Louie Louie

I am all out of order. You guys will just have to guess when I did whatever I did because I don't care about correct chronology anymore. But I don't think you care either. You just care about having something to read. I know your type.

A few weeks ago, we tried Bottega Louie...twice in the same week. We liked it that much, and, when we find something we like (especially within walking distance), we tend to go a lot. The photos in this post are from these two visits (once with Mr. Monkey's co-workers, once with Mr. Monkey's family).

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Our new friend is grand, high-ceilinged, marble-floored, and multifaceted. Our new friend is incredibly gorgeous and expansive. Our new friend is pretty damn rad, even if our new friend is rather noisy because of its grandness.

Bottega Louie offers a nice selection of bottled soda with real cane sugar ($3).

We sampled Bubble Up, Boylan's Grape Soda, and Moxie Orange Cream Soda.

Brussels sprouts with almonds ($6).

Tasty, which is kind of amazing because I'm not usually a fan of Brussels sprouts.

Marinated shrimp with chickpeas ($8).

Well-seasoned and well-intentioned, but just not *quite* there.

Portobello fries ($8).

Interesting and crunchtastic. I'm not into mushrooms either, and I liked 'em.

French fries ($6).

Crazy delicious, super garlicky sticks of goodness.

Fried calamari ($7).

Hard to mess up. And Louie didn't.

Bianco pizza with ricotta, mozzarella, granna parmesana, garlic, and rocket arugula ($14).

Loooooved this. Crispy, thin, just enough cheese, and awesome flavor.

Sausage pizza with fennel sausage, tomato sauce, and mozzarella ($14).

Not nearly as good as the Bianco. Oddly much thicker. Chewy.

Chicken parmesan breaded and oven-baked with pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, and Reggiano parmesan ($15).

Nothing out-of-the-ordinary, but simple and well-executed.

Trenne pasta with braised rib-eye and Tuscan black kale ($12).

Yum yum yum. The rib-eye was tender. The sauce was rich and meaty. The pasta was surprisingly crunchy, which I found odd at first, but then I really liked it. 'Twas a little much that every single tube of pasta was crunchy, though. It would've been perfect if just the top layer were crunchy and the rest al dente. Nevertheless, this was a winner.

Three Kurobuta pork chops with housemade applesauce ($14).


My other winning pick. So juicy and savory that I preferred it without any applesauce. Big thumbs up.

Penne gamber pasta with jumbo shrimp, broccolini, oven-roasted tomatoes in a garlic and olive oil broth ($12).

Light and pleasant.

Ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta in a light cream sauce with pancetta, sage, and peas ($12).

Didn't have any, so I can't comment. Sister-in-law seemed to like it.

Spaghetti bolognese with traditional meat sauce ($8).

Didn't have any, so I can't comment. Little Monkey Niece seemed to like it.

We didn't leave empty-handed either visit. I mean, did you see the patisserie?


The first time we went, as I was taking photos, a friendly patisserie worker told me she had just one napoleon left and asked if I'd like it gratis. Yes, please!

Mr. Monkey ate the napoleon. He said it was delicious. He also really enjoyed a key lime tart after our second visit, while I noshed on a yummy pistachio eclair. Both are pictured earlier in this post in their patisserie glass home.

My fave treats, however, were these.

I have a serious macaron problem. We got a baker's dozen, and I ate...um...nine. They tasted as exquisite as they looked.

Now we just have to come back for breakfast.