The Best Eats in Ottawa

Looking for a delicious meal in Ottawa? Lola and I have compiled a list of our favourite restaurants in Ottawa for all occasions. Whether you’re looking for a fancy entrée or a tasty sandwich or a sweet treat or even a refreshing beverage on a patio, we have a suggestion for you! Check out our lists below for the best eats in Ottawa!

Best Restaurants

1.    The Albion Rooms ($$, Lower Town - 33 Nicholas Street)

Type of Food: Gastropub

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Elk Burger, Oysters

2.    Allium ($$$$, Wellington West - 87 Holland Street)

Type of Food: Tapas, French

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Flat Iron Steak

3.    Das Lokal ($$$, ByWard Market - 190 Dalhousie Street)

Type of Food: International

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Sweet Potato Pavé

4.    El Camino ($, Centretown - 380 Elgin Street)

Type of Food: Tacos

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pork Tacos, Ox Tongue Tacos

5.    Fraser Café ($$$$, Beechwood - 7 Springfield Road)

Type of Food: Seasonal and Local

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Roast Chicken & Pork Belly

6.    Navarra ($$$$, ByWard Market - 93 Murray Street)

Type of Food: Spanish and Mexican

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna Tartare, Lamb Shoulder Chilaqulles

7.    Taylor’s Genuine Food & Wine Bar ($$$$, Old Ottawa - 1091 Bank Street)

Type of Food: International

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Charcuterie Board, Mariposa Duck Breast

8.    Town ($$$, Centretown - 296 Elgin Steet)

Type of Food: Italian and Canadian

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Ricotta Meatballs

9.    Two Six {Ate} ($$, Little Italy - 268 Preston Street)

Type of Food: Gastropub, Wine Bar

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Shrimp Pogos, Tuna Tartare

Best Lunch Spots

1.    Ahora ($$, ByWard Market - 307 Dalhousie Street)

Type of Food: Mexican

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Any Quesadilla

2.    Corazon De Maiz ($, ByWard Market - 55 Byward Market Square)

Type of Food: Mexican

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Any Burrito

3.    Grounded Kitchen and Coffeehouse ($$, Centretown - 100 Gloucestor Street)

Type of Food: Breakfast, Diner, Wine Bar

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Caprese Con Carne Panini

4.    La Bottega Nicastro ($, ByWard Market - 64 George Street)

Type of Food: Italian, Sandwiches/Subs

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Club Italiano

5.    Pressed Urban Gourmet Sandwich Bar ($$, Centretown - 750 Gladstone Ave)

Type of Food: Brunch and Lunch

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Tuscan Sandwich

6.    The Red Apron ($, Centretown - 564 Gladstone Ave)

Type of Food: Sandwiches/Soups

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Maple Smoked Pulled Berkshire Pork Sandwich

7.    LUNCH ($, Centretown - 99 Metcalfe Street; 240 Sparks Street; 121 Bank Street)

Type of Food: Fresh and Local

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Vegetarian Chilli

Best Brunch

1.    Art-is-in Bakery ($$, Wellington West - 250 City Center Ave)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: House Granola, Eggs Benny, Raspberry Scone

2.    Baker Street Café ($$, Westboro - 385 Richmond Road)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: French Toast, Baker Street Club

3.    Benny’s Bistro ($$$, ByWard Market - 119 Murray Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Benny’s Salmon Gravlax

4.    The Black Thorn Café ($$$, ByWard Market - 15 Clarence Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: French Toast

5.    The Scone Witch ($, Centretown - 150 Elgin Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Ham and Gruyere on Cheddar Cheese Scone

6.    Stone Face Dolly’s ($$$, Little Italy - 416 Preston Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Eggs Natasha

Best Burger Joints

1.    Bite Burger House ($$, ByWard Market - 108 Murray Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Gardener Burger

2.    Burgers and Fries Forever ($$, Centretown - 329 Bank Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: The Melt Burger

3.    Chez Lucien ($$, Byward Market - 137 Murray Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Chez Lucien Burger

4.    Hintonburger ($$, Wellington West - 1096 Wellington Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: The Hintonbuger!

Best Patios

1.    The Black Tomato ($$$$, ByWard Market - 11 George Street)

Type of Food: American

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Prosciutto Glengarry Celtic Blue Cheese Rolls, Duck Confit

2.    Cornerstone Bar and Grill ($$$, ByWard Market - 92 Clarence Street)

Type of Food: American, Pub Food

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Ginger Chicken Spring Rolls

3.    Lieutenant’s Pump Pub ($$, Centretown - 361 Elgin Street)

Type of Food: Pub Food

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pink Panther Lemonade, Apple Cider Sangria

4.    Mambo Restaurante Nuevo Latino ($$, ByWard Market - 77 Clarence Street)

Type of Food: Latin American

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Guacamole and Chips, Chorizo Tostado

