Pesto's Deli & Italian Specialties in Kanata

Awesome little deli in Kanata. Some pasta, pre-made meals and great panini. Staff are actually Italian too.

Great sandwiches, and premade meals

Best sandwiches!

Try this deli for the first time today! If I could give them 10 stars I would. What a little gem

So fresh and delicious! Baltazar was great!

Got food poisoning after eating their chicken parm sandwich

Great Italian sandwich

Best sandwiches in town.

First time having one of their sandwiches today and it was exceptional. Will be back again!

Great sandwiches and friendly staff!

After 14 years living here i decided to go in . I had the meatball sub and it was soo good i came back next day for the spicy Italian. and will be back again soon.

Had the porchetta sandwich and it was unreal. Service was fantastic as Balthasar walked me through their whole list of offerings and will be back for another Porchetta soon!

Best lunch menu! Best coffee! Best service! Best Cannolis!

Awesome sandwich here! Staff are great too

Great every time

Great sandy

Always a delightful experience. Food is always delicious. Only issue I could imagine is when they are out of their delicious Ginger-molasses cookies.

There s a lot to like about this deli from very good customer service to sandwiches, frozen food options including soups. However there s too much salt in the soups. I ve suggested that the sodium amount be reduced. Or offer options of soups with reduced salt added. I ll suggest this again in person.

Great sandwiches, great vibes, been coming here for a decade and it never disappoints!

Delicious chicken pesto. The biscotti is awesome. The tortellini salad is worth every penny. Great friendly down to earth service. Atmosphere is warm.

Edit: They brought back the made-to-order sandwiches and theyre better than ever. 5 stars! I write this review with a heavy heart, and respect for what used to be one of my favourite places in the city. If youre good with whatever is available, give them a try. If you like specific ingredients or sandwiches, its sadly not worth the trip. Until late 2022, they made sandwiches to order. Now they pre-make them, and they sit in a case. What you see is what you get. Even with this change, I managed to find one that I liked. However, they dont make the same ones every day (and theres no way to know what will be waiting for you before you go), so if you like certain sandwiches, youre out of luck if they dont decide to make them that day. Ive still enjoyed the food since the change, but only when I was able to find a sandwich in the case that I actually wanted. Its a business model that doesnt work for me, but I hope it works for enough people to keep the place afloat and/or fix whatever problem they were trying to solve with the change.

Amazing sandwiches and cannoli, will be back for more! Highly recommend this place!

I just discovered this place a few weeks ago and it s truly a phenomenal hole in the wall sandwich shop. The sandwiches are to die for, the coffee is literally the best coffee I ve ever had, and the cannolis are delicious. On top of all that, prices are good and quality is fantastic.

The sandwiches that you can order are very small, complete rip off. Barely any meat on it. Save your money and go somewhere else. Ottawa has many much better delis.

Pesto s has been a staple in Kanata for many years! Contrary to the reviews below about it being a rip off each time I have gone, the sandwiches are always made fresh to order and full of meat. Today we had the chicken cutlet and it was to dye for! The owner is always there working hard to survive in this day and age making each customer feel special and welcomed! Haters need to help and support these small businesses and not trash them. Pestos is an amazing deli and we are lucky to have a place like this!

Really fresh and delicious sandwiches. Nice service, lots of frozen take-home options and some Italian grocery stuff inside as well. Will be returning for sure!

Went in for lunch and to pick up a lasagna for the family. I felt like my business wasnt a priority. The two people working were occupied otherwise. One was chatting with a customer who he clearly knew and the other just ignored me standing at the counter, and then went to do some dishes in the back. After a few more moments without being acknowledged I just went to the cash, paid $53 for the lasagna, received cooking instructions which was good, and left. I was so excited to discover this place, and felt really disappointed that it lacked any type of hospitable service. I would have waited as long as they needed if only someone said something to me. Repeat business is earned, and not guaranteed. Ill update this review after weve had the lasagna with feedback on the food.

