My wife and I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon for a snack and a couple of drinks. The outdoor seating is very pleasant and the service was great. We had bruschetta and prosciutto with melon. Both were very good. The table next to us had pizza from the wood fired oven and it must have also been good because it didn't last long.
(5)
Kerry S.
We had dinner at La Bottega on 7/4/15. The location is terrific, and we had very good service with just the summer ambiance we were seeking on the nicely shaded patio. Here's where they fell down: the food is average at best. We had the tomato mozzarella bruschetta for around $9 - one large end piece of bread cut in half so we could share, plenty of topping. An okay start. My gemelli with vodka sauce and spicy sausage tasted like boxed pasta, bottled sauce, and half a piece of Italian sausage sliced wafer-thin and mixed in. About $20. Husband had veal scalloppini over fettuccini, in a mushroom cream sauce, something like $30-32. The mushroom cream sauce was copious, thin, and oddly sweet. Neither were very good or very bad -- nice quantity of food and we both ate enough to be full. We both left some on the plate (an oddity for us to be honest when pasta is involved). Anywhere but Vail, I would have expected to pay half as much for this quality of boxed pasta. For Vail, the price to quality ratio was probably normal-to-better and the location was perfection with attentive and relaxed service. Next time, if it were all about the food, I'd probably try Pazzo's down the street for better tasting food at better prices in casual bar atmosphere. If it were about the ambiance and location, I'd go back to La Bottega and have their thin crust pizza - those looked good.
(3)
Maxwell D.
Horrible tenancy to under-cook food. The first time we ate there, we ordered the oven fire muscles. They were served to us completely raw. Today, I ordered a caesar salad with salmon. It was a to-go order and when I arrived home and looked at the salmon, it was almost completely raw. It looked like it had been on the grill for maybe 10 seconds. I called La Bottega and the rude manager couldn't even apologize. Overall, this place doesn't care about its customers and doesn't care about its food. AVOID at all costs.
(1)
Stacey T.
I came for lunch and had the cheesesteak. It was excellent, but didn't come with any sides. The waiter was efficient and the food came out quick. Nice outdoor patio.
(4)
Nicole S.
Just alright. Overpriced. We came here for lunch and had a nice bottle of white wine. They gave us the dinner menu and we had to specifically ask for the lunch menu because we wanted salads/sandwiches (waiter seemed not to pleased with our request, too). I ordered the turkey sandwich-it was decent but the bread was too soft and just didn't taste that fresh to me. They could've stacked the turkey a little higher, too; it was overall a little sparse. Place is just okay.
(2)
Melanie R.
We love la Bottega and go every year. I recommend you get reservations because they're busy every night. It's casual dress. The mussels are a must, we get them as appetizer. The pizza's are delish. They also have great pastas and other entrees. My daughter got the Kobe short ribs, she said it was the best meal she ever had. The waiter highly recommends the osso bucco and my husband got the grilled tenderloin encrusted which was good but he should have gotten the short ribs too. The service was very friendly and accommodating. And, I made my reservations on Yelp.
(5)
Jeannie T.
Stopped in Vail after ATV'ing. We changed but still looked a little worn for Vail. Lol. Went to La Bottega. Best way to describe it is a nice small Italian place that also has upscale subs and pizzas. We were a little nervous but had a great meal. Kids got pizzas, subs. Hubby got chicken Parm and I got a delicious goat cheese panini. Pricier than our usual Pizza and Subs stop, but hey - - it's Vail! :)
(4)
Juniper H.
Walked in on a Monday evening. Got seated by the drunk owner. Looked at the menu and just couldn't stomach the attitude of that owner so we left. Enough said.
(1)
Gary K.
I guess I should have checked the Yelp reviews before sitting down. But since I was really hungry and just looking for lunch along the way, I figured that it would be better than stopping at a Burger King - Eek! Methinks not. When you order a "Steak Sandwich" at an Italian restaurant you would expect a hunk of meat that looks at least a bit like a steak. If the steak is not the best quality, it would be sliced up and still be recognizable as having come from a steak. What arrived was more like pulled pork or shredded meat. Like a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich, except without the cheese, without the spice, had no taste and dry to boot. At least the bun was nicely toasted. That would have earned La Bottega at least 2 stars from me, but while I was taking the last few bites of the sandwich. The server came, said "I'll take that away from you" and before I could answer (I was biting into the sandwich) took my plate away leaving me holding the last few bites of my sandwich. What's up?? Run out of plates in the kitchen? Unforgivable even if they were in a hurry to close. But it was 10 minutes to 1pm.
(1)
Nick K.
Terrible. I went with my family and brothers. All of us are of age, but they gave us an incredibly difficult time regarding out of state ID's, really ruining the vibe of the night. Moreover, the manager and and waiter wouldn't leave us alone as they were on their high-horse defending themselves instead of apologizing. The food is okay. Definitely not worth the price. I would not recommend. Vail has so many better places to offer and this truly was the worst dining experience in my recent memory.
(1)
Mindy D.
Very expensive, but the truffle gnocchi I had (and ate as slowly as possible so it wouldn't end quickly) and my friend's pork ragu were incredibly delicious. Our waiter was pleasant and attentive and we really enjoyed sitting on the well positioned patio. I would say it is a perfect example of "Vail" prices, but truly had a fantastic meal.
(4)
Lisa A.
My friend and I ate at this restaurant tonight. I am shocked by all the poor reviews. We had a long day rafting and wanted to go somewhere great next to our hotel. The previous day we took the Vail Valley food tour and this was one the restaurants on the tour. The tasting was amazing (truffle gnocchi) and we decided to go back. We arrived in the late evening and were seated right away. Our waiter was very attentive and got us our drinks and appetizer within a reasonable time. We ordered the buffalo mozzarella for the app and it was fantastic. My friend ordered the ricotta and spinach cannoli and I ordered the linguini with fresh summer truffles. Both dishes were slap you in the face amazing! The waiter then told us that their tiramisu was homemade and we should at least try that.....OK! Holy sh$&!! It was real homemade Italian tiramisu and I felt like I was in Italy. We paired this with two glasses of VSOP cognac and I was amazed at the pour they gave us. Most places give you a VERY small pour and theirs was generous. Great experience and for apps, dinner, 4 glasses of excellent wine, dessert and cognac all under 175, I can't complain one bit! I'm surprised at the previous reviews. Maybe they have good nights and bad nights? The only reason I gave it 4 starts was because the service staff seemed frazzled and manic. Although the service was great, it would be a much greater experience if they just relaxed a little, from the hostess to the waiters.
(4)
Kelly K.
This place was super busy so the service was a little less than perfect the night we were there. Still rounding up to 4-stars because any good place in Vail during ski season is going to be busy and we were lucky to even get our tiny, cramped table. :) I ordered the fettuccini with shrimp, lump crab, asparagus & sun dried tomatoes in a light wine sauce and it hit the spot -- really nice. They didn't skimp on seafood which is a bonus. Bread was good too! Go there if you are seeking better-than-average Italian food in Vail.
(4)
Manuel Z.
Horrible service. After spending more than $1500, and 20% tip, we were kicked out before we could finish our drinks. The manager was extremely arrogant. Food-wise, it is sub-par for Italian food.
(1)
Jeff L.
Great place to eat, I think the only place in the Vail to get a real Italian sub sandwich. Greanted not the cheapest place in town to eat but the only place to get that kind of food, other sandwich places just have the same flavor. Bottega is a high end dining restruant and I always get my orders to go so can;t say to much about the dining in house but the carry out menu is outstanding. The Tuna is also a great choice, well just about eveything on the menu is great. It's allways a treat to eat at Bottega,
(5)
Megan H.
I'm confused why there are so many negative reviews as this place is one of our family's favorites. I love their mussels, they have great salads and pizza, and their entrees always seem to be of great quality and are delicious! We happily come here again and again, even with some of the other top options in Vail. It's just good.
(4)
Erin H.
Forgettable food. Marginal service. My signature was not even dry on my $1000 check and the customers we were meeting with still had wine in their glass when we were asked to leave so the restaurant could turn the table. There are many wonderful restaurants in Vail. Please go there instead.
(1)
Marisa L.
I have been eating here for years! Literally almost 20 years. The food is always so good. Pizzas are so simple but amazing. Great busy atmosphere, the place just keeps getting better and better. I'll always eat here. Lunch or dinner it's all good.
(5)
Dorothy N.
Bad Service We have been here many times, spent a ton of money and had good food. The Hostesses are always prissy. We called for a reservation and said if we eat in the bar we don't need one, as we have done many times before. Upon arrival we sat down at the bar then the second hostess came over and said we had to leave because the bar was a reserved spot. She made us leave after we had our adult beverages sitting at the table. Poor Service. Don't go there are plenty of other paces in Vail to spend your hard earned money.
(1)
Alex O.
Mixed reviews on this place. The concierge at our hotel recommended this restaurant, but I'm kind of wishing I had also checked Yelp before we went there, because if I had, we probably would have skipped La Bottega. While Yelp can be hit or miss on their reviews (I completely disagreed the 4.5 stars users had given Alpenrose on Vail), I think this one was pretty spot on here. Our waiter was a nice young Romanian guy, who was very pleasant and friendly. The service at this place seems to be the number one complaint on yelp, and while our waiter was pleasant, the overall service experience wasn't the greatest. Bread took a while to arrive, took a while to finally get the wine list, which should have already been on the table when we sat down, and when my father ordered a second glass of wine it took over 20 minutes for it to arrive. The Ambiance was pretty nice, especially if you're in the main room where the pizza oven is on display. The restaurant did feel a little tight though. Fortunately, we only had 3 in our party and not 4, because the 4th seat would not have had much space due to the neighboring table. The food was split decision. My folks shared the Fettuccine "alla Boscaiola" dish and really liked it. I ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara, and was highly disappointed. The highlight was that the noodles were cooked perfectly al dente, but that was about it. I added chicken breast to it, which was a little on the tough side, but perhaps the most disappointment was that the dish was unbearably drenched in butter and/or oil that pooled at the bottom of the plate. If I can figure out how to attach the picture I took to this review, I will...it was pretty bad. Maybe I just picked the wrong dish, or maybe it was an off night for them, but my folks did enjoy their food, so I'll give this place the benefit of the doubt with 3 stars. For the price of some of the entrees though ($28-$50$, hopefully the rest of the menu is on a much higher level, but I don't know if that's a risk I'm willing to take; if by chance I make it back to La Bottega, I think I will follow the advice of many other Yelp users and just stick to the pizza. If my experience were to happen to change, I would if course update my review.
(3)
Carrie s.
I am at a loss as to why the reviews are so mixed. We had a fabulous dinner here. The service was great. Our waitress was attentive and suggestive and our meals were superb. We left pleased with our experience And will definitely be back again.
(4)
John V.
