Ottawa Foodies
Connecting you to Ottawa's best food
Foods from Lieutenant's Pump
Fried Zucchini ·
Weekend Brunch ·
Beer ·
Bacon and Eggs Breakfast ·
Sunday Brunch Buffet
Sign in to add a food
Sign in to add a food
Reviews
Sign in to add a commentRestaurantThing review
Showing comments 1 to 3
Aug 11
I frequent the Pump fairly often and I find it to be really hit and miss - not only across the menu, but from week to week. While I realize it's a pub and not a high-end restaurant, there is no consistency.
I've had the vegetable samosas twice - once they were regular-sized, deep-fried and tasted fantastic. The next they were half the regular size, almost what you would serve as finger food at a party. They didn't even look like samosas.
The first time I had the grilled eggplant with couscous, it was delicious! The eggplant was grilled with just the right amount of goat cheese and basil. The couscous was cooked perfectly. I drooled just thinking about it. The second time? The couscous was undercooked and inedible. The eggplant had been cooked on the frying service and was rubbery. It had been slathered with goat cheese, to the point where I had to remove some with my knife because you couldn't taste anything but goat cheese.
Sometimes the nachos are done properly - with just the right mix of toppings, cheese spread out over a nice bed of tortilla chips. Other times the nachos are skimpy with hardly any toppings. Other times there are too few tortilla chips. And then, on other occasions there is so much cheese that the chips are soggy, or the toppings are piled in the middle.
Same goes for service. The Pump is woefully understaffed on nights other than weekends. If there's a sporting event on a weeknight? Good luck getting served quickly. We've had to wait 40 minutes for food (this is after ordering) on nights when there's a big game on. It's not the servers' fault - they work hard, are polite and friendly. They can only do so much or work so quickly when the Pub is packed.
The Pump does have a pretty good beer list, including Beau's. It's not Pub Italia, but it's more extensive than your average downtown pub.
I guess I have what you'd call a Love-Hate relationship with it. Sometimes it's fantastic and I can't wait to go back, while other visits aren't so endearing.
I've had the vegetable samosas twice - once they were regular-sized, deep-fried and tasted fantastic. The next they were half the regular size, almost what you would serve as finger food at a party. They didn't even look like samosas.
The first time I had the grilled eggplant with couscous, it was delicious! The eggplant was grilled with just the right amount of goat cheese and basil. The couscous was cooked perfectly. I drooled just thinking about it. The second time? The couscous was undercooked and inedible. The eggplant had been cooked on the frying service and was rubbery. It had been slathered with goat cheese, to the point where I had to remove some with my knife because you couldn't taste anything but goat cheese.
Sometimes the nachos are done properly - with just the right mix of toppings, cheese spread out over a nice bed of tortilla chips. Other times the nachos are skimpy with hardly any toppings. Other times there are too few tortilla chips. And then, on other occasions there is so much cheese that the chips are soggy, or the toppings are piled in the middle.
Same goes for service. The Pump is woefully understaffed on nights other than weekends. If there's a sporting event on a weeknight? Good luck getting served quickly. We've had to wait 40 minutes for food (this is after ordering) on nights when there's a big game on. It's not the servers' fault - they work hard, are polite and friendly. They can only do so much or work so quickly when the Pub is packed.
The Pump does have a pretty good beer list, including Beau's. It's not Pub Italia, but it's more extensive than your average downtown pub.
I guess I have what you'd call a Love-Hate relationship with it. Sometimes it's fantastic and I can't wait to go back, while other visits aren't so endearing.
2007 Apr 16
Hubby and I were looking for a pub on Elgin Friday night and found the Lieutenant's Pump. We were instantly charmed by its layout, with several rooms and cozy nooks.
The selection of beer was alright. They had about 6 or 7 on tap as well as premium beers that can be found at the LCBO.
Service was prompt and polite. We were a bit peckish, so we decided to order a plate of nachos with the works (cheese, black olives, tomatoes, green peppers onions, served with salsa, sour cream and guacamole). Unfortunately, they really left something to be desired. The plate got cold quickly, which made the cheese coagulate. The salsa and guacamole were nothing to write home about - they lacked flavour.
Perhaps we'll try having a meal there another time to really judge what the food is like. But as it goes, it's a nice place to go for a drink and catch the hockey playoffs.
The selection of beer was alright. They had about 6 or 7 on tap as well as premium beers that can be found at the LCBO.
Service was prompt and polite. We were a bit peckish, so we decided to order a plate of nachos with the works (cheese, black olives, tomatoes, green peppers onions, served with salsa, sour cream and guacamole). Unfortunately, they really left something to be desired. The plate got cold quickly, which made the cheese coagulate. The salsa and guacamole were nothing to write home about - they lacked flavour.
Perhaps we'll try having a meal there another time to really judge what the food is like. But as it goes, it's a nice place to go for a drink and catch the hockey playoffs.
Fried Zucchini [2]
Sign in to add a commentShowing comments 1 to 1
2007 Apr 18
One of the better places in the city for it, though I'm open to suggestions -- never having quite gotten over the Elephant & Castle taking it off their menu; that was truly great fried zucchini...
Weekend Brunch [0]
Sign in to add a comment
Beer [0]
Sign in to add a commentSign in to add a comment
Showing comments 1 to 1
2006 Oct 11
I'm an avid breakfast hunter, and I have to say Lieutenants Pump has the best breakfast I've tried in Ottawa.
I usually order 2 over-easy, ham and salad instead of potatoes.
The ham is lean. The eggs are fried to perfection without any "debris" from other foods stuck in them. The salad is delicious with fresh mixed greens, and plentiful. You get at least 2 servings of fresh fruit on your plate, including melon, pineapple and strawberries.
Presentation is beautiful with a chocolate for dessert, and all you can drink rich coffee. All for $4.50.
Highly recommended to those of you who love a "healthy" pub breakfast.
I usually order 2 over-easy, ham and salad instead of potatoes.
The ham is lean. The eggs are fried to perfection without any "debris" from other foods stuck in them. The salad is delicious with fresh mixed greens, and plentiful. You get at least 2 servings of fresh fruit on your plate, including melon, pineapple and strawberries.
Presentation is beautiful with a chocolate for dessert, and all you can drink rich coffee. All for $4.50.
Highly recommended to those of you who love a "healthy" pub breakfast.
Sign in to add a comment
Food&Think
gold
I think if we all admitted it everyone has a "love hate" relationship with some place in their foodie lives, the place that for whatever reason one continues to go back to... I know I do. Might make for an interesting forum discussion.