Meatball parmesan for the win

This place is great, awesome sandwiches made to order and lots of other options. The pesto salad is delicious.

took home a couple sandwiches....really good. Made 2 meals out of them. delicious

Espresso was great. Service was fine. Neat selection of foods to buy.

Thank you Pestos for the amazing panini platters you provided our family. Great presentation and generous amounts of meat, it satisfied everyone. Great job :-)

Quality sandwiches and a good assortment of Italian beverages.

Can t beat price and quality!

They have recently switched to pre made sandwiches that sit in a cold display case. The bread was cold and hard and nothing like the delicious sandwiches pestos used to make. Will not return unless they go back to making fresh sandwiches

Used to be a great place for a fresh sandwich but now they premake them and put them in a fridge and theyre rock hard. Disappointed

They recently switched to pre made sandwiches which I wasn t aware of and the owner had no patience to inform me once I asked. He said - what you see is what you get and walked away. I will never return. Disappointed as it was one of my fav sandwich shops.

This place has gone down from a fresh deli sandwiches restaurant to a grab and go gas station. Very sad to see used to be my go-to place.

This place has sadly gone downhill. Everything is pre-made, no longer made fresh to order. Bread is rock hard, food is all ice cold. The guy working the cash also seems really overwhelmed, yelling at the guy in the back to work faster and told me to slow down asking questions (I asked one question - can I have a bag?). Really disappointed with how this place turned out. Won t be returning.

Used to be the best spot in Ottawa for an Italian sandwich, was a regular. They switched to junk pre made sandwiches that are half the size and not nearly as good quality. Will not be returning

Won t be returning until fresh made to order sandwiches return.

Great food great service highly recommend the cannolis and the sandwiches were great.

Amazing experience and value. Visited for a sandwich for 5he first time on Tuesday, and it was beyond delicious. it may have been my first, but it will not be my last visit.

Not only are they no longer made to order but you cant even anticipate what sandwiches will be available before you get there. Wouldve preferred a price increase to keep the previous setup.

The best sandwiches and takeout food to enjoy at home. The chicken parmigiana is too die for and the cannolis are awesome with a slight hint of citrus like I remember as a child when my Nona and mom made my family highly recommend that you give them a try you will not be sorry it s worth the drive

Best sandwiches ever. Edit: this place has gone downhill since my first visit. Sandwiches are OK at best.

This place is a gem. Classic, non pretentious Italian deli sandwiches. Keep it up fellas.

Fresh well made ingredients. This store is run by a couple of hard working employees. Love the grocery options and can always pick up something unique to try.

They are back to making to order sandwiches again and brought back their menu which is more extensive than it was before! Thank you Pestos best place in town!

Their sandwiches are quite good. Especially their Italiano.

Amazing sandwiches! Daughter loves their gluten free lasagna!

Love this place, been eating at Pesto s for the last 26 years and it never disappoints. Yes there has been changed over the years but this was my go to spot when I lived in Ottawa and is a place I visit everyday when I m back in town. Amazing food, and great quality! Kanata has so many boring franchises that it s great to see an independently owned place that produces great food. Will be a customer for life.

Unbelievable Italian food felt like I was in Italy!!

Amazing food!

Delicious sandwiches - huge and extra filled with fresh meat and toppings! Really enjoyed this little place. Highly recommend.

A hidden gem. This place has the best sandwiches we have been able to find. The staff are a joy (the owner is personable and lovely), the atmosphere is perfectly Italian-deli-esque, and every food item we have tried is a hit.

Really nice selection of quality items. Great sandwiches.

Amazing sandwiches! The ingredients they use are always fresh and the meats they have are as premium as it gets. The porchetta and chicken parm sandwiches are to die for. Tons of Italian snacks, drinks etc everywhere. I still have yet to try the pasta but its on my list. 5 ++

Italian beef sandwich (Tuesday special) with smoked provolone (+$2). First time visiting and wont be the last.

Great food, fun vibe and awesome staff, one of the top Delis in Ottawa hands down!

Love it. Its my wife and I go to place for porchetta and other sandwiches.

Fantastic sandwiches!