Food poisoning!!!!! Terrible service!!!! Waited almost two hours for our food after being seated and food was cold. Several members of our party were sick next day! When we asked about the delay bartender John said it was out fault do not complaining sooner. When we told them the chicken was room temp a man GeGe pretended to be a manager said he could not do anything that their oven does not get that hot???? Don't risk it Have been coming to Vail for years and So many better restaurants.
(1)
Dayna R.
Just had dinner there on the patio and enjoyed it very much. Even with the short rainstorm towards the end of our meal it was very pleasant with umbrellas to shelter us. Service was good but the waiter did seem rushed. The Josephine salad as a starter was simple but delicious! Greens, tomato, lots of Gorgonzola and a light olive oil dressing. My husband had the veal scallopine w/ a cream sauce pasta and loved every bite. My son had roasted game hen with greens and was very pleased. I had the linguine w/ crab, shrimp, asparagus, and dried roasted tomatoes in a light butter sauce and couldn't stop eating it! Our only disappointment was the bread which, although it came out warm, was a bit dry and flavorless. Good thing we had olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it in. Definitely a nice place to spend and evening in the summer.
(4)
Shauna W.
I have eaten here throughout the years and the only reason I end up going back is because of the pasta gemelli and the design of the place is charming (cottage like). I am ALWAYS disappointed so I am putting my foot down. These boots are made for walking and that's what you should do too. The service is terrible and this time my pasta was cold and lacked flavor. My significant other's food came out wrong twice and the expensive bottle of wine we ordered was slammed down on our table w/o an offer to decant etc. Thank goodness we had something to drink however because we never got waters even after asking. This place always acts like you're lucky to be there, but from getting sick a few years ago, to the terrible service, you will not feel "lucky". Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. I am done.
(1)
Willy R.
La Bottega has gone downhill. First, ask not to be seated upstairs. These tables are crammed in an upstairs room that misses out on the feel of the place. The menu needs to be updated, and the food is not extraordinary. Formerly a superb restaurant, but the food could use and update and the service needs to be more consistent. The upstairs room is not a fair guest experience for the same price
(3)
Gavin W.
While the place has a great ambiance and beautiful setting, I can not say good things about their pizza. I came here on a Sunday afternoon and sat out on the patio. Ordered the Diavola pizza and was sorely disappointed. The crust was soggy, making it nearly impossible to a eat a slice without having it fall completely apart. Ingredients were good, the execution wasn't. I wouldn't come back to eat, but would certainly come to enjoy a glass of wine of the patio. Also, it's quite pricey. Service was ok, but they were not that busy when I visited.
Great food, wine and service. If you're in the mood for seafood highly recommend the mussels for an appie and the crab, shrimp linguini with asparagus and sun dried tomatoes. Feeling adventurous - try the rabbit.
(4)
John D.
This place gets mixed reviews by many on Yelp... Tonight's service was excellent, food (salads & pizzas) was good. We were seated on-time for our reservation.
(4)
Michelle A.
Went with a few friends for a lovely weekend. The first meal we enjoyed was here. We shared a pizza and an antipasto dish. It was till nice outside so that we sat on their patio. The server was friendly and all in all not a bad experience.
(4)
Debbie M.
We were at the restaurant on 8/10. There was a lady with her dog in a stroller next to us. INSIDE the restaurant. Screaming and running children INSIDE the restaurant. I would pass until they get some things under control. This was not worth the $100+ we spent.
(2)
Richard L.
Great waiter ... terrible food. Tragic. What a waste of 80 bucks. We had the lobster ravioli and the crusted veal ... we actually left our meals after only having a few bites. We were warned that the place was a hit or miss but it was close to where we were staying so we went for it. Man what a mistake. I guess if the hotel staff warns you, you should listen since they're right there. terrible - terrible - terrible. Again, our waiter was great but the poor guy simply had nothing good to serve.
(1)
Greg L.
The food is good. The ambiance and service is pleasant. Don't recommend for large parties unless you are okay with dealing with one check after an otherwise pleasant meal.
(4)
Margot R.
This place use to be nice for drinks. They now have long tables for dinner at the bar with big noisy crowds. Owners / chef very grumpy people.
(2)
Sandy S.
We ate here again last night, have to say nothings changed we had wonderful pizzas with crispy crust & garlicky mussels with a glass of proseco it can't be beat.
(5)
Maria P.
Went to La Bottega when my brother was in town, his treat, and boy oh boy, wow! The meal was amazing. The wine list was extensive and the food absolutely perfect. I had the salmon filet and my brother the duck with polenta. Both were excellent. We finished our meal off with espresso and grappa for him and a tiramisu martini for me! Best dessert I ever had! The staff was attentive and not over bearing. We sat outside and the heaters out there kept us toasty and comfortable throughout the meal. If you are looking to have a nice night out the food and service are unbeatable here.
(5)
Rachel N.
Still confused why everyone but me finds La Bottega to be the cat's meow; however, I will admit that a recent trip was better than expected. They offer a winter truffle menu (um, hello $95 mac and cheese, I love you), and will also shave white or black truffles over any dish for $28/gram -- but that aside, if you're getting pasta, I think that the sage porcini, w/ its earthy, comforting tones is the way to go, though my grandmother also raves abt the lobster ravioli -- they also have lovely little wood fired flatbread/pizza type things with toppings such as bresola and fresh mozz -- a solid selection of salads, all of the standard Colorado-type game dishes, as well as some fish. Overall, if you're looking for a place where most will be happy, LB isn't a bad spot to end up; however, if you want to spend a bit more money, I'd go to Kelly Liken, which is right next door and has a bit more exciting menu. Oh, and the noise level is on the loud side, so be prepared to shout a bit if you're downstairs -- din for 3 or 4 with cocktails will likely run at least $225 (but the $14 bourbon, Basil Hayden, is unreal, and I'm usually a girlie drinker).
(3)
Dan M.
Where to eat? Where to eat? Isn't that always the question when you are in a new town? I tried Yelping about some places, but still couldn't decide since this was my first time in Vail, so I asked my hotel concierge who was quite helpful. She opened up all these menus and let me peruse until I happened upon La Bottega. She smiled and said it was one of her favs, so I thought I would give it a try. She called them up and said they were having some special that week (25% off entire check - so even better). Had the minestrone/farm vegetable soup which hit the spot on a chilly winter night. Also tried a salad which was average (as expected), and a wood fired pizza. The pizza was thin and chewy in a NY style tradition but not as cheesey. All and all a good experience. I recommend it.
(3)
Geoffrey T.
We always go to La Bottega every trip to Vail. However, this trip unimpressed. GeGe the waiter was very poor and extremely slow. He did not seem to care about who pays him. Food tasted good but was luke warm at best and that was for all of our dishes and there was 5 of us. Maybe food temp was due to poor waiter service. In reading some of the other reviews, if you are the owner of La Bottega you may want to pay attention to your food product and staff attentiveness as it won't take long to lose the customer base you have built up over the years. Geoff
(2)
Karma K.
Meatballs were ok, the clams and the pasta were overcooked. The clam sauce had way too much wine. Its very obvious that the "cooks" make food to their taste, and likes, not the paying customer. The Tiramisu, and cheesecake were good, just the cheesecake was alittle strange looking, we were told it wasn't ricotta but it looked like it, not sure what type of cream cheese they used. There was a tomato in the salad that was rotten on one side. We didn't complained about it because it was just a small side, we just didn't eat it. I can't wait to find an original Italian restaurant run by Italian Chefs.
(2)
Joshua M.
RUDE OWNER!! After spending 2+hrs outside on the patio with our pups dining over 1 pizza, 2 salads & 1 dessert ... And spending over $200- for 2people (DURING THE OFF-SEASON!) we were thanked with the following. As soon as our American Express Card cleared and we signed the check, the owner came out personally and told us to leave due to the dogs. When just before as we were ordering our 2nd bottle of wine and dessert he was petting our pups?! On our way out of the restaurant the owner didn't have anything very "Politically Correct" to say... Or shall I say yell. He made the "GLBT Community" very unwelcomed by his rantings! ??? Quite a disappointing birthday lunch! Food is mediocre at best... Server was good. What is it with expensive crummy food in this town?? Obviously won't be back or supporting this establishment.
(1)
Eric J.
Best cheese steaks in Colorado
(5)
Carlin L.
We spend Labor Day weekend in Vail at our friend's condo. I'm typically up in Vail for the ski season and had never spent much time during the summer. Needless to say, we had a great time touring the city and enjoying some fine dining. My favorite place was by far, La Bottega, as they replicated to near perfection the flavors of Tuscany Italy. While the prices are slightly expensive, the fine wine, pasta and Cesar salad were fantastic and worth it!
(5)
kristen n.
I've been here many times, only because we have friends that like to dine here. I've never been a fan but the last time we ate here, the food was dismal and the service was horrendous. We were a large party or 8 and everyone in my group agreed that the food and service was depressing for the prices we paid. I vow to not return unless it changes ownership and/or management.
(1)
Mike B.
A business lunch for 8 people went well with salads and sandwiches. The place was pretty busy for a Wednesday in September. Good service too.
(4)
Shari S.
I've eaten at La Bottega a number of times and it is probably my favorite restaurant in Vail. I love their thin crust pizzas which are baked in a wood-fired oven as well as their Spaghetti and Meatballs, Ravioli and the Truffle Gnocchi. If you want something not so carb-heavy, the Cedar Planked Salmon is always excellent as is the Ahi Tuna Alla Puttanesca. Another plus about La Bottega is that you can eat here for a reasonable price if you stick to the pizzas and don't go crazy on alcohol. Last tip: if you are sensitive to noise, when making a reservation (essential) ask that you NOT be seated in the room with windows which faces the intersection (the hostess will know what you mean). Due all the glass and wood, it can be deafeningly loud in there, especially with a lively party at the 8-person table. When there's only the two of us for dinner, I enjoy sitting at one of the high tables in the room with the open plan pizza oven. Last of all, in the summer, they also have tables on the patio.
(5)
Mike B.
It was our second time here and this trip in December was disappointing in terms of food and service. Given we were here last year and really liked the place, maybe it was an off night or they are starting to phone it in. Our Margarita Pizza was just a thin crust shredded cheese pizza with basil on top. I was expecting fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. It tasted alright but if it was brought to our table sooner it would've been better--it came to our table as if it had sat out for awhile and was not hot. Our wine order also took awhile to find its way to the table so we couldn't enjoy the wine with the pizza--it may have improved that experience. After appetizers the service improved so perhaps our waiter was just a bit overwhelmed with a few tables sitting at once. Once our pastas came out, the gemelli with spicy sausage in a tomato vodka sauce was good, but not as great as I remember. It was milder than last time and the sauce was a bit runnier. The sausage didn't seem as red (new source?) as last time either but it was still very flavorful. The carbonara was okay, but lacking in egg flavor and the pancetta was chewy--I would've preferred more egg and the pancetta to be cooked more. Finally we had the Mt. Vesuvius Chocolate Cake with vanilla gelato (the only gelato they carry). It hit the spot but the cake itself was pretty mild. I hope it was just an off night. But I am hard pressed to come back unless I am craving pasta with so many other great places in Vail that impress.
