When you walk into the brightly coloured storefront of Baguette Brochette on Bank Street, the first thing you notice is the smell of spiced, grilled meat and fresh baked bread. If that doesn’t make you hungry, nothing will. The West African eatery opened earlier this spring at 222 Bank St., right in the heart of Centretown, which was all part of owner Oumar Dicko’s strategy to bring the flavours of his heritage to the people of Ottawa.
The restaurant is filled with images of Côte d’Ivoire, and the country’s national emblem — the elephant. Oumar explains that the food is specific to Côte d’Ivoire, with the French influences of the baguette and beignets, but that the spices and ingredients are common across most of Africa.
Baguette Brochette is a small chain of restaurants, started in Montréal by an Ivorian immigrant who missed the flavours of home, and knew that the style of street food suited busy city life. Oumar, watching his friend open successful restaurants serving up food they both love, knew that he had to take a chance on the food industry, to bring brochettes to Ottawa, the city he’s been calling home since coming to town for university in 2009.
This is the food I used to eat as a kid, it’s nostalgia for me.
Filet mignon baguette with chips and dégué. Photo Kiersten Vuorimaki
The menu is tight, fully halal, and there is something for everyone. The eponymous baguettes come on insanely fresh baguette, stuffed with grilled meat, tomatoes, onions and a house made mayo based spiced sauce. I got the filet mignon, which was tender, juicy and incredibly flavourful, for $13.99. You can also order chicken, merguez sausage, mixed meats or tofu and Beyond Meat for the vegetarians. If a bowl is more your style, they offer salads or attieke bowls topped with the same grilled proteins. Attieke is a popular Ivorian side dish made from cassava root flour, with a texture similiar to couscous, which makes a great light base for the saucy bowls. I got the chicken bowl for $16.50, which came with a tomatoes, onions, fried plantain, a light garlicky vinaigrette, and a fresh cucumber salsa, making it a surprisingly light tasting but filling meal. You can also order the sweet fried plantain as a side, which was juicy and satisfying.
They offer a lineup of fresh juices, including a very flavourful sweet hibiscus juice, and their signature dégué, a sweet yogurt based drink with millet seeds that is refreshing, creamy, and definitely unique.
A surprise star was the chips that come on the side of the meal. Made in house, they were thick but incredibly light and crispy, and held up perfectly to the tangy mayo dip that comes with them. To be honest, they might be the best chips I’ve ever eaten, and I cannot stop telling people about them.
For dessert, do not skip the glo flotto, which are lightly sugared beignets that are warm and chewy and very fresh. Everything is made freshly in house, to order, based on authentic recipes.
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- Gbo flotto. Photo Kiersten Vuorimaki
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- Chicken attieke bowl. Photo Kiersten Vuorimaki
The food scene in Ottawa continues to expand, and bringing Côte d’Ivoire to Bank Street makes perfect sense to Oumar, despite the general downturn of businesses in the core.
You know, when I looked at this location, there was almost nothing on this block, but we wanted to be here in Centretown, on Bank Street, close to the government offices, the busy downtown, and close to Gatineau. We’re happy to bring life back to this block.
When I arrived to check the place out, Oumar was actually next door, chatting with the staff at a new neighbouring restaurant, talking food, ingredients, business, and community. He stressed how important it is to him to get to know all the businesses on the block, and to try everyone else’s food and services. It’s all part of bringing the sense of home to customers and locals.
The next time you’re looking for a fast and healthy meal in the core, follow your nose to Baguette Brochette, I promise you it’ll surprise you in the best way.
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Baguette Brochette‘s location at 222 Bank St. is fully accessible. It is available to order on Uber Eats and Door Dash. They also offer catering.
