Right across from Friends’ Bingo on Montreal Road—because of course that’s where you’d find it—Aztec Tacos sits nestled among a clutch of Latin American grocery stores and eateries. If you’ve lived in Ottawa long enough, you’ve probably driven past it a dozen times without clocking it. But walk inside, and the place doesn’t let you forget where you are. Yellow, pink, and turquoise walls explode with colour, Frida Kahlo stares you down from a dozen angles, and the sound of mariachi (or maybe heart-wrenching Mexican ballads?) pours out from two TVs hanging in opposite corners. It’s loud. It’s bright. It’s glorious.

We came on a Saturday around 1 p.m., and nearly every table was full. There’s a rhythm to the space that doesn’t feel accidental: snippets of Spanish, French, and English float around as servers—part of the tight-knit community that owns and runs the place—move quickly between tables. A few years ago, it was a quieter, more barebones operation. Today, it’s vibrant and buzzing.

Aztec Tacos has been on our radar for a while. We’d heard the whispers, fielded the recommendations, even gotten late-night texts from friends insisting we had to try it. So we finally made our way there—me, Danielle (my partner and co-writer of this blog), and our friend David, a CBC reporter who somehow hadn’t been yet. Spoiler: he’ll be back.

We ordered a bit of everything: lengua, chorizo, barbacoa, al pastor, and the runaway favourite—quesabirria. The lengua taco (beef tongue) set the tone. It’s tender, deeply marinated, and unapologetically flavourful—none of that bland, rubbery stuff you sometimes get with tongue. “This is exceptional Mexican food,” David said, pointing out the vivid green cilantro topping. “Look at this—it’s so fresh.”

The quesabirria, though, is what had us all nodding in agreement. Richly seasoned meat tucked between tortillas crisped on the grill, fused together with gooey, melted cheese. Served warm and golden, it’s the kind of comfort food that doesn’t ask for praise—but earns it anyway.

The barbacoa and chorizo held their own, the former soft and savoury, the latter punchy and rich with paprika. The al pastor brought that classic balance of sweet and heat, cooked to perfection—but next to the quesabirria, even great tacos played supporting roles.

![A perfect taco spread: tender pork front and centre, with lengua, barbacoa, chorizo, and al pastor waiting in the wings](/uploads/img_9339.jpeg "Aztec Tacos carnitas")

Saturdays come with specials, and this week it was sopes and flautas. We opted for tamales instead—a bit of a wait, but worth it. The filling was light, almost sparse, but the shell had a crispy edge and a corn-forward flavour that worked beautifully with the tart green salsa on the side. David said it reminded him of pastelle, a Trini holiday dish wrapped in banana leaves. That comparison alone felt like a testament to the tamale’s warmth and familiarity.

And then there were the salsas. Smoky red, tangy green, and both fiery in their own way. These weren’t afterthoughts—they elevated every taco, cutting through the richness and brightening each bite. Lime wedges and fresh cilantro came standard, like the restaurant knew we’d want to assemble every mouthful just so.

We spoke with Juan, the owner, who told us the story behind Aztec Tacos. It started in 2019 as a small operation for their local church community in Vanier. “Everything we make is from scratch,” he says. “The sauces, the fillings, everything. We don’t buy anything premade.” That much is clear from the first bite.

In 2020, a fire shut them down for nearly a year. And then, of course, the pandemic. “We thought we’d lost everything,” Juan admits. But in April 2021, they reopened. And somehow, the word got out. Through nothing but word of mouth, the restaurant has grown a steady base of loyal fans from all over the city.

The staff? All part of the same church community. The vibe is equal parts family-run and deeply rooted in tradition. Recipes come from Guadalajara, and you can taste the heritage in every dish. Juan suggests trying the arrachera (marinated skirt steak), the gringas (cheese-stuffed flour tortillas), and—of course—the quesabirria with consommé.

They’ve since opened a second location nearby and plan to eventually move into a larger space that can seat up to 300. But the original still holds that charm of a place built by hand, by heart, and by community.

There’s a quiet strength behind Aztec Tacos. It’s in the way the staff greet you like you’ve been there before. It’s in the food, which speaks in bold, confident flavours without ever trying too hard. And it’s in the way they’ve rebuilt—twice now—without ever compromising their identity.

And let’s talk value. We ordered generously—tacos, tamales, drinks, the works—and still came out at around $25 a person. Most tacos hover around the five-dollar mark, which makes them cheaper than many non-authentic spots in the city (unless you catch a happy hour), but here they come packed with flavour and tradition. Larger platters, like the flautas or sopes, sit comfortably under 20 bucks and arrive with enough food to satisfy even the hungriest lunch crowd.


Eat the Strip isn’t about trend-chasing or hype machines. It’s about stories like this—of resilience, of flavour, of tacos so good they stick with you. Aztec Tacos is exactly the kind of hidden gem we’re here for.

And the quesabirria? Worth the wait. Worth the hype. Worth the return visit.

Aztec Tacos

Tucked beside a physiotherapy centre in a Centrepointe strip mall, Lil' Negril Island Grill isn’t the kind of place you stumble upon. You come here because someone told you to, because you read about it, or because you’ve been before and you’re coming back. That last group? It’s big. When we visited recently, a table of seven regulars were finishing a birthday meal—someone had just turned 96—and the vibe was unmistakably celebratory.

At the centre of it all is Jaydean, who greets us with the kind of warmth that makes you feel like you’ve walked into her living room. She’s quick with a joke, full of stories, and effortlessly welcoming. Her partner, Glenmore, runs the kitchen—a trained chef originally from Jamaica by way of the Cayman Islands, where the couple met. Together, they opened Lil’ Negril in 2013. It was, they tell us, always the dream.

The interior is clean and inviting—laminate floors, a full-sized Jamaican flag hanging proudly behind the counter, and walls painted to resemble a tree canopy, dotted with framed images of the Caribbean. It’s got more polish than most of the industrial gems we visit, and yet it still feels personal, not polished. The kind of place where someone remembers your order and your name.

We came as a group of four this time—my partner Danielle, myself, and our friends Ewan and Beatrix. The latter is vegan, and Lil’ Negril stood out during our search for a place that could cater to both a craving for ackee and saltfish and a plant-based plate with real soul. Turns out, Glenmore and Jaydean are not just accommodating—they’re enthusiastic about making vegan diners feel seen and fed. Beatrix gave her plate a glowing review, noting the generous portion and rich, well-balanced spice that brought it all together.

![A flaky, buttery roti wraps around bone-in goat cooked low and slow—succulent, spiced, and deeply satisfying](/uploads/img_9300.jpeg "Lil' Negril Island Grill bust-up goat roti")

Danielle and I split two mains: the bust-up goat roti and the ackee and saltfish. The goat arrived wrapped in a soft, flaky roti that was buttery and golden, almost crumbling in your fingers. The meat itself—bone-in and fall-apart tender—had been cooked low and slow, infused with warm spices that went deep into the fibres. There was heat, but not the aggressive kind. The hot sauce they offer on the side has a pepper-forward profile, fragrant and flavourful without overwhelming the dish. The roti format reminded us of a deconstructed version, with the wrap acting more as a vehicle for scooping and savouring than as a tight parcel. It’s the kind of dish that asks you to slow down, eat with your hands, and enjoy the moment.

![Jamaica’s national dish arrives like a sunbeam on a plate: savoury, bright, and full of nuance.](/uploads/img_9301.jpeg "Lil' Negril Island Grill ackee and saltfish")

The ackee and saltfish came plated with bright salad greens dressed in a raspberry vinaigrette, which offered a tart contrast to the savoury main. If you’ve never had ackee before, you might mistake it for scrambled egg—it’s a soft yellow fruit that takes on the flavour of what it’s cooked with, in this case, the salted cod. The pairing is Jamaica’s national dish for a reason: the salt and brine of the fish lift the creamy, slightly nutty ackee into something deeply comforting and surprisingly complex. Every bite landed differently, depending on what it landed next to on the plate, but the overall impression was one of balance, richness, and quiet confidence.

After the meal, we sat with Glenmore and Jaydean. Their story isn’t just about food—it’s about building something lasting. Glenmore trained as a chef across several countries, and it shows in the consistency of the dishes. "If it’s not the same every time, people won’t come back," he tells us, matter-of-factly.

Jaydean reflects more emotionally: “The customers really supported us during COVID… they feel like it’s home here.” Some visitors drop by just to say hi before heading south for the winter. One regular comes from Syracuse, New York. Another swears Glenmore flies in the pork from Jamaica. (He doesn’t. But it’s that good.)

Even government officials have taken notice. “The Jamaican embassy folks eat here,” Jaydean says with a grin. “And when people from the Trinidadian government visit Ottawa, they stop by too.”

It’s that kind of place. Familiar faces, familiar food, and a kind of easygoing warmth that feels increasingly rare.

There’s something enduring about Lil’ Negril. The prices are fair—our mains were all in the $16 to $20 range—and the portions strike that sweet spot between generous and manageable. But what sticks with us most is the atmosphere: open, welcoming, full of life.

“We love it,” Jaydean says. “It’s one of the best jobs.” 

In a city full of hidden corners and culinary secrets, Lil’ Negril stands out not just for its food, but for the heart behind it. Fourteen years on, that heart is still beating strong.

Lil' Negril Island Grill

Tucked into a quiet stretch of a south-end strip mall that’s already gifted us Mr.Kabab and Egyptian Corner, Yemen Gate makes its presence known before we even cross the threshold. The scent of cinnamon hangs in the air outside—earthy, sweet, and unmistakable. Inside, the space is clean and bright. Light from the long summer evening spills through wide windows, catching on black marble trim and bouncing softly across five or six neatly spaced tables. A bar-style counter runs the length of the front window, dotted with high chairs and diners quietly pulling tender meat from bone with their hands.

It’s 7:30 p.m. on a Monday night, and every seat is full. We’re here with our friend Faisal. Around us, groups of men laugh and talk over massive platters of rice and meat. Arabic music flows gently from a speaker tucked somewhere near the ceiling. The smell of spices—grill smoke, slow-cooked meat, clove—mingles with the buzz of conversation. It’s warm, familiar, and inviting.

We start with the tabeekh, a spiced vegetable soup that lands on the table steaming and slightly fiery. It's brothy and comforting, with a slow-building heat that’s perfect for cooler nights.

But the real reason we’re here is the mandi—Yemen’s signature rice and meat dish. The three of us agree on a small family platter of the mixed mandi, which gives us both lamb and chicken for around $45. It’s an incredible value: three people eat very well, with leftovers to spare.

![A generous platter of perfectly seasoned rice, fall-apart lamb, and juicy chicken—topped with crispy onions, sweet raisins, and roasted almonds](/uploads/img_9288.jpeg "Yemen Gate mandi small family platter")

When the plate arrives, it’s enormous. A full bed of basmati rice is crowned with golden strands of crispy fried onion, scattered almonds, sweet fried raisins, and—taking centre stage—fall-apart lamb and gently charred chicken. The first bite confirms what the scent already promised: this is food made with time and care. The lamb falls apart under a fork, all tenderness and deep flavour. It’s juicy without being greasy, intensely seasoned without overpowering the natural richness of the meat.

The chicken is its own kind of triumph. Often overshadowed by lamb in dishes like these, here it holds its own—marinated, moist, and touched with just the right amount of smoke. The rice beneath it all is a tapestry of flavour: every grain cooked through and gently spiced, with just enough oil to carry the flavour but not so much as to feel heavy.

Faisal tells us that this spice blend is either the traditional mandi mix or a close cousin—homemade, he says, and clearly made with a careful hand. It’s comforting but complex: cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and maybe something floral, softened together into something more than the sum of its parts.

After the meal, we speak with Sami, whose family owns the restaurant. He’s soft-spoken, friendly, and clearly proud of what Yemen Gate has built since opening in July 2022. “We’ve had restaurants in Saudi, in Yemen, even in Malaysia,” he tells us. “So the spices have always been the same.” His family is from Ibb, a green city in southwestern Yemen known for its food and hospitality. It shows here.

“The lamb is fresh,” he adds. “We cook it the very next day. It’s expensive, but that’s how we do it at home.”

That word—home—comes up often. And it makes sense. Everything about Yemen Gate feels like a tether to something older: a way of cooking and eating that isn’t chasing trends or gimmicks, but simply recreating a familiar table from far away. “Each restaurant has its own special mandi,” Sami says. “This one is ours.”

For first-timers, he recommends starting with the mandi. For those more familiar, the haneeth, another slow-cooked meat dish, is worth trying next. And the future? “We want to go bigger,” he says. “We want Yemeni food to be known by more Canadians.”

We hope they get there. For now, Yemen Gate is quietly doing something special in a corner of a strip mall that continues to surprise us. It’s a reminder—once again—that the best food in the city isn’t always front and centre. Sometimes, it’s tucked between a dry cleaner and a vape shop, steeped in spice, and waiting to welcome you in.

Yemen Gate

Just a few doors down from last week’s stop at Mr. Kabab, another culinary secret is quietly making its mark in this south-end strip mall. Egyptian Corner is exactly the kind of place we love to feature: modest, family-run, and serving food that doesn’t need a PR campaign to prove its worth. The smell alone is all the marketing it needs.

Inside, the space is sparse. A few small tables line the walls, with framed portraits of pharaohs and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs lending a little personality to the otherwise simple décor. A fridge by the door is stocked with cold drinks, and the kitchen is mostly hidden behind a sliding door—except for a gap through which I can see into the back, where fresh vegetables are being chopped and plated dishes are hustled out.

I’m greeted by a smiling man at the counter who introduces himself as Mohamed Sarhan, the owner. I tell him I’m here to try the koshari and a falafel sandwich with lots of vegetables. He nods and disappears into the kitchen. As I wait, I take in the menu taped to the kitchen door—nothing fancy, just paper and tape—but the dishes listed are pure Egyptian street food: foul, moussaka, koshari, and more. Not a single item cracks the $14 mark, and most hover closer to ten.

The koshari comes first, hot and hefty despite being labelled a “small.” It’s a carb-lover’s dream: layers of macaroni, vermicelli noodles, lentils, and chickpeas all pulled together with a rich, tomato-based sauce. But what sets it apart are the fried onions—generously piled on top, they add a smoky crunch that cuts through the softness of everything underneath. The koshari comes with two house-made sauces: a tart vinaigrette that brightens each bite, and a fiery Egyptian hot sauce called daqqa, which lends a creeping heat that builds pleasantly as you go.

![A hearty street food staple from Egypt, this koshari is piled high with pasta, lentils, chickpeas, and fried onions—and served with two bold house-made sauces](/uploads/img_9223.jpeg "Egyptian Corner koshari")

Then there’s the falafel sandwich. I’ll say it straight: this might be my favourite sandwich I’ve eaten on the blog so far. The falafel itself is a revelation—fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside—and it’s made in the Egyptian style, with fava beans instead of chickpeas. It’s nestled into a soft pita with fresh vegetables, grilled eggplant, and, brilliantly, potato chips. The whole thing is layered like a street food love letter from Cairo. At $7, it feels like I’ve gotten away with something.

Mohamed’s wife is chopping fresh vegetables in the background as he checks in to see if I need anything else. The couple work quietly and efficiently behind the counter, clearly comfortable in the rhythm of their small operation. “This is a family business,” Mohamed tells me. “We used to run a food truck before, but our customers told us to open a restaurant.” So they did, earlier this year.

Everything here is made to taste like home—literally. Mohamed tells me they try to imitate the recipes exactly as they’re made back in Egypt. That authenticity shows in every bite.

“This is for everyone,” Mohamed says, smiling. “Not just people who know Egyptian food. Everyone likes it once they try.”

There’s something deeply satisfying about finding places like Egyptian Corner. It’s the kind of restaurant where flavour doesn’t follow trends, where dishes aren’t fussed over, and where the goal is simple: make good food, keep it affordable, and treat people well. Around Bank and Heron, places like this are quietly thriving—and they deserve more attention.

I left with a full stomach, a newfound love for Egyptian falafel, and the certainty that I’ll be back soon. Probably very soon.

Egyptian Corner

In the corner unit of a quiet south-end strip mall, just a few doors down from a barbershop and a cigar store, Mr. Kabab is quietly turning out some of the best Syrian kebabs in the city. Not far along the same stretch are two more restaurants—a Yemeni spot and an Egyptian one—which makes this particular strip mall a must-visit for anyone looking to eat the strip. Mr. Kabab opened just two months ago, and it already feels like a hidden gem waiting to be found.

Mr. Kabab is simple inside. Four tables, grey-painted walls with marble trim, and a single fan that doesn’t do much to cool the room but does succeed in circulating the delicious scent of grilled lamb, tomato, and onion. I grab a seat by the breeze and take it all in.

At the counter, I ask about the lamb—it catches my eye immediately. The wrap version is an easy $10, but I’m hungry, so I opt for the lamb kabab meal ($17) and choose rice as my side. I also notice that lamb and chicken are the same price, which is unusual. In most places, lamb carries a premium. Here, it’s treated with the same casual generosity as chicken. That alone says something. 

The food arrives fresh off the grill. The lamb is tender, juicy, and full of garlic-forward flavour. The spice blend is gentle, subtle—maybe cumin? coriander?—but it works beautifully. The meat sits on a bed of parsley and onions, which add a burst of freshness and crunch to every bite. A side of grilled tomato and roasted onion rounds out the plate, adding sweetness and a slight char that plays off the meat’s richness.

![Tender, garlic-brushed lamb served over rice with grilled vegetables and a side of smoky house-made muhammara—Syrian comfort on a plate](/uploads/img_9202.jpeg "Mr.Kebab lamb kabab plate")

They also bring over a few sauces, including some of the best baba ganoush and muhammara I’ve had in Ottawa. The baba is creamy and smoky, while the muhammara is thick, spicy, and slightly oily in the best way. Their take is clearly a house variation—deeper, bolder, and with more heat than usual. I love it.

After the meal, I have a chance to speak with Hazem, the owner. He worked in his father’s restaurant in Saudi Arabia before moving to Canada in 2018, and opened Mr. Kabab just two months ago to showcase the food of his hometown, Hama. Known throughout Syria for its BBQ, Hama is a city where grilled meats are taken seriously—and it shows here. Hazem tells me the key to their food is simple: a short list of spices and really good meat. No shortcuts, no skimping.

The restaurant is still new, but already has loyal customers. And it’s not hard to see why. There’s care in every bite of this food, and a quiet confidence in how it’s presented—no frills, just flavour.

The smell of charcoal takes me back to my childhood in Old Delhi, where street-side grills perfumed the air in the early evenings. The kebabs here are different, but they share the same purpose: to bring people together over food that’s deeply rooted in tradition, yet made to be enjoyed right now, in the heart of south Ottawa.

Mr.Kabab

Between a dentist’s office and a pizza joint in a sleepy Kanata strip mall, Hyderabad Biryani Point is quietly turning out some of the best biryani in the city.

Inside, the space is simple and compact: three booths to the left, two tables to the right, and the rich smell of simmering spices already pulling us toward the counter. A photo of the Charminar, one of Hyderabad’s most iconic monument, hangs prominently on the wall. At one of the tables, a group of friends is deep into plates of dum biryani, happily tearing meat from the bone. It's a scene we’ll soon join.

My partner and co-writer of Eat the Strip Danielle and I ask what’s popular, and the answer is immediate: mutton biryani. We order one to share—plus two small raitas, just 25 cents each—and take a booth. Danielle cracks open a Diet Coke. Top 40 hits from a decade ago are playing on the stereo as the kitchen fills the room with a heady mix of cardamom, cloves, cumin, and onion.

The biryani arrives in a silver takeout tray, still steaming. The rice is long-grain and deeply aromatic, layered with soft herbs, fried onions, and whole spices. But the main event is buried within: tender, bone-in mutton that’s been slow-cooked until it practically collapses. The flavours are full and warming, balanced with just enough heat and depth. It’s rich, but not greasy. A dish made with care. And more than enough to feed two.

![A mound of fragrant basmati rice hides fall-apart mutton in this slow-cooked biryani, topped with crispy fried onions and served with a side of raita.](/uploads/img_9031.jpeg "Hyderabad Biryani Point mutton biryani")

Scanning the menu for next time, a list of Vijayawada-style curries stands out—spicy Andhra-style dishes known for their use of green chillies, pepper, and punchy flavours. If the biryani is anything to go by, these will be worth the return trip.

After the meal, we chat with Lokesh, who opened the restaurant in March 2024 with his business partner Nagendra. Lokesh is a civil engineer by training but spent 15 years living in Hyderabad and clearly has an eye—and palate—for the details. Nagendra is a professional chef with 14 years of experience in India, the U.S., and Canada, including running a restaurant in Calgary before relocating to Ottawa. The biryani recipe is his own.

Everything is made in small batches—just two a day. No shortcuts, no reheating. Customers are asked about spice level and preferences when ordering, and it’s clear they’re interested in matching each person with a dish they’ll actually enjoy.

For us, the mutton biryani was the star: flavourful, generous, and comforting without being heavy. At over $20 for the goat, it’s on the pricier end of their menu, but well worth it. Chicken and vegetarian options come in around $15.

This is the kind of place you find once, then keep coming back to. Not just because the food is excellent—but because it tastes like someone cares about getting it right.

Hyderabad Biryani Point

Tucked inside an unassuming strip mall off Prince of Wales Drive, just down the road from residential streets and a Passport Canada office, Farmers Pick Italian Foods doesn’t exactly scream “destination sandwich spot”—but it should.

From the outside, it looks like a small grocer. And it is. But wander in, past the stacked crates of summer peaches and rows of glossy bell peppers, and you’ll find something more: a deli counter that’s become a low-key lunchtime legend. There’s no neon signage, no specials board screaming for your attention. Instead, there’s a small form, a counter, and a staff who treat you like you’ve been coming for years—even if it’s your first time.

It’s past the lunch rush when I stop in. The aisles are quiet, the AC is humming, and I’ve got the place more or less to myself. A woman behind the counter greets me with an easy smile and helps me pick my sandwich. I go with the number eight, the Misto Italiano. It’s a towering stack of mortadella, Genoa salami, capicollo, and provolone, layered onto a fresh Italian bun. The bread is made in-house daily, and it shows—soft and warm, with just the right chew.

The sandwich takes about five minutes to come together, but it’s worth every second. Wrapped like a gift, it’s hefty enough to double as a paperweight. Walking it back to the car, I feel like I’m carrying a brick of banana bread. And at just under ten dollars, it feels like theft.

![Stacked with mortadella, Genoa salami, capicollo and provolone, the Misto Italiano at Farmers Pick is a two-handed, jaw-stretching masterpiece of a sandwich](/uploads/img_8950.jpeg "Farmer's Pick Misto Italiano")

Inside, the vibe is easygoing—no rush, no fuss. The kind of place where regulars know the drill, and newcomers are quickly welcomed into the fold. It’s been this way for years, but the sandwich counter itself is a newer addition, started about a decade ago by the Curcio family, who own and run the shop.

“We’ve always taken it day by day,” says Johnny Curcio, the store’s general manager and brother of owner Alfonso Curcio. “It’s like a rollercoaster sometimes. But we’re working together, and that makes it stronger. We’ve got the same goal, the same mindset.”

Johnny tells me the ingredients are prepped fresh daily, with nothing cut ahead of time. “We’ve got the best Italian bread, we carry the highest brands, and we’re working on quality—food quality, meat, vegetables, cheese. That’s our focus.”

And you can taste it. The sandwich is enormous—enough for two, maybe three. The amount of meat alone would cost nearly the same at a grocery store, but here, it’s part of a whole that’s balanced and built with care. The vegetables are crisp, the bell peppers especially vibrant for summer. The meats are flavourful without being too salty, and a generous smear of Dijon brings everything into sharp focus. It's a sandwich that demands two hands—and maybe a little extra jaw flexibility.

Farmers Pick isn’t trendy. It doesn’t advertise. It doesn’t need to. What it offers is a well-kept local secret: a family-run grocery store that just happens to serve one of the best sandwiches in town.

Farmer's Pick

There’s something satisfying about walking into a strip mall and being greeted like a regular—even if it’s your first visit. At Shawarma Chef in Orléans, you don’t just get lunch. You get a welcome.

Step through the doors and you’re met with a bold mural in black, white, and green—an ode to Orléans streetscapes and neighbourhood names that gives the place a sense of local pride. The space itself is larger than you’d expect, bright and airy, with enough tables to handle a full lunch rush comfortably.

Ali is behind the counter today, manning the grill and offering easy conversation while the food cooks. He tells me the owner—also named Ali—is away celebrating his son’s high school graduation, but the energy in the kitchen doesn’t skip a beat. It’s just past noon, and the lunch crowd is beginning to roll in. Most people are ordering the same thing I am: the chicken saj sandwich. I take it as a good sign.

The wrap comes together quickly, but with obvious care. Saj bread, made fresh in-house, goes down on the grill. Sliced chicken, hot off the spit, is piled on top. Fresh vegetables, house-made garlic sauce, and a few crispy fries—generously added when Ali notices me eyeing the Lebanese fries wrap on the menu—complete the package. It’s hot, fragrant, and full of texture: crisp veg, tender meat, just the right amount of sauce. The garlic hits hard in the best way.

![A fresh-off-the-grill chicken saj wrap, packed with crisp veggies, house-made garlic sauce, and sizzling shawarma, wrapped in warm, chewy saj bread](/uploads/img_8929.jpeg "Shawarma Chef chicken saj wrap")

We first heard about Shawarma Chef through a reader tip—someone who described it as a hidden gem with unbelievable shawarma, unique and creative dishes, and an owner who clearly puts his heart into the work. That tracks. You can feel that pride in every part of the experience.

Though the restaurant has been here for years, it changed hands in 2022. The new owner kept the name but completely reworked the menu. Gone are the one-size-fits-all combos. In their place: saj platters, loaded fries, chicken burgers—each one treated with intention. They use only chicken breast, which costs more but means no shortcuts when it comes to flavour or texture.

This isn’t your usual grab-and-go shawarma. It’s not meant to be scarfed down in a parking lot. It’s meant to be eaten fresh and hot, right here—under the mural, with time to taste what makes it different. Yes, it’ll run you closer to $20, but what you’re getting isn’t just a bigger portion. It’s a better one.

This is food made with pride.

Shawarma Chef

On a quiet Sunday afternoon in northern Gatineau, tucked inside a humble strip mall off Highway 50, La Balade des Douceurs hums with quiet purpose. The door swings open, and in comes the smell of fresh bread. It’s the kind of place you could easily drive past—until you know better.

Inside, it’s bright and inviting. the middle, a small fridge holds salad boxes and ready-made items. But the real action is on the right and behind the counter: a glowing glass case filled with glossy, golden viennoiseries—croissants, pastries, and delicate tartelettes. At the back, baguettes and fougasse cool on open racks. Customers stream in and out. Someone leaves with two boxes of tartelettes. This place has regulars, and you can tell.

We were tipped off by a reader who reached out through the blog’s contact page. “This bakery hits the Eat-The-Strip standard,” Michael wrote. “It’s tucked away in a strip mall, but the bread is excellent. Everyone I’ve sent there has come back raving.”

And we see what he means.

Antoinette, who welcomes us at the counter, runs the bakery with her husband Michel and their daughter Yannick. Michel is a trained baker from the Champagne region of France. Antoinette, originally of Chinese heritage, grew up in Madagascar. The couple opened their first shop back in 2008 on Montée Paiement, but it closed during the pandemic. Their current location opened in 2021—and judging by the steady rhythm of foot traffic, word has most definitely spread.

“We love our jobs,” Antoinette says. “We do it with lots of passion—to make people happy elsewhere.” Michel has been baking for 37 years. Yannick, who’s worked here the past four, puts it plainly: “If I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t stay.”

There’s no printed menu. “The baker is always here,” Antoinette explains. “Everything is made fresh.” She recommends arriving early—first thing in the morning is when the cases are full and everything’s in stock. I visited on a Sunday afternoon and caught the tail end of the day’s offerings, though even then, the case still managed to tempt.

I try the almond croissant. It’s room temperature, flake-forward and lightly dusted with icing sugar, filled with a rich almond paste and a soft hit of cinnamon. There’s a gentle tartness in the filling—apple, maybe, or maybe not. Either way, it’s lovely. Not too sweet, not too heavy. I eat it slowly in the sun at one of the two small tables outside.

![Flaky, fragrant, and quietly complex—this almond croissant hides a cinnamon-sweet centre beneath its golden crust, and tastes like it was made just for you](/uploads/img_8898.jpeg "La Balade des Douceurs almond croissant")

I take home an olive fougasse. The bread is springy and fresh, with salty olives and a punch of oregano. It’s the kind of thing that disappears faster than you expect—perfect with cheese, soup, or just eaten standing at the counter.

La Balade des Douceurs isn’t trying to be trendy. It doesn’t advertise. And it doesn’t need to. This is a bakery built on skill, consistency, and a loyal crowd of customers who know where to find the good stuff—and when. (Hint: morning.)

There are no frills here, no café soundtrack, no latte art. Just family-run French baking in a quiet corner of Gatineau, made with care and quietly beloved.

Which makes it exactly the kind of place Eat the Strip was made for.

La Balade des Douceurs

Sometimes you follow the flavour, even if it leads you off your usual path.

At Brews and Blues in Stittsville, what started as an exception to our strip mall rule ended up being a reminder of why we chase these hidden gems in the first place. Housed in a bright, inviting space that once belonged to Equator Coffee Roasters, this spot serves up warm hospitality, hearty plates, and a quiet nod to the tastes and textures of the American South—filtered through an Ottawa lens.

The gravel lot out back hints at its past life, and yes, there’s a palm reader next door if you want your fortune told after your meal. But step inside and things feel instantly grounded: clean lines, sunlit tables, and Peter Gabriel on the speakers the afternoon I drop in. It’s airy, uncluttered, and filled with a pleasant hum—even at 2:30 on a Friday.

Our server Mani tells me the place has been open since November, and that the owner, Corri, used to run a spot in Carp called the Juke Joint. “That one shut down during COVID,” he says. “But the response here’s been amazing. Everyone in the community’s been really supportive.”

They’ve kept the music alive too—with open mic nights on Wednesdays, full bands on Saturdays, and even a DJ set planned for next week. The stage sits inside, just off the main dining area, while a sprawling, dog-friendly patio out back offers plenty of breathing room (though no one’s using it today thanks to the wildfire haze).

The menu leans Southern, but doesn’t try too hard to be a replica of anything. Mani explains that Corri was inspired by several trips to New Orleans, and the food reflects that—"We’re shooting for New Orléans type of food with a little bit of a twist,” he says.

On his recommendation, I order the Cajun curry: chicken breast in a Cajun curry cream sauce, served over seasoned rice and topped with baked mozzarella and candied pecans. A side of garlic naan rounds it out. It’s rich and a bit indulgent, like butter chicken gone wandering through Louisiana. There’s real depth from the curry spice, balanced by the creamy cheese, and the pecans bring in just enough sweetness to make you pause between bites.

![Creamy, spicy, cheesy, and just a little sweet—this Cajun curry doesn’t hold back, and neither should you](/uploads/img_8829.jpeg "Brews and Blues cajun curry")

The beer—an Ashton session lager—is light, crisp, and cuts nicely through the richness of the dish. Altogether, it’s a satisfying plate that feels fresh and fun, and at $19 plus beer, not unreasonable for the portion and quality.

Brews and Blues may not be buried in a strip mall or hiding behind a grocery store, but it still fits the bill: it’s far enough from the city core to fly under the radar, and full of the kind of detail and care that makes a place worth discovering. The food is an hommage—not a replica—to a beloved cuisine, and the energy here is unmistakably about bringing people together around good meals and live music.

If you go on a Wednesday or Saturday, bring your appetite—and maybe your dancing shoes, too.

Brews and Blues

You know it’ll be good when the food is brought out on a banana leaf.

A reader tip brought us to the fluorescent-lit aisles of Manila Mart Grocery Store on Carling, where, tucked beneath the main floor and down a quiet stairwell to the left, Thilaks waits like a secret you're glad someone told you. It’s not the kind of place you’d stumble upon by accident—but it’s exactly the kind of place this blog lives for.

The dining room is modest: about a dozen tables, a laminate floor, floral murals on two walls and bright produce wallpaper on the third. No sign out front (yet), no frills, no fuss—just the smell of spice, the hum of kitchen activity, and a quiet warmth from behind the counter.