(2)
Craig J.
The carbonara was great, and the owner was friendly. Only down note was the bread they served, which was dry/crumbly in a way it probably wasn't meant to be.
(4)
M J.
A solid four stars - giving a bit of credit for the decent price point/great value and lively atmosphere. Service was really great and the food very good. Bresciaola/arugula app was fantastic and my pasta entree was just loaded with shrimp and crab. Good for families, groups, etc. Sat in bar area since the dining room was booked, and it was just fine. Food is mid priced, which is hard to come by in Vail. Busy place, make reservations. They own a deli next door, thought it may only be open during the day, not sure.
(4)
Jason R.
It's ok, and that's about it. Pasta and main dishes are overpriced for the quality your receive. The service average for a mountain town, which is not a good thing. Best to come here with friends, rather than on a date night. And I'd recommend you just stick to the pizza, charcuterie/cheese options, and glasses of wine. Fun place for sure, put there is much better in Vail. Check it out once, but go in with low expectations!
(3)
Yelpin C.
I didn't think it was possible for an Italian restaurant to mess up every single course, and then I ate here! This was the worst dining experience I've had in a very long time. Service was awful. We were a party of 10 so maybe they were dialing it in for the auto-gratuity but from rude hostesses to consistently-missing waiter to first-day-on-the-job bus boy it was all very sub-par. Apps were forgettable, salads were just plain odd with way too much dressing. My pasta was served cold - not room temp, but actually cold. I sent it back and I swear they nuked the hell out of it. No sauce left and a very odd sour taste. Others in our party did no better. The pizzas and wine list are the only saving grace. I would have rather gone to a fast food restaurant - it was THAT bad! All I can say is - AVOID.
(1)
Kathy G.
3 stars for food, 1 extra star for the patio. Tried the thin crust pizza, linguine (we substituted shrimp instead of the clams) Everyone else had sandwiches (which looked good as well) The pizza was kind of a lavosh style pizza,and it was good, but I've had better. I felt the same about the pasta. All in all, a decent place to grab a lunch or quick dinner in Vail, sit on the beautiful patio with a great view of the mountains.
(3)
Natalie C.
Good pizza, great paninis and wine selection. Everyone was very nice and we received wonderful service.
Food is ok but overpriced. $5 sharing charge at a restaurant with $30 average entrees...really?! We have dined there a few times, not consistent.
(2)
Gina Z.
Food: Awesome- came here for lunch and got the chicken cheese steak, and tried the meatball sub. Both were excellent. The bread was so soft but toasty and who doesn't love shaved meat! We are thinking about going back tomorrow before our flight.... Yum
(4)
Alex O.
Great subs for lunch and at the bar all night. Cheese Chicken Steak is my favorite. Mmmm
(5)
V T.
Do not waste your time. Vail has much better places to enjoy dinner after a nice day on the mountain. Coming from the tri-state area, we are used to great Italian food. I can forgive a restaurant for not being serving stellar dishes if they make for it in service. This place has failed on all fronts. From the hostess, to the coat checker, to the food, everything performed dismally. Vail is known for great cuisine and impeccable service but not La Bottega.
(1)
The Wandering J.
We visited La Bottega while we were wandering around Vail. We were greeted in a pleasant manner and given a choice whether to sit in the bar or the restaurant. We sat next to a window in the restaurant. The vibe inside was pleasant and warm. The waitress served us efficiently. She was most pleasant. The food was excellent. We ordered Panini's and a sandwich. I also had a Guinness. The prices were reasonable. We would have no hesitation in recommending La Bottega.
(4)
Penny W.
We stopped in here for a glass of wine and snack with the pups. They allow dogs on the patio. The wine selection was nice, the servers were friendly and quick. One of the busboys noticed the pups and offered to bring them a water bowl - really nice. We got the quatro estationes pizza. It was good - like what you get in Italy. I would go back and recommend.
(4)
P W.
I really wanted to like this place as it is inviting, warm and cozy when you walk in...but it stops once you are shown to your table Beware you will be rushed, waiters are not food knowledgeable and do not have any desire to "talk food", felt very similar to a chain restaurant (Olive Garden). The wait staff and the food were on par with Olive Garden but be ready to pay twice what the food is worth. The management was rude, I watched them interact with a table who brought in a coupon and the management would not accept, made the table feel very unimportant, and were not concerned at all about the overall experience of their patrons... which puts them below Olive Garden in my eyes, as even the management at Olive Garden are trained in how to be friendly and respect the customer. My advice spend your dollar at another restaurant.
(1)
Nicole P.
Total CRAP ... service, food and management. 1. we had reservations for 8:00 Sunday evening. we arrived at about 7:00 knowing we are way too early we told them we were here and would wait in the bar but would appreciate an earlier table if possible. 2. bar waitress was totally inept. beyond stupid. Long story short, she needed other career plans. 3. So we waited 30 min and asked about a table, we were told shortly. After 45 min we asked again, And after an hour we asked again. By then it was the regular time for our reservation. They were not able to seat us early , thats ok ... BUT dont f'n frustrate me to all living hell by telling me just a few more min every time. Tell me no. And keep someone at the friggin door. The host and manager kept running back in to the restaurant to check on tables and were gone for long stretches, leaving me and a whole lot of other people waiting a lot. 4. All that aside we still ate here because we knew that if we went anywhere else it would be an additional hour wait. My dad and I got Pizza, and it was edible, not remarkable, but fine. The ravioli that my mom and brother had were INEDIBLE! they didnt cook them and the pasta was crunchy. Why didnt we send it back, because after all the bitching we did about getting a table I was afraid to send my food back. I'm sure they dont do that but I still wasn't sending it back. When the waitress asked if our food was good, we said no. Pasta is undercooked, sauce taste like crappy tomato paste and the prices are too high. This place would never survive in Minneapolis MN, I cant understand why it survives in Vail Co.
(1)
Ricky A.
This restaurant has everything going for it, except the entrees are awful. Ambience, waiters, and sommelier were excellent. The appetizers (carpaccio and burrata) were very well done. The entrees were some of the worst we had ever had. The gemelli pasta resembled Hamburger Helper. The fettuccine puttanesca was simply pasta with (watery, possibly canned) marinara sauce. But the Wagyu beef and black truffle ravioli takes the cake as the most horrible dish of the night. Our waiter claimed that it was 'amazing and famous' - yet the Wagyu, which is normally great meat - was ruined and minced, there was not ONE hint of the truffles, and the entire dish was drowned in overpowering marsala sauce. $7 / ravioli, all awful.
(2)
Michael L.
Yummy coal oven pizza that you can customize! No complaints here. Also good pastas despite prior reviews. Decent food at a fair price. Also this was located less than 5 minutes from the condo we rented. Servers were nice and the place is cozy and comfy. Food from our party of 5 had no complaints all were good, none were spectacular. A decent dining option in the village.
(3)
Jared B.
Good place, nice atmosphere. Spinach cannelloni was excellent and definitely a repeater. The cedar plank salmon was a bit dry I would pass on that next time around overall I would give this place 3 3/4 stars out of five.
(4)
Rob P.
Stopped here for lunch on a family road trip. I would stop here again. Service was exceptional, and the menu had so many options that intrigued me, I want to stop back just so I can try something else. Our server was on top of it from the very start, quick friendly and professional. It was lunch and since we were on a road trip I wanted something light, so I just went with the antipasto salad and a Peroni. Got my kids a turkey sandwich and my wife had a veggie sandwich. Everyone was full and happy, can't ask for much more. Great ambiance, no complaints here. By all means stop and check this place out.
(4)
Steve H.
I came in with low expectations. We walked throughout Vail and couldn't find anything we liked or anything that didn't seem to cost an arm and a leg. La Bottega was our last resort and I have to say I walke away impressed. The atmosphere was very energetic and a little chaotic, but the open kitchen was pretty cool. We had the tomato and mozzarella bruschetta to start. It was great. The mozzarella was so creamy and delicious. We also had the duck with polenta. I have to admit, it might have been the best duck I've ever eaten. Perfectly juicy with a great sauce. The vegetable was perfectly grilled and seasoned. We also ordered spaghetti with meatballs. Not only was it delicious, but it came in ample portions. Even with a bottle of wine, an appetizer, and 2 entrees, our bill came out to less than $100. That's impressive since this is Vail.
(5)
Jennifer G.
In any other setting, I'd probably give La Bottega four stars, but because I find Vail Village to be needlessly pretentious and annoying, I can only give it three. I dined here for lunch recently - and I will give them credit for having a decent number of options that don't cost an arm and a leg. The individual sized pizzas were good - not great, but certainly fiavorful and filling. The servers were quick and attentive, and it was overall a pleasantly average experience. Which makes me wonder how it survives in a town that is most definitely not pleasantly average.
(3)
Matt T.
This has become one of our favorite spots in Vail. A good feel in general...nice but not overly fancy and pretenious. Their pizzas are good. Thier white truffle gnocchi is definitely a favorite. I had their mussels the other night which are very good. They wine list has some very expensive wines but also some pretty reasonable ones especially for Vail. All around it is a very good restaurant. It can be crowded so definitely make reservations.
(5)
Martin K.
We ate at La Bottega on our trip through Colorado. I had the goat cheese ravioli which was fabulous. I don't recall what my wife got but she was pleased as well. The service was excellent. The only reason this gets 4 stars is because it was rather hot in the restaurant. We would definitely visit again the next time we visit Vail.
(4)
Steve S.
Man this place could be 4.5 easily! But it's really 2.5 rounded up out of the kindness of my heart. Recommended by the owner at Christiania (4 star) during an overnight visit to Vail. A good recommendation on her part - poor execution on the part of La Botega. Nice place, great location in the village. We were greeted promptly, service was good. Misto Fritto was average; good salads; pizza was good; pasta was good - but nothing to rave about - good, solid Italian offerings. However, they have a great 'wood fired' oven and bar seating overlooking the oven. We sat in the oven area along the windows. For god's sakes - it was late evening, cloudy and they folded down the umbrellas and positioned them RIGHT in FRONT of the windows - ruined a great view of the patio, village and mountains - what in the hell are these people thinking? We had a great close-up of a red umbrella though! It could be a very cozy, inviting place but the two assistant "chefs" (at best) working the oven seemed bored to tears between meal preparations and sat there leaning against the shelves, tapping tongs on the bar - it was annoying - this should be a great place to interact with customers but instead they had two cooks looking bored out of their minds and ruining the experience. It has to be better in prime ski season vs. late summer, if not, I don't know how they survive....what a shame - this place is an easy 5 star with some attention to detail.
(3)
Missy D.
