Ottawa Foodies

Having recently moved to an office in the World Exchange Tower this is my new go-to spot for a quick soup/sandwich. Can't sum it up better than Umamiman's comment "it feels like a lunch you may have wisely packed for yourself the night before, but didn't". Seriously - the sandwiches are simple (bread, butter, meat, cheese) and priced accordingly. Soups are of the homemade variety (the best, Jerry!) and my usual -a ham&cheese on rye, soup, and potato salad comes to ~$5.95 all-in. Top notch.

Oh, and they've got gnomes!

FreakByNight thanks for reminding me of this Ottawa gem. I haven't been here in over 10 years, not since the last time I actually worked in the downtown core. But it was always a favourite, and an excuse for a walk outside over lunchhour, even on the coldest day. Not to mention the fact that they had great lunch items at a reasonable price. As said, it is just like making lunch at home... only better and cheap!

Its been a favourite on my "quick lunch list" since the 1980s. I sure need to get reacquainted.

Germantown is basically a take-out soup and sandwich place with a deli counter and a small area if you'd like to sit and eat. The type of soup available changes daily and is generally very good, although the size of the serving has decreased while the price has gone up in the past year. Sandwiches are basic, with a large variety available. The prices are reasonable. Salads and deserts are available and are very good.

They sell some German groceries and souvenirs, but there's not a whole lot of German food available for take-out. I'd love to be able to pick up a hot sauerbraten or schnitzel for lunch. Mmmmm that would be tasty!

Germantown is open only on weekdays for the downtown lunch crowd.

This place was my saving grace while on language training in the downtown core. I mean, they've got gnomes! GNOMES! And lots of pork products! Oh yeah, curry ketchup too! This place rocks, and like others have mentioned, the soups are really well done. The sandwiches are very basic. I'm not a major fan of their desserts.

I was disappointed when they reduced the serving size of the soup instead of raising its cost. I asked them to offer two sizes but no dice.

I still go here about twice a week for lunch.

I tried out this place recently and would have to agree with the comments. It's great for a soup and a couple of sandwiches. The prices are low, but the portions are smaller. The walk outside on a nice day is better than eating in the office.

I heard Torontofoodies.com toasted his sandwiches and just wondered how he was able to deconstruct the sandwiches? I tried, but it didn't really work out too well. But a toasted liverwurst sounded yummy.

The best kept secret about German Town is the delicious lineup of homemade soup. From Monday to Friday, the soups of the days are: cream of potato, beef vegetable, cream of mushroom, minestrone and cream of broccoli. The second soup each day is either Lentil or Pea. It's the best soup you'll find in the area.

Prices are great and the service is endearing.

They also carry my holiday fave - German Advent Calendars! Now don't get all excited, they're not the cheap plastic chocolate kind although I know most North Americans think that ALL advent calendars have chocolate inside. Nope, when you open the door of these glittery babies you get a cute picture each day instead of crappy cheap chocolate like the ones at the grocery store! BEST!

I know this has nothing to do with food - but real german advent calendars are so hard to find!!!

Oh yeah, thier sandwiches are good too.

This place is a hoot! Don't let the yellowed décor and funny little German curios on the shelves scare you away. Look at the crowds at lunchtime -- they're on to something!

Grab a fresh ham and cheese on rye, pick up a little cup of coleslaw or potato salad, prepared in that unpretentious, fresh, European style. You'll love it.

Prices are refreshingly precise in their estimation of value. One sandwich would be priced at $2.40, another at $2.80, salads for $0.85 -- that sort of thing. (I'm going on memory from 2002).

Because individual items are so reasonably priced, you can pick and choose enough items to fill your own little brown bag and it feels like a lunch you may have wisely packed for yourself the night before, but didn't.

Don't forget the mustard.