Hidden Gems in Hull [Food/Vendor]
2007 Feb 28
I went to Parfyum in December.. after Vardy left, and it was good. Not spectacular, but good.
As for hidden gems, i don't know the restaurants in the Place du portage area, but if you're willing to drive a bit farther (near the casino), le St-Estephe would be one i would definitely recommend to everyone.
Of course, it's not really a "hidden gem".. most know about it.. ok, i haven't been real helpful. :)
As for hidden gems, i don't know the restaurants in the Place du portage area, but if you're willing to drive a bit farther (near the casino), le St-Estephe would be one i would definitely recommend to everyone.
Of course, it's not really a "hidden gem".. most know about it.. ok, i haven't been real helpful. :)
2007 Feb 28
If you are willing to venture past downtown Hull, there is a good Moroccan place on Gamelin St just up from Boulevard St-Joseph. I think it's called La Gazelle.
As well, there is as a good vegetarian place in the same area (corner of Mont-Clair and Berri). It's called Gaia. A yummy way to make sure you eat your vitamins for the week.
As well, there is as a good vegetarian place in the same area (corner of Mont-Clair and Berri). It's called Gaia. A yummy way to make sure you eat your vitamins for the week.
2007 Feb 28
Well, I am so glad that you asked! I work in Phase IV, and being the foodie that I am, I have eaten at most of the restaurants around several times so I can recommend a few.
Piz'za-za (36 rue Laval, (Vieux-Hull)) - very delicious thin crust pizzas, great salads and a few other pasta dishes. All are VERY good. They also have good beers and wines by the glass, prices are reasonable. They also do wine tasting dinners.
www.pizzaza.ca
Naples Pizza (70 rue Montcalm) - also very delicious pizza but in the Colonnade style. It is a regular thick crust pizza served on the raised platters. They also serve other italian and canadian staples. Very casual decor
Le Troquet (41 rue Laval): wonderful, freshly made food at very reasonable prices and the always have a great special of the day. Good beer selection and casual atmosphere. In the summer they have a great patio in the back of the restaurant.
Euro Bistro (131 Promenade du Portage): Nice little Bistro with good food and daily specials. They have a great European hot dog where they use a baguette and make a hole in it and then put in mustard and then the sausage.
For Thai food: (this one will be long)
Restaurant Maison Samorn (53, rue Kent, Hull) - This is amazing Thai food. I have eaten here probably close to 50 times in the 6 years I have worked over here. There are two other Thai places closer to my building but they don't compare and I refuse to eat at them. We have now started coming to this restaurant on the weekends because I prefer it to any Thai restaurant that I have tried in Ottawa.
I have not eaten at every Thai restaurant in Ottawa but I have eaten at the following: Siam Kitchen, Green Papaya, Coriander Thai, Khao Thai, Royal Thai, Sweet Basil Thai, Aiyara Thai, Bangkok Noodle House, Sala Thai, Oh Basil
I have also spent a week in Thailand eating amazing food and I can honestly say that this place has the best quality and flavour of any that I have tried. One thing that adds to the authenticity of this food is the fact that the owners close the restaurant every January for the whole month while they go to Thailand to visit family and stock up on all their spices and supplies.
If anyone tries it out, please post a review. I would love to know what everyone else thinks....
Piz'za-za (36 rue Laval, (Vieux-Hull)) - very delicious thin crust pizzas, great salads and a few other pasta dishes. All are VERY good. They also have good beers and wines by the glass, prices are reasonable. They also do wine tasting dinners.
www.pizzaza.ca
Naples Pizza (70 rue Montcalm) - also very delicious pizza but in the Colonnade style. It is a regular thick crust pizza served on the raised platters. They also serve other italian and canadian staples. Very casual decor
Le Troquet (41 rue Laval): wonderful, freshly made food at very reasonable prices and the always have a great special of the day. Good beer selection and casual atmosphere. In the summer they have a great patio in the back of the restaurant.
