Bottega Italia has of the things that you’d likely expect in a casual Italian bistro: hand-tossed pizza with a perfectly chewy crust, mouthwatering meatballs, a variety of pastas, and a bar menu with classic Italian cocktails. But there are also a few things that may surprise and delight: a counter with authentic gelato and Italian pastries, a wine list from the restaurant’s own winery, and a cheerful interior that feels surprisingly chic given the Old West vibe of much of Old Town Temecula. There’s a lot to love here.
Bottega Italia is one of several Temecula food and wine establishments owned by Alex & Charity Prestifilippo. Italian restauranteur Alex moved to the U.S. from his native Sicily in the 1990s. He worked for a few years in Newport Beach restaurants while he learned English, then ventured out on his own in 1999, opening his first Temecula restaurant, Gourmet Italia. Today, the couple also owns Spuntino and The Bar Next Door, a casual family pizza joint with an adjacent cozy bar, and most recently the new Alex by Poggio Leano tasting room. This is a couple that cares deeply about good food and they know how to create a good experience.
Outside, there’s a large outdoor patio, which easily accommodates large groups and looks out on all of the action on Front Street, the main drag in Old Town. The interior has stylish touches like a decorative white tile floor, black chandeliers, and green and brass chairs, that complement the brass and marble top bistro tables. On weekends, the place is high energy, and I’ve seen everything there from business meetings to family outings to bachelorette parties to couples on dates. If you’re looking for a quieter evening, opt for a table outside. Service is always friendly, and there’s a solid chance that yours will speak Italian.
The food is a combination of local ingredients and imports from Italy, and the menu includes classics like bruschetta, Margherita pizza, and spaghetti carbonara. But there are also more interesting items, like arancini with squid ink, seafood linguini with fresh mussels, clams, calamari, and shrimp, and La Tartufata pizza with white truffle cream, smoked provolone, prosciutto, and porcini mushrooms. Plates are finished with their house-made Poggio Leano olive oil, and martinis are made with Robert Cavalli vodka, the first premium vodka produced in Italy. (Of course, this is Southern California, so you’ll inevitably find a Margarita on the cocktail menu and an avocado toast on their breakfast menu.)
Bottega Italia’s arancini are hard to resist, but so is the Fruitura de Paranza — calamari fritti mixed with rock shrimp and Mediterranean fish. On the pizza menu, the Capricciosa is a favorite as is La Piccata that has buffalo mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, spicy Italian salami, 24-month-old Parmigiano Reggiano, and arugula. The Poggio Leano’s Montepulciano would be a perfect accompaniment, as would their Vossio red blend, but since their bartender crafts a pretty great Negroni, that might be the way to go.
A couple of years ago, it was easy to walk in for a table, and on a weekday, it likely still is. But on weekends, or if you’re with a group larger than 4, it’s best to make reservations by giving them a call ahead of time. Foodies who love Italian food might also want to follow Bottega Italia on social media because they occasionally offer pizza-making workshops that sell out quickly, and that is where they are announced.
Bottega Italia is open Tuesday through Sundays and has a dog-friendly patio outside.