We order the rice and curry combo. What arrives is more than a meal—it’s a whole tapestry of Southern Sri Lankan flavours laid lovingly across a banana leaf. There’s black pork curry (a standout), lentils, mango, greens, and a crisp poppadum served alongside.

![A fiery spread of black pork curry, mustardy lentils, curried greens, tart mango, and crisp poppadum—all served on a traditional banana leaf that’s as much about flavour as it is about feeling right at home.](/uploads/img_8790.jpeg "Thilaks rice and curry")

The black pork, a hallmark of southern Sri Lankan cooking, is deeply spiced and slow-cooked until the edges caramelize into something smoky and almost sweet, with a dark, intense richness that comes from roasted curry powder and a generous hand with the spice cabinet.

It’s unapologetically spicy. The black pork brings heat, but it’s the fresh green chillies scattered across the plate that kick things up a notch. The mango, tart and tender, acts as a lifeline between bites, offering relief like a homemade chutney. The yellow lentils have a mustardy kick and carry that soul-warming comfort of something slow-cooked and cared for. And the greens—think curried collards—round things out with just the right bitterness.

We weren’t even that hungry going in. We cleaned the leaf.

And here’s the kicker: the whole meal cost just over $15. For the size, quality, and sheer depth of flavour, it’s one of the better deals we’ve found anywhere in the city—strip mall or otherwise.

Arjuna Thilakarathna, the restaurant’s namesake and owner, brings serious culinary credibility to the table. A former software engineer turned culinary school grad, Arjuna once ran a burger joint before the pandemic wiped out nearly $800,000 in investments. But food—specifically Sri Lankan food—is what he knows and loves.

“I grew up making everything fresh,” he tells us. “We make everything from scratch here.”

He launched Thilaks last June, aiming to introduce Southern Sri Lankan home cooking to Ottawa’s growing Sri Lankan community—and to anyone else who appreciates bold, handmade food. Getting a proper sign out front is a top priority. In the meantime, he recommends first-timers try the mutton kothu roti: a fiery, chopped flatbread dish that’s already become a local favourite.

Until then, look for the stairs. Follow the scent. Let the leaf guide you.


Thilaks

NOTE: In this piece, “Hakka food” refers to the Indo-Chinese cuisine that originated in India through Chinese immigrant communities—some of whom were Hakka. It’s a fusion cuisine, distinct from traditional Hakka dishes found in China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.\
\*﻿\**

In the old La Cabana spot on Merivale, IC 22 is quietly setting the stage for Ottawa’s most electric Hakka experience yet.

No dine-in just yet—just a bold new sign, a fresh coat of ambition, and a takeout counter where co-owner Navneet Shetty is fielding questions with the same energy that pulses through his kitchen. He’s joined by Siddharth Phuria, and together they’ve brought Hakka food—a beloved Indo-Chinese hybrid cuisine—to a corner of Ottawa that’s been waiting for just this kind of fire.

If you’re unfamiliar, think of Hakka as the rowdy, spice-packed lovechild of Indian and Southern Chinese flavours. It’s noodles and fried rice doused in soy, garlic, green chilli, and masala. It’s crispy, saucy, and made for nights with beer and friends. It’s the kind of food that unapologetically owns its fusion roots—and if you grew up in Delhi like I did, it’s also comfort food through and through.

![Crispy boneless chicken pieces enveloped in a tangy, spicy sauce infused with garlic, ginger, and green chillies, delivering a bold and satisfying Indo-Chinese flavour.](/uploads/img_8758.jpeg "IC-22 Hakka – Ottawa's Hakka Spot chilli chicken")

IC 22’s roots trace back to a commercial kitchen in Kanata. The response? Immediate and enthusiastic. “Every customer who visited was excited because it’s Hakka,” Navneet tells me. That momentum carried them to Merivale in April, where they took over the former La Cabana space—a longtime favourite of this blog that has since relocated to Holland Avenue. The vibe at IC 22 is no-frills but promising. A sign behind the counter. A kitchen humming with heat and spice. You can feel the place is just on the brink of coming to life.

I order a plate of Hakka noodles and chilli chicken. The noodles are excellent—savoury, spicy, a little smoky—and take me right back to the Friday nights of my childhood. In Delhi, that meant roadside Hakka joints, movie night with my mom, and noodles that somehow always tasted better out of foil containers than they did off a plate.

![Delicate yet firm noodles stir-fried with a harmonious blend of soy sauce, garlic, and black pepper, complemented by crunchy vegetables, offering a comforting balance of savoury and spicy notes.](/uploads/img_8759.jpeg "IC-22 Hakka – Ottawa's Hakka Spot hakka noodles")

The chilli chicken delivers on flavour. The sauce hits with garlic, fennel, and just the right amount of heat. The chicken, though, has lost a bit of its crispiness by the time I dig in—takeout will do that. My advice? Don’t wait. Eat it while it’s still piping hot. These are flavours meant to be devoured fresh and bold, not politely reheated in a microwave.

IC 22 isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s also a bit of a tease. The space is clearly being prepped for something more. Tables and chairs arrive next week. And I’ll say it now: this should be a solid boozer. The cuisine begs for beer. Spicy, loud, perfect-for-sharing food needs a cold one to go with it, and once they get their alcohol licence in a few months, I fully expect this place to hit a new stride.

The popping flavours, intense spice, and visceral desire to have a cold one along with the food meant this spot hit all the right places. The only change I’d make is to try the food while it’s hot and fresh—and it seems like you’ll be able to do so once they have their tables and chairs in place next week. And if you’re like me and can’t wait to hit it up this week itself, try to grab a bench at a park nearby and chow it down while it’s still hot and crispy. Ain’t nothing worse than some soggy chilli chicken.

IC-22 Hakka – Ottawa's Hakka Spot

Tucked into a low-key commercial plaza off Ogilvie, Laziz Broast & Mix Grill might not jump out at you—until you catch a whiff of sizzling meat and see the line of regulars ducking in and out. With a glowing 4.5-star average on Google and a menu that mixes Afghan, Pakistani and Middle Eastern staples, this spot is clearly doing something right.

After a long afternoon of shopping in Ottawa’s East End, it felt like the right place to refuel. The man behind the counter didn’t hesitate—he pointed me toward the beef tikka kabob or the tandoori chicken kabob, both house favourites. I went with the beef, and it turned out to be the kind of dish that quietly raises the bar.

Served with spiced rice, a trio of sauces, a fresh salad, and warm Afghan naan, the plate felt generous and well thought-out. The beef was beautifully marinated—deep, savoury, just a hint of smoke—and grilled to a perfect medium rare, as requested. Every bite had intention behind it.

![Tender beef tikka, fragrant rice, and three sauces that tie it all together](/uploads/processed-541c3a99-da32-4d77-b0c5-9934f9756957.jpeg "Laziz Broast & Mix Grill beef tikka kabob")

There’s a quiet balance to the meal. The sauces each offered something different—one creamy, one tangy, one with a gentle heat—but nothing overwhelmed. The salad dressing was light and homemade, the rice infused with subtle spices rather than soaked in oil, and the naan was soft, warm, and just stretchy enough to pull apart and scoop.

It’s a dish that works for almost anyone: flavourful but not fiery, rich but not greasy, and clearly made with attention. At just over $20 before tax and tip, it’s not a budget bite—but in this case, the price tags matches the care.

Laziz isn’t flashy, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s the kind of place that earns its reputation one plate at a time—and now, one more fan at a time.

Laziz Broast & Mix Grill 

Tucked into a quiet Carling strip mall, Pop’s Paninis brings serious sandwich craft to an otherwise unassuming corner of Ottawa’s west end.

Pop’s is the kind of spot that feels like it was built on lunch breaks and word-of-mouth. According to manager Caitlin, they’ve been “really busy”—a fact made obvious by the steady lunch-hour stream from nearby businesses, including a loyal dental office crew who come by on the regular. That loyal customer base might have something to do with the charming extras: a crisp coleslaw, a fresh-baked cookie, and a panini built like someone actually cares what your lunch tastes like.

Opened in 2019 by Steven—aka “Pop”—the restaurant traces its origins back to the owner’s childhood sandwich experiments, refined over years of feeding his own kids before taking the leap to open a proper shop. Today, Pop’s Paninis operates two locations: this one, just off Woodroffe near Carling, and another out in Gloucester.

You can tell there's a good team vibe here. Caitlin mentions their active TikTok account, where they post some “silly stuff,” and a ten-second timer challenge that lets customers try their luck at winning a free sandwich. There's even a working vintage rotary phone in the corner that, yes, actually makes calls.

But none of the charm would matter if the paninis didn’t deliver—and they really do.

We went for the turkey brie panini, a house favourite that leans more deli-chic than fast-casual. The roasted turkey is legit: thick-cut, tender, and freshly prepped, not the pre-sliced stuff you’d expect at this price point. Brie melts down into creamy corners, playing nicely with tart slices of apple tucked inside. The bread hits that perfect balance—crisp on the outside, soft on the inside—and holds everything together without going soggy. It’s rich without being heavy, and flavourful without drowning in sauce.

![A gooey turkey-brie panini with roasted apple, melty cheese, and golden-crisp bread—comfort food done with care.](/uploads/img_8288.jpeg "Pop’s Paninis turkey-brie panini")

At $16, it’s a little steep for a sandwich—but you’re paying for quality. And with the sides included, plus the warm welcome, it still feels like good value in today’s lunch economy.

Pop’s may be tucked away, but it's no secret anymore. Awards line the counter, and thanks to some smart social media moves, those lunch rush spikes are getting bigger by the week. It’s the kind of place that rewards your curiosity with a well-made meal, and then a cookie for the road.

Pop’s Paninis

Tucked away in the food court of Westgate Shopping Centre on Carling Avenue, Glory Shawarma offers a simple yet satisfying taste of the Middle East, with a personal touch that will make you rethink your go-to shawarma spot.

Ahmid Mohamd, a quiet yet welcoming presence behind the counter, opened Glory Shawarma just six months ago after honing his skills at Zaky Grill and Broast for a year. His decision to strike out on his own comes from a passion for crafting the perfect shawarma, one that reflects his roots and the subtle flavours he learned to appreciate while living in Jordan.

On a typical visit, Ahmid’s grill spits tender, juicy chicken, sizzling with a crispy exterior that’s kissed by just the right amount of spice. I opted for the small chicken shawarma with a drink combo for a steal at $9—a price that feels as nostalgic as it does wallet-friendly. The meat, with its subtle hint of lemon zest, strikes a delicate balance of crispy and tender. But the real kicker? Fries tucked right into the shawarma, adding heartiness and a welcome crunch that elevates the experience to something unique.

![ A piping-hot chicken shawarma, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with fries tucked in for that extra crunch.](/uploads/img_8046.jpeg "Shawarma Glory small chicken shawarma")

I devoured half of my shawarma right there in the food court, the air filled with the mingling smells of fresh Thai dishes from the neighbouring stall. The other half? It made its way home to my partner, Danielle, who shared my excitement. She noted how light and fresh the shawarma felt—its lack of overwhelming garlic and sauce made each bite feel just right. The crunch of the vegetables, the perfect amount of tender chicken, and the fries tucked inside made it feel like the Goldilocks of shawarma—everything balanced in harmony.

At $7 for the small (which could easily pass for a medium), this is a shawarma that punches well above its weight, offering an unbeatable combination of flavour and value. So, if you’re looking to experience one of Ottawa's newest hidden culinary gems before prices inevitably rise, make your way to Westgate Shopping Centre. Glory Shawarma offers not just a meal, but a reminder of how simple, well-executed food can leave a lasting impression.

Shawarma Glory

Nestled beside a Tim Hortons on Carling Avenue, Namaste Ottawa offers a taste of the unexpected, bringing the bold flavours of Bihar to the city.

Walking into Namaste Ottawa, the inviting scent of spices immediately wraps around you, preparing your taste buds for a true culinary adventure. The minimalist design of the space is clean and welcoming, with booths lining the walls, offering a comfortable place to settle in. Images of iconic Indian landmarks like the Taj Mahal add a touch of tradition, while the televisions above the counter showcase dishes from across the Indian subcontinent, setting the stage for what’s to come.

What sets Namaste Ottawa apart is its dedication to authenticity, led by chef Pradip Kumar Jha, whose decades of experience have helped bring the flavours of eastern India’s Bihar region to Ottawa’s dining scene. A seasoned chef who’s spent over 20 years travelling and perfecting the art of traditional Indian cuisine, Jha offers a menu that spans the entire Indian subcontinent, from north to south. But it’s the Bihari dishes that steal the show, especially the Champaran-style mutton curry, a hearty, rich dish that draws you in with its deep, complex flavours.

![A generous serving of Namaste Ottawa's signature champaran-style mutton curry, slow-cooked in mustard oil for hours and served with freshly buttered tawa roti - a hearty, authentic taste of Bihar that easily feeds two people](/uploads/img_7999.jpeg "Namaste Ottawa mutton curry")

I decide to go for the mutton curry, served alongside two warm tawa rotis. As soon as it arrives, the fire-red curry, topped with fresh cilantro, beckons me to dig in. The tender goat meat falls off the bone effortlessly, its rich, smoky heat perfectly balanced with the distinct mustard oil flavour — a signature of Bihari cooking. The spicing is complex, with hints of clove and chili, adding depth and warmth that linger. Each bite feels like a journey into the heart of Bihar, and the rotis, perfectly buttery and crisp, are the ideal vessel to scoop up the delicious curry.

Namaste Ottawa’s commitment to quality is evident in every dish, from the freshly made rotis to the carefully selected ingredients. Co-owner Laheri Trivedi, originally from Gujarat, works alongside Jha to ensure that every meal served is a reflection of their passion for authentic Indian food. Since opening in November 2024, the response has been positive, with locals flocking to try dishes like the chicken lollipop and the mutton curry. The restaurant prides itself on offering exceptional food without the hefty price tag, with most menu items priced between $10 to $25, making it an affordable option for those seeking a real taste of India. My meal, which included the mutton curry and two rotis, came to a reasonable $22 — a great value considering the portion size and the quality of the food.

As I finish my meal, satisfied and eager to return, I realize that Namaste Ottawa is yet another shining example of why Ottawa’s industrial parks and strip malls often hold the best culinary surprises. With a talented chef like Jha at the helm, Namaste Ottawa is truly a destination worth discovering for those seeking real, bold Indian flavours.

Namaste Ottawa

In an unassuming corner of southeast Ottawa's industrial landscape, Adams Sausages stands as a testament to tradition and community, where the unmistakable aroma of European delicacies wafts through the air and draws in generations of faithful customers seeking authentic Central and Eastern European cuisine.

Maria Przystal's establishment, named after her late husband Adam, has been a cornerstone of Ottawa's Eastern European community since 1961, evolving from a humble factory operation into a beloved destination where second-generation Canadians return to reconnect with their cultural heritage. The shop's enduring appeal stems from its unwavering commitment to authentic products and remarkably fair pricing, achieved by maintaining relationships with traditional suppliers while deliberately avoiding excessive markup.

![Freshly made Polish sausage on a soft bun, topped with tangy sauerkraut and crafted with a proprietary spice blend that perfectly balances lean meat and traditional European flavours](/uploads/img_7950.jpeg "Adams Sausages Polish sausage on a bun")

The star attraction is undoubtedly their signature Polish sausage on a bun (just under $6), crafted with a proprietary spice blend that elevates the perfectly balanced lean-to-fat ratio of their house-made sausage. Served on a fresh bun and topped with tangy sauerkraut, this unassuming sandwich embodies the shop's philosophy of quality meeting value.

While the lunch counter bustles with activity as customers line up for sandwiches and daily soups, the rear deli section transforms into a cultural touchstone, its shelves stocked with products from across Central and Eastern Europe. It's here that newly arrived immigrants, like the Ukrainian who introduced us to this gem, find comfort in familiar sights and aromas reminiscent of home.

Przystal's dedication extends beyond mere commerce; as she poignantly states, "This is home," reflecting the deep emotional connection she maintains with her community. Her dual role as owner of both Adams Sausages and Continental Delicatessen in the market hasn't diminished her personal touch, evident in every interaction with customers and every carefully prepared item leaving her counter.

Visitors should plan their visit during lunch hours to experience the full atmosphere of the bustling counter, where sandwiches and soups of the day are served alongside the deli offerings. While credit cards aren't accepted, the exceptional value ensures that cash transactions won't strain the wallet – particularly considering the generous portions and authentic quality of each dish. Like countless family-owned establishments before it, Adams Sausages proves that sometimes the most authentic culinary experiences await in unexpected places, hidden behind industrial park facades but overflowing with tradition, warmth, and unmistakable character.

Adams Sausages

Tucked away in the corner unit of a strip mall near South Keys train station, and next to Sona the Indian Kitchen, Cheese and Olives offers a warm, authentic taste of Palestine, with dishes that reflect the passion and dedication of owner Raed Alqedra.

On a rainy March afternoon, I found myself in this cozy space with towering ceilings and warm olive green walls, patiently awaiting the arrival of my meal. The atmosphere was inviting, the smooth piano music playing softly in the background, and the space, though empty between lunch and dinner, felt like it could easily host a bustling crowd of families enjoying a meal together.

Alqedra, who opened this establishment only two months ago, had me immediately charmed with his larger-than-life personality. Originally from Gaza, Alqedra's journey to Ottawa is as colourful as his food. He’s a man of many stories—one of which includes being the first person in Ottawa to legally BBQ on charcoal—and he’s determined to bring a taste of home to the capital. His latest venture, Cheese and Olives, reflects that mission, offering an authentic Palestinian experience that is both simple and comforting.

I began my meal with the cheese and olive fatayer, a traditional flat pie that’s as comforting as it is delicious. The golden, flaky crust was packed with a savoury blend of melted cheese, olives, and herbs. The cheese was wonderfully gooey, salty, and rich, providing the perfect bite alongside the olives, which added a slight briny contrast. The black sesame sprinkled on top gave the dish a lovely finishing touch. It’s the kind of food that makes you feel at home, even if you're far from it. The cheese, I’m told, is specially sourced for the restaurant, and you can taste the quality in every bite.

![Garlicky, creamy, and finished with the smoothest olive oil—the hummus here will change how you think about this classic](/uploads/img_7936.jpeg "Cheese and Olives hummus")

Alqedra tells me his goal is to serve home-cooked food like what his mother would make—a sentiment I quickly came to understand with every dish. As I savoured the fatayer, I noticed the incredible attention to detail. From the fresh ingredients to the perfect ratio of cheese and olives, this dish was an ideal introduction to the flavours of Palestine.

![A flaky, golden crust envelops gooey cheese and briny olives, offering a bite that tastes like home](/uploads/img_7933.jpeg "Cheese and Olives cheese and olive fatayer")

The hummus I tried next was equally impressive. It was smooth, creamy, and rich with garlic, but it was the olive oil that truly made it shine. Alqedra's decision to use the highest-quality olive oil available paid off, adding a velvety depth to the hummus that set it apart from the usual. It was a simple dish, but one done so well that it made me rethink every hummus I’d had before.

To finish, I took home an order of kunafa, a dessert that combines delicate cheese with a touch of sweetness. While I didn’t have the chance to enjoy it fresh, reheating it brought out all the wonderful flavours—cheese oozing out from between the layers of sweet pastry, creating a satisfying balance that wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet, but just right.

With an average rating of 4.8 stars on Google, Cheese and Olives has already made a name for itself, and it’s easy to see why. Alqedra's commitment to authenticity and freshness shines through in everything he serves. Whether you're a regular or a newcomer, this is a place that offers both comfort and community, with every dish made from the heart.

At around $40 for three generous dishes, including leftovers for a second meal, I left feeling more than satisfied. The food is fresh, the atmosphere relaxed, and Alqedra's passion for his craft infectious. I’ll certainly be back for more—next time, I’m going for the falafel.

Cheese and Olives

In the quiet corner of a Kanata North strip mall, a small café named Luna Crepes & Café has been quietly building a devoted following among locals for 11 years, its warm presence marked by a playful vestibule sign that declares, "Dinosaurs didn't drink coffee and look how that turned out."

Behind this humble façade, owners Cigdem Gulen and her family have transformed what was once a struggling business into a beloved community hub, where 90 per cent of customers are loyal regulars and the staff knows their children's names as well as their preferred orders. The story of Luna is particularly remarkable - the owners, former television producers and medical professionals from Istanbul, fled Turkey for political reasons and chose to preserve the original name, determined to breathe new life into the establishment.

![A rich, milky cappuccino crafted with careful attention to balance, providing the ideal accompaniment to Luna's decadent desserts](/uploads/img_7896.jpeg "Luna Crepes & Café cappuccino")

The café's commitment to authenticity extends to every aspect of their operation. Unlike most establishments, they cook exclusively with olive oil, crafting everything from scratch in a kitchen that blends Mediterranean influences from Italy, France, Greece, and Turkey. Their dedication to quality is matched only by their commitment to family - they maintain early closing hours of 4 p.m. to ensure staff can spend time with their loved ones, a decision that reflects their philosophy that "business is not just serving food and coffee."

During my late-afternoon visit, the café pulsed with gentle energy as sweet jazz music filled the air and three women worked diligently behind the counter. The atmosphere was distinctly cozy, with about a dozen comfortable tables and armchairs creating an inviting space that felt more like a neighbour's living room than a commercial establishment. Even as closing time approached, the door continued to welcome new visitors, though staff politely turned away those seeking anything other than drinks and desserts.

![The tres leches cake at Luna Crepes & Café, topped with a perfectly caramelized marble surface that provides a delightful textural contrast to the moist, milk-soaked sponge below](/uploads/img_7895.jpeg "Luna Crepes & Café tres leches cake")

The pièce de résistance proved to be their tres leches cake, a masterpiece of balance and texture. The marble-topped caramel formed a perfectly gooey crust that adhered delightfully to my beard, while the cake itself maintained a delicate egg wash flavour beneath its generous soaking of three types of milk. Paired with a milky cappuccino, the total bill came to approximately $16 - perhaps slightly higher than average but entirely justified by the generous portion sizes and evident care in preparation.

As I departed, I caught sight of their patio area, adorned with a West Ottawa Business Excellence Award sticker from 2017, promising warmer days to come. Though the patio remained closed on this early March afternoon, Gulen's simple "soon" suggested that spring's arrival would bring new life to this already vibrant community space.

Luna Crepes & Cafe

Hidden within the walls of Desi Price Club, a South Asian grocery store in Ottawa's industrial landscape, Minhazuddin Ahmed has brought forth a culinary gem that embodies the authentic spirit of Bengali cuisine.

What sets Desi Takeout apart is its unwavering commitment to authenticity. Unlike many establishments that rely on commercial spice blends, Ahmed's wife crafts her own recipes from scratch, meticulously grinding spices at home. This dedication to simplicity extends to their preparation methods - notably avoiding tomatoes and nuts in favour of pure, unadulterated flavours.

The restaurant's signature fish curry (rohu) presents a masterclass in balanced flavours, with meaty, tender fish complemented by a fragrant tadka - the traditional South Asian technique of tempering spices in hot oil to release their full aromatic potential. For enthusiasts of fish skin, this dish offers an especially rewarding experience.

Their chotpoti, a traditional Bengali street food, showcases the authentic flavours of Bangladesh. This hearty snack combines boiled eggs, potatoes, and chickpeas with a spicy tamarind sauce, served with crispy puri bread. The dish exemplifies the restaurant's commitment to authentic Bengali cuisine, with each component carefully prepared to create a harmonious balance of flavours and textures. Both dishes showcase the freshness of ingredients and home-style preparation that makes each bite feel like a visit to someone's kitchen.

![Rohu is a prized freshwater fish native to South Asia, particularly cherished in Bengali cuisine for its firm, flaky texture and mild flavor, making it a traditional favorite in Bangladesh where it's often served in elaborate preparations for special occasions and celebrations](/uploads/img_7876.jpeg "Desi Takeout fish curry ")

Both the fish curry and chotpoti are priced very reasonably, with my total coming to around $20 for both. As the restaurant's biryani specialist, Ahmed demonstrates particular care with this cornerstone dish, recently reducing its price by nearly $5 to make it more accessible to customers, with the signature chicken biryani priced at just $10.

![Chotpoti, the Bengali street food classic, combines boiled eggs, potatoes, and chickpeas with spicy tamarind sauce and crispy puri bread](/uploads/img_7879.jpeg "Desi Takeout chotpoti")

Given the intimate nature of the operation, Ahmed strongly recommends calling ahead with orders. This small-batch approach ensures each dish receives the attention it deserves, resulting in food that tastes genuinely homemade rather than mass-produced.

While Ahmed acknowledges the typical challenges of launching a new venture, customer response has been encouraging. "Business is good," he notes, though he tempers this optimism with the realistic perspective of someone still navigating the early stages of entrepreneurship.

Like many hidden gems featured on Eat the Strip, Desi Takeout proves that sometimes the most authentic culinary experiences await discovery in unexpected locations. The combination of homemade spice blends, careful preparation methods, and family recipes makes this takeout-only establishment a valuable addition to Ottawa's South Asian dining scene.

Desi Takeout

Hidden in an industrial park, across from a winter snow dump, lies The Sandwich Stop - a culinary treasure that proves sometimes the best food comes from unexpected places.

Walking into this bustling takeout spot during lunch rush reveals a kitchen alive with activity. Three staff members work efficiently behind the counter while Ottawa Senators commentary plays on the radio, adding to the casual, welcoming atmosphere. A photo of Seinfeld's Soup Nazi adorns the wall, bringing a touch of whimsy to the industrial setting. The menu board features creative sandwich names like The Big Mouth and Manny's Sangwich, while staff wear black t-shirts emblazoned with the cheeky hashtag #nevertrustaskinnychef.

Owner Manny Mellios, who opened The Sandwich Stop in 2017, brings 45 years of restaurant experience to this modest location. Previously operating a 300-seat establishment in Bell's Corners, he made the deliberate choice to downscale to focus on personal connections with customers. "Do I miss the big store? Sure," he admits, "but I like this - it's a lot more personal." His brother joined him in the business venture, bringing their combined expertise to this intimate setting.

Despite describing his location as "the worst in the city of Ottawa," regulars flock here from across town. Customers drive from Kanata specifically to visit, with one enthusiast declaring it "the best part of my week." Manny takes pride in knowing people make the effort to seek out his shop, saying, "Everything we do, we make the sandwich for you. Every sandwich is personal."

![A behemoth of a sandwich that defies conventional lifting techniques, The Sandwich Stop's beef brisket creation combines tender house-cut meat with caramelized onions atop a sturdy Kaiser roll - a meal that doubles as both lunch and dinner](/uploads/img_7833.jpeg "The Sandwich Stop beef brisket sandwich")

The beef brisket sandwich exemplifies this commitment to quality. Available exclusively on Fridays, this specialty offering costs just over $16 - a premium price justified by the generous portion and exceptional quality. Cut in-house daily, the meat melts in your mouth with the richness reminiscent of Montreal smoked meat. Paired with caramelized onions and served on a crispy Kaiser roll, these massive portions easily serve as both lunch and dinner. As noted by my partner and co-writer of the blog Danielle, "you need four hands to lift the sandwiches" - a testament to the generous serving size.

![Danielle tackles The Sandwich Stop's The Pig sandwich, featuring sweet and abundant meat piled high on a fresh Kaiser roll - a portion so generous it challenges the laws of physics and appetite](/uploads/img_7834.jpeg "The Sandwich Stop The Pig ")

Most of The Sandwich Stop's other creations come in at just over $10 each, representing excellent value for the generous portions and freshly prepared ingredients. While prices will increase next month due to unavoidable inflation pressures affecting everything from meat to lettuce, the current price point remains reasonable considering the homemade ingredients and substantial portion size. As Manny builds community through his craft, The Sandwich Stop stands as a prime example of why Ottawa's industrial parks deserve exploration - sometimes the best meals hide in plain sight, waiting to be discovered.

The Sandwich Stop

In the strip malls and industrial parks of Ottawa’s suburbs, some of the best dining experiences hide in plain sight. And if you’re a sushi lover with a penchant for the sublime, Nagi Sushi is one of those hidden gems, nestled quietly in Orléans. It’s a spot that, if you haven’t heard of it yet, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not seeking it out.

I was fortunate enough to snag one of the first spots at the counter when I arrived just after 11:30 a.m. The moment I stepped in, a wave of calm washed over me. The gentle piano music playing in the background, the soft glow of lanterns overhead, and the serene, welcoming space set the perfect stage for a sushi experience like no other. You don’t feel rushed here—you’re simply invited to slow down, take in the moment, and enjoy some of the finest sushi Ottawa has to offer.

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Nagi is the latest venture of Moriyuki Hiroha, a sushi legend who spent over 30 years crafting delicate sushi at C'est Japon à Suisha, the iconic Slater Street restaurant that Ottawa’s sushi connoisseurs came to love before it closed in 2023. Hiroha has brought his expertise and passion for top-quality ingredients to this new venture in Orléans, and it’s already making waves. As he prepared my meal, Hiroha told me that he’s thrilled to see both his loyal Suisha customers and locals from the surrounding area filling up his new restaurant. He says about half of the guests at Nagi are former Suisha regulars—a testament to his long-standing reputation for excellence.

![A little bit of everything to please the senses—from shrimp with a delicate, dim sum-inspired filling to fresh maki rolls, chirashi, and a perfectly charred pork skewer, a Shokado bento box that’s as satisfying as it is visually stunning](/uploads/img_7768.jpeg "Nagi Sushi Shokado bento box")

Hiroha’s commitment to the freshest ingredients is evident in every dish. The fish—especially the bluefin tuna—arrives fresh every weekend. He sources his products from Europe, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Mexico, depending on a roster that changes according to the catch seasons. But while the sushi here is the star of the show, Nagi is more than just a sushi spot—it’s a place where every element of the meal is thoughtfully crafted, from the perfectly balanced miso soup to the delicate tempura.

During my visit, I sampled the bento box, which included a variety of goodies. The standout, by far, were the shrimp dumplings. These little gems had the texture of a perfect dim sum har gow—steamy, tender, and bursting with flavour. Between bites, I cleansed my palate with the crunchy pickled vegetables and turnips, refreshing and tangy. The maki rolls and chirashi were fresh and satisfying, but I kept thinking back to the octopus and clam dish Hiroha had graciously served me. The octopus, imported from Spain, was like nothing I’ve tasted before—creamy, tender, and perfectly complemented by a homemade vinaigrette. It was simple but artful, the kind of dish you want to savour slowly, almost feeling bad about eating because it’s just so beautiful.

![The chef’s generous gift of octopus and clam in a homemade vinaigrette is a lesson in simplicity and elegance](/uploads/img_7770.jpeg "Nagi Sushi Shokado octopus and clam sushi")

The pork skewer in the bento box was also lovely, though it was almost eclipsed by my true favourite: the chicken karaage. There’s just something about that crispy, golden coating and the tender chicken inside that never fails to hit the spot. The karaage here at Nagi is a step above your usual fried chicken; it’s fresh, hot, and salty without being overwhelming—exactly what you want when you’re craving comfort food with a little bit of flair.

And then, the bento box surprise: the daifuku dessert. This Japanese rice cake with a pancake-like exterior and a nougaty interior was the perfect sweet finish, both chewy and creamy, with a subtle richness that rounded out the meal beautifully.

One of the things that really sets Nagi apart from other sushi joints is Hiroha’s magic at the sushi counter. Watching him work is like witnessing an artist in action—every slice of fish, every roll of rice, carefully crafted with precision and passion. If you’re lucky enough to grab a seat in front of him, you’ll see the care that goes into every piece of sushi. It’s an experience worth having, not just a meal, and one that will make you feel as if you've had a spiritual retreat rather than just lunch.

![Crispy, tender, and perfectly seasoned, Nagi’s chicken karaage is the ultimate comfort food with a touch of elegance](/uploads/img_7769.jpeg "Nagi Sushi chicken karaage")

At $60 for my bento box and extra dishes, it’s an investment, but it’s worth every penny. The quality of the ingredients, the skill of the chef, and the serene ambiance make it clear that this is the kind of sushi experience you’ll want to come back to again and again. Be sure to make a reservation if you're planning to visit, especially on weekends—the word is getting out, and Nagi fills up fast.

Nagi Sushi

Manotick may feel like the boonies to some, but it’s home to a few hidden gems that are well worth the drive. Tucked in a humble strip mall between a weed shop and an indie grocery store is The Olive Branch, a cozy spot that proves you don’t need to be in the city centre to serve up fantastic food.

