Foods from Tennessy Willems
Comments
2015 Aug 6
Do you like Pizza? I simply adore a good pie! Tenessy Willems is my #1 choice for authentic Italian Style Pizza in Ottawa hands down. This place is one of W.C. and I's frequent lunch stops since it falls right in between her West-End to my Centertown Haunts.
They also have a nice atmosphere and lovely wait staff. IMHO the wine list and craft brew offerings are quite suitable as well.
This Visit we shared the Margherita (This is my favourite Pie at this location although many others excite and delight including the Greek, Elmdale, and don't forget to check the daily specials) as well as the generously sized Caesar Salad.
The Margherita has the perfect sauce to cheese balance and a delightful fistful of fresh basil. The crust is thin with the occasional; tasty char accent that adds that little wood fired oven authenticity. The Caesar has a nice lemony-anchovy dressing with huge chunks of double smoked bacon and hand-torn sourdough crouton chunks made in house (I assume from their delightful house baked sourdough loaf). Delicious.
Their in house Spicy Oil is also not be missed it makes for a zesty dipper and is also available in a take home bottle!
They also have a nice atmosphere and lovely wait staff. IMHO the wine list and craft brew offerings are quite suitable as well.
This Visit we shared the Margherita (This is my favourite Pie at this location although many others excite and delight including the Greek, Elmdale, and don't forget to check the daily specials) as well as the generously sized Caesar Salad.
The Margherita has the perfect sauce to cheese balance and a delightful fistful of fresh basil. The crust is thin with the occasional; tasty char accent that adds that little wood fired oven authenticity. The Caesar has a nice lemony-anchovy dressing with huge chunks of double smoked bacon and hand-torn sourdough crouton chunks made in house (I assume from their delightful house baked sourdough loaf). Delicious.
Their in house Spicy Oil is also not be missed it makes for a zesty dipper and is also available in a take home bottle!
2015 Jan 30
I don't think I'm rushing to return. Our Margheritas were respectable, but the crust was too dry and crisp for my liking -- I love a thin crust, but like a little chewiness in it somewhere? Not found here. The sauce was modestly memorable, but it was the bulk of the pie. I've never had so little cheese. Painful, as it was just the right cheese.
Admittedly the whole thing started on a bad note with two menus brought out for a table of three. One was a child, and old enough to recognize the slight...
The crust/sauce/cheese ratio was not right, and it reminded me of a bland, tomato-overwhelmed vegan pizza I once ate.
The pies with more involved toppings sounded promising, but vegetarian options (both in pizzas and elsewhere) are limited.
Admittedly the whole thing started on a bad note with two menus brought out for a table of three. One was a child, and old enough to recognize the slight...
The crust/sauce/cheese ratio was not right, and it reminded me of a bland, tomato-overwhelmed vegan pizza I once ate.
The pies with more involved toppings sounded promising, but vegetarian options (both in pizzas and elsewhere) are limited.
2012 Dec 16
We arrived mid-afternoon for a bite and a pint. Lovely pizza (speck with pear and some kind of fragrant cheese, gorgonzola maybe), attentive pleasant service. The room was nice, too.
My only complaint, and I have to say that it was a big one, CLEAN THE TABLES.
The tables are constructed from cut planks and consequently have a fairly deep groove between planks, one right on either side of my plate. My plate that I was eating from. I swear that I could have found Jimmy Hoffa in that groove, once I'd made it past the last 100 customers' detritus -- old bits of sausage, crusty crumbs, dust bunnies the size of housecats, whathaveyou. Honestly. It was really off-putting. I think you'd have to tip the tables upside down to shake out the crap that's lodged there (or at least run a knife blade and vacuum nozzle along it), but maybe they're still offering a reward for Hoffa.
My only complaint, and I have to say that it was a big one, CLEAN THE TABLES.
The tables are constructed from cut planks and consequently have a fairly deep groove between planks, one right on either side of my plate. My plate that I was eating from. I swear that I could have found Jimmy Hoffa in that groove, once I'd made it past the last 100 customers' detritus -- old bits of sausage, crusty crumbs, dust bunnies the size of housecats, whathaveyou. Honestly. It was really off-putting. I think you'd have to tip the tables upside down to shake out the crap that's lodged there (or at least run a knife blade and vacuum nozzle along it), but maybe they're still offering a reward for Hoffa.
