Ottawa Foodies

1

I believe the place is now under new management (as of 2011) as the previous reviews do not speak to our experience there. The new owners are Greek fellows who made some delicious food on the cheap. Went for dinner with my mother and girlfriend and had a good spread (as seen in the picture). Would recommend if you're in the area and looking for a hearty meal.

The woman who runs the show in this quaint little space has got to be one of the friendliest women in the world (maybe too friendly?). I'm excited about it because of it's location, literally half a block from my house, on Gladstone between Lyon and Bay. It has bright big windows that let the morning sun shine in beautifully – perfect for Sunday brunch. And the best part? No lineup.

I ordered the Seafood Benedict. I had no idea what to expect, there's no description on the menu. I was surprised this dish didn't come with eggs, but I don't think it would have been good with eggs anyway. Bagel halves topped with grilled chicken bologna and a tasty seafood concoction that reminded me of my mom's seafood casserole. It had a mixture of mussels, fish, shrimp and onion in a hollandaise sauce. It was really quite nice. The home fries were also yummy. Sliced strawberry, orange, grapes and blueberries decorated the plate.

My husband had The Original. 2 eggs with your choice of 2 breakfast chicken strips, 2 sausage links or 2 grilled chicken bologna, toast, home fries and coffee. He went with the sausage, which was a polish chicken sausage.

The breakfast prices range from $5.95 to $9.95. They also serve lunch and dinner and have a small but diverse menu. From quiche to jerk chicken, smoked meat sandwiches and hamburgers and fries, mains range from $7.95 to $15.95. Apps from $4.95 to $7.95. They also have a dinner special for $9.95 every Sunday.

As is with pretty much all new restaurants, there are some ups, and some downs. I'm going to list a few of the downs – which I must point out, didn't bother me too much at all. Ok, except maybe the cell phone.
- There was no real server. The owner's neighbour, a very friendly man, helped serve us in between his smoke breaks and running out to get butter.
- My dish was ordered with an english muffin, but they ran out (? there was one other table), and replaced it with a bagel. I really don't like bagels, unless they are the Montreal style bagels.
- Someone who works there's cell phone rang too many times for me to count, very loudly and with what was soon to become my most hated song of the day.
- The restaurant is Halal – good news to some, but not to those who enjoy wine or other alcoholic beverages. Although I must say, this is definitely going to be a plus for people who don't eat red meat, and I know a lot of people like that. There's no pork, all the sausage and bacon is made with chicken.

Why would I go back? The woman who owns this place has obviously put her heart and soul in this dream. I'm sad that she has no prior restaurant experience – I think a lot pitfalls could be avoided. Nonetheless, it's hard not to like this place when the owner comes out and offers you more breakfast potatoes (just like being at a friend's house), gives you complementary pineapple juice, and allows you to leave without paying a cent (their debit and credit card machine had not been installed yet but she didn't let anyone know that for fear they would not eat there. Instead, she took your name and trusted you to return with the cash). Lastly, if you don't see what you want on the menu, they'll make it for you (as long as they have the ingredients).

This restaurant opened up in my neighbourhood a few weeks ago so I've tried it a couple of times for dinner and the food was very good on both occasions.

The menu is an interesting mix of North American type food like hamburgers and Caesar salad but also curries and pekoras and Jerk Chicken - West Indian I believe. It seems like there would be something for everyone.

All the food I have tried there has been fantastic. I had a soup the first time, cream of chicken I believe, that tasted just like something my grandmother would make. Today I had cream of carrot ginger soup that was just the thing for a colder day.

Their current menu doesn't have too many vegetarian options but the chef offered to make me something off the menu (I usually don't eat meat) and she adapted the chicken and dahl wrap to be a coconut spinach dahl wrap. It was very nice with two flavour pockets so-to-speak: one of coconut spinach, and one of potato with the lentils (dahl) throughout. This was serves with cardamom flavoured rice, a spinach salad, and a plantain with a top of spinach on it. It was an unexpected but very tasty meal (and just now I am realising how much spinach was in it but in three different ways).

Afterwards I had a latte which had a very nice flavour and was served piping hot.

In addition to the excellent food, the proprietors are very nice, friendly, and willing to accommodate. There are still a few glitches because of the newness of their business: the interac/credit card system is not working yet and they don't seem to have quite settled into a routine of serving, but I'm sure these things will be remedied in time.

They are open 7 days a week, from 7am to 10pm on all days, I believe. They have omelettes and french toast on the breakfast menu, among other things, and around six items on their dessert list including plantain with whipped cream and cheesecake with a fruit compote, all of which I want to try.

Finally, the prices are very reasonable. My wrap with the sides was $9.95 and that would have been a sufficient meal in itself. The soup was $4.95 and was a generous portion. The desserts are around 3 or 4 dollars.

Overall I feel that this is a restaurant that is difficult to classify: comfort food with multicultural flavours. Their business card calls it 'smart eating' and considering the taste and flavours as compared to the price, I would have to agree.