The Preston Street Business Improvement Area (BIA) welcomed 500 guests to a sold-out Taste of Little Italy event on March 24 at Preston Event Centre.
Now in its third year, the annual event brought together over 15 local restaurants, offering guests the opportunity to sample a wide range of dishes that showcase the diversity of what Preston Street has to offer.
“Taste of Little Italy is all about celebrating the business community we have here on Preston Street,” said Lindsay Childerhose, Executive Director of the Preston Street BIA. “It’s a chance for people to experience so many of our local restaurants in one night, to revisit longtime favourites and discover their new go-to spot. The energy in the room last night really showed how much people value that experience.”
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Guests enjoyed unlimited samples throughout the evening, with participating
businesses showcasing both signature items and new offerings. The event continues to grow each year and remains one of the BIA’s most anticipated community gatherings.
This year, participating businesses included Preston Street staples such as Trattoria Caffé Italia, La Favorita, Sala San Marco, Cosenza Bar and Cafe, La Roma Restaurant, and The Prescott.Sala San Marco was built and opened in 1987 by Joe and Gina Zacconi. Now run by their son, Tony Zacconi, the event space is one of Little Italy’s longstanding venues, hosting weddings, corporate events, and community celebrations. Guests enjoyed samples of their catering, including their house-made mushroom arancini stuffed with braised short rib.Serving Preston Street since 1981, Trattoria Caffè Italia is known for its traditional Italian cuisine and family-run hospitality. Pictured here, owner Pat Carrozza brought that same spirit to Taste of Little Italy.Alongside legacy restaurants, some of Preston’s newest spots were also in the spotlight. Karahi Boys opened on Preston in late 2025, serving authentic Pakistani cuisine in an elevated atmosphere. Their butter chicken and chicken seekh kabab samples were a crowd favourite throughout the night.Guests also enjoyed a range of Italian desserts from two of the area’s most popular pastry shops, one being Dolci Sapori, which opened in 2023 on Somerset StreetAttendees got a taste of tradition at the Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana booth. Joe Calabro has been serving fresh, made-in-house pastries on Preston since 1979.Along with full bar service, Preston Event Centre also featured its in-house catering, highlighting the work of their new chef recently trained in Japan.Guests paired their samples with offerings from Authentic Spirits and Wines, Spearhead Brewery, and Epoca Distinct Spirits, adding to the overall experience. Pictured here: Ariana Scanga, of Italfoods and Epoca Distinct Spirits. A staple in Ottawa’s Italian food scene, Italfoods is a locally owned, family-run business known for supplying authentic Italian products across the city. At Taste of Little Italy, they served gnocchi and cannoli with buttercream filling.Following another sold-out event, Taste of Little Italy is set to return next year, with tickets expected to sell quickly. For more information, visit www.prestonstreet.com or follow @LittleItalyOttawa on social media.
