ottawa foodies

Captain Caper got me thinking about some of the restaurants (good or bad) that have disappeared off the map. Any of these bring back memories:

BELLS CORNERS - The Corkscrew - The Keg - (Mexican Place) - (Western Place?) - Chinese Buffet / Vox Lounge. These of course have all been in the same building... what is it with this location? The space is now empty.

ALSO IN BELLS CORNERS:

Mother's - A great eatery for families in my opinion. It was sad to see them go. They were in the building next door to the one listed above. (I know there is another restaurant there now, just can't recall its name).

The (Buffet Place?) that ended up in the Ethan Allen Building on Stafford Road (behind where Eastside Marios is now). There was also a Country Dance Bar that moved in there at one point.

Ponderosa - LOL, this chain with their signature striploins was such an icon in the 70s. I remember as a college kid, it was the only way I could afford a steak (they sold their complete dinners with salad, sides and dessert for under $ 5.00). They of course were in the tell-tale building at the corner of Fitzgerald Road. After them there was a (Diner) and of course the recently gone Hooters.

And who could forget the Dairy Queen on Northside Road. The place was always hopping on a hot summer's night, one could hardly get down the street. The newer version on "the strip" isn't half as much fun!

Since we are talking about old haunts I have a challenge for y'all. When I was a kid and growing up in Montreal my folks would bring me to Ottawa for a day visit to the Science and Technology museum. After our visit they would take me for dinner at an Italian restaurant or at least I remember it being Italian somewhere in the vicinity of the museum. This is 1970's and my memory isn't what it used to be... It was one of those "family style" restaurants with faux oak banquettes and I remember menu items like spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, etc. My mom used to tell me it was the only restaurant in all of Ottawa so this is where we would have to eat before the long journey home. The menu items were appealing to my 5 year old taste buds since it involved spaghetti and sauce without a hint of flavour. I'm sure my mother was pulling my leg since I would have probably tried throwing a sales pitch for another restaurant which would probably have added on to our two hour drive home. Ring any bells?

Food & Think I definitely remember those Ponderosa restaurants with a side trip to Dairy Queen after. I loved having the soft ice cream vanilla and chocolate together then dipped in chocolate. Wish I still had the waistline...

It does seem that Bells Corners was the final resting place of many a restaurant, eh? My parents are not too far from there (Fallowfield Village represent!), so I definitely remember the Ponderosa at the very least. We might have eaten there all of once, which explains why it isn't there any more.

The first restaurant I ever been to, after moving to Ottawa in 1984, was El Toro's.

They were located in the same place as The Royal Britainia now occupies. Close to Richmond Rd. and Carling Ave.
ottawafoodies.com/vendor/828


The pizza was AMAZING !!
ottawafoodies.com

It was in the Carlo's , old school, Lebanese style.

Table sevice was also memorable. All the servers were larger Italian ladies in black (mourners ?) dresses. Real MOMs !! They would cut the first slice from the raised platter. And they treated us like they were feeding their own children.

What warm memories I have of El Toro's (RIP)





PS: The new El Toro, found in some food court downtown, is not the same. No where near.

Villa Capri! Italian? Summer 1988 and 1989. On Merivale Rd just between CJOH and Loblaw's, I think where the fish market is now (north side). They used to have an awesome pasta lunch buffet where the chef would be out front running 4 or 6 hotplates each with a frying pan. There was a menu of 10 set dishes and each could be had with either a cream or a tomato sauce. Or you could make up your own based on the ingredients on-hand.

Man, that was good!

I may be mistaken but I seem to remember always going to a restaurant called "Duffs" as a child, I think it was around the Merivale/Baseline area. It was a big revolving buffet with a salad bar and a sundae bar.

Also miss the Olive Garden.

I miss the big ice-cream cones that you could get at Woolco in Merivale Mall and the fries and gravy at Kmart.

So I'm pushing the limits of what can be termed a restaurant, but they did have a free hip of beef buffet on Fridays and I've been asking around about this info for years with no luck... for the life of me I can't remember where Valentino's used to be. I wasn't old enough to enter the premises at the time but it was still a pretty major landmark in its neighbourhood. Where the heck was it? What is in its place now?

On another topic, anyone remember 25 cent spaghetti at Grand Central? They also had wicked deals on pizza and small draft beer.

I also remember Bill White's Restaurant at Holland and Wellington. It burned down taking Carlos pizzeria with it (since relocated).

Harrysmom - Duffs rings a bell. I'm thinking it might have been the name of the buffet place in the old Ethan Allen building. Maybe someone else here will remember.

Momomoto - one more Bell's Corners restaurant laid to rest was Hooters! Shucks!