I arrived on a chilly February afternoon, driving through Manotick’s picturesque main street lined with quirky shops and nostalgic small-town vibes. The strip mall is easy to miss, but it’s well worth the stop. I walked in, greeted immediately by the server, who promptly led me to a seat by the window where the light streamed in, warming me up from the cold. The place has the feel of a neighbourhood restaurant—casual, friendly, and super welcoming. You’ll notice the 2024 Ottawa Awards plaque on the wall when you step inside, a quiet testament to the quality of this hidden gem.

Owner Andreas Fountotos, who’s been in the restaurant biz for over 20 years, always dreamed of opening a Greek restaurant that not only served delicious food but also brought a sense of community together. His passion for Greek cuisine is clear. You can really taste the care in the food, thanks in part to Andreas’s commitment to using ingredients imported straight from Greece—olive oil, spices, and more.

![A fresh and vibrant Greek salad, with crisp cucumbers, tangy feta, and a burst of olive oil and lemon—simple, but unforgettable](/uploads/img_7706.jpeg "The Olive Branch Greek salad")

The menu boasts some serious hits, but I decided to go with the keftedes platter, a dish that’s hard to ignore once you know what’s on it. Within about 15 minutes, the dish arrived, accompanied by the warm, rhythmic pulse of catchy Greek music setting the tone. Let’s talk food: the fries were drizzled with a zesty garlic vinaigrette that’s just too good—tangy, fresh, and honestly the perfect match for the crispy golden fries.

The keftedes, juicy little beef patties lightly spiced with oregano and dill, came hot off the grill. Paired with tzatziki that’s refreshingly cool and smooth, they were just what I needed to escape the frigid Ottawa winter. And the long-grain rice? Soaked in meat juices and vinaigrette, it was a satisfying mouthful with every bite. I took a moment to savour the fresh salad that accompanied the meal—crunchy cucumbers, onions, and feta tossed in olive oil and lemon. Simple ingredients, done right.

![Crispy, juicy keftedes paired with medallion-seasoned rice, golden fries, and a refreshing dollop of tzatziki—this platter is the perfect Greek comfort food](/uploads/img_7705.jpeg "The Olive Branch keftedes")

Jonny Lopez, the restaurant’s manager, shared a little behind-the-scenes magic with me. He and Andreas have been running The Olive Branch together for three years now, and their dedication to fresh, authentic food shines through. Jonny’s had his time working at a Michelin-star restaurant in the UK, so he knows a thing or two about quality ingredients, and they bring that level of precision to everything they do here. Every single dish is made to order; nothing is pre-made or frozen. It’s all about authenticity. No shortcuts.

And it shows. The Olive Branch has earned an average of 4.9 stars on Google at the time of writing, a testament to the care they put into every dish. Jonny said they’re looking to expand soon, but they want to take their time to ensure the restaurant is fully established before they take that leap.

But here’s the thing: The Olive Branch is already doing it right. It’s the kind of place where you feel like you’re getting a home-cooked meal with a level of quality that you might expect from a much bigger, more established spot—only it’s tucked away in the unassuming charm of a strip mall in Manotick. Whether you’re craving a hearty platter or just a quiet meal in a comfortable spot, this place has got you covered. 

A platter will set you back just over $30 but I had enough leftovers to make two meals of it. So, the next time you find yourself driving through Manotick, don’t skip over this strip mall gem. The Olive Branch is one of those spots you’ll want to visit again and again. And trust me, once you’ve had those fries and keftedes, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

The Olive Branch

Tucked away in a strip mall in Orleans, Rayan Poissonnerie & Restaurant offers a unique seafood experience that takes you straight to the Mediterranean—no passport required.

Upon entering, you're immediately greeted by the hum of the open kitchen and a lively atmosphere filled with the sounds of sizzling seafood. A striking mural of a deep-sea world, complete with fish and a view of the The Great Pyramid of Giza, transports you to a faraway seaside city—especially welcoming during Ottawa’s cold winter months.

At Rayan, there’s no menu; instead, you walk up to the counter to choose your seafood, where the fresh offerings are on full display. The lack of decision fatigue allows you to focus on the experience, which starts with picking your fish and ends with it being cooked right before your eyes.

On my visit, I went with a bowl of salad and a generous handful of perfectly fried calamari. The salad was a refreshing combination of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, and onions. The zesty lemon and olive oil made for a tangy kick that served as the ideal appetizer before the main event.

![A zesty garden salad that's as refreshing as a Mediterranean breeze](/uploads/img_7640.jpeg "Rayan Poissonnerie & Restaurant salad")

The calamari, on the other hand, was nothing short of perfection. Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, the secret spice blend added a depth of flavour that was utterly satisfying. With a squeeze of lemon and a dip into the house-made tartar sauce, I was transported to my first encounter with calamari in Toronto’s Chinatown, where the crispy fried rings stole my heart. The side of tartar sauce rounded out the experience, bringing comfort to the otherwise brisk winter day.

![Crispy, golden calamari that brings comfort on a cold winter day](/uploads/img_7650.jpeg "Rayan Poissonnerie & Restaurant calamari")

Chef Hassan shared that the Ottawa location of Rayan Poissonnerie opened in 2015, and while the business has been successful, it’s their special spice blend that’s been key to its enduring popularity. The restaurant also has several locations in Montreal, where patrons can enjoy fresh Mediterranean-style seafood, soups, and barbecued dishes. “If you like seafood or fish, just come here and enjoy,” he says with a smile. And given the pay-by-weight pricing, it’s easy to enjoy a fulfilling meal without breaking the bank—my salad and calamari cost me just $16.

Fatima, a loyal customer who reached out to us after hearing about the restaurant, couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about Rayan’s offerings. She raved about their fried shrimp, sautéed cod, and tilapia, and like many regulars, she’s made the 30-minute drive from the south side of Ottawa just for a taste of this hidden gem.

Despite being in an unlikely spot, Rayan Poissonnerie & Restaurant offers a truly unique dining experience—one that will have you coming back for more. Whether you're a seafood lover or simply looking for something different, Rayan’s Mediterranean-style dishes are sure to impress.

Rayan Poissonnerie & Restaurant

A new crêperie tucked away in a Kanata strip mall is offering a taste of Paris to Ottawa’s food scene.

Le Petit Paris - Crêpes et Compagnie Inc., opened in September 2024, is the passion project of Nene Coumba Ba, a trained chef from Paris, and Guy Bisson, her partner from Manitoba. The couple, who met on a flight returning from Paris, decided to open the takeout-only spot after Nene saw an opportunity to bring an authentic French crêpe experience to the Ottawa area.

From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed warmly by Guy, who greeted us with a smile. The small, takeout-focused space immediately evokes the charm of a Parisian café. The walls are adorned with nostalgic images of Paris, a framed picture of the Mona Lisa, and even a photo of the couple beside their city permit. This intimate atmosphere made us feel at home, and Nene and Guy’s enthusiasm for their business was infectious.

Though still in the early stages of their journey, Guy noted that the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive. "It’s been a very warm reception," he said, adding that they’re learning and growing with each day. With a five-star rating on Google, it’s clear that the community is embracing the crêperie as their own.

As we chatted with the couple, a regular customer eagerly recommended the choux au caramel, one of the shop’s most popular items. And it’s no surprise, given the steady flow of customers eagerly awaiting their turn. We couldn’t leave without trying a couple of standout crêpes.

The La new yorkaise, a savoury creation, features marinated ground beef, cheddar, pickle, salad, and tomato. The crêpe itself was delicate and soft, and the fresh basil, caramelized onions, and Dijon-style sauce blended perfectly with the melted cheese. It was a satisfying and refreshing start to our day.

![A savoury bite of Paris in every fold, with marinated ground beef, cheddar, and caramelized onions wrapped in a delicate crêpe](/uploads/img_7563.jpeg "Le Petit Paris - Crêpes et Compagnie Inc. La new yorkaise")

For dessert, we opted for the La caramilsee, a sweet combination of Nutella and homemade salted caramel. Despite not being a fan of salted caramel, my partner and co-writer of the blog Danielle couldn’t resist the rich, oozing caramel with its rum-brandy essence. It was a decadent indulgence, though one that’s best shared—it’s rich enough to make a mess, especially when enjoyed in the car, as we did.

We paid just under $20 for both crêpes. The portions were generous and we left feeling full and content. Nene and Guy have certainly created a unique offering in Ottawa’s food scene, and with a growing base of loyal customers, it seems likely that La Crêperie Parisienne will continue to grow.

For anyone looking to experience a little taste of Paris, Le Petit Paris - Crêpes et Compagnie Inc. is a must-try. It’s not just the food, but the warmth of the owners and the authenticity of the experience that makes this spot a true hidden gem.

Le Petit Paris - Crêpes et Compagnie Inc.

It’s easy to overlook Polka Delicatessen, located in a strip mall between a cell phone repair shop and a make-your-own wine space. But step inside, and it’s clear this small, unassuming store has become a fixture for Ottawa’s Polish community—and for anyone craving a taste of authentic Eastern European deli fare.

The interior is modest but filled with character. Shelves are lined with imported goods, from chocolates and candies to jars of jams and grains. Murals of vibrant flowers decorate the walls, and the heart of the shop is the glass deli counter. Behind it, a no-nonsense team of women work quickly, slicing meats and assembling sandwiches as customers speak Polish among themselves, creating an unmistakable atmosphere of familiarity.

![An array of expertly sliced meats and Polish delicacies ready to be packed into your next satisfying sandwich or enjoyed on their own](/uploads/img_7501.jpeg "Polka Delicatessen deli counter")

Owner Agnes Kozlowska opened Polka Delicatessen six years ago. Since then, the deli has steadily built a loyal following, most of whom are Polish expats. Still, despite the rising costs of ingredients, Agnes and her team try to keep prices affordable. Deli sandwiches, which began at $4.59, now sit at $6—a small increase for a generous portion.

I tried a turkey sandwich and a hunter sausage on my visit. The turkey, served on a thick kaiser roll, came with a healthy dollop of mayonnaise and mustard, along with a subtle sweetness from the pickles that balanced the flavours nicely. The sandwich was a satisfying meal in itself, filling without being overwhelming.

![A hearty turkey sandwich on a freshly baked kaiser roll, piled high with flavourful deli meats, tangy pickles, and just the right amount of mayo and mustard](/uploads/img_7505.jpeg "Polka Delicatessen turkey sandwich")

The standout, however, was the hunter sausage: dry, peppery, and rich with fat. Its dry texture reminded me of kubasa, but with a sharper, spiced finish. Paired with the fresh kaiser roll, it made for a simple yet hearty meal—exactly the kind of food you’d want to grab when you're in a rush but still craving something with depth.

There’s nothing flashy about Polka Delicatessen. It’s not trying to be a trendy hotspot. But it’s this straightforwardness—combined with the quality of the food—that makes it a hidden gem. While the deli’s location in a strip mall may not be immediately eye-catching, the loyal clientele and efficient service speak volumes about what’s on offer: authentic, flavour-packed sandwiches and an array of Polish meats and goods. If you're looking for something satisfying, quick, and deeply rooted in tradition, Polka Delicatessen delivers, no questions asked.

Polka Delicatessen

In the heart of Richmond, Blue Diamond Bar & Grill blends the best of both worlds: a family-friendly sports bar and a bustling small-town breakfast joint, all while serving up authentic Punjabi cuisine. 

Located in an unassuming strip mall, the restaurant immediately grabs your attention with its vibrant purple walls and the inviting aroma of Indian spices that fill the air. As you step inside, it’s clear this isn’t just another neighbourhood pub. The mix of sports bar energy—complete with Sunday football on six screens—and the unmistakable warmth of a family-run business gives the place a unique, welcoming vibe. Saj, the son who runs the restaurant with his parents, greets each regular with a friendly word, contributing to the sense that this is as much a community gathering spot as it is a place to enjoy a meal.

Despite its dive-bar exterior, the food is a standout. The menu, a blend of Canadian pub favourites and Punjabi comfort food, offers something for everyone. As I flipped through the options, it was the traditional Indian dishes that caught my eye—especially sarson ka saag, a wintertime classic from Punjab. I couldn’t resist trying it. When the dish arrived, it was everything I hoped for: spicy, creamy, and full of depth. The mustard greens were cooked to perfection, delivering a mustardy, slightly tangy kick, and paired beautifully with tandoori roti. 

![Sarson ka saag is a traditional Punjabi dish made from mustard greens, cooked with spices, and often enjoyed with makki di roti, making it a perfect match for a cold beer](/uploads/img_7470.jpeg "Blue Diamond Bar & Grill sarson ka saag")

While Blue Diamond serves up familiar pub staples like burgers and wraps, the Punjabi dishes are what truly set it apart. Saj’s mother, who runs the kitchen, is behind every flavourful plate, and her expertise is evident in each bite. The restaurant, which opened in 2017, has grown in popularity thanks to word-of-mouth alone. Saj notes that while there’s been zero marketing, the restaurant’s authentic, home-style cooking and community feel have made it a favourite for locals—especially for breakfast, which is always bustling with families and early risers.

For those new to the menu, the butter chicken mac and cheese is a popular choice, combining Canadian comfort with Indian flavours. But it’s the traditional Punjabi dishes, like sarson ka saag, that truly shine.

While $30 per person is slightly higher than the typical fare at local strip mall joints, the authenticity of Blue Diamond’s food makes it worth every cent. The combination of hearty, flavour-packed dishes, chilled beer, and a warm, family-friendly atmosphere makes this Richmond spot one worth seeking out—whether you’re craving a post-game snack or a comforting Indian meal with a side of local charm.

Blue Diamond Bar & Grill

If you're craving authentic Greek flavours in a cozy, welcoming setting, look no further than The Greek Souvlaki House. This family-owned gem has been serving up delicious, home-cooked Greek classics since 2013. With its blue and white décor, reminiscent of the beautiful Greek islands, stepping inside feels like entering a warm, inviting home. It's the kind of place where regulars are greeted by name, and the smell of charbroiled meats fills the air.

The restaurant itself is small but charming, with just seven tables, making it the perfect spot for a laid-back meal. The walls are adorned with scenic photos of Greece, and there's a small counter at the front where customers can grab coffee or takeout. One of the unique features here is the tablets at each table that let you browse through the menu with photos of the dishes. This is especially handy for those unfamiliar with Greek cuisine, but don't worry—whether you're a novice or a regular, the staff is more than happy to guide you through the menu.

![Taramasalata is a creamy, tangy Greek dip made from salted caviar, olive oil, lemon juice, and bread or potato](/uploads/img_7447.jpeg "The Greek Souvlaki House taramasalata")

We started our meal with a classic Greek appetizer: the taramosalata. This creamy, tangy dip, made from salted roe, instantly transported us to the Mediterranean. It had just the right amount of saltiness, with a texture that felt smooth yet hearty. My partner and co-writer of the blog Danielle mentioned that it reminded her of being by the sea—a perfect start to our meal.

For the main course, we ordered the chicken souvlaki platter and were impressed by the freshness and flavour of the ingredients. The Greek salad was fresh and zesty, with crunchy vegetables and feta in just the right proportion. The homemade dressing added a lovely tang, and the potatoes, which were beautifully charred and crispy, rounded out the dish perfectly. The chicken was grilled to perfection—juicy on the inside, with a deliciously smoky flavour from the charred bits. The tzatziki, with its subtle dill notes, elevated the entire meal, providing a creamy contrast to the savoury chicken.

![A classic platter featuring tender marinated two souvlaki skewers, roasted potatoes, rice topped with homemade spiro sauce, and a side of Greek salad or soup](/uploads/img_7451.jpeg "The Greek Souvlaki House chicken souvlaki platter")

As we were enjoying our meal, we overheard a regular at the counter sharing her long-time love for the restaurant: “I’m always here,” she said. If I’m not physically here, I’m Uber Eats-ing. I always tell people it’s the best.” Her enthusiasm echoed the sentiments of many who frequent The Greek Souvlaki House for its high-quality, made-from-scratch dishes, including the moussaka and the highly recommended lentil soup, which Mike, the co-owner, insists everyone try before it’s gone for the season.

For just over $30, we had more than enough food for a satisfying meal, with plenty of leftovers to take home. Whether you're a loyal customer or a first-time visitor, The Greek Souvlaki House is a must-try for anyone looking for Greek comfort food in Ottawa. The combination of warm service, delicious food, and a cozy atmosphere make it a spot worth returning to time and time again.

The Greek Souvlaki House

If you're ever driving down Bank Street and find yourself drawn to the tantalizing smell of sizzling meat and spices, follow your nose to Samoona. Nestled in a strip mall near Billings Bridge, this small but cozy Iraqi eatery has been quietly winning over food lovers since opening two years ago. Though it’s easy to miss at first, a stop here is more than worth it—especially if you're craving fresh, flavourful kebabs, creamy hummus, and homemade flatbreads.

Stepping inside Samoona feels like entering a warm, welcoming kitchen. The interior is small, with room for just 10 diners, but the atmosphere is cozy and inviting. One of the highlights is a vibrant mural depicting iconic Iraqi mosques. The space is simple but meaningful, with a mix of bright colours and earthy tones. Behind the counter, two servers work in sync, preparing orders for both dine-in customers and the constant stream of takeout regulars.

![The half kabab platter came with two skewers of lamb, grilled tomatoes, onions, pickles, olives, samoon bread and dips](/uploads/img_7391.jpeg "Mr. Samoona Grill & Bakery kabab platter")

What makes Samoona stand out, however, is the open grill at the back of the restaurant, where skewers of tender, spiced meat and onions sizzle over a live fire. The aroma that fills the air is enough to make you hungry even if you weren't before. I was lucky enough to chat with Ahmed, one of the servers, who shared that his cousin, Firas, owns the restaurant. The place has built a loyal following, with many customers returning for the same satisfying meal.

After about 15 minutes, my kabab platter arrived—a delicious combination of two perfectly cooked skewers of minced meat and onions, lightly spiced and topped with sumac. The meat was juicy and tender, a contrast to the crunchy grilled vegetables. The dish is served with a generous portion of soft, warm flatbread, including the signature samoon—puffy, golden, and topped with sesame seeds. It’s the ideal vessel for scooping up the creamy hummus and a zingy garlic sauce that accompanies the meal.

For just $15, this meal was both filling and flavourful—an absolute steal. The balance of spices, the freshness of the bread, and the richness of the grilled meat made for a meal that was as comforting as it was delicious. Ahmed recommended I try the falafel next time, explaining that their version is quite different from the varieties typically found in other Arab countries. I’m intrigued to see what makes it stand out.

Though Samoona may be small in size, its impact is big. Whether you're grabbing takeout or dining in, this place is a must-try for anyone looking to explore authentic Iraqi flavours. The kebabs, the breads, and the dips all come together for a meal that’s not just satisfying, but also a reminder of how great food can transport you to another place.

Mr. Samoona Grill & Bakery

I left work tonight craving Nigerian food—grilled meats, spicy curries, and pounded yams were all I could think of as I raced across the parking lot toward my car, with the temperature dropping to -13°C.

I headed south on Bank Street, crossing Hunt Club Road, and began scanning the street for my destination: Detola's Kitchen. I pulled into the strip mall’s parking lot, guided by the restaurant’s illuminated sign. The spot was just across from a Honda dealership. As I entered, a vibrant mural spanned the wall, welcoming me into the clean, colourful interior. Posters of Nigerian dishes like jollof rice adorned one wall, while photos and maps of Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, lined the opposite wall. A television played Yoruba gospel music in the background. After placing my order for fufu and egusi, I made my way to one of the five small tables.

![Fufu is a soft, stretchy dough made from boiled starchy vegetables like cassava or yam, commonly served as a side to soak up rich stews and soups in West African cuisine](/uploads/img_7328.jpeg "Detola's Kitchen fufu")

I had first heard about egusi from a Nigerian friend years ago, but I’ll admit—until tonight, I’d never tried it. When my meal arrived, Detola herself popped out from the kitchen, complimenting me on my choice and quipping that it would “take me directly to Africa.” I eagerly broke off pieces of the doughy fufu and scooped up the rich stew, laden with chunks of charred beef. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. The stew was a comforting blend where earthy, nutty melon seeds thickened the broth and complemented the tender beef. The dish balanced spicy heat from habanero peppers with savoury depth from stock, while bitter greens added a subtle contrast. Creamy, hearty, and deeply satisfying, it was a flavourful, vibrant staple. I appreciated that I didn’t have to specify the heat level—it was perfect as it was, a default that Detola and her team had deemed just right. But for those worried about the spice, I’m told you can adjust the heat to your liking.

![Egusi is a comforting Nigerian dish featuring doughy fufu served with a rich, nutty melon seed stew, tender beef, and a balance of spicy heat and savoury flavours](/uploads/img_7329.jpeg "Detola's Kitchen ajepako")

The meal cost just over $20, a bit more than we typically spend, but the quality made it more than worth it. Detola’s food is unique, authentic, and perfect for this weather. Don’t just take my word for it—the constant stream of Uber Eats drivers and regulars picking up takeout speaks volumes about Detola’s Kitchen.

Detola, who previously ran a restaurant on Shillington Avenue with colleagues, opened this spot in 2023 with her children. Business has been steady, though, like many restaurateurs, she’s faced challenges with staff retention. To maintain quality and consistency, she focuses on training her team to meet the high standards customers expect. She’s especially proud of her egusi, which customers often tell her is the best in the city. This may have been our first time trying it at Eat the Strip, but I’m sure it won’t be our last.

Detola's Kitchen

For our last Eat the Strip outing of 2024, we headed east towards the Ottawa Train Yards.

One of our readers had written to us in early December urging us to go try Chickpeas, a Palestinian eatery that opened in 2016. We did a little bit of digging around and found out it's one of the city’s few fully vegan restaurants. In fact, I’m hard pressed to think of a vegan Middle Eastern eatery in the city.

We visited last Sunday. In contrast to the cold and grey weather outside, Chickpeas was warm and inviting. From the outside the restaurant looked like a literal hole in the wall, but it is surprisingly spacious inside. Over half a dozen tables lined the orange walls. The smell of fresh falafel cooking in hot oil wafted from the kitchen. We were greeted by Ahmad Joudeh, the executive chef. He runs the restaurant with his brothers and father. 

Ahmad helped us navigate the menu. While there is a mix of traditional and modern Middle Eastern food available, I decided to order the hummus fatteh. My partner and co-writer of the blog Danielle decided to order the koshari, an Egyptian dish recently added to the menu.

![Fatteh is a popular Levantine dish of toasted bread and warm chickpeas is served with a cool, tangy yogurt sauce](/uploads/img_7268.jpeg "Chickpeas fatteh")

The chickpeas are cooked perfectly. Delicious hummus and olive oil coated my pita chips. We scooped it all up with spiced yogurt, fried almonds and chickpeas. It was tantalizingly crunchy, and the hummus was some of the tastiest we’ve had. I had a hard time deciding if I preferred the fatteh here or the one served by Ottawa Falafel House. Both are exceptional. The koshari was a beautiful mix of east and west. It’s a widely popular Egyptian street food that we were getting to try for the first time. It’s made from rice, black lentils, pasta, tomato sauced fried onions and, you guessed it, chickpeas. The lentils were lightly spiced and reminded us of a nice wintertime stew. We had a good amount left over to take home, too.

![In addition to the garlic and tomato sauce, the koshari came with a side of a chilli paste that had some much-welcome heat given the cold weather outside](/uploads/img_7269.jpeg "Chickpeas koshari")

Business has been going well, said Ahmad, who used to be an executive chef in Dubai prior to moving to Canada. They originally had three locations but closed two during the pandemic. Now they’re looking to expand again. A little bit of experimenting by Ahmad’s brother, Omar, now a police officer, led to a menu featuring seven different types of hummus, which the family recommends people try by ordering their signature bowls and wraps.

Two of us ate for around $25. We’ll happily be back to oblige Ahmad and try the bowls and wraps next time.

Chickpeas

We were looking to try something different when we received an email recently from one of our readers about a place serving submarine sandwiches with an interesting twist.

Four over four years Subtown has been selling Lebanese-style subs from its Walkley Road location. The restaurant sells over 20 different sandwiches and platters to choose from, all of which are made fresh daily. 

Now, if you’re like me and had no idea what Lebanese subs were, you’re in for a treat. Hussein, who runs the store with his brother, told me that there are two types of street food that reign supreme in Lebanon—shawarma and subs. The first we’re quite familiar with here in the Shawarma Capital of Canada. However, Hussein and his family are now trying to introduce the capital region to the Lebanese subs that are ubiquitous back in Lebanon.

![The Mexican chicken sub, left, was spicy and came with cheese, whereas the taouk chicken sub, right, came with fries](/uploads/img_6676.jpg "Subtown Mexican chicken and taouk chicken")

We visited the restaurant on Monday evening. Bright red walls greet you as you enter, with sumptuous looking deserts behind a glass counter to your left. In front of you is a glass container with a several toppings, including spiced beef, chicken and shrimp. A box of roasted potatoes sits next to them. There is a dining area adjacent to the kitchen with a TV playing the news in Arabic.

Hussein welcomes us and tells us some of the quintessential Lebanese meals on the menu are only available for breakfast, including ras asfour—a tangy meatball stew—and fava bean stew. Breakfast is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day except Tuesday. Instead, we set our eyes on the sub menu. I ordered the Mexican chicken, and my partner and co-writer of the blog Danielle ordered a taouk chicken.

While preparing our subs, Hussein told us that back in Lebanon the most popular sandwich is the fries sub. (This is available on the menu at Subtown.) As the name implies, this involves a generous portion of French fries sandwiched in toasted bread served with a spread of garlic sauce. Fascinated with this blue-collar dish of the people, we were happy to hear that Danielle’s taouk sub also contained fries. Once heated up on the grill, we took our subs home to eat. 

The bread was nice and crispy, still warm from the Subtown grill. It reminded Danielle of her grandmother’s buns served at Thanksgiving. Eating pickles and fries out of a bun was excellent, she said, adding that it "just worked." As for my Mexican sub, I was a big fan of the heat from the hot peppers. The chicken was well cooked and not chewy at all. There was a pop of coriander in each bite that I really enjoyed. Moreover, the garlic sauce was on-point. I can’t state this enough—it is challenging to get the garlic sauce right. Here, the sandwich wasn’t doused in an overwhelming amount of garlic sauce. 

Each footlong sub cost us around $15. At those prices—and with such dazzling flavours—we’ll be sure to be back, especially for breakfast.

Subtown

My friend and former colleague Cynthia took me to Kanata to surprise me with some delicious baked treats back when we were in the throes of the pandemic.

I had barely been in Ottawa for a year, and I was used to Cynthia taking me to interesting locations in the region such as the Diefenbunker, Mer Bleue and Petrie Island, to name a few. I assumed we were on one of our usual adventures as we set off west from downtown. I had no idea what tasty treats were in store on that day as we headed deeper and deeper into Kanata. 

![An iconic dough pastry from northwestern France, kouign-amann takes its name from the Breton words for bread and butter](/uploads/img_6653.jpeg "La Maison du Kouign-Amann kouign-amann ")

La Maison du Kouign-Amann (pronounced “queen a-mann”) was opened less than a decade ago by Fran Jung, a French woman who worked in finance before pivoting to a career in the food business. It was sold recently to a Canadian couple that has opted not to make too many changes to the successful business. The only thing that’s changed between when Cynthia took me almost four years ago and today is the introduction of a seating area for dozens of people. 

My partner and co-writer of the blog Danielle and I visited on Sunday morning. There were several people enjoying their coffee and morning crepes. Refrigerators at the back contained several premade meals for takeout. The eatery is named after a doughy pastry originally from the Brittany region of northwest France. I remember the richness of the flaky pastry when Cynthia took me to La Maison du Kouign-Amann the first time. I wanted to see if they tasted just as good all these years later. We decided to order one to share and a Bretonne crepe. 

![The signature savoury Bretonne crepe came with mozzarella, brie, bacon, caramelized onions and baby spinach](/uploads/img_6660.jpeg "La Maison du Kouign-Amann Bretonne crepe")

The pastry was delicious. Its crunchy exterior was coated with sugar. The inside was soft and syrupy, resembling the texture of a Cinnabon. Don’t be fooled by the size of one. There’s enough butter in one to fill you right up. Our crepe arrived shortly after. It was thin and looked quite fragile. Almost each bite came with a mouth full of melted camembert cheese. We loved the caramelized onions and bits of bacon. A sprinkling of spinach made us feel a little bit better about our indulgence.

We paid a total of just over $30 for our meal, which also included a cup of coffee. With a plethora of other pastries, cakes and crepes on the menu, we were already plotting our return to Kanata as we made our way to the car.

La Maison du Kouign-Amann

Scouring strip malls can sometimes lead to gastronomic gold.

It was because we were convinced that the best food in this city is found in strip malls, industrial parks and generally in the periphery that made us start this blog. Last week, we went back to our roots to start checking out places in strip malls we hadn’t yet visited. That’s how we stumbled on Divisoria Market, a Filipino grocery store and eatery located in a strip mall on Carling Avenue, between the Ottawa Civic Hospital and Dow’s Lake. 

Although it’s moved a few times, owner Bobby Hipolito told me that Divisoria has been in its current location since 2023. Bobby also has a family-run restaurant in Orleans called Divisoria Resto Bar, which is well known for its authentic Filipino dishes.

![While they only had stews left Sunday evening, Divisoria will usually have an assortment of authentic Filipino dishes freshly made at the grocery store on weekends, including the iconic kare-kare and adobo ](/uploads/img_6451.jpeg "Divisoria Market stews")

Fortunately for us, his grocery store has a hot food counter at the back that sells equally authentic Filipino food. Longtime readers know that these types of establishments are some of our favourite. We visited Bobby’s store last Sunday, just as he was starting to close. He told us that the cost of the food is cheaper at the grocery store as it’s not a proper sit-down restaurant. He added that they were mostly sold out of hot food, save for the beef stew and pork stew. As we had some leftover rice at home, we took small containers of both, which cost us only around $10.

Both stews were excellent. While they reminded us of stews ubiquitous time of year in Canada, there was a marked difference in spices used in the dishes. You could tell the onions and garlic had been cooked down at the beginning, with bay leaves imparting an herbal flavour not dissimilar to dried oregano or thyme. We enjoyed the tender chunks of beef, and the glazed potatoes in the pork stew, which also contained chopped chorizo-like sausages. The spice mix reminded me of a hearty potato curry.

Bobby recommended patrons visit the grocery store for hot food on weekends, as that’s when they cook larger meals at the back. And if you’re lucky enough to live in Orleans, then I recommend you check out their proper sit-down restaurant. 

You won’t be disappointed.

Divisoria Market

I often get a hankering for Ethiopian food.

I’m always up for a soft injera which has soaked up flavours from spicy red lentils, kale stews and fried chunks of meat. So, when Eat the Strip reader Kylie messaged us earlier this month about Delina's Restaurant and Bar, we were all ears.

Opened in early 2023, the family-run restaurant sits at the location of a former hookah lounge in a small strip mall on Gladstone Avenue. It’s one of the few remaining downtown strip malls and is an absolute heavy hitter when it comes to delicious treats, boasting food options ranging from Middle Eastern kebabs to freshly baked bread—and now Ethiopian food.

We visited the restaurant on Friday and were greeted by two beautiful, wall-sized murals. We took a seat by the front-door and were met by Delina’s mother, who runs the kitchen while her three children assist her with cooking and serving. At her recommendation, we decided to share the Delina's 5 Way Special. This type of Ethiopian platter is my favourite, where you’re expected to use your hands to tear off injera and scoop up bits of curries, stews and salads.

For those unfamiliar with injera—it’s a spongy flatbread made with teff flour. It’s naturally gluten-free and has a nice sour taste imparted by a days-long fermenting process. While completely different from a texture standpoint, the flavours remind me a tad of Tamil dosas.

The food was brought out quickly in an Ethiopian basket, with the plate lined with injera on the top. 

Each dish was standout, only enhanced by the injera. The zesty lettuce salad had Ethiopian spicing and was a welcome tart addition to our platter. The chunks of beef in the middle were cooked the with tomatoes and onions and were nice and spicy. However, our favourites were kale dish and the misr wat—both exemplary of vegetarian dishes ubiquitous in Ethiopian cuisine.  Both were cooked perfectly and had a nice heat, thanks presumably to the berbere spice mix used. The misr wat, a red lentil stew, reminded me of daal that’s commonly eaten across the Indian subcontinent. It’s honestly one of my favourite Ethiopian dishes, and I highly recommend the variety at Delina’s.