Hands down my favorite Italian in Vail. Great salads, pasta, pizzas, and best of all wine list! They have a fun cozy bar that you can have dinner in as well. This is a very busy spot, so I recommend a reservation, especially for a larger group.
(5)
Robyn B.
On our visit 2/12/11. We had a reservation but still had to wait for over an hour past our reservation for our table. When we asked why we were given attitude and told that the people at our table hadn't left yet. Meanwhile everyone that came in after us was sat, the manager acknowledged this but continued to refer to "our table" as being full. Our party was only 4 so we still don't understand why we had a specific table and couldn't just be seated at the next available place rather then wait over an hour. The food was ok, but not worth the wait or the bad service.
(2)
Lon T.
There's a reason this place is crowded - it's really good! After a fun and vigorous day on the slopes it was all about getting some Italian to carb up for the next day of skiing. We started with a delicious antipasto that had an assortment of cheese, meats and veggies. The highlight was the spaghetti Carbonara which I loved - these guys know how to prepare this dish perfectly with pancetta, garlic and just the right amount of parmesan and fresh pepper. Even though it's a bit loud inside, the great staff and atmosphere made this meal a winner.
(4)
John L.
AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!! While the food may be ok, the service, ambiance, and attitude are awful. The place is always crowded and the tables are packed so tightly that there is literally no way to not be hit every time another patron, waiter, or busboy walks by. We try this place once a year HOPING it will be better because the food is honestly not that bad. But this last visit really finished us off. Having made reservations weeks in advance since this place is always packed, we were to our dismay once again seated at a table for 3 which was barely a table for 1, having 1 seat at the wait station and another shoved out into the aisle so that my wife was hit at least 30 times during dinner including a bus boy with a plastic tub full of dirty dishes that was too large to fit by and so he hoisted it, dripping, over my wife's head. After our meal when we mentioned the poor location of the table and how it really shouldn't ever be a table for 3 to the manager, he said in an INCREDIBLY snotty tone, "Oh...thanks for bringing that to my attention." and then walked quickly away without a second glance. We will never return.
(1)
Fanny L.
We came here as a recommendation from a couple we met on one of the ski lifts. It definitely met our expectations. Do call for a reservation. Because we called at 5pm for a 7:30pm table, we avoided a 45 mins wait. The environment was cute and cozy. We each had an appetizer and an entree. No wine. The bill came out to be about $80. The food was really tasty and not too heavy. We had room for dessert at another place in the Vail Village. Compared to some of the higher end restaurants in Vail, La Bottega is fun, tasty, and affordable.
(4)
Mags M.
We ordered a cheese steak for take-out. Very solid cheese steak. Didn't think the host was too warm when we asked to see the menu. First time in Vail that I found the service to not be warm.
(3)
Jerrold S.
One of the hottest restaurants I've ever been to. I don't mean hot like Mozza or Momofuku. I'm talking about freakin Hades, ya get? It was in the 80s. Again we were with a bachelor party of 10 people. They sat us upstairs to keep us away from the civilians. There were 3 other tables and a total of around 24 people. It was hot like you wouldn't believe. Ok so after we get over the initial heat we ordered some apps, salads and pasta. It's Italian food, don't try to reinvent the wheel people and get too fancy. The pizzas were nice for brick oven thin crust margheritas. The sauce had a nice blend of sweetness and tang. Great crust - you could tell it was cooked in hot intense fire for a short period. My only complaint was a very thin layering of cheese and the pizza was kinda cold when we got it. The salads were salads no harm no foul. I was contemplating between 2 pastas - gemelli with sausage in vodka sauce or carbonarra. I decided to go with the gemelli. It was a nice version. I couldn't tell if the pasta was fresh or not because the pasta was cooked all the way through. Big no no. The sausage was eh but I did enjoy the sauce. It didn't have quite the punch I like in my vodka sauce but it was creamy and tasty mostly because the red sauce seemed like it was a nice base for anything. The bread they brought out was an egg bread similar to challah. Weird.
(2)
Teri S.
This place was recommended to me by the Concierge at my hotel for a nice italian lunch. He was spot on! I started off with an appetizer - baked goat cheese with marinara and tuscan bread crostini. The goat cheese was light and fluffy and the marinara was to die for. Perfect and rustic. I think they put sundried tomatoes in the marinara to add another level of flavor. My entree was a meatball sandwich that was covered with marinara and melted mozzarella. The meatballs were pretty good, not the best I've had, and that tuscan bread again made the whole thing fabulous. The service was really good, but it was a bit pricey, but I find most places in Vail are that way. I would definately go back for that appetizer and dinner sometime and when I get home, I am going to try and replicate that marinara sauce which was the best I've had.
(4)
Scott S.
This past weekend was my first time visiting Vail and La Bottega, which we found via Yelp. I often pooh-pooh the 1 star reviews as aberrations (esp. when they use poor spelling :) ), if there are many good reviews, as was the case with this restaurant. And I am glad I did. We had excellent service and an even better meal. As an Italian (like, an actual Italian citizen) I know my Italian food, and La Bottega was excellent. We went on a Saturday night, and it was full, but not over-crowded. The ambiance was just what you'd expect in an Italian/Alpine setting--very cozy. Perhaps the people who found the place too hot were sitting in the gorgeous pizza oven? We sat at a table across from it, and the temperature was fine. Our server was courteous and prompt, and the food, delicious. I had the gnocchi, which, unlike at many American restaurants, was obviously homemade and not taken from an imported vacuum pack--it was exquisite. My partner had the gemelli in vodka sauce, which was fairly spicy and to die for. For dessert, we had the profiteroles, and I must say, of all the profiteroles I've had in my life (yes, many), these were the best by far. I highly recommend this place as the best Italian Vail has to offer.
(5)
Todd K.
By far the best steak and cheese within 50 miles. It ain't a Philly cheesesteak, but it ain't bad.
(4)
Dixie C.
La Bottega is located near the edge of Vail Village and was quite crowded for a Tuesday night dinner. The atmosphere was decidedly casual and the service was friendly with the owner stopping at every table with his recommendations. We mostly ordered pasta and the dishes were good with very large portions, but were not spectacular. They were also fairly expensive. The wine list was way overpriced, charging over $100 for a $32 dollar bottle of wine. All in all, a decent dinner at a ski resort, but if it had been better priced, would have gotten one more star.
(3)
GAIL W.
The place is very cozy and has a real wood burning pizza oven. We sat down and waited 10 minutes before anyone took our drink order. The place only had 3 other tables occupied. Waitress was nice and suggested the tuna salad sub. sandwich. I asked if it was white Albacore and she said it was. But of course when she brought it it was dark tuna which I do not care for. It has a strong flavor that I just don't enjoy. She told me that it was probably white once. HA HA! She removed the offending sandwich and returned saying the Chef and the Owner said that tuna is supposed to be pink. Again I laugh. I told her they were speaking of Rare Ahi and that it was chunk light tuna at best. Check the tin Chef, you know the one you placed the order for and decided to save money and go for the cheap version. When we left, the hostess said "Thank You", and "Your Welcome" before we could respond. Whatever! Then an older woman gave The Doc. a scowl as he left. I also noticed in the deli case pre-made pasta dishes for the dinner rush ready to pop in the oven. If you have a discriminating palate, Steer Clear! While the "Frito Misto" was tender it was dripping with oil.
(1)
Steven S.
My wife and I have eaten here three times this week...twice for dinner and once for lunch. We have enjoyed the food all three times. Service was good on each occasion and we enjoyed the outdoor eating area.
(4)
Andrew T.
THE MGMT IS BEYOND RUDE & DISRESPECTFUL AND REASON ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO NOT PATRONIZE THE ESTABLISHMENT. There are many good places to eat in Vail, but this isn't one of them. I called to ask what soup they were serving and made a reservation. When we arrived, i was told by a rude, unattractive older woman running around barking orders with an Italian accent that there was no reservation. She was looking under the wrong name, so I gave her my name again and she said that I hadn't made any reservation. I told her that was not true, that I even asked about the soup- the rude woman then remembered the call and said I had indeed made the reservation, as if I had just won a prize, but never apologized. She seated us 10 mts later, still calling me by the wrong name- what an arrogant idiot. The waiter was nice enough, but served the mediocre-at-best food in a staggered order. The soup was dense as lead, the pasta overcooked and my 10 year old daughter's small serving of roasted chicken was as dry as jerky; how does a 'chef' screw up roasted chicken? The white meat was so dry it was inedible. When we complained to the waiter, he took it back to the kitchen. When it was time to pay the check, the rude older woman came back to our table and said the waiter wanted to comp the inedible chicken but accused my daughter of having eaten too much of it! The waiter came back with the overcooked white meat and she yelled at him in Italian, poking her pudgy finger at the meat. I told her that my daughter took two bites and spit it out on the plate (it was still there!), the serving was small and nobody ate the damn meat. She left the table in a huff and returned with a fat, disheveled rude man in chef's whites, the owner, who impatiently listened to her and yelled "charge him half," and then walked away. AT NO POINT DID ANYONE IN MGMT APOLOGIZE FOR THE INEDIBLE FOOD NOR OFFER TO GET MY DAUGHTER SOMETHING ELSE. THEY DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAILURES AND WERE RUDE TO US. THEY NEVER EVEN TRIED TO BE NICE TO US. I can't wait for this place to go out of business and the owners doing work more on par with their qualifications, like washing dishes and mopping floors.
(1)
Sarah R.
I don't know that I'd recommend this one. We wanted to go into Vail Village, and didn't want to spend an arm and a leg, and this had some positive reviews on Chowhound, so we thought we'd give it a go. We sat at the pizza bar (didn't have a reservation), and they were able to seat us right away there, which was a plus. But, it was like they were desperate to flip the seats - our food came out immediately with course 2 being rushed in only minutes after our starters. It certainly wasn't as cheap as fast food so it was annoying to feel so rushed. Some of the food was very good - loved the 4-cheese pizza and the special pizza of the day, which featured duck and truffles I believe. I also liked the carpaccio, and the kobe ravioli was pretty good. I wasn't all that impressed with the special salad of the day, which featured arugula, pine nuts and proscuitto, nor was I that wild about the Caesar - they were out of anchovies! We were really disappointed with the carbonara - my husband makes better carbonara. It tasted like they mixed in the egg while it was still cooking rather than fold in the yolk at the very end, so it was clumpy versus silky. Anyway - if you're craving pizzas I'd go for it as they were fabulous, but for anything more than that I'd probably skip it.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : 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.
Richard S.
My wife and I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon for a snack and a couple of drinks. The outdoor seating is very pleasant and the service was great. We had bruschetta and prosciutto with melon. Both were very good. The table next to us had pizza from the wood fired oven and it must have also been good because it didn't last long.
(5)Kerry S.
