ottawa foodies

i'm looking for any feedback on some new spots around my area.

has anyone tried the persian restaurant in hintonburg? it is really tiny and set far back from the street. i think the spot used to be a used car lot. i am blanking on the name of it - i think it starts with 'k'. sorry to not be much more help than that. i drive by it all the time (i think it is between merton and garland on wellington). it looks a bit dodgy from the outside, but from my experience those places sometimes have the best food.

another spot that i think just opened up is the eri cafe. it is just before sommerset/preston (going west-east), above the new centretown vet clinic. it is eritrean cuisine and the menu looks interesting (www.ericafe.ca/menu.htm). due to the new baby hours i keep, i no longer make it out for dinner and just hit places for lunch when i can (which isn't as often as i wish). i am trying to put together a list of new places to try once i get a chance though.

on preston is a new indian spot - bombay bollywood. the prices are high, but seem typical ottawa indian food prices.

i had been so keen to try the new chilean place - vina del mer, but the menu is all meat and i am a vegetarian. my old chilean place, cucina latina had a huge vegetarian selection, so i am pretty disappointed.

thanks!

where exactly is that persian place?

I can't offer any help in your feedback request, but the Persian place is Patogh (at 991 Wellington between Garland and Irving).

hipfunkyfun I'm not familiar with the restaurants you are referring to but perhaps I can offer a couple of suggestions. If you have a little one at home keeping you busy but want a night off from cooking there are some nice take out places in your area. My two favourite places are Parma Ravioli and Carlos Pizzeria although I'm not sure how vegetarian friendly they are. Carlos will deliver so you can get a delicious pizza delivered right to your door. Parma Ravioli has pre made lasagnas etc. in their refrigerated section on the right as you enter the store. You can pop it in the oven to heat up (instructions are on the label on the container) so there is minimal work required. If you are shopping in the area they have already assembled meals you can pick up to take home. Won Ton House also does delivery if that suits your fancy and they might have some vegetarian friendly meals on the menu. Actually The Table vegetarian restaurant is in the neighbourhood as well and they do take out but they sell by weight so it could get expensive. Thyme and Again also has some lovely prepared meals in the counter at the front of the store and they have a refrigerated section at the end of the dessert counter with quiches etc. if you ever want to pick one up for a quick meal at home.

In that 'hood, I'd recommend Melrose Grocery too (1082 Wellington). At the back is Helen's Cuisine ~ *really* good Lebanese & vegetarian lunch options.

I'll 3rd Helen's! I take my son there every Saturday - we both love it. Helen is so friendly, too. Last week we went about 4pm instead of our usual noon-time, and she told us "you're supposed to come at lunch time" :-) I told her that we'd walked by as usual but I didn't have any money on me at the time. She said next time not to worry about it - just come in and eat and I could pay her next time I'm there. She didn't want my (6 year old) son to go without his Saturday noon cream-of-wheat cake :-)

i 4th Melrose's / Helen's. First time visitor Sat afternoon. Playing pool at the Elmwood ... when i inquired about grub, the barkeep recommended "next door" w/ a big smile on his face.

Couldn't have been more impressed w/ their warmth and the range of their veggie options. She apologized for only having one soup, a split pea concoction that turned out to be a delicious complement to the Scottish Ale i was drinking. (Alas, it didn't help my pool game.)

Every neighbourhood needs a store like Helen's.

Come to think of it, every pub / tavern could use a neighbour like Helen's!

Just a gentle reminder to you Helen's fans to go on over to Melrose Grocery and add your comments there for the sake of posterity :-)

thanks all. i know about all the regular restaurants around there, i was just curious about those two new ones.

i will have to poke my head into the persian place and see what it is all about. it is Patogh (at 991 Wellington between Garland and Irving).

Ah Patogh - I think they have shisha/hookah/nargile to smoke as well, on the patio. Would make for a very relaxing evening!

Not sure if you have tried Bombay Bollywood yet, but I've been there a few times and it's been great. Food is delicious, with lots of vegetarian options (it's so nice being a vegetarian and having to debate what to order!) I'd highly recommend it.

In addition ti Indian dishes, the Bombay Bollywood also serves Afghan food. Ask your server for details though because Afghan dishes are not labeled as such on the menu.