Hooters..... no big loss... or should that be, No big boobed loss.

Yeah, no kidding Cap'n.

Does anyone remember I.P. Looney's, which used to be where Lone Star is now located on St. Laurent?!? I had super memorable childhood birthday dinners there... this was a place that cut your tie off if you wore one out for dinner there, and they'd staple it to the wall (!) The food wasn't anything special, in fact, it was pretty boring, but it was about the experience hehehe...

^ Cut your tie off? Hahaha. I would lose my mind, I have a pretty stellar designer tie collection

Salvatore's (on Booth). Before I moved to Ottawa we had friends in Pakenham whom we would visit every few summers. We would specially drive into Ottawa to go to Salvatore's for delicious homemade pasta. When I moved to Ottawa I was so dissapointed it had closed down - you can still see the sign on the side of the building. Sigh.

Chimichimi - I was at IP Looneys a couple of times, mostly brunches if I recall. That was a time in my life when I had "little kiddies" and getting out in the evening wasn't possible. I remember they had a fabulous brunch, lots of choices, and the salad bar was served on the main floor in something different, might have been a boat?

So that's the place that would cut your tie off - I'd heard of it in the 80s but had never been there. Folks used to wear old ones just to have them cut off.

Ollie:

Bill White's? Grand Central? You must be about my age. I did my first underage drinking at Bill White's (at the table in the corner where the security camera didn't reach, although my best friend was 2 years older than me so she was 19).

I miss the Italian bakery and deli that used to be on Wellington street at Merton. Many of my afterschool treats were bought there when I went to Connaught.

Mousseline - Read your profile, Green Valley Restaurant, now there is an oldie but a goodie. A piece of Ottawa history gone, but not forgotten.

it was Duffs, that smorgasbord in Bells Corners, I grew up just up the road from them, and all my school buddies would go their for birthday events and the guys would have eating contests. Anyone remember Frank Vetere's? It was in the old K-mart plaza at Moodie Drive, they had great pizza and replaced Mothers Pizza after they disappeared. As for Ponderosa, my dad would take me there for a "date" occasionally, just me and dad, it is one of my favourite childhood memories, I was crushed when it got the Hooters sign.

SushiFan - For some reason I don't remember Frank Veteres, but you reminded me of another spot by the old K-Mart... Arbys. The building was a stand alone type right on the corner of Robertson & Moodie in the parking lot at K-Mart. I never ate there, but those that did told me it was horrible (dirty?) probably explains why it disappeared.

Thanks for reminding me, Arbys was in the building that Frank Veteres built, as I recall it was empty for a few years before Arbys moved in, Im guessing that FV was there in the mid 80's...

I just had a flashback to the steakhouse that used to inhabit the Hampton Park mini-mall. What was it called?

Haha...no I don't miss making those stupid Mickey Mouse ears Ollie...the Green Valley's day had already come and gone by the time I worked there.It must have been something in it's heyday, though. The basement was really interesting. There was a full meat butchering kitchen (unused) with all the equipment still standing there, and what looked like a cake decorating room, a bunch of dark scary storage rooms and a really big changeroom with lockers, a ratty old sofa and table and chairs... and an old beatup TV so the waitresses could watch soaps between lunch and dinner service (small compensation for having to wear those ugly truck-stop uniforms).

My small pastry kitchen had my own gas cooktop, a deck oven, prep table with the original flour bins underneath and butcher block top....and an old-school balance scale I'd love to have now. The best part were the little doors in the side wall that went directly into the walk-in, so I could put mousses and pastries right in without having to go around to the door.

Mousseline - Sounds great, almost like a museum of a time gone by, too bad it got torn down. Oh well, just think you'll have great stories to tell the grandkiddies someday about working at this famous landmark.

Not going back very far in time, the restaurant I probably miss the most is Laurier sur Montcalm in Hull. That was our 'special occasion' restaurant for many years. If I could bring one restaurant back from the dead, that would be it!

Speaking of the Ponderosa, I thought they were long gone, but there's still one in Belleville (at least last year there was). I was surprised to see it was still around.

My parents were big Green Valley fans and I went there with them many times.

I think the first restaurant I ever went to in Ottawa when my family moved here was Mama Theresa's; but back in the early 80's it was on Kent St., where Papagus later took up residence.

Pasta Lover: I wonder if the restaurant that you went to when you visited Ottawa was Robbie's? It's the right kind of food and the right area of the city. I know it's been around for a while but I'm not sure how long.

Inkling & Pasta Lover - I thought of Robbies too, but I'm not sure how long they've been around. I looked at their website they didn't reveal any such info. Something tells me though there used to be a Spaghetti Warehouse in Ottawa, and I have a feeling it was off of St Laurent. Can anyone who grew up in this city confirm that. Thanks.