We had dinner at La Bottega on 7/4/15. The location is terrific, and we had very good service with just the summer ambiance we were seeking on the nicely shaded patio. Here's where they fell down: the food is average at best. We had the tomato mozzarella bruschetta for around $9 - one large end piece of bread cut in half so we could share, plenty of topping. An okay start. My gemelli with vodka sauce and spicy sausage tasted like boxed pasta, bottled sauce, and half a piece of Italian sausage sliced wafer-thin and mixed in. About $20. Husband had veal scalloppini over fettuccini, in a mushroom cream sauce, something like $30-32. The mushroom cream sauce was copious, thin, and oddly sweet. Neither were very good or very bad -- nice quantity of food and we both ate enough to be full. We both left some on the plate (an oddity for us to be honest when pasta is involved). Anywhere but Vail, I would have expected to pay half as much for this quality of boxed pasta. For Vail, the price to quality ratio was probably normal-to-better and the location was perfection with attentive and relaxed service. Next time, if it were all about the food, I'd probably try Pazzo's down the street for better tasting food at better prices in casual bar atmosphere. If it were about the ambiance and location, I'd go back to La Bottega and have their thin crust pizza - those looked good.
(3)Maxwell D.
Horrible tenancy to under-cook food. The first time we ate there, we ordered the oven fire muscles. They were served to us completely raw. Today, I ordered a caesar salad with salmon. It was a to-go order and when I arrived home and looked at the salmon, it was almost completely raw. It looked like it had been on the grill for maybe 10 seconds. I called La Bottega and the rude manager couldn't even apologize. Overall, this place doesn't care about its customers and doesn't care about its food. AVOID at all costs.
(1)Stacey T.
I came for lunch and had the cheesesteak. It was excellent, but didn't come with any sides. The waiter was efficient and the food came out quick. Nice outdoor patio.
(4)Nicole S.
Just alright. Overpriced. We came here for lunch and had a nice bottle of white wine. They gave us the dinner menu and we had to specifically ask for the lunch menu because we wanted salads/sandwiches (waiter seemed not to pleased with our request, too). I ordered the turkey sandwich-it was decent but the bread was too soft and just didn't taste that fresh to me. They could've stacked the turkey a little higher, too; it was overall a little sparse. Place is just okay.
(2)Melanie R.
We love la Bottega and go every year. I recommend you get reservations because they're busy every night. It's casual dress. The mussels are a must, we get them as appetizer. The pizza's are delish. They also have great pastas and other entrees. My daughter got the Kobe short ribs, she said it was the best meal she ever had. The waiter highly recommends the osso bucco and my husband got the grilled tenderloin encrusted which was good but he should have gotten the short ribs too. The service was very friendly and accommodating. And, I made my reservations on Yelp.
(5)Jeannie T.
Stopped in Vail after ATV'ing. We changed but still looked a little worn for Vail. Lol. Went to La Bottega. Best way to describe it is a nice small Italian place that also has upscale subs and pizzas. We were a little nervous but had a great meal. Kids got pizzas, subs. Hubby got chicken Parm and I got a delicious goat cheese panini. Pricier than our usual Pizza and Subs stop, but hey - - it's Vail! :)
(4)Juniper H.
Walked in on a Monday evening. Got seated by the drunk owner. Looked at the menu and just couldn't stomach the attitude of that owner so we left. Enough said.
(1)Gary K.
I guess I should have checked the Yelp reviews before sitting down. But since I was really hungry and just looking for lunch along the way, I figured that it would be better than stopping at a Burger King - Eek! Methinks not. When you order a "Steak Sandwich" at an Italian restaurant you would expect a hunk of meat that looks at least a bit like a steak. If the steak is not the best quality, it would be sliced up and still be recognizable as having come from a steak. What arrived was more like pulled pork or shredded meat. Like a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich, except without the cheese, without the spice, had no taste and dry to boot. At least the bun was nicely toasted. That would have earned La Bottega at least 2 stars from me, but while I was taking the last few bites of the sandwich. The server came, said "I'll take that away from you" and before I could answer (I was biting into the sandwich) took my plate away leaving me holding the last few bites of my sandwich. What's up?? Run out of plates in the kitchen? Unforgivable even if they were in a hurry to close. But it was 10 minutes to 1pm.
(1)Nick K.
Terrible. I went with my family and brothers. All of us are of age, but they gave us an incredibly difficult time regarding out of state ID's, really ruining the vibe of the night. Moreover, the manager and and waiter wouldn't leave us alone as they were on their high-horse defending themselves instead of apologizing. The food is okay. Definitely not worth the price. I would not recommend. Vail has so many better places to offer and this truly was the worst dining experience in my recent memory.
(1)Mindy D.
Very expensive, but the truffle gnocchi I had (and ate as slowly as possible so it wouldn't end quickly) and my friend's pork ragu were incredibly delicious. Our waiter was pleasant and attentive and we really enjoyed sitting on the well positioned patio. I would say it is a perfect example of "Vail" prices, but truly had a fantastic meal.
(4)Lisa A.
My friend and I ate at this restaurant tonight. I am shocked by all the poor reviews. We had a long day rafting and wanted to go somewhere great next to our hotel. The previous day we took the Vail Valley food tour and this was one the restaurants on the tour. The tasting was amazing (truffle gnocchi) and we decided to go back. We arrived in the late evening and were seated right away. Our waiter was very attentive and got us our drinks and appetizer within a reasonable time. We ordered the buffalo mozzarella for the app and it was fantastic. My friend ordered the ricotta and spinach cannoli and I ordered the linguini with fresh summer truffles. Both dishes were slap you in the face amazing! The waiter then told us that their tiramisu was homemade and we should at least try that.....OK! Holy sh$&!! It was real homemade Italian tiramisu and I felt like I was in Italy. We paired this with two glasses of VSOP cognac and I was amazed at the pour they gave us. Most places give you a VERY small pour and theirs was generous. Great experience and for apps, dinner, 4 glasses of excellent wine, dessert and cognac all under 175, I can't complain one bit! I'm surprised at the previous reviews. Maybe they have good nights and bad nights? The only reason I gave it 4 starts was because the service staff seemed frazzled and manic. Although the service was great, it would be a much greater experience if they just relaxed a little, from the hostess to the waiters.
(4)Kelly K.
This place was super busy so the service was a little less than perfect the night we were there. Still rounding up to 4-stars because any good place in Vail during ski season is going to be busy and we were lucky to even get our tiny, cramped table. :) I ordered the fettuccini with shrimp, lump crab, asparagus & sun dried tomatoes in a light wine sauce and it hit the spot -- really nice. They didn't skimp on seafood which is a bonus. Bread was good too! Go there if you are seeking better-than-average Italian food in Vail.
(4)Manuel Z.
Horrible service. After spending more than $1500, and 20% tip, we were kicked out before we could finish our drinks. The manager was extremely arrogant. Food-wise, it is sub-par for Italian food.
(1)Jeff L.
Great place to eat, I think the only place in the Vail to get a real Italian sub sandwich. Greanted not the cheapest place in town to eat but the only place to get that kind of food, other sandwich places just have the same flavor. Bottega is a high end dining restruant and I always get my orders to go so can;t say to much about the dining in house but the carry out menu is outstanding. The Tuna is also a great choice, well just about eveything on the menu is great. It's allways a treat to eat at Bottega,
(5)Megan H.
I'm confused why there are so many negative reviews as this place is one of our family's favorites. I love their mussels, they have great salads and pizza, and their entrees always seem to be of great quality and are delicious! We happily come here again and again, even with some of the other top options in Vail. It's just good.
(4)Erin H.
Forgettable food. Marginal service. My signature was not even dry on my $1000 check and the customers we were meeting with still had wine in their glass when we were asked to leave so the restaurant could turn the table. There are many wonderful restaurants in Vail. Please go there instead.
(1)Marisa L.
I have been eating here for years! Literally almost 20 years. The food is always so good. Pizzas are so simple but amazing. Great busy atmosphere, the place just keeps getting better and better. I'll always eat here. Lunch or dinner it's all good.
(5)Dorothy N.
Bad Service We have been here many times, spent a ton of money and had good food. The Hostesses are always prissy. We called for a reservation and said if we eat in the bar we don't need one, as we have done many times before. Upon arrival we sat down at the bar then the second hostess came over and said we had to leave because the bar was a reserved spot. She made us leave after we had our adult beverages sitting at the table. Poor Service. Don't go there are plenty of other paces in Vail to spend your hard earned money.
(1)Alex O.
Mixed reviews on this place. The concierge at our hotel recommended this restaurant, but I'm kind of wishing I had also checked Yelp before we went there, because if I had, we probably would have skipped La Bottega. While Yelp can be hit or miss on their reviews (I completely disagreed the 4.5 stars users had given Alpenrose on Vail), I think this one was pretty spot on here. Our waiter was a nice young Romanian guy, who was very pleasant and friendly. The service at this place seems to be the number one complaint on yelp, and while our waiter was pleasant, the overall service experience wasn't the greatest. Bread took a while to arrive, took a while to finally get the wine list, which should have already been on the table when we sat down, and when my father ordered a second glass of wine it took over 20 minutes for it to arrive. The Ambiance was pretty nice, especially if you're in the main room where the pizza oven is on display. The restaurant did feel a little tight though. Fortunately, we only had 3 in our party and not 4, because the 4th seat would not have had much space due to the neighboring table. The food was split decision. My folks shared the Fettuccine "alla Boscaiola" dish and really liked it. I ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara, and was highly disappointed. The highlight was that the noodles were cooked perfectly al dente, but that was about it. I added chicken breast to it, which was a little on the tough side, but perhaps the most disappointment was that the dish was unbearably drenched in butter and/or oil that pooled at the bottom of the plate. If I can figure out how to attach the picture I took to this review, I will...it was pretty bad. Maybe I just picked the wrong dish, or maybe it was an off night for them, but my folks did enjoy their food, so I'll give this place the benefit of the doubt with 3 stars. For the price of some of the entrees though ($28-$50$, hopefully the rest of the menu is on a much higher level, but I don't know if that's a risk I'm willing to take; if by chance I make it back to La Bottega, I think I will follow the advice of many other Yelp users and just stick to the pizza. If my experience were to happen to change, I would if course update my review.
(3)Carrie s.
I am at a loss as to why the reviews are so mixed. We had a fabulous dinner here. The service was great. Our waitress was attentive and suggestive and our meals were superb. We left pleased with our experience And will definitely be back again.
(4)John V.
Food poisoning!!!!! Terrible service!!!! Waited almost two hours for our food after being seated and food was cold. Several members of our party were sick next day! When we asked about the delay bartender John said it was out fault do not complaining sooner. When we told them the chicken was room temp a man GeGe pretended to be a manager said he could not do anything that their oven does not get that hot???? Don't risk it Have been coming to Vail for years and So many better restaurants.
(1)Dayna R.