2012 Jul 31
Long time obeserver (approx 1 year) who owes a ton of thanks for all the comments on this site which has led me to many fine dining experiences and a couple of bad ones.
Truly appreciate all the insight, some of which are very detailed - how do you recall so much???. Used many of the comments here to decide where to dine and where not to. Thanks!!!
The review...not usually a fan of thin crust pizza (I have a healthy appetite) and an establishment that doesn't have a/c but due to the largely positive reviews of the place, a few of us decided to give this spot a try for lunch last week.
We each ordered our own pizza...Elmdale, Chorizo and Pulled Pork. All three were perfectly cooked, topped and surprisingly quite filling. We all shared a piece and each one was delicious but did note that the pulled pork, which was extremely good, was sweeter than expected. And to top it off the waitress was extremely nice and helpful answering our questions.
Looking forward to going back.
Truly appreciate all the insight, some of which are very detailed - how do you recall so much???. Used many of the comments here to decide where to dine and where not to. Thanks!!!
The review...not usually a fan of thin crust pizza (I have a healthy appetite) and an establishment that doesn't have a/c but due to the largely positive reviews of the place, a few of us decided to give this spot a try for lunch last week.
We each ordered our own pizza...Elmdale, Chorizo and Pulled Pork. All three were perfectly cooked, topped and surprisingly quite filling. We all shared a piece and each one was delicious but did note that the pulled pork, which was extremely good, was sweeter than expected. And to top it off the waitress was extremely nice and helpful answering our questions.
Looking forward to going back.
Older
Pizza 3
2016 Sep 2
Well, this time the Margherita Pizza was adorned with lovely shaved Parmesan! So I don't know if the last one was an anomaly or if they changed how they do things. Either way, good on ya!
I was there with 4 friends and we each ordered a different pizza and then shared. I thought the Margherita was by far the best as it allowed the great crust and sauce flavours to come through.
I was there with 4 friends and we each ordered a different pizza and then shared. I thought the Margherita was by far the best as it allowed the great crust and sauce flavours to come through.
2015 Apr 19
This Pizza Margherita is still great here! My wife opted for The Elmdale (background in pic) and regretted not getting this one. I find that with the more complex pizze at Tennessy Willems, the toppings overpower the very thin crust. With the Margherita, it's just perfect.
Definitely accept the offer of spicy oil. It makes the dryer bits of crust really nice.
But WTF is up with the powdered parmesan cheese shaken over this pie?! This can't be anything other than the green-can Kraft dreck. Not cool. A wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano and a microplane would help differentiate this pizza from other offerings in town.
Definitely accept the offer of spicy oil. It makes the dryer bits of crust really nice.
But WTF is up with the powdered parmesan cheese shaken over this pie?! This can't be anything other than the green-can Kraft dreck. Not cool. A wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano and a microplane would help differentiate this pizza from other offerings in town.
2011 May 29
The pizza here is very good! Is it better than Grand Pizzeria and Bar? Given my experience there two years ago I'm not sure I can say (time for a revisit!). It is definitely better than what we had at the famous Lombardi's restaurant in NYC a couple weeks ago.
My wife ordered my usual choice, the Margherita. This was spectacular, with a generous distribution of fresh basil leaves (unlike Grand Pizzeria and Bar) and tasty cheese. The crust here is great when done right -- thin, chewy, slightly charred. Our only minor complaints were with the sauce; slightly too much of it and it was somewhat undersalted for a meatless pizza. Nevertheless, we highly recommend the Margherita Pizza!
I opted for The Elmdale after reading opinions here. It was delayed because they messed something up in the kitchen and had to make another one for me. When it arrived it was a little too charred. My wife would have sent it back but I don't mind a couple bitter carcinogenic mouthfuls. This pizza was over the top tasty and very salty (in contrast to the Margherita). There was just too much of the acidic sauce, presumably to counter the rich salty salami. This is kind of a wood oven pizza meets Ottawa pizza joint meat-lover's pizza. Some people will love that, but I'm a bit of a purist. Next time I will definitely get the Margherita for myself!
