Ottawa Italia

Once you’ve gone through cooking school, or if you want to forego that step, simply head over to Little Italy’s Trattoria Caffé Italia. With one of the best wine cellars in the city, it has been run by the Carrozza family for over 20 years, originally opening in the 1950s as a billiard and card-laying social club for the Preston Street community. On the corner of Gladstone and Preston.

Some other recommended Italian restaurants: Allegro Ristorante (422 Preston Street, 235-7454), Ciccio Caffe (330 Preston Street, 232-1675), Giovanni’s, featuring Toscany Regional Cuisine (362 Preston Street, 234-3156), La Dolce Vita (180 Preston Street, 233-6239), La Roma (430 Preston Street) and La Vecchia Trattoria (228 Preston Street, 230-0009).

If straightforward Italian doesn’t float your boat, get down to Little Italy’s The Prescott (379 Preston Street, 232 1136. One of the oldest taverns in town, they cleaned up a few years ago, somewhat taking the point out of going to a cleaned up “gritty tavern,” but they still have some of the best pasta and meatball sandwiches in town. Grab a quart and watch the game, even.

Dining in Ottawa’s Little Italy

If you want to talk food, than you have to talk about one of downtown Ottawa’s most important neighbourhoods, Little Italy.

Ottawa’s Little Italy was originally an Irish neighbourhood housing employees of nearby lumberyards before an influx of Italian immigration at the turn of the century. By 1908, the Italian community around Division (now Booth) Street was firmly established, with the building of St. Anthony’s Church in 1913 and the forming of the local chapter of the Sons of Italy. A second wave of Italian immigration came after WWII, and turned the area between Booth and Preston Street from Carling Avenue north into Ottawa’s unofficial official “Little Italy,” featuring fine restaurants, street parties, and other activities (World Cup Soccer in Little Italy is a must).

The City of Ottawa officially recognized the community in 1983 by designating Preston Street Corso Italia and Gladstone Avenue as Via Marconi. Their website lists local businesses, including restaurants, night life, services and entertainment, as well as information on the annual Ferrari Festival, Italian Week Settimana Italiana, and La Vendemmia - Ottawa’s Celebration of Italian Wine & Food in September. 

Ottawa Wine Bars

Situated in the back of a row house in the Glebe, 107 Fourth Avenue Wine Bar (107 Fourth Ave., 236- 0040, serves 30 or so wines from the glass or bottle for enophiles (on a budget or not). If you’re downtown, the classiest place is easily Vineyards Wine Bar Bistro (54 York St., 241-4270. Winner of the “Best Wine List in Ottawa” in Ottawa Magazine, it boasts over 300 different wines, including a full list online. If you want a bottle of something local and uniquely flavoured, drive to Strathmore Winery near the village of Monkland, just 90 minutes east of the city off Highway 138 (932- 1470) for some of the best local fruit wine, including blueberry, apple, and apple-cranberry wines. It’s still too small a winery to have its product carried in stores, so if you don’t get it from them, you just don’t get it. Call them for directions.

Best Breakfasts in Ottawa

Baker Street Café, voted best breakfast in Ottawa. I don’t know what it is they do, but there’s something they put in the scrambled eggs that make all the difference. 385 Richmond Road, Sun-Thur 7am-3pm, with Fri and Sat live blues every week. Across from Mountain Equipment Co-op.

On the weekends, you can always try Pubwell’s Restaurant (96 Preston, 236 -1175). The recently opened Bramasole Diner (428 Bank Street, 234-0502) has an all day breakfast and is known for it’s Bram Slams. Otherwise, you can always try old standards Dunn’s famous deli (220 Elgin Street, 230-6444), the Elgin Street Diner (374 Elgin Street, 237-9700) or Zak’s Diner (14 Byward Street, 241 2401) in the Byward Market.

Ottawa Asian Restaurants

Ruby Inn Ottawa Inc.: very little but a counter, this infamous take-out joint has been around for decades. 1834 Bank Street, 731-1873

So Good: perfect for lunches, especially for their lunch specials.

