In this regular 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:
- Tavern on the Falls ( 1 John St)
- Lil’ Z’s Pizza ( 45 Clarence St)
- OCCO Kitchen ( 160 Bay St, 4240 Innes Rd Orleans)
We’re going back to back weeks taking about the Taverns with views, and it’s because I care about you, and the summer is short, and I want you to have good patios in your life. Tavern on the Falls is hidden behind the Royal Canadian Geographic Society building on Sussex, literally right beside the picturesque Rideau Falls on a sprawling wooden deck with couches and fire pits for lounging, lots of tables for whatever size group you have, and unbeatable views straight onto the aforementioned Falls, and the Ottawa River. The fire pits and twinkle lights make it extra special at twilight and into the evening, but there is plenty of sunny or covered patio for daytime visits as well. The menu is small, simple, and tasty. They serve the gourmet hotdogs that Taven on the Hill made famous in these parts, with added options of tacos, loaded bowls, and charcuterie and hummus boards for sharing. I’ll be honest, I haven’t tried the whole menu, because if there are gourmet hot dogs on the menu, I’m happy. The Tijuana comes with queso, pico de gallo, jalapeño garlic sauce and crushed tortilla chips. Das Dawg is a salty favourite with smoked meat, sauerkraut, pickles, and grainy mustard. The Canadian has shredded lettuce, bacon, onions, and their Tavern sauce for something creamy and classic.
The Tijuana hot dog. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
A classic dog is $7, while the gourmet topped versions go for $12 each. I’ve found that 2 loaded hot dogs makes a good sized meal. They have a full bar serving beers and cider on tap, wine by the glass or bottle, and fun cocktails like the kimchi Caesar, Aperol Spritz, and red or white sangria byt the glass or pitcher. They do also usually offer yummy lemonades. Service this year is really casual, and you order your meal and drinks at the bar, which they bring to your table. During the week they open at noon and close late, and on the weekends they open at 11am. Watch their socials for any closures for weather!
Lil Z’s snuck onto the food scene in the market in the summer of 2022, when we were all coming out of hibernation, and looking for our favourite eats again. The sister restaurant to The King Eddy, Lil Z’s is in the Eddy’s former space on Clarence, but with a completely new vibe and layout. The pizzas come in two sizes, 12″ small and 16″ large, so if you’re looking for variety, get a few smalls to share and try it all! They offer red pizza, and white, and all of them are delicious. My favourite is the Hot Fire, with spicy Soppressatta, chili flakes, jalapeño, pepperoncini, and Eddy’s Hot Honey sesame crust. The crust is fluffy and chewy, and the hot honey makes it sweet and hot and sticky (like all good things). The Meat Lovers is smothered in Fior Di Latte, making it so creamy and decadent with cupped pepperoni, sausage, and slices of bacon. I’ve heard great things about the Eggplant Parm pizza as well, which is on their Uber Eats menu and looks divine.
The HotFire and Meat Lover’s pizzas. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
They have a great list of fun cocktails and beers, but the highlight is getting their own Lil Z’s pilsner, which is crisp and pairs perfectly with the rich pizzas. To make the most of summer, they do have a patio, and they sell individual slices to take on your way around the market on a nice day.
The *best* Best Bite is one that you aren’t expecting. Recently I was downtown for a professional event, and we booked a nearby restaurant for drinks and eats afterwards, based purely on convenience of location and the variety on their menu. So, we ended up at Occo Kitchen on Bay street, after it had been lingering on my must-try list for years now. I wasn’t very hungry, so I ordered the fish tacos for something light and I was blown away by how delicious they are. Tacos are probably my favourite food, so my standards are a bit high. These. Are. Excellent. The battered cod was crunchy but light on the outside, and the fish was flaky and juicy inside. I’m not usually one for fruity toppings, but the mango cilantro slaw paired with the tangy caper mayo had great balance. The fresh jalapeños gave the perfect bite, but would also have been easy to remove if you’re not one for spice. The tomatoes and thinly sliced sweet peppers gave it more crunch and freshness that I wasn’t expecting either.
Fish Tacos. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
Ocoo Kitchen has added so much flair to what is usually a very simple taco, without making it too fussy. The tacos are $8 each, and while I only ordered 2, they were filling. Friends who were with me ordered the salads and bowls which also looked fresh, colourful and filling. The restaurant is enormous, and a great option for downtown, and close to transit. The Orleans location offers great food to the east end as well.
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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