Sandwiches are just amazing. Very fresh and full of flavour. I m in love with caprese sandwich and this is such a great lunch idea.

Excellent food and always excellent service. Love this place

Went there with co-worker. Really good sandwich

Sandwiches are amazing. I ll be back for sure.

I have been looking for a sandwich place in Kanata, and let me just say my search is over. This place makes one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten. I am just sorry I never found it sooner. Awesome!!!!

I got the mild Italian. It was a decent sandwich but thought the size could be a bit bigger, with more meat. I will probably try their house made porchetta next time.

First time here, was craving a nice deli sandwich and it didnt disappoint. Was very good and very filling. Staff was also very friendly Definitely recommend

Very good sandwiches!! Also a good source of Italian styled cured meats, pastas and sauces

Great staff and sandwiches, coffee and a selection of other goodies

Love the sandwiches

Great sandwiches here! Lunch time can get busy but worth the wait!

This place is awesome! The portion sizes are perfect. The sandwich is made of fresh ingredients and the cannoli is to die for. Will certainly be back!

Stumbled upon this amazing little place today. Best cannoli I ve ever had. Didn t get to try their sandwiches but took home a fresh pasta and it was delicious. The owner was very friendly, great experience. Highly recommend :)

Absolute gem in Kanata! The sandwiches, meats and Italian snacks are always super fresh and delicious! The staff and owner are really nice and always make the experience authentic :)

Ordered a pork sandwich which was delicious. Lots of meat, quite tasty. Great atmosphere and will go back.

Still THE BEST.

best sandwich you can get in Kanata area.

Great place to grab a quick sandwich or delicious take home meals! The owner makes you feel like family and always greets you even when it s crazy busy in there. Love seeing their success even more since this pandemic! D italiano is my go to 10/10!

The BEST SANDWICHES in all of Ottawa. Every time I am in Kanata I always pop in for my favorite sandwich. I would be there more often if I lived closer. Great little spot.

Incredible sandwich s and frozen meals. Great quick service. Grab a frozen lasagna on your way out. You won t regret it!!

Best lunch spot in the west end hands down!

Great food, great service, and highly recommend the porchetta sandwich! Can t wait to go back for another.

Love this place! Great friendly service and the best sandwiches! A total gem in the west end

Has been, is and always will be 5 stars, which isnt even a good enough rating for how amazing this place is.

I just left empty handed after being told its my fault I cant order at the cash. However the guy taking orders told me 10m ago to wait to order... then takes the orders of the people behind me! What is going on? Ok, I wont be rude, Ill just shuffle forward to the cash like everyone else, only to be told thats NOT where Im to order. Yes its my fault the guy told me to wait, get skipped over, and its MY fault. Very disappointing!

This place needs to be known in Ottawa as a top sandwich shop and delicatessen. Staff is awesome, quick and the sandwiches speak for themselves.

We enjoyed the porchetta sandwiches and will be ordering a whole porchetta for New Years. Pestos is a full-service Italian grocery store as well as a sandwich bar.

Awesome

Pestos makes the best sandwiches!!

Great sandwiches, excellent atmosphere, family owned. 10/10!

Great sandwiches, but they have definitely cut back on the size of them. What used to be a large long bun is now a smaller circular one, but still tasty. Weird they charge for pickles, but it is worth it.

Great food, great service...cant wait to go back!

Fresh

Best sandwiches, BEST service.

Amazing decor and bread

Delicious sandwiches and fast service! Would definitely recommend

Great food! Wish they were open longer for those dinner sandwich cravings! Edit: I was surprised during my last visit with the size of my sandwich. The price has remained the same but the long bun had been switched out with a smaller rectangular one. I wish I had known before I ordered. The sandwich was delicious but I was still hungry after... I would rather pay more for the same size sandwich.

The sandwiches are the best I have eaten in ottawa

Great sandwiches and other lunch items, with a small selection of Italian goods to purchase.

Excellent sandwiches and clean deli. Grazie guys

Good

Update: had 5 stars but recently the sandwich size has dropped big time and the amount of meat has been cut in half. Same price tho. Not worth the price anymore!

