sunday at lunch, when church gets out we watch the crowds of people streaming by, no one stops in - folks, this is insanity. So now I have a new selfish motivator: keep Bottega di Capri in business so I can eat there forever. You can pick your own combination of pasta and sauce, and to let you in on another tip, the best of the best is the stuffed pasta, either the tortellini (cheese, pumpkin - yes, surprisingly good), or the ravioli - try the Tuscan ravioli or the mushroom. My top sauces: arrabiata, rosantina, caprese. And all this fabulous food can be yours for less than $10 a plate (the reviewer below who called this price just "okay" must be smoking something if they live in the same Brookline I live in) - compare to the highly rated Pomodoro just a few doors down and I cannot believe anyone pays so much for that food, which is not even as good as the Bottega. Brookline Spa, also much lauded and often crowded, is only about a block away, but Bottega di Capri has authentic Italian sandwich ingredients at the deli counter. I'm vegetarian but the prosciutto and other meats make me jealous! So now that I'm grouchy because I shared my ultimate favorite food place in Boston with you, I order you to EAT HERE. p.s. don't forget to ask what the specials are in the metal containers behind the counter. They keep their own hidden secrets in there like a luscious eggplant lasagna!
(5)
Kaleel S.
So, what do you get when you cross six intimate tables, two very handsome,fun Italian guys (from Italy!) and a case full of choice meats, cheeses and deeply purple and black olives? Well, add a big plate glass window looking out at people walking by and having a good time, and you get the Bottega de Capri. Of course the place is intimate and the conversations subdued, but the feeling is one of genuine welcome and the menu is more varied than a place this size has any right to have. There are the usual paninis and pastas, but what was very impressive was the Pasta Alla Pesce (seafood pasta with shrimp, scallops and sun-dried tomatoes) and the range of daily specials. On Tuesday, for example, there's a wonderful Ariste di Maiale, or so my companion told me, because I don't eat meat... and the dish is a roasted pork loin stuffed with mortadella, herbs and a dry, spicy prosciutto. Which brings me to my only two reservations. I appreciate the authenticity of the Italian cuisine, but like Italian food, the meals are predominately meat and more meat. Should they modify their offering? Not sure. And then, I wish we could bring wine in. The feel of the place (no, no checkered tablecloths, thankfully) does cry out for a good bottle or cheap bottle of red wine to complete the experience, which can be a touch romantic, without ever trying to be so!
(3)
Bill S.
When you're not in the mood to cook but don't want to spend a fortune on dinner, this is a fabulous place. I'm partial to the linguine with white clam sauce and the pumpkin tortellini. I've not yet been disappointed. The owners are incredibly nice and remember our orders each time we come in. For those who like traditional Italian restaurant bread, you won't be disappointed, but I like something a bit chewier.
(4)
ms m.
Love this place! It's owned by 2 brothers, one of which was an employee when it was still Bottega Fiorentina and I think the student has surpassed the master in this case. Their pumpkin tortellini in a butter and sage sauce is hands down the best I've had and is better than Fiorentina's (which is no slouch either). Every pasta meal is served with delicious bread that you can scoop the sauce up with. Service is always excellent and I like that this is a great take-out place and is comfortable enough sit at and have a nice meal (though it is self serve).
(5)
Joe M.
I found this place for lunch and it seemed like a nice spot with a good menu, so I came in for a bite to eat. I opted for the Tuscan panini with prosciutto, sopresata, red peppers, mozzarella, and oil. It wasn't bad by any means, but I've certainly had better - both in more upscale Italian restaurants and other delis and places like this. The sandwich was big, more than enough for my lunch, but my main complaint was that it was just too oily and greasy. I know basil oil was advertised as an ingredient, but this sandwich was dripping inside and out... just too heavy, and that's saying something coming from me. Again, I wasn't unhappy, it just didn't blow me away. I would go back if a friend wanted to go or something, but probably wouldn't recommend it as a first choice.
(3)
Lee L.
Looking for some Italian takeout near home. This place was very disappointing. We tried the special of the day Lasagna Bolognese & the Meatball Sub. Both were lacking flavor and freshness. I am not sure how they stay in business.
(2)
Jessica R.
I usually eat here for my lunch break and I always order the tachinno panini. This panini is absolutely delicious with mozzarela, turkey, basil. and other seasonings. Although, one time I was craving spaghetti and meatballs and I was really disappointed by the meatballs because it just tasted blahh. Also, the desserts they keep in the fridge are realllly good, but a little pricey ($4-5) for the portion they give, Overall, this a great place to grab a quick bite to eat.
(4)
Abbie T.
Delicious! Choose your pasta and choose your sauce, or try one of their daily specials. I'm partial to the gnocci or tortellini with either pesto rosa or caprese sauces. There's not much seating and the ambiance isn't noteworthy one way or the other, but I usually do takeout from there anyway so that's okay by me.
(4)
Michelle A.
A cozy, neighborhood spot with the best panini ever! Great value for the money. We'll be back.
(4)
Golo D.
Certainly overrated. If our meals were not prepared from penne to meatwad from components purchased down the street at Trader Joe's then microwaved specially for us, I will eat my Homburg, but I will not press teeth into this bachelor-pad gourmet cuisine again. And somehow the stale bread didn't help to push it over the top. Addio!
(2)
Ken S.
Just lovely...
(5)
Sham Y.
We came in this place on a random afternoon with no one else in the place. It's a small friendly place with a very large selection of pasta, sauces and other foods. The food was good and we left happy and full which is all I really want when I eat pasta.
(4)
Vincent C.
Live right down the road.. go here often. My first time trying it out I got the lobster ravioli..you can tell it was fresh, however, the sauce was lacking and the ravioli was a little overcooked. I like al dente, and got far from it. However, the Tuscan sandwich makes up for that experience. That is the only sandwich I get from there. The tuscan as a panini on foccacia bread is the best sandwich there. The italian subs lack quality meat. But all in all, a great, local, mom and pop shop.
(4)
David B.
I love this restaurant! From the daily specials to the signature Bottega Di Capri panini, you can't go wrong. I live in the neighborhood (Brookline Village) and have been going here for a little over 2 years and haven't had a good meal here yet; they were all GREAT!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Evan J.
Bottega di Capri tears down the notion that Italian food needs to be expensive to be good. It also tears down the notion that the best Italian food in Boston needs to be in the North End with a line wrapping around the block. A small restaurant with a primarily counter service system, this restaurant seems to have steadfast regulars (me included) that either order carry-out or drop by for a quick quiet bite. Because of this, it is rarely difficult to find a seat, even though the seating is limited. If you want affordable and great Italian food without the lines, this is your place.
(5)Kevin L.
Came here for lunch with some friends after spending a whole day moving and their dishes definitely fill you up if you're really hungry. They used to be affiliated with Bottega Fiorentina in Coolidge Corner, but the two brothers that used to work there decided to buy/start their own restaurant in the Village. They have a completely different menu than Fiorentina and they give you a lot more food too (they have daily specials too so keep an eye out on what day you go!). The staff here is very friendly and welcoming; definitely has a family/homey vibe inside! I ordered the: -Penne de Georgio's: it has breaded chicken, mushrooms, onions, peppers, peas and asparagus in a vodka cream sauce (they also give you a fresh loaf of bread and it goes great with the sauce). The penne pasta was cooked al dente and all the ingredients in the dish blend together very nicely with the pasta and cream sauce. There was a bit of imbalance between the amount of pasta and everything else (too...many...carbs), but since I was super hungry, it definitely hit the spot. However, it would probably last me two meals normally. Overall, great food and nice atmosphere for a very reasonable price! This little restaurant in the Village probably has some of the best Italian food in the area (I prefer this place over the one in Coolidge Corner based on quality, quantity, and cost). I will definitely be back for more! :)
(4)Jeffrey N.
Pollo alla parmigiana, more commonly known as chicken parmesan, is a Tuesday special which I had ordered. I'm not usually a big fan of pasta but this was pretty quality pasta. The pasta was just right in terms of firmness and was complemented well by a rich, fresh tomato sauce. I think the chicken was also done quite well. They had the chicken already prepared so I thought it would be soggy but it was actually quite crispy. It's easy to mess up chicken parmesan by having soggy breading but it was covered nicely with breading. The only thing I would say could improve for the chicken is that towards the center, it wasn't quite as flavorful and could use a bit of salt, but the tenderness of the chicken balanced it out nicely. The staff is also very personable and welcoming, providing bread and speedy service.
(4)Fey S.
I found this little hole in the wall on yelp and took a chance, best decision I've had! We're from out of state and seeing the expensive prices at the other Italian places right in Boston was alarming, this place is actually affordable and authentic as can be! No bells and whistles of a waiter, it's a deli style shop, but the waiter was nice enough to come to our table and chit chat with us. He even poured us our drinks. I got the sea food special, it was an amazing portion with tons of seafood, at least 5 muscles, 5 shrimp, and tons of calamari. We also got the lobster ravioli, not only did we get fat ravioli pieces, but we got like 8 or 9 large pieces in a delicious sauce. The place also has fresh cut meat and delicious olives. Way better than any place we went to in Little Italy, NYC, must try!!!
(5)Norma T.
When going to Bottega di Capri, we knew what we were in for. The location itself is quite small, and easy to miss if quickly walking by harvard street. Once inside, it was empty due to a weird afternoon time and a rainy day. Almost immediately, a very charismatic man came over and handed menus. He had a very thick accent, and was speaking Italian to someone in the back of the kitchen as we decided on what to order. The menu consisted of some specialties, but mostly was impressed by their long list of sauces to choose from with different pasta choices as well. Once we decided, he came over and quite enthusiastically gave us a quick rundown of some of their specials. All of which sounded delicious, so much so that my friend decided to get one of the specials: seafood risotto. The food itself came out pretty quickly, and the portions were bigger than anticipated for the very affordable prices. (much cheaper than most places at the north end) Overall the gnocchi with bolognese was good, and had no complaints but have had better. However, the seafood risotto was plentiful in varied seafood from big clams, scallops, calamari and shrimp. It was silky and had the right amount of cream, texture and kick. Would certainly return and listen out for the specials of the day next time since its bound to be more fresh and unique, the bill came out at about $25 for both plates and bread was provided free of charge. Overall, great italian authentic place in Harvard street. Price, easiness and taste can't be beat.
(4)Jodi N.
My boyfriend and I have eaten at Bottega di Capri pretty much every week since we began our 8 week stay in Brookline. The staff are so genuinely nice and hospitable, it makes you feel right at home! I don't think we've tried anything that we haven't liked, but we do have some favorites! - Bruschetta - Lobster Ravioli with Pesto Alfredo - Beef Ravioli with Pesto Rosa - Meatballs with Spaghetti - Chicken Parmigiana - Risotto with Seafood It's such a wonderful little hole in the wall restaurant, I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a filling and delicious dinner while roaming Harvard Avenue in Brookline.
(5)Vicky H.
I remember this when it used to be "Bottega Fiorentina" and the sandwiches were awesome as they were shaved right on front of you in toasted breads and whatever else you want in them. I used to always order the meatball and spaghetti or Chicken Parm. The folks were here were nice people. Water were in pitcher and you can just help yourself as there are no waitstaff. It's a nice little gem. The price was on the higher end for a little place like this but so worth it to support a local spot. Bottega di Capri is pretty good and fairly priced as well. The only thing is, sometimes when you call the order in, it's made wrong. Otherwise, would deserve at least 4 stars.
(3)Ben O.
Awesome neighborhood place. Nowhere else have I ever seen anything like it: a quiet neighborhood cafe that serves a wide array of gourmet Italian fare at an incredibly reasonable price. This is especially applicable with regards to the pasta menu, which features something like 20 sauces, all of which are fantastic. Cozy and accessible place, friendly staff, and superb food at a very fair price. Love this place
(5)Amanda G.
Bottega di Capri is a tiny, cozy deli/restaurant in Brookline. It's a total gem- the food was excellent, prices are beyond reasonable, and the service was genuinely warm. The menu at first seems to be pretty big, but it includes sandwiches, salads, pastas, specials for every day of the week, and a "create your own pasta" section with descriptions of all the different sauces. Pasta dishes are priced at roughly $10-14 & sandwiches were $5-7. Even dishes like lobster ravioli, which can easily go for $30 a plate at bigger, fancier places, are under $15 here. My family & I had three entrees, drinks, & a dessert for a total of $53 and the quality of everything was top. Focaccia bread & good quality olive oil were brought to the table before our entrees came up. I noticed another review complained that the bread was cold, but from the texture you could tell it had been baked earlier that day, and I'd rather have room temperature recently baked bread than frozen & reheated (which is what a lot of restaurants actually do.) We didn't have to wait long for our entrees. I had one of the specials, seafood risotto- the risotto was full of flavor and cooked perfectly & there were generous amounts of shrimp, scallops, squid, & mussels. Definitely one of the best dishes I've ever had. We finished the meal with a light, delicious passionfruit gelato, the portion of which was enough for three to share. Everything was fresh & nothing about the place is pretentious; it's all love out here. I never write reviews this long & detailed, but Bottega di Capri deserves it. For me this was a perfect experience. I'll be back every time I'm in Boston for sure!
(5)Ashley A.
One of my favorite places in Brookline Village! I'm not sure the service gets any better..the staff is ALWAYS warm and courteous and you can tell they really love what they do and appreciate each and every person who walks in the door. The fact that the food is fabulous is really just a perk. I have stopped by on numerous occasions and have been blown away by how phenomenal the food and service is each and every time. I try not to stop in too often though because I'm pretty sure it's the type of place you can easily gain several pounds without really trying..but really..go here..you won't be disappointed.
(5)Ashley D.
This small restaurant/Italian deli is easy to miss but is a true neighborhood gem. I came in to carbo load before a race with some friends and indeed left loaded and satisfied. I was instantly attracted to huge homemade meatballs and then had my choice of which type of pasta I wanted to complete the dish. They have a number of different options and combinations of sauce, pasta, and other additions or if you're feeling creative you can make your own combination by picking your sauce and type of pasta from a long list of options. I was also lucky enough to be able to have my friend's leftovers the next day and can be a testament for how creamy and savory the farfalle davinci is. The garlic cream sauce with peas and chicken was simply outstanding (even the day after). They also have a number daily specials you can choose from each day that look amazing. Next time I'm in the neighborhood I'll be sure to stop by to check those out.
(4)Yuka Y.
Rating lies at 3.5. Bottega di Capri is a small, little known gem in Brookline specializing in pastas, though there are sandwiches and paninis offered. It's only a store away from Martin's diner. From a quick look at the exterior (having passed this street for 4 years), I've mistaken this place as a cafe. But it is a restaurant with service, though it can be confusing. You pay at the counter- it is your choice as to whether to pay before sitting down or after you finish your meal. Your orders will be brought out to you and cleared for you. The owner seems charismatic to customers. My honey and I were looking at their menu taped to the wall as we stood outside. The owner approached the window wanting to re-tape the menu more firmly. Upon seeing us, he made a non-verbal, classic Italian gesture that their food is great and opened the door telling us to come in since there's aircon. Great effort was made by him showing their daily specials and giving recs. My only concern with him is he's quite disrespectful to his waitress. She's a young Indian girl and the tone that he gives orders in gives me the impression he is definitely someone I would not want to work with. Granted, she does seem inexperienced and new to the inner workings of the restaurant, but her service was courteous. These nuances are something I managed to catch and found unpleasant/uncomfortable the entire dinner- the place is small, you can hear almost everything. Good bosses shouldn't have to instill fear or be condescending. Let's get to the food! -Bread was cold. It's unnecessary every table has to be asked whether they want olive oil or butter with their bread. Just provide olive oil by default, I'm sure most don't like plain bread anyways & you're an Italian restaurant. ++The 'Linguini, Scallop, Clams and Shrimp' was worth it. ~5 pieces of big shrimp with shrunken scallops scattered around the linguini. Their pastas are perfectly cooked in duration. Sauce was not salty with a light taste of tomato. +Homemade meatballs in spaghetti and tomato sauce was good. They charge per meatball. Overall, I will have to agree with other yelpers it is annoying Bottega di Capri's business concept relies a lot of 'adding extra for x $' if you want x.' I'd rather pay a little more and get a heartier dish by default than having to make more decisions. I suppose much of that concept is due to a bulk of their menu being catered to creating your own pasta blend from scratch. 2 entrees + 2 drinks will set you around $32 including tips, most likely a cheaper endeavor for Italian vs. Northend. Good homemade quality and excellent taste, though I don't appreciate the way staff are being treated and the change in face of the owner.