Euro Bistro (131 Promenade du Portage): Nice little Bistro with good food and daily specials. They have a great European hot dog where they use a baguette and make a hole in it and then put in mustard and then the sausage.
For Thai food: (this one will be long)
Restaurant Maison Samorn (53, rue Kent, Hull) - This is amazing Thai food. I have eaten here probably close to 50 times in the 6 years I have worked over here. There are two other Thai places closer to my building but they don't compare and I refuse to eat at them. We have now started coming to this restaurant on the weekends because I prefer it to any Thai restaurant that I have tried in Ottawa.
I have not eaten at every Thai restaurant in Ottawa but I have eaten at the following: Siam Kitchen, Green Papaya, Coriander Thai, Khao Thai, Royal Thai, Sweet Basil Thai, Aiyara Thai, Bangkok Noodle House, Sala Thai, Oh Basil
I have also spent a week in Thailand eating amazing food and I can honestly say that this place has the best quality and flavour of any that I have tried. One thing that adds to the authenticity of this food is the fact that the owners close the restaurant every January for the whole month while they go to Thailand to visit family and stock up on all their spices and supplies.
If anyone tries it out, please post a review. I would love to know what everyone else thinks....
2007 Feb 28
ksw: i used to work in Phase 3... i miss the location (but not the job itself) :)
Have you ever tried the little thai restaurant in front of Naples (on Montcalm)? It looks bad from outside, but we enjoyed it very much the one time we went.
Thanks for the reviews, i'll definitely check some of those out. :)
Have you ever tried the little thai restaurant in front of Naples (on Montcalm)? It looks bad from outside, but we enjoyed it very much the one time we went.
Thanks for the reviews, i'll definitely check some of those out. :)
2007 Mar 8
ksw,
Maison Samorn is one of my favourite restaurants. The chef actually cooked for the royal family when she was in Thaïland! And it shows, everytime I went there it was excellent. Try the Pineapple chicken curry and they will present it to you inside the actual pineapple! My favourite dish for me is still the red curry chicken.
I highly recommend it. Go there for dinner on special occasion and you won't regret it.
Though for lunches, when I worked at the Bell building, we would go to what we call "cheap Thaï" (just in front of the Bell building). Wang Thaï restaurant I believe it's called
Maison Samorn is one of my favourite restaurants. The chef actually cooked for the royal family when she was in Thaïland! And it shows, everytime I went there it was excellent. Try the Pineapple chicken curry and they will present it to you inside the actual pineapple! My favourite dish for me is still the red curry chicken.
I highly recommend it. Go there for dinner on special occasion and you won't regret it.
Though for lunches, when I worked at the Bell building, we would go to what we call "cheap Thaï" (just in front of the Bell building). Wang Thaï restaurant I believe it's called
2010 Mar 10
To update a bit on ksw's post above, since I also am in phase IV and was able to walk a few steps to look out and check. :)
Bistro Renoir and EuroBistro are gone; Chez Fatima moved there. In its old place is a small Roses Café; I went when it opened but haven't returned - it was reasonable then, but didn't have lassis yet.
Maison Samorn is all that is said about it. The only better Thai I've had was in Ireland, of all places. (I haven't had lunch and am really hungry for it now...)
Parfyum is gone, of course, no news here.
I need to find more places to eat, but it's not easy or fun trying places alone, especially when they're full and they prefer seating two (twice the money for the same space).
Bistro Renoir and EuroBistro are gone; Chez Fatima moved there. In its old place is a small Roses Café; I went when it opened but haven't returned - it was reasonable then, but didn't have lassis yet.
Maison Samorn is all that is said about it. The only better Thai I've had was in Ireland, of all places. (I haven't had lunch and am really hungry for it now...)
Parfyum is gone, of course, no news here.
I need to find more places to eat, but it's not easy or fun trying places alone, especially when they're full and they prefer seating two (twice the money for the same space).
2010 Mar 11
I'm over in Phase I. :)
Anne DeBrisay gave Molto a good review, but I haven't tried it yet. Delish and Piz-a-za are good foodie mainstays - reliable and quick.
