Seattle has needed a serious Italian deli like the light rail needs to finish its Bellevue-to-Seattle connection already. Enter Bottega Gabriele in Pioneer Square. As an importer of tangy-spicy ‘nduja, they have homemade spreadable salami stuffed between springy focaccia rectangles, along with other stuff like mortadella, dolce sardo, lemon-dressed arugula, and purple olive tapenade. All that—plus bossa nova elevator music and employees that speak fluent Italian—makes for a lunch that’s equally exciting and chill. No need to travel across town, but if you work or live in the area, it’s a good bet.
Food Rundown’Nduja Special
It’s called the special for a reason—this stack is a nice combination of cold cuts, dressed arugula, and spicy ‘nduja. A purple olive tapenade and hunks of marinated artichoke give it the necessary tartness needed to cut through the pork fat.
photo credit: Nate Watters
Mortadella
For something a little less salty, consider the mortadella. There’s a subtle finesse here, between thin pistachio-studded lunch meat, our old pal arugula, and a creamy swipe of ricotta. Lemon zest and calabrian honey bridge make things way fancier than the bologna lunchboxes of yesteryeaar.
photo credit: Nate Watters
‘Nduja Grilled Cheese
Turns out that melted cheese and spreadable hot salami between slabs of focaccia is delicious. Tell your friends.
photo credit: Nate Watters
Cannoli
A classic, filled to-order—don’t pass it up.
photo credit: Nate Watters
Dining and Cooking