![Berbere spice, a classic Ethiopian spice blend, includes an assortment of spices, including cumin, cardamon, fenugreek seeds and paprika, among other spices that are also very commonly used in Indian cooking ](/uploads/img_6361.jpeg "Delina's Restaurant and Bar 5 Way Special")

Our total came to the paltry sum of $28, including tips and taxes. Not only was this meal one of our favourites in 2024, but we were also extremely happy to see it didn’t break the bank either.

Delina's Restaurant and Bar

Grounded Kitchen, Coffee & Bar has always exuded good vibes, right from the moment I first handed in a resume, to the first day on the job, and now as a returning customer.

Originally located in downtown Ottawa, and once serving the local government and office workers with delicious take-out, catering or dine-in, they have relocated to a little spot with big personality at the base of an office building at 1545 Carling Ave. Being off the beaten path means less foot traffic, which means the word needs to get out about this hip, unique, groovy and fun restaurant. 

We decided to make a trip to this old haunt of mine earlier this week. There is funky local art on the wall of iconic musicians such as Hendrix and Tupac. The seating is creatively crafted in a colorful, diner-style, winding way. The lighting was atmospheric, the music carefree and eclectic—perfectly matched with our millennial appreciation for classic hip hop and rock. The patio also looked incredibly inviting for the final days of warmth, though we still opted for indoor seating to get the full experience.

Of course, the main reason for our adventure was the food. Having worked at Grounded before, I knew that the dynamic scratch-kitchen was going to put immense creativity into every bite, and that has not changed one bit. My partner and co-writer of the blog Ameya and I opted for the chicken parmesan sliders and the mushroom melt burger special. 

![Grounded's sliders were a hit off the hop, with the breaded and crispy chicken hitting all the right notes](/uploads/img_6332.jpeg "Grounded Kitchen, Coffee & Bar chicken parmesan sliders")

In the past, when I have ordered chicken parmesan, there has always been something that I didn’t like, such as too much breading, or too much tomato flooding the sauce. I do not know how Grounded succeeded, but these chicken parmesan sliders had a Goldilocks level of perfection with the ratio and flavors of the tomato sauce, havarti, parmesan, basil oil and panko breaded chicken. While I would recommend including a side with your order if you’re excessively hungry, the flavour of these top-of-the-line chicken parm sliders will have you coming back for more. 

The mushroom melt elicited the same level of satisfaction, if not more. Described from their menu as a “brisket-chuck patty, Heartee mushrooms, havarti, caramelized onions, and dijonaise on an artisan bun with your choice of side.” It was a melt-in-your-mouth experience that melted my heart. Even the French fries were seasoned to excite the palate.

Grounded offers catering, take-out, event space, dine-in, and even has a small freezer of prepared food items. Always trying something new and daring, this is a great place that will keep you interested in what is coming next. Stay tuned and get hungry.

Grounded Kitchen, Coffee & Bar

We were told to take a healthy appetite to Yummy Touch Kitchen, a Middle Eastern restaurant that opened around a year ago in southeast Ottawa.

“This place is definitely tucked away in an out of the way strip mall in the east end and is well worth the trip,” Eat the Strip reader John wrote in an email in September. “Everything is prepared fresh from scratch in house. I suggest you try it with a group of friends.”

Delicious eats? In a strip mall? This sounded like a slam dunk. So, we wrote to John to thank him, and decided to go check out the newish restaurant with our friend Carina last Thursday. 

The restaurant is located next to a Tim Hortons with ample parking around. We arrived around an hour and a half before closing and were greeted by a warm couple that gave us the lay of the land. Husband and wife duo Sohayb and Ghareed, originally from Jordan and Palestine respectively, told us their lamb rice and shawarma platters are amongst the most popular dishes on the menu. The rice lamb turned out to be the English translation for mandi, a dish for which I confessed my love during a previous Eat the Strip outing.  

We chose a table towards the back of the restaurant, near a beautiful mural of an oasis. The walls were painted with kiln ovens, and the ceiling is adorned with hanging plants. There is also a highchair for those with children and a few board games for families to enjoy while waiting for their meals. This added touch made yet more sense when Ghareed told us they plan to convert the restaurant into a café in the evenings. 

![Mandi, a popular dish that originated from the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, is one of the star dishes at Yummy Touch Kitchen](/uploads/img_6298.jpeg "Yummy Touch Kitchen lamb rice")

She added that her mother has been catering for over a decade. When the family acquired the commercial space, they didn’t realize there was a seating area. That’s when they pivoted to the idea of a restaurant. While the first weeks were a bit slow, business has since picked up, and the response from the community has been “big,” said Ghareed. This, even though they only started advertising the restaurant around four months ago.

We ordered the—you guessed it—lamb rice and a mixed shawarma platter with all the fixings. The fall-off-the-bone lamb was served on a bed of flavourful rice. Not too oily, it was topped with parsley, raisins and nuts. The lamb was juicy and cooked to perfection. Over on the shawarma platter, the hummus was delicious. It was creamy, and we couldn’t get enough of it. Co-writer of the blog and my partner Danielle put it perfectly that the potatoes served with the shawarma platter “brought breakfast to dinner.”

We certainly recommend the lamb rice, or as it’s known in the Middle East, mandi. However, before we could pay and head out, Sohayb and Ghareed insisted we try some of their all-new waffles. We tried the lotus and pistachio ones. They were heavenly. Warm, gooey caramel filling oozed out of each spoonful. If you have a sweet tooth, we suggest you leave space for this delicious desert.

![We were very happy that the owners suggested we try their waffles because this might have among the best we have ever tasted](/uploads/img_6301.jpeg "Yummy Touch Kitchen lotus waffles")

We paid just over $50 for our meal, thanked our hosts, and set out clutching our full, happy bellies, dreaming of our next visit to Yummy.

Yummy Touch Kitchen

Our group of five arrived around dinnertime at Saffron Kabab Restaurant’s Bank Street location, just as the smell of marinated meats being grilled began to waft from the kitchen.

For this outing the Eat the Strip team was joined by three friends, including Jennifer Heagle, one of the original founders of Red Apron, a local food store that sells prepared meals with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. (Fun fact: Yours truly worked as a dishwasher there many, many years ago as a university student.)

Opened in 2019, Saffron Kabab Restaurant is a family-run restaurant with a second location on Carling Avenue. Saber, its affable owner, came by to check on everyone over the course of our meal and handed us lots of candies to take home afterwards. He told us how everything right down to the cutlery being used at the restaurant was selected with quality and purpose in mind. Sure enough, the spoons we were using, he pointed out, were engraved with an image of Cyrus the Great, the founder of Persian empire. Paintings depicting other Persian icons adorn the wooden walls, as tables begin to fill up with chattering friends and families.

Our meal begins with a serving of a complimentary fruit platter. As we were quite peckish this was quite welcome, and a nice way to whet our appetite. We ordered an assortment of classic Persian dishes, including a platter of chicken and beef kebabs, and fesenjoon, an iconic dish that I seek almost every time we eat Persian food.

![The Saffron mix platter we ordered came with skewered beef and chicken kebabs, and lentil soup](/uploads/img_6138.jpg "Saffron Kabab Restaurant Saffron mix platter")

The platter came with lentil soup, which is not dissimilar to an Indian daal, albeit not spicy. This holds true in fact for a lot of Persian and Afghan cooking, where many of the dishes resemble North Indian cuisine but are served using much milder spices. I enjoy this from time to time, being able to appreciate the complex flavours of milder ingredients that can sometimes get eclipsed by the heat of chillies and peppers used in South Asian cooking. Along with our meal, we ordered some hummus and kashk bademjan. The latter is made from deep fried mashed eggplants, sauteed onions, garlic, and mint. It had the consistency of pesto. It was creamy, nutty, and paired well with some fresh bread. 

Our meat platter was served with a generous portion of saffron-infused rice. While the other kebabs were tasty, my go-to platter item were the chicken drumsticks. I had seen Saber grilling them in the back and knew right away to try them when the platter arrived. You could tell they had been marinated for a long time, perhaps in a yogurt-based marinade. It imparted a smoky, tandoor flavour to the rice. I found myself dipping it in hummus and garlic sauce and going back for several rounds. 

You could tell the focus at the restaurant is on authenticity.

“At Saffron, we take pride in providing a traditional Persian cuisine by using a blend of local ingredients and imported spices only grown in our homeland, bringing together a symphony of vibrant and authentic flavours in all our dishes,” reads the restaurant’s website.

We decided to split the bill in half. Our total, with a tip, came to $67. While it may be a tad steep compared to our usual strip mall gems, we had plenty of leftovers and some very happy bellies to show for it.

Saffron Kabab Restaurant

When Ahmed Abdulkadir is not busy brokering peace deals in conflict zones, he’s busy making some of the best Somali flatbread in town at his family-run restaurant.

We made our way to his Safia Restaurant on a Wednesday evening with our new neighbours, a wonderful couple that revealed Ahmed happened to cater their wedding a few years ago. They assured us the food was going to be excellent. (Not that we felt otherwise—the restaurant has a near perfect rating on Google, and two readers wrote to us recently with high praise for the Somali restaurant.)

![Suqaar is a popular Somali dish that conists of chicken, lamb or beef sautéed with onions, garlic, coriander, tomatoes and an assortment of other spices](/uploads/img_6091.jpeg "Safia Restaurant chicken suqaar")

Paintings of village life in East Africa adorn the restaurant’s walls. There are a few tables to your left as you enter and a traditional floor seating area with cushions at the back. Our friends asked us if we’d like to eat in the back. We happily obliged. While the dinner crowd started trickling out around 7:30 p.m., Ahmed and his two servers stayed busy catering to a constant stream of customers flowing in to order wraps, sambuusas and other classic Somali dishes for takeout. Feeling guilty that we had seemingly ordered the last of the sambuusas, I made sure to cherish every bite. 

Now, you’re probably wondering what I was on about with the conflict zones comment at the top of this piece. After a little prodding, Ahmed, who was quite humble about his past, acknowledged that he was an activist in Alberta prior to moving to Ontario. When I later googled him, I learned that he was a prominent leader of the Somali community in Edmonton. In 2018, he played a key role in the negotiations between the Ethiopian government and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), a separatist rebel group. He flew back to his home country for the first time since fleeing as a refugee in the early 1990s and bore witness to a historic peace agreement. 

He then followed his sons to Ottawa, where they were attending Carleton University at the time. Around five years ago he decided to take the plunge and oversee the expansion of his sister’s west end Somali restaurant that shares the same name. With his 25 years of experience in the food business, it was not too much of an adjustment. The goal was simple—make authentic food that was relatable to people from all walks of life. So, five years ago, the family gave us a second Safia restaurant on St. Laurent Boulevard. The menu of the two locations are largely the same, with a few more offerings at the east end location, Ahmed told me.

“We did not want to make it fancy,” he said. “It’s food that everyone can relate to.”

As Somalia is a coastal nation, its food is a fusion of Indian, Arab and Italian flavours, Ahmed added. That’s why people from so many backgrounds can relate to the it. This was certainly true of our meal. We ordered the chicken suqaar platter, a beef suqaar with chapati, and our lovely neighbours ordered us four samosas to take home.

Ahmed was correct. The chicken suqaar resembled chunks of tandoori chicken, served on a bed rice with pickled onions and salad. Our first bites led to long oohs and ahhs. The boneless chunks of chicken of were spicy, tangy and had a nice aftertaste of cumin. But to me the real showstopper was the rice. Made by soaking the rice in a broth, it was rich, flavourful and complemented the chicken perfectly. My beef suqaar was served with a flaky chapati—a type of flatbread closely related to paratha of the Indian subcontinent. The chunks of meat were tender and salty. While very tasty, I couldn’t help constantly digging into the plate containing the chicken suqaar. 

On our way home, I kept wishing I had had exposure to Somali food earlier in my life. We’re lucky to have purveyors of this incredible, complex and delicious cuisine in Ottawa. It’s quickly become one of my favourite cuisines. I’m sure it will become yours too.

Safia Restaurant

When we got wind of the fact that a restaurant in Ottawa’s south end may have received the blessings of the Thai embassy as authentic Thai cooking, we knew we had to visit.

We made it to Thai Lanna, located in a strip mall near Bank Street and Hunt Club Road, last week. We went with our friends Adele and Taylor and their adorable two-year-old. We walked in at dinnertime, a constant stream of diners making their way in and out of the small restaurant. Paintings adorned the yellow walls as a gregarious server greeted us with a pitcher of cold water. We waved goodbye to a group of women on their way out, excited to take home their leftovers. When I asked them how their food was, one of them said “excellent” while grinning from ear-to-ear.

This got us very excited for our food. We ordered an assortment of dishes with an agreement to share. Our friends ordered a vegetarian pad thai and red curry. We ordered the basil chili chicken prepared in its “street food version” and the legendary pad kee maw, also known as drunken noodles. We asked for our food to be medium spicy.

Our chattering table went silent and wide-eyed as our food arrived. I took a bite of the pad kee maw and immediately crooned with delight. My first bite contained those green chillies ubiquitous in Thai cooking. This was an instant sign that the food was legitimate. Even milder dishes contained a modicum of spice that’s needed to really make Thai flavours come alive. Crispy vegetables, fresh basil and tender eggplant made this dish an instant icon for me in Ottawa-Gatineau’s Thai food landscape. 

![Pad kee maw consists of a stir-fry noodle served with a choice of meat, egg and vegetables cooked in a dark soya sauce, chilli and basil leaves](/uploads/img_6020.jpeg "Thai Lanna pad kee maw")

Eat the Strip co-writer and my partner Danielle’s basil chili chicken was also excellent. Rice was included with all the dishes, and hers paired excellently with the minced chicken dish. The street food version of the dish came with lots of garlic, Thai chillies, sweet basil and a crispy friend egg to boot. Yum.

Our friend’s red curry also receives an honourable mention. The rich coconut sauce, crispy vegetables and tofu were served with a small pile of rice, which looked like a small mountain surrounded by a lake of red, creamy lava. The dish had a nice gingery aftertaste and the rich coconut flavour made each bite incredibly satisfying.

![Our friend Taylor's tofu red curry was served with eggplant, chayote squash, zucchini, green and red peppers, cooked in a curry sauce](/uploads/img_6019.jpeg "Thai Lanna red curry")

With each dish costing between $20 and $25, we were hoping for some leftovers. This was exactly what happened. While packing up our food I asked our server, originally from northern Thailand, if the rumors we heard about the restaurant receiving a thumbs up on the authenticity front from the Thai embassy were true. While we didn’t see a certificate, nor did we corroborate with the embassy before publishing this piece, she nodded to confirm that the rumors were indeed true.

We, too, left clutching our takeout bags, grinning ear-to-ear.

Thai Lanna

For months we’ve had our vegan friends tell us about a hidden gem tucked away in the basement of a commercial building on Bronson Avenue.

As we tend to focus on strip malls in far-flung suburbs, Wei's Noodle House managed to slip under our radar for months. But it’s always been intriguing to us. We’ve intended to go since we started hearing about their excellent chili garlic tofu, delicious noodles, steaming stir-fries and expansive vegan options.

We’re happy to say we finally made our way on Thursday to the predominantly takeout joint located in the basement of the RE/MAX building. Yes, Wei’s is the very definition of a hidden gem. When you walk through the building doors, the first thing you’re greeted by is the scent of frying shallots and garlic, a scent synonymous—to me in any case—with my grandmother’s cooking. Downstairs there’s a little dining area with green walls and the kitchen is located behind a literal hole in the wall. This is exactly the kind of spot that Eat the Strip loves to chronicle.

Wei’s staffer took a pause form dealing with the constant stream of delivery drivers picking up their orders by asking us about our takeout order. She located our chili garlic tofu and tonkotsu ramen, for which we paid a total of around $35. 

Wei’s opened in 2013 at their original location in Chinatown. They’ve been in the RE/MAX building since the Covid pandemic. In an online post on Facebook, the husband-and-wife duo that owns the restaurant said they have plans to eventually buy their own property to find a permanent home for their restaurant. 

![The tonkotsu ramen was served with chashu, shiitake mushrooms, soya sauce, a braised egg and green onions](/uploads/img_5914.jpg "Wei's Noodle House tonkotsu ramen")

We got back home and immediately tucked into our ramen. The pork belly was full of flavour and had soaked up the delicious broth. The mushrooms were a great addition and we appreciated that the restaurant provided the broth in a separate container to keep everything fresh. The chili garlic tofu was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It was served with noodles, julienned vegetables and, you guessed it, lots of garlic. While we enjoyed the tofu, we feasted on the ramen. It was bursting with flavour and matched a lot of the good ramen we have enjoyed in the city.

We’re excited to go back to try their pad thai and Singapore noodles.

Wei's Noodle House

I have been wanting to feature Baa Desi Dine ever since my partner brought home a take-out anda shami burger and beef kebab wrap. 

Some folks may have heard us on Robyn Bresnahan’s This is Ottawa podcast to discuss the next quintessential Ottawa dish. While we are happy that Ottawa has been officially declared the Shawarma Capital of Canada, we believe that kebabs have officially entered the chat. 

My first shami kebab was during a visit to New Delhi, India. I had never seen a round kebab, almost the shape of a slider, but it was the texture that was immediately memorable. This texture, I later came to know, was created by combining minced lamb and yellow lentils, cooked together with ginger, garlic, onion, mint, chilies and other classic subcontinental spices, until they were soft enough to be blended. These were then made into their signature cylindrical shape, dipped in egg and fried. I just knew I had to find an equivalent in Canada.  

Baa Desi Dine granted me this wish. I have since had the anda shami burger too many times to count. With the egg on top, it is a deliciously filling combination of east meets west. The added mayo, ketchup and coleslaw gives it a nice crunch and makes it feel like I’m eating a classic burger with a desi twist—all for under $10.  

![The anda shami burger is a famous street food item in Pakistan, with the patty consisting of the iconic shami kebab](/uploads/img_5815.jpeg "Baa Desi Dine anda shami burger")

Another item on the menu that I have come to love is haleem, a dish commonly eaten before or after a long day of Ramadan fasting due to its heartiness. Baa Desi Dine serves an excellent variety, so we no longer have to go through the arduous process of cooking it, which can sometimes require hours of preparation. At Baa Desi Dine, the haleem is topped with fresh ginger and a healthy helping of fried onions for some extra pop. This dish is a little spicy, so beware if you have a hard time with spice. 

Lastly, the beef kebab wrap is a great way of filling up without breaking the bank. A little kick, mellowed by the semi-sweet sauce and naan wrap, coupled by the succulence of the meat, is just a well-rounded snack or meal, depending on your hunger level. 

Ali opened this family-run restaurant in October 2023 with his wife and children and hopes to expand as the business flourishes. Their focus is on homemade food and that’s why people love it.  He recommended we try to the halwa puri next time we visit, along with many other signature dishes from his hometown of Lahore, Pakistani, that are less commonly found in Ottawa. 

If you are planning to go during peak weekend hours, be sure to make a reservation as it was packed when we tried to go when Saturday afternoon. All-in-all, Baa Desi Dine a fantastic local South Asian restaurant that we love supporting.

Baa Desi Dine

While getting older surely means fewer nights out, the desire to get a nice greasy spoon  breakfast the morning after a night out hasn’t diminished.

Such was last Saturday morning. I woke up craving hash browns, eggs and bacon. I went through our database of unreviewed restaurants and was reminded of a breakfast spot that had an average rating of 4.9 out of five on Google. A few readers wrote to us in the spring that we should check out Cindy’s Restaurant, located in an industrial park not too far from the airport.

I called the restaurant and asked them if it would be OK if I arrived around 20 minutes before closing. They said it wouldn’t be an issue, so I hopped into my car and drove off, excited to go back to our roots as a blog that scouts out restaurants hidden deep in industrial parks and strip malls. 

As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed it had the vibe of a classic industrial mall hidden gem. But this was not your classic greasy spoon. The clean-interior and laid-back atmosphere had a family-friendly neighbourhood joint vibe. Photos of small towns in the Ottawa Valley adorn the wall, along with a sign of the restaurant’s motto: “Family, Friends, Food.” I begin to sit down at a small table as a solo diner however George, cook and cousin of restaurant owner Cindy, asks me to take a large one to be more comfortable.

I ordered a breakfast hash and a pot of tea. This was perhaps the quickest I’ve had my food prepared at a restaurant. My meal was ready in just over five minutes. George later told me he’s been cooking at the restaurant for over 30 years and has everything prepared well in advance. 

![The breakfast hash came with a choice of two eggs, toast and homefries topped with bacon, sausage, green peppers, onions and cheese](/uploads/img_5775.jpeg "Cindy's Restaurant breakfast hash")

I combine my crunchy bell peppers, sunny-side eggs, onions, cheese and bacon into a gooey mix that I scoop up with my warm and buttered toast. It was perfectly salty. The sausages and bacon cooked perfectly, with the latter nice and crispy.  As I tucked in, Cindy told me to take my time to finish, even though the clock had struck noon—their closing time on Saturdays. 

Cindy inherited the 35-year-old restaurant from her aunt. She first worked for the family business for 15 years and then took it over around 13 years ago. “Most of our customers that are customers that have been coming forever,” she said. “I feel like this is more my family than my own family.”

She emphasizes her commitment to keeping the food simple and using fresh ingredients. While the pandemic was challenging, the flow of customers has returned to pre-pandemic levels, she told me, with lots of new faces popping up on Saturday mornings. 

After paying around $20 for my meal—and in staying true to their motto—Cindy and George handed me some fresh peaches that one of their customers had recently returned with from Niagara.  

I left feeling like I was already part of the family.

Cindy's Restaurant

It was around Thanksgiving last year that Eat the Strip reader Diodora suggested we head to Orleans to check out a Mexican takeout joint specializing in tortillas and salsas. 

Happy to see new Latin American food options springing up across the city, we made a note to check out Tortilla Maker. We finally got to visit the spot almost a year later, on a Sunday following scattered showers. I was greeted by two employees working behind the counter. The walls were painted bright yellow and green. Other customers chatted with the employees in Spanish—a good sign that indicated to me the food was probably going to be quite authentic.

Inside the glass counter were lots of containers of fresh salsas, guacamole and tamales. On the other side of the L-shaped counter is a menu with hot food available for takeout. I order chicken and guava tamales and chicken and beef tacos. I scan the bags of in-house tortilla chips, tempted to buy a few to take home along with the mouthwatering sauces. My order is ready within 10 minutes.

Miguel Angel Jiménez Reyes opened the family-operated business around a year ago. While the family wasn’t there the day I visited, their website said the homemade salsas are inspired by their “great-grandmother Carlota Silvestre Cornejo’s own original recipes, passed down for generations.”

“Tortilla Maker was also born of the desire to preserve the ancient method of making nixtamal tortillas, preserve their unique flavour and aroma, expand their popularity and promote maize consumption in Canada,” it said. From what I’ve gathered, nixtamal is a process of cooking corn in an alkaline solution that makes it tastier and more nutritious.

The warm food was smelling so good, I decided to sample some of the dishes in the car. 

I bit into the tacos first. The tortillas were like two little clouds. Soft and spongy, they soaked up the juices of the tender meat. The fresh cabbage and vegetable medley provided a nice crunch. No salsa was needed as all the ingredients were incredibly fresh and flavourful. I could have eaten the tortillas on their own.

![Several people have left reviews for the takeout joint praising their authentic tortillas](/uploads/img_5735.jpeg "Tortilla Maker chicken taco")

The tamales are some of the best you can currently find in Ottawa. The chicken tinga had a gooey centre with a very satisfying salsa verde. The guava tamal was probably the most unique tamal I’ve ever had. It featured a red guava paste that was sweet and complemented the cheese well. Not usually one to enjoy a sweet and savoury combo, I found it worked rather well in this dish.

![The guava tamal was made with nixtamal corn masa (dough), guava paste, cheese, baking powder, sugar and margarine](/uploads/img_5739.jpeg "Tortilla Maker guava tamal")

I paid a total of around $20 for the tacos and tamales. The food was excellent—not too heavy—and my wallet didn’t take too much of a hit.  All in all, an excellent Sunday outing.

The Tortilla Maker

Soleil des Iles is a no-nonsense Haitian restaurant tucked away in a gem of a strip mall in Vanier.

In operation for over two decades, the restaurant leaves its front door open in the summer, as a predominantly Haitian clientele queues up to order takeout meals. 

Don’t let the minimalist décor fool you; the focus here is on the food, which does not disappoint. 

I arrive at the restaurant on a sultry Sunday afternoon as three people queue ahead of me. When it’s my turn, I order a small griot with sos pwa and ask to dine in. Two ceiling fans are going at top speed to keep the air moving. A television hangs on the bright orange walls. Behind the counter, two women are rotating between taking orders and relaying them to the staff in the back. I sit down at one of three large dining tables while listening to customers chat with the ladies in Creole and French. Griot turns out to be a popular order.

My food is ready in around 15 minutes. For the very reasonable sum of $13, my griot combo came with a large serving of rice, pikliz, plantain, sos pwa and a sauce made from the pork stock leftover after cooking the griot.

![Griot—made with pork shoulder marinated in citrus, braised and then fried—is considered by some to be Haiti's national dish and is best had with rice, pikliz and sos pwa](/uploads/img_5672.jpeg "Soleil des Iles griot")

My first bite is a solid chunk of griot. It’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Perfectly cooked, I love the abundance of garlic and lime that give the dish its signature flavour. It’s served with the quintessentially Haitian pikliz salad, which has a nice heat to it thanks to the scotch bonnet pepper used in Haitian cooking. My rice is soon swimming in a pool of haricot beans sauce enriched with the griot stock. It is rich, incredibly filling and delightfully satisfying. The plantain forms the cherry on the top.

I express my gratitude to the staff behind the counter and head to my car, my belly full and my heart happy, sure to be back for me another day.

Soleil des Iles

Rarely does one forget their first ever raclette.

Originating from the canton of Valais in cheese-rich Switzerland, raclette refers to scraping off melted cheese and eating it with an assortment of meats and vegetables. The name comes from the type of cheese used in the ritual, which is typically served sliced. A modern way of serving raclette involves an electric table-top grill with little pans, known in French as coupelles, in which slices of raclette cheese are melted.

![Raclette is like the European version of those familiar with East Asian barbecues where you cook at your own table, except with a lot more cheese involved](/uploads/img_5639.jpeg "Meule et Caquelon La raclette Campagnarde")

Now, why am I telling you all of this? Well, in earlier in the year we received an email from Eat the Strip reader Charles who said we needed to stop what we were doing and immediately go to a restaurant specializing in raclette in Gatineau. “You have to try Meule et Caquelon.” Charles wrote in April. “Father and son run the business for over a decade or two.”

“Amazing Swiss/alpine food,” Charles added.

The last time I had raclette was during a 2018 sojourn in the north of France. Believe it or not, I remember the cheese-induced fever dreams quite fondly—around a dozen of us crowded our friend’s long dinner table, grilling all manner of cheese, meats and vegetables. Between bites of melted cheese and charcuterie we would take swigs of cold, Belgian beer and dab our foreheads with napkins to wipe off the meat sweats.

It's one of the enduring memories from my stay there.

On the Tuesday evening we went to Meule et Caquelon, we were greeted by Robert Ataman, the original owner of the business now run by his son. He greets us wearing a traditional Swiss outfit, a big smile under his bushy moustache. He seats us and our server comes by to tell us about the special of the day. We decide to order the La raclette Campagnarde, which came with beef, chicken, ham, Swiss air-dried beef and sausages. We appreciated the size of the restaurant while waiting for our food—it can accommodate over 100 people—and the effort that must have gone into replicating a traditional alpine dining experience. For example, on display are crests of traditional family clans, paintings of Swiss scenery and even a 100-year-old bell that hangs near the restaurant’s entrance.

![Once grilled, the meat and vegetables are layered with cheese in the little pans and grilled until crispy](/uploads/img_5646.jpeg "Meule et Caquelon raclette")

It turns out, however, that the Ataman clan is not at all from Switzerland. They’re a proudly Quebecois family from Abiti that just loved cooking fondue and raclette at home. In the 1990s they opened the original Meule et Caquelon restaurant in Rouyn-Noranda, before moving to Gatineau around 30 years ago. The costumes, the unique designand the cauldrons of melted cheese is all part of the draw for their clientele which comes from as far as Toronto to dine at the restaurant.

Our food arrives. Word to the wise here: try to work up an appetite if you’re ordering the raclette. We take moment to appreciate the sheer quantity of portions. Fortunately, we were appropriately hungry and immediately started to grill up the meats, broccoli, mushrooms and zucchini. The cheese and merguez sausages were an immediate hit. We followed the steps outlined at the dining table of grilling our meats and vegetables, transferring them to the little pans underneath and layering them with the raclette cheese. Our first bites resulted in closed eyes and silent nods—a good sign. The sharp cheese melted over the meats and vegetables, topped with béchamel sauce, resulted in a delightful bite that immediately took me back to that first raclette.

We continued to grill our food while a Sinatra-esque cover of a Blink 182 song played over the speakers. Our server came by to ask if everything was alright. By the time we were already approaching the signature raclette-induced food coma. Not wanting to doze off at the now-closing restaurant, we nodded in appreciation and asked for the cheque. The $80-meal, including tip, was admittedly quite steep when compared to other strip mall gems we’ve featured on this site. 

But where else in the city would you find yourself eating a damn good raclette and forgetting you’re not in an alpine town in Switzerland? It’s an experience that we’re lucky to have in the region.

Meule et Caquelon

UPDATE: Please note that as of February 2025 this restaurant is under new ownership.

A tip from friends who were in the west end the other day caught us off guard.

We thought we had a pretty good pulse of Mexican restaurants tucked away in strip malls in Ottawa and Gatineau. Clearly there was a slip up in our intel about Que pasa? Tacos, which opened around two months ago in a strip mall on Carling Avenue near the new Canadian Tire.

“We just ate here and it was great! And the owner was so welcoming!” Jessica, our friend, wrote to us after eating at the taco spot earlier this month. “They just opened a month ago and before she was just cooking from home.” 

Huge fans of Mexican food that we are, we knew we had to go as soon as possible. After completing some chores in the area, we made a beeline to the restaurant on Saturday for a late lunch.

We were greeted by owners Donaldo and Diana with their signature Latin American warmth. We took a seat by the cash till and looked over the relatively small menu. The philosophy here is to do a few things and do them well. In the taco department we ordered two al pastors, a lengua and a quesabirria. We also ordered a horchata to help wash down the food.

![All tacos are priced at $6 per serving at Que pasa? Tacos](/uploads/img_5532.jpeg "Que pasa? Tacos al pastor")

The Mexican-Colombian couple’s tryst with the restaurant business has humble beginnings. Noticing a dearth of authentic Mexican food in the region, they would cook meals for their Latin American friends, sometimes preparing up to six kilograms of food, for folks as far afield as Cornwall. In May, they decided to take the plunge and open a brick-and-mortar restaurant to bring their food to the city at large. Boy, oh, boy how lucky we are that they did. 

The tacos arrived in colourful plates that matched the décor of the small but, cozy, restaurant. The melt-in-your-mouth meat in the quesabirria and lengua elicited immediate “ooh and ahs” from us both. The al pastor came with double layered tortillas to help scoop up the tender bits of pork which we topped with a generous amount of onions, cilantro and lime. The quesabirria came with a birria broth which we slurped up like a soup after our meal. 

![For six tacos and a giant horchata our total came to around $45, which might seem steep but is well worth the price when you consider the incredible quality of food at Que pasa? Tacos](/uploads/img_5534.jpeg "Que pasa? Tacos quesabirria")

Craving more, we ordered another round of the pastor and quesabirria. 

We got chatting with the couple while waiting for our food. People in the industry had warned them business would be slow the first few weeks. But they were in for a surprise. The restaurant was packed on the first weekend following opening. Dozens of people filed into the little restaurant standing room only style, with those at the front helping the couple by passing food along to folks at the back. 

On another occasion a few Mexican clients told the couple they wanted to eat their tacos while they were still warm. They wanted to dine in. At that point the couple was operating the restaurant as a takeout-only spot. Not wanting to disappoint, Diana played host while Donaldo ran over to the Canadian Tire and bought a few tables and chairs on the spot so their customers could eat at the restaurant. Those tables are still there today.

While they originally pulled an all-Latin American crowd, today the restaurant is buzzing with people of all backgrounds, reflecting Ottawa’s multicultural makeup. They close late so revellers can come enjoy their food like its done back home. Who need a night czar when you have people like Donaldo and Diana throwing a fiesta we all can get behind? 

