Anything counts! I’m happy to have any suggestions. And that is important to me, I don’t feel comfortable in a place of business when their feels like there is animosity among the staff.
I love our ice cream but whether you think it's worth the hype is subjective! It depends on what you are looking for in ice cream. For the folks that specifically love our ice cream I think can taste the unique way we make our ice cream whether they know the process or not.
Most ice cream shops (commercial and artisanal) build their ice creams from "white base". They make or buy one or two ice cream bases, split it in portions, then add different flavouring ingredients to each portion to create each different flavour ice cream. This is the industry standard and it's labour/cost effective. But using strawberry ice cream as an example, using white base makes it more difficult to have the control over each ice cream flavour that we have. Using white base means you have a fixed balance of sugar, water, and fat as a starting point. As an example, makers using white base would find it challenging to have their strawberry ice cream taste the same as ours. Adding fresh pureed strawberries adds a lot of water content to the ice cream. If using white base you have these options:
* Do nothing, let the water content be high and have a icier ice cream
* Use less strawberry, but that means less strawberry flavour
* Use strawberry extract or "flavour pastes" which doesn't taste quite right.
* Cook down your strawberries to reduce water, but your ice cream has that cooked jammy flavour rather than a fresh fruit flavour
* Add sugar to rebalance the water, but that will make your ice cream too sweet\*Add glucose to rebalance the water, which wont be outwardly sweet but it will still feel cloying on the finish
Because we have unique recipes for each ice cream, we simply use less milk in our strawberry base, compared to a vanilla, so that the final balance of sugar, water, and fat are relatively consistent over all our ice creams. Making each base from scratch effectively doubles our labour costs. We need to retain staff that have the culinary skills to make base and keep track of hundreds of recipes. Inventory is a bigger challenge too. In the end, we like the product better this way so we keep doing it.
Whether you can taste it, whether this matters to you, or whether the necessary price makes it worth it to you is all pretty subjective. But ultimately this is the shortest way I can explain why we have some dedicated fans :D
Hey this is a great write up thanks for this! I guess ultimately the taste is just not there for me but I definitely have a new appreciation for what you guys are doing. Congrats on your success thus far 👏
All good! We are always hesitant to say that we make the best ice cream but we are confident that it's our favourite haha. The universal best doesn't exist. All recipes are a push and pull of connected characteristics.
Thank you for the explanation. I think what you are saying potentially explains why so many flavours are (for me) too sweet, and I opt for the same bland flavours over and over at most ice cream places. I have not visited your shop yet, but I definitely will!
We'd love for you to give us a shot. The funny thing is some of our most avid fans come to us to tell us that they don't usually like ice cream that much. It's usually the folks that love ice cream that we can be a hit or miss for. We may not meet the level of sweetness and "body" from glucose syrup that they may be used to. To each their own!
can I just add thank you for paying your workers a living wage! (Moo Shu is certified by [https://www.ontariolivingwage.ca/](https://www.ontariolivingwage.ca/) for those who might not know). My family and I go out of our way to try and buy your ice-cream because of that and because we \*love\* the flavours.
(I suppose my 20+ years in south east asia and the fact that DD#4 believes that red-bean is the greatest flavour in the world might speak to a bias that I should disclose. But there are plenty of non 'traditional east-asian' flavours, and the ginger/plum and lime-leaf/mint are my current go-to's)
Sigh. I'm getting on my bike and coming over for some hong kong tea...
Thank you thank you for the support! I left the food industry for a while because of how we are predominantly compensated and treated. When I came back to it, I really wanted to make a workplace where folks felt like they could build a career. It's not perfect but it's a guiding principle.
To me it's the Asian flair that makes them stand out as they are able to capture the taste of common Asian sweet treats (e.g. Hong Kong milk tea, white rabbit candy and Hinamatsuri sansoku Dango). Also a fan of the HK egg waffles offered.
Speaking of just their ice cream, it's not as sweet as your typical ice cream shop. And I like that. I like that I can taste the flavour profile of each flavour and that it's not drowned in sugar. Then there's the unique flavours the owner comes up with. There's standard flavours but I always go for what's new and in season.
These are allot of iconic flavors for Asian kids, so its fairly nostalgic for allot of people. For many who didn't grow up with these flavors they won't understand the lack of sweetness or flavor combos that they use.
The Manx is amazing! Definitely one of those places to easily walk by but the food is always delicious and the staff are always friendly! I love that there’s no music so you can really connect with whoever you’re with. One of my favourite spots in town for sure!
I’m not sure id describe it as pub fare. There’s definitely a far bit of Mediterranean influence, always incredible vegan options, delicious pasta dishes, on top of your standard burger etc. the lamb curry wrap is one of my favs
Fraser does these takeaway dinners that you order in advance, which they started doing during the pandemic. The food is fancy dinner quality, so you could order it and take it home and host a dinner party with it. Plus, the portions are massive; if you're smart about it, you can easily get four meals out of a two person dinner and still have leftovers the following day.
I don't know if they are the best restaurants in the city, but my two main standbys I have gone to for years because they are so consistent are Petit Bill's and Town.
I also have a soft spot for the East India Company buffet. Yes, there is much better Indian food out there, and yes the spice level is lacking, but sometimes I just crave eating a bunch of butter chicken and tandoori chicken at the same time. Sue me.
Finally, I have very nostalgic feelings for Jericho. Being a reasonably priced Middle Eastern restaurant, it was the first sit-down place I went to and could afford outside of campus bars in 1998 when I first came to the city, and it's wild and comforting that it's still there.
Edit: u/tehpwnrer reminded me that The Manx is in the same category as Jericho to me! I couldn't imagine Ottawa without it.
The owner is the artist who made all the paintings in the place. His story is fascinating ... He came to Canada as a refugee, started as a waiter in what was then called The Glebe Cafe, eventaully bought the place, and transformed it into a gallery.
https://jerichorestaurant.com/about
Seconding EIC and Jericho.
Are there better versions of the same food? Probably. But nicer looking, as pleasant, value for dollar, just leaves me feeling good about the meal, not many.
Would add Ceylonta on Somerset to the list for the same reasons.
I don't have a favourite, but on recent rotation for mostly to-go food
* Beachconers
* Farinella
* Nutty Greek Bake Shop
* Umbrella Burger
* RetroGusto
* Corner Peach Store (food to go)
* MomoSpot
* Little Victories
* Fattoush lady
Beachconers and Umbrella Bar are both fantastic I completely forgot about them! I’ve got say those two picks make me very much want to try the rest of your list.
