BEST OF OTTAWA 2019: Casual Dining

After over 20-years writing about life in Ottawa, we think we have
a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer.
In this weekly series, we’ll share our picks with you – 
our top hotels, live music venues, local brews,
bands and more. Check, share and discuss
#OLMBest every week!

Foolish Chicken (79 Holland Ave.)

Foolish Chicken is your go-to spot for finger-licking good BBQ and roasted chicken! The casual setting is comfortable and home-y and it's a great spot if you're craving BBQ during the winter months. Don't forget to also try out their ribs and sandwich wraps.

Hintonburg Public House (1020 Wellington St. West)

Enjoy pub food with a modern twist at Hintonburg Public House. This Wellington West gem specializes in gastro-pub fare made with locally-sourced ingredients and great beer. We recommend dropping by on the weekend to try out their famous brunch!

The Whalesbone (Multiple locations)

Look no further than Whalesbone for the best oysters in the city. With three locations spanning downtown Ottawa, they make it easy to indulge in quality seafood. And is it ever quality, with all their fish and shellfish adhering to sustainable fishing policies.

Milestones (Multiple locations)

Milestones is casual, but still chic enough for a laidback date night. With multiple locations across the city, our fave is the downtown location on Sussex which is a top lunch spot for many government workers. Milestones’ menu is vast, but some must-trys include the cheesy garlic bread and yam fries.

Shawarma Palace (Multiple locations)

Ottawa is unofficially known as the shawarma capital of Canada and everyone has their own favourite local spot. In our opinion, this one tops them all. Feeding the city for over 10 years, they have a wide range of meal options and all of their seasonings and condiments are prepared in-house.

Fatboys Smokehouse (34 Murray St.)

Feel like you've been transported to Southern USA at Fatboys! This BBQ and Smokehouse specializes in all your fave southern comfort foods like chicken, ribs, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and more. Don't forget to round out your meal with an order of deep fried Oreos for dessert!

Kettleman’s (multiple locations)

When it comes to bagels in Ottawa, Kettleman’s Montreal style reigns supreme. With multiple locations across the city wood-burning 6000 hand-rolled bagels per day, how much better can it get? Grab a sandwich and eat-in or take home a freshly-baked dozen with a side of lox and house-made cream cheese.

La Bottega Cafe (64 George St.)

This little oasis in the back of La Bottega in the Byward Market is like taking your very own Italian riposo, complete with homemade pasta and a glass of wine. With limited seating, you have to get in quick if you want a table. The wait will be beyond worth it – their decadent fresh biscotti is the stuff that dreams are made of.

Datsun (380 Elgin St.)

This Asian fusion restaurant and bar is definitely a local hot spot, partially due to the swanky atmosphere and food specials on Monday nights. We recommend their yummy steam buns and comforting and satisfying ramen bowls.

OCCO Kitchen (4240 Innes Rd.)

The goal of this Orleans restaurant, created by award-winning Chef Mark Steele, is to add a gourmet slant to street food staples. The artisanal influence is evident in everything from their homemade pickles to their locally sourced beef. The L'OCCO burger is a must try, crafted with buns baked fresh each morning.