Just had dinner there on the patio and enjoyed it very much. Even with the short rainstorm towards the end of our meal it was very pleasant with umbrellas to shelter us. Service was good but the waiter did seem rushed. The Josephine salad as a starter was simple but delicious! Greens, tomato, lots of Gorgonzola and a light olive oil dressing. My husband had the veal scallopine w/ a cream sauce pasta and loved every bite. My son had roasted game hen with greens and was very pleased. I had the linguine w/ crab, shrimp, asparagus, and dried roasted tomatoes in a light butter sauce and couldn't stop eating it! Our only disappointment was the bread which, although it came out warm, was a bit dry and flavorless. Good thing we had olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it in. Definitely a nice place to spend and evening in the summer.
(4)Shauna W.
I have eaten here throughout the years and the only reason I end up going back is because of the pasta gemelli and the design of the place is charming (cottage like). I am ALWAYS disappointed so I am putting my foot down. These boots are made for walking and that's what you should do too. The service is terrible and this time my pasta was cold and lacked flavor. My significant other's food came out wrong twice and the expensive bottle of wine we ordered was slammed down on our table w/o an offer to decant etc. Thank goodness we had something to drink however because we never got waters even after asking. This place always acts like you're lucky to be there, but from getting sick a few years ago, to the terrible service, you will not feel "lucky". Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. I am done.
(1)Willy R.
La Bottega has gone downhill. First, ask not to be seated upstairs. These tables are crammed in an upstairs room that misses out on the feel of the place. The menu needs to be updated, and the food is not extraordinary. Formerly a superb restaurant, but the food could use and update and the service needs to be more consistent. The upstairs room is not a fair guest experience for the same price
(3)Gavin W.
While the place has a great ambiance and beautiful setting, I can not say good things about their pizza. I came here on a Sunday afternoon and sat out on the patio. Ordered the Diavola pizza and was sorely disappointed. The crust was soggy, making it nearly impossible to a eat a slice without having it fall completely apart. Ingredients were good, the execution wasn't. I wouldn't come back to eat, but would certainly come to enjoy a glass of wine of the patio. Also, it's quite pricey. Service was ok, but they were not that busy when I visited.
(3)Kevin G.
Several of our party of 7 started with Caesar salads, very disappointed, no flavor at all, just lettuce with a little oil, store bought croutons and Parmesan cheese. The entries were a little better and nicely presented. The Creme Brûlée was not well caramelized and had no fruit. Service was attentive but one was very poor English.
(2)Neal B.
Great food, wine and service. If you're in the mood for seafood highly recommend the mussels for an appie and the crab, shrimp linguini with asparagus and sun dried tomatoes. Feeling adventurous - try the rabbit.
(4)John D.
This place gets mixed reviews by many on Yelp... Tonight's service was excellent, food (salads & pizzas) was good. We were seated on-time for our reservation.
(4)Michelle A.
Went with a few friends for a lovely weekend. The first meal we enjoyed was here. We shared a pizza and an antipasto dish. It was till nice outside so that we sat on their patio. The server was friendly and all in all not a bad experience.
(4)Debbie M.
We were at the restaurant on 8/10. There was a lady with her dog in a stroller next to us. INSIDE the restaurant. Screaming and running children INSIDE the restaurant. I would pass until they get some things under control. This was not worth the $100+ we spent.
(2)Richard L.
Great waiter ... terrible food. Tragic. What a waste of 80 bucks. We had the lobster ravioli and the crusted veal ... we actually left our meals after only having a few bites. We were warned that the place was a hit or miss but it was close to where we were staying so we went for it. Man what a mistake. I guess if the hotel staff warns you, you should listen since they're right there. terrible - terrible - terrible. Again, our waiter was great but the poor guy simply had nothing good to serve.
(1)Greg L.
The food is good. The ambiance and service is pleasant. Don't recommend for large parties unless you are okay with dealing with one check after an otherwise pleasant meal.
(4)Margot R.
This place use to be nice for drinks. They now have long tables for dinner at the bar with big noisy crowds. Owners / chef very grumpy people.
(2)Sandy S.
We ate here again last night, have to say nothings changed we had wonderful pizzas with crispy crust & garlicky mussels with a glass of proseco it can't be beat.
(5)Maria P.
Went to La Bottega when my brother was in town, his treat, and boy oh boy, wow! The meal was amazing. The wine list was extensive and the food absolutely perfect. I had the salmon filet and my brother the duck with polenta. Both were excellent. We finished our meal off with espresso and grappa for him and a tiramisu martini for me! Best dessert I ever had! The staff was attentive and not over bearing. We sat outside and the heaters out there kept us toasty and comfortable throughout the meal. If you are looking to have a nice night out the food and service are unbeatable here.
(5)Rachel N.
Still confused why everyone but me finds La Bottega to be the cat's meow; however, I will admit that a recent trip was better than expected. They offer a winter truffle menu (um, hello $95 mac and cheese, I love you), and will also shave white or black truffles over any dish for $28/gram -- but that aside, if you're getting pasta, I think that the sage porcini, w/ its earthy, comforting tones is the way to go, though my grandmother also raves abt the lobster ravioli -- they also have lovely little wood fired flatbread/pizza type things with toppings such as bresola and fresh mozz -- a solid selection of salads, all of the standard Colorado-type game dishes, as well as some fish. Overall, if you're looking for a place where most will be happy, LB isn't a bad spot to end up; however, if you want to spend a bit more money, I'd go to Kelly Liken, which is right next door and has a bit more exciting menu. Oh, and the noise level is on the loud side, so be prepared to shout a bit if you're downstairs -- din for 3 or 4 with cocktails will likely run at least $225 (but the $14 bourbon, Basil Hayden, is unreal, and I'm usually a girlie drinker).
(3)Dan M.
Where to eat? Where to eat? Isn't that always the question when you are in a new town? I tried Yelping about some places, but still couldn't decide since this was my first time in Vail, so I asked my hotel concierge who was quite helpful. She opened up all these menus and let me peruse until I happened upon La Bottega. She smiled and said it was one of her favs, so I thought I would give it a try. She called them up and said they were having some special that week (25% off entire check - so even better). Had the minestrone/farm vegetable soup which hit the spot on a chilly winter night. Also tried a salad which was average (as expected), and a wood fired pizza. The pizza was thin and chewy in a NY style tradition but not as cheesey. All and all a good experience. I recommend it.
(3)Geoffrey T.
We always go to La Bottega every trip to Vail. However, this trip unimpressed. GeGe the waiter was very poor and extremely slow. He did not seem to care about who pays him. Food tasted good but was luke warm at best and that was for all of our dishes and there was 5 of us. Maybe food temp was due to poor waiter service. In reading some of the other reviews, if you are the owner of La Bottega you may want to pay attention to your food product and staff attentiveness as it won't take long to lose the customer base you have built up over the years. Geoff
(2)Karma K.
Meatballs were ok, the clams and the pasta were overcooked. The clam sauce had way too much wine. Its very obvious that the "cooks" make food to their taste, and likes, not the paying customer. The Tiramisu, and cheesecake were good, just the cheesecake was alittle strange looking, we were told it wasn't ricotta but it looked like it, not sure what type of cream cheese they used. There was a tomato in the salad that was rotten on one side. We didn't complained about it because it was just a small side, we just didn't eat it. I can't wait to find an original Italian restaurant run by Italian Chefs.
(2)Joshua M.
RUDE OWNER!! After spending 2+hrs outside on the patio with our pups dining over 1 pizza, 2 salads & 1 dessert ... And spending over $200- for 2people (DURING THE OFF-SEASON!) we were thanked with the following. As soon as our American Express Card cleared and we signed the check, the owner came out personally and told us to leave due to the dogs. When just before as we were ordering our 2nd bottle of wine and dessert he was petting our pups?! On our way out of the restaurant the owner didn't have anything very "Politically Correct" to say... Or shall I say yell. He made the "GLBT Community" very unwelcomed by his rantings! ??? Quite a disappointing birthday lunch! Food is mediocre at best... Server was good. What is it with expensive crummy food in this town?? Obviously won't be back or supporting this establishment.
(1)Eric J.
Best cheese steaks in Colorado
(5)Carlin L.
We spend Labor Day weekend in Vail at our friend's condo. I'm typically up in Vail for the ski season and had never spent much time during the summer. Needless to say, we had a great time touring the city and enjoying some fine dining. My favorite place was by far, La Bottega, as they replicated to near perfection the flavors of Tuscany Italy. While the prices are slightly expensive, the fine wine, pasta and Cesar salad were fantastic and worth it!
(5)kristen n.
I've been here many times, only because we have friends that like to dine here. I've never been a fan but the last time we ate here, the food was dismal and the service was horrendous. We were a large party or 8 and everyone in my group agreed that the food and service was depressing for the prices we paid. I vow to not return unless it changes ownership and/or management.
(1)Mike B.
A business lunch for 8 people went well with salads and sandwiches. The place was pretty busy for a Wednesday in September. Good service too.
(4)Shari S.
I've eaten at La Bottega a number of times and it is probably my favorite restaurant in Vail. I love their thin crust pizzas which are baked in a wood-fired oven as well as their Spaghetti and Meatballs, Ravioli and the Truffle Gnocchi. If you want something not so carb-heavy, the Cedar Planked Salmon is always excellent as is the Ahi Tuna Alla Puttanesca. Another plus about La Bottega is that you can eat here for a reasonable price if you stick to the pizzas and don't go crazy on alcohol. Last tip: if you are sensitive to noise, when making a reservation (essential) ask that you NOT be seated in the room with windows which faces the intersection (the hostess will know what you mean). Due all the glass and wood, it can be deafeningly loud in there, especially with a lively party at the 8-person table. When there's only the two of us for dinner, I enjoy sitting at one of the high tables in the room with the open plan pizza oven. Last of all, in the summer, they also have tables on the patio.
(5)Mike B.
It was our second time here and this trip in December was disappointing in terms of food and service. Given we were here last year and really liked the place, maybe it was an off night or they are starting to phone it in. Our Margarita Pizza was just a thin crust shredded cheese pizza with basil on top. I was expecting fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. It tasted alright but if it was brought to our table sooner it would've been better--it came to our table as if it had sat out for awhile and was not hot. Our wine order also took awhile to find its way to the table so we couldn't enjoy the wine with the pizza--it may have improved that experience. After appetizers the service improved so perhaps our waiter was just a bit overwhelmed with a few tables sitting at once. Once our pastas came out, the gemelli with spicy sausage in a tomato vodka sauce was good, but not as great as I remember. It was milder than last time and the sauce was a bit runnier. The sausage didn't seem as red (new source?) as last time either but it was still very flavorful. The carbonara was okay, but lacking in egg flavor and the pancetta was chewy--I would've preferred more egg and the pancetta to be cooked more. Finally we had the Mt. Vesuvius Chocolate Cake with vanilla gelato (the only gelato they carry). It hit the spot but the cake itself was pretty mild. I hope it was just an off night. But I am hard pressed to come back unless I am craving pasta with so many other great places in Vail that impress.
(2)Craig J.