Last time I was at Maison Samorn, it didn't measure up to the Thai I've had on the Ottawa side. Very slow service, and they substituted my main without asking me. The Roses Cafe was okay... but I can't say that I've felt the need to go back.
Les Brasseurs du Temps is pretty good, but their service can be really slow when they get big groups in. It's a bit of a trek as it's at the far end of the Hull sector... about a 10-15 minute walk. They've got a great patio in the summer. Le Twist has a great patio in the back and great burgers.
There is a small dépanneur in a house near the Museum of Civilzation that makes fabulous sandwiches with Art-is-In Bakery bread and buns. Fiji Sushi on Portage makes really good rolls and the price is reasonable. It's also one of the few take-out places open in the evenings, which is handy if you have to stay late on occasion.
The best spring rolls I've ever had are from Midi Thai in the food court at Place du Centre. Their pho is okay... but it's one of the cheaper food court options. You can get spring rolls and pho for under $10.
Anne DeBrisay gave Molto a good review, but I haven't tried it yet. Delish and Piz-a-za are good foodie mainstays - reliable and quick.
Last time I was at Maison Samorn, it didn't measure up to the Thai I've had on the Ottawa side. Very slow service, and they substituted my main without asking me. The Roses Cafe was okay... but I can't say that I've felt the need to go back.
Les Brasseurs du Temps is pretty good, but their service can be really slow when they get big groups in. It's a bit of a trek as it's at the far end of the Hull sector... about a 10-15 minute walk. They've got a great patio in the summer. Le Twist has a great patio in the back and great burgers.
There is a small dépanneur in a house near the Museum of Civilzation that makes fabulous sandwiches with Art-is-In Bakery bread and buns. Fiji Sushi on Portage makes really good rolls and the price is reasonable. It's also one of the few take-out places open in the evenings, which is handy if you have to stay late on occasion.
The best spring rolls I've ever had are from Midi Thai in the food court at Place du Centre. Their pho is okay... but it's one of the cheaper food court options. You can get spring rolls and pho for under $10.
2010 Mar 11
I agree with Omnivore's suggestion of l'Argoat, my favorite place for lunch if I have company and time, but it is no longer at 39 Laval.
It moved to 59 Laval and is now hidden within Fleur de Sel. It looks like the the chef simply moved in the Fleur de Sel kitchen and inserted the complete menu from l'Argoat into the Fleur de Sel menu. I've visited a few times since that move and it's still as good as before.
If I'm alone for lunch, I like to go to Fuji Sushi. Tiny place, so I suggest either going before/after the lunch rush or calling your order in a few hours before.
It moved to 59 Laval and is now hidden within Fleur de Sel. It looks like the the chef simply moved in the Fleur de Sel kitchen and inserted the complete menu from l'Argoat into the Fleur de Sel menu. I've visited a few times since that move and it's still as good as before.
If I'm alone for lunch, I like to go to Fuji Sushi. Tiny place, so I suggest either going before/after the lunch rush or calling your order in a few hours before.
2010 Mar 12
I think this may be the sandwich place called "La p'tite épicerie du quartier".
You can see it here : : maps.google.ca,+gatineau,+qc&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=32.570943,66.972656&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Rue+De+Notre-Dame-de-l'%C3%8Ele,+Hull,+Communaut%C3%A9-Urbaine-de-l'Outaouais,+Qu%C3%A9bec&ll=45.430735,-75.710974&spn=0.001086,0.002044&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.430624,-75.710994&panoid=0GJR8BcmuHpWX_RQv9d1CQ&cbp=12,109.17,,1,3.72
You can see it here : : maps.google.ca,+gatineau,+qc&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=32.570943,66.972656&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Rue+De+Notre-Dame-de-l'%C3%8Ele,+Hull,+Communaut%C3%A9-Urbaine-de-l'Outaouais,+Qu%C3%A9bec&ll=45.430735,-75.710974&spn=0.001086,0.002044&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.430624,-75.710994&panoid=0GJR8BcmuHpWX_RQv9d1CQ&cbp=12,109.17,,1,3.72
2010 Mar 12
Sounds like La P'tite épicerie is the place for me today!