Ollie ~ The name of that restaurant at Hampton Park Plaza was (if my memory serves correct) Sammy's Steakhouse. I think it was a mafia hangout. Late 70's/early 80's, I remember heading/sneaking to the bowling alley in that plaza with my roll of quarters to play Asteroids and Pac Man. There were always big guys in suits, gold pinky rings, and Cadillacs around. Yes! All at the Hampton Park Plaza! Go figure!
At first I thought the name was The Rose Bowl but that was a bit further west on Carling across from Lady Jane Donuts. O.K. Enough of this. I'm feeling VERY old now.

Ollie - I don't remember Sammy's Steakhouse (before my days in Ottawa) but I do remember that there was a Sammy's Red Coach in Kanata. They specialized in roast beef, and had an awesome Sunday Brunch. We are going back mid to late 80s. Wonder if they were one & the same owners. The Red Coach is where Local Heros Kanata is now (Carling & March Road area, in behind the Mitel campus).

My contributions to walking down the foodie memory lane:

The Hayloft on Rideau street down near Cumberland on the south side of the street, second floor (turned into a Mexicali Rosa's before they razed the building in favour of condos) They were the first Ottawa restaurant to have singing waiters for your special occassion (they wore straw hats, whits shirts, ties and vests). It was mandatory that all waiters had to audition for a job. My mom's cousin worked there for a time. It was always the birthday dinner restaurant.

That and the Place Next Door. My dad knew Dave Smith so we always got the party room upstairs for free.

One of the first 'fast good' type places I can remember was TJ's on Merivale Road, west side near where Nicastro's is now. They had thinly sliced roast beef on a bun with the best barbeque sauce. This pre-dates Arby's restaurant but similar idea. This would be late 60's/early 70's. I'm really dating myself now, aren't I?!

I also remember Mother's restaurant but on Montreal Rd. Was great when my mom, aunt and a bunch of cousins went there for dinner. Still have some of their Coca Cola glasses at the cottage or somewhere...

Does anyone remember The Grill Room at the Chateau Laurier? It was in the basement of the hotel and they had a dance floor and live band/orchestra for Friday and Saturday nights. My parents took my brother and I there a few times for very special occassions. The waiters wore white jackets and gloves and were snooty. My father always complained about them but it was the finest place to dine in the city, so we went anyway. This would probably be 74/75/76 maybe the last time I was there.

And does anyone remember the Party Palace on Elgin? Used to go to school at Lisgar and hang out there after dances or after a movie at the Elgin Theatre. This would be early 80's. It was a real joint!

Wow...thanks for taking me down memory lane for a while!!

The Red Coach is where Local Heros Kanata is now (Carling & March Road area, in behind the Mitel campus).

When I worked at Mitel we called it Phase 5. :)

Ollie - I was very familiar with the location, having worked also worked in the immediate area. I take it "the bar" was Phase 5 (I'm guessing your campus only went up to Phase 4). LOL

I see I addressed my post wrongly, I meant to ask AMR, as I was tryig to determine if Sammy's Steakhouse and Sammy's Red Coach were both owned by the same people.

BTW, do you recall what was in that same location BEFORE Red Coach? We are going back here to the early 80s, I know it was another hi-tech lunch and after work hang out.

Does anyone remember an Italian Restaurant on Forest Street (1980s)? Forest is not far from Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre, and this great spot was just around the corner from what was then Peter's Pantry.

It wasn't an Italian restaurant but Alexis was on Forest Street during the 80's in the building that's since been a Chinese buffet. And when El Toro closed up shop on Richmond, it merged with Alexis so that you could get items from both restaurants on the menu.

Thanks X-13D - Hmmm, not sure we are thinking of the same spot. This was a small one story stucco (?) building on the east side of Forest, behind the tall apartment building. I was fairly positive it was an italian restaurant, but I could be wrong, it was a very very nice place inside. Not probably expensive by today's standards, but very much so by the 1980s. I went there as a reward with my boss and a couple of people from work when we surpassed annual results... I remember it was very classy. The chef even came out and asked us how our meals were (something I'd never seen before).

Could you tell me more about El Toro and Alexis, what kind of foods did they serve?

Reposting for Food and Think's convenience:

The first restaurant I ever been to, after moving to Ottawa in 1984, was El Toro's.

They were located in the same place as The Royal Britainia now occupies. Close to Richmond Rd. and Carling Ave.
ottawafoodies.com/vendor/828


The pizza was AMAZING !!
ottawafoodies.com

It was in the Carlo's , old school, Lebanese style.