(3)Alex L.
This place is adorable. We were having an office party and decided to get catering from Bottega. Not only were the gentlemen behind the counter unbelievably accommodating (explaining how everything was packaged, providing anything else we could possibly need, running to open the door for us, being generally lovely humans), but the food was AMAZING. We got an antipasto platter and bruchetta, both of which were wonderfully authentic Italian and delicious. I love this place and can't wait to go back to try some of their pasta!
(5)Natalie T.
When you walk past it you don't expect much, but there is an amazing menu. I love the different combinations of pastas and sauces. I recommend the pesto rosa sauce and the Capri sandwich. The food is very simple but delicious! Run by two guys who don't say much but they can make good food. I come back whenever I'm in Brookline
(5)Debora M.
Unexpectedly really good. Came here for lunch after taking my cousin on a college visit. I was driving by and thought "there's a small spot I can quickly stop and get lunch at"-not expecting anything special. Boy was I surprised. What a delight. Such a cozy and tasteful little cafe. I felt like I was actually in Italy but not because of any cheesy decor but the feel in there was neighborly, friendly and warm. I think mainly because the worker there (I believe the Argentinian owner) is so friendly and has a great welcoming personality. Most importantly the food: The menu is on a chalkboard and you pick your choice of pasta, sauce and meat/seafood. Simple concept excellent results. There is a lot to choose from but from what I could see you can't lose. I got the Angel hair with Arrabiata sauce with Shrimp. mmmm mmmm mmmm. Wish I had it right now! Divine. The pasta was so fresh and cooked to al dente perfection. The sauce so packed with flavor- you could taste all the ingredients. Shrimp also tasted fresh and perfectly cooked-they were firm and flavorful. Uh and the price? Yeah, both my cousin and I lunched like bosses for under $25. Can't wait to return. Thank you Bottega di Capri!
(5)Adam T.
Just wonderful! Cozy little deli with personable staff and great service. Reasonably priced. Excellent food with variety of choices. Meatballs are a must for only $2.50 each. Perfect for those in need of a quick bite. Smaller location so not ideal for big groups but perfect for 4 or less. In short, I'll be back soon.
(5)Susan G.
Great food, I like to take the yummies from here and do a picnic at nearby Jamaica Pond.
(4)Irene W.
It is amazing! Very nice Italian Deli. I loved the food and the nice staff. I would highly recommend to my friends. We had 9 people there for a friend's birthday! It worked out. The place is not huge. But it worked well for our party. The owner even gave us a bag of tiramisu cookie to celebrate the friend's birthday. That was very nice. The food is yummy and is very affordable as well. Loved it! Will be back soon!
(5)Drduru A.
All sorts of authentic Italian dishes. I wanted to try so many, but I made a beeline for the risotto. Particularly good for those who like a light and subtle flavor. I actually prefer a little more creamy and seasoned, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
(4)Chris S.
Friends in Brookline took me to this small Italian place, and it is delicious. I still don't understand whether I'm supposed to order at the counter or sitting down, but the food is so good. I went twice, once getting a more traditional prosciutto/cream pasta dish, the other time gnocchi. The staff was pleasant and accommodated my late evening coffee needs. I wish I lived next door.
(5)Tom R.
I love this place, small family owned, family friendly, ownership is really friendly, the pasta is awesome and they have tons of variety even on a weeknight.
(5)Shauna H.
I ordered the assorted meats antipasto, which was INCREDIBLE! For that I'd give 5 stars, tons of delicious fresh meats and mozzarella and fragrant basil. I'm glad I made the snap decision to get this because it's taking the edge off the disappointment from my pasta. I ordered the shrimp, scallops, and clams linguine. As a procedural note, I should mention they gave me spaghetti instead of linguine, but whatever, it's cooked correctly so I'm not upset about it. It's the sauce that really fails here. There's NO wine flavor. In fact, there's no flavor at all except black pepper. Mountains of black pepper. Disgusting. I have a high spice/heat tolerance, and it's actually not really that spicy, (it's just back pepper after all), but it is ONLY that flavor. An onslaught of one-dimensional nastiness. Awful. BUT... I will give them another chance. I noticed someone else posted a photo on yelp of the same dish I ordered, and that dish has little to no black pepper in it. So that's a ding for consistency but at least maybe there's a chance for redemption.
(2)Carlos B.
You can skip your trip to the North End for an italian dinner. La Bottega is by far the best italian restaurant I've tried in Boston. Small and unpretentious, the restaurant manages to wow with great flavors and a italian-grandma-cuisine feel.
(5)Kelly H.
I just happened to be picking up an instrument a couple stores down and needed something to eat on the run. I stopped in, and ordered the veggie panini. They had multiple vegetarian options to choose from, but I needed something I could eat in the car. The gentleman who helped me was really friendly. The panini was delicious! The atmosphere is cozy. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone in the area.
(5)Ibeth T.
Excellent service and exquisite food ! My family love the food I will come back anytime !
(5)Kanika M.
Brookline Village is the absolute cutest and Bottega di Capri follows that standard perfectly! This little restaurant can be easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for, but definitely a place worth stopping in. The kindest Italian man comes and takes your order if you decide to sit down and prepares everything himself behind the counter, with the help of just one other woman in the kitchen. He's such a sweetheart and takes the time to make sure you really enjoyed your meal. The prices are unreal for the portion, also! I went with 3 friends and all of us got paninis/sandwiches for about $8. Expecting to be a good sized meal but nothing too huge, we were more than pleasantly surprised when our food came out MUCH bigger than expected. The food tastes great, the atmosphere is calm and friendly, and you don't put a hole in your wallet while enjoying it all. Definitely a great place to pop in if you're craving some good Italian. The only downside is that there isn't a ton of seating, but what can you expect from a cute little Bottega? It's almost more fitting for it to be a bit small! Ps. They have lobster ravioli....which none of us tried but are all determined to go back for one day... Let a girl know how it is if you beat me to it!
(4)Matt R.
Authentic homemade meatballs that keeps me coming back time and time again. I have tried many items on the menu but I always see myself coming back to there meatballs. The owner is super nice and welcomes you like your family.
(5)Beth H.
The menu here makes it hard to choose what you want -- everything sounds great. It is a little hole-in-the-wall, so I missed this place altogether for quite a while even though I work in the area. Note that it is cash only. I had the chicken parmesan both times I went, but made an important change to my order the second time. The chicken parm comes on Italian bread regularly, and, think about it, as messy and saucy as chicken parms are (and ought to be!!), the bread was totally soaked through and mushy/gross by the time I arrived back at work to consume it. I wound up having to forego the bread, and eat the innards with fork and knife. The second time, I requested a sub bun, and everything went swimmingly! No more mushy bread, just glorious glorious food for my belly. Portions are very large! If I hadn't had a blegh experience the first time, this review would be a 4. I recommend coming by Bottega di Capri -- but when you do, ask what bread your sandwich comes on and make changes if necessary.
(3)Anthony G.
The food was amongst the worst I've ever had in my life. Just awful. OMG. not that it tasted horrendous, just that it was without taste.
(1)Caitlin M.
Went to Bottega di Capri at 8 on Friday night. We just didn't feel like cooking but also didn't want to spend a lot of money. The food was really good and very affordable. I will go back to try the other sauces.
(4)Bill G.
I can't say enough great things about this restaurant. We came across Bottega di Capri on a walk one day, stopping in when we noticed they sell sandwiches. The sandwiches are amazing. Better than most deli's in Boston. Try the italian or the meatball. And reasonably priced! We loved lunch so much that we came back to try dinner. Go with their daily special! Lasagna & spaghetti with meatballs are made with italian family love. its like my grandmother was making dinner. And for only $10/dish! Its our go-to when we're craving italian. skip the trip to the north end and go to Bottega di Capri!
(5)Nicole B.
This small restaurant in Brookline Village has a market-type feel and an expansive menu where you can create your own pasta dish by choosing a pasta, meat and sauce. All come with freshly sliced bread (no butter or oil to accompany, sadly). I had the pesto sauce on spaghetti with chicken. It was alright, but definitely needed some seasoning (salt & pepper) and the chicken was not worth the extra charge. $10 minimum on credit card charges and the owner (?) is a pushy Italian man that is happy to take your payment before or after you eat (no rules here). Authentic feel, standard food.
(3)Shannon M.
I don't think I've ever seen so many sauce options! The choices can be overwhelming so I asked for a recommendation on my lobster ravioli. The arrabiata was bit too strong for the lobster but very hearty and tomato-y with a spicy kick! The pasta and sauce was fresh, and the bread they serve on the side was nice and crisp. This place is a great stop for a quick bite of classic italian pasta and sandwiches.
(4)An L.
Best Italian eatery in Brookline we've had. Carbonara and Pesto Rosa were delicious. Lots of sauce choices. Fast service. They also have gelato. We'll be coming back for more.
(5)German G.
Great Italian food at reasonable prices. They have a few specials each day and a list of premade dishes, or you can make your own pasta/sauce combination; all the dishes I've tried are quite good or at least solid, and also pretty authentic (reminiscent of eating with your Italian grandma). This place makes North End all but obsolete, unless you're looking for something fancy. That being said, this place is all about the food, so don't expect great atmosphere or service. You place your order at the counter and they bring it out when it's ready. While the food is Italian, most of the servers are actually Colombian. Some are friendly, others not so much (there is one guy in particular that has terrible manners and his English can be hard to understand, but that's just how he is). In my experience they are chattier and nicer if you engage them in Spanish, assuming you speak the language well.
(4)Tanya Y.
Pasta alla Pesce (Bowtie pasta with shrimp, scallops and sun-dried tomato topped with a white wine scampi sauce) all for $11.41, tax included?! Yes please! Bottega di Capri is another hole in the wall type of place that you would never bother venturing into unless you've heard how great it was through word of mouth. Their menu is loaded with yummy Italian goodies ranging from hot and cold subs to customizable pasta dishes with handcrafted sauces and daily specials. Everything is ordered over the counter; meaning no waiter service: you go up there, order yourself, take the food yourself, and go up to pay yourself. There was one guy behind the counter manning everything. He did this as well as he could with the dinner rush. He even remembered our orders as we went up to pay the bill. The portions were just enough, seafood cooked right, and very flavorful. All pastas come with bread that you can dip in to olive oil that you customize yourself at the table. Deli meats and antipasti are available as well to snack on. There's a $10.00 minimum purchase required to use a credit or debit card, parking can be found on the street, and the food came out hot and fast. If I'm ever in the area and want some good quick and delicious Italian, I know that I'll definitely be coming here again,
(4)Gustavo M.
This small 'italian' place is by far one of the best 'home made' style restaurants in the city. Every time we came here we got the most tasty food, my favorite: the gnocchi pesto rosa...you will come back for more. And super affordable
(5)Harry H.
Occasionally conditions align and the multitude of bookmarks I've collected over the years become unfeasible and the decision falls in the hands of others. In this case, the brothership located this spot on Yelp and we headed over not long before closing. We sidled up to the counter and the charming overzealous staffer took our orders for some satisfying Italian-American fare dished out by the brusque but entertaining a few steps behind him.
(4)Van N.
I went here on a Sunday afternoon with a couple of peeps. There was plenty of seating. The menu has a nice selection of pastas and sauces however, they didn't have a few pastas and dishes my group ordered. Maybe the selection is better if I went during a weekday and it is busier. Service was nice but they forgot my dish and given how slow it was, raised a few eyebrows. It was no big deal since my order came a few minutes later with an apology. The actual food was okay. I got the pumpkin tortellini with meat sauce. I admit it might have not been the best combination of sauce and pasta, but I left unimpressed with the so-so quality and small portion size. Overall, I couldn't shake the feeling that I could just go down the street to Trader Joe's and make the meal at home.
(2)Chris B.
Yum yum yum!! Came here for a blizzard-y Valentine's Day and loved it. The lasagna was particularly amazing. We are definitely coming back to this neighborhood cafe.
(5)Julia K.
The two stars come from the fact that the food I ordered was actually really tasty. Buuuuut...service was downright weird and dodgy. I had trouble understanding the accent of the man working there, but I figured I had it down close enough. I ordered eggplant parmesan. It sounded like the man said, "Do you want pasta or penne?" I asked him to repeat it and it sounded the same, which didn't make sense to me because penne *is* pasta...but whatever, I didn't want to keep asking him to repeat himself, so I just said I'd have pasta. I then decided I wanted a cannolo so I went to the self-service fridge, took a boxed one out, and told the man I'd have one. A couple minutes later, when my food was ready, he gave me my total...ten dollars and change...but then told me after he swiped my debit card that he hadn't included the cannolo. I figured, forget it, no big deal, and put the box back in the fridge. But then I wondered, how come the total for the eggplant is so much higher than the $7.50 the menu said it would be? I asked the man working there, and he told me the pasta was an extra $2. Now...this is my pet peeve. Sure, two dollars isn't a big deal for my wallet, but when restaurants do things like this, it's a sign that they're sneaky and out to get every last penny they can squeeze out of customers. If you offer something to a customer and don't tell them there's an extra charge, it should be free, end of. I was disappointed in them, but I figured, "Oh, it must have said this in the small print in the menu and I missed it, I guess it's my fault, no big deal." But then I looked at the menu and there was not a word about extra charges. If I had known it was going to be an extra charge, I wouldn't have taken it, especially because the pasta wasn't very good. I never wanted it in the first place. It is a pathetic grab for money, it's deceptive, it's just sneaky and sad. And it pretty much guarantees that people like me are never going to come back, because I don't like being cheated as if I'm too stupid to notice. If you're going to add-on extras to somebody's order, either make it clear that it costs extra, or make it free. It's that easy. I don't care about two dollars; I do care about dishonesty. The thing is...the eggplant parmesan was good. But I'm not going to keep giving money to a business that tries to sneakily squeeze every last penny out of customers without telling them about extra charges. Hope those two dollars were worth losing a customer, guys, because I'm not coming back.
(2)Jamie P.
It's a cute little spot in Brookline Village. It wasn't too far from the T, it wasn't too busy in the afternoon, so it seemed the perfect place to grab lunch while scouring the area for a potential apartment. I had the shrimp pasta, which was good. Overall, a nice place to enjoy a leisurely lunch.
(3)Conor S.
Pretty small place, but the food seems pretty great quality for a fair price. I grabbed a Daniel's Panini for lunch, and it was excellent! Fresh breads, flavorful ingredients. I'll have to go there for pasta at some point.
(4)D Z.
Used to be better when it was Fiorentina. Just nothing special.
(2)Nelson E.
Great people who work here. Prices are the best and the same with the quality. I usually cycle through a few different items, all have always been good. Order at the counter. Don't waste your time going to the north end, just go here.