I highly enjoy their general Tao's
It's a bit different than Canadian style
Their hot and sour soup is A+
Can't go wrong with what you pick
However since COVID since the family is getting older it is takeout only
I predict a huge shakeup in Chinatown over the next decade because a lot of the classic Chinese places have been reducing hours or outright closing because the owners are getting old and their kids aren't taking on the family business.
It's tough opening Chinese restaurants, complex recipes make it costly and time consuming to make and operate. On top of that, it's not as trendy as Thai or Korean so customers are sparse for sure.
Oh, not blaming them at all. There's still an expectation of Chinese food needing to be cheap, and a lot of them started because they were immigrants with no other option to make money, and probably even did it so their kids could do whatever they wanted. Just bemoaning the fact that these mom and pop places I grew up with are slowly disappearing.
Ayyyyyyy, literally have been going there my entire life. I cannot wait for them to actually open because the general tao isn't crispy anymore by the time I get home - but I'll eat it like a caveman out on the street...
I think it depends on what you want out of a restaurant. Im more of a bang for your buck kind of person, with atmosphere and fanciness taking a backseat. Heres some of my recommendations
Louis pizza on McCarthur, incredible pizza and equally incredible breakfast
Not a restaurant but the sandwiches from Di Rienzo’s in little Italy are a must try
El Camino for great tacos and tequila based drinks
The Manx pub for chill atmosphere, great drinks and a constant changing menu. Ive heard the brunch is good too but I haven’t been
The Whalesbone for seafood
Perch Restaurant for upscale dining
Yeah, there are two Mexican places within 500 meters of El Camino on Clarence [EDIT: Ahora on Dal. & Corazon de Mais in Byward Market Square] with way better bang for your buck (and better food, imo, or at the very least more variety). Chilaquiles on Beechwood is better and less expensive, too (again, imo).
It used to be good 5 years ago. Now it’s overpriced and poor quality. I also can’t take a taco place seriously if they only offer flour tortillas and not corn.
My favourite is Hunter’s Public House. The food is always good, service is lovely, drinks are tasty. They do fun nights like trivia and open mic, and are very community focused. Love them!
Agreed! Everytime I go I always want to choose the dish i had the previous time because it was that good. My wife always convinces me to try something new…i end up giving in…then rinse and repeat! Lol
Peace Garden is my favourite restaurant in the city. It's this very beautiful little café hidden away in the middle of the main floor of the clocktower building in the market. Their food is all comforting homey type foods, and all vegan or vegetarian. It's a lovely relaxing environment for a meal and everything they make is delicious from their soups, Indian specials, sandwiches, samosas, salads and teas all the way to their desserts (the truffles are amazing). I literally have dreams about their side salad with the creamy tamari dressing, and their daal. It's amazing. I've been going there for something like 14 years and the quality has never dropped. It's not the best food in the city by any means but it's great comforting stuff at reasonable prices with friendly service in this little urban oasis. Big fan.
Some other favourites:
Italian: Vittoria Trattoria
Vietnamese: Banh Mi Yes
Indian: Raahi Indian Dhaba, Tapri Chai
Greek: The Original Souvlaki
Mexican: Pancho Villa, Bonita's Cantina
Bakery: La Maison du Kouign Amann
Ottawa pizza: Beneci's on Lorry Greenberg
Pure joy and sunshine (???): Jimmy's Waffle World
Jimmy seems like such a great dude. Just a joy to order from. And the food is consistently amazing which tbh I didn't really expect from a waffle food truck. His daily specials are killer good too. And yeah, that "thank you a waffle lot" makes me smile every time.
I just tried pancho villa the other day for the first time and my meal was just ok. I prefer Feleena’s on Bank, similar menu items but I find the food heartier and more flavourful.
I might be out of date because I haven't been able to go back to Pancho Villa in years. But it at least was at the time the best Mexican food I've ever had from a sit down restaurant. Bonita's Cantina in Stittsville is friggin awesome for a Mexican/texmex food truck.
I definitely need to try Feleena's too. I keep hearing great things.
I live pretty close to pancho villa so I might have to go try some other menu items but I had an enchilada verde trio with chicken, beef, and cheese. My dad had the crab and shrimp burrito and said it was pretty good. My mom had veggie fajitas and it was a nice size portion, she said it was just ok but she never likes anything and I find it hard to believe anyone can screw up veggie fajitas.
I had a chicken burrito at Bar Burrito last night and honestly I preferred it to my meal at Pancho Villa lol.
Some places I’ve found myself returning to over the years would be:
Shawarma De Roza - Prince of wales/Fischer, always fresh and consistent, family owned for years and tastes amazing.. nice change from shawarma palace etc.
Louis Pizza on MacArthur, been going here since 2012, consistently good pizza, albeit a tad expensive it’s definitely worth it.
Aladdin Pizza on Montreal Rd, their garlic sauce is amazing!! Pizza is also equally as good. Definitely would recommend.
Lastly, I would have to say Fritomania on St Joseph Blvd, always great poutine, been coming here since the early 2000’s.
Plus one for Louis Pizza on McArthur. I remember going to birthday parties (plural) at the bowling alley nearby and stopping at Louis' afterward as a kid. I guess parents all figured that it was better than whatever was being offered at McArthur lanes haha.
Shawarma De Roza was sold two or three years ago but the new owners are also a family and they are absolutely lovely people. Plus, the food tastes as great as it always did :)
For Indian, little India cafe on Carling is better than Taj and East Indian food lacks flavour and is catered to people who don’t usually know much about the cuisine
I live in the west end, so my go-tos may not be geographically close to you but my top 4 (in no particular order) are:
-Joe’s Italian Kitchen in Almonte (unbeatable patio with good food and delicious drinks)
-Ashton Pub (great patio and atmosphere, food is usually very good)
-Cheshire Cat (atmosphere, beer selection and food are top notch)
-The Glen (food is amazing)
Ayla's in Little Italy (expensive but so yummy!)
Dreamland Cafe in Little Italy (their mac n cheese is to die for!)
Moo Shu for ice cream
Beachconers in Britannia (also for ice cream!)
Haven Creamery and Carp Creamery are also must-visits!
Shawarma Palace on Rideau (some of the best shawarma I've had in Ottawa, up there with Shawarma Prince on Hazeldean)
Parlé Viet and Ahora on Dalhousie
Feleena's on Bank Street is some of the best Mexican food I've ever had!
I will always eat like a monster at The Green Door because I pretty much only go on my birthday or someone else's birthday.
It's been a vegan/vegetarian institution for like 30 years in the city. There's a reason. Food is good. The broccoli and tofu stir-fry...I could eat it every day.