Sign me up for late-night tacos.

Que pasa? Tacos

In late June we received an email from one of our readers recommending we make a trip to Stittsville to try a new sushi place that was getting people in the area talking.

“We had sushi here last night and it was amazing,” wrote Mary Ann. “Maybe the best I've ever had.”

I was all ears. I checked out Maki Sushi + Poke’s website and noticed there are two locations, one in Kingston and another in Ottawa. Assuming this meant it was a franchise, I wrote back to Mary Ann and said that we’re prioritizing writing about non-franchises for the time being. I received a prompt response telling me the second location is owned by the same family. “As it happens, I actually had another absolutely delicious meal at Maki Sushi last night and I inquired if they were a franchise,” Mary Anne wrote in a follow up email. “They own both and they are not a franchise.”

As we were in the area on Monday evening, we decided to head over to restaurant for some takeout sushi.

We got to the restaurant just in time for closing and were greeted by David, the son of the couple that started the Kingston location six years ago. Along with his sister, he helps his parents run the joint, which opened in the Stittsville just last November. 

“It’s been nice to have people from the neighbourhood come by,” said David. “We like to keep the menu pretty small; we like to keep the quality rather than diversifying.” 

I’m a big fan of smaller menus, so this seemed promising. I took David’s recommendation and ordered the dynamite and ocean rainbow maki specials, which came to a total of around $30, eight pieces apiece.  

Once settled in at home, we dug into the sushi, devouring it while taking in an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s travel show. We liked the mango and teriyaki sauce that gave the ocean rainbow maki rolls a zesty flavour. David had mentioned the family splurges on getting fresh ingredients from Farm Boy and it showed. 

![A maki roll is a traditional sushi roll that often consists of fish, vegetables and rice rolled up in seaweed](/uploads/img_5503.jpeg "Maki Sushi + Poke ocean rainbow")

While we enjoyed the ocean rainbow, the dynamite maki special was the real showstopper. The very first bite ended in silent nods while pointing to our plates in unison. A dollop of cream cheese and spicy mayo made for a saucy centre that provided an excellent contrast to the crunchy shrimp. This was perfection in a plate and we immediately regretted not ordering a second serving. 

![The dyanmite maki roll consisted of fried shrimp, cream cheese, avocado, crab, teriyaki and spicy mayo](/uploads/img_5502.jpeg "Maki Sushi + Poke dynamite")

The family that runs Maki Sushi + Poke immigrated from Korea around 15 years ago. While they have taken inspiration from both Korean and Japanese cuisine, their food is a remarkable fusion that is among the very best of North American-style sushi you can find in the city. While it may not be what sushi traditionalists are seeking, I’ve never been one to think that relentless pursuit of authenticity should be the sole factor in sniffing out a good restaurant.

And Maki Sushi + Poke is not a good restaurant. It is an incredible one.

Maki Sushi + Poke

It was in the spring of 2023, not too long after we launched Eat the Strip, that one of our readers wrote to us to check out Saigon Bistro.

Faye’s pithy email got straight to the point. It encouraged us to go check out the Vietnamese restaurant in Orleans. I just happened to be in the vicinity for a doctor’s appointment the other day, so after wrapping up I invited my partner and co-writer of the blog Danielle to join me at a nondescript strip mall on St. Joseph Boulevard in the heart of the Orleans.

There were two things on my mind as I made my way into the cozy restaurant. First, I had a feeling the food would be special as that stretch of St. Joseph has some incredible strip mall gems; corresponding exactly to the kind of place this blog aspires to chronicle. Second, I was quite curious to see how Saigon Bistro approaches traditional Vietnamese food while being halal.

Yes, you heard that right. According to the owners, Saigon Bistro is the first halal-certified Vietnamese restaurant in the region. It was opened in 2022 by a Lebanese man and his Vietnamese wife who met in Ottawa 30 years ago and decided to bring their multicultural home cooking to residents through their restaurant. Online, several clients applaud the restaurant’s authentic approach to Vietnamese cooking while also adhering to halal principles. 

We’re greeted by Ali’s wife, who was incredibly welcoming, but preferred not to be named for this article. There are around seven or eight tables and we take a seat by the window. We order a well-cooked beef pho and crispy noodles with chicken, to share. Ali, who works in the back with his son and another employee, came by with the food and to chat.

“Customer feedback has been amazing,” he said when I asked about the community response the restaurant has received since opening. The couple worked with an aunt who owns a Vietnamese restaurant downtown to come up with authentic recipes, all while respecting halal guidelines. “It’s an endeavour of love,” Ali’s wife chimes in, adding that the experience has been incredibly rewarding.

Well, how was the food you ask? In one word: delicious. The pho broth was perfect, the kind that makes you sip straight from the bowl so you don’t miss a morsel at the end; the meat cooked to the desired level. The cilantro had a lovely kick and a hint of fennel brought the dish home. Danielle’s noodles were delectably crunchy with a hint of spice. The vegetables were fresh and there was a generous portion of chicken.

![Item P5 on the menu, the well-done beef pho cost $16 for a regular size portion and $18 for a large](/uploads/img_5425.jpeg "Saigon Bistro well-done beef")

It was as authentic as any Vietnamese restaurant you frequent in Ottawa.

Both dishes were good, but I would go back for that pho in a heartbeat. And when I asked Ali about the secret behind the flavour, he explained the process included a lot of trial and error. They spend anywhere between eight to 12 hours a day cooking, he said, adding they have finally landed on a beef-based broth for their pho that satisfies their expectations. All this work is extra, Ali mentions, as his day job is with the federal government. This means he and his wife can only be open for dinner on weekdays, between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. 

![Ali's wife mentioned that the crispy noodle mix are a Saigon speciality but that their restaurant has a unique twist on the classic dish](/uploads/img_3721.jpeg "Saigon Bistro crispy noodle mix")

We paid our bill, which came to around $45 before tip. Though other strip mall restaurants might offer cheaper fare, the care, passion and love with which Ali and his wife prepare Vietnamese food is well worth the few extra bucks. We’ll certainly go back for more.

Saigon Bistro

Imagine walking into a small convenience store and seeing a lineup snaking around the aisles, leading up to a deli counter at the back.

If your first instinct would be to join the line to see what magic lies at the end, that’s exactly what I did the first time I went to Sherwood Market & Deli. That’s how I discovered their fabled barbecue chicken, bacon and avocado sandwich. Since then, my partner and co-writer of Eat the Strip Danielle and I have visited several times, never straying from that very order.

The sandwich is legendary. A quick glance at Sherwood’s Google reviews reveals hundreds of reviews praising the sandwich, their fresh ingredients and great service. People praised the prices too, with the signature chicken, bacon and avocado sandwich costing $8 per sandwich—a price that’s hard to beat for the sheer portion you receive.

![People praise the barbecue chicken, bacon and avocado sandwich not just its main ingredients, but also the deli's signature sauce](/uploads/img_5235.jpeg "Sherwood Market & Deli barbecue chicken, bacon and avocado sandwich")

I popped into Sherwood on a Thursday, around lunchtime. Around a dozen people were already in line, patiently placing their orders with the four employees behind the counter. Two employees were preparing the sandwiches, while the other two bagged them and stocked ingredients. On a sizeable counter sat a large container containing Sherwood’s signature slice egg bread. Deserts line the shelf near the checkout, tempting hungry customers with their reasonably priced Nanaimo bars, costing $2.69 each.

Outside is a parking lot that, naturally, fills up around lunchtime. Several construction employees grab their sandwiches and eat at a picnic table on the grass at the edge of the parking lot, under the cool shade of a tree. I grab my sandwiches, pay and head out, thinking about all the people who probably drive past the store’s ordinary façade without knowing there’s a deli inside serving up some of the best sandwiches in Ottawa.

Sherwood serves all their sandwiches in a bag that keeps the food fresh—one of the several little things they do that elevate their appeal. At home, I bite into my sandwich, getting a mouthful of the brioche-like bread, crispy bacon and the fresh avocado. This is probably the quintessential blue collar Ottawa sandwich. After serving sandwiches for nearly 25 years, Sherwood has perfected their craft. I understood why folks working in construction line up for their sandwiches. They’re cheap, nutritious and filling. 

And the barbecue, chicken and avocado sandwich is king.

Sherwood Market & Deli

If it’s not already abundantly clear, there’s a special place in my heart for takeout joints that operate in industrial parks, sandwiched between business that usually have less to do with food and more to do with car parts. 

Wedged between a custom furniture maker and a mechanic, Grenfell Catering has two tiny tables for dining in between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., with the bulk of its business coming from—you guessed it—catering. It has daily specials and a set menu you can order from and gets busy during peak lunch hours when workers from across southern Nepean head over to grab some of their famous jerk chicken, soups and salads.

I heard about Grenfell from Eat the Strip reader Kate in January. As Kate had recommended, I went over during lunch hours. 

I grabbed one of two small tables after ordering the daily special: a chowmein noodle bowl with sautéed vegetables and jerk chicken. Nearby was a grab and go fridge with sauces and pasta salads made in-house. The cashier seemed to recognize several regulars streaming in, including construction employees working at sites nearby grabbing a quick to-go lunch. 

![The jerk chicken chowmein was the special of the day on a recent Wednesday](/uploads/img_5161.jpeg "Grenfell Catering jerk chicken chowmein")

The noodles came with a sweet and spicy sauce and generous chunks of their signature jerk chicken. While I’m not a fan of sweet and spicy anything, these noodles were an exception. The jerk chicken was a game-changer. It was well-spiced, spicy without being overwhelming—although a tad spicier would have been just fine by me—and at around $15 was quite reasonably priced. 

Owners Chrissy and Mark opened Grenfell in 2007. They started as chefs together in the industry, fell in love and decided to start their own venture. Despite spending most of their time on the catering side, their takeout business has grown exponentially, all thanks to old fashioned word of mouth marketing. Chrissy said they have never had to put signs out on the street for advertising the restaurant. 

I asked for a box to take home the remainder of my noodles. However, before leaving, I kept glancing at the menu and felt like the much-vaunted patty sandwich, typed in large font at the top of the menu, was calling my name. Not one to miss out on a restaurant’s signature dish, I ordered a patty sandwich for takeout. My partner and co-writer of the blog Danielle and I split the sandwich at home and quickly launched into high praise. 

![Despite containing a whole beef patty and copious amounts of jerk chicken, the sandwich was surprisingly not messy](/uploads/img_5168.jpeg "Grenfell Catering patty sandwich")

This was, as the name suggests, a sandwich which contains a Jamaican beef patty. That’s not all, it comes with a generous serving of spicy jerk chicken and crunchy coleslaw. 

It was, perhaps, one of the best sandwiches we’ve had in the city—one that’ll keep us coming back for more.

Grenfell Catering

Idirss Mediterranean is one of those few restaurants that succeed in serving you amazing food all while capturing your imagination and transporting you to a distant land while you slowly slip into a food coma.

My partner and co-writer of the blog Danielle and I went for a lazy Sunday brunch to the St. Laurent Boulevard-based Algerian restaurant after Eat the Strip reader Greg wrote to us last month urging us to try the spot. As far as we know, this is the only Algerian restaurant in Ottawa and we were eager to try the food.

The large seating area is adorned with paintings from across Algeria, prominently featuring markets and produce the country is associated with. The colourful cushions reminded me of my grandmother’s living room and the dim blue lighting and piano music made for a cozy atmosphere. Wafa opened the restaurant around five years ago, shortly before the pandemic. It managed to stay afloat, she told us, because of a dedicated group of loyal patrons who frequent it. 

We started our meal with Algerian coffee and mint tea, both consumed in large amounts in households and cafes across the North African country. This worked out splendidly for us as I, the tea drinker, find mint tea from North Africa to be incredibly relaxing and refreshing. Being a coffee drinker, Danielle loved the coffee, which turned out to be infused with orange leaves—a traditional Algerian recipe, Wafa told us, and quickly ordered a second.

For our meal, we ordered the lamb and potato tajine, mhajeb and bourak. 

The chicken bourak, quite distinct from its Balkan cousin, was served in a spring-roll type, crispy phyllo. It was fresh, served warm and the gooey, melted cheese and spices paired deliciously with the soft ground chicken. We ordered the spicy variant of mhajeb, which was served with fresh lemon to squeeze over the dish and cut the spice. The glazed sweet onions and tomato provided a subtle Mediterranean flavour and whet our appetite perfectly for what was to come.

![The potato tajine is served with a rich sauce, succulent pieces of lamb green peas and, of course, potatoes](/uploads/img_5128.jpeg "Idriss Mediterranean potato tajine")

The bubbling hot tajine was served hot in the traditional clay pot that gives its name to the dish. When asked to describe its unique flavour, Danielle said, “Picture the best lamb stew you’ve had and then times it by 10.” 

![The tajine comes with a side of hmiss, which is a traditional Algerian salad made from grilled peppers and tomatoes, chopped, mixed and seasoned with olive oil](/uploads/img_5129.jpeg "Idriss Mediterranean hmiss")

I had to agree. While the ingredients may seem simple—featuring lamb, potatoes and peas scooped up with crispy slices of baguette—the dish is rich. Its flavour comes from the unique spice blend that was passed onto Wafa from her mother. Being such a vast and diverse country, Wafa tells us the couscous and tajine she serves at her restaurant are traditional recipes from the centre and south of Algeria, where she was born and urged us to try the couscous next time.

We most certainly will oblige because this was easily one of our favourite food outings in 2024.

Idriss Mediterranean

Ravinder moved to Canada around the same time I arrived here to study at university. While we both were disappointed with the lack of authentic Punjabi fare in the Ottawa area, only one of us decided to do something about it.

During one of his visits to Ottawa around 2010, Ravinder’s friend convinced him to open a restaurant that would serve food familiar to folks from Punjab and neighbouring states in North India. After racking up around 20,000 kilometres in mileage commuting between Brampton and Ottawa to find a space and equip it, Ravinder and his wife Navneet finally opened the doors in 2013. In a nod to Brampton’s iconic Punjabi community, they decided to name their new restaurant Brampton Authentic Indian Food.

Full disclosure: this is my favourite South Asian restaurant in Ottawa. Their curries, regionally conscious cooking and excellent service transport me back to my childhood, every time, without fail. 

![Fish pakora, a delicacy from the city of Amritsar in Punjab, is coated in a spicy gram flour, spices and carom seeds and fried till crispy](/uploads/img_4411.jpeg "Brampton Authentic Indian Food fish pakora")

Today, the newly renovated space is abuzz with students from nearby Algonquin College and others driving from across the city to try their excellent food. They even opened a paratha stand recently, serving up the delightful savoury stuffed bread at almost all hours of the day. 

But success didn’t arrive overnight. 

Ravinder originally worked at a warehouse which shut down. Moreover, his nascent dreams to open a restaurant were tempered by the fact that he didn’t have much experience in the kitchen. 

“You don’t even know how to chop onions,” Navneet said to her husband when he told her of his plans to open a restaurant in Ottawa. Over time, however, Ravinder learned the tricks of the trade, hired chefs trained back home to replicate authentic cuisines and soon business started to pick up. They still occasionally receive orders from confused patrons in the Greater Toronto Area who need to be reminded the restaurant is in Ottawa, not in Brampton.

Eat the Strip co-writer and my partner Danielle and I were joined by two friends visiting from Quebec City on our most recent excursion to Brampton Authentic Indian Food. We ordered an assortment of classic North Indian dishes, including palak paneer, dal makhni and goat curry. We also tried the fish pakora and a round of masala chai.

![We ordered a large range of Punjabi and North Indian dishes, including the pictured garlic naan, which was served warm and soft](/uploads/img_4413.jpeg "Brampton Authentic Indian Food garlic naan")

The fried fish, battered and coated with a spicy masala mix, was served with a tart green chutney and was the perfect appetizer to whet our appetite. We ordered some garlic naan to be able to scoop up the curries.

The goat curry is a must-try. The meat served was so tender it was falling off the bone. As is customary with a good dal makhni, it was served creamy and pared well with the palak paneer. 

For those worried about heat, you can order each dish adjusted to your spice level.

We washed our food down with the excellent chai and chatted well into the evening. Eventually, we paid our bill, which came to around $120, thanked the couple for their wonderful hospitality and headed home, our Quebec City guests promising to return to try the best Punjabi and North Indian food east of Brampton.

Brampton Authentic Indian Foods

A nice evening with friends discussing Jamaican cuisine left us with, well, a hankering for Caribbean food.

However, there was one little problem: we had already decided to join some other pals at a new sushi joint in Orleans. Serendipitously, the restaurant was packed, and, without reservations, there was no way we were getting in.

I glanced at the strip mall across the street and noticed a sign advertising authentic Jamaican food. This was cosmic intervention. We were destined eat Jamaican food on this Saturday evening. So, our group of three happily trotted across the road to Fishys Original Jerk, which owner Jamie opened with his family in 2022. 

Right off the hop, we knew this place was special. People filed in to pick up their takeout orders of oxtail, goat curry and roti. Several kinds of fried fish and peppered shrimp sat behind a glass counter, calling our names. 

For this meal, I was joined by my friend Maya, who was visiting from Montreal and her friend Faisal, an Ottawa-based family doctor. Bonding over our shared love for Caribbean curries and dishes made from offal, Faisal and I become quick friends too.

We ordered an assortment of the fried fish sitting behind the glass display and a bag of the peppered shrimp. Yes, it comes in a bag, and you deshell it and pop into your mouth as you would with a pack of chips. It was semi-dry and boiled with peppers. A yummy appetizer.

![The bagged shrimp was a big hit with the group and helped whet our appetite for the main course](/uploads/img_4848.jpeg "Fishys Original Jerk pepper shrimp")

For the main course, we ordered the curried goat roti, oxtail and a soup called manish water. All three were so good we couldn’t choose a favourite. 

The goat roti, one of my favourite dishes in the world, was served with deliciously spiced tender goat meat that was falling off the bone. Faisal said he would eat it every day if he could. The oxtail was served with the ubiquitous red-bean rice and a zesty salad. It came in a rich stew which paired well with the rice. Our conversation was punctuated with bouts of ‘oohs’ and ‘yum.’

![The oxtail comprised of braised beef tails cooked with lima beans seasoned with Fishys' signature spice blend](/uploads/img_4853.jpeg "Fishys Original Jerk pepper oxtail")

If I had to choose the most unique dish on the menu, however, it would have to be the manish water. One order was enough for three of us to split. The well-spiced stew is served with tripe and generous chunks of goat. We were informed by our Jamaican friend the next day that the dish takes its name from its supposed male-virility boosting properties. The Internet tells me certain believe it may be an aphrodisiac and is sometimes given to grooms on the night of their wedding.

We washed down our meals with Irish Moss, a Jamaican beverage made with red algae boiled in milk, with sugar and various spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. It reminded me of Mexican horchata, both in terms of flavour and taste.

We thanked Jamie and his staff for their excellent hospitality and left glad that we chanced upon their restaurant by happenstance, promising to return to try more of their magical dishes.

Fishys Original Jerk

UPDATE: Please note that as of February 2025 this restaurant has moved to a new location. The address has been updated, but note that elements of the article may, as such, be out of date.

*﻿**

Indonesia. The country sounds as cool as the food is tasty. Thankfully, we didn’t have to travel quite as far to taste the flavours of this wonderful archipelago. 

We did, however, travel a little way from our home in Carlington to get to Djakarta Taste in Gatineau. It opened in 2022 and is today located in a little strip mall where a Mexican restaurant stood until quite recently. The signs have still not been fully changed. Hopefully Indonesian food will become the next neighbourhood haunt on Boulevard Fournier. 

I ordered the nasi padang. This came with two spring rolls, a chicken leg, rice, cucumber-carrot salad, fish broth to go with the rice and rendang. This last dish was truly incredible and reminded us of the mustard-oil coated bihari kebabs from India, which are some of our favorite kebabs.

![The nasi padang featured rendang, a rich meat-based dish braised in coconut milk, spiced and cooked over a period of several hours](/uploads/img_4811.jpeg "Djakarta Taste nasi padang")

Ameya ordered the chicken mi goreng—fried noodles fried with carrots, red cabbage, bok choy and chicken, topped with a fried egg. What really rounded out the whole meal was the homemade sambal—a fiery chili sauce ubiquitous in parts of southeast Asia—and a peanut sauce and a sweet and spicy dipping sauce. 

By the end of the meal, my mouth was on fire, but that’s because I added too much sambal to my plate. Otherwise, the spice-levels were mild and you can add the sauces to intensify the experience, or not, as you prefer.

![The fish broth that came with the nasi padang went excellently with the generous portion of rice and sambal](/uploads/img_4810.jpeg "Djakarta Taste fish broth")

The staff were kind and called the owner on her phone so we could get the scoop on their story. Turns out the restaurant relocated to Boulevard Fournier last year. They were originally located on Boulevard Saint-Joseph and have the good fortune of most of their regular clientele following them to the new location.

However, not many people in the area know about the restaurant, Atika, the owner, told us. Originally from Indonesia, she proudly added how the restaurant prepares everything fresh, including their spicy sabal sauce and the rendang, which blew us away.

We could taste this in the food, which was incredible and well-priced. We paid just over $40 for our food and left with lots of leftovers for dinner, promising the wonderful servers we’ll return to try, among other items, the nasi goreng.

Djakarta Taste

Merivale Road has been dubbed an emerging little South Asia in Ottawa.

Over the past few years, numerous subcontinental grocery stores and restaurants have opened on a stretch of the road south of Carling Avenue. Not far from the intersection is Chai Talks, a new Indian restaurant and café serving chai in clay pots and street food.

With the loss of Carlington Coffee House, our neighbourhood has lost a vital spot to hang out, sip a warm beverage and grab a bite to eat. With a serious dearth of cafes in our area, Chai Talks has come to the rescue. And with a closing time of 2 a.m. at the time of writing, night owls, including employees of the neighbouring Ottawa Civic Hospita, have a spot to chow down before beginning a graveyard shift. 

While technically not in a strip mall, Chai Talk is tucked away on the east-side of a commercial building on Carling Avenue, next to a pharmacy. The colourful eatery features dining tables that doubles as board games, some of which will be instantly recognizable to anyone who grew up in South Asia in the 1980s or 1990s. Cue the nostalgia.

We ordered a samosa bowl, tadka maggi and an iced cardamom chai. Over a game of ludo, we noticed how the restaurant started filling up around 9 p.m. The owner and the staff were kept on their toes by the growing clientele of students and folks from the Indian diaspora visiting to get a fix of street food from the homeland.

![Samosa chaat is a dish made with chickpeas, crispy samosa, assorted sweet and spicy chutneys and crunchy toppings](/uploads/img_4779.jpeg "Chai Talks samosa chaat")

The samosa chat was tangy, sweet and spicy. It was served with a green chutney, tamarind sauce and was topped with onions, cilantro and onions. One of the restaurant’s signature dishes, it remains a must-try at Chai Talks.

![The maggi was served warm and spicy, a perfect dish for a chilly April evening](/uploads/img_4780.jpeg "Chai Talks tadka maggi")

However, I am an unashamed Maggi noodles fan. For those who are unfamiliar, this is the Indian equivalent of mac and cheese—a comfort food consumed by students and those looking to get a fix of carbs on the cheap. At Chai Talks, they prepare it just like street vendors do in India. They add vegetables, oil and was that…a hint of cheese I tasted? If not, fret not. They even have a cheese maggi for order. The maggi was, hands down, my favourite dish.

We washed down our meals with the delicious iced chai. This was the real deal. You could tell it was made fresh and not from a powdered pre-mix. 

Our entire meal cost us less than $25. It's good knowing there’s a pot of cardamom chai brewing walking distance from our home.

Chai Talks

It’s no secret, Ng’s Cuisine serves some of the best Chinese food in Ottawa.

Offering traditional Cantonese and Sichuan food, the bustling restaurant has been a staple for dimsum and large family dinners for around two decades.

We’d been craving har gow; our plans for the day were dashed—it was time to head to Ng’s, located less than three kilometres away from us, for a languorous dimsum brunch.

We were seated almost immediately at the plastic-covered tables. The vibe was old-school, with wall-to-wall murals of traditional village scenes and paintings. We sat underneath a chalkboard with ostensibly Cantonese dish names scribbled that morning. Despite getting there after peak dimsum hours, the restaurant was quite full of families sipping tea, chatting and chowing down on delicious dumplings.

We were promptly handed menus and served a pot of tea. I love that part of the ritual, which cascades across dimsum joints in North America. We ordered an assortment of dishes, including sampan congee, cuttle fish, deep fried squid tentacles and, the king of dim sum, har gow. Craving greens, we also ordered stir-fried Chinese broccoli in oyster sauce.

Before any of that, however, we received our egg tarts. Yes, we ordered two egg tarts for dessert and, famished, began our meal unapologetically with dessert. The tarts were fresh and buttery, a cross between English custard tarts and Portuguese Pastel de nata.

![The egg tarts consist of an outer pastry crust filled with egg custard](/uploads/img_4645.jpeg "Ng's Cuisine egg tarts")

We learned that the restaurant was sold recently.  Nikki, one of the new owners, told us the restaurant will by and large remain the same. She added that the new owners recently renovated the basement to allow for more diners. While the much-loved menu won’t be changing anytime soon, she said the new owners hope to do some touch-ups. 

“We want to keep it the same,” she said. But we want to have a younger vibe.”

The first dish to arrive was the congee, served in a large bowl. Served with generous chunks of shrimp and crunchy peanuts, we loved the abundance of fresh ginger and the porridge-like consistency.

![Sampan congee is a Guangdong congee dish that originated in Lychee Bay, Guangzhou, Guangdong](/uploads/img_4647.jpeg "Ng's Cuisine sampan congee")

While each bite of har-gow fulfilled our cravings, the squid tentacles stole the show. They were crunchy, fresh and zesty. The tempura-like coating had a nice peppery aftertaste and we polished off the dish rapidly.

![The cuttlefish was creamy, served with a squid-like consistency and one of our favourite parts of the meal](/uploads/img_4648.jpeg "Ng's Cuisine cuttlefish in a special sauce")

Our total came to just over $55. With plenty of congee to take home, we head out with happy bellies and plans to try an assortment of other dumplings on our next visit to the legendary Ng’s—and to see what vibe the new owners will bring.

Ng's Cuisine

Not long ago, a long-time reader recommended an Iraqi spot in the west-end. 

Eitan Waldman suggested we try the succulent kabab and fragrant rice at Sheikh Amandi, an Iraqi takeout restaurant on Carling Avenue, located near Bayshore. 

“The food is delicious and amazing value if you buy platters for feeding a group,” Eitan wrote to us in February. “My favourite meats I've tried are the lamb kabob or the whole chicken. But the real star is the rice.”

Eitan didn’t need to say much more. Mandi, one of the recommended dishes, is a big hit with our family. Plus—rather shamefully, admittedly—we didn’t yet have an Iraqi spot on Eat the Strip. So, on a beautiful spring weekend, we headed over to the restaurant to pick up our order of the one-kilo lamb mandi.

My life has been forever altered, for the better, now that I have tasted the delectable delight that is mandi. Never had I had more tender meats or spiced rice raptures. Little did I know when we started Eat the Strip that different countries even have their own versions of mandi, changing spices, toppings and preparation styles. 

![A family from Baghdad started Sheikh Almandi around a decade to provide Ottawans with home-cooked Iraqi food](/uploads/img_4313.jpeg "Sheikh Almandi one-kilo lamb mandi")

We ordered the family-sized lamb mandi to share outside with my mother on a beautiful, sunny day. The flavours of the slow cooked meat were matched perfectly with the robust flavouring of the rice. Mandi is fast becoming one of our favourite dishes as it’s inexplicably comforting, yet less spicy than its biryani counterpart, which can really pack a punch. 

In their takeout package, Sheikh Almandi provided us with a container of mixed peanuts and raisins, as well as a zesty chutney that we would love to recreate. (It reminded us of pico de gallo and added an additional freshness to the meal). 

The one-kilo lamb was perfect for the three of us, and there were still leftovers for almost another two meals—all for the reasonable price of $54.

Sheikh Almandi was very different to the Mandi from Alhalabi Restaurant, a Syrian restaurant featured earlier in our blog. However, I could not pick a favourite between the two because they are both so unique. We highly recommend both.

Sheikh Almandi

A lot of Eat the Strip readers have written to us about good sushi joints recently.

Going through correspondence, it seemed like a no-brainer to hit up a sushi spot this weekend. But the question remained: which one?

Nearby Sapporo Sushi has a reputation of being a quiet juggernaut; an unassuming spot that serves excellent sushi in the west-end. We recently got word that the former chef of the beloved Suisha Gardens, which closed last year, has opened his own sushi spot in Orleans—we suspect we’ll be at both very soon.

But on this sunny Saturday, we chose to go to Sushi 29, a takeout restaurant with excellent Google reviews operating out of a strip mall in Blackburn Hamlet.

Lin opened Sushi 29 around three years ago, but has worked as a sushi chef since 2007, when he began working in the food industry in Toronto. Eventually, he moved to Ottawa and got a job at Sushi Kan, an east-end sushi restaurant with two locations. He lost his job during the pandemic and decided to start his own shop.

The takeout-only restaurant is located between a physiotherapy clinic and a financial services company’s office. Lin chatted with me as he sliced a cut of salmon. He told me he hopes to open a sit-down location someday, but the limited inventory in Ottawa has been difficult to navigate.

We purchased the 40-piece tray, which at just $48 plus taxes, was an excellent price. Turns out both me and Danielle, my partner and co-writer of this blog, had enough for two meals. The portions were excellent, too.

![The 40-piece tray comes with 10 pieces of futomaki,12 maki roll, six pieces of hoso maki and 12 nigiris](/uploads/img_3037.jpeg "Sushi 29 40-piece tray")

Danielle’s enjoyed the futomaki rolls, with their spicy filling and the pickled ginger served alongside. My uncontested favourite was the maki roll. The tempura shrimp served with fresh chunks of avocado and salty nori seaweed made me very happy indeed. The sushi kept well in the fridge until the evening, including the rice, which didn’t get clumpy.

The nigiri also served a special mention. Sliced portions of raw fish were immaculately served on top of rice. Both tasted fresh and paired well with the accompanying wasabi. 

We’ll certainly be going back for more.

Sushi 29

Next time you’re on the highway and see the exit to Carp, take it—your belly won’t regret it.

We drove there this past weekend to try out some authentic Turkish breakfast. That’s right. Some of the best Turkish food on offer in Ottawa is not in the city core, or its suburbs, but in the idyllic community of Carp.

Eat the Strip reader Daniel dropped us a tip earlier this year: “Try Nazli's Kitchen & Cafe, Daniel wrote. “I had the kafte sandwich and a latte. The sandwich had crisp lettuce, great tomatoes and onions. The meatballs were tasty.”

This weekend, we paid heed to Daniel’s recommendation and made the roughly-25-kilometre drive west on the Queensway to try Nazli's Kitchen & Cafe. Now, admittedly, the restaurant is not located in a strip mall. But the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Google—an average of 4.9 out of five—coupled with our readers’ rave reviews, meant we had to go.

Operated by Nazli and her husband, Frank, we got to the restaurant around 1 p.m. It’s located on the main road that leads you downtown. Inside, Turkish music plays on the speakers as Frank beckons at one of the four sun kissed tables. When I ask for his preferred item on the breakfast menu, he tells me everything is excellent as it’s made by his wife.

He undoubtedly gets a few brownie points for that.

We decided to go with menemen and the mihlama. For beverages, we ordered a Turkish coffee and a hot glass of salep, a traditional Turkish beverage made from sweetened milk, cinnamon and ground orchid tubers, which are used to thicken the beverage.

![Menemen is a popular Turkish dish that includes eggs, tomato, green peppers and spices such as ground black and red pepper cooked in olive oil](/uploads/img_4113.jpeg "Nazli's Kitchen & Cafe menemen")

The standout dish was the menemen. Served alongside warm, crispy bread the dish was perfect item for a Sunday breakfast. It was light, eggy and refreshingly simple. The ingredients, including a healthy portion of fresh tomatoes, peppers and herbs, were lightly cooked in olive oil and carried a signature Mediterranean taste.

![Famous for the variety that comes from the Black Sea coast of Turkey, mihlama is prepared with several types of cheese and thickened with cornmeal](/uploads/img_4112.jpeg "Nazli's Kitchen & Cafe mihlama")

We also really enjoyed the mihlama. When combined with the menemen, it tasted like bruschetta served with fondue. The melted cheese was gooey, stringy and perfect on a crisp day.

