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:
- Tavern at the Gallery ( 380 Sussex Drive)
- Union 613 ( 315 Somerset West)
- Planet Coffee (24a York Street)
- Ayla’s Social Kitchen ( 338 Preston St
Tavern at the Gallery is one of the 3 Taverns in town with incredible views, great vibes and fun food. Maybe the trickiest to find, Tavern at the Gallery is tucked away in a hidden garden next to the group entrance to the National Art Gallery on Sussex. The space is huge and airy, but made cozy with the low hanging trees overstuffed with hot pink blossoms this time of year. There are patio heaters scattered all over, and some of the lounge set ups have fire tables for added ambiance. It’s a beautiful place for a drink and a meal, and thankfully the meal doesn’t disappoint! While the other two Taverns offer gourmet hot dogs, Gallery takes a more Italian approach with individual pizzas, loaded sandwiches and green salads. Last weekend I opted for the spicy sausage pizza with hot honey, and a side of the marinated olives which come warmed. The pizza is a generous portion for one person, and is a nice combination of classic Ottawa style soft crust and sweet sauce, with toppings like ultra thin sliced calabrese sausage, roasted red peppers and a handful of crunchy arugula for balance.
The patio blossoms. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
My dinner partner ( hi mom!) had the meatball sandwich which came with kettle chips and a side salad, all of which was fresh and very tasty. The pizzas are all $21-$27 and the sandwich was only $18. Service is friendly and casual, and they have a good selection of apps, wines, cocktails and Ontario beers on tap. If you are looking for a sexy/romantic night on a patio that won’t break the bank, this is the place.
-Kiersten Vuorimaki
Even though it’s patio season, and maybe we’re all about to start eating lighter, I have to tell you about the largest and most delicious fried chicken I’ve had in town. Union 613 is always a hip, relaxed night out with great food, excellent drinks and great service, but their Union Fried Chicken is a star. Not only is it an entire chicken leg, it was the biggest chicken leg I’ve ever had the pleasure to tackle. The batter is very light and crispy, and not at all greasy or chewy, on top of very flavourful wilted greens with sweet and savoury onions. It comes with either hominy grits or cornbread as the starch, and since I think cornbread is one of the few *perfect foods* in existance, I opted for the skillet cornbread which was also a generous portion. It was sweet, and buttery, and perfect with the hot sauce that came on the side.
Union 613 Fried Chicken. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
We were there for a very early dinner, so also took advantage of the drink and snack specials between 3-5pm on weekdays for apps and fun cocktails to start the meal correctly. The chicken dinner is $28 and worth every single penny for the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, savoury and special.
-Kiersten Vuorimaki
If there is one thing that Ottawa does really well, it’s cool coffee shops. We talk about them all the time on the blog, but one that I feel needs a special shout out is women-owned Planet Coffee in the market. Open since 1994, Planet Coffee is a cornerstone of Ottawa’s café scene, and it is still delivering a great product. They are located in the charming courtyard between York and George streets, with lots of sunny seating in one of the most peaceful patios in town. Inside you can find great coffee, tea, and cold drinks with fresh made paninis and lunch treats. But today, I’m here to preach about their baked goods. With a display case at least 10 feet long, they offer a huge variety of cakes, tarts, scones, bars, brownies, loaves, and at least 12 varieties of cookies and biscotti on any given day, including a good selection of gluten free options. Good luck making your choice. Everything is made fresh in house, so does that make them more of a bakery than a coffee shop? Recently, on a tour of the tulips downtown I stopped in for a latté and a lemon tea bread, which was so lemon-y and dense and rich that I bought another one on my way out for a treat later. ( I also bought a cookie for the same purpose) They are open every day 7:30-7, and make the perfect stop in for dessert after an early meal in the market, or a decadent coffee break on the only quiet street downtown.
-Kiersten Vuorimaki
Lemon Tea Bread. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
Loved the new Mediterranean restaurant on Preston Street: Ayla’s Social Kitchen, named after the owner’s daughter. The owner himself is a lovely older man who was in the dining room all night making sure the guests had a good time. I had a pomegranate martini, which was delightfully sweet and refreshing. As a main, I chose the pulled lamb mini pitas, which surprisingly came with a side salad and fries, complementing the decadent melt-in-your-mouth lamb perfectly. Middle Eastern favourites in a fine dining setting.
Photo: Sonya Gankina
For starters, choose cold mezzes like labneh, pistachio & feta dip, or hot mezzes like halloumi fries, saffron arancini, and more. Prices range from $17 to $22 for starters. For mains, enjoy vegan lentil meatballs, Mediterranean veggie burgers, pulled lamb pita, or a variety of kebabs. Prices range from $24 to $37 for the braised lamb shank. Desserts feature halva sundaes, cakes, and mousses, all $10.
-Sonya Gankina
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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