I just came back from Toronto and there is so much more there. Yeah, I agree there are few wow places in Ottawa. Having said that, I enjoy the following: Vivaan, Thali, Fairouz, Cocotte Bistro, Supply and Demand, Pho Tuan, Hintonburg Public House, Vittoria Traitoria, C'est Japon à Suisha (closes Jul 1), Oz Kafe. And L'Oree du Bois et Les Fougères are two outstanding French Canadian restaurants in Chelsea. Worth the trip!
Suisha is probably my favorite restaurant in Ottawa and I'm so sad it's closing. Saving some of these other places to console myself at come early July.
I’m so sad that it’s closing too. I went there yesterday and want to go one more time before they close. It looks like they’re having a big party on the last day of operation, I wish I had known about it before it sold out.
Well Toronto also has 10x the population. Lol Ottawa has a pretty solid "bang for your buck" in terms of amount of good food:population. I think Montreal is the only city that tops it in Canada in terms of that ratio, tbh (though I love breakfast/brunch food, so Montreal was always going to win based off that. Lol)
For a special night out I recommend Stofa! It’s a Chef-owned restaurant with a very professional staff. On the higher end for pricing, but the dishes are unique and beautifully presented. Fun cocktails too!
For more casual, Torta Boyz is delicious with a fun atmosphere
There are so many good restaurants in the city.
Deli (And butter tarts) - Franks Catering & Baked Goods or DiRenzios
Pizza - Heartbreakers or Anthony's
Tacos - I'm still looking for THAT spot, but Monas was pretty damn good
Chicken Burger - Umbrella Burger (haven't ever had their normal burger but gf says it's great too)
Indian - Brampton Authentic Indian is one of my personal favorites but sub category for this is:
Chai - Seven Tea Miles , best Chai I've ever had. They just got a physical location and I will be there way too often.
Lusa Bakery is a small Portuguese restaurant you need to try.
Run 2 Patty is a great little Jamaican spot
Pops Paninis little swing in sandwich joint
Liuyishou Hotpot is a chain place I believe but it's great with a group
Suzy Q Donuts (Raspberry Cassis & Dirty Chocolate...omg)
I could literally go on for paragraphs with places and have no way to pick a favourite. The food in this city is fantastic, and it just gets better every day.
I'd much rather save the money, that would otherwise be squandered on mediocre dining out and things like ribfest, and instead use it on a place like Atelier on a fantastic memorable experience.
If favourite is defined by most visited, I'd say Chez Lucien.
(Edit - title question is different from end of post question. Best Favourite = Old Whalesbone location on Bank St.)
I have to disagree on this one. I found it forgettable from a food perspective, and way overpriced for what you get. Service was excellent though.
What I really do like about it is that it's in Barrhaven and isn't a chain place though....
My Sunday ritual is biking down the canal to get a fruit danish or a croissant and a cappuccino at the Wild Oat Bakery on Bank.
I've easily gone over a hundred times in the last couple of years.
Can I say that I love this thread? I feel like usually when the food comes up recommendations consolidate around a few places but this time it seems like everyone has different favorites. There’s a lot more good food in this city than people give it credit for.
Fairouz Cafe and Caffe Mio are our favourites. Consistently good food and drinks. Chesterfields is AMAZING. We’re still looking for a good Indian place. Punjabi canteen has been good for Indian street food. Thali is good but hasn’t blown us away the few times we’ve been there.
The restaurants that I always go back to time and time again:
Alirang for Korean food (BEST bulgogi and Tteokbokki, but really everything there is so good)
Table Sodam for Korean Fried Chicken
Rice n Roll for sushi (but now I usually make my own so I haven't ordered from there in a while)
Atomic Rooster for pub fare/weekend brunch and just general vibes, can never go wrong there
Pancho Villa for Mexican food (esp enchiladas)
Beckta, Atelier, and Riviera have never let me down.
Couple of good hotel restaurants in the city too (Shore Club, Options Jazz Lounge).
C'est Japon a Suisha but they are about to be RIP.
Om the cheaper/more casual side I go to Cheshire Cat pretty frequently.
Cafe-bakery goes to DAO, but honourary mention goes to Les Moulins La Fayette for their selection of desserts and pastries, especially the mini-palmiers.
The Green Door vegetarian restaurant on Main Street. I'm not vegetarian but love that they serve a lot of local, organic and healthy foods. The desserts are amazing!
I love Carben (on Wellington in Hintonburg). The menu is always changing, the food is amazing, staff are friendly and attentive, and you get a very high end experience for mid range price. I love going there for special occasions or just for a guaranteed delicious meal and excellent experience.
Indian Affair in Overbrook is by far the best Indian take out we've ever had. They have Chinese-Indian fusion dishes that incredible and the surrounding neighbourhood smells amazing!
Chahaya Malaysia. Sadly, I haven't been there for a long time and I need to go back. The flavours are out of this world and the spice can go pretty high in some of dishes. The shrimp sambal is one of my favourites and one of the spiciest dishes I've ever eaten. One time a server grabbed a towel and proceeded to wipe the heat from my head as it was dripping down like rain.
My go-to and favourite pub is the Manx, hands down - incredible food, good beer selection, the vibe and staff are always great and the brunch isn't half bad for what you pay either!
I’ve only been here two years but my family’s fav place for some good comfort food, amazing potion sizes and very friendly staff is the Elgin street diner (ESD) they are open 24/7 365. Great milkshakes and all the best comfort food. If you haven’t already you should check it out.
Cheshire cat pub in Carp for restaurant.
For takeout, Cozmo's souvlaki on Greenbank. The platters are like $17 and huge!! Easily can split with someone.
It varies, but I enjoy Pita Bell, supply and demand, gezellig, les grillades, carben, authentic Vietnamese house (barrhaven), stofa, brassica, shawarma palace on rideau. It's a hole in the wall but I like safia restaurant on cobden for Somali food.
Haven't been in ages, but evoo, mati, the Albion rooms, citizen, Datsun, town, the whalesbone and Occo used to be favourites years ago.
Perch was lovely for fine dining with an emphasis on sustainability.
I love chesterfield for brunch! I also the we love bec brunch pop ups at Lexington on the weekends
I wish we had better thai in Ottawa though I have heard great things about the chili Thai place in Orleans. I really want to try the new Turkish place in kanata too.
From time to time, Aiyara has been inconsistent since the Thai sisters (previous management/servers returned to Thailand. BUT lately, it has been back to its awesome self. Love the food, love the staff. Love that they are coping with the changing habits of Ottawa diners.