I've been disappointed by the (lack of) freshness levels at Fuji Sushi the last two times I went - still better than Sushi Shop across the street, but less than before. (I've also been spoiled by New Generation, Ichibei and Genki's sushi now.)
Nanook, what day were you at Maison Samorn when they switched your main? I no longer go on a Thursday or Friday as it's crazy-busy for lunch. Other days get me better food quality faster.
I've never tried Midi Thai, though maybe I should - the line-up is always long. I still lament the loss of Raj Express in the food court - it was darn good Indian, always fresh, the naan was really good, and you had good portions for the price. (I also liked supporting an obvious independent enterprise instead of yet another chain.) But it never caught on as everyone seems willing to wait interminably for what I find to be inferior Thai Express - those cooks are slooooow and the food is not as tasty to me as the TE in Rideau Centre.
I've been disappointed by the (lack of) freshness levels at Fuji Sushi the last two times I went - still better than Sushi Shop across the street, but less than before. (I've also been spoiled by New Generation, Ichibei and Genki's sushi now.)
Nanook, what day were you at Maison Samorn when they switched your main? I no longer go on a Thursday or Friday as it's crazy-busy for lunch. Other days get me better food quality faster.
I've never tried Midi Thai, though maybe I should - the line-up is always long. I still lament the loss of Raj Express in the food court - it was darn good Indian, always fresh, the naan was really good, and you had good portions for the price. (I also liked supporting an obvious independent enterprise instead of yet another chain.) But it never caught on as everyone seems willing to wait interminably for what I find to be inferior Thai Express - those cooks are slooooow and the food is not as tasty to me as the TE in Rideau Centre.
2010 Mar 12
Thought I would pipe in again with an update on my above post from 2007 since things have changed!
Maison Samorn: Well one thing that hasn't changed is my love for Maison Samorn -in fact S/O and I went there for dinner last night and it was fresh and delicious. Their Pad Thai might be the only one around that isn't made with ketchup and their Pa Naeng chicken is to die for.
Piz'za-za: Hmmmm.....I am a bit torn on this one. I haven't been as impressed lately. I have been eating here for 8 years consistently and I swear the pizzas are getting smaller and the toppings more scarce. I wish I had measured/taken a picture of the first pizza I had there 8 years ago - darn!
Le Troquet: still just as good and food just as fresh and prices still as reasonable. Love it.
Molto Bistro: as Niall mentioned above, this has changed names and menu although the same lady owns/runs it as before. Food has been hit or miss for me there but the last time I had a pasta special of the day that was really, really good. I think it was penne with sausage and fennel. Really Good!
Naples: still go from time to time, still good - no change there.
NEW (or newly discovered by me anyways - haha)
Delish (on Laval): Nanook mentioned it briefly but the food there is really delicious and fresh and made daily. Only about 6 tables so get there by 11:40 at the latest. You pick what you want from the glass fronted display and they put it all together for you on the plate and display it beautifully. Love it.
Bistro St-Jacques (on St-Jacques): a bit more upscale and fancy with a very French bistro type menu (steak frites, mussels etc...). Also can be hit or miss. The misses are really misses and the hits are really delicious so it's a crap shoot with this one. Service is delightful and you are well taken care of.
That's about it - I tend to stick with the usual suspects :):)
Maison Samorn: Well one thing that hasn't changed is my love for Maison Samorn -in fact S/O and I went there for dinner last night and it was fresh and delicious. Their Pad Thai might be the only one around that isn't made with ketchup and their Pa Naeng chicken is to die for.
Piz'za-za: Hmmmm.....I am a bit torn on this one. I haven't been as impressed lately. I have been eating here for 8 years consistently and I swear the pizzas are getting smaller and the toppings more scarce. I wish I had measured/taken a picture of the first pizza I had there 8 years ago - darn!
Le Troquet: still just as good and food just as fresh and prices still as reasonable. Love it.
