If you're looking for a dependable place for great Italian food and products, La Trattoria is it.  This West Island treasure is tucked away in a tiny strip mall in Kirkland, but insiders know exactly where to find it.

 

This traditional Italian deli/bakery/grocery has all the winning components :  friendly staff, delicious food, great selection, and excellent prices.  Owners Mario and Rico are warm and friendly, and Dan, Mike, Leandra, Marco, and other staff members are always eager and willing to serve.  The aroma is heavenly when you first walk in. 

 

We love this place for breakfast.  By 7:00am every morning, there are freshly baked croissants and pastries of all kinds (almond croissants, Nutella croissants, chocolatines, plain croissants, breakfast bagel sandwiches).   You've got to try their Nutella croissants !  There are also breakfast bagels which are incredible when they heat it up on the panini press.  On weekend mornings, these pastries disappear quickly.   If sweets for breakfast aren't your thing, they'll be more than happy to prepare a custom breakfast for you on the spot.  Loaves of different types of bread are baked daily.

​

On one side of the room are the glass display counters  :  some with tempting Italian cookies, creamy desserts, and coffee cakes, and others which hold the croissants, hot meals, bread, and pizzas.  Cannolis are filled fresh, on the spot, so that the shell is always crunchy and delicious.  Of course, as in every good Italian eatery, cups of delicious hot coffee are served, for sit-in or for takeout.  

At the back of the store is the cheese and cold cuts counter.  The selection is huge, and a nearby freezer compartment offers frozen pasta and sausages.  Their frozen sausages are highly recommended.   Custom "sangwiches" can be prepared on the spot, at any time, from their selection of cold cuts, cheeses, and breads.  Of course, different types of antipasto are available as well.

​

The center of the store holds all types of Italian products, from dried pastas, olive oils, balsamic vinegar, and coffee to Italian cookies and candies.  Their selection is excellent, with products to suit every need and budget.  If you like things spicy, you've got to try the Bomba chili pepper sauces.  It's great with their sandwiches !

​

A good selection of delicious fresh pannetones from Italy come out at Christmas time, and the most amazing zeppoles are specially made fresh during the Easter season.  You can even choose between ricotta or custard filling for the zeppoles.  Our favourite is the custard-filled zeppoles ,,, delizioso !

 

Around 10:30am daily, the lunch items roll out, and the lineups begin.  There are slabs of different pizzas that can be sold in its entirety or in sections.  The standard tomato pizza and the vegetarian pizza are outstanding.   The huge selection of sandwiches make decision-making difficult :  porchetta, chicken cutlet, pulled pork, veal cutlet, Italian sausage.  They all look and smell so good.  All the sandwiches can be toasted in the panini press, with the option of an extra portion of hot sauce (giardiniera).                   

​

And let's not forget about the meatballs.   Aluminum containers of these yummy moist meatballs are all lined up in the hot meal area, and can be sold either by the container or by the piece, accompanied with lots of sauce.   Molto delizioso !

 

All that being said, you can take your purchases out, or eat onsite, either at the tables or at the counter which faces outside of the store.  During the warmer months, there are tables with parasols set up on the terrace in front of the store.   

​

Not surprisingly, due to their popularity, they now offer catering.  It is common on most weekends to see platters of every kind and stacks of pizza piled high on the back counter, ready for either customers to pick up or to be delivered in their custom truck.

​

What else can we possibly say about this place ?  People who know it, love it.  We're BIG fans, and we hope you will be, too.  

​