La Bottega: Ridgewood, NJ [CLOSED]
July 12, 2013
Update (2014/10): La Bottega has rebranded. More info here (click me).
One of my 10s of readers recently initiated the following exchange:
Reader #18: went to La Bottega. Their Paninis are very good and they have gluten free bread thats decent
but from 11-2 on Sundays I couldnt get a roast pork, broccoli rabe and mozz one
t:e: That sounds like a good sandwich. Any idea how their regular bread is?
Reader #18: Im sure its good. Some Brooklyn bakery every day
they have different kinds
Reader #18: its under the paninis they have 8 different pork ones...
they're not chinsy with the portions either
t:e: Ugh. How did I miss that. Ok I need to try this joint for lunch.
The following day...
Either I was really, really hungry, or, Reader #18 turned me on to something very, very tasty. Roasted pork, mozzarella, broccoli rabe, and grilled hot peppers, on a round roll, heated in a panini press. Very little bread, and a very well-balanced sandwich. While I've been dismissing La Bottega for a while, I will concede that this is an exceptional sandwich.
It's all a bit much to take in, so for now I'll just keep on hitting these pork panini.