Bottega di Capri — Restaurant in Brookline

As a Family owned restaurant in the Brookline Village area for the past 24 years, Bottega di Capri really shines as an Italian gem. From what I understand, the two founders of the restaurant came from Tuscano, Italy 25 years ago, and brought with them all their recipes from home. This truly makes Bottega authentic Italian cuisine! They've recently opened back up with outdoor dining, so come and enjoy the fall weather and changing leaves just outside the restaurant. The outdoor tables are well spaced apart and I feel very safe eating there. Everyone I have seen there so far wears masks and stays a respectful distance. Also, Bottega is very very well priced for the area. Feeding three people only cost around 45$. That's a steal in Boston/Brookline!

I have so far been here twice, once alone and one with my family. The server is a kind Italian man (who's name I really should learn) who is very helpful with making decisions about what to get on the menu: there are so many options! He really makes you feel at home. Each of their 20 or so sauces are hand made on-site from what I can tell, and the flavors really show through. I or my family have so far had the following meals:

Lobster Scampi: Rich creamy scampi sauce over sauteed shrimp and lobster ravioli. The combination of the cream of the sauce and the acidity of the tomato base of the sauce really helped bring out the flavor of both the shrimp (which were perfectly cooked: not too rubbery, not too raw) and the richness of the lobster ravioli. The ravioli themselves seemed to be a filling of cream cheese and lobster. Amazing dinner.

Roast Beef Panino: Savory, sweet, and creamy all in one. This panini is layers of roast beef, sweet fresh spinach, roasted tomatoes, and a layer of mozzarella wrapped in a classic and crunchy panini square. It was also very very filling! I could only eat half of the sandwich before I was full. This is the perfect lunch delight.

Italian Meatball Sub: My father really enjoyed this meal. Fluffy bread that is crispy on the outside. There is a small roll of mozzarella at the back of the sub that is perfectly melted when the meatballs and sauce are added. The meatballs themselves are super well sized and rich in flavor. The sauce itself seems like a tomato based meat sauce, and compliments the rich and sweet meatballs with a bit of acidity. Good Sandwich!

Shrimp Linguini: My mother enjoyed this dish. She has a very sensitive palate, but she still enjoyed the softness of the linguini pasta and how well the shrimp were cooked and tasted. The sauce base is a common tomato based sauce, so it is a bit more of an acidic dish. Despite preferring cream sauces, she really liked it!

All the...

Right up until I tasted the first bite of my entree, I would have left a one-star review. I was baffled by the buzz and confounded by the reviews. In retrospect I will write off the first part of our experience to a language barrier and the absolute worst calamari I ever had. Read my full review in Yelp (google doesn't allow enough space to do this experience justice).

I could tell by looking at the calamari that this was no good. There were only rings, no tentacles, and the batter looked like McDonald's onion ring batter. It was thick and dusty, crisped dark brown and all of the pieces were uniform in size. It looked like frozen, fried calamari from the freezer section. It tasted like thrice-fried leftovers. It was burnt and had the texture very crunchy cardboard but not as tasty. I had to check to see whether there was a remnant of squid inside. It was horrible.

Then the evening turned on a dime. As soon as we saw our dishes, we knew we had misjudged. The tortellinis were all different, varied in size and shape. In fact, I could swear there were some tortellini that had transitioned to raviolis. The sauces looked and smelled like the best of italian saucery. It was like smelling a cork and knowing that the wine is going to be incredible. This was a sure thing and our first bites confirmed this. There was sausage added to mine. The tortellinis and raviolis were soft and thin folds of very fresh pasta. The sauce clung to the pasta and each bite was heavenly. I loved mine. My wife loved hers.

The menu offers many different types of pastas which you can then build to your liking from a list of sauce preparations, seafood, meats and poultry choices. There are also fixed daily specials and then everyday house specialities. The menu offers salads, panini, sandwiches and then a modest list of appetizers. Interestingly, there is no mention of calamari on the menu.

We were never provided a dessert menu though he did ask if we wanted something sweet, coffee or tea. If it were not for the absolutely incredible entree, I would have given a horrible review of the service, atmosphere (it basically looks like a well-worn Italian deli with a half dozen tables) and food. The entree deserves at least six stars, not only for the sheer deliciousness but for the value. This was a fraction of the cost of other restaurants of similar quality. The man and the service seem somehow charming due to the exquisite pasta but the odd experience does call for a downgrade; hence the four stars.

I say go and try it. Just don't order the calamari and if you want wine or other...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this Italian restaurant with a group of eight friends, and the overall experience left a lasting impression. From the moment we stepped inside, the cozy and warm ambiance welcomed us, setting the stage for a delightful evening.

The menu boasted a variety of tempting options, and I decided to try the linguini seafood pasta. Having had unfortunate encounters with sandy clams in the past, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the clams in my dish were impeccably clean. The pasta itself was not overly salty, a refreshing departure from the norm in many other establishments. Every bite was a testament to the chef's skill, and I savored each mouthful, finishing my plate with contentment.

My son opted for the crispy chicken with angel hair in garlic and olive oil. Despite not being a big eater, he devoured his entire dish. The flavors were well-balanced, and the angel hair perfectly complemented the crispy chicken. It was clear that attention to detail was a priority in the kitchen.

What truly elevated our dining experience, however, was the exceptional attitude of the owner and staff. Two middle-aged men, presumably part of the restaurant's team, demonstrated a level of friendliness and attentiveness that is increasingly rare. The owner engaged with us personally, listening to our preferences, answering questions, and fulfilling requests with a genuine smile. His eye contact and genuine interest in our satisfaction added a personal touch that made the evening memorable.

To cap off the meal, we indulged in cappuccinos and tiramisu, both of which lived up to the high standard set by the savory dishes. The rich flavors and quality of the desserts served as a perfect conclusion to an already outstanding dining experience.

In summary, this Italian gem exceeded expectations in the three crucial elements of a great restaurant: food, service, and ambiance. The well-prepared dishes, attentive service, and inviting atmosphere make it a standout choice. I wholeheartedly recommend this establishment to anyone seeking a delightful culinary journey, and I look forward to returning to savor more of their...