La Bottega del Lago is described by co-owner Lindsay Rodriguez as a quick-service New York/Italian-vibed market and deli located in a welcome area of Live Oak. It is an extension of the popular restaurant Lago di Como, also owned by Matteo Robecchi and Giovanni Spanu.
Lindsay was born and raised in the Bay Area and landed in Santa Cruz, her favorite childhood vacation spot. She fell in love with the restaurant industry during college in San Francisco, calling it her comfort zone and a great way to integrate into a culture.
Opened in 2024, Bottega offers handmade pastas, sauces and assorted culinary items along with hot prepared food for grab-and-go or on-site. The scratch-made lasagna is one menu headliner, as are the gluten-free, juicy and tender pork/beef meatballs.
A sandwich favorite is the Goloso, packed with mortadella (a buttery high-end bologna with chunks of pistachio), stracciatella cheese and homemade pistachio pesto. They also have focaccia-style pizzas by the square slice with meat and veggie options and high-quality, intentionally curated grocery items and charcuterie selections. Yes, they have real Italian espresso, homemade tiramisu, filled-to-order cannoli and gelato.
What inspires you about Bottega’s location?
LINDSAY RODRIGUEZ: Between the Santa Cruz Harbor and Pleasure Point is kind of a food island with not many options for fresh, high-quality food. We use real ingredients and offer quickly-served food that is made from scratch and with artisanal care. We really feel like there is a need for this in the Live Oak community. And our location also gets great sun exposure all day and is right near the popular Sunny Cove beach, so our grab-and-go options make for a perfect fit.
What are some of Bottega’s specialty items?
We are one of the few places where customers can buy fresh, handmade and not-dried pasta. We utilize non-GMO imported Italian flour, which also sets us apart, not only for our pastas but also for our pizza dough. And we also have other hard-to-find Italian items like guanciale, high-end extra-virgin olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars, preserved high-quality canned fish and organic Nutella, Italian cookies and luxury Amarena cherries.
1701 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, 831-515-7129; labottegadellago.com