My wife ordered my usual choice, the Margherita. This was spectacular, with a generous distribution of fresh basil leaves (unlike Grand Pizzeria and Bar) and tasty cheese. The crust here is great when done right -- thin, chewy, slightly charred. Our only minor complaints were with the sauce; slightly too much of it and it was somewhat undersalted for a meatless pizza. Nevertheless, we highly recommend the Margherita Pizza!
I opted for The Elmdale after reading opinions here. It was delayed because they messed something up in the kitchen and had to make another one for me. When it arrived it was a little too charred. My wife would have sent it back but I don't mind a couple bitter carcinogenic mouthfuls. This pizza was over the top tasty and very salty (in contrast to the Margherita). There was just too much of the acidic sauce, presumably to counter the rich salty salami. This is kind of a wood oven pizza meets Ottawa pizza joint meat-lover's pizza. Some people will love that, but I'm a bit of a purist. Next time I will definitely get the Margherita for myself!
2010 Dec 22
Here is a blurry camera phone picture (sorry) of the delicious Sopressata pizza. I have nothing but good things to say about this pizza.
The sauce was rich, sweet, and a little spicy. The sweet red onions pulled out the sweet in the sauce, and the spicy salami pulled out the spice in the sauce.
I personally don't care for heaps of cheese on my pizza - I like that the sauce is exposed to the heat of the oven and touches the toppings, so the way the pizza is topped is right up my alley.
The crust wasn't too crispy, but not too soft. All in all it was excellent and would easily recommend it.
The sauce was rich, sweet, and a little spicy. The sweet red onions pulled out the sweet in the sauce, and the spicy salami pulled out the spice in the sauce.
I personally don't care for heaps of cheese on my pizza - I like that the sauce is exposed to the heat of the oven and touches the toppings, so the way the pizza is topped is right up my alley.
The crust wasn't too crispy, but not too soft. All in all it was excellent and would easily recommend it.
2011 May 29
After seeing Captain Caper's picture, we expected the Warm Beet Salad to be a miniscule thing; it was not! Very generous, with mild and tasty beets. The goat cheese was rich and creamy, and the whole thing came together well.
For sheer flavour, I preferred my Charcuterie Plate, but this is a nice menu option.
For sheer flavour, I preferred my Charcuterie Plate, but this is a nice menu option.
2011 May 29
Hit and miss!
Hit: My Chocolate Terrine was just great! A dense slab of silky milky creamy chocolate terrine studded with pistachios, swimming in a generous puddle of lemon-scented custard. What's not to love! The custard is what made this dish.
Miss: My wife's Lemon Tart was more of an overcooked shortcrust filled with runny lemon pudding. She admitted to having been spoiled recently by excellent lemon tarts at Black Cat Bistro and (less recently) Domus Cafe , but this was really not very good. Our expectation of a lemon tart is that the crust should be tender rather than crunchy, and the filling should hold its shape when cut rather than dribbling out onto the plate.
Get the terrine! :-)
Hit: My Chocolate Terrine was just great! A dense slab of silky milky creamy chocolate terrine studded with pistachios, swimming in a generous puddle of lemon-scented custard. What's not to love! The custard is what made this dish.
Miss: My wife's Lemon Tart was more of an overcooked shortcrust filled with runny lemon pudding. She admitted to having been spoiled recently by excellent lemon tarts at Black Cat Bistro and (less recently) Domus Cafe , but this was really not very good. Our expectation of a lemon tart is that the crust should be tender rather than crunchy, and the filling should hold its shape when cut rather than dribbling out onto the plate.
Get the terrine! :-)
2013 Sep 29
I am not sure if this is a new addition to the menu or not. I have only ever ordered pizzas here because they are so good in my opinion that it is all I want to order. We did order the Mac n cheese as a supplementary platter to each our pizzas because we were hungry and did not want to share with our 4 year old (lol).
It is very good! Try it! With chunks of mushrooms, bacon, onions and a bit of bread crumbs on top. The pasta was a good texture, not too soft - a pet peeve of mine. Tasted cheesy.
It is very good! Try it! With chunks of mushrooms, bacon, onions and a bit of bread crumbs on top. The pasta was a good texture, not too soft - a pet peeve of mine. Tasted cheesy.
hwertheim
Macaroni and cheese was very rich and good. Not at all your typical version, but loved the mushrooms. Maybe a bit too greasy for me.
Overall, not sure how often we'll go back because we make excellent thin crust pizza at home....