Yang Sheng Restaurant: for some of the best late-night Cantonese food, perfect for either the middle of the day or on the way home from the bars. Stays open late. 662 Somerset Street West (at Bronson). 235-5794

Ben Ben Restaurant: perfect for lunches. 697 Somerset Street West, 238-5022.

Cathay: mixing a cat with hay. Is that any way to name a restaurant? Still, a room full of government workers can’t be wrong, especially at their downtown lunch buffet location. 228 Albert Street, 233-7705, 1423 Woodroffe Avenue (take-out only), 228-2228 or 1755 St. Laurent Blvd., 521-9168.

Yangtze Restaurant: for some of the finest food in Chinatown, great for taking groups. 700 Somerset Street West, 236-0555.

Shanghai

Shanghai on Somerset Street West has been a family restaurant for three generations and was first Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, opening in 1971, and owned by the Kwan family. Home of some of great food, exotic drinks and some of the best karaoke in Ottawa, hosted by MC Edward Kwan, aka “China Doll” (always dressed in outlandish and fun attire, and can often go through multiple costume changes over an evening) and Carmen (who has been described as Canada’s Andy Warhol). Ed Kwan also moonlights as the head chef. Check out their calendars, available for $10, or the side of the building for the mural of China Doll by Ottawa artist Melody Hovey. 651 Somerset Street West, shanghaiottawa.com

Ottawa Tex Mex Havens

To satisfy your Tex-Mex cravings, or even just for a strawberry marguerita (virgin versions also available), check out Blue Cactus Bar & Grill (2 ByWard Market, 241 7061). With upscale décor and an expanded space, Blue Cactus is fine for quiet dining, business events and private parties; late night weekends also include DJs spinning a mix of soul, funk and house music. It was even a stop for Melissa Ethridge and friends during one of her tours in the early 1990s. At the same time, there’s nothing like the original Mexicali Rosa’s for doing it so much better, and just a little bit first. Check out their original location at 895 Bank (236 9499), or any of the others they’ve opened since (2401 St. Joseph, 824-6014; 1800 Bank Street, 526-1818; 33 Clarence, 789-1578; 1001 Queen Elizabeth Drive, 234-8156; 115 Roland Michener Drive, 591 00910).

Beckta: Where the Rolling Stones Ate

Now that we’ve got your attention (the band actually did eat here when they performed in Ottawa a few years ago), one of the best dining experiences in town for French cuisine is said to be Beckta Dining & Wine (226 Nepean Street, 238 7068). Be prepared to spend about $250 for two people. At least you know both food and wine will be spectacular.

Elvis lives in West End Ottawa

Don’t let anyone tell you different: Ottawa is the place where the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll retired. One of Ottawa’s institutions, Moe’s World Famous Newport Restaurant in Westboro, at the corner of Churchill Avenue and Richmond Road, is owner Moe Attalah’s tribute to Elvis Presley.

Once you walk through the convenience store, past the snacks and newspapers, the Newport provides high quality, standard American-style fare, including homestyle burgers, pizza, and fish and chips.

It’s also the official headquarters of the Elvis Sighting Society (check out the Elvis Lives Lane street sign outside, officially designated by city council). Elvis memorabilia covers most of the inside space, and Attalah claims to receive mail for the King from all over the world (that he refuses to open).

The Newport and Elvis Sighting Society also hosts a number of community events, including a Christmas dinner. Watch for the Douvris Martial Arts Academy next door, with the sign that claims: “Elvis trains here.” Fun facts about the historic Newport are written on their menu; check out the one about American President Bill Clinton’s mother, when she came to visit. 334 Richmond Rd., 722-9322

Ottawa Diners

Whether it’s late at night or early in the morning, and you’re feeling hungry, head to Mello’s (290 Dalhousie St., 241-1909) for good diner grub. It was a hangout for prostitutes before the “cleanup” in the late 1990s by the city pushed working women into less touristy parts of town. For some other good breakfasts, check Ada’s Diner (510 Bank St., 231-7959) or Al’s Diner (834 Clyde Ave., 761-7488).

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