Molto Bistro: as Niall mentioned above, this has changed names and menu although the same lady owns/runs it as before. Food has been hit or miss for me there but the last time I had a pasta special of the day that was really, really good. I think it was penne with sausage and fennel. Really Good!
Naples: still go from time to time, still good - no change there.
NEW (or newly discovered by me anyways - haha)
Delish (on Laval): Nanook mentioned it briefly but the food there is really delicious and fresh and made daily. Only about 6 tables so get there by 11:40 at the latest. You pick what you want from the glass fronted display and they put it all together for you on the plate and display it beautifully. Love it.
Bistro St-Jacques (on St-Jacques): a bit more upscale and fancy with a very French bistro type menu (steak frites, mussels etc...). Also can be hit or miss. The misses are really misses and the hits are really delicious so it's a crap shoot with this one. Service is delightful and you are well taken care of.
That's about it - I tend to stick with the usual suspects :):)
2010 Mar 12
Yup, that's it. I went over today to find out the name!
@ Niall: I think it was a Friday, though we arrived after the lunch rush.
I never tried the Indian place in the food court. I actually don't buy lunch that often anymore.
Like Niall, I rather support the other restaurants than the TE. Often I find my sauce burnt and the spiciness is inconsistent. It is pretty funny to order it hot and then argue with the employee that you really do like it that spicy.
The Jugo Juice is actually pretty good too. I prefer their smoothies to Booster Juice now.
@ Niall: I think it was a Friday, though we arrived after the lunch rush.
I never tried the Indian place in the food court. I actually don't buy lunch that often anymore.
Like Niall, I rather support the other restaurants than the TE. Often I find my sauce burnt and the spiciness is inconsistent. It is pretty funny to order it hot and then argue with the employee that you really do like it that spicy.
The Jugo Juice is actually pretty good too. I prefer their smoothies to Booster Juice now.
2010 Mar 12
Ooh, I've got a hidden gem, and it really is a hole in the wall - Le Coin du Chiche. It's at 56 Eddy St, kitty corner to Les Terrasses de la Chaudiere (the red brick government office complex at 15 Eddy). They serve tasty Lebanese food. The service is pretty bad, there are only a couple of seats, the lineups at lunch are long, and it's not as cheap as it should be, considering how shabby the place is. But it's tasty!! I love their mudardara (rice and lentils garnished with delectable fried onions. yum) and their fatoush (Lebanese salad). Their hummus is pretty good too. I always get a combo platter with mudardara, fatoush and hummus. It costs about 7.50, then I pay .50 extra for some pita bread.
Another place I like is a Moroccan buffet down the street from Le Coin du Chiche. I went there one rainy day and found it to be warm and cozy. The food is good and not pricy. My favourite was the merguez (lamb sausage). Very yummy.
Also, if you're ever craving crepes, Marcellos (the cafeteria in 25 Eddy) makes fabulous crepes in the morning (7 am to 10:30 I think, weekdays only, obviously). For 3.99 you get a fresh crepe with Nutella, fruit and whipped cream. Soo yummy! I now work in downtown Ottawa and wish there was somewhere here that I could get my crepe fix...(and no, I don't like Eggspectation. Pricy and unimpressive crepes)
I miss Parf-yum - I had a wonderful soft shell crab sandwich there one day.
Another place I like is a Moroccan buffet down the street from Le Coin du Chiche. I went there one rainy day and found it to be warm and cozy. The food is good and not pricy. My favourite was the merguez (lamb sausage). Very yummy.
Also, if you're ever craving crepes, Marcellos (the cafeteria in 25 Eddy) makes fabulous crepes in the morning (7 am to 10:30 I think, weekdays only, obviously). For 3.99 you get a fresh crepe with Nutella, fruit and whipped cream. Soo yummy! I now work in downtown Ottawa and wish there was somewhere here that I could get my crepe fix...(and no, I don't like Eggspectation. Pricy and unimpressive crepes)
I miss Parf-yum - I had a wonderful soft shell crab sandwich there one day.