The best sandwich Ive ever eaten. They are fresh and their soup is great

Amazing sandwiches. Cant wait to go back.

Stopped in for the first time at 11:45 today. The gentleman behind the counter explained the menu to us and we ordered. In less then 10 minutes we had our 2 Canadian sandwiches. After one bite I told my husband that this is the freshest most delicious sandwich I ve had in a long time. He agreed. We will definitely eat here again and if you haven t tried it, you really should.

Best sandwiches in town!

Was there yesterday, no dining in, just take out, which is fine. I had the special, a hoagie. Ive never tasted a sandwich that delicious before. Warm crusted bun, lots of fresh ingredients, pickles, sauce. I cannot wait to go back. Will tell all my friends. Delicious! I had a meatball sandwich and cannot wait to go back. Highly recommend this place.

Excellent sandwiches, salads and coffee. Pleasant and fast service. Thats all one can ask.

Great food. Italian cold cut Sandwich and Tortellini Salad.

Excellent experience, there sandwiches r very tasty, service was spot on

This is ESSENTIAL! Too amazing for words.

Unbelievable quality product, staff and authentic ambiance. I googled this place as I am visiting from Toronto and staying in Kanata for the holidays. I had the Porchetta sandwich and it was a 9 out of 10. No reason to go to Mr. Sub, Subway or across the street to Arbys if this place exists! I may actually return again of its open on Christmas or Boxing Day.

Great customer service! The porchetta sandwich is wonderful!!

Liked others have said, really good sandwiches. The Portuguese Tarts are definitely worth a try.

First time here. Went in for a quick bite, nice and clean, service was great. Sandwich made in a minute or two. (If youre in a hurry) Had the Calabrese sandwich which was a little spicy but not overpowering. I would order it again. Price was similar to other sandwich places. Ill definitely be back when Im in Kanata and a little hungry

Good sandwich & pasta spot. Youll probably figure out if the dining experience is your style or not.

Absolutely fantastic. Very good

We hadnt been here before, so I ordered an Italian combo to test the waters. Soooooo good. Just the right amount of meat and extras. Will go back to try other menu options, like the chicken parm sandwich. Bonus was the people working. Super friendly and it cool to see all the regulars coming in and being greeted. Definitely a place to check out if you are looking for a great deli fresh sandwich.

Wow!!! So good and so fresh!!!! Great prices!

I ate lunch few times at this place and I definitely recommend to other.

Absolutely AMAZING experience as soon as I stepped foot inside! I immediately felt as though I were in my favourite cafe in Tuscany. Delish food (they were out of cannoli--but I did dip into some Portugese tarts--so yummy), awesome ambience, fantastic service and the most perfect cappuccino to top it off. You HAVE to go!

Great sandwich, they are open for takeout orders.

So delicious! Worth the drive from Barrhaven.

Excellent caprese sandwich. The shop is cute. You can buy pasta and pizza dough and lots of other little things.

Friendly staff, great sandwiches!

Always excellent food and service

Always great food

Its Pestos. Enough said. Side note - theyre awesome about this current covid deal.

If youre looking for an authentic Italian sandwich shop, this is the place to try.

Best sandwich place in town.

Always great.

Sandwiches Coffee. My friends... It takes the same resources to make a good coffee/latte as it does to make an awful one. Just add training. I wanted to jump back there and help the staff grind, tamp, pull the shot, froth the milk, and do a basic design. Poor guy had No Clue and said thats just what he was told to do. Reach out to Grace in the Kitchen to see if they have someone to consult. If not, reply and Ill try to help.

Best Sandwiches in Kanata by far.

Ive visited Pestos a number of times. The staff are delightful and friendly. The sandwiches are even better. Fairly priced, filing and delicious. 100% recommend this sandwich shop.

Excellent deli. Decent selection of sandwiches. Each one Ive tried has been fantastic. Support local business!