Both dishes cost around $15 each. We even had enough leftovers for a dinner appetizer. On our way out, we thanked Nazli and Frank for their hospitality and delicious offerings.

Nazli's Kitchen & Cafe

I don’t know about you, but there are times I just crave true comfort food—wontons, buns and noodle soup. 

So, when my brother Ameya and his partner Danielle—co-creators of Eat the Strip—Invited us to come along to Bite & Bite Shanghai Fried Bun, it was a no-brainer. 

Side note: as a big sister, I’m so proud of them.

OK more importantly, let’s get into the food. Let me set this up for you. It is hard to find really good Chinese food, specifically Shanghai cuisine. You know it, I know it.

So we came with tempered expectations. 

We got there at 4:30 p.m. on a Sunday and got a spot right away. It’s a relatively small restaurant, so if you want a guaranteed spot, earlier the better. 

![We got excited when we saw our tables had instructions on how to eat the buns](/uploads/img_4039.jpeg "Bite & Bite Shanghai Fried Bun eating instructions")

We started with the signatures: pan fried wontons (10 pieces for $12.99) and pan-fried buns (four pieces for $7.99). 

I knew we had a winner with the first bite into a wonton. I mean, the four of us made those foodgasm noises. The wontons were juicy, soft and crunchy all at once. They even had toasted sesame seeds on them. And that’s when I knew we had a winner.

Then came the signature dish, the pan fried buns. There are actual instructions on the restaurant table on how to eat the them. You took a bite of the bun, let it cool, sip on the soup inside, and dip it back in the best chili oil and vinegar combo and then proceed to gobble it all up. I will warn you—the hardest thing about the buns is waiting for them to cool, because you just want to dive in. They were delicious—Ameya’s favourite. Succulent, soupy and full of flavour, and easy to see why they’re a part of the restaurant’s name.

![With an average rating of 4.7 out of five on Google at the time of publishing, with many raving about the pan fried buns, it was a no-brainer for us to order the doughy delights](/uploads/img_4044.jpeg "Bite & Bite Shanghai Fried Bun pan fried buns")

After a few bites of his bun, Ameya told our waiter: “My life has changed.” The waiter responded saying he had heard that before. He also told us the previous night—Saturday night—at one point there was a line-up of eight groups outside the door.

It’s probably a good time as any to share that I’m diabetic. My personal philosophy is I do my best most of the time and indulge some of the time. This was the best indulgence. There wasn’t any use of excess sugar and the food tasted so fresh.

We knew we had to order more and chose two house specials and one staple from the menu. 

We got the spicy beef brisket noodle soup ($18.99), the shrimp and pork wonton soup (12 pieces for $11.99) and the pickled vegetables and shredded pork noodle soup ($14.99).

The spicy beef brisket noodle soup resulted in the same foodgasm noises from all of us. This is by far one of the best dishes I’ve ever had in recent years. It was full of flavour, specifically that umami flavour. Danielle said it perfectly: “Seven layers of heaven in flavour.” The brisket was tender and cooked to perfection. If you are craving comfort, you found it, go on and order it.

![The noodles were perfectly cooked, the broth delectable](/uploads/img_4057.jpeg "Bite & Bite Shanghai Fried Bun spicy beef brisket noodle soup")

I loved the shrimp and pork wonton soup and I thought 12 pieces was very generous. The house vinegar and chili oil just added so much flavour and I was surprised at just how fresh the soup and wontons tasted.

My four-year-old enjoyed the pickled vegetables and shredded pork noodle soup. I appreciated that they separated the pickled vegetables and shredded pork from the noodles, so he could just enjoy clear soup and noodles. The noodles were al dente and he loved it. Us adults enjoyed the pickled veggies and shredded pork separately.

We ended our meal by ordering another round of pan-fried wontons, because why not?

Ameya chatted with the owner, who told him he is originally from Shanghai and moved to Ottawa from New York 10 years ago. He worked in construction and would bring his wife’s cooking to his colleagues. They kept wanting to do more projects with him and he figured out it was because they loved his wife’s food. 

This inspired the restaurant, which just opened in December. Maybe it’s another reason why the menu wasn’t expansive or overwhelming—they are staying focused on the best recipes. Food can fast foster a connection between people and you can see how it happened with the owner and his co-workers—and now with customers.

Bite & Bite Shanghai Fried Bun, I’ll be back. 

It’s been an honour writing this entry for Eat the Strip. I hope you’ll indulge a big sister, who spent the weekend witnessing the passion and hard work behind this project. And, of course, enjoying the food.

I am so proud of Ameya, Danielle and of the Ottawa Morning team for bringing Ottawans these food stories. And of people like Tracy who write in their recommendations of restaurants at strip malls. And of people who go visit these restaurants and try their food.

You are all the ultimate supporters and champions of small business owners who have big dreams, big hearts and big skills. They have all of you behind them.

You represent the best of Ottawa.

Bite & Bite Shanghai Fried Bun

There’s nothing like hot momos to warm you up on a cold day.

After several painful momo-less years, we finally have a few restaurants serving the delectable Tibetan dumplings ubiquitous in Central and South Asia. Heck, we even have two restaurants with momo right in the name—The Momo Spot on Holland Avenue and Momo Bistro on Merivale Road. 

Add to this growing list of momo-serving restaurants Everest Cuisine, an Indo-Nepalese restaurant that opened last month and prides itself on serving authentic Nepalese fare.

A Nepalese restaurant? In Ottawa? I couldn’t contain my excitement when Eat the Strip reader Jill wrote to us about it. Fortunately, it was the weekend and when I asked my partner and co-writer of this blog Danielle if she wanted to join me for an excursion, she jumped at the opportunity. Our friends Carol and Ravi joined along for the adventure.

The restaurant is in a strip mall on Carling Avenue, near Maitland Avenue. Photos of Nepal’s iconic mountains adorn the colourful walls. Gentle, instrumental versions of famous Bollywood songs waft from the speakers. Several Nepalese families arrived at dinner time and greeted Sagar, one of the owners, as they walked in.

Our group of four ordered a plate of the Pokhara-style kothey momos, bhatmas sadelko, rayo saag, goat curry, daal gobi Manchurian and jeera rice. In fact, the servers allowed us to share a whole thali, which also came with a tasty yogurt-based desert called juju dhau. We ended up ordering a second round of goat curry because it was that good.

![Despite being four, the restaurant allowed us to share the Nepalese masu bhat (goat curry) thali, which came with this delicious yogurt we all enjoyed for desert](/uploads/img_3949.jpeg "Everest Cuisine non veg thali set with goat curry")

Apart from the fall-off-the-bone goat meat, we couldn’t get enough of the momos. Being from Delhi, I’m used to steamed momos served with a fiery tomato-based sauce, but the Pokhara variety were milder and pan-seared. Quite tasty.

![The kothey momos are a signature Nepalese dish found across the country](/uploads/img_3943.jpeg "Everest Cuisine pokhara kothey momos")

The rayo saag was very different from the typical North Indian saag people are familiar with. Instead of using spinach, the dish resembled collard greens and was cooked with lots of mustard seeds and lightly spiced. 

The bhatmas was very crunchy and garnished with a healthy portion of chillies, green onions and ginger. While too crunchy for some in our group, I found it to go well with the daal and rice, providing some heat and textural contrast to the curry-heavy meal.

![Bhatmas sadeko are roasted Nepalese soybeans mixed with several fragrant herbs and spices](/uploads/img_3946.jpeg "Everest Cuisine bhatmas sadeko")

Between mouthfuls of delicious goat curry and ghee-infused jeera rice, we learned that Sagar has worked in kitchens for over 20 years. He decided to make a go of it on his own when he realized Ottawa needed an authentic Nepalese restaurant. Also trained as a sushi chef, he urged us to try some of the sushi on the menu during our next visit.

Evenly split, our meal came to around $25 per person. We were pleasantly surprised to see that a plate of 10 Kathmandu steamed momos cost less than $15.

We sat and chatted for hours after our meal was over. Eventually we languorously made our way over to our cars, relishing the conversation we had thanks to the wonderful food and ambiance at Everest.

Everest Cuisine

Everywhere you look there seems to be a new pizza place popping up along Merivale Road.

As the main thoroughfare of Carlington—our neighbourhood—we’ve been fortunate enough to try out almost every single one of them. Recently, we made the excursion to Pizzalicious, opened in 2023, located across the street from Maple Delight Pizza, another new pizza joint in the neighbourhood we reviewed last summer.

I was greeted by the owner, who chatted with me as my order of two pizzas, nacho and vegetarian, were baking in the oven. Far from being competitors, he told me that him and the gentleman who owns Maple Delight Pizza are friends and immigrated to Canada around the same time. They’re both from Gujarat, a state in western India.

![The fine folks at Pizzalicious slicing our pizza](/uploads/img_3914.jpeg "Pizzalicious owner")

The pizzas were still warm when I got home. We tucked into the nacho pizza first. The layer of warm nachos gave the whole thing a distinctly almond-flour flavour. This experiment was certainly a success. The dough was soft and fresh and the generous drizzle of chipotle sauce gave the pizza a nice kick.

![The jalapenos gave our pizza a nice kick, but the owner indicated they can modify the spice level according to custumers' taste](/uploads/img_3913.jpeg "Pizzalicious nacho pizza")

The vegetarian pizza was extra cheesy and hit the sweet spot. We were big fans of fresh vegetable toppings, including a generous portion of olives.

The real showstopper, however, was the garlic sauce. This was possibly one of the best we’ve ever had in Ottawa. Make sure to grab a few if you make the trek to Pizzalicious.

At around $30 for both pizzas the hit to the wallet was not bad either. We had leftovers for a classic pizza breakfast the next morning. Moreover, the owner has told us he plans to add new crossover pizzas to the menu in the coming months, including desi pizzas, which naturally made us very happy.

You can’t go wrong with choosing a pizza spot in Carlington. The best part? All of them have very distinct offerings. Make sure to stop at Pizzalicious as you tour the world of tasty pies of Merivale Road—and don’t forget to try the garlic sauce.

Pizzalicious

Everything may be bigger in Texas, but have you been to Merivale Station Restaurant?

That’s what we were left thinking after a recent excursion to the restaurant located in a strip mall on Merivale Road near Hunt Club Road.

Ben Cousins, a good friend from university, was in town for the weekend and we decided to check out the restaurant on a Saturday afternoon. It had been on our list of places to visit since last fall, when Eat the Strip reader Lana reached out suggested we visit. 

“Definitely mom and pop. Portions are huge. Prices are low. Food is terrific,” Lana wrote. “You get a huge plate of coleslaw each with most entrées. Hidden gem.”

Lana wasn’t kidding.

Their portions were truly generous. Ben ordered two eggs with a side of home fries, toast and bacon. I went with the hamburger and mashed potatoes. My meal came with a side of coleslaw and a cup of coffee. With tip, our bill came to a mere $25. 

We reached the restaurant shortly after 1:30 p.m. It seemed like we had beat the lunch rush, but the restaurant was still quite full. A dozen or so tables accommodated several chatting families. An open-concept kitchen meant you could see the chef working the griddle, frying eggs and house potatoes. Our server Mary told us the restaurant opened just over a year as she brought us our meals.

![I had never had a hot hamburger before and, quite frankly, expected a typical hamburger served with gravy, but what I got resembled schnitzel and was quite tasty](/uploads/img_3897.jpeg "Merivale Station Restaurant hot hamburger with fries of mashed potato")

Doused in gravy, my hamburger and mashed potatoes were served on a plate that covered pretty much half the length of the table. The mashed potatoes were delicious and the hamburger well-spiced, with a hint of pepper providing a nice aftertaste. Ben nodded approvingly when I asked him how his classic breakfast tasted.

“It's hard to mess up,” he said, after swallowing a mouthful of bacon and eggs. While true, the sheer portion of the meal had us both very happy with our choice.

![I'm excited to try the classic breakfast special next time, which came to a total of just under eight dollars](/uploads/img_3895.jpeg "Merivale Station Restaurant two eggs with home fries, toast and choice of protein")

Ben then told me his parents were traveling to Barbados the following day. Ben’s father asked him to pick up over a dozen frozen egg rolls from Golden Palace Restaurant, located on Carling Avenue. To take them with him. To the Caribbean. This was an outstanding level of dedication to strip mall food.

So, we left the restaurant with our bellies very happy, only to drive over to Golden Palace for another strip mall adventure. But more on that another time.

Merivale Station Restaurant

A taste of the homeland is never too far away in Ottawa.

We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to Indian food in Ottawa, but it wasn’t always this way. I remember arriving here in 2010 and struggling to find restaurants that served authentic North Indian fare. 

That’s no longer the case.

One of the newest Indian restaurants serving up excellent food is Sona the Indian Kitchen, located in a strip mall near Bank Street and Hunt Club Road. Opened in 2023, the restaurant has already racked up hundreds of reviews on Google, boasting an average rating of 4.8 out of 5. 

![Jeera aloo is a typical vegetarian Indian dish which is often served as a side dish and pairs well with roti or rice](/uploads/img_3868.jpeg "Sona the Indian kitchen jeera aloo")

Moreover, several Eat the Strip readers reached out to us encouraging us to go check out the restaurant. 

“For us, newly immigrated from the UK, it’s a lovely, lovely Indian restaurant,” Leigh Bogardis wrote to us last fall. “The thali is excellent value, the spice levels can be tailored to your tastes and it’s our go to restaurant for when friends visit.”

“The people there are lovely,” Leigh added.

We had to go check this place out, so we headed over last weekend and ordered several classic North Indian dishes, including dal tadka, jeera aloo, lamb rogan josh and chicken tikka.

![Rogan josh is a lamb curry with a heady combination of intense spices in onion tomato curry sauce](/uploads/img_3865.jpeg "Sona the Indian Kitchen lamb rogan josh")

While everything was delicious, the rogan josh and jeera aloo were immediate hits. Juicy chunks of lamb were cooked to perfection and went along perfectly with a side of green peas pulao. The jeera aloo was spiced well, salty and had a nice kick to it without being overwhelmingly spicy.

Though Sona is a tad more expensive that your usual strip mall joint—with several main course dishes priced between $20 and $25—it’s worth it. The food here is as authentic as it comes. 

![We recommend pairing the lamb rogan josh with pulao, a rice-dish made with peas and spices](/uploads/img_3867.jpeg "Sona the Indian Kitchen green peas pulao")

The space is large and colourful and the service was incredible. Not only was our server patient, she took the time to ensure all dishes met the dietary restrictions of our group. There were plenty of vegetarian and vegan options available and, as mentioned by Leigh, they can adjust spice levels according to preference.

We left satisfied and with a promise to return. Leigh was correct—Sona is a lovely restaurant that deserves all the praise it gets.

Sona the Indian Kitchen

It was a busy work week and all I could think of was meat pies to kick off the weekend. 

Eat the Strip reader Samantha Sigler had reached out to us around a year ago, urging us to try the meat pies at Jasmine Bakery, located in a west-end strip mall on Iris Street, near the Ikea.

She said the manaqeesh at Jasmine was the best she’d had in Ottawa. We didn’t have anything prepared for dinner, so I went to go pick up a few pies.

I arrived at the shop half an hour before it closed. It boasted a clean décor with two little tables at the front. Most of the customers filing in had orders for takeout, keeping the two young men working behind the counter—brothers Mohamad and Ammar—quite busy.

The two had fled their hometown of Homs, Syria, with their families because of the Syrian civil war. They arrived in Canada by way of Jordan around four years ago and opened Jasmine Bakery—a family business—just over year ago. Business has been steady since. And for good reason. Their meat pies were, as Samantha said, some of the best I’ve ever tasted.

Traditional Levantine meat pies come in various forms. For example, there’s manaqeesh—a cousin of sfiha, the type of pies they sell at Jasime. They’re both types of flatbread topped with minced meat, cheese and other delicious Middle Eastern toppings.

I ordered a traditional meat pie and the chicken shawarma pie. They were both heated and served promptly. Famished, I decided to try two at the shop and order a few for takeout.

![The pomegranate molasses gave the meat pies a delicious, tart flavour that was unlike anything I had tried before](/uploads/img_3842.jpeg "Jasime Bakery meat pie")

The meat pie, priced at less than $5, was like nothing I had ever tried before. Made with ground meat, tomatoes, pomegranate molasses and other delicious herbs and spices, it was complex and paired excellently with the free side of garlic sauce. The molasses made it tart and the chilli powdered they sprinkled on it gave it a nice kick.

![The chicken in the shawarma pie seemed like it has been marinated in yogurt and spices for hours before being cooked, similar to chicken tikka](/uploads/img_3839.jpeg "Jasmine Bakery chicken shawarma pie")

The chicken in the shawarma pie reminded me of chicken tikka I grew up eating in India. It was cheesy, salty and an excellent way to get full fast. Despite visiting near closing time, the bread was still fresh.

As a first-time customer, Mohamad insisted I try their chocolate-dipped piece desert on the house. It was a timbit-sized coconut chocolate cake topped with pistachios. Not too sweet, it hit the spot after my meal. It made sense that they’re just as well known for their deserts as they are for the pies because their father used to own a sweet shop in Syria.

Despite closing time, the brothers humoured me with tales about food and their family. As I bid them farewell, one of the customers smiled and told me everything they make at Jasmine is delicious. 

I believe her.

Jasmine Bakery

We glanced at the clock and realized we’d make it to Bienvenidos Latin Market half an hour before closing if we got out of the door right away.

Around 20 minutes later we were greeted at the grocery store by manager Josie, who recommended we try a tamal mexicano, a Colombian beef empanada and a caramelized onion and cheese empanada. 

Yes, you read that correctly. Bienvenidos is one of those grocery stores that doubles as a restaurant. They have a seating area that can accommodate several families. Long-time readers know we’re big fans of grocery stores that sell prepared meals because they tend to be delicious. Bienvenidos opened in 2017 as a family-run business. In 2022, it moved to a new location in a strip mall on St. Laurent Boulevard. The owners, originally from El Salvadaor, opened the business to cater to Ottawa’s burgeoning Latin American community.\
\
The smell of corn wafted from the ovens as jovial Latin music played on the speakers. We took a seat next to a colourful, wall-length mural of a young woman and an older woman. Perhaps a granddaughter and her grandmother? 

Once our food was ready, Josie surprised us with a complimentary chicken empanada, which was my partner and Eat the Strip co-writer Danielle’s favourite. The mild mozzarella cheese and shredded chicken filling was amazing, while the doughy pastry was flaky and soft.

![Handmade and filled with savoury seasoned shredded chicken, mozzarella cheese, tomato Sauce, onions and pepper, the chicken empanada is one of the most popular items at Bienvenidos](/uploads/img_3757.jpeg "Bienvenidos Latin Market chicken empanada")

The tamale was served moist with a spicy chicken filling—true to its Mexican roots. The salsa verde, jalapeño and corn base made for an excellent appetizer that whet our appetite.

![The Mexican tamale was made with corn flour, shredded chicken and prepared with mildly spicy green sauce made with tomatillos, onions, poblano chili, garlic and other spices](/uploads/img_3754.jpeg "Bienvenidos Latin Market Mexican tamale")

Both empanadas were delicious, but the deep-fried beef one was quite unique. The crispy, flaky dough reminded us of a Latin American samosa. Unlike some of the other empanadas, the filling contained spiced potatoes. It paired perfectly with the in-house salsa made with chopped tomato, onion, cilantro and lemon juice.

We paid just over $30 for our meal, which included an additional two empanadas and a tamale for takeout. We bid Josie goodbye knowing full well we’ll be back to try more of the delicious empanadas soon.

Bienvenidos Latin Market

Restaurants are popping up at such a dizzying pace on Merivale Road, south of Carling Avenue, that we can barely keep up. That said, there are some eateries in the neighbourhood that have withstood the test of time. We recently took a trip down Merivale Road—and memory lane—to pay homage to one such spot.

Mellos Coffee Shop has operated out of a strip mall on Merivale Road near the recently closed Dairy Queen for around 60 years. This unfussy joint has served classic North American breakfast fare at doggedly cheap prices and has had a loyal clientele that will beat the morning rush hour to get their fill of bacon, eggs coffee and that old-time charm only diners of yore can provide.

I arrived just in time to see the place start to fill up, around 8:30 a.m. I took a booth at the back and was promptly served coffee. There were a few old-timers seated in the booths nearby. I ordered a vegetarian omelette with no tomatoes, brown bread and house fries. 

![The no-frills vegetarian omlette reminded me of my grandmother's omlettes](/uploads/img_3680.jpeg "Mellos Coffee Shop vegetarian omlette")

My omelette arrived in under 10 minutes with plenty of tomatoes. Understanding the unwritten rules of such an establishment, I smiled and tucked in without complaint. Unless you have a dietary restriction—I just happen to dislike the skin of tomatoes in my omelette—you let the chef do their thing. That’s part of the charm.

I gobbled up my omelette and the heavily buttered and still-warm toast. The house-fries were the highlight; salty and lightly spiced, I enjoyed eating the potatoes while listening to elderly couples chatting over the soft music wafting from the radio. While the world may be a very different place compared to when the diner opened in the 1950s, not a lot has changed inside.

![The decor at Mellos doesn't seemed to have changed much over the past six decades, which imparts it a certain charm](/uploads/img_3678.jpeg "Mellos Coffee Shop decor")

Much to my surprise, the bill came to a total of just under $10. That’s it. It’s extra remarkable when you think about how everything has become more expensive recently. Even prices seemed to have remained unchanged at Mellos.

As I headed outside to take a photo of the restaurant’s facade for this article, I waved at one of the old-timers as he got into his old Pontiac convertible, smiled and drove off.

Mellos Coffee Shop

We drove southeast towards city limits, hungry to try some legendary chicken wraps we had read about online.

Sabaya Shack, a no-frills Somali takeout restaurant that makes very affordable chicken wraps, suqar and a plethora of other dishes from cuisines both near and far, is tucked away in an industrial park near a massive snow dump. 

Owner Ali greeted us with a wide smile and asked us what we’d like to order. He confirmed what we had read online—if it’s your first time at Sabaya, go with the chicken wrap. I went with the spicy version while Eat the Strip’s friend Carina Pogoler, who tagged along for the adventure, went with mild.

Ali stepped into the kitchen and told us to help ourselves to a milk cake, offered free on occasion of Carina’s recent birthday.

Our order was ready quickly, we paid and decided to chow down on the wraps in the parking lot, using the hood of my car as a table. I grew up in a city where it’s common to eat with friends in parking lots. It’s something I want to do more often in Ottawa—temperature permitting, of course.

![The spicy chicken wrap came with tender chunks of grilled and spiced chicken, lettuce and crunchy onions](/uploads/img_3667.jpeg "Sabaya Shack chicken wrap")

The chicken wraps were delightful. Ali used crispy fresh onions to cut the spice of the chicken, which tasted a tad like tandoori chicken. The sauce was creamy, peppery and well-spiced. However, the highlight was the breads used to make the wraps.

Well-loved by the Somali diaspora, sabaayad bread is closely related to the paratha of the Indian subcontinent. Ali uses this bread to hold the wraps. You can taste the egg that’s cracked on top of the griddled to give it an extra-light, flaky texture.

![Ali generously gave us a whole milk cake, which tasted like tres leches cake](/uploads/img_3672.jpeg "Sabaya Shack milk cake")

The wrap reminded a lot of kathi rolls, a popular Indian street food originating in Calcutta. I’ve been on the hunt for good kathi rolls in Ottawa and Sabaya Shack’s was just as good if not better.

We parted ways with Ali by thanking him and assuring him we’ll be back for more of his extraordinary food, which set us back around $23.

Sabaya Shack

I decided to stop by Misto Fine Food Shop on a recent visit to a nearby business.

The Italian grocery store and deli has been on our list of spots to review for a while, not least because we’ve had several readers ask us to go check them out. They’re also conveniently located in Hampton Park Plaza—where we tend to do our groceries.

We’re greeted at the family-owned store by owner Mario, who has been in the food business for over two decades. Prior to opening Misto, he worked as a chef at a prominent Ottawa restaurant. He greets me with a warm smile as I wait for my cajun deli chicken breast panini.

The deli has the familiar feel of a neighbourhood shop where regular customers and employees know each other on a first-name basis. Shelves are packed with items imported from Italy, with no shortage of extra virgin olive oil, pastas and sundried tomatoes. At the back there are a handful of small tables for people who want to eat their sandwich—or panini—while still warm. 

I chatted with one of the ladies working at the deli counter as she pressed my panini on a grill. She recognized Eat the Strip from our radio columns on CBC’s Ottawa Morning and smiled as she handed me my panini. 

![The cajun deli chicken breast came with provolone cheese, roasted peppers, garlic pesto and mayonnaise spread](/uploads/img_3109.jpeg "Misto Fine Food Shop cajun deli chicken breast")

A generous portion of chicken breast paired well with the provolone, which was sharp but not too biting. The sundried tomatoes added a welcome, tart flavour. While other delis can sometimes douse their sandwiches in sauce, Misto’s panini was in perfect bun-to-aioli ratio. 

Before departing, Mario suggested I try a canoli too. It didn’t take much for me to acquiesce as all the deserts were very inviting. I grabbed one to share with Danielle, my partner and co-writer of this blog. 

![Who doesn't want a canoli from an excellent Italian deli after eating their panini?](/uploads/img_3111.jpeg "Misto Fine Food Shop canoli")

At home, we silently nodded in unison after taking a bite of the canoli. It was light, flaky and the creamy filling reminded us of amandine. We regretted not picking up another one.

Guess we’ll just have to go back to Misto Fine Food Shop for seconds.

Misto Fine Food Shop

When you’ve been baking for 15 years and finally open shop, you’re going to be pretty excited.

Recommended by people in a local neighbourhood Facebook group, my roommate and I decided to go to Esther's Cakes N Sweets on a Tuesday morning before starting work. Located at 1335 Carling Ave., it is the sole food service on the first floor of an office building. Esther, the owner who works both front and back of house, has been baking for 15 years and it was her dream to open a cafe.  That dream became reality in May 2023 when she found an excellent opportunity to lease a spot in her own neighbourhood. Not only does she get customers from her building, but she also feeds nearby construction workers and people from the community.

This was our first time here and didn’t really know what to expect. It is a small space with just two two-seater tables. She has a breakfast, lunch, and dessert menu and is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the time of publishing. 

To satisfy our simple, greasy breakfast cravings, we got the breakfast sandwich on whole wheat toast for $5.95. Esther informed us it was one of the most popular orders.  Egg, bacon and cheese is really all you need with a cup of drip coffee. 

![Esther makes everything herself and, at such decent prices, has a flow of regular customers, including nearby construction workers](/uploads/412445461_183209961515898_1189941648172768853_n-2.jpg "Esther's Cakes N Sweets breakfast sandwich")

As we were eating, people flowed into the shop and Esther knew a lot of the customers by name. Once we finished our breakfast and were about to pay, we decided we needed to try one of the famous baked goods she’s spent so much of her life working on. I opted for the vanilla biscoff—Esther’s personal favourite—and my roommate tried the classic red velvet. They were fresh, delicious and satisfied our sweet tooth. 

![There was no way we were leaving without trying some of Esther's baked goods](/uploads/415888069_1579883792797623_6685780053546724177_n-2.jpg "Esther's Cakes N Sweets cupcakes")

When we told her we wanted to feature her business on Eat the Strip, she was absolutely delighted; especially since she’s only been in business for about eight months. As we chatted, we found out that she does a homemade lunch special every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This includes anything from mac and cheese with barbecue chicken, chili with cornbread, spaghetti and meatballs. 

We will be back—not just to get more baked goods and to try one of her lunch specials, but to also get a chance to chat with the gregarious Esther again.

Esther's Cakes N Sweets

Faisal’s warm smile greeted us as we walked into 3Cents Resto & Café, a Yemeni café located in a strip mall off Bank Street. 

Without skipping a beat, he put a pot of kadak chai, the sweet and milky tea served across South Asia, on the stove and beckoned us to a table near the counter.

![The kadak chai reminded us of the milky and sweet Indian chai we drank growing up](/uploads/img_3091.jpeg "3Cents Reto & Cafe kadak chai")

Photos of Arab singers and movie stars adorn the walls of this popular Yemeni café buzzing with activity even at 10 p.m. on a Wednesday evening. Books line wall-length shelves and the ceiling is decorated with thick-fibred rope to give the ceiling the appearance of a Gulf dhow. 

We learned about 3Cents from a message from Eat the Strip reader, Ann. She was also the source of our tip about Moul Hanout—a Moroccan restaurant that blew us away last year. If you want a cappuccino along with your liver-and-onion breakfast, she wrote, then 3Cents might be worth checking out. As she has a knack for discovering delicious eateries tucked away in strip malls, we knew we were in for a treat. 

So, after a leisurely day at the Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, Eat the Strip went along with two of our friends—Kapil Mehra and Matthew Couto—to check out the restaurant. (The former wrote our review for Semsem.

We ordered the chicken platter and fava bean platter. Both dishes came with a generous portion of tandoori bread, which we used to dip into our curries.

![The chicken platter featured diced chicken cooked with onions and tomatoes and served with bread](/uploads/img_3095.jpeg "3Cents Cafe & Resto chicken platter")

The diced chicken was garnished with diced green chillies and black pepper. Tart and spicy in equal measure, the dish was flavourful and it didn’t take long for the three of us to polish it off.

The fava beans were clearly the crowd favourite. Served in a piping hot stone dish, it was the perfect antidote to the cold weather outside. It tasted like a cross between a Mexican dish—with the quintessential kick of lime—and a spicy Indian curry.

![The fava beans were cooked with a special sauce, lemon and topped with olive oil and served in a traditional stone bowl](/uploads/img_3100.jpeg "3cents Resto & Cafe fava bean")

“It hurts so good,” Matt said of the temperature. Kapil tried to get bits of onion, beans and chillies in each scoop of his tandoori naan. It’s kind of like guacamole, where “you want to scoop up all the good bits,” he added.

We took sips of chai between bites, using a saffron-infused sugar stick to sweeten the tea. Faisal told us about the Egyptian and Yemeni origins of the food, while patrons sipped their tea and chatted away. 

In total, our meal cost us around $50. We left already dreaming about our next meal at the cafe. Perhaps a breakfast, sipping cappuccino and digging into spicy liver.

3Cents Resto & Cafe

Sadelko—a Cameroonian restaurant that opened just a few months ago in a mall—reminded us recently why Aylmer is one of our favourite food destinations in the region.

We headed to Sadelko on Saturday, located in the  Galeries Aylmer mall, after receiving a tip from Eat the Strip reader Jahques Agente. It was our first time trying Cameroonian food, a cuisine known for its variety of curries, grilled meats and indigenous vegetables.

We were greeted by owner Suzanne, who told us the restaurant operates on a buffet-basis, pegged at $20 per person. We were joined by Amy, a friend of Eat the Strip who has tagged along for a few excursions, including our recent trip to Turkish Kebab House. All of us were quite famished, so we made a beeline for the buffet as soon as we sat down.

![Sadelko offers severals types of chicken, curries, and uses various herbs and spices native to Cameroon and surrounding countries](/uploads/img_2962.jpeg "Sadelko all food")

I tucked into the ndolé, a Cameroonian stew of meat, nuts, spices and ndoleh leaves, a bitter leaf found in parts of central Africa that is washed several times to reduce its bitterness prior to cooking. It’s considered the unofficial national dish of Cameroon.

The ndolé was like nothing I’d had before. The nuts made the dish creamy and the bitter leaves left a sharp aftertaste that made me go back for immediate seconds.

Suzanne told us her mother did catering for weddings in her native Cameroon. She runs Sadelko with her family, including her adorable two-year-old who welcomed us with a big smile, as her mom told us about the various dishes on the rotating buffet menu.

![Pictured above is sangah, a popular Cameroonian dish made with corn, cassava leaf, and palm nut juice](/uploads/img_2958.jpeg "Sadelko sangah")

For our second round, my eyes immediately gravitated to the koki, a bright orange dish made from a paste made from soaked beans, spices and then steamed in banana leaves.

It instantly became my favourite. It was spicy, filling and the banana leaf gave the dish a satisfying nutty flavour. Suzanne told us the koki sells like hot cakes, with the kitchen staff constantly making fresh batches to replenish the popular dish. 

We paid our bill, said our goodbyes to Suzanne and her family and left dreaming about trying the fried lamb and other dishes during our next trip.

Sadelko

A few months ago, I discovered La Bocca Juice, a Lebanese dessert shop located in the Towngate Shopping Centre on Bank Street.

