I dropped into the new Osteria la Bottiglia on King Street last week for a lunch meeting (we were discussing the summer issue of Dish, appropriately enough). The menu is small but appealing with three soups (Tuscan bean, tomato basil, and asparagus), four salads, and a handful of sandwiches. They also have lasagna — meat or veggie — and a daily plate special.
I ended up ordering a soup and salad combo (including drink). For $11, I got a luscious pile of arugula with with steamed artichokes, shaved Sardinian pecorino cheese, and a light balsamic dressing. The nice-sized bowl of asparagus soup was simple and quite delicious: asparagus, grated parmigiano, and a touch of cream.
One of my dining companions went for the heartier combo of lasagna and salad ($2 extra). They also have a nice selection of sandwiches and a delightfully rustic interior. I neglected to take any photos of the dining room, but it’s low, dark, and deep, perfect for a refreshing glass of wine and a plate of cheese after a long day at the office.
Pros: Restaurateur (and Italian) Masi Sarrocchi knows what he’s doing. This is the third restaurant he’s opened in the area, and he’s already got a steady, loyal clientele who will be happy to follow him anywhere. The setting is perfect, the location is prime, and the food and wine are solid.
Cons: The somewhat inattentive service (we had to flag people down for water refills and extra silverware), but I don’t see this being a regular issue once they have some time to work out the kinks.
Osteria la Bottiglia will be hosting a wine dinner this Saturday night with a winemaker from Parusso in the Piedmont region of Italy. I recommend you stop by and check it out soon and then come back and let us know what you think.
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