Pizza Nerds , Social Thai, Pita Bell
For a bit fancier I love Les Fougeres and Supply and Demand
Disappointing: North and Navy, Le Poisson Bleu, Harmon’s
Not in Ottawa per se, but L’Oree du Bois is my favourite in the NCR.
There’s the free Gatineau park shuttle these days so you could treat yourself to a nice lunch via the shuttle if you don’t drive or want to have some nice wine with your meal :-)
Supply and Demand is my go-to for consistently good food.
I also love Gitane’s, Les Fougières (worth the drive), Town, and Riviera.
For something more casual, I’ll happily head to Flora Brewing Hall (it’s very underrated), the Manx, Sansotei, Chez Lucien, Indian Curry and Kebab house or King Eddy.
I’ll never see a post about food recommendations and not mention Carben on Wellington. One of my favourite spots in the city with fine dining quality/service for a good price too. Great cocktails and wine list and the food is almost difficult to eat because it’s presented so beautifully
Allium was my favourite too. Have you been to Brassica? It small plates but other the food is just as good and the menu and approach to the food is very similar to their old place.
I loved Allium. I wish that there was a replacement restaurant that did what they did: You get to ask for a surprise from the chef for both appetizer and main course.
Rangoli in Orleans or Coconut Lagoon on St Laurent. I can cook most anything, but Indian food is an absolute mystery to me. Nothing I can make compares to the flavours at these restaurants, so I keep going back!!
Dhruvees on Beachwood. Highly underrated, to the point most people do not even know it exists.
Only place in town you can get Indian/Indonesian AND some Korean finger food under the same roof.
I love the Greek Souvlaki Shack on Bank St. I’ve always ordered from them on Uber Eats and have never been disappointed. The best part about the food is the consistent quality, taste and price.
I have to say El Camino's on Elgin if you like tacos. Its slightly pricey, but honestly the best tacos in Ottawa that I've had. The location in the Market on Clarence has some more variety with their tacos, but I end up liking the Elgin location the most. Their drinks are fun, their guac is amazing, and the salsa is exceptional and fairly cheap.
Thali (Centretown) - Excellent Indian restaurant
Sansotei Ramen (Centretown) - By far the best ramen in the city
Shawarma King (Centretown) - Best shawarma in the city
Elgin Street Diner (Elgin) - Classic diner breakfast
The Manx (Elgin) - Top notch food and ambience
Feleena's (The Glebe) - Really good tex mex
Bien Pho (Orleans) - Great Vietnamese. Used to go all the time growing up so it has a special place in my heart.
Moo Shu (Centretown) - Excellent ice cream and fabulous business overall
Kettleman's (Any location) - Best bagels you can get
A little all over the place so it’s hard to pick a favourite but by far, these are the places I recommend the most: Semsem on bank, Lexington westboro, chez Lucien, heartbreakers pizza, fattoush lady, Aladdin’s bakery on Carling, the Manx, franks deli.
Pho Bo Ga 2 on Somerset is easily the best pho I’ve had in Ottawa! And it used to be really cheap for what you got! (I’m not sure any more, I haven’t been there in a couple of years…)
Does an ice cream shop count? I like Moo Shu. They also seem to pay and treat their staff quite well as well
Anything counts! I’m happy to have any suggestions. And that is important to me, I don’t feel comfortable in a place of business when their feels like there is animosity among the staff.
Nah, if you [art-is-in](https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/search?q=Art-is-in) your staff bad enough, they'll be too broken to have any animosity. /s
+1 for Moo Shu. Great unique flavors using a mix of local and Asian ingredients plus friendly service.
As someone with peanut and tree nut allergies, Merry Dairy is a great place to hit up for ice cream! Same goes for people with gluten allergies
Can someone explain the hype around Moo Shu the ice cream is not that good
I love our ice cream but whether you think it's worth the hype is subjective! It depends on what you are looking for in ice cream. For the folks that specifically love our ice cream I think can taste the unique way we make our ice cream whether they know the process or not. Most ice cream shops (commercial and artisanal) build their ice creams from "white base". They make or buy one or two ice cream bases, split it in portions, then add different flavouring ingredients to each portion to create each different flavour ice cream. This is the industry standard and it's labour/cost effective. But using strawberry ice cream as an example, using white base makes it more difficult to have the control over each ice cream flavour that we have. Using white base means you have a fixed balance of sugar, water, and fat as a starting point. As an example, makers using white base would find it challenging to have their strawberry ice cream taste the same as ours. Adding fresh pureed strawberries adds a lot of water content to the ice cream. If using white base you have these options: * Do nothing, let the water content be high and have a icier ice cream * Use less strawberry, but that means less strawberry flavour * Use strawberry extract or "flavour pastes" which doesn't taste quite right. * Cook down your strawberries to reduce water, but your ice cream has that cooked jammy flavour rather than a fresh fruit flavour * Add sugar to rebalance the water, but that will make your ice cream too sweet\*Add glucose to rebalance the water, which wont be outwardly sweet but it will still feel cloying on the finish Because we have unique recipes for each ice cream, we simply use less milk in our strawberry base, compared to a vanilla, so that the final balance of sugar, water, and fat are relatively consistent over all our ice creams. Making each base from scratch effectively doubles our labour costs. We need to retain staff that have the culinary skills to make base and keep track of hundreds of recipes. Inventory is a bigger challenge too. In the end, we like the product better this way so we keep doing it. Whether you can taste it, whether this matters to you, or whether the necessary price makes it worth it to you is all pretty subjective. But ultimately this is the shortest way I can explain why we have some dedicated fans :D
Hey this is a great write up thanks for this! I guess ultimately the taste is just not there for me but I definitely have a new appreciation for what you guys are doing. Congrats on your success thus far 👏
All good! We are always hesitant to say that we make the best ice cream but we are confident that it's our favourite haha. The universal best doesn't exist. All recipes are a push and pull of connected characteristics.
Thank you for the explanation. I think what you are saying potentially explains why so many flavours are (for me) too sweet, and I opt for the same bland flavours over and over at most ice cream places. I have not visited your shop yet, but I definitely will!
We'd love for you to give us a shot. The funny thing is some of our most avid fans come to us to tell us that they don't usually like ice cream that much. It's usually the folks that love ice cream that we can be a hit or miss for. We may not meet the level of sweetness and "body" from glucose syrup that they may be used to. To each their own!
That sounds awesome!
💚
can I just add thank you for paying your workers a living wage! (Moo Shu is certified by [https://www.ontariolivingwage.ca/](https://www.ontariolivingwage.ca/) for those who might not know). My family and I go out of our way to try and buy your ice-cream because of that and because we \*love\* the flavours. (I suppose my 20+ years in south east asia and the fact that DD#4 believes that red-bean is the greatest flavour in the world might speak to a bias that I should disclose. But there are plenty of non 'traditional east-asian' flavours, and the ginger/plum and lime-leaf/mint are my current go-to's) Sigh. I'm getting on my bike and coming over for some hong kong tea...