The strip mall is one of our favourites, serving everything from classic shawarma at Shawarma Station to halal southern barbecue at Moe’s BBQ. Middle Eastern supermarkets are ubiquitous, serving mouth-watering dips, breads and much more.

One evening, a friend and I decided to pop into La Bocca to try a freshly squeezed juice. While I can’t recall which juice we ordered, I made a mental note to go back with Danielle, my partner and Eat the Strip co-writer.

We stopped by the other night to try the ashta fraisca.

For just over $10, we received a large portion of freshly cut fruit, raspberry-vanilla ice-cream and ashta drizzled with nuts and honey.
Happy knowing we were getting some essential nutrients while indulging our sweet tooth, we appreciated the generous chunks of strawberry and banana.

The undisputed star of the dessert, however, was the ashta. It was our first time trying the clotted cream, which is used to make several desserts in the Middle East. Not too heavy, it served as a welcome alternative to canned whipped cream.

![Ashta is a cream used across the Middle East in desserts](/uploads/img_2896.jpeg "La Bocca Juice ashta fraisca")

A generous portion of nuts and honey reminded us of the aftertaste of Lebanese baklava, one of our favourite desserts. 

We were pleased to learn that La Bocca Juice is open till 11 p.m. most nights, ensuring we’ll be back—along with the usual late-night crowds it draws—to try some fresh juices, deserts and ashta.

La Bocca Juice

I’d spent several months thinking of an email we received in September about a Chinese restaurant in a south-end industrial park.

Eat the Strip reader William’s pithy email had noted the name of the restaurant—Noodle’s Invitation—the dish we ought to order—dandan noodles—and a location. These dry noodles, coated in a chilli paste made with fermented greens, sesame oil and copious amounts of garlic immediately caught my attention. 

After finishing work on Tuesday, I finally decided to make the trip south from our Carlington apartment to try the elusive noodles that had captured my attention in the fall.

Located in an eclectic industrial park near the airport, Noodle’s Invitation specializes in Chongqing-style cooking, a branch of Sichuan food famous for its liberal use of garlic, peppers and the eponymously named Sichuan pepper. Photos of classic Sichuan dishes adorned the walls of the no-frills restaurant. 

After greeting owner Yuefang Liu, I sat at one of the six tables and asked for a bowl of the dandan noodles. Having learned to not underestimate spice levels at Sichuan restaurants many years ago, I opted for the medium spicy, the two alternatives being mild and very hot.

While waiting for my food, Yuefang told me the difference between the two principal kinds of Sichuan pepper—red and green. The former I was told is typically stronger tasting, while the latter is milder but pungent and has a stronger numbing effect. She brought me jars of both peppers and the heady aroma made my already ravenous appetite even stronger. 

When the noodles arrived, I was told to mix all the ingredients before eating. This was to make sure the chill oil properly coated the noodles, ground pork and vegetables. Each bite provided a wave of respite from the cold, rainy weather outside, the heat from the chilli oil complementing the numbing effect of the Sichuan peppers, not unlike the satisfying feeling of having a sip of pop after eating something spicy.

![Dandan noodles refer to type of carrying pole (dan dan) that was used by street vendors who sold the dish to passers-by](/uploads/img_2877.jpeg "Noodle's Invitation dandan noodles")

Texture-wise, the crispy bok choy and peanuts provided a nice contrast to the noodles. I scarfed down my meal, thinking about how a bowl of these noodles provided me with unbridled joy. I shared this with Yuefang, who showed me other authentic Sichuan dishes she’s proudly served since opening her restaurant in 2018, several of them containing vegetables she grows in a community garden just down the road.

After paying approximately $15 for my food, I ran into one of Yuefang’s regular customers on my way out, both of us grinning ear to ear, knowing we had stumbled upon a true hidden gem.

Noodle's Invitation

We hopped into a car with friends and family last Friday to test another strip mall gem, harbouring a hankering for Thai food after our original plans for the evening had fallen through.

Eat the Strip reader Penny had sent us the tip to go to My Thai Village in Kanata, located off Hazeldean Road. We arrived an hour before closing and were met with lovely smiles from the owners and fabulous Thai décor.

The place was buzzing with diners that looked relieved to have made it to their favourite Thai spot before it closed for the day.

Before ordering, we went back to Penny’s email, where she had recommended the pad khee mao with chicken. She wrote that it was so good that she ate the entire plate in one sitting. We spotted it on the menu and noticed the three hot peppers underneath. Ameya’s decision was made.

As expected, the pad khee mao was the biggest crowd pleaser. The texture of the noodles and flavour was exceptional, almost making us fight for the last bites. The gaeng kaew-waan, or green curry, was one of our preferred green curries in the city. We kept going back for more of the curry to soak our rice, which contrasted nicely with the crunchy bell peppers. The khao pad-sapparod with pork was sought after by one of our friends as a dish he had been seeking in Ottawa for years. While delicious and punctuated by pops of cashew, the rice didn’t match the intensity of the pineapple. 

![The story goes that pad khee mao go great with an ice cold beer and that they make for a great hangover cure, lending them the sobriquet of drunken noodles](/uploads/img_2800.jpeg "My Thai Village pad khee mao")

It turns out that may have been on us. Word to the wise here. If you’re up for the heat and authenticity, you can tell the servers to order the Thai version of several dishes. These flavours are bursting with much more spice and, ostensibly, flavour. We assumed that if we had ordered the more authentic khao pad-sapparod, the seasoning would pack more of a punch.

![The green curry was a hit because of rich coconut, crunchy vegetables and for the fact that it packed a little heat](/uploads/img_2798.jpeg "My Thai Village gaeng kaew-waan")

With many laughs, some nice jasmine tea to match the meal and bellies full, we chatted with the server while paying our bills. It turns out the chef, who hails from Thailand, regularly makes trips back home to update her recipes and bring back new culinary delights in a nod to the authenticity of the restaurant.

All in all, this was a great strip mall gem experience that only set us back $66 for the three of us.

My Thai Village

Do yourself a solid and venture South on Bank Street, past Billings Bridge, in search of good Middle Eastern food.

We’re no strangers to this stretch of Bank Street, as some of our favourite Levantine eateries are located here. Turns out the choice is much broader than we thought, as a new Moroccan spot opened recently at a strip mall on Bank Street and Heron Road—and Anna, an Eat the Strip reader, told us to go check it out.

Husband and wife duo Souhail Bouachri and Kawtar Boutbaa opened Moul Hanout in 2022. The restaurant serves traditional Moroccan dishes with a regional twist. The couple is proud to be from Essaouira, a city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast famous for its port culture and seafront dotted with blue boats.

They welcomed us last week to their small restaurant featuring a dining area that can accommodate about one family at a time. For our order, they recommended we get the chicken tajine, or the seafood pastilla. Famished, we opted for both and received piping hot cups of complimentary mint tea while waiting for our food. 

![All meals come with a cup of complimentary Moroccan mint tea at Moul Hanout](/uploads/img_2650.jpeg "Moul Hanout mint tea")

We learned Moul Hanout is one of the few restaurants that has a perfect five-star rating on Google. We soon knew why.

The tajine was simple and beautiful. Served with chicken, olives and—you heard right—fries, the dish was tangy and well-seasoned with parsley. The fries had soaked up the flavourful gravy and were an instant hit. The real showstopper however was the seafood pastilla. Baked to perfection, the dish featured generous portions of shrimp and the vermicelli noodles were cooked to satisfying crisp.

![The pastilla was an instant hit at our home and we can't wait return to try the couscous, or one of the several sandwiches Moul Hanout serves](/uploads/img_2657.jpeg "Moul Hanout pastilla")

If we were to go back, we might even order two pastillas, one for same-day consumption and the other to freeze.

As delicious as the food may be, the real charm of Moul Hanout is the owners. Souhail and Kawtar regaled us with stories of their hometown, their adventures across Morocco and the one time the Moroccan ambassador in Ottawa showed up unannounced at their restaurant because she had heard about their amazing food.

Moul Hanout a is a gem in the Middle Eastern food landscape on Bank Street. So too are its owners.

Moul Hanout

Long-time readers of Eat the Strip know we have a soft spot for eateries tucked away at the back of grocery stores.

Who knows why, but these mom-and-pop operations usually serve delicious, homecooked and cheap food. They’re hubs for immigrant communities craving food from the motherland. They’re also an excellent opportunity for Ottawans from all walks of life to try authentic dishes you won’t usually find in chain restaurants or downtown.

Tucked away in the back of a Middle Eastern grocery store on Merivale Road, Amma’s Biryani is such a place. We’ve been going there for biryani for a few years now and we’re always happy to go back for more.

On this occasion, we decided to stick to the classics and ordered a chicken biryani and goat biryani, costing $13.49 and $16.99 respectively. While you can find cheaper biryani elsewhere, Amma’s sizeable portions and high-quality ingredients make the price worth it.

We’re greeted by co-owner Nissar, who tells me Amma’s biryani is shaped not just by cuisine of their native Baluchistan, but also during their family’s journeys through Pakistan and the Gulf states of Oman and Dubai. 

You can taste this blend of cultures in their food.

![Biryani, one of the most popular dishes in South Asia, is made with rice, some type of protein and spices](/uploads/img_2522.jpeg "Amma's Biryani goat biryani")

Their aromatic biryani is slow-roasted and served with generous portions of bone-in meat. Unlike biryani commonly found in other parts of the Indian subcontinent, Amma’s biryani is less oily and more reliant on the subtle flavours of the fragrant spices, long-grained rice and bone-in meat. 

In this case, less is certainly more.

The goat meat is always tender. The rice is flavoured perfectly, with a slight kick because we ask for the spicy variety due to my subcontinental origins. We’re left feeling happily full and almost always with leftovers.

Amma's Biryani

Tucked away in the bowels of an office building on Price of Wales Drive is a new Japanese restaurant serving up delicious home-style food.

Like several restaurants featured on Eat the Strip, Takedon Ottawa, a takeout joint that opened in 2021, is easy to miss. It’s located on the ground floor of an office building offering several healthcare services.

We decided to visit after a promising email from Ottawa Morning listener Nikki. “Takedon Ottawa is this amazing Japanese little place off of Prince of Wales that we found and was amazing,” she wrote. 

“Try it, you won't be disappointed.”

Well, no surprise there, but Nikki was right.

We were greeted by restaurant owner Jenny, who moved to Ottawa from Japan during the pandemic. The Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef also worked in the food business in Paris. Her aim with Takedon was to serve warm, home-style food that she was used to eating at home in Japan.

I decided to order the Japanese chicken curry based on a Google review of someone who was raving about the dish, which reminded him of his mom’s cooking. Danielle ordered the pork yakisoba stir-fried noodles. And we ordered a five-piece takoyaki to boot.

![According to Takedon Ottawa, Japanese curry is one of the nation's most popular comfort foods](/uploads/img_2357.jpeg "Takedon Ottawa Japanese chicken curry")

The chicken curry shared the consistency of a warm stew, cooked well and the boneless pieces of meat were not stringy at all. It was served with thick chunks of carrot and jasmine rice. 

Fall is the perfect time to order the chicken curry, which warmed us up and reminded us of stews best had this time of year.

The noodles were simple yet satisfying, very much meeting the expectation of a home-cooked meal. The sesame-sprinkled strips of pork were cooked well and the noodles were not too oily. 

We enjoyed the chicken curry more and the noodles, but the takoyaki might be Takedon’s best kept secret.

![Takoyaki are one of Japan’s best known street foods originating in Osaka](/uploads/img_2360.jpeg "Takedon Ottawa takoyaki")

Jenny was kind enough to top the takoyaki with extra katsuobushi, or dried tuna flakes. This was our first time trying the delicious, battered balls of octopus. The interior was like nothing we’ve had before; it was popping with flavour. It was doughy, creamy and tangy. I must admit, I didn’t quite know what the umami flavour profile tasted like until we tried Takedon’s takoyaki, which is when I had the “aha” moment. 

We’ve been dreaming of the takoyaki since. 

Go and try some yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

Takedon Ottawa


We usually drive to Montreal to buy a specific type of kebab from the Indian subcontinent.

But as of last November, we finally have a local takeout joint that’ll make excellent seekh kebabs.

Adnan’s Catering, formerly known as Nihari Express, opened in November 2022. The literal hole-in-the-wall Pakistani joint operates out of the front of a South Asian grocery store on Merivale Road.

We didn’t know this last Friday, when we headed over to Adnan’s Catering after several weeks of wanting to try their kebabs and curries, to have a sit-down meal with a few friends. We weren’t discouraged, however, as long-time Eat the Strip readers will know that we believe strip mall gems operating out of grocery stores serve some of the best food in the city.

We called our friends and resolved to order enough for everyone and go to their new apartment for a visit. Originally, we ordered haleem as our main dish because the nihari was sold out, but Adnan—an engineer with the City of Ottawa who decided to open the takeout joint at the behest of his family—noticed he had just enough for our order. We ordered two niharis, one behari kabab and the inimitable chicken chicken seekh kabab.

![One of the most recognizable kebabs in South Asia, the seekh kebab is made with spices, spiced ground meat, usually lamb, beef, or chicken, and formed into cylinders on skewers and grilled on a traditional tandoor](/uploads/img_2318.jpeg "Adnan's Catering chicken seekh kabab")

As I mentioned before, we usually travel to Montreal for kebabs of this calibre. The chicken seekh kababs were spicy, with hints of garlic, ginger and green chili and had the classic hole in the center from being properly cooked on a tandoor grill. The behari kabab was a textural and flavourful delight. We are still bewildered as to how such a texture could be achieved when it comes to generally tough cuts of meat. The nihari is a classic dish of tender meat in a hearty sauce, almost like a stew, that is well matched with naan or biryani. This dish is the namesake of the restaurant for a reason. Tender meat, delicious and not too spicy, enough to feed at least three people—the ultimate comfort food as the temperature starts to cool in the Ottawa Valley.

![The elusive behari kabab is quite challenging to make and Adnan cookes them perfectly, with the the thin strips of beef marinated with a meat tenderizer, yogurt, fried onions and a spicy seasoning mix that's topped off a drizzle of mustard oil](/uploads/img_2319.jpeg "Adnan's Catering behari kabab")

After this wonderful experience that brought many oohs and ahhs to our dinner table, I genuinely look forward to trying everything on the menu that I couldn’t try on this outing.


Adnan's Catering

When it comes to local watering holes, we’re not exactly spoiled for choice in Ottawa’s west-end Carlington neighbourhood.

To be frank, we’ll often forget we have any options at all, until our neighbour Troy reminded us of Bowman's Bar and Grill, located across the street from the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre on Carling Avenue, between Merivale Road and Fisher Avenue.

Bowman’s opened its doors in December 2013 and is open every day from 11:30 a.m. except Monday.

Like a true hidden gem, the cozy interiors will surprise you if you’ve only taken a quick glance at the restaurant while driving past. Inside, you’ll find a fully stocked bar and a sizeable seating area with traditional tavern-style wooden tables and booths. 

We were very happy to join Troy on a recent outing to Bowman’s to sample their mom-and-pop style comfort food. 

At the suggestion of the server, we ordered the porkbelly clubhouse sandwich with a side of—wait for it—tater tot poutine. The latter proved to be so popular we ended up ordering another round of tater tots to share with Troy’s friends.

![The porkbelly clubhouse sandwich comes with house roasted sliced chicken, crispy pork belly, lettuce, tomato, aioli on toasted and buttered bread from the Portuguese bakery](/uploads/img_2304.jpeg "Bowman's Bar and Grill porkbelly clubhouse sandwich")

Pork belly was a welcome change from the usual club sandwich served with regular bacon. The thicker cut of pork, which we’re used to seeing in east and southeast Asian cuisine, was served crispy and tender. The bread, ordered from a local Portuguese bakery, was perfectly buttered, toasted and served warm. Thankfully, their aioli sauce did not skimp on the garlic and was creamy, tangy refreshing.

The sandwich was an immediate hit. 

The tater-tot poutine was gone before anyone else had a chance to take a bite. These tots taste nothing like the store-bought variety sitting in your freezer. They were crispy, salty and lathered with gravy and a generous portion of cheese curds. 

![We loved a sprinkling of black pepper on our tater-tot poutine—a side we've been craving since we tried it at Bowman's](/uploads/img_2302.jpeg "Bowman's Bar and Grill porkbelly tater tot poutine")

At $21.99, the porkbelly clubhouse sandwich was a tad more expensive than we’re used to paying for a main-course dish at strip mall gems, but their quality—coupled with the fresh ingredients—made the dish worth it.

We washed down our sandwich with a deliciously cold Dominion City Sunsplit IPA.

“We believe that when it comes to restaurant food, it doesn’t have to be fancy and expensive in order to be incredible and delicious,” reads Bowman’s website, adding their slogan is Familiar Food Done Well. 

We couldn’t agree more.

Bowman's Bar and Grill

Disappointed in the quality of falafel around town, Ottawa Morning listener Mary Hayes wrote to us excitedly this spring when she discovered an east-end spot that serves excellent falafel.

“The falafel really stands out above the usual disappointment of falafel in Ottawa,” wrote Mary, who recommended we make a trip to Ottawa Falafel House located just off Saint Laurent Boulevard.

This wasn’t the first the time I’ve heard big praise about Ottawa Falafel House. Their average rating of 4.7 out of five from hundreds of Google reviews is a testament to just how quickly they’ve established themselves as a go-to falafel spot restaurant since opening their doors just less than two years ago.

I visited over lunch hour Monday to see if their reputation holds up.

The unpretentious restaurant is located on the corner of Cyrville Road and Ogilvie Road, next to a hookah bar and a Syrian takeout spot specializing in Syrian manakeesh served on saj bread. (Both were added to our database of places to visit in the future.) 

Inside, I was greeted by co-owner Ali, who was busy preparing a construction worker a falafel sandwich. Ali’s wife and fellow co-owner was busy stuffing grape leaves with spice minced meat and rice for a catering event.

![Ali's wife was busy preparing dawali, or Palestinian stuffed grape leaves, for a catering event](/uploads/img_2280.jpeg "Ottawa Falafel House dawali")

I ordered a meat fatteh, original falafel and a single spicy falafel. I sat down at one of the four tables and got chatting with Ali, originally from Bethlehem, about my love-affair with falafel. He claimed that people from all over Ontario visit to try their falafel. Naturally, this made me even more excited to try the food.

Soon after, my fatteh arrived. The popular Levantine dish of toasted bread and warm chickpeas is served with a cool, tangy yogurt sauce. The variety served by Ottawa Falafel House comes topped with ground beef and sliced almonds and is served in a clay bowl. (They serve a vegetarian variety with hummus too.)

![Fatteh can be cooked in different forms across the Middle East, with vegetarian and meat varieties abundant in the region](/uploads/img_2273.jpeg "Ottawa Falafel House fatteh")

I dug in. The bread was perfectly crisp; the almonds added a nice texture contrast to the warm chickpeas; and the sauce—generously prepared with olive oil, lemon and garlic—was refreshing. 

I loved that they used real Arabic bread instead of the store-bought pita and copious amounts of garlic.

The fatteh was so good, I almost forgot about the spicy falafel I ordered, so imagine my surprise when I took a bite and realized it was even better than I had imagined. I found the exterior to be perfectly crunchy and sprinkled in sesame seeds. The interior was green and fluffy and, as Mary had mentioned in her email, not in the least bit bitter, as some falafel can be due to baking powder.

“It's the least salty falafel I’ve ever had, which is amazing,” Danielle said, when I brought her home some leftovers to sample. She was even more surprised when I told her that my bill came to a total of $25.

I left the restaurant full, but not sickeningly so. That’s one of the charms of Levantine food—it will fill you up, but not in a bellyaching way. The fresh ingredients, the warmth of the couple who run the place and the astoundingly good falafel will make sure I’ll be back.

Ottawa Falafel House

Persian food has always beckoned to me as someone who grew up in South Asia because of a shared culinary heritage between the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. 

Much like in Iran and Afghanistan, skewers of minced meat and generous portions of fragrant basmati rice became a favourite east of the Hindu Kush mountains. Biryani—a subcontinental favourite—is said to have its origin in the Central Asian pilaf and was brought by Muslim rulers from Persia to the Indian subcontinent. 

Imagine my excitement then for our first Eat the Strip Persian food outing. For this, we decided to head to a strip mall in the Hunt Club area called Chelochi Grill.

There was a selection of kebabs and other meat dishes, as well as some veggie ones on the menu. We chose the royal plate platter with chicken and beef kebabs. It was accompanied by grilled tomatoes. The chicken kebabs were chewy but juicy. The beef ones were of two kinds, one made from ground beef and the other resembling shanks. The ground beef ones were flat in shape; both were soft and succulent and seasoned well. 

![At $42.99, the royal plate comes with a skewer of koobideh kebab, chicken kebab and a barg filet magnon](/uploads/img_2081.jpeg "Chelochi Grill royal plate")

Then we ordered fesenjan, a meat curry with pomegranate, accompanied by saffron rice. It was unusual in that it was semi sweet. But it was delicious. The dish was accompanied by a fresh salad of tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce.

Many dishes here have either saffron infused in them, or are topped with it, like a condiment. 

Both the curry and the kebabs were mild, unlike Indian kebabs and curries that can be fiery. If you are looking for spicy meat, then this is not the place for you. Iranian meat has mild spices but is characterised by a natural taste, where you actually taste the meat and not just the spices.

We rounded it up by a desert which was rice pudding with cinnamon and saffron. I ordered it thinking that it would be similar to the Indian kheer, or rice pudding. But it was different. This one had a jelly-like texture and was yellow in colour because of the saffron added to it.  The Indian kheer is a liquid mixture of rice, milk and cardamon and is predominantly white in colour.

![The in-house saffron ice-cream is made with a blend of milk, real cream, saffron and pistachio.](/uploads/img_2086.jpeg "Chelochi Grill saffron ice-cream")

We concluded our meal with an in-house saffron ice cream that was creamy and delicious and is highly recommended. 

Overall, we had a good experience and look forward to discovering more Iranian offerings around town.

Chelochi Grill

You can’t have a serious conversation about Ottawa’s best Thai food without Pookie’s Thai being in the mix.

Owner Pookie McGowan is legendary for her hospitality in the business. Her restaurant has been serving bold flavours from northeastern Thailand since opening around 15 years ago. Scan its Google reviews and you’ll see glowing reviews by regulars of the charming little restaurant.

Sitting in the corner unit of an unassuming strip mall on Carling Avenue, neighbouring a European delicatessen and a sushi shop, Pookie’s Thai takes its inspiration from Pookie’s ancestral Isan province, bordering neighbouring Laos. We’re told the flavours here are more bold, spicy and featuring less coconut milk than other parts of Thailand.

At the time of writing, the restaurant is only operating for takeout, so we decided to order a fragrant pad ped and a spicy seafood pad kee mao for a recent Wednesday dinner.

(For those who worry about heat, Pookie’s offers a spice scale of one to five. Although we recommend those who can handle their heat order three and up as Isan food is well complemented by generous portions of Thai chillies)

The pad ped came with a good portion of chicken and vegetables. We instantly loved the eggplant, served soft and bursting with flavour of the red curry paste. 

![Pad ped, left, is a stir fry with red curry paste, long beans, bamboo-shoots, eggplant and Thai basil](/uploads/img_1999.jpeg "Pookie's Thai")

The pad kee mao, also known as drunken noodles, because they are said to be a great hangover cure, was also excellent. I was second guessing choosing seafood instead of pork, but my concerns were unfounded. The shrimp was a nice addition to the crunch of the broccoli, beans and bell peppers. Having chosen four out of five on the heat scale, Pookie’s cooks had been generous with the Thai chillies.

![Drunken noodles are typically served with broad rice noodles, but Pookie's variety used a thin substitute which retained the aromatic fragrance and bold flavours of the much-loved dish](/uploads/img_1997.jpeg "Pookie's Thai drunken noodles")

Pookie’s Thai may close in November as Pookie heads to Thailand to spend some time with family. They’re set to return with a food truck in Stitsville next summer, but you may want to go get your fix of excellent Isan-inspired cooking this month before the restaurant closes for an undetermined period of time.

Especially if you’re looking for a hangover cure.

Pookie's Thai

Walking into the Turkish Kebab House in Kanata, you are immediately welcomed with the smiles from the owners, their families and around two dozen staff who work together to bring you authentic Turkish meats grilled on charcoal. 

I must preface my review with a note: unlike some of the other reviewers, I am not very adventurous when it comes to food. I tend to find what I like and order the same things often. Naturally, then, this was my first Eat the Strip experience. And I’m very glad I went.

We walked in on Sunday afternoon to a packed house. Despite arriving well after lunch hour, the place remained busy, a stream of hungry visitors coming by to sample delicacies such as the adana and urfa kebab. 

There were families from all walks of life with their kids, parents with babies in strollers and people celebrating birthdays with big balloons and hats with birthday candles. Everyone was welcome.

After getting seated and taking a look at the menu, we ordered a family platter of adana kebab, beef shish kebab, chicken wings, kofte and doner kebab served with bread, bulghur and grilled tomatoes and hot peppers. We also ordered a side of the kashiq salad and eggplant in tomato sauce.

![The refreshing kashiq salad comes with tomatoes, cucumber, onion, parsley, salt, lemon juice and pomegranate sauce](/uploads/img_1959.jpeg "Turkish Kebab House kashiq")

I also ordered a Turkish coffee—any chance to try authentic coffee—which came with Turkish delight. It was delightful. They even brought complimentary bread, spicy ezme and cacik for good measure. 

Within minutes all of us were pulling off chunks of tender meat from the platter, which when combined with zing of the fresh vegetables had us reaching for seconds and more and we still took home a third of it all.

![The family platter for two came with generous portions and turned out to be more than enough for four](/uploads/img_1962.jpeg "Turkish Kebab House family platter")

My favourite, however, was the beef shish. It was akin to a carnivorous spiritual experience. We also had a good laugh at Ameya’s expense, who—despite his penchant for spicy foods—bit down on what he expected to be a sweet pepper but turned out to be a big chili pepper. 

We ended our meal with the sweet and satisfying sutlac, or rice pudding.  

The three owners just opened this location around seven months ago, but with nearly 50 years of experience in the industry, there is no question about their quality and ability to bring people together through authentic Turkish food. I think the nazar boncugu—or crystal blue eye charm they have hanging by the kitchen—is doing its job. 

I encourage you to grab three of your favourite people and come here for a delicious carnivorous spiritual experience.

Turkish Kebab House

There’s something special brewing at a small strip mall located next to a gas station on Merivale Road and Anna Avenue.

Two chefs took a chance on this space around four months ago and opened vastly different restaurants. But both share one thing in common: they serve excellent, authentic dishes from their homelands to hungry clients who visit from places as far away as Kingston and Montreal.

We made two trips to Takumi BBQ this month. Both felt like a pilgrimage; we went to pay respect to this regional cuisine from China, new to us, that has rapidly become one of our favourites.

Amanda opened this restaurant with her chef to dish out authentic dishes from Dongbei, a region in northeastern China that shares a culinary heritage with neighbouring Mongolia, Russia and the Korean peninsula.

To the uninitiated, the the weather here can be quite cold and the growing season quite short, so it’s much more common to find preserved vegetables, seafood and lots of barbecues in the summertime. 

To those of you who have already visited a Korean barbecue restaurant, Takumi BBQ will feel very familiar, albeit with Chinese motifs, decorations and complimentary barley tea instead of the nokcha rice tea more commonly served in Korean restaurants.

We ordered the da la pi, or potato noodles in sesame sauce. I was recently introduced to cold noodles. They’re perfect for those hot days where you want something to cool you down. The simple noodle dish is one of the most popular served at Takumi BBQ, with the tangy sauce, thin strips of cucumber and sprinkling of cilantro combining to form a refreshing flavour that serves as an excellent appetizer, or as a main course dish on its own.

![As the noodles constitute much more starch given its made from potatoes, the texture is more akin to tapioca than the noodles you may have had in, say, ramen](/uploads/img_1692.jpeg "Da La Pi")

During our second trip, we ordered the marinated lamb shoulder, served with chilli sauce, kimchi, sweet and sour sesame and a finely ground powder of cumin and nuts. We ordered a size of zucchini to grill and Chinese pancakes to make little wraps. 

The thinly sliced strips of lamb—made with tender cuts of sheep meat—were divine, even on their own. But when wrapped into the little pancakes, the flavour elevated. The grilled zucchini provided a perfect crunch to the juicy lamb.

![Thin strips of lamb were pre-marinated and served with onions, garlic, cilantro and peppers to barbecue at the table itself ](/uploads/img_1826.jpeg "Lamb shoulder")

No flavour was out of place. 

When it came time to leave, Amanda told us our total for the barbecue visit came to around $35. We paid and told her we’d back for another pilgrimage.

We’re new disciples of Chinese barbecue after all.

Takumi BBQ

Ever had those days where you wake up craving schnitzel?

Me too. 

A little birdy had told me last week about an excellent spot called Schnitzel Works in an industrial area near Cyrville LRT station. All they make is schnitzels, he told me. 

Industrial area restaurant in the east-end? Making one thing really well? It’s like this place was calling my name. Even the Google reviews seemed promising; at the time of writing, the restaurant has an average rating of 4.7 stars out of five stemming from hundreds of reviews. 

I reached the restaurant around an hour before closing time, well after the lunch hour rush has dissipated.

I was greeted by a server called Aaliyah, the owner’s granddaughter. She recommended the jaegerschnitzel platter. I also ordered a takeout sandwich for Danielle. 

The Spanish sandwich was served with sauteed onions, hot peppers and melted cheese. All sandwiches are served on a fresh kaiser bun with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato.

![Despite being takeout, Danielle's kaiser bun remained soft and the chicken crispy](/uploads/img_1641.jpeg "Spanish schnitzel sandwich")

She later claimed this was one of the best sandwiches she’d ever had.

Aaliyah returned to my table not 10 minutes later with a piping hot chicken schnitzel, covered in gravy and mushrooms, served with a generous side of spaetzle and braised red cabbage.

The schnitzel was perfectly breaded, crispy on the outside, while the meat was tender and juicy. As the menu said, it was lightly spiced—as it ought to be. A German friend had once told me a good schnitzel is meant to be simple, hearty and not excessively spiced. 

![The restaurant is only open from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., catering mostly to workers in the industrial neighbourhoods of southeast Ottawa](/uploads/img_1633.jpeg "Jagermeisterschnitzel")

I loved that I had gravy to smother the spaetzle, which can be a little bland. However, the variety made by Iveta—the owner and cook—was flavourful, with each eggy mouthful serving as a nice contrast to the schnitzel’s crispy texture.

On my way out, I thanked Iveta, originally from Slovakia, who opened the restaurant with her husband 13 years ago. 

She had helped operate her aunt’s restaurant in Vienna year ago. That’s where she got her knack for making schnitzel—and it shows.

Schnitzel Works

Caribbean Flavours Resto-Bar is a new delight in our neighbourhood, having opened less than three months ago. If you’re driving south on Merivale Road from Carling Avenue, you could blink and miss it, but the colourful sign will hopefully catch your eye.

Having lived with a lovely Haitian woman in the recent past, we had experienced some amazing home-made Haitian food, while learning about distinct Caribbean spices used to jazz up meals. This experience really grew our desire to find food of a similar calibre now that we no longer have roommate leftovers.

Naturally, when Caribbean Flavours Resto-Bar opened in our neighbourhood, we were delighted. We decided to walk over to try out their island offerings on a recent Saturday afternoon. 

We were greeted by a kind gentleman with a welcoming smile who offers a seat near the window. Having some idea about what we want based on past run-ins with Haitian cuisine, we were surprised to see the menu mostly in English and needed help translating to the original Creole names. Our host, also the owne, was helpful in explaining the dishes and their original names. 

Before our food came, we were served simple, yet delicious garden salads. Craving vegetables, this was a pleasant surprise.

![The balsamic vinaigrette of the complimentary garden salad really hit the spot, but we had no idea what we were in store for with the main course](/uploads/img_1590.jpeg "Garden salad")

I would never have known what to order with limited personal experience and, while I had had Jamaican oxtail before in my life, and must say, I was not a huge fan. But this oxtail, recommended by our host, was the most delicious meat dish I’ve had since the lamb at Chahaya Malaysia. 

![The Jamaican oxtail arrived with a Haitian twist](/uploads/img_1599.jpeg "Haitian oxtail")

This dish came with rice and beans that made me feel like I was back in the Caribbean islands and the plantain was as good as when I had first tasted it 15 years ago. (I’ve had some disagreeable plantain since then.)

