Crust & Crate Public House (Review)

If you know me well, you know I love pizza, so it's a wonder why we waited so long to venture into the wonderful Crust and Crate at the newly revamped Lansdowne Park. I'm so glad we took the trip and have been back several times. 

From the moment we stepped inside, the vibe was funky, cool, casual and friendly. Come for a drink, appetizers, or for a filling meal. Their menu has the obligatory starters of chicken wings, calamari and tacos, but have added a few eye-catching items, such as sweet chili duck wings, duck confit poutine and Al Forno Meatballs. Their mains consist of salads, burgers, pizzas and a few pasta and straggling dishes (i.e fish and chips, lamb shank). They also have a creative cocktail menu and unique draft beer list.

We started our evening sipping a few glasses of Sauvignon Blanc and a nibble of Crispy Panko Calamari. We sipped our wine, took in the ambiance and chatted with some servers about the establishment and unique menu items.

Crispy Panko Calamari ($11)

We shared the Muay Thai Salmon Salad and the mix of sweet and spicy was tasty and perfectly paired with the smooth finish of our white wine. But....that was not at all. Of course we had to dive into the famous pizzas. Unfortunately we couldn't wait to bite into the perfectly crafted thin crust Al Forno style pizzas before remembering to take photos. Fortunately we were able to find them on the Crust and Crate Facebook page.

Muay Thai Salmon Salad ($16)

We tried two unique flavours - the first was the "You're Quacking me Up" which was topped with duck confit, roasted pears, red onion, goat cheese and sour cherries, and the second was the "Not Your Grandma's Garden" which was topped with garlicky rapini, zucchini, roasted peppers, dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, oregano and Kalamata olives. I love love loved these pizzas. The ingredients were so different and somewhat foreign to me on a pizza and that's why I loved them so much. The flavours just worked and I am so happy to be expanding my pizza palette.

You're Quacking Me Up ($15)

Not Your Grandma's Garden ($15)

Of course at this point we were unable to finish off with dessert or coffee, but we have been back since to enjoy a few draft beers and appetizers such as the Duck Confit Poutine and the Meatballs Al Forno, which were both amazing.

Next time you're wandering around Lansdowne wondering where to eat, go to Crust and Crate. You will enjoy it tremendously. Let us know what you think! Especially now that it's PATIO season!!!

Verdict: 8/10 - decent service, really cool ambiance, great pizza

Hours: Monday-Wednesday 11am-10pm; Thursday to Sunday 11am-12am

Price: Appetizers $8-$14; Salads $10-$14; Pizzas $11-$15; Mains $13-$25

Crust and Crate Public House, 105-325 Marche Way, Ottawa, ON
Landsdowne Park

http://www.crustandcrate.com 

The Rowan (Review)

This past long weekend, Lola and I ventured to the Rowan for a fabulous Sunday brunch after perusing the stands at the Lansdowne Farmer’s Market. Opened last summer, this modern British-inspired restaurant replaced the Zazaza pizzeria in the Glebe.

Sibling chefs Simon and Ross Fraser are the masterminds behind the Rowan, who are also known for their wildly popular brother restaurant, Fraser Café, located in New Edinburgh.

The Rowan is more casual than Fraser Café and has an artsy, yet inviting vibe, with soft green walls, creative lighting, moulded plastic seats and a huge wall mural of a rowan tree.

We felt very comfortable here and really enjoyed the chill ambiance, as well as the friendly and helpful staff.

The kitchen is run by chef de cuisine and Fraser Café alum Kyle Decan, who helps bring to life unexpected, yet familiar British dishes with simple, classic flavours and local ingredients.

During brunch, we both chose a different meal from their original one-page menu. I went with the Kedgeree and Lola opted for the English Back Bacon Sandwich.

The Kedgeree consisted of two poached eggs, curried vegetables, rice, chillies and yoghurt – a nice departure from the typical bacon and eggs. The ingredients were fresh and healthy and the portion size was perfect. The flavour combinations were also bang on, and it had a slight kick that got my day started off right!

Kedgeree ($14)

Lola’s sandwich was equally delicious, which was stuffed with fried egg, pickles, cheddar cheese and mouth-watering back bacon. Slaw and thick-cut chips balanced out this typical English-inspired dish.

English Back Bacon Sandwich ($16)

We were both quite satisfied with our choices and thoroughly enjoyed our experience at the Rowan. We will definitely return again, next time for lunch or dinner, whose menus look just as yummy as brunch!

Verdict: 9/10 – original menu with classic flavours; great service and vibe

Hours: Brunch - Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm; Lunch - Monday to Friday 11:30 am to 2:00 pm; Dinner - Monday to Saturday 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm; Sunday 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Price: Brunch/Lunch $8-24, Dinner $10-30

The Rowan, 915 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON
therowan.ca