Ottawa Good Eats. Must-Try Restaurants In YOW.
Whether you’re a tourist or a local who doesn’t explore much and is curious where you can find some good eats, you’re in the right place. Below are some of Ottawa’s best places where I had the best food experience hands down, in no particular order.
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Art Is In Bakery – 250 City Centre Ave, Ottawa, ON K1R 1C7
This place has a very inviting vibe to it. This lofty space has lots of tables and is always packed. The lineup does go pretty fast though so don’t get discouraged. “Art-Is-In Bakery is an edgy gastro-bakery built to satisfy any craving.” Is this ever true! You have to see this place to believe it! They have so many great selections of baked goods. And if you’re not feeling the sweets, they have savory eats on the menu as well. Another great thing about this place is they participate with Mealshare. For every Mealshare branded menu item purchased at their restaurant, they will provide one meal to a youth in need through Mealshare. Paid parking is available, but the cost isn’t much, thankfully this isn’t centrally located. Price range $$. Store hours: Monday to Friday: 7am – 5pm, Saturday: 8am – 4pm and Sunday: 8am – 3pm.
2. The Sconewitch – various locations
Owner and Founder, Heather Matthews, opened The Sconewitch back in 2004. Now, they have 3 different locations across Ottawa. The particular location I’ve been is located along Elgin St. A popular street in Ottawa where there are lots to see, from cafes, restaurants, historic buildings and more. It’s not very often that I would order a scone at a restaurant but in this case, their specialty is sconewitches! Their scones come in different flavors, from sweet to savory. Their scones are always fresh and handmade. My favorite here is their Poached Salmon in Zucchini Cream Sauce and Mediterranean Vegetables with Goat Cheese. Drooling yet? I can’t blame ya! Price per plate is between $8-12.00. They also have different flavors of jam to go with the scones (made by Moss Berry Farms) – apricot and rhubarb ginger are my favorite! This place is definitely one of my best places to eat in Ottawa. Paid street parking is available. Store hours vary per location: check here.
3. Chesterfield’s Gastro Diner – 1433 Wellington St W #111
“A Not So Greasy Spoon” is their tagline and this is why – Chesterfield’s Gastro Diner is dedicated to making fresh food using modern kitchen equipment – steam induction; this allows them to cook with NO grease, resulting in 40% less calories! That’s right! So for all of you who are calorie and food conscious, you definitely have to try this place! This is located on the west side of the city. We went here for my daughter’s birthday brunch. There was a lineup but we waited anyway to see how good this diner actually is. And I’m so glad to say the half an hour lineup wait didn’t disappoint. Their space is of medium size. Lots of street parking available. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, great food presentation and awesome selection of food. The food was superb! In this photo we ordered, Quavo Rancheros. Yes, it was super yummy! We will definitely go back to this diner to see what other great concoction they have to offer. Price range: $12-18.00 per plate. This diner does not take reservations on the weekend. Hours: MONDAY-FRIDAY 7AM-200PM and SATURDAY-SUNDAY 8AM-200PM.
4. Baker Street Cafe – 385 Richmond Rd
Good things come to those who wait. Here’s another one people would line up for. I love coming here for brunch! This is located on the west side of the city, not very far from Chesterfield’s Gastro Diner. This restaurant is along the popular Richmond Rd. and is surrounded by shops, restaurants and other cafes. This place is somewhat small but their food is amazing! It’s always fresh and they serve generous plates while keeping a pleasant food presentation. A staff would often come out and offer the customers at the line up some type of baked goods. I love when restaurants do something like this. By way of doing this, they’re letting their customers know ‘hey, we realize you’ve been waiting, we know you’re here, we appreciate your patience’. It’s such a smart and genuine way to connect with customers. I highly recommend this place. Street parking is fairly decent. Baker Street Cafe does not take reservations on the weekend. Price range: $12-18.00 per plate. Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00-2: 30 PM, closes at 3 PM on weekends.
5. Wilf and Ada’s – 510 Bank St
This is located in Centretown, along Bank St. This is another great brunch place. We came here to celebrate Mother’s Day. Again, yes line up is to be expected on the weekend especially, but not to worry, there is a nice coffee shop right beside it where you can hang out and have a cup of coffee while you wait for a table. This place definitely did not disappoint. You can definitely tell their food is fresh. Wilf and Ada’s strive to make most of their menu in-house, from scratch using the best quality ingredients that are from local suppliers. Their freshly squeezed orange juice is quite a treat. The menu is of medium size which I like. I find it harder to decide when a menu has 100 different things in it. Serving size is just right. Paid street parking is available, free on Sundays. Price range: $12-17.00. Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00-3:00 pm, opens at 8:00 AM on weekends.
6. Sansotei Ramen – 153 Bank St, Ottawa, ON
Nothing beats a tasty ramen – the soft egg, bouncy noodles, packed of flavor tender meat and creamy broth – it’s all too good! Expect a lineup but trust me, it’s worth every second of it. If you’re the type who is always in a rush and can’t afford to wait for too long, I suggest going right when they open or in between lunch and dinner rush, so between 2:00 and 5:00 PM. Small menu which is a plus – you won’t have a hard time deciding which ramen to order. The portion is just right, not too small and not too big either. To keep their menu and flavors consistent, Sansotei sources their ingredients both locally and direct from Japanese suppliers. One thing you might want to know is they do not allow takeouts, so make sure you are one hungry beast when you visit this place so nothing goes to waste. I’ve tried different kinds of ramen here but my favorite is Tonkotsu Black with thick noodles. This is definitely one of the best places to eat in Ottawa and the best ramen in the city. Paid street parking is available, free after 5:30 PM and on weekends. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM and closed on Sundays.
7. Feast and Revel – 325 Dalhousie St
Located right in downtown Ottawa near the popular Byward Market and Rideau Mall. This restaurant is located on the main floor of Andaz Hotel. This spot has a vibe of class and their food is very well presented. The price is just a touch higher than your average restaurant, but it’s well worth the price. Food amount is just right. Did I mention they have a rooftop lounge? This spot is perfect when you’re visiting the city. Enjoy a cocktail with a view! Paid street parking is available. Kid-friendly restaurant. Price range: $14 – 26.00. Hours may vary, check here.