New York-Italian Deli Opens in Santa Cruz's Live Oak Neighborhood

La Bottega del Lago brings handmade pastas, specialty Italian goods, and grab-and-go fare to a sunny market location.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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La Bottega del Lago, an extension of the popular Lago di Como restaurant, has opened a new quick-service market and deli in Santa Cruz's Live Oak neighborhood. The new spot offers handmade pastas, sauces, Italian specialty items, and freshly prepared grab-and-go foods with a New York-Italian flair, including a signature Goloso sandwich and scratch-made lasagna.

Why it matters

The Live Oak area near the Santa Cruz Harbor and Pleasure Point has limited options for fresh, high-quality prepared foods, making La Bottega del Lago a welcome addition to the neighborhood. The market's focus on using real ingredients and offering artisanal Italian products sets it apart from other local options.

The details

Co-owner Lindsay Rodriguez describes La Bottega del Lago as a quick-service market and deli with a New York-Italian vibe. In addition to handmade pastas, sauces, and specialty grocery items, the menu features hot prepared foods like lasagna, pork and beef meatballs, focaccia-style pizza slices, and Italian desserts like tiramisu, cannoli, and gelato. The market sources non-GMO Italian flour for its pasta and pizza dough, and offers hard-to-find ingredients like guanciale, high-end olive oils, and Amarena cherries.

  • La Bottega del Lago opened in 2024.

The players

La Bottega del Lago

A quick-service market and deli in Santa Cruz's Live Oak neighborhood that offers handmade pastas, sauces, Italian specialty items, and freshly prepared grab-and-go foods with a New York-Italian flair.

Lindsay Rodriguez

The co-owner of La Bottega del Lago, who was born and raised in the Bay Area and fell in love with the restaurant industry during college in San Francisco.

Matteo Robecchi and Giovanni Spanu

The owners of the popular Lago di Como restaurant, who also own La Bottega del Lago as an extension of their business.

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What they’re saying

“Between the Santa Cruz Harbor and Pleasure Point is kind of a food island with not many options for fresh, high-quality food. We use real ingredients and offer quickly-served food that is made from scratch and with artisanal care. We really feel like there is a need for this in the Live Oak community.”

— Lindsay Rodriguez, Co-owner (goodtimes.sc)

What’s next

La Bottega del Lago plans to continue expanding its selection of specialty Italian products and prepared foods to meet the demand in the Live Oak neighborhood.

The takeaway

In a community with limited options for fresh, high-quality prepared foods, La Bottega del Lago is filling a need by offering handmade pastas, Italian specialty items, and artisanal grab-and-go fare with a New York-Italian flair.