The carbonara was great, and the owner was friendly. Only down note was the bread they served, which was dry/crumbly in a way it probably wasn't meant to be.
(4)M J.
A solid four stars - giving a bit of credit for the decent price point/great value and lively atmosphere. Service was really great and the food very good. Bresciaola/arugula app was fantastic and my pasta entree was just loaded with shrimp and crab. Good for families, groups, etc. Sat in bar area since the dining room was booked, and it was just fine. Food is mid priced, which is hard to come by in Vail. Busy place, make reservations. They own a deli next door, thought it may only be open during the day, not sure.
(4)Jason R.
It's ok, and that's about it. Pasta and main dishes are overpriced for the quality your receive. The service average for a mountain town, which is not a good thing. Best to come here with friends, rather than on a date night. And I'd recommend you just stick to the pizza, charcuterie/cheese options, and glasses of wine. Fun place for sure, put there is much better in Vail. Check it out once, but go in with low expectations!
(3)Yelpin C.
I didn't think it was possible for an Italian restaurant to mess up every single course, and then I ate here! This was the worst dining experience I've had in a very long time. Service was awful. We were a party of 10 so maybe they were dialing it in for the auto-gratuity but from rude hostesses to consistently-missing waiter to first-day-on-the-job bus boy it was all very sub-par. Apps were forgettable, salads were just plain odd with way too much dressing. My pasta was served cold - not room temp, but actually cold. I sent it back and I swear they nuked the hell out of it. No sauce left and a very odd sour taste. Others in our party did no better. The pizzas and wine list are the only saving grace. I would have rather gone to a fast food restaurant - it was THAT bad! All I can say is - AVOID.
(1)Kathy G.
3 stars for food, 1 extra star for the patio. Tried the thin crust pizza, linguine (we substituted shrimp instead of the clams) Everyone else had sandwiches (which looked good as well) The pizza was kind of a lavosh style pizza,and it was good, but I've had better. I felt the same about the pasta. All in all, a decent place to grab a lunch or quick dinner in Vail, sit on the beautiful patio with a great view of the mountains.
(3)Natalie C.
Good pizza, great paninis and wine selection. Everyone was very nice and we received wonderful service.
(5)Brian B.
Utterly horrible. The food was average, but the service ruined the meal. After being served half-filled cups of cold soup, we waited hour for our next course. Just after deciding that we were going to leave, our entrées began to come out one by one. My striped bass was completely mis-represented on the menu and by the waitress as well. I commented on the issue to the woman co-owner, suggesting that the food looked fine but that she might want to consider revising the menu. She told me that the menu was fine, that I was privileged even to be eating in her restaurant, and stomped away. Finally, the restaurant applied a "mandatory" gratuity to the meal. We asked that it be removed because we had so many problems. The woman co-owner was again unapologetically offensive and insisted we pay the tip. After arguing for several minutes a completely drunk male co-owner came out from the kitchen and proceeded to berate us for not paying the tip. I have never been treated so poorly at any restaurant. I cannot imagine that I would set foot in the place again.
(1)Jerry H.
Food is ok but overpriced. $5 sharing charge at a restaurant with $30 average entrees...really?! We have dined there a few times, not consistent.
(2)Gina Z.
Food: Awesome- came here for lunch and got the chicken cheese steak, and tried the meatball sub. Both were excellent. The bread was so soft but toasty and who doesn't love shaved meat! We are thinking about going back tomorrow before our flight.... Yum
(4)Alex O.
Great subs for lunch and at the bar all night. Cheese Chicken Steak is my favorite. Mmmm
(5)V T.
Do not waste your time. Vail has much better places to enjoy dinner after a nice day on the mountain. Coming from the tri-state area, we are used to great Italian food. I can forgive a restaurant for not being serving stellar dishes if they make for it in service. This place has failed on all fronts. From the hostess, to the coat checker, to the food, everything performed dismally. Vail is known for great cuisine and impeccable service but not La Bottega.
(1)The Wandering J.
We visited La Bottega while we were wandering around Vail. We were greeted in a pleasant manner and given a choice whether to sit in the bar or the restaurant. We sat next to a window in the restaurant. The vibe inside was pleasant and warm. The waitress served us efficiently. She was most pleasant. The food was excellent. We ordered Panini's and a sandwich. I also had a Guinness. The prices were reasonable. We would have no hesitation in recommending La Bottega.
(4)Penny W.
We stopped in here for a glass of wine and snack with the pups. They allow dogs on the patio. The wine selection was nice, the servers were friendly and quick. One of the busboys noticed the pups and offered to bring them a water bowl - really nice. We got the quatro estationes pizza. It was good - like what you get in Italy. I would go back and recommend.
(4)P W.
I really wanted to like this place as it is inviting, warm and cozy when you walk in...but it stops once you are shown to your table Beware you will be rushed, waiters are not food knowledgeable and do not have any desire to "talk food", felt very similar to a chain restaurant (Olive Garden). The wait staff and the food were on par with Olive Garden but be ready to pay twice what the food is worth. The management was rude, I watched them interact with a table who brought in a coupon and the management would not accept, made the table feel very unimportant, and were not concerned at all about the overall experience of their patrons... which puts them below Olive Garden in my eyes, as even the management at Olive Garden are trained in how to be friendly and respect the customer. My advice spend your dollar at another restaurant.
(1)Nicole P.
Total CRAP ... service, food and management. 1. we had reservations for 8:00 Sunday evening. we arrived at about 7:00 knowing we are way too early we told them we were here and would wait in the bar but would appreciate an earlier table if possible. 2. bar waitress was totally inept. beyond stupid. Long story short, she needed other career plans. 3. So we waited 30 min and asked about a table, we were told shortly. After 45 min we asked again, And after an hour we asked again. By then it was the regular time for our reservation. They were not able to seat us early , thats ok ... BUT dont f'n frustrate me to all living hell by telling me just a few more min every time. Tell me no. And keep someone at the friggin door. The host and manager kept running back in to the restaurant to check on tables and were gone for long stretches, leaving me and a whole lot of other people waiting a lot. 4. All that aside we still ate here because we knew that if we went anywhere else it would be an additional hour wait. My dad and I got Pizza, and it was edible, not remarkable, but fine. The ravioli that my mom and brother had were INEDIBLE! they didnt cook them and the pasta was crunchy. Why didnt we send it back, because after all the bitching we did about getting a table I was afraid to send my food back. I'm sure they dont do that but I still wasn't sending it back. When the waitress asked if our food was good, we said no. Pasta is undercooked, sauce taste like crappy tomato paste and the prices are too high. This place would never survive in Minneapolis MN, I cant understand why it survives in Vail Co.
(1)Ricky A.
This restaurant has everything going for it, except the entrees are awful. Ambience, waiters, and sommelier were excellent. The appetizers (carpaccio and burrata) were very well done. The entrees were some of the worst we had ever had. The gemelli pasta resembled Hamburger Helper. The fettuccine puttanesca was simply pasta with (watery, possibly canned) marinara sauce. But the Wagyu beef and black truffle ravioli takes the cake as the most horrible dish of the night. Our waiter claimed that it was 'amazing and famous' - yet the Wagyu, which is normally great meat - was ruined and minced, there was not ONE hint of the truffles, and the entire dish was drowned in overpowering marsala sauce. $7 / ravioli, all awful.
(2)Michael L.
Yummy coal oven pizza that you can customize! No complaints here. Also good pastas despite prior reviews. Decent food at a fair price. Also this was located less than 5 minutes from the condo we rented. Servers were nice and the place is cozy and comfy. Food from our party of 5 had no complaints all were good, none were spectacular. A decent dining option in the village.
(3)Jared B.
Good place, nice atmosphere. Spinach cannelloni was excellent and definitely a repeater. The cedar plank salmon was a bit dry I would pass on that next time around overall I would give this place 3 3/4 stars out of five.
(4)Rob P.
Stopped here for lunch on a family road trip. I would stop here again. Service was exceptional, and the menu had so many options that intrigued me, I want to stop back just so I can try something else. Our server was on top of it from the very start, quick friendly and professional. It was lunch and since we were on a road trip I wanted something light, so I just went with the antipasto salad and a Peroni. Got my kids a turkey sandwich and my wife had a veggie sandwich. Everyone was full and happy, can't ask for much more. Great ambiance, no complaints here. By all means stop and check this place out.
(4)Steve H.
I came in with low expectations. We walked throughout Vail and couldn't find anything we liked or anything that didn't seem to cost an arm and a leg. La Bottega was our last resort and I have to say I walke away impressed. The atmosphere was very energetic and a little chaotic, but the open kitchen was pretty cool. We had the tomato and mozzarella bruschetta to start. It was great. The mozzarella was so creamy and delicious. We also had the duck with polenta. I have to admit, it might have been the best duck I've ever eaten. Perfectly juicy with a great sauce. The vegetable was perfectly grilled and seasoned. We also ordered spaghetti with meatballs. Not only was it delicious, but it came in ample portions. Even with a bottle of wine, an appetizer, and 2 entrees, our bill came out to less than $100. That's impressive since this is Vail.
(5)Jennifer G.
In any other setting, I'd probably give La Bottega four stars, but because I find Vail Village to be needlessly pretentious and annoying, I can only give it three. I dined here for lunch recently - and I will give them credit for having a decent number of options that don't cost an arm and a leg. The individual sized pizzas were good - not great, but certainly fiavorful and filling. The servers were quick and attentive, and it was overall a pleasantly average experience. Which makes me wonder how it survives in a town that is most definitely not pleasantly average.
(3)Matt T.
This has become one of our favorite spots in Vail. A good feel in general...nice but not overly fancy and pretenious. Their pizzas are good. Thier white truffle gnocchi is definitely a favorite. I had their mussels the other night which are very good. They wine list has some very expensive wines but also some pretty reasonable ones especially for Vail. All around it is a very good restaurant. It can be crowded so definitely make reservations.
(5)Martin K.
We ate at La Bottega on our trip through Colorado. I had the goat cheese ravioli which was fabulous. I don't recall what my wife got but she was pleased as well. The service was excellent. The only reason this gets 4 stars is because it was rather hot in the restaurant. We would definitely visit again the next time we visit Vail.
(4)Steve S.
Man this place could be 4.5 easily! But it's really 2.5 rounded up out of the kindness of my heart. Recommended by the owner at Christiania (4 star) during an overnight visit to Vail. A good recommendation on her part - poor execution on the part of La Botega. Nice place, great location in the village. We were greeted promptly, service was good. Misto Fritto was average; good salads; pizza was good; pasta was good - but nothing to rave about - good, solid Italian offerings. However, they have a great 'wood fired' oven and bar seating overlooking the oven. We sat in the oven area along the windows. For god's sakes - it was late evening, cloudy and they folded down the umbrellas and positioned them RIGHT in FRONT of the windows - ruined a great view of the patio, village and mountains - what in the hell are these people thinking? We had a great close-up of a red umbrella though! It could be a very cozy, inviting place but the two assistant "chefs" (at best) working the oven seemed bored to tears between meal preparations and sat there leaning against the shelves, tapping tongs on the bar - it was annoying - this should be a great place to interact with customers but instead they had two cooks looking bored out of their minds and ruining the experience. It has to be better in prime ski season vs. late summer, if not, I don't know how they survive....what a shame - this place is an easy 5 star with some attention to detail.