(5)Pat M.
I'm a meatball fanatic, and I absolutely love their meatballs - among the best I've ever had. I've had at least 30 meatballs subs from there....even got 40 of them along with an antipasto platter a few Christmas's ago - totally made up for the coal in my stocking HAHAHAHAHAH! This place doesn't stop at meatballs though, they make a ton of sauces and all the ones I've tried (including the marinara for the meatballs) have been top notch - my fav is the amatriciana.....incredible. Their wide variety of sauces can be served with just about any pasta you can think of. One more thing I must rave about is the Capri, it's truly one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Prosciutto, sopressata, fresh mozzarella, red peppers (that bathe in garlic) along with olive oil - amazing. There's a similar place down the street that's very good too, bottega di florentine (can't be bothered to look up the spelling) which is more toward Coolidge corner. Their menus are so similar that it's almost like they use to be partners that had a falling out or something....maybe two brothers that hate each other. Di Capri gets the edge cuz they make meatballs, that's essentially the only difference. If there's more than 3 people in line you may be in for a bit of a wait, it's usually one guy in the front taking orders, making sandwiches and taking your money....it's worth the wait tho.
(4)CL S.
This is by no means fast food...as in, it'll take a little while to get your food if you show up during the lunch rush. But it's well worth the wait. The panini are fantastical.
(4)Amanda O.
I've been here dozens of times and it is one of our favorites. Every time we decide to go somewhere else for Italian/pasta we realize afterwards that we should have gone to the Bottega. Pasta is as good, better, than anything I've had in the North End. They make fresh pastas, tortellini (try the pumpkin!) and ravioli, and have dozens of sauces to choose from. I've never had a disappointing combination. We usually go a couple times a month for a weekend lunch. Eating in is casual yet comfortable, though when the weather is good we get take-out and go to the small park around the corner on Linden St.
(5)Lucy W.
Stopped in on a windy chilly day, so perfect for hearty Italian pasta. I ordered at the counter- gnocchi with pesto rosa sauce (which costs extra but came highly recommended). I sat down and only minutes pass before my order is called and a plate of hot pasta is ready for me. Gnocchi is pillowy and perfect, and the pesto rosa sauce is flavorful or 2 of my favorite pasta sauces...worth the extra $1. The portions were plenty big for me...though I scarfed it all down due to my extreme hunger, it definitely wouldn't be considered a small portion like some other Yelpers commented on. The place is small and cozy, with only a few tables and a long counter where you order and pick up the food.
(4)Erica F.
I love this place! I've eaten here many times. The food is always fresh and delicious! Great meatballs and pomodoro sauce! The chicken broccoli ziti is excellent too! Very easy to call in an order to go.
(5)gary m.
Just out for a walk before work and came across this wonderful little cafe The food is fresh, fresh, fresh, and the expresso is just great. Reasonably priced with a more than sufficient serving. The following weekend my wife and I who live outside the city, drove the 20+ miles so I could show off my great find. I've been to Capri, and can honestly say this reminds me very much of Italy.
(5)Keith F.
Good service, great italian food and affordable.
(4)Shankar D.
This is the best Italian food I have had. They are local and unique in many ways. It is a very small place and the ambience in such will not impress you but the food is very impressive. They have a range of sauces for pasta. Quite a few of them are unique to them. I had tried primavera and it was great. Forfirst timers, I would recommend a sauce - something pesto. Ask the guy at the counter and he would tell you the exact name.
(4)Megan R.
AMAZING food! Not only do they have a huge (and delicious) menu, but this is definitely one of the most affordable dining out options in Brookline (especially Brookline Village). I think that this is some of the best Italian food I have had in Boston aside from the North End- the vodka sauce is my favorite, which comes with a choice of several different pastas and fresh baked bread. I live right up the street so I typically take out, but they have a cute dining area as well and really gives the feel of a little Italian deli. The food is always still hot by the time I get it home. They also have some interesting sauce combinations like Pesto Rosa that are great. Bottega di Capri does take credit cards, but it is a $10 minimum and have gone before to pick up food to find out that their credit card machine is broken. I would definitely recommend just stopping to get some cash before you get there, just in case!
(5)Alan W.
I have eaten at this restaurant many times and love the pasta. It is a simple menu and has many different pasta choices, sauces, and offers chicken, shrimp, and meatballs with your pasta dish, if you so desire. You can create your own antipasti salad, and the prices are very reasonable ie., two pasta dishes with salad under $25, and while tipping is optional, I would recommend leaving something.
(4)Anchalee M.
We love their sandwiches. The Italiano is my favorite. Only complaint about this place is that they mess up my order or forget to make my order when I call it in about 85% of the time. The owner gets stressed out easily and can't keep things straight. Nevertheless, I keep coming back bc he's always sincerely apologetic and the food is so good.
(4)Laura K.
LK: "Erin, this is a deli. Check again." EK: "It's the right address! It's the same name! This must be it." RK: "Well, whatever; we're here -- we're eating." On a rainy Tuesday night in Brookline Village -- post-357th lifetime visit to the Children's Hospital Sports Medicine clinic for my sister -- Dad, Erin and I found ourselves hungry in a yet-unexplored part of town. ::Go-go-gadget, Yelp App!:: Bottega di Capri: Strong reviews? Check! Within a mile of where we're standing right now? Check! Street parking? Check! OK, Sounds good. We're in. I'm glad that Dad was hungry and Erin was undeterred by the deli-esque setup of Bottega di Capri, because in this alternate universe six tables and a drink cooler with food passed to you over a counter equals the best Italian I've had in Boston. AND IT'S CHEAP! Erin's bowties with Vodka sauce and Dad's Chicken Cacciatore were fresh and enjoyable, but the real gem of the meal was my linguini with alfredo pesto and chicken. The sauce was rich but light, the pasta was fresh and perfectly portioned and the chicken was so moist and delicious I almost cried at my inability to force it all into my belly. I can't stop thinking about it. [Noodle Mirage #46: chairblog.eu/wp-content/… In addition to amazing foodstuffs, this tiny restaurant also offers great customer service in the form of jovial Italian men. Not that it'd matter, because the food is THAT good. I live in the North End -- but I plan on travelling to Brookline from now on when I want Italian. This. Love. Is. Real.
(5)Andrew B.
The best Italian food in Boston. Hands down... You can't beat their Pesto Rosa sauce on a huge meatball... or in a cup... I don't care if I occasionally get a hard end of a homemade loaf of bread the food is homemade and delicious. This place is LEGIT, staff imported from F'ing Tuscany or something. I've never been let down... and you can feed a family of 4 for 40 BUCKS! Inexpensive to say the LEAST. It's pretty easy to taste the difference between store bought pasta and sauce and the homemade stuff. I Feel bad for our North End Yelp brothers and sisters who won't like an Italian restaurant unless it has a wine bar... But this place is as authentic as it gets. (btw.... Many of those North End Trattorias don't quite have Italians or Sicilians in the back cooking... 95% of all restaurants in major cities in America have people of Mexican or South American descent. The food can still be great and if the Owner or whoever runs the place knows what they're doing the food will be authentic too, but most of them are not run by those kind of people and you get expensive crappy food at a hip looking place to eat!) - No Thanks! I'll stick with Bogetta Di Capri. Homemade and authentic food at a GREAT price!
(5)madine c.
We happened upon this place on a whim and were very pleasantly surprised! We dined in, and while it would have been nice to have a glass of wine with the meal (they don't sell any alcohol here), the food and value outweighed that shortcoming. Between the three of us, we had linguini with carbonara sauce, fettucini alfredo, and meat ravioli with the simple tomato sauce. All were outstanding -- fresh, very tasty -- and all were priced extremely reasonably (ravioli was $8.95, the other two were $6.95). We've spent more at a sub shop on greasy (and bad) cheesesteaks. The friendly guy behind the counter made us a dinner salad to split, and it was lovely ... super thin onions, tomato slices, and about a dozen big green olives over a bed of greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Next time I'll probably order to go, because a meal this good deserves to be accompanied by wine.
(5)Joe F.
Food is unreal. Prices are decent. Anything I've gotten has been stellar. Definitely check it out for a good lunch.
(4)Dirgni S.
A-OK. If they didn't bill themselves as gourmet food, I'd probably give them 4 stars. But, really, this is comfort food, not gourmet food. I got stuffed peppers, my husband got the Tuscan panini. I thought the peppers were very good. Nicely seasoned. I thought my husband's panini was pretty bland though. Portions are large and prices are very reasonable. Service was friendly and good, for what it is. (You order at the counter and they bring over your meal when it's ready. That's it.) Overall, I'd recommend stopping here if you need a quick bite to eat. But, downshift your expectations from gourmet food to comfort food.
(3)Mishy K.
I cannot believe there are people who can possibly put Di Capri down.. GO BACK TO OLIVE GARDEN!! :) I find the best time to come is for lunch especially on a nice warm day, My personal favorite is Cheese Tortellini with rosantina sauce.. The rosantina sauce is amazing, but so is the Primavera. Everything is homemade, fresh, and delicious, the bread is soft on the inside, nice and crusty on the outside, perfect for dipping in the sauce! Nothing really beats sitting down with a plate of cheese tortellini and rosantina sauce with a nice cold Orange soda. The staff is very friendly, always helpful. Despite what people think they are not a part of Bottega Florentina.
(5)Marina B.
I'd never been to this place before, but I was starving, after having just waited close to an hour at another local restaurant who essentially forgot my order and could have cared less. So I thought I'd give Bottega di Capri a try. Not only was everything delicious, but I can honestly say I had he beat grilled cheese of my life here. The portions were a good size but not ridiculously huge. The prices are fair. The employees are pleasant and sweet. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. You walk in, order, sit down at one of the few tables present, eat your meal slowly, and pay before you leave. Definitely coming back here again, and I'm recommending it to all my friends and family in the area.
(5)Joe M.
I discovered this "hidden gem" just 2 months before changing jobs and leaving Brookline Village behind. But I went there 2 or 3 times a week until I left! Small and unassuming, Bottega di Capri's food more than makes up for the lack of ambiance. The staff is pleasant and eager to please. Excellent panini, with freshly sliced cold cuts, and overflowing with roasted peppers on my favorite, "the Tuscan". Almost as good was "the Caprese" which reminded me of my Nana's tomato and mozzarella salads. The soups were very good too, my favorite being the Pasta Fagioli. And the lamb stew was spectacular! The folks I worked with tended to go with the pasta and sauce combos. Any pasta with any sauce! I can only speak for the Cheese Ravioli with Bolognese and the Linguine Puttanesca, both of which were outstanding. While I don't miss the traffic, parking and congestion of Brookline Village, I do miss Bottega di Capri.
(5)Paul R.
Just okay. Most of the reviews seem to be relatively spot on but award 4 stars for what I'd give a 3. The sauces are delicious but the pasta isn't anything extraordinary and the portion sizes I find to be way too small. I always expect to be full on the side of gaining a few pounds after some italian, but I've left here still hungry both times I've been. Good for takeout or a quick eat-in but not a place I'd go out of my way to recommend to a friend.
(3)Meggie C.
I have lived in the neighborhood for the past two years and sometimes can't resist my Bottega cravings. It is a simple yet delicious place for a quick meal. For about $6 you can pick your noodle and sauce and they will give you a basket of crunchy Italian bread (necessary to soak up every last drop of the sauce). They also have daily specials and entrees, though I generally order some variety of pasta. The sandwiches are good as well - perfect to pick up if you're taking a day trip to the beach or something. The service is great. The guy who takes your order is friendly and chatty (and patient with me if I'm being indecisive). There's no table service just no-nonsense delicious Italian food. I'm 99% sure the last time I was there, my chatty friend told me they just hired a delivery man. One downside (like everything else in the village) is they close at 9 :(
(4)Nora B.
Amazing! I discounted this place after I got just a so-so Caprese panino from here for lunch one day. Big mistake! Yesterday my husband and I stopped in, again for lunch. He got a meatball sub with cheese, I got a plate of porcini tortellini with pomodoro sauce. After I ordered it, I worried it would be overly basic and bland. Not so! It was one of the best plates of pasta I've ever eaten in the states. The tortellini was clearly homemade by somebody, with a delicious mushroomy/cheesy filling. And the sauce was indeed basic, but with a delicious blend of tomato, garlic, and fresh fresh basil flavors. Homey but not dumpy atmosphere and nice fellows behind the counter as well.
(5)Lauren S.
We went here after reading a review in Zagat that marked it as one of the best places to get Italian food in the city. A familiar face in the North End, I was ecstatic to hear there was a cheap, authentic pasta place right up the street, meaning I wouldn't have to shlep all the way across the city when I wanted Italian. Unfortunately, Bottega di Capri hardly lived up to the hype I was expecting and, while the food was fine, it was certainly no rival for North End trattorias. When I think of a stellar take-out pasta place, portions are essential. Pasta costs a meager 99 cents a pound in the super market (much less wholesale) and takes 15 minutes to prepare. While $6 for a bowl of pasta and homemade sauce is cheap take-out for Brookline, I wouldn't exactly call it a bargain. They gave us probably 1/5 of a pound each, covered in generous amounts of sauce (which weren't anything special either). I was also surprised to see that they only serve some of the most popular sauces on certain days... what's the deal? Why do I have to wait for Friday for pesto? I like the idea of a rotating menu, but some of the sauces served every day were atypical and bizarre combinations. Sadly, I don't think Bottega di Capri will be replacing my trips to the North End anytime soon. For a few bucks and a subway fare more, you get huge portions, better atmosphere and happier service.
(3)Joe J.
This place is overall OK. I have been here a couple of times, tried a few different items, from salad, to penne, to lasagna. Sometimes it is really good, and sometimes it is too saucy and seems watered down. The service is pretty good, deal with the same kid everytime I am there, but the consistency of the food is what drives the ratings down. When it's good, it's really good ... when it's bad ....
(3)Kneekey T.
This is the best pasta in town at a reasonable price and I don't mean just outside of the north end. They have a good homemade lobster ravioli for $10, you can't beat that. You must must must try the pesto rosa sauce. It has everything you want in a sauce: cream, tomato, pesto, delicious! The staff is really nice too.
(5)Drew G.
Delicious sandwiches (we really liked the namesake panini) and tasty meatballs (you can buy them individually and share). I've taken two different groups here and they raved about it afterwards. I'm excited to explore the rest of the menu. Oh, and I had a friend with weird dietary concerns and, after walking through the ingredients of all of their dishes, created a pasta dish just for her to suit her eccentric needs. Excellent service.
(5)Adam B.
If you don't eat here you will get herpes. This place is awesome! I usually always get whatever is on special and am never disappointed. I don't know what one of the other reviewers were talking about with the service they seem very nice to me.
(5)Lee L.
Looking for some Italian takeout near home. This place was very disappointing. We tried the special of the day Lasagna Bolognese & the Meatball Sub. Both were lacking flavor and freshness. I am not sure how they stay in business.
(2)Anna I.