The sandwiches are legendary, really nice Italian deli where you can get whay look like hard to find items. Coffee is really good too. Plenty of Sens sightings. One of the guys running the till seems a bit stressed out every time Im there though, seems like he doesnt want you there. Thats the only detractor for this great place.

Great food (really!) but service could be better. No smile, feels rushed, and if you make the slightest mistake when you order, theyll make you feel its bothering them, unacceptable. But despite that shortcoming, Ill be back, the food is that good...

Great place for lunch sandwiches, salads, and soups

Great ambiance that almost makes you feel like youre in Italy. Efficient system for ordering and paying. Even choices for takeaway for dinner.

Please provide proper invoice on company letterhead when an order is placed for 100$+ orders from a repeat corporate account. Corporations have procedure and expenses in place and need to provide proper documentation. An email with transaction slips snapshots doesn t live up to the standard expected. Furthermore, the attitude on the phone is not pleasant. Having an established business doesn t justify this!

Love the food here and the staff is wonderful! We order for lunch & learns through our business quite frequently and have had nothing but great and easy interactions! Everything is fresh and delicious! Highly recommend!

Love the Caprese sandwich. Always super busy at lunch time, but worth the wait

I love Pestos! One of, if not the best Sandwich shop in the city! You cant go wrong here. Awesome cold deli sandwiches, with great fresh ingredients have not had one I didnt like. Also amazing hot sandwiches, I suggest the meatball or the chicken parm, they are to die for, just make sure you dont have to be super productive after eating one. Word of warning, weekday lunch time can get crazy, but what do you expect, its the best shop around! Line or no line, busy or not, you will be happy with what you get and the price you get it for. No matter how long the line is, youll see me waiting in it.

Delicious sandwiches!

Great sandwiches made with a wide variety of meats and cheeses, mild to sharp on a fresh Italian bun large or small. Lots of other dishes of different pasta. Along with Italian soft drinks and coffee. Take out or eat in. Not much seating so get there early for lunch. All at reasonable price.

Service: Staff is sweet and if you come often enough, they even remember your order! Pretty fast too, if you don t come at rush hour around 12:30. Price: Fairly priced, especially since it s really delicious. Food: amazing! I tell everyone nearby to go! 10/10

Delicious italian combo sandwich and great price as well.

Phenomenal place

Place was incredibly busy but the service was very fast. Food was delicious.

The sandwiches are great!

This place is fantastic! One sandwich size to finally rule everyone. I once was small, now, I am full and happy. Pestos Deli also has easy take-home meals and fresh pasta. Superb sauces meatballs, lasagna and porchetta.

bring back the large sandwiches pls. I change my review from 5 star to 3 star because there are no large sandwiches. Bring back the large sandwiches and my review will be 5 star again and I will be back.

Best Italian sandwiches in Kanata by far! My statement supported by lunch time lineups that reach outside on some days.

Authentic Italian deli, great sandwiches and coffee.

Use to be abit better. Got 2 canadian combos. 1 had a piece of sweater string in it. Not hair but close.... 1st time I brought the wife and I dont think il be bringing her back....

Awesome

Amazing sandwiches always great service

Get the meatball sandwhich. Thank me later.

didnt have tankards

Reminds me of my Italian trip! Good sandwiches but I wish there were half portions available.

Great food, super fresh tasting! Cant wait to try the pasta!

Great selection of italian sandwiches, soups, pasta, desserts, etc. The porchetta sandwiches are to die for! Very reasonable pricing and friendly service

Finally found an authentic porchetta panino!

This place has great sandwiches, I still want to try the lasagna

The best lunch spot in the city. No other sandwich shops, to which this city has plenty great ones, can top it. Pasta is also phenomenal.

Ive had sandwiches all over the city and it doesnt get much better than this! The Italian combo is a must. The bread and vegetables are always fresh and delicious. The tortellini salad is a perfect side to any sandwich. Gets busy around 12 so make sure to go around 11. My go to lunch spot in Kanata.

Pestos is a popular lunch stop for local businesses, so patience is required but the food is worth the wait. Their take-home lasagna is also fantastic.

Best sandwiches ever!