Pretty good Italian restaurant in Corktown.

A couple that lives in the hideous new condos (their description) in Corktown asked me to join them at Ottava Via.

Ottava Via has a kind of trendy, limited menu. So if you are looking for Veal Parmesan or other traditional Italian dishes, you might need to temper your expectations.

We went there on the first weekday that was not raining, so we could dine outdoors.

OV has two small courtyards, one with a fun fireplace, and one that appears to be an employee smoking area.

Bread - Excellent. Normally every Italian restaurant brings you a loaf of their homemade bread or breadsticks as you are seated. Here, you have to order it (I think it was $7). Obviously you need it, so don't forget to order.

Calamari - Excellent. Lightly breaded fried squid strips, with 2 small octopi thrown in. Marinara sauce was delicious, and even better was the lemon caper sauce that was super tangy. Kind of a sparse portion (see pics).

Sausage & Peppers - very good. A thin slice of Wild Boar Sausage laying on a bed of polenta. 'wild boar' are an invasive species, so you don't have to feel bad about eating them.

Pizza - very good. A personal sized pizza with fresh looking ingredients. Thin, neopolitan style . A little more sauce could push these pies way up.

Truffle Butter Pasta - Excellent. Mild, interesting flavors. If you are scratching your head at the menu, here is a totally safe bet.

RAGOUT ALLA BOLOGNESE - kinda good. Picture a deconstructed lasagna, with a clop of cold ricotta cheese on top. Flavors were good, but cold ricotta on top was a turnoff.

Service - pretty bad, but in a comical way. Every couple of minutes a random server would ask if a random dish they were holding was ours. Then they would move on to the next table and ask them. It got so funny, that we would preemptively say "no" to any smiling approaching server.

None of our empty drinks or waters were ever refilled.

You don't get a shaker of Parmesan cheese or pepper flakes at your table.

So kinda a mixed bag, but there are a couple of standout dishes.