![The oxtail came with rice, pinto beans, fried plantains and pikliz](/uploads/img_1597.jpeg "Pinto bean rice")

The pikliz was delicious and a little spicy and helped to round out every bite.

![Pikliz is a spicy condiment in Haitian cuisine of pickled cabbage, carrots, bell peppers and Scotch bonnet peppers, often seasoned with garlic and onion and pickled in white vinegar](/uploads/img_1600.jpeg "Pikliz")

Ameya ordered the fried pork, also known as griot. This mouth-watering dish came with a delicious broth to dip the crisp chunks of fried meat in, a healthy amount of white rice, fried plantain and pikliz. The owner even threw in a little bit of off-menu sos pwa, a black bean gravy famous in Haiti, for us to taste as it had been one of our favourite dishes prepared by our former roommate. 

![Griot along with diri ak pwa wouj (red beans and rice) is considered by some to be Haiti's national dish](/uploads/img_1593.jpeg "Griot")

I don’t think one bite was unsatisfying.

This was a great place to spend our lunch hour. For the two of us, before tip, we spent just over $50. 

For a meal I will be thinking about for days to come—along with some leftovers to satisfy my palate—we think that’s an exceptional price.

Caribbean Flavours Resto-Bar

I’m not the first to crave an old-fashioned breakfast after a late night out, nor will I be the last. Fortunately, there are plenty of Eat the Strip readers who recommend strip-mall eateries that rise to the occasion. 

Last Saturday, I was perusing through our database and noticed a breakfast spot suggested by Eat the Strip reader Nicholas Swandel: Cozy’s Express. A quick Google search told me it was in the same industrial park in southeast Ottawa that featured legendary breakfast spots such as Mona’s Café and Restaurant.

Industrial parks tend to be a goldmine for delicious food. Cozy’s Express seemed promising.

I hopped on my trusty e-scooter and made the journey east. I rode past the auto shops and factories after crossing St. Laurent Boulevard. knew I was close because I could smell the eggs and bacon in the air. I took a right onto Michael Street and saw the restaurant’s green sign. 

Famished after a long ride, I was greeted inside by the cheerful and welcoming Amberlea, a server who gave me a menu and allowed me to plug my scooter into the wall to charge. 

Sana, the owner, recommended I get the house special number one, which comes with two eggs, toast, sausages, bacon, ham and home fries. She even tossed in a third egg for free.

![Cozy's Express opens at 6 a.m. every morning to serve truckers and other works that ply their trades in the industrial park in southeast Ottawa](/uploads/img_1530.jpeg "Cozy's Express special number one")

The eggs, done over-easy, were perfectly seasoned. The bacon was crispy and the gregarious Amberlea didn’t let my coffee mug ever sit empty. The toast, generously slathered in butter, was warm and crispy on the edges and soft in the middle.

For the next 10 minutes, I didn’t share a word. I tucked into breakfast platter, eating like a king, for cheap, with unlimited refills of coffee—a true hallmark of a proper greasy spoon. 

Don’t be fooled by the unpretentious exterior or the license places that adorn the walls that can make Cozy Express look like a truck stop. This is part of the charm. 

I could see why truckers and other workers pour into Cozy’s Express bright and early. 

The hearty fare hits the spot without a hit to the wallet, with my total coming to $17.20 only.

Next time you’re having a hankering for breakfast, go check out Cozy’s Express. You’ll come back home with fond memories and a happy belly.

Cozy's Express

UPDATE: Please note that as of February 2025 this restaurant has moved to a new location. The address has been updated, but note that elements of the article may, as such, be out of date.

There’s no better sign of a strip mall gem than a grocery store that sells hot, fresh food.

La Cabaña is no exception. Ottawa’s sole El Salvadoran restaurant—and one of its oldest—is a famous Carlington-area stop for fresh papusas, seafood and breakfast specials.

It’s a spot we’ve been to before as it’s down the road from us and it was high time we made another trip for an Eat the Strip review.

We called ahead for take-out as the seating area was closed the last time we visited. However, it seemed like it has since reopened, as there was at least one large family dining in and chatting away over the sound of a telenovela blaring on a television in the corner.

Danielle ordered the El Guanaco sampler, which came with one tamal, one pupusa, ripe and sweet fried plantain slices with refried beans and queso—a great sampler dish for those who would like an introduction to Salvadoran fare. Guanaco it turns out is also an informal term for residents of El Salvador

![The pupusas and tamale in the El Guanaco platter were incredibly fresh and instant hits in our home](/uploads/img_1510.jpeg "El Guanaco")

I ordered two pupusas, one chicharron—savoury pork smothered with salsa—and a queso con lorocco. Loroco is a bud native to Central America. It has a distinct earthy taste, with some likening it to rapini with acidic and nutty undertones. 

We were also feeling a little adventurous, so we ordered the sopa de pata, a Salvadoran soup made from cow's feet and tripe, cassava, chayotes, corn and an assortment of other vegetables.

The pupusas and tamal were gone very quickly. We scarfed them down with curtido, a spicy Salvadoran cabbage slaw or relish made with finely shredded cabbage, red onion, carrot, oregano, and vinegar.

![We highly recommend the queso con loroco pupusa, which was not just tasty, but also vegetarian](/uploads/img_1508.jpeg "Queso con lorocco pupusa")

I really enjoyed the queso con lorocco pupusa. It reminded a bit of the pickled cactus used in Mexican food. It was tangy, cheesy and the cornmeal pupusa was warm and perfectly seared from the griddle.

The hearty bone broth soup featured generous chunks of meat and vegetables. Recognizing tripe and trotters isn’t for everyone, La Cabaña also offers five other kinds of soup, including sopa de siete mares, or the seven seas soup, featuring shrimp, fish, octopus, clam and mussels in a spicy seafood broth.

Our entire order came to just over $50. With leftovers that will tide us over through dinner, we know we’ll be back to La Cabaña for their delicious home-style cooking and excellent prices.

La Cabaña

There is something special about being taken out for dinner when you need a little bit of cheering up. After a long, excruciating day of car hunting last year, this is how we discovered Chahaya Malaysia. While this esteemed establishment has been in Ottawa for many years—starting in the Glebe long ago before moving to Montreal Road—we were only lucky enough to discover it recently. Yet, the clientele has remained loyal and travel the extra mile for the sole Malaysian restaurant in Ottawa.

While browsing the menu, the kind staff bring fresh prawn crackers and a house-made chili sauce, called sambal, that can take many hours to prepare and offers quite a kick to your taste buds, if you enjoy spice. 

On this occasion, we each chose an entree that suited our individual cravings. I opted for the fish in coconut sauce, or ikan masak lemak. Ameya wanted to try a Malaysian variety of his favourite protein: lamb curry, or kari daging kambing. 

The fish was a pleasantly aromatic curry that provided exactly the mildness I needed after a long weekend at the cottage full of junk food. 

![Ikan masak lemak translated means fish cooked in fat, harkening to the rich coconut milk used to cook it](/uploads/fb1d4c8a-f8eb-46ac-8ddc-1fc493ebb642.jpg "Ikan masak lemak")

As for the lamb curry, almost 48 hours later and we still can’t stop thinking about it. This may have been one of the best curries either of us have ever tasted and we’ve had our fair share of run-ins with curry. 

The quantity of meat is worth writing home about, as sometimes you’ll get one with barely and meat on the bone. This was not such a curry. The succulent, boneless chunks of lamb soaked up the fiery sauce perfectly.

The curry itself was mystifying. We were sitting there trying so hard to identify each spice we were tasting, only to come up short. It gave me a deep sense of understanding that while I know a fair bit about food, there is so much more still to learn. 

![The fiery lamb curry was one of the few dishes on the menu that had three stars to indicate maximum spice](/uploads/ecedc056-ea08-4925-85ea-0fa34560fc28.jpg "Kari daging kambing")

My taste buds were delighted and I left with a heightened desire to keep educating myself about other cuisines, their spice blends and myriad assortment of meats and vegetables used in their recipes. We might be making this a regular meal choice anytime we go. 

Sadly, all good things must come to an end; the restaurant may be in its last few months of existence with the owners hoping for a well-deserved retirement after a nearly four-decade run. I tried to convince the owners half in jest, half seriously, to write a cookbook, but I’m not sure they will go for it. Therefore, we highly recommend that anyone who wants to try these glorious dishes do so as soon as possible.

While no deadline has been set in stone, the Abdullahs plan to close Chahaya Malaysia by the end of the year.

In total, our meal for two came to $61.48, including tip. But, for one of the best curries of our lives, it was well worth the cost.

Chahaya Malaysia

My battery was running low, beeping at me every couple of minutes as honking cars whizzed past. Turns out dodging cars on Bank Street on an e-scooter can help build your appetite. So, by the time I reached Asli Dining, a Somali restaurant opened in 2017—and one of my new favourite restaurants—I was famished. 

The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it eatery is located on the ground floor of a Bank Street apartment building near Ledbury Park. At the family-run restaurant, I was greeted by Omar. Despite showing up half an hour before closing time, he graciously allowed me to rest my tired feet and grab the only item left—chicken drumstick served on a bed of Somali rice with salad, hot-sauce and a banana.

![The one-piece chicken, served with a huge portion of savoury rice and hot sauce came to a mere $15](/uploads/img_1414.jpeg "Somali chicken")

The tandoori-spiced chicken tore off the bone with almost no resistance. I combined a spoonful of the succulent meat, gravy, rice and hot sauce. The flavours popped with each bite; the heat of the hot sauce—made with a special house recipe containing chilli flakes, garlic and vinegar—balanced perfectly by the seasoned rice and chicken gravy. 

I was too full to move when Omar brought me a bowl of maraq—a soup found across the Middle East and Africa made with lamb broth, spices and lentils. It was not just complimentary but also delicious. 

![The maraq alone is reason enough to make a trip to Asli Dining](/uploads/img_1423.jpeg "Maraq")

At the heart of the meal, however, was the rice. Omar told me Somalis eat both bread and rice, with the latter often being served at lunch. Asli prides itself on their rice, made fresh everyday by soaking fine-grained basmati, layering it with their special spice mix, and then slow cooking it in its own broth.

After my meal, I was offered tea on the house. For a moment I forgot I was in a restaurant and felt as if though in the presence of old friends, chatting away with Omar and his family, losing track of time.

Clearly, I’m not the only one to feel this way; several online reviews mentioned people return to Asli Dining not just for their excellent food, but also because of the wonderful family atmosphere the owners have created.

After six years of operating out of the current location, the neighbourhood staple is moving later this year to a new location on St. Laurent Boulevard. The family says they’re happy to have, among other things, a larger kitchen.
To us fans, both old and new alike, the location doesn’t matter. We’ll flock there all the same. 

Honking cars be damned.

Asli Dining

A journey west can often lead you east.

We took Baseline Road west from our Carlington apartment to Baan Thai, described on Google as a “snug spot with a cheery vibe offering standard Thai fare, including noodles, seafood and curries.”

Tucked away in a strip mall in the heart of Centrepointe, Baan Thai has been a neighbourhood staple for well over a decade. A framed Ottawa Citizen article singing the restaurant’s praises greets you as walk in. Families from the neighbourhood—and further afield—chat away at dinnertime, as the smell of lemongrass wafts from the kitchen. 

We were greeted by a polite server who recommended the spicy green curry, known in Thai as kaeng khiao wan. 

It was decided—we’d get the curry and the shrimp pad thai. 

Both arrived within 10 minutes. We dug into the noodles first. The portions of shrimp were generous, the vegetables fresh and the egg bits were a welcome addition. The noodles had a hint of spice, which was tempered by the sweet peanut sauce. 

![Pad thai is a rice noodle dish with stir-fried chicken, egg, bean sprouts, green onions and peanuts](/uploads/img_1336.jpeg "Pad that")

Being a little too sweet for my liking, I moved to the green curry.

It quickly became the standout dish. The thin strips of chicken were perfectly cooked and imbued with lemongrass and a hint of spice from thai chillies. The coconut milk-based gravy was rich and imparted a delicious flavour to the crunchy bamboo shoots and bell peppers. It was perfectly cooked. What’s more is that had leftovers to take home for lunch the next day.

![We ordered the green curry with chicken, eggplant, bamboo slices, basil leaves and bell pepper in spicy curry with coconut milk.](/uploads/img_1338.jpeg "Green curry")

Word to the wise: most curries tend to taste even better when heated up the day after. This was true of the green curry. 

The generous portions—and reasonable prices, with our bill coming to just over $40—meant we had enough for both the next day. With its enticing menu and cozy ambiance, we’ll certainly be back to Baan Thai soon.

Baan Thai

There seems to be a new pizza shop with desi offerings popping up every week outside the downtown core—and I, for one, am here for it.

Readers may have read our reviews of [Shinwari BBQ and Pizza](https://eatthestrip.com/blog/al-raheem-south-asian-marketplace-and-shinwari-bbq-and-pizza) in Barrhaven and [Chilli Craft Pizza](https://eatthestrip.com/blog/chili-craft-pizza) in Bayshore. You know we’re big fans of the South Asian twist on pizza. 

In case you haven’t read our previous articles and wondering what the heck desi pizza is, allow me to explain: You take your classic sauce and cheese base, even the vegetables—onions, bell peppers and mushrooms—will be familiar to you. However, instead of your classic meat toppings, desi pizza offers marinated and spicy meat commonly found in dishes from the Indian subcontinent, such as tandoori or butter chicken, or vegetarian equivalents such as paneer.

Yum.

Imagine our surprise then when we recently found out that Maple Delight Pizza—a new pizza joint serving desi pizzas—was opening on Merivale Road, in our neighbourhood. 

I popped over to the shop after work one day to introduce myself to the gentleman running the shop. Originally from the Gujarat state in western India, he told me he moved to Ottawa from Alberta in 2018 and wanted to open a shop that offers classic Canadian fare, but also wanted to add an international flavour to his pies.

Take a glance at the menu and you’ll see exactly what he’s talking about. The Enticing Paneer Tikka is only a few rows down from the Canadian Delight, which comes with sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, mushroom, ham and bacon.

Enough chatting, I was getting hungry. I picked up a Tandoori Chicken Delight pizza and a garlic dip. After tip, the medium set me back around. $26.

![Fresh out of the oven](/uploads/img_1267.jpeg "Tandoori Chicken Delight")

The pizza was still warm when I got home. The gooey cheese made for a nice contrast with the crispy, charred onions and bell peppers. The marinated tandoori chicken had a kick, but the jalapenos turned it up a notch on the heat scale.

All was well with the world.

Maple Delight Pizza

A lunchtime line-up for an Italian sandwich at the back of a gas station is always a good sign.

Eat the Strip reader Jen Howes wrote to us in hopes of enlarging our catalogue of sandwich shop reviews and suggested we check out Roberto’s Corner, an Italian takeout counter tucked away at the back of a gas station near St. Laurent Boulevard and Walkley Road.

“Their sandwiches are fantastic and they make a big range of pasta to go as well,” Jen wrote to us in an email. “The food is fantastic and it's a really nice family business with very friendly people!”

Fantastic sandwiches? Nice family business? Friendly people? Sign us up.

We pulled into a parking lot near the Quickie corner shop where Robert’s Corner is located, popped into the back of the store and were met with an impressive display of bread, meats and cheese. A small army of staff were taking orders from eager customers.

While combing the expansive menu, we were greeted by Roberto himself. He recommended we order the eponymously-named Roberto’s Italian Trio and Marco’s Homemade Chicken Parmigiana—menu items seven and four, respectively. We also picked up the arancini, which are Sicilian rice balls stuffed, coated with breadcrumbs and deep fried.

![A standard order of Marco’s Homemade Chicken Parmigiana comes with cheese, tomato sauce, roasted red peppers and spicy eggplant](/uploads/img_1228.jpeg "Marco’s Homemade Chicken Parmigiana")

Wide-eyed, we looked at the tray full of the triangular arancini. We couldn’t resist, especially after Roberto told us that they were made using his mother’s special recipe. We picked up one, in addition to our sizeable sandwiches.

Roberto’s Corner opened in 2018 in the location of an old Subway and sells over 350 sandwiches daily. Nearby construction crews are big fans of his well-priced sandwiches that don’t skimp on the toppings. With most sandwiches prices at $8.99, it guarantees a long line-up at lunchtime, even on weekends. 

![With a generous portions of prosciutto, mortadella, capocollo, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, roasted red peppers, pickled eggplant and chipotle, Roberto's Italian Trio is one of the most popular sandwiches on the menu](/uploads/img_1230.jpeg "Roberto’s Italian Trio")

The spicy variety of Roberto’s Italian Trio sandwich came with a generous portion of chipotle sauce and spicy eggplant. We scarfed down the sandwich in the car, eagerly awaiting to bite into Marco’s Homemade Chicken Parmigiana sandwich. 

This was the piece de resistance. We chose lettuce, onion and tomatoes as additional toppings. Each bite of the tender, breaded chicken was followed by silent nods in agreement that this sandwich—in addition to the warmth of Roberto and his staff—merits a return to Roberto’s Corner. 

But what about the arancini, you ask? 

Well, we were so full after our meal, that we forgot about the arancini until later that evening, when we got home and tucked into it with the marinara sauce Roberto’s staff had provided. 

It was delicious. 

The crunchy exteriors mingled perfectly with the stuffed chicken, cheese and peas. The tangy marinara added a nice zest to the dish, which could just as well have been served solo.

![Our first experience of arancini was mesmerising](/uploads/img_1232.jpeg "Arancini")

Before going to Roberto’s Corner, I had scanned several of their Google reviews.

“I've had nearly everything on their menu and I have never been disappointed, said one person in a review written in early 2023. “Their amazing food combined with their unbeatable prices make me a repeat customer.”

Reviews like this, we noticed, were commonplace for Roberto’s Corner—and now we see why.

We know exactly where to go when we’re craving a spicy Italian sandwich next.

Roberto's Corner

The LRT was down. A common enough experience for all of us living in Ottawa, but my friend Emma happened to be visiting from Halifax and was shocked at the two packed-to-the-windshield buses that we used to travel from downtown to Merivale and our ultimate destination of Noodle House 79.

After our transit escapades, we were more than ready to sit down in a cozy corner booth inside the wonderfully air-conditioned restaurant, tucked unassumingly as usual into a strip mall within a larger industrial park near where my dad grew up in the 1980s. 

However, Noodle House 79 is a newer addition to the area. Opened only in January 2022, and in the middle of a pandemic nonetheless, it seems to be thriving already. We came in around 6:30 on a Monday night and the space remained steadily busy with families, groups of friends and work dinners throughout our time there. This should be no surprise though as we learned its owner’s older brother runs the successful Kanata Noodle House; providing for a neighbourhood's noodle needs clearly runs in the family.

We were not disappointed. 

With over a hundred different options ranging from pho, to paid thai, to coconut curry soups, there are options for everyone. Emma and I are both plant-based and appreciated the vegetable broth and coconut milk bases that were available to choose from.

Our food arrived quite quickly, steam rising readily from the various bowls. My eyes perhaps bigger than my stomach, I ordered the large vegetable and tofu pho and received a deep bowl easily the size of a large dinner plate. 

![The vegetable and tofu pho came with a generous portion of fresh vegetables and tofu](/uploads/img_1175.jpeg "Vegetable tofu")

A generous portion of rice noodles, poured over with a flavourful vegetable broth and swimming with tofu, bok choy, carrots, cabbage, and other vegetables. Personally, I prefer a bit more spice and so added sriracha, but the soup base was delicious.

Emma ordered the other plant-based option, a medium green vegetable curry that still ended up leaving her with a sizeable portion for leftovers. Ameya ordered the Bún bò Huế—a spicier, bolder cousin of pho from the central Vietnamese city of Hue. He said the broth was some of the best he had ever tasted. With a base of shrimp paste and chilli oil, he said he could taste the time and effort that had gone into it and that the family experience with cooking was clear. 

![A number of reviews online said the Bún bò Huế was one of the restaurant's most well-loved items](/uploads/img_1174.jpeg "Bún bò Huế")

Our final bill for our party of three, tax and tip included, came out to $48.95 and only Ameya, who ordered a small, walked away without generous leftovers. A wonderful amount of delicious food for the price and a solid five-star experience.

Noodle House 79

Leaving the BBQ joints of Austin behind, I found myself standing outside an unassuming gem of a restaurant in Ottawa during my weekend visit to my high-school friend, Ameya. 

I’m proud of him for leaning into his passion of journalism, food, and technology, with Eat the Strip serving as the beautiful amalgam of the three and felt honoured to serve as a guest writer.

Nestled at the crossroads of Bank Street and Hunt Club Road, Semsem is the most recommended restaurant by our readers thus far.

Welcomed by the bright smiles of the jovial staff, we ordered Semsem’s house coffee and tea without delay. The Semsem coffee was a creamy beverage of sesame-flavored coffee topped with a dollop of whipped cream and sesame seeds—a  delectable way to kickstart our meal.

![With its rich whipped cream and a healthy sprinkling of sesame, Semsem's house coffee was the perfect way to start the day](/uploads/img_0799.jpeg "Semsem coffee")

Step aside, pumpkin spice lattes.

We arrived at Semsem at noon, conscious of the fact that their doors close by 4 p.m. each day. However, the skies were misleadingly nocturnal, owing to Ottawa's unusually dark and smoggy skies that day.

After savouring some cozy coffee and tea, the four of us each got to choose a dish of our liking. 

We enjoyed the sojok sunflower and cheese sunflower, which were freshly baked, mouth-watering cheesy artisan breads. I personally recommend the cheese sunflower, featuring a savoury medley of white cheese and fresh green thyme.

![The 'sunflower' dishes were a huge hit and had been recommended to Eat the Strip by several readers](/uploads/img_0801.jpeg "Sojok Sunflower")

We complemented this with piping hot falafels with a crispy exterior and pillowy core. I was instantly reminded of the splendid falafels my brother and I would share growing up in the historic Bur Dubai district of Dubai. 

![The falafel was served with a veggie plate and fresh pita bread](/uploads/img_0806.jpeg "Falafel")

As we continued savouring the variety of dishes, including vegetarian, halal, vegan, and gluten-free options, I was continually reminded of the pleasures of breaking bread and sharing a meal with friends, both longstanding and newly made.

We laughed as we spoke about the different ways everyone uniquely expressed their appreciation for a satisfying meal. With each first taste of one of Semsem’s dishes, I reverted to my trademark silent yet affirming head nod while our friend Hyungu punctuated his experience with a series of wows, encapsulating our gratitude for the meal with motion and sound.

The fatteh yogurt—a Levantine dish with a fusion of pita bread, chickpeas, and tangy marinated garlic yogurt—was a crowd-favourite and was specifically spotlighted to us by the kind staff at Semsem.

The muttabal, a blend of roasted eggplant with tahini, lemon, and garlic topped with pomegranate and parsley, was Danielle’s favourite dish.

![Muttabal is a Middle Eastern dip made using roasted eggplant, extra virgin olive oil, and a few other simple ingredients](/uploads/img_0804.jpeg "Muttabal")

Each course was irresistible and we wanted to order more, but alas our capacity was at its limit. Much like a Grammy-winning album with beloved hit songs, Semsem’s menu served not just one, but multiple dishes that serenaded us and struck a chord with our palates.

Including tax and tip, the total expenditure for our party of four was $93. After commemorating Ameya’s birthday the previous day by zooming around an ‘adrenaline circuit’ on speedy go-karts for 31 laps, Semsem was a peaceful escape and made for a wholesome Sunday brunch.

A big thank you to readers for their continued restaurant recommendations. I join them in their chorus of praises for Semsem and their exceptional culinary creations, all paying a delicious tribute to the humble yet mighty sesame. I’ll be back.

Semsem

If you live in Carlington, you may have noticed the scent of something delicious lingering at the corner of Shillington Avenue and Hollington Street.

You don’t have to venture too far from there to see that Run2Patty—a family-owned Jamaican restaurant serving up delicious island fare such as oxtail patties, goat curry and jerk chicken—is hitting all the right notes. 

This unpretentious takeout-only joint is not just our go-to spot for Caribbean food, it’s also one of my favourite spots in the city. It was only a matter of time before it made an appearance on Eat the Strip. 

My eyes immediately drift to the menu’s vast selection of patties each time I visit the restaurant. We recently ordered oxtail and beef patties and the shrimp po' boy platter.

![The po' boy came with remoulade—a traditional French sauce, originally made with ingredients such as mayonnaise, herbs, capers, pickles, and perhaps some anchovy oil or horseradish](/uploads/img_0702.jpeg "Po' boy")

The po' boy’s battered, crispy shrimp comes nestled in a bun with coleslaw, topped with a house made remoulade sauce, served with macaroni salad and fries.

The jumbo shrimp was perfectly fried, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It was drizzled in a generous portion of remoulade sauce. The bread was freshly baked, featuring a crispy crust and fluffy centre.

Run2Patty was founded by Jacob Henry, a graduate from the culinary management program at Algonquin College. He started out by making fresh Jamaican beef patties but has since branched out to a menu featuring eight different types of patties.

With their flaky exterior and spicy filling, their classic beef patties remain my favourite. But a close second is their oxtail patty. The Jamaican curry spice blend coupled with the heat from the peppers is great way to break a sweat. It couples perfectly with a cold, fizzy beverage. (Word to the wise: try making it to the restaurant early for oxtail patties as they tend to go fast.)

![Go early to Run2Patty to get their unique oxtail patties](/uploads/img_0672.jpeg "Oxtail patty")

Moreover, you won’t have to break the bank as patties range from $2.25 to $3.25 per piece.

Run2Patty’s website says their food uses “authentic spices that take you all the way back to your granny’s kitchen.”

Their hearty food, warm reception and generous portions certainly took me back to mine.

Run2Patty

Saturdays in our household are busy. More so after running a six kilometre mud race. 

That’s when cravings for some good strip mall food begin. But first, let me back up a little. 

While there are no little ones in our household who need to be fed or pets that need to be walked, we tend to fill our weekends with outings with friends, calls to family and productive escapades that leave us with stories to tell and memories to last a lifetime.  

This particular Saturday was no exception. 

We started the morning early, rising at about 8:00 a.m. to brew some coffee. The long drive was marked by hip hop throwbacks. Nelly’s classic hits got us amped up to do the run. (Most of it was walked, but the important thing is that it was fun and muddy.) 

After our outing with all the obstacles, mud, and many sore muscles, we contemplated melting into our comfy couch. But our friend had just gotten a new puppy she wanted us to meet. How could we say no? So, we dragged ourselves from the comfy homestead and headed out to meet Virgina Woof—also known as Gina—the red golden retriever.  

After a solid couple of hours of puppy playtime—and a six kilometre run thrown in for good measure—you can imagine we were pretty hungry. 

Cue the Eat the Strip strip mall adventure. 

We found Chili Craft Pizza tucked away in a strip mall just off Carling Avenue, near Bayshore. 

The menu seemed to cater to many palates, from classic pizzas to new creations with extensive, inspired toppings and range of vegetarian options that looked delicious, even to us meat eaters. Always feeling nostalgic for the flavours of India, we settled on a tandoori chicken pizza and a tandoori chicken wrap. 

We enjoyed the pizza and found the flavors of a slightly sweet madras sauce, green pepper, onion and tandoori chicken to resemble an Indian/Canadian crossover. It would satisfy even those not specifically seeking desi flavours. The toppings worked well and the chipotle mayo was an added bonus.

![While the pizza was good, the tandoori chicken wrap knocked it out of the park](/uploads/img_0648.jpeg "Tandoori chicken pizza")

While the pizza was good, there are other desi pizza joints in the city we prefer. A medium pizza set us back $20.99 before taxes. The tandoori chicken wrap, on the other hand, was what made this outing worth it. 

I can’t rave about enough about it; so creamy, saucy, flavorful, and packed with mouth-watering tandoori chicken. We couldn’t put this one down. 

![The wrap came with tandoori chicken, mozzarella, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, cilantro, green chilli sauce, truffle, gravy and chipotle sauce](/uploads/img_0651.jpeg "Tandoori chicken wrap")

While Chili Craft Pizza doesn’t offer seating and is mainly a take-out location, the proximity to Britannia Beach makes it a great stop on the way to your next park outing or for a movie night at home.  

If you go, make sure not to miss out on their excellent desi wraps. At $11.99, they’re affordable, filling and pack some delicious flavour.

Chili Craft Pizza

I knew Sundari’s Kitchen was doing something special when I spotted the menu during an Eat the Strip outing at an adjacent strip mall gem.

The low-key Merivale Road restaurant with a dozen or so tables serves up classic South Indian fare, including dosas, vadas, idlis and uthappam. 

For the uninitiated, South Indian food is almost entirely distinct from its North Indian counterpart. So don’t expect to walk in and order butter chicken, chana masala or aaloo gobi—staples of Punjabi and North Indian food that can also be found across the border in neighbouring Pakistan.

South Indian food, on the other hand, features a lot more coconut, heat and even gunpowder.

Yes, you read that right. There’s a Tamil spice blend called milaga podi, which is translated into English as gunpowder because of its combination of lentils, seeds and fiery red chillies. 

The hotter the better, right?

For this Eat the Strip adventure, we were joined by my friend Paula Simons, a veteran journalist from Alberta with whom I had the pleasure of working with during my time at the Edmonton Journal. 

Apart from her impeccable writing, Paula is also a foodie with a refined palate. I’ve had the pleasure of going on several strip mall adventures with her in her hometown of Edmonton, including our annual mango run, where we’d buy several different varieties of mangoes from desi neighbourhoods in the city and try them on her sunny patio.

Disappointed by the generic and overpriced restaurants of downtown Ottawa, Paula jumped at the chance to come to my neck of the woods and try the Tamil and South Indian fare at Sundari’s Kitchen.

We arrived at the restaurant at 5 p.m.—right in time for opening. The restaurant is open until 10 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday.

We ordered the ghee sambar idli as an appetizer and the Mysore-style masala dosa and masala uthappam for the main course. We also ordered the mini tiffin as takeout for Danielle, which at $16.99 comes with idli, medhu vadai, ghee pongal, mini masala dosa and varieties of chutney, sambar and the dessert of the day.

![Idli is a type of savoury rice cake, originating from South India, popular as a breakfast food in Southern India and in Sri Lanka ](/uploads/img_0595.jpeg "Idli")

The idlis were delightful. Dunked in a generous portion of sambar and ghee, they were light, perfectly spiced and whet our appetite for the main course.

Our dosa and uthappam arrived shortly afterwards. We dug in right away. The crispy uthappam—a South Indian soft pancake made of rice and lentil—was topped with onions, tomatoes, green chillies, cilantro, curry leaves and the ubiquitous gunpowder chutney.

![Dosa is made by soaking rice and lentils overnight in water and then grinding it into a batter, which is fermented overnight and then pan-roasted until crispy and served with potato curry, chutneys or sambar](/uploads/img_0597.jpeg "Mysore masala dosa")

Starting to feel the heat, I decided to try the crispy Mysore-style masala dosa. It was huge—taking up over half the table. Inside was a generous stuffing of spiced potatoes. I tore apart some of the dosa, scooped up the potato and dunked it the tomato and coconut chutney, gunpowder and sambar. 

Delicious.

I was gobsmacked. I couldn’t believe I wasn’t sitting at a roadside stall in Chennai. This was really here, in Ottawa, around a 30-minute walk from my apartment.

The heat from the chilli paste coating the dosa was doused by the creamy coconut chutney. The crispy texture of the uthappam was perfect after the soft rice-based idlis. This was a perfectly balanced meal, tangy and spicy with one bite, smooth and creamy with another.

![Unlike a typical dosa, which is crisp and crepe-like, an uttapam is thicker, with toppings](/uploads/img_0600.jpeg "Utthappam")

Paula agreed—this was some of the best food she had in Ottawa. We were so full, but we couldn’t stop eating. 

The eponymously named Sundari’s Kitchen is run by Sundari and her family. She came by our table to check on us during our meal. Originally from Madurai, located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, she prides herself on her restaurant’s use of fresh ingredients— “nothing frozen here,” she said to us, smiling—and pointed to the numerous accolades the restaurant has received in the short amount of it has been open.

We settled our bill shortly afterwards. Our total came to just over $70—tip included. 

On our way out, we noticed the restaurant had filled up considerably. I overheard one person tell Sundari his family has been waiting a for months to eat at the restaurant. They had, he said, heard only good things.

They heard right.

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