Bostonians know to go to the North End or our Little Italy to get great Italian food. But delicious Italian food can be had for reasonable prices outside of the North End too. Nestled in between Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village off Harvard Street is a great Italian Gourmet Deli called Bottega di Capri [41 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02445 (617) 738-5333]. This great hole in the wall serves both lunch and dinner that has a few tables. Customers walk up to the counter to order and pick up their meals. There are daily specials and all their pastas (spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, fettuccine, linguini, and bow tie to name a few) are freshly made. Their extensive menu includes Panini sandwiches, risotto, antipasto, salads along with tortellini (meat, cheese, porcini and pumpkin) and ravioli (Cheese, Meat, Tuscan, Spinach, and Lobster) are served with a broad selection of sauces to choose from. Pollo Alla Parmigiana-fried chicken with a tomato sauce and parmesan cheese served on linguini is a bargain at $8.50. A heaping portion came out with a big piece of breaded chicken smothered by tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese over al dente penne pasta. This dish satisfied and was delicious with the fresh tomato tasting sauce. Also we chose the porcini tortellini with parma-sausage, porcini mushrooms and white wine sauce, a great combo for mushroom lovers. This dish was not overly sauced but lovely in its simplicity. For sweet tooths, they should check out the butter sage sauce (not listed) with the pumpkin tortellini. Per the counter person's suggestion, it was the only way to eat pumpkin tortellini for only $7.95! Tomato sauce is too acidic for pumpkin and anything else would be a poor match. The sweetness of the pumpkin pairs well with the buttery sage sauce. Gnocchi (a very traditional Italian pasta) and carbonara (pancetta aka Italian bacon in a cream sauce) were not well matched as the sauce was too rich with this starchy pasta. Later learned traditionally gnocchi is paired with only tomato, pesto (garlic, basil, pine nuts, olive oil & parmesan) or butter sauces. Another pasta dish we had was the tagliatelle $6.50 had a puttanesca sauce (olives, anchovies, capers, hot peppers and tomato) had a lovely heat with nice slant to this dish. All their pasta dishes come with toscano bread. The Italian food here were reminiscent of my times traveling through Italy. I enjoyed that the pastas were cooked al dente without being over sauced. The quality and freshness of the ingredients is crucial to delicious food. So when the mood strikes and you are in Brookline Village area, check out this neighborhood gem outside of North End.
(4)Chu C.
I like these small, no-nonsense places. No fanfare or funky-shaped plates, just really solid Italian food. Prices are really reasonable, and they have daily specials and coupons available in the store for you to use. We catered from here yesterday for a 30-person dinner, and it was really good overall. Definitely a step up from the chain restaurants, with a lot of attention to detail. So disappointed they didn't have the lobster ravioli, but the meat ravioli was also really good; it just melts in the mouth. The chicken parmesan was thick and hearty, with tangy sauce, though slightly soggy from the car ride probably. The baked ziti and broccoli was very good, and the seafood linguine was fine, maybe a little bland. Service was great - not only did they give us a discount on our order, but they threw in a free salad, and they helped me load everything into my car. Thanks guys!
(4)Erica T.
I love this place... when I work in the area I come here a few times a week. They have a large menu of items which include salads, sandwiches, paninis, pasta dishes, and specials! I really want to try their pasta or lasagna but since I normally come here for lunch both of those are a bit too heavy. Although I think picking up a to-go order of their pastas or specials on the way home from work is something I should try! I almost always get their chicken salad sandwich. My coworkers and I all agree that is honestly the best chicken salad we have ever had. Once I went earlier in the day and they hadn't made the batch of chicken salad so they cut pieces of chicken off and made a batch just for me. Regardless it is always delicious. For their sandwich toppings everything is cut fresh to order regardless of it is cheese, lettuce, or tomato. Although everything on the menu looks delicious my coworkers and I always end up ordering our normal sandwiches every time we go. Once we each tried something we loved it so much that we can never talk ourselves into trying something else. It is small inside but we never have had a problem sitting down. As far as prices go you can't beat them they are more than reasonable. The staff is also very friendly and they really add to the experience!
(5)Karen G.
Tried them yesterday. Ordered the Wednesday special Chicken Picata, the Shrimp Scampi, the Prosciutto Di Parma Cold Sandwich, and the Assorted Meats Antipasto Plate. My family and I eat family style so we cut everything up and everyone helps themselves. Maybe I should have stuck with pastas. It was okay, but when I asked everyone if we should order again the answer was 'meh'. The boys (5 & 7) liked the scampi, my husband and I liked the picata even if it was a little over cooked, and our au pair liked the sandwich. No one really liked the antipasto and the boys ate off all of the tomato, mozzarella and basil. Also everyone was sad at the skimpy portions of the fresh basil, everyone wanted more, and no one liked the supermarket style Italian sub roll and foccacia. The sauces were good and the pasta cooked right, but over all we were underwhelmed. I would say it is decent homestyle Italian with no fuss, but their proportions are a bit off. If you want outstanding homestyle Italian, with amazing bread and specials that will knock your socks off go to Domenic's in Waltham. yelp.com/biz/domenics-it…
(2)robert o.
I had to go a few times before reviewing. An excellent little place. On my first visit I had the special of the day and a rigatoni with pesto tomato sauce. Very fresh and extremely tasty. My partner had a chicken pasta dish. Bread was great. The staff could not have been nicer. Went back tonight for another visit. I had the meatball and rigatoni and my partner had lasagna. Excellent!! We are looking forward to returning for a pasta fix
(5)Tim F.
There is no better a place for delicious noodlely delights in Brookline and in my opinion the North End (added bonus, no irritating tourists). The ingredients are fresh, the pasta is cooked to near perfection, and the portions are generous. I suggest wearing loose pants and pre-boozing as alcohol is sadly not permitted. On a side note, the two owners (brothers) are friendly and remember me only after visiting two times. It certainly makes this eatery feel very homely. I will certainly be making frequent visits. Edit: I like the word "certainly".
(5)Jessica C.
Cute, Casual and Cozy little restaurant for quick and fresh Italian food. If your current mood is scrumptious and savory, come to Bottega because the flavors here are right on! After all, isn't Italian food all about the sauce? Doesn't really matter what noodle you get, since they all taste the same. Bottega is unique because you can pick your own pasta and sauce combination. I love that! From linguine to penne to bowtie to spaghetti and more... Sauces seems to be delicious by the ones I tried...Arrabiata and Pesto Rosa. Arrabiata is one of my faves and I love the way they make it...tasty, spicy with chunks of tomato, and not too tarty. Pesto Rosa was also delicious. I am normally a RED sauce girl, but this seemed to be a combination of both and was done very well. In addition, you can choose to add chicken or shrimp to the pasta for a few additional dollars. Totally worth it. My pasta came out to less than $10! Perfect portion for perfect price and taste. Take 20 minutes, dine in the restaurant and enjoy the fresh bread offered to wipe your plate clean. (Don't be tempted like me to lick your plate clean) Daily specials are also offered and I will definitely be back to make more combinations for my eager Italian appetite!
(4)Erin A.
Ok, this place, I admit has pretty yummy Italian food HOWEVER, the service is horrible! I went there years ago-say about 8 and they were so rude! Like they were doing me a favor. Then I thought, well that was 8 years ago, let's give it another shot. Nope! Still rude after all these years! A word of advice to Bottega: Just be NICE to your customers!
(2)Jackie P.
I'm so glad that Bottega delivers now, I would only get food from there when i was in Brookline Village but now i can get it whenever i want, which will be often! Their pumpkin tortelli is delicious, it's the right combination of sweet and savory and you can pair it with a multitude of their great sauces but i like to pair it with a cream sauce. The meatballs are a meal in itself, they are huge. All of the sauce/pasta combinations are delicious and even though it is plain their rigatoni with pomodoro sauce (with the meatballs of course) is probably one of my most ordered items. Also, you cannot beat the friendliness from the guys behind the counter, they are always a pleasure.
(5)Taryn C.
We decided to drop in because we live in the area. Have to say we were pleased with the service, food was fresh and the price was okay. We had great pressed sandwiches where they sliced the bread and meat to order. We'll probably try the pasta dishes next time.
(4)Christina S.
What a hidden gem! The food is fantastic. Every time I go I get the Tuscan ravioli with gorgonzola sauce =INCREDIBLE!
(5)Ben Y.
Was introduced to this place through yelp, was looking for a good place to grab some takeout for a late night dinner. I called my order in, i had ordered the lobster ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs and the rosette (sp?), which was one of the specials for friday. The atmosphere was very friendly, the hours kind of suck though, they close at 9 which i feel is a bit on the early side, i would assune tgat most places that primarily are for takeout would be open till at lease 10, but that is beyond me. when i got the food home, i realized that i only got two of the three dishes that i ordered. the spaghetti and meat balls and the lobster raviloi. and thinking back, i was only charged for the two dishes that i got, so no harm done right ? the portions of the two dishes were decent. so it was enough for two people. the spaghetti and meatballs were good, the meatballs were huge. the lobster ravioli was delicious, but depending on whether you got lobster in it or not. the dish came with 4 ravioli's, my first one had barely any lobeter in it, but the second one i ate had a ton of lobster, so i guess it makes up for it ? overall the food was good and that is the most inportant.
(4)Alison H.
All right, listen up people, because I can't believe I'm going to tell you this. Bottega di Capri is INCREDIBLE. SUPERB. and PURE DELICIOUSNESS. And I wasn't ever going to broadcast that information to anyone. As soon as I ate my first bite of ravioli there, I resolved that I was going to keep the secret of how good this place is, because it's small, and I never wanted to have to wait in long lines or not be able to sit down and have a fantastic lunch there. Then I realized that not only was this place a secret, it was a little too secret. Nearly every time I go there, we are the only ones there, or we happen across one or two other customers. Even on Sunday at lunch, when church gets out we watch the crowds of people streaming by, no one stops in - folks, this is insanity. So now I have a new selfish motivator: keep Bottega di Capri in business so I can eat there forever. You can pick your own combination of pasta and sauce, and to let you in on another tip, the best of the best is the stuffed pasta, either the tortellini (cheese, pumpkin - yes, surprisingly good), or the ravioli - try the Tuscan ravioli or the mushroom. My top sauces: arrabiata, rosantina, caprese. And all this fabulous food can be yours for less than $10 a plate (the reviewer below who called this price just "okay" must be smoking something if they live in the same Brookline I live in) - compare to the highly rated Pomodoro just a few doors down and I cannot believe anyone pays so much for that food, which is not even as good as the Bottega. Brookline Spa, also much lauded and often crowded, is only about a block away, but Bottega di Capri has authentic Italian sandwich ingredients at the deli counter. I'm vegetarian but the prosciutto and other meats make me jealous! So now that I'm grouchy because I shared my ultimate favorite food place in Boston with you, I order you to EAT HERE. p.s. don't forget to ask what the specials are in the metal containers behind the counter. They keep their own hidden secrets in there like a luscious eggplant lasagna!
(5)Kaleel S.
So, what do you get when you cross six intimate tables, two very handsome,fun Italian guys (from Italy!) and a case full of choice meats, cheeses and deeply purple and black olives? Well, add a big plate glass window looking out at people walking by and having a good time, and you get the Bottega de Capri. Of course the place is intimate and the conversations subdued, but the feeling is one of genuine welcome and the menu is more varied than a place this size has any right to have. There are the usual paninis and pastas, but what was very impressive was the Pasta Alla Pesce (seafood pasta with shrimp, scallops and sun-dried tomatoes) and the range of daily specials. On Tuesday, for example, there's a wonderful Ariste di Maiale, or so my companion told me, because I don't eat meat... and the dish is a roasted pork loin stuffed with mortadella, herbs and a dry, spicy prosciutto. Which brings me to my only two reservations. I appreciate the authenticity of the Italian cuisine, but like Italian food, the meals are predominately meat and more meat. Should they modify their offering? Not sure. And then, I wish we could bring wine in. The feel of the place (no, no checkered tablecloths, thankfully) does cry out for a good bottle or cheap bottle of red wine to complete the experience, which can be a touch romantic, without ever trying to be so!
(3)Bill S.
When you're not in the mood to cook but don't want to spend a fortune on dinner, this is a fabulous place. I'm partial to the linguine with white clam sauce and the pumpkin tortellini. I've not yet been disappointed. The owners are incredibly nice and remember our orders each time we come in. For those who like traditional Italian restaurant bread, you won't be disappointed, but I like something a bit chewier.
(4)ms m.
Love this place! It's owned by 2 brothers, one of which was an employee when it was still Bottega Fiorentina and I think the student has surpassed the master in this case. Their pumpkin tortellini in a butter and sage sauce is hands down the best I've had and is better than Fiorentina's (which is no slouch either). Every pasta meal is served with delicious bread that you can scoop the sauce up with. Service is always excellent and I like that this is a great take-out place and is comfortable enough sit at and have a nice meal (though it is self serve).
(5)Joe M.
I found this place for lunch and it seemed like a nice spot with a good menu, so I came in for a bite to eat. I opted for the Tuscan panini with prosciutto, sopresata, red peppers, mozzarella, and oil. It wasn't bad by any means, but I've certainly had better - both in more upscale Italian restaurants and other delis and places like this. The sandwich was big, more than enough for my lunch, but my main complaint was that it was just too oily and greasy. I know basil oil was advertised as an ingredient, but this sandwich was dripping inside and out... just too heavy, and that's saying something coming from me. Again, I wasn't unhappy, it just didn't blow me away. I would go back if a friend wanted to go or something, but probably wouldn't recommend it as a first choice.
(3)Jessica R.
I usually eat here for my lunch break and I always order the tachinno panini. This panini is absolutely delicious with mozzarela, turkey, basil. and other seasonings. Although, one time I was craving spaghetti and meatballs and I was really disappointed by the meatballs because it just tasted blahh. Also, the desserts they keep in the fridge are realllly good, but a little pricey ($4-5) for the portion they give, Overall, this a great place to grab a quick bite to eat.
(4)Abbie T.
Delicious! Choose your pasta and choose your sauce, or try one of their daily specials. I'm partial to the gnocci or tortellini with either pesto rosa or caprese sauces. There's not much seating and the ambiance isn't noteworthy one way or the other, but I usually do takeout from there anyway so that's okay by me.
(4)Michelle A.
A cozy, neighborhood spot with the best panini ever! Great value for the money. We'll be back.
(4)Golo D.
Certainly overrated. If our meals were not prepared from penne to meatwad from components purchased down the street at Trader Joe's then microwaved specially for us, I will eat my Homburg, but I will not press teeth into this bachelor-pad gourmet cuisine again. And somehow the stale bread didn't help to push it over the top. Addio!
(2)Ken S.
Just lovely...
(5)Sham Y.
We came in this place on a random afternoon with no one else in the place. It's a small friendly place with a very large selection of pasta, sauces and other foods. The food was good and we left happy and full which is all I really want when I eat pasta.
(4)Vincent C.
Live right down the road.. go here often. My first time trying it out I got the lobster ravioli..you can tell it was fresh, however, the sauce was lacking and the ravioli was a little overcooked. I like al dente, and got far from it. However, the Tuscan sandwich makes up for that experience. That is the only sandwich I get from there. The tuscan as a panini on foccacia bread is the best sandwich there. The italian subs lack quality meat. But all in all, a great, local, mom and pop shop.
(4)David B.
I love this restaurant! From the daily specials to the signature Bottega Di Capri panini, you can't go wrong. I live in the neighborhood (Brookline Village) and have been going here for a little over 2 years and haven't had a good meal here yet; they were all GREAT!
(5)Lynda M.
Holy Moly what took me so long to find this place? My coworker and I decided to take a walk at lunch (I needed to buy stamps anyway) so we headed up to Brookline Village. We walked by this place, saw the menu in the window, and drooled. Upon entering we were greeted by two very nice men behind the counter, and they gave us the lay of land in regards to the menu. Daily specials, pastas, sauces, sandwiches, etc. So much to choose from! I went with the Caprese panini and my friend got the Caprese sandwich. Both were delicious, fresh basil, mozzarella and tomato, on fresh bread (mine was toasted and gooey--so good!). Nice cozy space with several tables. My huge panini was $5.75, such a deal! Very reasonable prices, I will definitely make a trip here on weekends for take-out, my husband will love the lasagna. They also have fresh desserts, and Italian groceries. I rarely treat myself to lunch away from my office, but thank God I forgot my lunch today!