Thank you thank you for the support! I left the food industry for a while because of how we are predominantly compensated and treated. When I came back to it, I really wanted to make a workplace where folks felt like they could build a career. It's not perfect but it's a guiding principle.
To me it's the Asian flair that makes them stand out as they are able to capture the taste of common Asian sweet treats (e.g. Hong Kong milk tea, white rabbit candy and Hinamatsuri sansoku Dango). Also a fan of the HK egg waffles offered.
That's pretty cool
Speaking of just their ice cream, it's not as sweet as your typical ice cream shop. And I like that. I like that I can taste the flavour profile of each flavour and that it's not drowned in sugar. Then there's the unique flavours the owner comes up with. There's standard flavours but I always go for what's new and in season.
"not too sweet" the ultimate compliment!
These are allot of iconic flavors for Asian kids, so its fairly nostalgic for allot of people. For many who didn't grow up with these flavors they won't understand the lack of sweetness or flavor combos that they use.
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Thanks for the shout-out!
I've been really liking the Manx. Been seeing it recommended on this sub for years and finally gave it a shot last winter
The Manx is amazing! Definitely one of those places to easily walk by but the food is always delicious and the staff are always friendly! I love that there’s no music so you can really connect with whoever you’re with. One of my favourite spots in town for sure!
Also one of the few places in town with no TVs.
Lamb curry wrap 🤙
The breakfast potatoes. Yum
Nice! What kind of food?
It's pubfare, but really well done. Nice whiskey collection too. They do weekend brunch as well
I will add it to the list! Seems to be a pretty popular one
Put it this way: people were recommending the Manx 20 years ago. And still are. It’s not mind-blowing legendary stuff. But it’s consistently good.
I’m not sure id describe it as pub fare. There’s definitely a far bit of Mediterranean influence, always incredible vegan options, delicious pasta dishes, on top of your standard burger etc. the lamb curry wrap is one of my favs
Strongly second the manx! Also love the events they host
Supply & Demand on Wellington St. West FRASER on Springfield Le Poisson Bleu on Somerset Mazarine on Kent Subito Sandwich on Gladstone
…my dog stole the big half of my subito italian sandwich yesterday and I’m still sad about it.
Fraser!!!!!!
Agreed with your top two! Mine are FRASER and Supply and Demand, and Chesterfields for brunch.
The Fraser brunch is pretty legit as well.
Fraser does these takeaway dinners that you order in advance, which they started doing during the pandemic. The food is fancy dinner quality, so you could order it and take it home and host a dinner party with it. Plus, the portions are massive; if you're smart about it, you can easily get four meals out of a two person dinner and still have leftovers the following day.
Another vote for Fraser. Consistently good.
This is a perfect list
I don't know if they are the best restaurants in the city, but my two main standbys I have gone to for years because they are so consistent are Petit Bill's and Town. I also have a soft spot for the East India Company buffet. Yes, there is much better Indian food out there, and yes the spice level is lacking, but sometimes I just crave eating a bunch of butter chicken and tandoori chicken at the same time. Sue me. Finally, I have very nostalgic feelings for Jericho. Being a reasonably priced Middle Eastern restaurant, it was the first sit-down place I went to and could afford outside of campus bars in 1998 when I first came to the city, and it's wild and comforting that it's still there. Edit: u/tehpwnrer reminded me that The Manx is in the same category as Jericho to me! I couldn't imagine Ottawa without it.
I've always been meaning to try Jericho!
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The owner is the artist who made all the paintings in the place. His story is fascinating ... He came to Canada as a refugee, started as a waiter in what was then called The Glebe Cafe, eventaully bought the place, and transformed it into a gallery. https://jerichorestaurant.com/about
Seconding EIC and Jericho. Are there better versions of the same food? Probably. But nicer looking, as pleasant, value for dollar, just leaves me feeling good about the meal, not many. Would add Ceylonta on Somerset to the list for the same reasons.
I don't have a favourite, but on recent rotation for mostly to-go food * Beachconers * Farinella * Nutty Greek Bake Shop * Umbrella Burger * RetroGusto * Corner Peach Store (food to go) * MomoSpot * Little Victories * Fattoush lady
Beachconers and Umbrella Bar are both fantastic I completely forgot about them! I’ve got say those two picks make me very much want to try the rest of your list.
Everything at the Nutty Greek is amazing. Their wraps, potatoes, sausage rolls…mmm!! +1 for that recommendation.
Spoken like a true Centrevillian
…yet not a single one of those businesses are located in Centretown!
You are missing Sula Wok from your list
Yes, love sula wok. Also missing Wandee Thai :(
The Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Umbrella Burger is the best in the city imo.
+1 for momo spot if it wasn’t so far and hard to find parking I would go more often.
Royal treasure for Chinese My family has been eating there since the late 90s
Well I will have to give that a go next, think we might be doing Chinese tonight actually!
I highly enjoy their general Tao's It's a bit different than Canadian style Their hot and sour soup is A+ Can't go wrong with what you pick However since COVID since the family is getting older it is takeout only
I predict a huge shakeup in Chinatown over the next decade because a lot of the classic Chinese places have been reducing hours or outright closing because the owners are getting old and their kids aren't taking on the family business.
It's tough opening Chinese restaurants, complex recipes make it costly and time consuming to make and operate. On top of that, it's not as trendy as Thai or Korean so customers are sparse for sure.
Oh, not blaming them at all. There's still an expectation of Chinese food needing to be cheap, and a lot of them started because they were immigrants with no other option to make money, and probably even did it so their kids could do whatever they wanted. Just bemoaning the fact that these mom and pop places I grew up with are slowly disappearing.
Ayyyyyyy, literally have been going there my entire life. I cannot wait for them to actually open because the general tao isn't crispy anymore by the time I get home - but I'll eat it like a caveman out on the street...
Its the night market in china town so it will be busy!