2010 Mar 16
I just went to La P'tite Épicerie du Quartier. It's your standard mini-dépanneur with an amazing deli counter annexed to it. There's a lineup and you have to fight your way through the narrow aisle to get to the back. Next to the entrance door is the plaque showing all 18 sandwhiches they make. Note: you're next to the drinks, choose it now. When you get to the counter you announce your choice number and what bread you want (baguettes run out really quickly). Then by the time the line gets to the cash, it's ready. Pay, go back around the narrow aisle and fight your way to get out. :)
Big sandwhich for $4. Wow. Quite filling. Art-is-in paninis are of course excellent.
Ms. Foodie, I knew of Le Coin du Chiche but hadn't gone in years so couldn't really say anything. Yes, the service and decor are "unique", but the never-ending lines prove the quality. They have Lebanese side dishes almost no one else has.
I must remember there's a Marcello's within Terrasses. Must be the last one still called "Marcello's" as all others have mysteriously been renamed. Hopefully their drinks aren't insanely marked up as at the "Info-Deli" in Place du Centre.
Big sandwhich for $4. Wow. Quite filling. Art-is-in paninis are of course excellent.
Ms. Foodie, I knew of Le Coin du Chiche but hadn't gone in years so couldn't really say anything. Yes, the service and decor are "unique", but the never-ending lines prove the quality. They have Lebanese side dishes almost no one else has.
I must remember there's a Marcello's within Terrasses. Must be the last one still called "Marcello's" as all others have mysteriously been renamed. Hopefully their drinks aren't insanely marked up as at the "Info-Deli" in Place du Centre.
2015 Apr 15
Viilain Garcon is the new hot spot to go nowadays in the old hull. They serve Tapas style dishes and also have mains. I heard good thing about Coqlicorne on the same street but never been. Gainsburg is good for beer but the food is so so. Veronique Rivest Winebar called Soif is not too far on Montcalm . Jamie Stunt left Oz Kafe to take on head chef role at Soif and I assume the menu has changed since he joined. they also have a great patio out back.
2016 Feb 24
I went to a LCBO cooking class last night and it was a sous chef Jesse Bell doing the class rather than Stephan LeSalle as in the brochure. Afterwards had a little chat with Jesse and I said I had not been at Albion room yet but have been meaning to try it for a while but reasonable priced parking is more difficult around there so I often end up just driving to Westboro to one of my favourite restaurants.
We started comparing restaurants and he said Soif is excellent and it had Jamie Stunt from Oz Kafe and one of the top sommeliers in Canada, Veronique Rivest, and she actually came 2nd in an international competition a few years back. I now see wheresdafood's recommendation here but I have not paid much attention to the other side of the river before this.
I see they have having a wine and food dinner dinner in a couple of week...
Wine & Food matching dinners
March 9th, 2016
Reservations available at 5:30-6:30-7:30-8:30 pm
Our chef Jamie Stunt and sommelier Veronique Rivest will present a 5 courses dinner with matching wines. Explore the fascinating world of food and wine interaction with us! Join us for an evening of tasting and discovery as Véronique and her team reveal the secrets of wine and food matching.
85$/person +tx and service
Has anyone done something similar here before and if so any feedback?
We started comparing restaurants and he said Soif is excellent and it had Jamie Stunt from Oz Kafe and one of the top sommeliers in Canada, Veronique Rivest, and she actually came 2nd in an international competition a few years back. I now see wheresdafood's recommendation here but I have not paid much attention to the other side of the river before this.
I see they have having a wine and food dinner dinner in a couple of week...
Wine & Food matching dinners
March 9th, 2016
Reservations available at 5:30-6:30-7:30-8:30 pm
Our chef Jamie Stunt and sommelier Veronique Rivest will present a 5 courses dinner with matching wines. Explore the fascinating world of food and wine interaction with us! Join us for an evening of tasting and discovery as Véronique and her team reveal the secrets of wine and food matching.
85$/person +tx and service
Has anyone done something similar here before and if so any feedback?
Pete-In-Ottawa