(5)Mo O.
So i have been in the area for about 16 years now and before Bottega di Capri it was Bettega Florentina which still resides on 313B Harvard st. cozzy place in coolidge corner! nothing to do with Bottega di Capri 41 Harvard st near me :) LOL. it is now under new ownership 2 brother's that not only make delicious Italian home made dishes the place has a great feel of Italy. just like my grandmother use to make. love all the pasta dishes there! and the best meatball's i have ever had, a must check out.. and very reasonable prices.
(5)Nathan P.
Food here is great and the guys that work there are really helpful.
(4)Stephen T.
If you want a cheap Italian lunch or take-out in Brookline Village, this is your place. Sandwiches and pasta are both tasty. Ingredients tend to be very fresh. They do have seating but barely have table service, so expect much in that regard. Excellent value for the money though.
(5)Nicole J.
Definitely had better. I'm always disappointed with the food here, the main reason being the sauce. Their tomato creme sauce is super thick and chunky, when it should be a little lighter and smoother, and it leaves a weird taste in my mouth. However, living just down the street from this place, is an OK place to get some pasta when you don't feel like going all the way to the North End.
(3)Matt B.
I love this place... it's near my office so I often stop by for a quick bite for lunch or dinner. The food is fantastic, the prices are reasonable, and there's absolutely no BS or fanfare to it. Guaranteed you will walk away happy and full. In addition to all the pasta dishes, they make enormous sandwiches on focaccia, not to mention really good cappuccinos.
(5)Aimee B.
cute little italian cafe in the neighborhood. i had a really good cannoli and cappuccino. my friends shared chicken parm with pasta and seemed like happy campers.
(5)Gail J.
I wish I lived closer to this gem. Well, then again better that I don't. I'd be here every day. Four of us ordered something different and each dish was fabulous. We never expected such a small cafe to reach such perfection. The meatballs in the sub were large, homemade, perfectly seasoned and topped with a fresh, light tomato sauce and placed in a fresh baked roll. Similarly, the pasta caprese was fresh and light and oozing with fresh mozzarella. The pasta Alfredo with chicken and broccoli was full of flavor. The broccoli was freshly prepared -bright and tender but not overcooked. The sauce was not too heavy. Finally, my own entree was tortellini with creamy pesto. I was given a choice of three types of tortellini. I chose the cheese filled tortellini and it stood up perfectly to the delicate pesto. The staff was eager to please. Even though everything was prepared to order, the wait was very minimal. We were served a basket of bread while we waited and everything arrived piping hot. Will definitely head back soon. Oh and I can't forget to mention how reasonably priced it was. We had four entrees and three soft drinks for around $35. Hard to beat Bottega di Capri.
(5)Susan P.
The vegetable lasagna is delicious. I also love the pesto. I would go here every week if I lived nearby, I love it so.
(5)J B.
Yummy and affordable! I've only tried the pastas and risotto so far. A great neighborhood place, with big portions. I recommend the focaccia over their other bread, which can be a little dry.
(5)Lynda M.
Holy Moly what took me so long to find this place? My coworker and I decided to take a walk at lunch (I needed to buy stamps anyway) so we headed up to Brookline Village. We walked by this place, saw the menu in the window, and drooled. Upon entering we were greeted by two very nice men behind the counter, and they gave us the lay of land in regards to the menu. Daily specials, pastas, sauces, sandwiches, etc. So much to choose from! I went with the Caprese panini and my friend got the Caprese sandwich. Both were delicious, fresh basil, mozzarella and tomato, on fresh bread (mine was toasted and gooey--so good!). Nice cozy space with several tables. My huge panini was $5.75, such a deal! Very reasonable prices, I will definitely make a trip here on weekends for take-out, my husband will love the lasagna. They also have fresh desserts, and Italian groceries. I rarely treat myself to lunch away from my office, but thank God I forgot my lunch today!
(5)Mo O.
So i have been in the area for about 16 years now and before Bottega di Capri it was Bettega Florentina which still resides on 313B Harvard st. cozzy place in coolidge corner! nothing to do with Bottega di Capri 41 Harvard st near me :) LOL. it is now under new ownership 2 brother's that not only make delicious Italian home made dishes the place has a great feel of Italy. just like my grandmother use to make. love all the pasta dishes there! and the best meatball's i have ever had, a must check out.. and very reasonable prices.
(5)Nathan P.
Food here is great and the guys that work there are really helpful.
(4)Stephen T.
If you want a cheap Italian lunch or take-out in Brookline Village, this is your place. Sandwiches and pasta are both tasty. Ingredients tend to be very fresh. They do have seating but barely have table service, so expect much in that regard. Excellent value for the money though.
(5)Nicole J.
Definitely had better. I'm always disappointed with the food here, the main reason being the sauce. Their tomato creme sauce is super thick and chunky, when it should be a little lighter and smoother, and it leaves a weird taste in my mouth. However, living just down the street from this place, is an OK place to get some pasta when you don't feel like going all the way to the North End.
(3)Matt B.
I love this place... it's near my office so I often stop by for a quick bite for lunch or dinner. The food is fantastic, the prices are reasonable, and there's absolutely no BS or fanfare to it. Guaranteed you will walk away happy and full. In addition to all the pasta dishes, they make enormous sandwiches on focaccia, not to mention really good cappuccinos.
(5)Aimee B.
cute little italian cafe in the neighborhood. i had a really good cannoli and cappuccino. my friends shared chicken parm with pasta and seemed like happy campers.
(5)Gail J.
I wish I lived closer to this gem. Well, then again better that I don't. I'd be here every day. Four of us ordered something different and each dish was fabulous. We never expected such a small cafe to reach such perfection. The meatballs in the sub were large, homemade, perfectly seasoned and topped with a fresh, light tomato sauce and placed in a fresh baked roll. Similarly, the pasta caprese was fresh and light and oozing with fresh mozzarella. The pasta Alfredo with chicken and broccoli was full of flavor. The broccoli was freshly prepared -bright and tender but not overcooked. The sauce was not too heavy. Finally, my own entree was tortellini with creamy pesto. I was given a choice of three types of tortellini. I chose the cheese filled tortellini and it stood up perfectly to the delicate pesto. The staff was eager to please. Even though everything was prepared to order, the wait was very minimal. We were served a basket of bread while we waited and everything arrived piping hot. Will definitely head back soon. Oh and I can't forget to mention how reasonably priced it was. We had four entrees and three soft drinks for around $35. Hard to beat Bottega di Capri.
(5)Susan P.
The vegetable lasagna is delicious. I also love the pesto. I would go here every week if I lived nearby, I love it so.
(5)J B.
Yummy and affordable! I've only tried the pastas and risotto so far. A great neighborhood place, with big portions. I recommend the focaccia over their other bread, which can be a little dry.
(5)Tom R.
I love this place, small family owned, family friendly, ownership is really friendly, the pasta is awesome and they have tons of variety even on a weeknight.
(5)Vicky H.
I remember this when it used to be "Bottega Fiorentina" and the sandwiches were awesome as they were shaved right on front of you in toasted breads and whatever else you want in them. I used to always order the meatball and spaghetti or Chicken Parm. The folks were here were nice people. Water were in pitcher and you can just help yourself as there are no waitstaff. It's a nice little gem. The price was on the higher end for a little place like this but so worth it to support a local spot. Bottega di Capri is pretty good and fairly priced as well. The only thing is, sometimes when you call the order in, it's made wrong. Otherwise, would deserve at least 4 stars.
(3)Evan J.
Bottega di Capri tears down the notion that Italian food needs to be expensive to be good. It also tears down the notion that the best Italian food in Boston needs to be in the North End with a line wrapping around the block. A small restaurant with a primarily counter service system, this restaurant seems to have steadfast regulars (me included) that either order carry-out or drop by for a quick quiet bite. Because of this, it is rarely difficult to find a seat, even though the seating is limited. If you want affordable and great Italian food without the lines, this is your place.
(5)Kevin L.
Came here for lunch with some friends after spending a whole day moving and their dishes definitely fill you up if you're really hungry. They used to be affiliated with Bottega Fiorentina in Coolidge Corner, but the two brothers that used to work there decided to buy/start their own restaurant in the Village. They have a completely different menu than Fiorentina and they give you a lot more food too (they have daily specials too so keep an eye out on what day you go!). The staff here is very friendly and welcoming; definitely has a family/homey vibe inside! I ordered the: -Penne de Georgio's: it has breaded chicken, mushrooms, onions, peppers, peas and asparagus in a vodka cream sauce (they also give you a fresh loaf of bread and it goes great with the sauce). The penne pasta was cooked al dente and all the ingredients in the dish blend together very nicely with the pasta and cream sauce. There was a bit of imbalance between the amount of pasta and everything else (too...many...carbs), but since I was super hungry, it definitely hit the spot. However, it would probably last me two meals normally. Overall, great food and nice atmosphere for a very reasonable price! This little restaurant in the Village probably has some of the best Italian food in the area (I prefer this place over the one in Coolidge Corner based on quality, quantity, and cost). I will definitely be back for more! :)
(4)Jeffrey N.
Pollo alla parmigiana, more commonly known as chicken parmesan, is a Tuesday special which I had ordered. I'm not usually a big fan of pasta but this was pretty quality pasta. The pasta was just right in terms of firmness and was complemented well by a rich, fresh tomato sauce. I think the chicken was also done quite well. They had the chicken already prepared so I thought it would be soggy but it was actually quite crispy. It's easy to mess up chicken parmesan by having soggy breading but it was covered nicely with breading. The only thing I would say could improve for the chicken is that towards the center, it wasn't quite as flavorful and could use a bit of salt, but the tenderness of the chicken balanced it out nicely. The staff is also very personable and welcoming, providing bread and speedy service.
(4)Fey S.
I found this little hole in the wall on yelp and took a chance, best decision I've had! We're from out of state and seeing the expensive prices at the other Italian places right in Boston was alarming, this place is actually affordable and authentic as can be! No bells and whistles of a waiter, it's a deli style shop, but the waiter was nice enough to come to our table and chit chat with us. He even poured us our drinks. I got the sea food special, it was an amazing portion with tons of seafood, at least 5 muscles, 5 shrimp, and tons of calamari. We also got the lobster ravioli, not only did we get fat ravioli pieces, but we got like 8 or 9 large pieces in a delicious sauce. The place also has fresh cut meat and delicious olives. Way better than any place we went to in Little Italy, NYC, must try!!!
(5)Norma T.
When going to Bottega di Capri, we knew what we were in for. The location itself is quite small, and easy to miss if quickly walking by harvard street. Once inside, it was empty due to a weird afternoon time and a rainy day. Almost immediately, a very charismatic man came over and handed menus. He had a very thick accent, and was speaking Italian to someone in the back of the kitchen as we decided on what to order. The menu consisted of some specialties, but mostly was impressed by their long list of sauces to choose from with different pasta choices as well. Once we decided, he came over and quite enthusiastically gave us a quick rundown of some of their specials. All of which sounded delicious, so much so that my friend decided to get one of the specials: seafood risotto. The food itself came out pretty quickly, and the portions were bigger than anticipated for the very affordable prices. (much cheaper than most places at the north end) Overall the gnocchi with bolognese was good, and had no complaints but have had better. However, the seafood risotto was plentiful in varied seafood from big clams, scallops, calamari and shrimp. It was silky and had the right amount of cream, texture and kick. Would certainly return and listen out for the specials of the day next time since its bound to be more fresh and unique, the bill came out at about $25 for both plates and bread was provided free of charge. Overall, great italian authentic place in Harvard street. Price, easiness and taste can't be beat.
(4)Jodi N.
My boyfriend and I have eaten at Bottega di Capri pretty much every week since we began our 8 week stay in Brookline. The staff are so genuinely nice and hospitable, it makes you feel right at home! I don't think we've tried anything that we haven't liked, but we do have some favorites! - Bruschetta - Lobster Ravioli with Pesto Alfredo - Beef Ravioli with Pesto Rosa - Meatballs with Spaghetti - Chicken Parmigiana - Risotto with Seafood It's such a wonderful little hole in the wall restaurant, I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a filling and delicious dinner while roaming Harvard Avenue in Brookline.
(5)Tim F.
There is no better a place for delicious noodlely delights in Brookline and in my opinion the North End (added bonus, no irritating tourists). The ingredients are fresh, the pasta is cooked to near perfection, and the portions are generous. I suggest wearing loose pants and pre-boozing as alcohol is sadly not permitted. On a side note, the two owners (brothers) are friendly and remember me only after visiting two times. It certainly makes this eatery feel very homely. I will certainly be making frequent visits. Edit: I like the word "certainly".
(5)Kneekey T.
This is the best pasta in town at a reasonable price and I don't mean just outside of the north end. They have a good homemade lobster ravioli for $10, you can't beat that. You must must must try the pesto rosa sauce. It has everything you want in a sauce: cream, tomato, pesto, delicious! The staff is really nice too.
(5)Amanda G.
Bottega di Capri is a tiny, cozy deli/restaurant in Brookline. It's a total gem- the food was excellent, prices are beyond reasonable, and the service was genuinely warm. The menu at first seems to be pretty big, but it includes sandwiches, salads, pastas, specials for every day of the week, and a "create your own pasta" section with descriptions of all the different sauces. Pasta dishes are priced at roughly $10-14 & sandwiches were $5-7. Even dishes like lobster ravioli, which can easily go for $30 a plate at bigger, fancier places, are under $15 here. My family & I had three entrees, drinks, & a dessert for a total of $53 and the quality of everything was top. Focaccia bread & good quality olive oil were brought to the table before our entrees came up. I noticed another review complained that the bread was cold, but from the texture you could tell it had been baked earlier that day, and I'd rather have room temperature recently baked bread than frozen & reheated (which is what a lot of restaurants actually do.) We didn't have to wait long for our entrees. I had one of the specials, seafood risotto- the risotto was full of flavor and cooked perfectly & there were generous amounts of shrimp, scallops, squid, & mussels. Definitely one of the best dishes I've ever had. We finished the meal with a light, delicious passionfruit gelato, the portion of which was enough for three to share. Everything was fresh & nothing about the place is pretentious; it's all love out here. I never write reviews this long & detailed, but Bottega di Capri deserves it. For me this was a perfect experience. I'll be back every time I'm in Boston for sure!
(5)Ashley A.
One of my favorite places in Brookline Village! I'm not sure the service gets any better..the staff is ALWAYS warm and courteous and you can tell they really love what they do and appreciate each and every person who walks in the door. The fact that the food is fabulous is really just a perk. I have stopped by on numerous occasions and have been blown away by how phenomenal the food and service is each and every time. I try not to stop in too often though because I'm pretty sure it's the type of place you can easily gain several pounds without really trying..but really..go here..you won't be disappointed.
(5)Ashley D.
This small restaurant/Italian deli is easy to miss but is a true neighborhood gem. I came in to carbo load before a race with some friends and indeed left loaded and satisfied. I was instantly attracted to huge homemade meatballs and then had my choice of which type of pasta I wanted to complete the dish. They have a number of different options and combinations of sauce, pasta, and other additions or if you're feeling creative you can make your own combination by picking your sauce and type of pasta from a long list of options. I was also lucky enough to be able to have my friend's leftovers the next day and can be a testament for how creamy and savory the farfalle davinci is. The garlic cream sauce with peas and chicken was simply outstanding (even the day after). They also have a number daily specials you can choose from each day that look amazing. Next time I'm in the neighborhood I'll be sure to stop by to check those out.
(4)Yuka Y.