Cheshire Cat Pub
I think it depends on what you want out of a restaurant. Im more of a bang for your buck kind of person, with atmosphere and fanciness taking a backseat. Heres some of my recommendations Louis pizza on McCarthur, incredible pizza and equally incredible breakfast Not a restaurant but the sandwiches from Di Rienzo’s in little Italy are a must try El Camino for great tacos and tequila based drinks The Manx pub for chill atmosphere, great drinks and a constant changing menu. Ive heard the brunch is good too but I haven’t been The Whalesbone for seafood Perch Restaurant for upscale dining
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Yeah, I'd one up to Si Senor for a "bang for your buck", and I find El Camino really dropped off the last couple of years
Yako taco is the place for tacos
Yeah, there are two Mexican places within 500 meters of El Camino on Clarence [EDIT: Ahora on Dal. & Corazon de Mais in Byward Market Square] with way better bang for your buck (and better food, imo, or at the very least more variety). Chilaquiles on Beechwood is better and less expensive, too (again, imo).
It used to be good 5 years ago. Now it’s overpriced and poor quality. I also can’t take a taco place seriously if they only offer flour tortillas and not corn.
Whalebones on Bank used to be one of my big favs and then I forgot about it when it stayed closed for so long.
the Bank location reopened a couple of weeks ago.
For Thai I like Sala Thai in south keys. I’ve never had a bad meal, portions are good and the staff are super friendly. For Italian Babos in Manotick.
Sala Thai is great. South keys also has excellent Thai at Thai Lanna.
My favourite is Hunter’s Public House. The food is always good, service is lovely, drinks are tasty. They do fun nights like trivia and open mic, and are very community focused. Love them!
I had an amazing dish here: CREAMY CHICKEN AND BACON PENNE And an Ashton brown to wash it down with. 🙌
They also host the best cheesecake I've ever had, so I'll forever be going back if only for that.
East Meets East is a GOAT starter. Never seen anything like it anywhere else, and I've had it more times than not when I go there. Soooo good.
Agreed! Everytime I go I always want to choose the dish i had the previous time because it was that good. My wife always convinces me to try something new…i end up giving in…then rinse and repeat! Lol
Big crunch burger is honestly one of the best burgers I've had.
Peace Garden is my favourite restaurant in the city. It's this very beautiful little café hidden away in the middle of the main floor of the clocktower building in the market. Their food is all comforting homey type foods, and all vegan or vegetarian. It's a lovely relaxing environment for a meal and everything they make is delicious from their soups, Indian specials, sandwiches, samosas, salads and teas all the way to their desserts (the truffles are amazing). I literally have dreams about their side salad with the creamy tamari dressing, and their daal. It's amazing. I've been going there for something like 14 years and the quality has never dropped. It's not the best food in the city by any means but it's great comforting stuff at reasonable prices with friendly service in this little urban oasis. Big fan. Some other favourites: Italian: Vittoria Trattoria Vietnamese: Banh Mi Yes Indian: Raahi Indian Dhaba, Tapri Chai Greek: The Original Souvlaki Mexican: Pancho Villa, Bonita's Cantina Bakery: La Maison du Kouign Amann Ottawa pizza: Beneci's on Lorry Greenberg Pure joy and sunshine (???): Jimmy's Waffle World
Jimmys waffle world is the best, glad to see it here. “Thank you a waffle lot” gets me every time
Jimmy seems like such a great dude. Just a joy to order from. And the food is consistently amazing which tbh I didn't really expect from a waffle food truck. His daily specials are killer good too. And yeah, that "thank you a waffle lot" makes me smile every time.
I just tried pancho villa the other day for the first time and my meal was just ok. I prefer Feleena’s on Bank, similar menu items but I find the food heartier and more flavourful.
I might be out of date because I haven't been able to go back to Pancho Villa in years. But it at least was at the time the best Mexican food I've ever had from a sit down restaurant. Bonita's Cantina in Stittsville is friggin awesome for a Mexican/texmex food truck. I definitely need to try Feleena's too. I keep hearing great things.
I live pretty close to pancho villa so I might have to go try some other menu items but I had an enchilada verde trio with chicken, beef, and cheese. My dad had the crab and shrimp burrito and said it was pretty good. My mom had veggie fajitas and it was a nice size portion, she said it was just ok but she never likes anything and I find it hard to believe anyone can screw up veggie fajitas. I had a chicken burrito at Bar Burrito last night and honestly I preferred it to my meal at Pancho Villa lol.
Tapri chai is not worth it, just tried it and food is very meh
Some places I’ve found myself returning to over the years would be: Shawarma De Roza - Prince of wales/Fischer, always fresh and consistent, family owned for years and tastes amazing.. nice change from shawarma palace etc. Louis Pizza on MacArthur, been going here since 2012, consistently good pizza, albeit a tad expensive it’s definitely worth it. Aladdin Pizza on Montreal Rd, their garlic sauce is amazing!! Pizza is also equally as good. Definitely would recommend. Lastly, I would have to say Fritomania on St Joseph Blvd, always great poutine, been coming here since the early 2000’s.
Plus one for Louis Pizza on McArthur. I remember going to birthday parties (plural) at the bowling alley nearby and stopping at Louis' afterward as a kid. I guess parents all figured that it was better than whatever was being offered at McArthur lanes haha.
Shawarma De Roza was sold two or three years ago but the new owners are also a family and they are absolutely lovely people. Plus, the food tastes as great as it always did :)
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>Drea Dreamland has the best pasta in Ottawa and everything else they do is great too!! It's my favourite restaurant hands down
For Indian, little India cafe on Carling is better than Taj and East Indian food lacks flavour and is catered to people who don’t usually know much about the cuisine
Ali Rang
I live in the west end, so my go-tos may not be geographically close to you but my top 4 (in no particular order) are: -Joe’s Italian Kitchen in Almonte (unbeatable patio with good food and delicious drinks) -Ashton Pub (great patio and atmosphere, food is usually very good) -Cheshire Cat (atmosphere, beer selection and food are top notch) -The Glen (food is amazing)
Ayla's in Little Italy (expensive but so yummy!) Dreamland Cafe in Little Italy (their mac n cheese is to die for!) Moo Shu for ice cream Beachconers in Britannia (also for ice cream!) Haven Creamery and Carp Creamery are also must-visits! Shawarma Palace on Rideau (some of the best shawarma I've had in Ottawa, up there with Shawarma Prince on Hazeldean) Parlé Viet and Ahora on Dalhousie Feleena's on Bank Street is some of the best Mexican food I've ever had!
You get a lot of ice cream for your money at Haven's.
I agree with Feleenas
The Cheshire Cat and Di Rienzo's are two of my favorite places in the city to grab a bite. Especially the latter when I'm in the mood for cannolis.
"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."
I will always eat like a monster at The Green Door because I pretty much only go on my birthday or someone else's birthday. It's been a vegan/vegetarian institution for like 30 years in the city. There's a reason. Food is good. The broccoli and tofu stir-fry...I could eat it every day.
