As you step into the restaurant, one thing's very clear: they want you to know they represent NAPLES. If you search up what "Naples" is most famous for, practically every Google search result has either pizza or gastronomy on there. From Espresso culture to expressing themselves with hand gestures, Italians are known for their cultural and culinary traditions. At Bottega, they serve up the classics of pizza and pasta - but in all shapes and forms.
With an beautiful garden and courtyard space along with a Christmas decor during December, Bottega's outdoor space is stunning. The building gives off a elegant yet trendy feel with the flashy logo contrasted with sleek white paint and old-style seating.
The writing reads "Napoli and Toto." The mural seems to be a tribute to a Napoli actor, born in the 1890s and rising to prominence with his cynical characters in comedy shows during the 40s-50. The lemons and cans of tomato on shelves boasts Italy's abundant natural ingredients.
Dishes
With a deep captivating orange hue, the blend of apple juice and soda was perfect as a refreshing start to the meal. The cylindral and light-weight glass added to the luxurious feel of the drink. Just a side note, drinks are the least necessary thing to order at a restaurant especially if you're on a budget. With 45 RMB worth of liquid, I better be getting the greatest juice I've ever had in my life.
Italian Potato Croquettes with a sheet of freshly grated Parmesan hit the table. With fried panko crisps as the crust and a gooey, slightly cheesy potato center, the croquettes are a decadent treat. The parmesan cheese is acidic and pungent, cutting through the stodginess of potato.
Basil Pesto brings together the herbiness of basil with a creamy, umami sauce. The gnocchi were extremely well-made with just the right amount of chew and resistance. The seafood was generally fresh, packed with flavor, and absorbed the basil pesto sauce nicely. However, there was one major problem: the clams hadn't been properly purged for sand and grains of sediment - slightly unfortunate but it could have just been a bad day.
Served on another vibrant flower-patterned dish, the beef ragu at Botega delivers on richness. With Pecorino cheese (if my taste buds are failing me) laced through the ragu and oil from the beef flowing through the sauce, beef ragu is a must-try at Bottega. The rigatoni pasta takes the shade of the sauce and is cooked to an al-dente texture. It was almost too al-dente for me, but gotta trust the Italian chefs in the kitchen.
The final pasta dish that we'll cover is the ravioli. With a creamy ricotta filling, it pairs well with a tangy and bright tomato sauce. The dough is again al-dente, sticking to your teeth as you bite into the ravioli. I definitely recommend the ragu over the ravioli, but that depends on personal preferences.
The classic - margherita pizza. If you're flavor-fatigued by all the tomato based dishes, we have another pizza for you next. BUT, it would be sacreligious to not give the Margherita pizza a try. With a properly puffed up crust, the visual on the pizza is jaw dropping. The genrous portion of cheese and tomato sauce completes the pizza and the perfectly chewy crust underneath. When you see blisters on a pizza, you know it's authentic.
Hear me out before you start vomitting. A white-sauce-base zuchinni pizza is commonly found in Italy and in the restaurants of Rome. Especially during the summer time when zuchinni are in season. The creamy but mild cheeses, a less-agressive taste of cured meat from the beef, and the texture of zuchinni blends surprisingly well together. Of course, it might not be as satisfactory as the Margherita pizza, but don't knock it till you try it. The mild creaminess of the pizza has its own flare.
Overview:
Black and white marble tiles and dizzying red lights shouldn't work as an interior design combo, but Botega makes it work. For a trendy pizza & pasta restaurant, Botega is the place to be. Their service is extremely friendly and really makes you feel at home. With a relatively narrow set of menu options (as compared to Asian restaurants with 100s of dishes), Bottega specializes in certain Italian classics. Their pizza baked in a real pizza oven and delicious desserts teleport you to Naples. For a meeting with friends, Bottega has the perfect atmosphere - with the right degree of hustle and bustle to help avoid awkward silences but also not too loud to disallow conversations.
Address:
1) Jingan District, North Shanxi Rd., no. 457 101
-Featured location
2)Jiahua Center Mall 1st floor, 101B
Nice review, thank you. This place was in my "todo" list for our SH visit next week, I hope they are not closed during CNY :)
Delish!🤗