Cantina Gia

About Cantina Gia

Cantina Gia is a Southern Italian restaurant on Bank Street in the Glebe, operated by the team behind North & Navy. Where North & Navy draws from Northern Italian traditions, Cantina Gia looks south — to the rustic, sun-drenched cooking of regions like Campania, Puglia, and Sicily. The restaurant was recognized by OpenTable as one of Canada's 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in 2023.

The dining room features a candlelit, European-style atmosphere that sets it apart from the casual restaurants lining this stretch of Bank Street. The warm, intimate decor creates a space suited to date nights and special occasions without the formality of fine dining. It is a restaurant where the setting enhances the meal rather than overshadowing it.

Handmade pasta is central to the menu, continuing the pasta-making commitment established at North & Navy. The kitchen applies Southern Italian techniques and flavours — expect dishes built around tomatoes, olive oil, fresh herbs, and bold seasoning rather than the butter and cream associated with the north. This Southern focus fills a gap in Ottawa's Italian dining landscape, where Northern Italian restaurants have been more prominent.

Beyond the dining room, Cantina Gia operates a curated grocery corner stocked with Italian pantry items. This retail element allows guests to bring a piece of the restaurant experience home — oils, pastas, sauces, and other specialty products selected by the team. It is a practical extension of the kitchen's philosophy, making quality Italian ingredients accessible for home cooking.

The wine list is affordably priced, designed to complement the food without inflating the bill. This approach aligns with the Southern Italian tradition of wine as an everyday companion to meals rather than a luxury, and it makes Cantina Gia accessible for casual weeknight dinners as well as celebratory evenings.

What to Order

• Handmade Pasta — The centrepiece of the menu, made fresh in-house daily
• Southern Italian Dishes — Recipes rooted in the traditions of southern Italy
• Wine — Affordable, curated list designed to pair with the food
• Grocery Corner Picks — Italian pantry items to take home

Visitor Information

• Hours: Daily 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
• Reservations: Recommended for dinner (call 613-569-0464)
• Price Range: $$
• Atmosphere: Candlelit, European-style decor

Getting There

• Address: 749 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K1S 3V3
• Neighbourhood: The Glebe
• Parking: Street parking on Bank Street and side streets
• Transit: OC Transpo bus routes along Bank Street; walkable from Lansdowne