About Us
In 1986, when Nick Shallal came to Ottawa after years in the Mediterranean, he introduced the concept of gourmet pizzas after he opened La Favorita as a small takeout restaurant on Preston Street. Nick pioneered the wood burning oven to make his designer seafood pizzas and calzones among the best in the Nation’s Capital.
Word spread quickly: within a few months, rave reviews appeared in The Ottawa Citizen, The Toronto Star and even The New York Times, bringing so many customers that he had to expand to meet the demand for his delectable pizzas, calzones and salads. The great food, friendly atmosphere and mood created by La Favorita’s now famous host and chef, Nick Shallal, have kept everyone coming back.
After a brief move to a larger location on McArthur Road, where hundreds of loyal customers followed, Nick is proud to be back where it all began. For Nick, this large, brand-new location on Preston Street is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream of returning to Ottawa’s Little Italy district, where La Favorita’s reputation for great food, a wonderful atmosphere, and attentive service are well known. Whether it be gourmet pizzas, calzones, pastas, salads, grilled meats or seafood platters, La Favorita has something for everyone.