(3)Missy D.
Hands down my favorite Italian in Vail. Great salads, pasta, pizzas, and best of all wine list! They have a fun cozy bar that you can have dinner in as well. This is a very busy spot, so I recommend a reservation, especially for a larger group.
(5)Robyn B.
On our visit 2/12/11. We had a reservation but still had to wait for over an hour past our reservation for our table. When we asked why we were given attitude and told that the people at our table hadn't left yet. Meanwhile everyone that came in after us was sat, the manager acknowledged this but continued to refer to "our table" as being full. Our party was only 4 so we still don't understand why we had a specific table and couldn't just be seated at the next available place rather then wait over an hour. The food was ok, but not worth the wait or the bad service.
(2)Lon T.
There's a reason this place is crowded - it's really good! After a fun and vigorous day on the slopes it was all about getting some Italian to carb up for the next day of skiing. We started with a delicious antipasto that had an assortment of cheese, meats and veggies. The highlight was the spaghetti Carbonara which I loved - these guys know how to prepare this dish perfectly with pancetta, garlic and just the right amount of parmesan and fresh pepper. Even though it's a bit loud inside, the great staff and atmosphere made this meal a winner.
(4)John L.
AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!! While the food may be ok, the service, ambiance, and attitude are awful. The place is always crowded and the tables are packed so tightly that there is literally no way to not be hit every time another patron, waiter, or busboy walks by. We try this place once a year HOPING it will be better because the food is honestly not that bad. But this last visit really finished us off. Having made reservations weeks in advance since this place is always packed, we were to our dismay once again seated at a table for 3 which was barely a table for 1, having 1 seat at the wait station and another shoved out into the aisle so that my wife was hit at least 30 times during dinner including a bus boy with a plastic tub full of dirty dishes that was too large to fit by and so he hoisted it, dripping, over my wife's head. After our meal when we mentioned the poor location of the table and how it really shouldn't ever be a table for 3 to the manager, he said in an INCREDIBLY snotty tone, "Oh...thanks for bringing that to my attention." and then walked quickly away without a second glance. We will never return.
(1)Fanny L.
We came here as a recommendation from a couple we met on one of the ski lifts. It definitely met our expectations. Do call for a reservation. Because we called at 5pm for a 7:30pm table, we avoided a 45 mins wait. The environment was cute and cozy. We each had an appetizer and an entree. No wine. The bill came out to be about $80. The food was really tasty and not too heavy. We had room for dessert at another place in the Vail Village. Compared to some of the higher end restaurants in Vail, La Bottega is fun, tasty, and affordable.
(4)Mags M.
We ordered a cheese steak for take-out. Very solid cheese steak. Didn't think the host was too warm when we asked to see the menu. First time in Vail that I found the service to not be warm.
(3)Jerrold S.
One of the hottest restaurants I've ever been to. I don't mean hot like Mozza or Momofuku. I'm talking about freakin Hades, ya get? It was in the 80s. Again we were with a bachelor party of 10 people. They sat us upstairs to keep us away from the civilians. There were 3 other tables and a total of around 24 people. It was hot like you wouldn't believe. Ok so after we get over the initial heat we ordered some apps, salads and pasta. It's Italian food, don't try to reinvent the wheel people and get too fancy. The pizzas were nice for brick oven thin crust margheritas. The sauce had a nice blend of sweetness and tang. Great crust - you could tell it was cooked in hot intense fire for a short period. My only complaint was a very thin layering of cheese and the pizza was kinda cold when we got it. The salads were salads no harm no foul. I was contemplating between 2 pastas - gemelli with sausage in vodka sauce or carbonarra. I decided to go with the gemelli. It was a nice version. I couldn't tell if the pasta was fresh or not because the pasta was cooked all the way through. Big no no. The sausage was eh but I did enjoy the sauce. It didn't have quite the punch I like in my vodka sauce but it was creamy and tasty mostly because the red sauce seemed like it was a nice base for anything. The bread they brought out was an egg bread similar to challah. Weird.
(2)Teri S.
This place was recommended to me by the Concierge at my hotel for a nice italian lunch. He was spot on! I started off with an appetizer - baked goat cheese with marinara and tuscan bread crostini. The goat cheese was light and fluffy and the marinara was to die for. Perfect and rustic. I think they put sundried tomatoes in the marinara to add another level of flavor. My entree was a meatball sandwich that was covered with marinara and melted mozzarella. The meatballs were pretty good, not the best I've had, and that tuscan bread again made the whole thing fabulous. The service was really good, but it was a bit pricey, but I find most places in Vail are that way. I would definately go back for that appetizer and dinner sometime and when I get home, I am going to try and replicate that marinara sauce which was the best I've had.
(4)Scott S.
This past weekend was my first time visiting Vail and La Bottega, which we found via Yelp. I often pooh-pooh the 1 star reviews as aberrations (esp. when they use poor spelling :) ), if there are many good reviews, as was the case with this restaurant. And I am glad I did. We had excellent service and an even better meal. As an Italian (like, an actual Italian citizen) I know my Italian food, and La Bottega was excellent. We went on a Saturday night, and it was full, but not over-crowded. The ambiance was just what you'd expect in an Italian/Alpine setting--very cozy. Perhaps the people who found the place too hot were sitting in the gorgeous pizza oven? We sat at a table across from it, and the temperature was fine. Our server was courteous and prompt, and the food, delicious. I had the gnocchi, which, unlike at many American restaurants, was obviously homemade and not taken from an imported vacuum pack--it was exquisite. My partner had the gemelli in vodka sauce, which was fairly spicy and to die for. For dessert, we had the profiteroles, and I must say, of all the profiteroles I've had in my life (yes, many), these were the best by far. I highly recommend this place as the best Italian Vail has to offer.
(5)Todd K.
By far the best steak and cheese within 50 miles. It ain't a Philly cheesesteak, but it ain't bad.
(4)Dixie C.
La Bottega is located near the edge of Vail Village and was quite crowded for a Tuesday night dinner. The atmosphere was decidedly casual and the service was friendly with the owner stopping at every table with his recommendations. We mostly ordered pasta and the dishes were good with very large portions, but were not spectacular. They were also fairly expensive. The wine list was way overpriced, charging over $100 for a $32 dollar bottle of wine. All in all, a decent dinner at a ski resort, but if it had been better priced, would have gotten one more star.
(3)GAIL W.
The place is very cozy and has a real wood burning pizza oven. We sat down and waited 10 minutes before anyone took our drink order. The place only had 3 other tables occupied. Waitress was nice and suggested the tuna salad sub. sandwich. I asked if it was white Albacore and she said it was. But of course when she brought it it was dark tuna which I do not care for. It has a strong flavor that I just don't enjoy. She told me that it was probably white once. HA HA! She removed the offending sandwich and returned saying the Chef and the Owner said that tuna is supposed to be pink. Again I laugh. I told her they were speaking of Rare Ahi and that it was chunk light tuna at best. Check the tin Chef, you know the one you placed the order for and decided to save money and go for the cheap version. When we left, the hostess said "Thank You", and "Your Welcome" before we could respond. Whatever! Then an older woman gave The Doc. a scowl as he left. I also noticed in the deli case pre-made pasta dishes for the dinner rush ready to pop in the oven. If you have a discriminating palate, Steer Clear! While the "Frito Misto" was tender it was dripping with oil.
(1)Steven S.
My wife and I have eaten here three times this week...twice for dinner and once for lunch. We have enjoyed the food all three times. Service was good on each occasion and we enjoyed the outdoor eating area.
(4)Andrew T.
THE MGMT IS BEYOND RUDE & DISRESPECTFUL AND REASON ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO NOT PATRONIZE THE ESTABLISHMENT. There are many good places to eat in Vail, but this isn't one of them. I called to ask what soup they were serving and made a reservation. When we arrived, i was told by a rude, unattractive older woman running around barking orders with an Italian accent that there was no reservation. She was looking under the wrong name, so I gave her my name again and she said that I hadn't made any reservation. I told her that was not true, that I even asked about the soup- the rude woman then remembered the call and said I had indeed made the reservation, as if I had just won a prize, but never apologized. She seated us 10 mts later, still calling me by the wrong name- what an arrogant idiot. The waiter was nice enough, but served the mediocre-at-best food in a staggered order. The soup was dense as lead, the pasta overcooked and my 10 year old daughter's small serving of roasted chicken was as dry as jerky; how does a 'chef' screw up roasted chicken? The white meat was so dry it was inedible. When we complained to the waiter, he took it back to the kitchen. When it was time to pay the check, the rude older woman came back to our table and said the waiter wanted to comp the inedible chicken but accused my daughter of having eaten too much of it! The waiter came back with the overcooked white meat and she yelled at him in Italian, poking her pudgy finger at the meat. I told her that my daughter took two bites and spit it out on the plate (it was still there!), the serving was small and nobody ate the damn meat. She left the table in a huff and returned with a fat, disheveled rude man in chef's whites, the owner, who impatiently listened to her and yelled "charge him half," and then walked away. AT NO POINT DID ANYONE IN MGMT APOLOGIZE FOR THE INEDIBLE FOOD NOR OFFER TO GET MY DAUGHTER SOMETHING ELSE. THEY DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAILURES AND WERE RUDE TO US. THEY NEVER EVEN TRIED TO BE NICE TO US. I can't wait for this place to go out of business and the owners doing work more on par with their qualifications, like washing dishes and mopping floors.
(1)Sarah R.
I don't know that I'd recommend this one. We wanted to go into Vail Village, and didn't want to spend an arm and a leg, and this had some positive reviews on Chowhound, so we thought we'd give it a go. We sat at the pizza bar (didn't have a reservation), and they were able to seat us right away there, which was a plus. But, it was like they were desperate to flip the seats - our food came out immediately with course 2 being rushed in only minutes after our starters. It certainly wasn't as cheap as fast food so it was annoying to feel so rushed. Some of the food was very good - loved the 4-cheese pizza and the special pizza of the day, which featured duck and truffles I believe. I also liked the carpaccio, and the kobe ravioli was pretty good. I wasn't all that impressed with the special salad of the day, which featured arugula, pine nuts and proscuitto, nor was I that wild about the Caesar - they were out of anchovies! We were really disappointed with the carbonara - my husband makes better carbonara. It tasted like they mixed in the egg while it was still cooking rather than fold in the yolk at the very end, so it was clumpy versus silky. Anyway - if you're craving pizzas I'd go for it as they were fabulous, but for anything more than that I'd probably skip it.
(3)