Rating lies at 3.5. Bottega di Capri is a small, little known gem in Brookline specializing in pastas, though there are sandwiches and paninis offered. It's only a store away from Martin's diner. From a quick look at the exterior (having passed this street for 4 years), I've mistaken this place as a cafe. But it is a restaurant with service, though it can be confusing. You pay at the counter- it is your choice as to whether to pay before sitting down or after you finish your meal. Your orders will be brought out to you and cleared for you. The owner seems charismatic to customers. My honey and I were looking at their menu taped to the wall as we stood outside. The owner approached the window wanting to re-tape the menu more firmly. Upon seeing us, he made a non-verbal, classic Italian gesture that their food is great and opened the door telling us to come in since there's aircon. Great effort was made by him showing their daily specials and giving recs. My only concern with him is he's quite disrespectful to his waitress. She's a young Indian girl and the tone that he gives orders in gives me the impression he is definitely someone I would not want to work with. Granted, she does seem inexperienced and new to the inner workings of the restaurant, but her service was courteous. These nuances are something I managed to catch and found unpleasant/uncomfortable the entire dinner- the place is small, you can hear almost everything. Good bosses shouldn't have to instill fear or be condescending. Let's get to the food! -Bread was cold. It's unnecessary every table has to be asked whether they want olive oil or butter with their bread. Just provide olive oil by default, I'm sure most don't like plain bread anyways & you're an Italian restaurant. ++The 'Linguini, Scallop, Clams and Shrimp' was worth it. ~5 pieces of big shrimp with shrunken scallops scattered around the linguini. Their pastas are perfectly cooked in duration. Sauce was not salty with a light taste of tomato. +Homemade meatballs in spaghetti and tomato sauce was good. They charge per meatball. Overall, I will have to agree with other yelpers it is annoying Bottega di Capri's business concept relies a lot of 'adding extra for x $' if you want x.' I'd rather pay a little more and get a heartier dish by default than having to make more decisions. I suppose much of that concept is due to a bulk of their menu being catered to creating your own pasta blend from scratch. 2 entrees + 2 drinks will set you around $32 including tips, most likely a cheaper endeavor for Italian vs. Northend. Good homemade quality and excellent taste, though I don't appreciate the way staff are being treated and the change in face of the owner.
(3)Susan G.
Great food, I like to take the yummies from here and do a picnic at nearby Jamaica Pond.
(4)Irene W.
It is amazing! Very nice Italian Deli. I loved the food and the nice staff. I would highly recommend to my friends. We had 9 people there for a friend's birthday! It worked out. The place is not huge. But it worked well for our party. The owner even gave us a bag of tiramisu cookie to celebrate the friend's birthday. That was very nice. The food is yummy and is very affordable as well. Loved it! Will be back soon!
(5)Drduru A.
All sorts of authentic Italian dishes. I wanted to try so many, but I made a beeline for the risotto. Particularly good for those who like a light and subtle flavor. I actually prefer a little more creamy and seasoned, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
(4)Chris S.
Friends in Brookline took me to this small Italian place, and it is delicious. I still don't understand whether I'm supposed to order at the counter or sitting down, but the food is so good. I went twice, once getting a more traditional prosciutto/cream pasta dish, the other time gnocchi. The staff was pleasant and accommodated my late evening coffee needs. I wish I lived next door.
(5)Shauna H.
I ordered the assorted meats antipasto, which was INCREDIBLE! For that I'd give 5 stars, tons of delicious fresh meats and mozzarella and fragrant basil. I'm glad I made the snap decision to get this because it's taking the edge off the disappointment from my pasta. I ordered the shrimp, scallops, and clams linguine. As a procedural note, I should mention they gave me spaghetti instead of linguine, but whatever, it's cooked correctly so I'm not upset about it. It's the sauce that really fails here. There's NO wine flavor. In fact, there's no flavor at all except black pepper. Mountains of black pepper. Disgusting. I have a high spice/heat tolerance, and it's actually not really that spicy, (it's just back pepper after all), but it is ONLY that flavor. An onslaught of one-dimensional nastiness. Awful. BUT... I will give them another chance. I noticed someone else posted a photo on yelp of the same dish I ordered, and that dish has little to no black pepper in it. So that's a ding for consistency but at least maybe there's a chance for redemption.
(2)Carlos B.
You can skip your trip to the North End for an italian dinner. La Bottega is by far the best italian restaurant I've tried in Boston. Small and unpretentious, the restaurant manages to wow with great flavors and a italian-grandma-cuisine feel.
(5)Kelly H.
I just happened to be picking up an instrument a couple stores down and needed something to eat on the run. I stopped in, and ordered the veggie panini. They had multiple vegetarian options to choose from, but I needed something I could eat in the car. The gentleman who helped me was really friendly. The panini was delicious! The atmosphere is cozy. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone in the area.
(5)Ibeth T.
Excellent service and exquisite food ! My family love the food I will come back anytime !
(5)Kanika M.
Brookline Village is the absolute cutest and Bottega di Capri follows that standard perfectly! This little restaurant can be easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for, but definitely a place worth stopping in. The kindest Italian man comes and takes your order if you decide to sit down and prepares everything himself behind the counter, with the help of just one other woman in the kitchen. He's such a sweetheart and takes the time to make sure you really enjoyed your meal. The prices are unreal for the portion, also! I went with 3 friends and all of us got paninis/sandwiches for about $8. Expecting to be a good sized meal but nothing too huge, we were more than pleasantly surprised when our food came out MUCH bigger than expected. The food tastes great, the atmosphere is calm and friendly, and you don't put a hole in your wallet while enjoying it all. Definitely a great place to pop in if you're craving some good Italian. The only downside is that there isn't a ton of seating, but what can you expect from a cute little Bottega? It's almost more fitting for it to be a bit small! Ps. They have lobster ravioli....which none of us tried but are all determined to go back for one day... Let a girl know how it is if you beat me to it!
(4)Matt R.
Authentic homemade meatballs that keeps me coming back time and time again. I have tried many items on the menu but I always see myself coming back to there meatballs. The owner is super nice and welcomes you like your family.
(5)Beth H.
The menu here makes it hard to choose what you want -- everything sounds great. It is a little hole-in-the-wall, so I missed this place altogether for quite a while even though I work in the area. Note that it is cash only. I had the chicken parmesan both times I went, but made an important change to my order the second time. The chicken parm comes on Italian bread regularly, and, think about it, as messy and saucy as chicken parms are (and ought to be!!), the bread was totally soaked through and mushy/gross by the time I arrived back at work to consume it. I wound up having to forego the bread, and eat the innards with fork and knife. The second time, I requested a sub bun, and everything went swimmingly! No more mushy bread, just glorious glorious food for my belly. Portions are very large! If I hadn't had a blegh experience the first time, this review would be a 4. I recommend coming by Bottega di Capri -- but when you do, ask what bread your sandwich comes on and make changes if necessary.
(3)Anthony G.
The food was amongst the worst I've ever had in my life. Just awful. OMG. not that it tasted horrendous, just that it was without taste.
(1)Caitlin M.
Went to Bottega di Capri at 8 on Friday night. We just didn't feel like cooking but also didn't want to spend a lot of money. The food was really good and very affordable. I will go back to try the other sauces.
(4)Bill G.
I can't say enough great things about this restaurant. We came across Bottega di Capri on a walk one day, stopping in when we noticed they sell sandwiches. The sandwiches are amazing. Better than most deli's in Boston. Try the italian or the meatball. And reasonably priced! We loved lunch so much that we came back to try dinner. Go with their daily special! Lasagna & spaghetti with meatballs are made with italian family love. its like my grandmother was making dinner. And for only $10/dish! Its our go-to when we're craving italian. skip the trip to the north end and go to Bottega di Capri!
(5)Nicole B.
This small restaurant in Brookline Village has a market-type feel and an expansive menu where you can create your own pasta dish by choosing a pasta, meat and sauce. All come with freshly sliced bread (no butter or oil to accompany, sadly). I had the pesto sauce on spaghetti with chicken. It was alright, but definitely needed some seasoning (salt & pepper) and the chicken was not worth the extra charge. $10 minimum on credit card charges and the owner (?) is a pushy Italian man that is happy to take your payment before or after you eat (no rules here). Authentic feel, standard food.
(3)Shannon M.
I don't think I've ever seen so many sauce options! The choices can be overwhelming so I asked for a recommendation on my lobster ravioli. The arrabiata was bit too strong for the lobster but very hearty and tomato-y with a spicy kick! The pasta and sauce was fresh, and the bread they serve on the side was nice and crisp. This place is a great stop for a quick bite of classic italian pasta and sandwiches.
(4)An L.
Best Italian eatery in Brookline we've had. Carbonara and Pesto Rosa were delicious. Lots of sauce choices. Fast service. They also have gelato. We'll be coming back for more.
(5)German G.
Great Italian food at reasonable prices. They have a few specials each day and a list of premade dishes, or you can make your own pasta/sauce combination; all the dishes I've tried are quite good or at least solid, and also pretty authentic (reminiscent of eating with your Italian grandma). This place makes North End all but obsolete, unless you're looking for something fancy. That being said, this place is all about the food, so don't expect great atmosphere or service. You place your order at the counter and they bring it out when it's ready. While the food is Italian, most of the servers are actually Colombian. Some are friendly, others not so much (there is one guy in particular that has terrible manners and his English can be hard to understand, but that's just how he is). In my experience they are chattier and nicer if you engage them in Spanish, assuming you speak the language well.
(4)Tanya Y.
Pasta alla Pesce (Bowtie pasta with shrimp, scallops and sun-dried tomato topped with a white wine scampi sauce) all for $11.41, tax included?! Yes please! Bottega di Capri is another hole in the wall type of place that you would never bother venturing into unless you've heard how great it was through word of mouth. Their menu is loaded with yummy Italian goodies ranging from hot and cold subs to customizable pasta dishes with handcrafted sauces and daily specials. Everything is ordered over the counter; meaning no waiter service: you go up there, order yourself, take the food yourself, and go up to pay yourself. There was one guy behind the counter manning everything. He did this as well as he could with the dinner rush. He even remembered our orders as we went up to pay the bill. The portions were just enough, seafood cooked right, and very flavorful. All pastas come with bread that you can dip in to olive oil that you customize yourself at the table. Deli meats and antipasti are available as well to snack on. There's a $10.00 minimum purchase required to use a credit or debit card, parking can be found on the street, and the food came out hot and fast. If I'm ever in the area and want some good quick and delicious Italian, I know that I'll definitely be coming here again,
(4)Gustavo M.
This small 'italian' place is by far one of the best 'home made' style restaurants in the city. Every time we came here we got the most tasty food, my favorite: the gnocchi pesto rosa...you will come back for more. And super affordable
(5)Harry H.
Occasionally conditions align and the multitude of bookmarks I've collected over the years become unfeasible and the decision falls in the hands of others. In this case, the brothership located this spot on Yelp and we headed over not long before closing. We sidled up to the counter and the charming overzealous staffer took our orders for some satisfying Italian-American fare dished out by the brusque but entertaining a few steps behind him.
(4)Van N.
I went here on a Sunday afternoon with a couple of peeps. There was plenty of seating. The menu has a nice selection of pastas and sauces however, they didn't have a few pastas and dishes my group ordered. Maybe the selection is better if I went during a weekday and it is busier. Service was nice but they forgot my dish and given how slow it was, raised a few eyebrows. It was no big deal since my order came a few minutes later with an apology. The actual food was okay. I got the pumpkin tortellini with meat sauce. I admit it might have not been the best combination of sauce and pasta, but I left unimpressed with the so-so quality and small portion size. Overall, I couldn't shake the feeling that I could just go down the street to Trader Joe's and make the meal at home.
(2)Chris B.
Yum yum yum!! Came here for a blizzard-y Valentine's Day and loved it. The lasagna was particularly amazing. We are definitely coming back to this neighborhood cafe.
(5)Julia K.
The two stars come from the fact that the food I ordered was actually really tasty. Buuuuut...service was downright weird and dodgy. I had trouble understanding the accent of the man working there, but I figured I had it down close enough. I ordered eggplant parmesan. It sounded like the man said, "Do you want pasta or penne?" I asked him to repeat it and it sounded the same, which didn't make sense to me because penne *is* pasta...but whatever, I didn't want to keep asking him to repeat himself, so I just said I'd have pasta. I then decided I wanted a cannolo so I went to the self-service fridge, took a boxed one out, and told the man I'd have one. A couple minutes later, when my food was ready, he gave me my total...ten dollars and change...but then told me after he swiped my debit card that he hadn't included the cannolo. I figured, forget it, no big deal, and put the box back in the fridge. But then I wondered, how come the total for the eggplant is so much higher than the $7.50 the menu said it would be? I asked the man working there, and he told me the pasta was an extra $2. Now...this is my pet peeve. Sure, two dollars isn't a big deal for my wallet, but when restaurants do things like this, it's a sign that they're sneaky and out to get every last penny they can squeeze out of customers. If you offer something to a customer and don't tell them there's an extra charge, it should be free, end of. I was disappointed in them, but I figured, "Oh, it must have said this in the small print in the menu and I missed it, I guess it's my fault, no big deal." But then I looked at the menu and there was not a word about extra charges. If I had known it was going to be an extra charge, I wouldn't have taken it, especially because the pasta wasn't very good. I never wanted it in the first place. It is a pathetic grab for money, it's deceptive, it's just sneaky and sad. And it pretty much guarantees that people like me are never going to come back, because I don't like being cheated as if I'm too stupid to notice. If you're going to add-on extras to somebody's order, either make it clear that it costs extra, or make it free. It's that easy. I don't care about two dollars; I do care about dishonesty. The thing is...the eggplant parmesan was good. But I'm not going to keep giving money to a business that tries to sneakily squeeze every last penny out of customers without telling them about extra charges. Hope those two dollars were worth losing a customer, guys, because I'm not coming back.
(2)Ben O.
Awesome neighborhood place. Nowhere else have I ever seen anything like it: a quiet neighborhood cafe that serves a wide array of gourmet Italian fare at an incredibly reasonable price. This is especially applicable with regards to the pasta menu, which features something like 20 sauces, all of which are fantastic. Cozy and accessible place, friendly staff, and superb food at a very fair price. Love this place
(5)Alex L.
This place is adorable. We were having an office party and decided to get catering from Bottega. Not only were the gentlemen behind the counter unbelievably accommodating (explaining how everything was packaged, providing anything else we could possibly need, running to open the door for us, being generally lovely humans), but the food was AMAZING. We got an antipasto platter and bruchetta, both of which were wonderfully authentic Italian and delicious. I love this place and can't wait to go back to try some of their pasta!
(5)Natalie T.
When you walk past it you don't expect much, but there is an amazing menu. I love the different combinations of pastas and sauces. I recommend the pesto rosa sauce and the Capri sandwich. The food is very simple but delicious! Run by two guys who don't say much but they can make good food. I come back whenever I'm in Brookline
(5)Jamie P.
It's a cute little spot in Brookline Village. It wasn't too far from the T, it wasn't too busy in the afternoon, so it seemed the perfect place to grab lunch while scouring the area for a potential apartment. I had the shrimp pasta, which was good. Overall, a nice place to enjoy a leisurely lunch.
(3)Conor S.
Pretty small place, but the food seems pretty great quality for a fair price. I grabbed a Daniel's Panini for lunch, and it was excellent! Fresh breads, flavorful ingredients. I'll have to go there for pasta at some point.
(4)D Z.
Used to be better when it was Fiorentina. Just nothing special.
(2)Nelson E.