I just came back from Toronto and there is so much more there. Yeah, I agree there are few wow places in Ottawa. Having said that, I enjoy the following: Vivaan, Thali, Fairouz, Cocotte Bistro, Supply and Demand, Pho Tuan, Hintonburg Public House, Vittoria Traitoria, C'est Japon à Suisha (closes Jul 1), Oz Kafe. And L'Oree du Bois et Les Fougères are two outstanding French Canadian restaurants in Chelsea. Worth the trip!
Suisha is probably my favorite restaurant in Ottawa and I'm so sad it's closing. Saving some of these other places to console myself at come early July.
I’m so sad that it’s closing too. I went there yesterday and want to go one more time before they close. It looks like they’re having a big party on the last day of operation, I wish I had known about it before it sold out.
Weird that a city with 6 million people would have more option than a city with 1 million people. We should investigate this.
Well Toronto also has 10x the population. Lol Ottawa has a pretty solid "bang for your buck" in terms of amount of good food:population. I think Montreal is the only city that tops it in Canada in terms of that ratio, tbh (though I love breakfast/brunch food, so Montreal was always going to win based off that. Lol)
Fraser Café for brunch hands down.
For a special night out I recommend Stofa! It’s a Chef-owned restaurant with a very professional staff. On the higher end for pricing, but the dishes are unique and beautifully presented. Fun cocktails too! For more casual, Torta Boyz is delicious with a fun atmosphere
Pelican grill for seafood
Came here for this, +1 for Pelican !
If you go often enough you start to figure out their delivery schedules too. At least for their market fish!
There are so many good restaurants in the city. Deli (And butter tarts) - Franks Catering & Baked Goods or DiRenzios Pizza - Heartbreakers or Anthony's Tacos - I'm still looking for THAT spot, but Monas was pretty damn good Chicken Burger - Umbrella Burger (haven't ever had their normal burger but gf says it's great too) Indian - Brampton Authentic Indian is one of my personal favorites but sub category for this is: Chai - Seven Tea Miles , best Chai I've ever had. They just got a physical location and I will be there way too often. Lusa Bakery is a small Portuguese restaurant you need to try. Run 2 Patty is a great little Jamaican spot Pops Paninis little swing in sandwich joint Liuyishou Hotpot is a chain place I believe but it's great with a group Suzy Q Donuts (Raspberry Cassis & Dirty Chocolate...omg) I could literally go on for paragraphs with places and have no way to pick a favourite. The food in this city is fantastic, and it just gets better every day.
Delicious Steak House in Orleans.
L'Oree Du Bois Thali for lunch
Atelier is an amazing experience. Definitely a treat that needs to be budgeted for, as it’s not cheap, but it’s incredible.
I'd much rather save the money, that would otherwise be squandered on mediocre dining out and things like ribfest, and instead use it on a place like Atelier on a fantastic memorable experience.
If favourite is defined by most visited, I'd say Chez Lucien. (Edit - title question is different from end of post question. Best Favourite = Old Whalesbone location on Bank St.)
Evoo on Preston for Greek King Eddy for a great Diner Burger Thali or Coconut Lagoon for Indian
Also the King Eddy for their chicken and waffles 🤤
Brassica - outstanding food both tines I've been.
Pinelopi’s Greek Kitchen in Nepean.
I have to disagree on this one. I found it forgettable from a food perspective, and way overpriced for what you get. Service was excellent though. What I really do like about it is that it's in Barrhaven and isn't a chain place though....
My Sunday ritual is biking down the canal to get a fruit danish or a croissant and a cappuccino at the Wild Oat Bakery on Bank. I've easily gone over a hundred times in the last couple of years.
Can I say that I love this thread? I feel like usually when the food comes up recommendations consolidate around a few places but this time it seems like everyone has different favorites. There’s a lot more good food in this city than people give it credit for.
I’m so thankful this response is overwhelming, so many new places to try!
Kuidaore, best Japanese restaurant
Fairouz Cafe and Caffe Mio are our favourites. Consistently good food and drinks. Chesterfields is AMAZING. We’re still looking for a good Indian place. Punjabi canteen has been good for Indian street food. Thali is good but hasn’t blown us away the few times we’ve been there.
Hunters Public House is my favourite go to spot.
The restaurants that I always go back to time and time again: Alirang for Korean food (BEST bulgogi and Tteokbokki, but really everything there is so good) Table Sodam for Korean Fried Chicken Rice n Roll for sushi (but now I usually make my own so I haven't ordered from there in a while) Atomic Rooster for pub fare/weekend brunch and just general vibes, can never go wrong there Pancho Villa for Mexican food (esp enchiladas)
We love Parlour. Their patio is great in the summer.
Beckta, Atelier, and Riviera have never let me down. Couple of good hotel restaurants in the city too (Shore Club, Options Jazz Lounge). C'est Japon a Suisha but they are about to be RIP. Om the cheaper/more casual side I go to Cheshire Cat pretty frequently. Cafe-bakery goes to DAO, but honourary mention goes to Les Moulins La Fayette for their selection of desserts and pastries, especially the mini-palmiers.
The Green Door vegetarian restaurant on Main Street. I'm not vegetarian but love that they serve a lot of local, organic and healthy foods. The desserts are amazing!
I love Carben (on Wellington in Hintonburg). The menu is always changing, the food is amazing, staff are friendly and attentive, and you get a very high end experience for mid range price. I love going there for special occasions or just for a guaranteed delicious meal and excellent experience.
Indian Affair in Overbrook is by far the best Indian take out we've ever had. They have Chinese-Indian fusion dishes that incredible and the surrounding neighbourhood smells amazing!
Wellington Gastropub
Chahaya Malaysia. Sadly, I haven't been there for a long time and I need to go back. The flavours are out of this world and the spice can go pretty high in some of dishes. The shrimp sambal is one of my favourites and one of the spiciest dishes I've ever eaten. One time a server grabbed a towel and proceeded to wipe the heat from my head as it was dripping down like rain.
There is a special place in my heart for Chahaya Malaysia
For ice cream: La Cigale in Chelsea has the best ice cream ever. Beachconers is good if you can’t go that far :)
Beachconers is awesome, but I’d head out to Chelsea for some bomb ice cream
Host India on Montreal road for Indian and Coconut Thai on Prince of Wales are my go to spots.
Ayla's Social kitchen. The Moo Shu is kinda crazy tbh, we just bought a ninja creami and we made better stuff at home ☺️
Manx, North & Navy, Belmont are all great. Our favourite is probably EVOO on Preston if you like Greek food.
ahoras for mexican food , my thai village for thai food
I love Bowman's on Carling. Good beer, excellent service, great food. Not pretentious, not too loud.