5.    Metropolitan Brasserie ($$$$, ByWard Market - 700 Sussex Drive)

Type of Food: French

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Lobster Mac & Cheese

6.    Murray Street ($$$, ByWard Market - 110 Murray Street)

Type of Food: International

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pimm’s Cup, Poutine, Kohira Beets

7.    Slice & Co ($$$, Centretown - 399 Elgin Street)

Type of Food: Pizza

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Carne Pizza, BST Pizza

8.    Stella Osteria ($$$, ByWard Market - 81-B Clarence Street)

Type of Food: Italian

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Stella Salad, Short Rib Gnocchi

9.    Trii Outdoor Lounge ($, Wellington West - 1195 Wellington Street)

Type of Food: Desserts, Ice Cream

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Walnut Clove Biscotti

Best Bakeries

1.    Art-is-in Bakery ($$, Wellington West - 250 City Center Ave)

Specialty: Breads, Scones

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Kronut

2.    Wild Oat Bakery Café ($, The Glebe - 817 Bank Street)

Specialty: Vegetarian, Crepes

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Choco-Hazelnut Pear Crepe

3.    Nutty Greek Bake Shop ($, Little Italy - 490 Rochester Street)

Specialty: Greek Baked Goods

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Loukoumades (Greek Honey Balls)

4.    Three Tarts Bakery ($$$, Wellington West - 1320 Wellington Street)

Specialty: Tarts

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: White Chocolate Tart with Pistachios and Cranberries

5.    The French Baker ($, ByWard Market - 119 Murray Street)

Specialty: Breads, Pastries

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pain au Chocolat

6.    Bread & Sons Bakery ($, Centretown - 195 Bank Street)

Specialty: Bread, Pizza           

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: The Boss Pizza

Best Sweet Treats

1.    The Cupcake Lounge ($, ByWard Market - 6 Byward Market Square)

Specialty: Cupcakes

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: White Chocolate Macademia

2.    Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt ($, ByWard Market - 80 George Street)

Specialty: Frozen Yogurt

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Birthday Cake

3.    Oh So Good! ($, ByWard Market - 25 York Street)

Specialty: Cakes

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: White Chocolate Mousse Cake, Carrot Cake

4.    Simplyraw Express ($, Wellington West - 989 Wellington Street)

Specialty: Vegetarian, Vegan

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Raspberry Chia Pudding, Midnight Brownies

5.    Stella Luna Gelato Café ($, Old Ottawa - 1103 Bank Street)

Specialty: Gelato

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pistachio Gelato

6.    SuzyQ ($, Wellington West - 991 Wellington Street)

Specialty: Donuts

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Maple Bacon Donut, Salty Caramel Donut

Best Food Trucks

1.    Ad Mare Seafood ($$, Centretown, Slater and O’Connor Street)

Type of Food: Sustainable Fish and Seafood

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Crab Sliders, Fish Tacos

2.    Angry Dragonz ($, Centretown - Gloucestor and Lyon Street)

Type of Food: Asian Fusion

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pad Thai

3.    Bonita’s Cantina ($, Wellington West - 250 City Center Ave)

Type of Food: Mexican

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Fish Tacos

4.    Flapjack’s Pancake Shack ($, The Glebe - 809 Bank Street)

Type of Food: Canadian, Breakfast/Brunch

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: The Campfire

5.    Ottawa Streat Gourmet ($$, Centretown - Albert and O’Connor Street)

Type of Food: Fresh, Local and Seasonal 

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Tandori Salmon Burger, Duck Confit Brie Grilled Cheese

6.    Urban Cowboy ($, Old Ottawa - 1149 Bank Street)

Type of Food: Texan, Southern Soul

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Belcher Burger

Best Cocktails/Drinks

1.    Brothers Beer Bistro ($$$, ByWard Market - 366 Dalhousie Street)

Type of Food: International

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Fizzy Thyme Bomb, Smoked Caesar

2.    Gezellig ($$$, Westboro - 337 Richmond Road)

Type of Food: Global Cuisine

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Negroni, Pimm’s Pint

3.    Hintonburg Public House ($$$, Wellington West - 1020 Wellington Street)

Type of Food: American

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Dillon's White Rye Honey Lemonade

4.    The Moon Room ($$, Little Italy - 442 Preston Street)

Type of Food: International, Tapas

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Brazzo!

5.    Moscow Tea Room ($$$, ByWard Market - 527 Sussex Street)

Type of Food: Cocktails, Coffee/Tea, Sandwiches

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Rooibos Chocolate Tea, Moscow Never Sleeps

6.    Must Kitchen & Wine Bar ($$$, ByWard Market - 41 William Street)

Type of Food: International, Tapas

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Norman Hardie Riesling, 2010

New or Coming Soon

1.    EVOO Greek Kitchen ($$$, Little Italy - 438 Preston Street)

Type of Food: Greek

NEW!

2.    Fauna ($$$, Centretown - 425 Bank Street)

Type of Food: Canadian

COMING SOON!