Table sevice was also memorable. All the servers were larger Italian ladies in black (mourners ?) dresses. Real MOMs !! They would cut the first slice from the raised platter. And they treated us like they were feeding their own children.

What warm memories I have of El Toro's (RIP)





PS: The new El Toro, found in some food court downtown, is not the same. No where near.




Food and Think, they also had pasta, veal dishes etc .... you know the 'normal' Italian fare.

I don't remember what Alexsis dished out. Never been.

There is a resto on Forest right now. The Lindenhof... a German place...
ottawafoodies.com and Ithink there was a resto in there before the Lindenhof. About 4-5 years ago.

CaptainC - Thanks for the info... DUH, I just posted the reply to X-13D without going back to see if there was info on El Toro or Alexis already in this thread. Unfortunately, I can't say I recall either of them. But I do know where the Royal Britania is.

And of course Peter's Pantry is where Biagio's Italian Kitchen is now.

Ok, more on my "search" for the former restaurant on Forest Street. Good old MapQuest helped me with this one. The restaurant I am thinking of is on the corner of Forest & Bond (behind that chinese buffet place).

I didn't know about Lindenhof moving to Forest (is the Richmond Road location closed?). I'm guessing that the Lindenhof is now in the building that we've been talking about, at least based on MapQuest, it sure looks that way.

While we are in the "neighbourhood" got to say that I miss the St. Hubert BBQ that used to be in the plaza at the corner of Carling & Richmond, same plaza where there is a McDonalds. There of course now are no St. Huberts in the westend (one in Hull, one on St. Laurent and one out in Orleans). Swiss Chalet is good, but IMO St. Hubert is better (they've been making BBQ Chicken that way since 1951).

The Lindenhof did in fact move a couple of years ago. I *think* there is a new restaurant operating in the old location. I haven't been out that way since last fall so I can't say with any great accuracy what is now located in that spot but I can confirm that the Lindenhof did move.

By the way thanks F&D and Inkling about that restaurant my parents took me to on St. Laurent. I'm pretty sure it's not a Robbie's - I checked the photo gallery on their website and it looks much fancier than the one I went to. The Spaghetti Warehouse sounds familiar so maybe that's the one. I'm sure one day it will come to me.

The old location of Lindenhof got torn down and if I'm not mistaken is part of the parking lot for the Honda dealership

Pasta Lover - Robbie's web site shows the St. Laurent restaurant, but long before it was there, there was an original Robbie's on Walkley Rd. I can't remember a Spaghetti warehouse so I'm no help there (I remember the Spaghetti Factory on York St. though!)And there was also Pizza Den off Russell (and off St. Laurent - kind of in the middle) that used to have great pizzas. It would have been closer to the Science and Tech museum than Robbie's.

I just commented about Robbie’s on the Dine and Dash thread.

I grew up in the West End so I miss:

The Sunken Dory (currently MHK Sushi on Merivale)- I miss the thin cut, deep fried zucchini served with a sour cream/horseradish dip. I never liked the thicker cuts served at Hurley’s.

The Red Barn (currently Cora’s on Merivale) – I believe it was a chain. It served the best fries I ever had as a kid.

A&W Drive-In – It was located on Merivale Rd where the One Fish Two Fish and Food Basics now stands. Car service with waitresses on Roller Skates!

Does anyone remember some of the silver service restaurants that used to be in the hotels such as The Carleton Room (Four Seasons) and L’Artisan (Delta) as well as Alexander on the Island?

*Ed** - You just reminded me of two other oldies but goodies. Hurleys in Bells Corners, used to do lunch / brunch there back in the 80s, as well as Hurleys on Baseline near the Boy Scouts Center (next door to where the Harley Davidson Dealership is now). And A&W, what a classic. I first encountered A&Ws on a trip to the USA in 1965, I was so amazed by the car service by girls on roller skates. And fell in love with the Teen Burger. It is still my favourite, the few occasions a year I get to eat their fare.

To the poster wondering where Valentino's was.... It was on Somerset Street at the edge of Chinatown before Preston. (Around Booth, Empress area If I remember correctly) I was too young to ever go there, but I heard a lot about it, from my older cousins.

Here is a blurb about it and Grad's.

- In January 1991, the venerable Grads Hotel, a fixture for more than 50 years near the corner of Bronson Avenue, was ruined in a fire. Damage was then estimated at $1 million. Arson was the official cause. Legions of drinkers cried in their beer. The city bought the site and turned it into a parking lot.

- Valentino's Lounge, a strip club, went up in flames sometime before 4 a.m. in February 1992. Firefighters wearing airpacks conducted a room-to-room search of the club and rescued two exotic dancers from their beds. Other women fled the building in their nightclothes. It took more than a decade for the site to be redeveloped as condos.