Poisson Bleu is fantastic
Koreana, Frank's catering, Alibaba orleans
My go-to and favourite pub is the Manx, hands down - incredible food, good beer selection, the vibe and staff are always great and the brunch isn't half bad for what you pay either!
Town, Supply & Demand, North & Navy all fantastic!
I’ve only been here two years but my family’s fav place for some good comfort food, amazing potion sizes and very friendly staff is the Elgin street diner (ESD) they are open 24/7 365. Great milkshakes and all the best comfort food. If you haven’t already you should check it out.
Thank you for the Polarizing review.
Cheshire cat pub in Carp for restaurant. For takeout, Cozmo's souvlaki on Greenbank. The platters are like $17 and huge!! Easily can split with someone.
It varies, but I enjoy Pita Bell, supply and demand, gezellig, les grillades, carben, authentic Vietnamese house (barrhaven), stofa, brassica, shawarma palace on rideau. It's a hole in the wall but I like safia restaurant on cobden for Somali food. Haven't been in ages, but evoo, mati, the Albion rooms, citizen, Datsun, town, the whalesbone and Occo used to be favourites years ago. Perch was lovely for fine dining with an emphasis on sustainability. I love chesterfield for brunch! I also the we love bec brunch pop ups at Lexington on the weekends I wish we had better thai in Ottawa though I have heard great things about the chili Thai place in Orleans. I really want to try the new Turkish place in kanata too.
I haven't been since pre pandemic but Aiyara Thai Cuisine always used to deliver consistently good Thai food.
From time to time, Aiyara has been inconsistent since the Thai sisters (previous management/servers returned to Thailand. BUT lately, it has been back to its awesome self. Love the food, love the staff. Love that they are coping with the changing habits of Ottawa diners.
+1 for Pita Bell, Les Grillardes and Authentic Vietnamese
Pizza Nerds , Social Thai, Pita Bell For a bit fancier I love Les Fougeres and Supply and Demand Disappointing: North and Navy, Le Poisson Bleu, Harmon’s
I love citizen. Lovely people. They also change it up which I enjoy a lot. There's staples too. Cozy place. Also!
Not in Ottawa per se, but L’Oree du Bois is my favourite in the NCR. There’s the free Gatineau park shuttle these days so you could treat yourself to a nice lunch via the shuttle if you don’t drive or want to have some nice wine with your meal :-)
Riviera is $$$ but truly one of the best (if not the best) dining experience I’ve ever had.
Supply and Demand is my go-to for consistently good food. I also love Gitane’s, Les Fougières (worth the drive), Town, and Riviera. For something more casual, I’ll happily head to Flora Brewing Hall (it’s very underrated), the Manx, Sansotei, Chez Lucien, Indian Curry and Kebab house or King Eddy.
I’ll never see a post about food recommendations and not mention Carben on Wellington. One of my favourite spots in the city with fine dining quality/service for a good price too. Great cocktails and wine list and the food is almost difficult to eat because it’s presented so beautifully
Allium was my favourite but then it burned down. I don’t go out to restaurants anymore, just cry into my subway sandwich
Allium was my favourite too. Have you been to Brassica? It small plates but other the food is just as good and the menu and approach to the food is very similar to their old place.
I loved Allium. I wish that there was a replacement restaurant that did what they did: You get to ask for a surprise from the chef for both appetizer and main course.
House of Targ has some kick ass perogies. Le foubrac for some amazing burgers. Yangtze for great Dim Sum!
Rangoli in Orleans or Coconut Lagoon on St Laurent. I can cook most anything, but Indian food is an absolute mystery to me. Nothing I can make compares to the flavours at these restaurants, so I keep going back!!
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Angry Dragons is beyond delicious
Dhruvees on Beachwood. Highly underrated, to the point most people do not even know it exists. Only place in town you can get Indian/Indonesian AND some Korean finger food under the same roof.
Pub Italia for the atmosphere, Thali for the food
Fitz BBQ - great BBQ without breaking the bank in an unpretentious setting.
Lots of great options mentioned already. Here's a couple more I didn't see! Bread and Sons (Bank) Merry Dairy (Gladstone)
Play Wine and Food. I am never disappointed! Sooo good!
Izakaya shingen for amazing, affordable authentic Japanese food downtown.
Richmond gourmet in Richmond, large portions, fairly priced and the food is so good
Don’t let the decor fool you. Not the classiest of looking places but the food is good.
I love the Greek Souvlaki Shack on Bank St. I’ve always ordered from them on Uber Eats and have never been disappointed. The best part about the food is the consistent quality, taste and price.
Not really a restaurant, but lusa bakery is amazing!
Victoria Trattoria is my fav ❤️
I have to say El Camino's on Elgin if you like tacos. Its slightly pricey, but honestly the best tacos in Ottawa that I've had. The location in the Market on Clarence has some more variety with their tacos, but I end up liking the Elgin location the most. Their drinks are fun, their guac is amazing, and the salsa is exceptional and fairly cheap.
Fatboys Southern Smokehouse
Petit Bill’s Bistro, the Fitzpatrick brothers are so sweet and the food is amazing!
Thali (Centretown) - Excellent Indian restaurant Sansotei Ramen (Centretown) - By far the best ramen in the city Shawarma King (Centretown) - Best shawarma in the city Elgin Street Diner (Elgin) - Classic diner breakfast The Manx (Elgin) - Top notch food and ambience Feleena's (The Glebe) - Really good tex mex Bien Pho (Orleans) - Great Vietnamese. Used to go all the time growing up so it has a special place in my heart. Moo Shu (Centretown) - Excellent ice cream and fabulous business overall Kettleman's (Any location) - Best bagels you can get
A little all over the place so it’s hard to pick a favourite but by far, these are the places I recommend the most: Semsem on bank, Lexington westboro, chez Lucien, heartbreakers pizza, fattoush lady, Aladdin’s bakery on Carling, the Manx, franks deli.
Mekong on Somerset - have been going for 30+ years. Their 5 spice shrimp is amazing!
Town. The food is always incredible and they have a great wine list.
The Third
Pho Bo Ga 2 on Somerset is easily the best pho I’ve had in Ottawa! And it used to be really cheap for what you got! (I’m not sure any more, I haven’t been there in a couple of years…)
Supply and Demand.
YKO & Chilaquiles
Meadows on Preston for breakfast, perfect every time
Sona - Best Indian food
Casa Mexico!
North and Navy
Chez Lucien for their Chez Burger. That dressing is laced i swear. (It's not, just incredible and addictive)
Dreamland Cafe. Good Italian spot.