On a Friday afternoon in early October, Neighbor Roy & I ventured to an Italian restaurant in Northwest Tucson: the Bottega Michelangelo Restorante. We had read that it had received good reviews so we were looking forward to the experience. Moreover, Julia, my nurse, said it had recently been remodeled, so it sounded interesting. The restaurant is located on Magee, just off Oracle Road.

You cannot turn left from Magee into the parking lot, so we had to do a ‘U’ turn at Oracle and backtrack a block or two. Upon entering, the restaurant is a very pleasant space with Michelangelo drawings on one wall and a full bar in the opposite direction. Whatever it was like before, the remodeled space is a definite upgrade.

Roy ordered hot tea, his usual. I ordered a sauvignon blanc, my usual. Then I ordered a plate of CALAMARI ROMANA: fried, pepperoncini, tomatoes, white wine cream sauce. ($12). We shared it. It was excellent and enough for a half a meal.

For his lunch, Roy ordered a pizza. Siciliano: san marzano sauce, fresh mozzarella, oven roasted tomatoes, sausage, eggplant, fresh basil, grano padano, evoo. ($14) The pie was so large, I had to help him eat it and still had leftovers to bring home to Ms. Karen. I had a slice that evening and even heating it up in the microwave oven, it was delicious.

I ordered the ORECCHIETTE: italian sausage, rapini pesto, reggiano breadcrumbs. ($15) It, too, was delicious and I devoured the whole bowl.

The total for our meal was $54 and worth every penny. Roy and I rate Bottega Michelangelo five saguaros: Excellent!

Bottega Michelangelo Restorante
420 W. Magee Road
Oro Valley, Arizona
520-297-5775
Hours: Monday – Thursday 11am to 9pm
Fridays & Saturdays 11am to 10pm
Sundays 10am to 8 pm