In this new biweekly feature, Apt613 asks blog contributors and local food lovers about their recent Ottawa area restaurant highlights to help you find new tasty treats to discover or revisit when someone inevitably asks, “Where do you want to eat?” We want to hear about something that you ate and loved! Leave comments below, and if you’d like to contribute to a future edition of Best Bites, email <editors@apt613.ca>.
Best Bites this week:
- Subito Sandwich ( 389 Glastone Ave)
- Chelsea Pub ( 238 Old Chelsea Road, Chesea Qc)
- Kuidaore ( 420 Preston St)
Sometimes I just want a fresh, crunchy sandwich. Piled with meat, cheese and fillings and enough to keep me full for the rest of the day. Subito Sandwich on Gladstone has been a sandwich lover’s favourite spot for the last few years, so I’m here to make sure that everyone else hears the good word! Subito is Italian for “immediately” and these sandwiches are definitely fast, that’s for sure. Probably mostly known for their hot Italian style sandwiches like meatball and eggplant parm, and decadent cannoli, they also serve up a perfect classic deli sando.
Subito Sandwich. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
I order the Spicy Combo Sandwich which comes on a crusty, chewy Italian roll with spicy capicollo, hot salami, and Italian ham. Topped with cheese of my choice and a laundry list of toppings like pickled eggplant, red onion, hot peppers, sundried tomatoes, olives and cucumbers it is a formidable size. I’m old school, and opt for the classic mustard and mayo of childhood, but their sauce list is equally impressive with sriracha, balsamic vinegar, spicy Italian oil, honey mustard, ranch and spicy mayo to name a few. The sandwich is definitely a whole meal, and only $10.18. They often have lunch specials and meal combos in store, or you can order it on Uber Eats and eat it fresh out of the bag in the sunshine.
The Chelsea Pub is legendary in the area for hearty eats in a cozy, atmospheric pub. Whether you are there as part of a spa day, or a Gatineau Park day, this recommendation is not a Hot Take. BUT, have you eaten the salads? Hmm? You should. Recently I was in Chelsea and we were looking for something fresh and light and chose the Duck Confit Di Parma Salad. Confit on a salad you ask? Yes indeed. Or you can order it without the duck for a lighter meal and still enjoy one of the tastiest salads in the NCR. This super delicious concoction is spring mix, dates, roasted pecans, goat cheese, red onions, with massive prosciutto chips and a maple & whole-grain mustard vinaigrette. The confit sits proudly on top, ready to be pulled apart with a spoon and mixed in with the crunchy, saucy salad. The dressing is savoury and tangy, and the generous helping of goat cheese makes the whole salad creamy and satisfying. The dates are a delightful surprise, and add more sweetness to balance the salt from the enormous prosciutto chips that add bulk and so much flavour. I could eat this salad every day.
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Service at the Pub is friendly and fast, and completely bilingual if your French is a bit rusty. The drink menu is huge, and ultra local, especially with the recently opened distillery that shares a parking lot with pub. The salad is $30, or $26 if you choose to order it without the duck confit. It pairs really well with their fantastic nachos if you share with a smart friend.
Kuidaore has long been on the bucket list of a close friend (and beloved Apt613er) so I was really excited to check it out and see what the fuss is all about. The restaurant on Preston has probably one of the coolest interiors in Ottawa, with huge boughs of cherry blossoms, colourful murals, wild wall art, and displays of famous Japanese collectibles everywhere. The food is also very impressive. I have heard that ramen lovers should already know about this spot, as maybe the best bowl in town, but I saw Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) on the menu, so knew what I had to do. The Karaage Don is a minimal rice bowl with lemon, sticky rice, cabbage salad, kewpie mayo and a stack of crunchy, juicy fried chicken. The chicken thighs were really flavourful and tender, and the breading was light and crunchy but not greasy. Mixing the bowl together with a healthy drizzle of chili oil made it a crunchy, creamy meal with great heat. I could see myself just ordering a pail of the chicken and being incredibly pleased with myself.
Karaage Don. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
I started the dinner with an order of the Pork Gyoza which were sticky, and golden and dripping with juicy pork insides. They come with ponzu sauce for dipping, but next time I might substitute for their sweet chili dip for a flavour bomb. The gyoza were $8 for 5, and the Karaage Don was an affordable $18 with the option to add more chicken for $10. I didn’t add the extra chicken this time, but I know I will for next time, purely because I can. Service was incredibly friendly and kind, and the restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night. They don’t take reservations, so get there early to be sure to get in!
We want to hear about something that you ate and loved! Leave comments below, and if you’d like to contribute to a future edition of Best Bites, email <editors@apt613.ca>.
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