Great people who work here. Prices are the best and the same with the quality. I usually cycle through a few different items, all have always been good. Order at the counter. Don't waste your time going to the north end, just go here.
(5)gary m.
Just out for a walk before work and came across this wonderful little cafe The food is fresh, fresh, fresh, and the expresso is just great. Reasonably priced with a more than sufficient serving. The following weekend my wife and I who live outside the city, drove the 20+ miles so I could show off my great find. I've been to Capri, and can honestly say this reminds me very much of Italy.
(5)Keith F.
Good service, great italian food and affordable.
(4)Pat M.
I'm a meatball fanatic, and I absolutely love their meatballs - among the best I've ever had. I've had at least 30 meatballs subs from there....even got 40 of them along with an antipasto platter a few Christmas's ago - totally made up for the coal in my stocking HAHAHAHAHAH! This place doesn't stop at meatballs though, they make a ton of sauces and all the ones I've tried (including the marinara for the meatballs) have been top notch - my fav is the amatriciana.....incredible. Their wide variety of sauces can be served with just about any pasta you can think of. One more thing I must rave about is the Capri, it's truly one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Prosciutto, sopressata, fresh mozzarella, red peppers (that bathe in garlic) along with olive oil - amazing. There's a similar place down the street that's very good too, bottega di florentine (can't be bothered to look up the spelling) which is more toward Coolidge corner. Their menus are so similar that it's almost like they use to be partners that had a falling out or something....maybe two brothers that hate each other. Di Capri gets the edge cuz they make meatballs, that's essentially the only difference. If there's more than 3 people in line you may be in for a bit of a wait, it's usually one guy in the front taking orders, making sandwiches and taking your money....it's worth the wait tho.
(4)CL S.
This is by no means fast food...as in, it'll take a little while to get your food if you show up during the lunch rush. But it's well worth the wait. The panini are fantastical.
(4)Amanda O.
I've been here dozens of times and it is one of our favorites. Every time we decide to go somewhere else for Italian/pasta we realize afterwards that we should have gone to the Bottega. Pasta is as good, better, than anything I've had in the North End. They make fresh pastas, tortellini (try the pumpkin!) and ravioli, and have dozens of sauces to choose from. I've never had a disappointing combination. We usually go a couple times a month for a weekend lunch. Eating in is casual yet comfortable, though when the weather is good we get take-out and go to the small park around the corner on Linden St.
(5)Lucy W.
Stopped in on a windy chilly day, so perfect for hearty Italian pasta. I ordered at the counter- gnocchi with pesto rosa sauce (which costs extra but came highly recommended). I sat down and only minutes pass before my order is called and a plate of hot pasta is ready for me. Gnocchi is pillowy and perfect, and the pesto rosa sauce is flavorful or 2 of my favorite pasta sauces...worth the extra $1. The portions were plenty big for me...though I scarfed it all down due to my extreme hunger, it definitely wouldn't be considered a small portion like some other Yelpers commented on. The place is small and cozy, with only a few tables and a long counter where you order and pick up the food.
(4)Erica F.
I love this place! I've eaten here many times. The food is always fresh and delicious! Great meatballs and pomodoro sauce! The chicken broccoli ziti is excellent too! Very easy to call in an order to go.
(5)Shankar D.
This is the best Italian food I have had. They are local and unique in many ways. It is a very small place and the ambience in such will not impress you but the food is very impressive. They have a range of sauces for pasta. Quite a few of them are unique to them. I had tried primavera and it was great. Forfirst timers, I would recommend a sauce - something pesto. Ask the guy at the counter and he would tell you the exact name.
(4)Megan R.
AMAZING food! Not only do they have a huge (and delicious) menu, but this is definitely one of the most affordable dining out options in Brookline (especially Brookline Village). I think that this is some of the best Italian food I have had in Boston aside from the North End- the vodka sauce is my favorite, which comes with a choice of several different pastas and fresh baked bread. I live right up the street so I typically take out, but they have a cute dining area as well and really gives the feel of a little Italian deli. The food is always still hot by the time I get it home. They also have some interesting sauce combinations like Pesto Rosa that are great. Bottega di Capri does take credit cards, but it is a $10 minimum and have gone before to pick up food to find out that their credit card machine is broken. I would definitely recommend just stopping to get some cash before you get there, just in case!
(5)Alan W.
I have eaten at this restaurant many times and love the pasta. It is a simple menu and has many different pasta choices, sauces, and offers chicken, shrimp, and meatballs with your pasta dish, if you so desire. You can create your own antipasti salad, and the prices are very reasonable ie., two pasta dishes with salad under $25, and while tipping is optional, I would recommend leaving something.
(4)Anchalee M.
We love their sandwiches. The Italiano is my favorite. Only complaint about this place is that they mess up my order or forget to make my order when I call it in about 85% of the time. The owner gets stressed out easily and can't keep things straight. Nevertheless, I keep coming back bc he's always sincerely apologetic and the food is so good.
(4)Joe F.
Food is unreal. Prices are decent. Anything I've gotten has been stellar. Definitely check it out for a good lunch.
(4)Dirgni S.
A-OK. If they didn't bill themselves as gourmet food, I'd probably give them 4 stars. But, really, this is comfort food, not gourmet food. I got stuffed peppers, my husband got the Tuscan panini. I thought the peppers were very good. Nicely seasoned. I thought my husband's panini was pretty bland though. Portions are large and prices are very reasonable. Service was friendly and good, for what it is. (You order at the counter and they bring over your meal when it's ready. That's it.) Overall, I'd recommend stopping here if you need a quick bite to eat. But, downshift your expectations from gourmet food to comfort food.
(3)Laura K.
LK: "Erin, this is a deli. Check again." EK: "It's the right address! It's the same name! This must be it." RK: "Well, whatever; we're here -- we're eating." On a rainy Tuesday night in Brookline Village -- post-357th lifetime visit to the Children's Hospital Sports Medicine clinic for my sister -- Dad, Erin and I found ourselves hungry in a yet-unexplored part of town. ::Go-go-gadget, Yelp App!:: Bottega di Capri: Strong reviews? Check! Within a mile of where we're standing right now? Check! Street parking? Check! OK, Sounds good. We're in. I'm glad that Dad was hungry and Erin was undeterred by the deli-esque setup of Bottega di Capri, because in this alternate universe six tables and a drink cooler with food passed to you over a counter equals the best Italian I've had in Boston. AND IT'S CHEAP! Erin's bowties with Vodka sauce and Dad's Chicken Cacciatore were fresh and enjoyable, but the real gem of the meal was my linguini with alfredo pesto and chicken. The sauce was rich but light, the pasta was fresh and perfectly portioned and the chicken was so moist and delicious I almost cried at my inability to force it all into my belly. I can't stop thinking about it. [Noodle Mirage #46: chairblog.eu/wp-content/… In addition to amazing foodstuffs, this tiny restaurant also offers great customer service in the form of jovial Italian men. Not that it'd matter, because the food is THAT good. I live in the North End -- but I plan on travelling to Brookline from now on when I want Italian. This. Love. Is. Real.
(5)Andrew B.
The best Italian food in Boston. Hands down... You can't beat their Pesto Rosa sauce on a huge meatball... or in a cup... I don't care if I occasionally get a hard end of a homemade loaf of bread the food is homemade and delicious. This place is LEGIT, staff imported from F'ing Tuscany or something. I've never been let down... and you can feed a family of 4 for 40 BUCKS! Inexpensive to say the LEAST. It's pretty easy to taste the difference between store bought pasta and sauce and the homemade stuff. I Feel bad for our North End Yelp brothers and sisters who won't like an Italian restaurant unless it has a wine bar... But this place is as authentic as it gets. (btw.... Many of those North End Trattorias don't quite have Italians or Sicilians in the back cooking... 95% of all restaurants in major cities in America have people of Mexican or South American descent. The food can still be great and if the Owner or whoever runs the place knows what they're doing the food will be authentic too, but most of them are not run by those kind of people and you get expensive crappy food at a hip looking place to eat!) - No Thanks! I'll stick with Bogetta Di Capri. Homemade and authentic food at a GREAT price!
(5)madine c.
We happened upon this place on a whim and were very pleasantly surprised! We dined in, and while it would have been nice to have a glass of wine with the meal (they don't sell any alcohol here), the food and value outweighed that shortcoming. Between the three of us, we had linguini with carbonara sauce, fettucini alfredo, and meat ravioli with the simple tomato sauce. All were outstanding -- fresh, very tasty -- and all were priced extremely reasonably (ravioli was $8.95, the other two were $6.95). We've spent more at a sub shop on greasy (and bad) cheesesteaks. The friendly guy behind the counter made us a dinner salad to split, and it was lovely ... super thin onions, tomato slices, and about a dozen big green olives over a bed of greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Next time I'll probably order to go, because a meal this good deserves to be accompanied by wine.
(5)Mishy K.
I cannot believe there are people who can possibly put Di Capri down.. GO BACK TO OLIVE GARDEN!! :) I find the best time to come is for lunch especially on a nice warm day, My personal favorite is Cheese Tortellini with rosantina sauce.. The rosantina sauce is amazing, but so is the Primavera. Everything is homemade, fresh, and delicious, the bread is soft on the inside, nice and crusty on the outside, perfect for dipping in the sauce! Nothing really beats sitting down with a plate of cheese tortellini and rosantina sauce with a nice cold Orange soda. The staff is very friendly, always helpful. Despite what people think they are not a part of Bottega Florentina.
(5)Marina B.
I'd never been to this place before, but I was starving, after having just waited close to an hour at another local restaurant who essentially forgot my order and could have cared less. So I thought I'd give Bottega di Capri a try. Not only was everything delicious, but I can honestly say I had he beat grilled cheese of my life here. The portions were a good size but not ridiculously huge. The prices are fair. The employees are pleasant and sweet. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. You walk in, order, sit down at one of the few tables present, eat your meal slowly, and pay before you leave. Definitely coming back here again, and I'm recommending it to all my friends and family in the area.
(5)Joe M.
I discovered this "hidden gem" just 2 months before changing jobs and leaving Brookline Village behind. But I went there 2 or 3 times a week until I left! Small and unassuming, Bottega di Capri's food more than makes up for the lack of ambiance. The staff is pleasant and eager to please. Excellent panini, with freshly sliced cold cuts, and overflowing with roasted peppers on my favorite, "the Tuscan". Almost as good was "the Caprese" which reminded me of my Nana's tomato and mozzarella salads. The soups were very good too, my favorite being the Pasta Fagioli. And the lamb stew was spectacular! The folks I worked with tended to go with the pasta and sauce combos. Any pasta with any sauce! I can only speak for the Cheese Ravioli with Bolognese and the Linguine Puttanesca, both of which were outstanding. While I don't miss the traffic, parking and congestion of Brookline Village, I do miss Bottega di Capri.
(5)Paul R.
Just okay. Most of the reviews seem to be relatively spot on but award 4 stars for what I'd give a 3. The sauces are delicious but the pasta isn't anything extraordinary and the portion sizes I find to be way too small. I always expect to be full on the side of gaining a few pounds after some italian, but I've left here still hungry both times I've been. Good for takeout or a quick eat-in but not a place I'd go out of my way to recommend to a friend.
(3)Meggie C.
I have lived in the neighborhood for the past two years and sometimes can't resist my Bottega cravings. It is a simple yet delicious place for a quick meal. For about $6 you can pick your noodle and sauce and they will give you a basket of crunchy Italian bread (necessary to soak up every last drop of the sauce). They also have daily specials and entrees, though I generally order some variety of pasta. The sandwiches are good as well - perfect to pick up if you're taking a day trip to the beach or something. The service is great. The guy who takes your order is friendly and chatty (and patient with me if I'm being indecisive). There's no table service just no-nonsense delicious Italian food. I'm 99% sure the last time I was there, my chatty friend told me they just hired a delivery man. One downside (like everything else in the village) is they close at 9 :(
(4)Lauren S.
We went here after reading a review in Zagat that marked it as one of the best places to get Italian food in the city. A familiar face in the North End, I was ecstatic to hear there was a cheap, authentic pasta place right up the street, meaning I wouldn't have to shlep all the way across the city when I wanted Italian. Unfortunately, Bottega di Capri hardly lived up to the hype I was expecting and, while the food was fine, it was certainly no rival for North End trattorias. When I think of a stellar take-out pasta place, portions are essential. Pasta costs a meager 99 cents a pound in the super market (much less wholesale) and takes 15 minutes to prepare. While $6 for a bowl of pasta and homemade sauce is cheap take-out for Brookline, I wouldn't exactly call it a bargain. They gave us probably 1/5 of a pound each, covered in generous amounts of sauce (which weren't anything special either). I was also surprised to see that they only serve some of the most popular sauces on certain days... what's the deal? Why do I have to wait for Friday for pesto? I like the idea of a rotating menu, but some of the sauces served every day were atypical and bizarre combinations. Sadly, I don't think Bottega di Capri will be replacing my trips to the North End anytime soon. For a few bucks and a subway fare more, you get huge portions, better atmosphere and happier service.
(3)Joe J.
This place is overall OK. I have been here a couple of times, tried a few different items, from salad, to penne, to lasagna. Sometimes it is really good, and sometimes it is too saucy and seems watered down. The service is pretty good, deal with the same kid everytime I am there, but the consistency of the food is what drives the ratings down. When it's good, it's really good ... when it's bad ....
(3)Nora B.
Amazing! I discounted this place after I got just a so-so Caprese panino from here for lunch one day. Big mistake! Yesterday my husband and I stopped in, again for lunch. He got a meatball sub with cheese, I got a plate of porcini tortellini with pomodoro sauce. After I ordered it, I worried it would be overly basic and bland. Not so! It was one of the best plates of pasta I've ever eaten in the states. The tortellini was clearly homemade by somebody, with a delicious mushroomy/cheesy filling. And the sauce was indeed basic, but with a delicious blend of tomato, garlic, and fresh fresh basil flavors. Homey but not dumpy atmosphere and nice fellows behind the counter as well.
(5)Anna I.
Bostonians know to go to the North End or our Little Italy to get great Italian food. But delicious Italian food can be had for reasonable prices outside of the North End too. Nestled in between Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village off Harvard Street is a great Italian Gourmet Deli called Bottega di Capri [41 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02445 (617) 738-5333]. This great hole in the wall serves both lunch and dinner that has a few tables. Customers walk up to the counter to order and pick up their meals. There are daily specials and all their pastas (spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, fettuccine, linguini, and bow tie to name a few) are freshly made. Their extensive menu includes Panini sandwiches, risotto, antipasto, salads along with tortellini (meat, cheese, porcini and pumpkin) and ravioli (Cheese, Meat, Tuscan, Spinach, and Lobster) are served with a broad selection of sauces to choose from. Pollo Alla Parmigiana-fried chicken with a tomato sauce and parmesan cheese served on linguini is a bargain at $8.50. A heaping portion came out with a big piece of breaded chicken smothered by tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese over al dente penne pasta. This dish satisfied and was delicious with the fresh tomato tasting sauce. Also we chose the porcini tortellini with parma-sausage, porcini mushrooms and white wine sauce, a great combo for mushroom lovers. This dish was not overly sauced but lovely in its simplicity. For sweet tooths, they should check out the butter sage sauce (not listed) with the pumpkin tortellini. Per the counter person's suggestion, it was the only way to eat pumpkin tortellini for only $7.95! Tomato sauce is too acidic for pumpkin and anything else would be a poor match. The sweetness of the pumpkin pairs well with the buttery sage sauce. Gnocchi (a very traditional Italian pasta) and carbonara (pancetta aka Italian bacon in a cream sauce) were not well matched as the sauce was too rich with this starchy pasta. Later learned traditionally gnocchi is paired with only tomato, pesto (garlic, basil, pine nuts, olive oil & parmesan) or butter sauces. Another pasta dish we had was the tagliatelle $6.50 had a puttanesca sauce (olives, anchovies, capers, hot peppers and tomato) had a lovely heat with nice slant to this dish. All their pasta dishes come with toscano bread. The Italian food here were reminiscent of my times traveling through Italy. I enjoyed that the pastas were cooked al dente without being over sauced. The quality and freshness of the ingredients is crucial to delicious food. So when the mood strikes and you are in Brookline Village area, check out this neighborhood gem outside of North End.
(4)Chu C.
I like these small, no-nonsense places. No fanfare or funky-shaped plates, just really solid Italian food. Prices are really reasonable, and they have daily specials and coupons available in the store for you to use. We catered from here yesterday for a 30-person dinner, and it was really good overall. Definitely a step up from the chain restaurants, with a lot of attention to detail. So disappointed they didn't have the lobster ravioli, but the meat ravioli was also really good; it just melts in the mouth. The chicken parmesan was thick and hearty, with tangy sauce, though slightly soggy from the car ride probably. The baked ziti and broccoli was very good, and the seafood linguine was fine, maybe a little bland. Service was great - not only did they give us a discount on our order, but they threw in a free salad, and they helped me load everything into my car. Thanks guys!
(4)Erica T.
I love this place... when I work in the area I come here a few times a week. They have a large menu of items which include salads, sandwiches, paninis, pasta dishes, and specials! I really want to try their pasta or lasagna but since I normally come here for lunch both of those are a bit too heavy. Although I think picking up a to-go order of their pastas or specials on the way home from work is something I should try! I almost always get their chicken salad sandwich. My coworkers and I all agree that is honestly the best chicken salad we have ever had. Once I went earlier in the day and they hadn't made the batch of chicken salad so they cut pieces of chicken off and made a batch just for me. Regardless it is always delicious. For their sandwich toppings everything is cut fresh to order regardless of it is cheese, lettuce, or tomato. Although everything on the menu looks delicious my coworkers and I always end up ordering our normal sandwiches every time we go. Once we each tried something we loved it so much that we can never talk ourselves into trying something else. It is small inside but we never have had a problem sitting down. As far as prices go you can't beat them they are more than reasonable. The staff is also very friendly and they really add to the experience!
(5)Karen G.
Tried them yesterday. Ordered the Wednesday special Chicken Picata, the Shrimp Scampi, the Prosciutto Di Parma Cold Sandwich, and the Assorted Meats Antipasto Plate. My family and I eat family style so we cut everything up and everyone helps themselves. Maybe I should have stuck with pastas. It was okay, but when I asked everyone if we should order again the answer was 'meh'. The boys (5 & 7) liked the scampi, my husband and I liked the picata even if it was a little over cooked, and our au pair liked the sandwich. No one really liked the antipasto and the boys ate off all of the tomato, mozzarella and basil. Also everyone was sad at the skimpy portions of the fresh basil, everyone wanted more, and no one liked the supermarket style Italian sub roll and foccacia. The sauces were good and the pasta cooked right, but over all we were underwhelmed. I would say it is decent homestyle Italian with no fuss, but their proportions are a bit off. If you want outstanding homestyle Italian, with amazing bread and specials that will knock your socks off go to Domenic's in Waltham. yelp.com/biz/domenics-it…
(2)robert o.
I had to go a few times before reviewing. An excellent little place. On my first visit I had the special of the day and a rigatoni with pesto tomato sauce. Very fresh and extremely tasty. My partner had a chicken pasta dish. Bread was great. The staff could not have been nicer. Went back tonight for another visit. I had the meatball and rigatoni and my partner had lasagna. Excellent!! We are looking forward to returning for a pasta fix
(5)Jessica C.
Cute, Casual and Cozy little restaurant for quick and fresh Italian food. If your current mood is scrumptious and savory, come to Bottega because the flavors here are right on! After all, isn't Italian food all about the sauce? Doesn't really matter what noodle you get, since they all taste the same. Bottega is unique because you can pick your own pasta and sauce combination. I love that! From linguine to penne to bowtie to spaghetti and more... Sauces seems to be delicious by the ones I tried...Arrabiata and Pesto Rosa. Arrabiata is one of my faves and I love the way they make it...tasty, spicy with chunks of tomato, and not too tarty. Pesto Rosa was also delicious. I am normally a RED sauce girl, but this seemed to be a combination of both and was done very well. In addition, you can choose to add chicken or shrimp to the pasta for a few additional dollars. Totally worth it. My pasta came out to less than $10! Perfect portion for perfect price and taste. Take 20 minutes, dine in the restaurant and enjoy the fresh bread offered to wipe your plate clean. (Don't be tempted like me to lick your plate clean) Daily specials are also offered and I will definitely be back to make more combinations for my eager Italian appetite!
(4)Erin A.
Ok, this place, I admit has pretty yummy Italian food HOWEVER, the service is horrible! I went there years ago-say about 8 and they were so rude! Like they were doing me a favor. Then I thought, well that was 8 years ago, let's give it another shot. Nope! Still rude after all these years! A word of advice to Bottega: Just be NICE to your customers!
(2)Jackie P.
I'm so glad that Bottega delivers now, I would only get food from there when i was in Brookline Village but now i can get it whenever i want, which will be often! Their pumpkin tortelli is delicious, it's the right combination of sweet and savory and you can pair it with a multitude of their great sauces but i like to pair it with a cream sauce. The meatballs are a meal in itself, they are huge. All of the sauce/pasta combinations are delicious and even though it is plain their rigatoni with pomodoro sauce (with the meatballs of course) is probably one of my most ordered items. Also, you cannot beat the friendliness from the guys behind the counter, they are always a pleasure.
(5)Taryn C.
We decided to drop in because we live in the area. Have to say we were pleased with the service, food was fresh and the price was okay. We had great pressed sandwiches where they sliced the bread and meat to order. We'll probably try the pasta dishes next time.
(4)Christina S.
What a hidden gem! The food is fantastic. Every time I go I get the Tuscan ravioli with gorgonzola sauce =INCREDIBLE!
(5)Ben Y.
Was introduced to this place through yelp, was looking for a good place to grab some takeout for a late night dinner. I called my order in, i had ordered the lobster ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs and the rosette (sp?), which was one of the specials for friday. The atmosphere was very friendly, the hours kind of suck though, they close at 9 which i feel is a bit on the early side, i would assune tgat most places that primarily are for takeout would be open till at lease 10, but that is beyond me. when i got the food home, i realized that i only got two of the three dishes that i ordered. the spaghetti and meat balls and the lobster raviloi. and thinking back, i was only charged for the two dishes that i got, so no harm done right ? the portions of the two dishes were decent. so it was enough for two people. the spaghetti and meatballs were good, the meatballs were huge. the lobster ravioli was delicious, but depending on whether you got lobster in it or not. the dish came with 4 ravioli's, my first one had barely any lobeter in it, but the second one i ate had a ton of lobster, so i guess it makes up for it ? overall the food was good and that is the most inportant.
(4)Drew G.
Delicious sandwiches (we really liked the namesake panini) and tasty meatballs (you can buy them individually and share). I've taken two different groups here and they raved about it afterwards. I'm excited to explore the rest of the menu. Oh, and I had a friend with weird dietary concerns and, after walking through the ingredients of all of their dishes, created a pasta dish just for her to suit her eccentric needs. Excellent service.
(5)Adam B.
If you don't eat here you will get herpes. This place is awesome! I usually always get whatever is on special and am never disappointed. I don't know what one of the other reviewers were talking about with the service they seem very nice to me.
(5)Debora M.
Unexpectedly really good. Came here for lunch after taking my cousin on a college visit. I was driving by and thought "there's a small spot I can quickly stop and get lunch at"-not expecting anything special. Boy was I surprised. What a delight. Such a cozy and tasteful little cafe. I felt like I was actually in Italy but not because of any cheesy decor but the feel in there was neighborly, friendly and warm. I think mainly because the worker there (I believe the Argentinian owner) is so friendly and has a great welcoming personality. Most importantly the food: The menu is on a chalkboard and you pick your choice of pasta, sauce and meat/seafood. Simple concept excellent results. There is a lot to choose from but from what I could see you can't lose. I got the Angel hair with Arrabiata sauce with Shrimp. mmmm mmmm mmmm. Wish I had it right now! Divine. The pasta was so fresh and cooked to al dente perfection. The sauce so packed with flavor- you could taste all the ingredients. Shrimp also tasted fresh and perfectly cooked-they were firm and flavorful. Uh and the price? Yeah, both my cousin and I lunched like bosses for under $25. Can't wait to return. Thank you Bottega di Capri!
(5)Adam T.
Just wonderful! Cozy little deli with personable staff and great service. Reasonably priced. Excellent food with variety of choices. Meatballs are a must for only $2.50 each. Perfect for those in need of a quick bite. Smaller location so not ideal for big groups but perfect for 4 or less. In short, I'll be back soon.
(5)Alison H.
All right, listen up people, because I can't believe I'm going to tell you this. Bottega di Capri is INCREDIBLE. SUPERB. and PURE DELICIOUSNESS. And I wasn't ever going to broadcast that information to anyone. As soon as I ate my first bite of ravioli there, I resolved that I was going to keep the secret of how good this place is, because it's small, and I never wanted to have to wait in long lines or not be able to sit down and have a fantastic lunch there. Then I realized that not only was this place a secret, it was a little too secret. Nearly every time I go there, we are the only ones there, or we happen across one or two other customers. Even on Sunday at lunch, when church gets out we watch the crowds of people streaming by, no one stops in - folks, this is insanity. So now I have a new selfish motivator: keep Bottega di Capri in business so I can eat there forever. You can pick your own combination of pasta and sauce, and to let you in on another tip, the best of the best is the stuffed pasta, either the tortellini (cheese, pumpkin - yes, surprisingly good), or the ravioli - try the Tuscan ravioli or the mushroom. My top sauces: arrabiata, rosantina, caprese. And all this fabulous food can be yours for less than $10 a plate (the reviewer below who called this price just "okay" must be smoking something if they live in the same Brookline I live in) - compare to the highly rated Pomodoro just a few doors down and I cannot believe anyone pays so much for that food, which is not even as good as the Bottega. Brookline Spa, also much lauded and often crowded, is only about a block away, but Bottega di Capri has authentic Italian sandwich ingredients at the deli counter. I'm vegetarian but the prosciutto and other meats make me jealous! So now that I'm grouchy because I shared my ultimate favorite food place in Boston with you, I order you to EAT HERE. p.s. don't forget to ask what the specials are in the metal containers behind the counter. They keep their own hidden secrets in there like a luscious eggplant lasagna!
(5)Kaleel S.
So, what do you get when you cross six intimate tables, two very handsome,fun Italian guys (from Italy!) and a case full of choice meats, cheeses and deeply purple and black olives? Well, add a big plate glass window looking out at people walking by and having a good time, and you get the Bottega de Capri. Of course the place is intimate and the conversations subdued, but the feeling is one of genuine welcome and the menu is more varied than a place this size has any right to have. There are the usual paninis and pastas, but what was very impressive was the Pasta Alla Pesce (seafood pasta with shrimp, scallops and sun-dried tomatoes) and the range of daily specials. On Tuesday, for example, there's a wonderful Ariste di Maiale, or so my companion told me, because I don't eat meat... and the dish is a roasted pork loin stuffed with mortadella, herbs and a dry, spicy prosciutto. Which brings me to my only two reservations. I appreciate the authenticity of the Italian cuisine, but like Italian food, the meals are predominately meat and more meat. Should they modify their offering? Not sure. And then, I wish we could bring wine in. The feel of the place (no, no checkered tablecloths, thankfully) does cry out for a good bottle or cheap bottle of red wine to complete the experience, which can be a touch romantic, without ever trying to be so!
(3)Bill S.
When you're not in the mood to cook but don't want to spend a fortune on dinner, this is a fabulous place. I'm partial to the linguine with white clam sauce and the pumpkin tortellini. I've not yet been disappointed. The owners are incredibly nice and remember our orders each time we come in. For those who like traditional Italian restaurant bread, you won't be disappointed, but I like something a bit chewier.
(4)ms m.
Love this place! It's owned by 2 brothers, one of which was an employee when it was still Bottega Fiorentina and I think the student has surpassed the master in this case. Their pumpkin tortellini in a butter and sage sauce is hands down the best I've had and is better than Fiorentina's (which is no slouch either). Every pasta meal is served with delicious bread that you can scoop the sauce up with. Service is always excellent and I like that this is a great take-out place and is comfortable enough sit at and have a nice meal (though it is self serve).
(5)Joe M.
I found this place for lunch and it seemed like a nice spot with a good menu, so I came in for a bite to eat. I opted for the Tuscan panini with prosciutto, sopresata, red peppers, mozzarella, and oil. It wasn't bad by any means, but I've certainly had better - both in more upscale Italian restaurants and other delis and places like this. The sandwich was big, more than enough for my lunch, but my main complaint was that it was just too oily and greasy. I know basil oil was advertised as an ingredient, but this sandwich was dripping inside and out... just too heavy, and that's saying something coming from me. Again, I wasn't unhappy, it just didn't blow me away. I would go back if a friend wanted to go or something, but probably wouldn't recommend it as a first choice.
(3)Lee L.
Looking for some Italian takeout near home. This place was very disappointing. We tried the special of the day Lasagna Bolognese & the Meatball Sub. Both were lacking flavor and freshness. I am not sure how they stay in business.
(2)Jessica R.
I usually eat here for my lunch break and I always order the tachinno panini. This panini is absolutely delicious with mozzarela, turkey, basil. and other seasonings. Although, one time I was craving spaghetti and meatballs and I was really disappointed by the meatballs because it just tasted blahh. Also, the desserts they keep in the fridge are realllly good, but a little pricey ($4-5) for the portion they give, Overall, this a great place to grab a quick bite to eat.
(4)Abbie T.
Delicious! Choose your pasta and choose your sauce, or try one of their daily specials. I'm partial to the gnocci or tortellini with either pesto rosa or caprese sauces. There's not much seating and the ambiance isn't noteworthy one way or the other, but I usually do takeout from there anyway so that's okay by me.
(4)Michelle A.
A cozy, neighborhood spot with the best panini ever! Great value for the money. We'll be back.
(4)Golo D.
Certainly overrated. If our meals were not prepared from penne to meatwad from components purchased down the street at Trader Joe's then microwaved specially for us, I will eat my Homburg, but I will not press teeth into this bachelor-pad gourmet cuisine again. And somehow the stale bread didn't help to push it over the top. Addio!
(2)Ken S.
Just lovely...
(5)Sham Y.
We came in this place on a random afternoon with no one else in the place. It's a small friendly place with a very large selection of pasta, sauces and other foods. The food was good and we left happy and full which is all I really want when I eat pasta.
(4)Vincent C.
Live right down the road.. go here often. My first time trying it out I got the lobster ravioli..you can tell it was fresh, however, the sauce was lacking and the ravioli was a little overcooked. I like al dente, and got far from it. However, the Tuscan sandwich makes up for that experience. That is the only sandwich I get from there. The tuscan as a panini on foccacia bread is the best sandwich there. The italian subs lack quality meat. But all in all, a great, local, mom and pop shop.
(4)David B.
I love this restaurant! From the daily specials to the signature Bottega Di Capri panini, you can't go wrong. I live in the neighborhood (Brookline Village) and have been going here for a little over 2 years and haven't had a good meal here yet; they were all GREAT!
(5)