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:
- Wes’ Chips (198 Madawaska Blvd Arnprior)
- Ten Toes Coffee House (593 Bank St)
- For God Shakes (204 Dalhousie, 1050 Bank St)
Wes’ Chips is one of those cult favourite hidden gems in that is very If You Know, You Know ( I’m lucky to have a friend who has been eating there since childhood, so I am passing this lore onto all of you now). Chip trucks are part of the cultural fabric of our nation, and Wes’ is literally a truck that just serves chips. It is only open seasonally, and just opened on Easter weekend for the summer, so now is the time to plan your roadtrip to the valley. Wes’ has been open since 1960 and still serves chips out the same truck that made them famous. The fresh cut fries are the perfect size and shape to have crunchy flavourful outside and a soft inside. They’re fried fresh to order, and are perfect with salt, vinegar and ketchup. Wes’ are purists, so there is no poutine, hot dogs or onion rings, just literal truck loads of perfect fries. They offfer sizes small- XLarge, and the medium is a good size for a meal, and only $7.
Wes’ Chips. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
There is always a line, but it moves quickly! You can purchase mayo packets for dipping for 25 cents each, and cans of pop or a bottle of water for $2. The fries are gluten free and they do not fry in peanut oil. They’re open from 10-7 every day, including holidays during the summer. They have a shady green space with picnic tables to enjoy the fries, or you can drive the 2 minutes to the local beach and enjoy them along the waterfront of the Ottawa River, if you want to make it special.
Yes, we keep bringing up Ten Toes Coffee House here, but for very good reason. Recently I was getting brunch with friends at the Bank Street location, and had one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever had. I’m of the belief that all breakfast sandwiches are delicious, but this one takes the cake. On an enormous house made potato bun they piled smoked cheddar, at least 3 pieces of thiccc bacon, caramelized red onion, tomato pepper jam, arugula, garlic mayo, and a perfectly fried egg. The chives on top for pizazz were *chef’s kiss*. The sandwich was huge, and between the soft and sweet bun, and the tangy onions and chunky bacon it was a symphony of breakfast goodness. It was $17 and was more than enough food to get me through the rest of my Saturday.
Breakfast Sammy at Ten Toes on Bank. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
Don’t forget to check for seating downstairs if the upstairs café is full. I had it with an iced latté, but they do often suggest pairing their brunch with a local beer on tap. The Bank Street location offers brunch every weekend, and the menu changes regularly, so I can’t promise that you can get this sandwich soon, but if you follow their IG, you’ll know when to cancel all your other plans to eat this.
For God Shakes has been on my food bucket list since they opened in late 2022, especially since they offer vegan and lactose free milkshakes, which are the holy grail of special little treats for those of us who don’t do dairy. The location on Dalhousie is tiny and bright, with the perfect Instagram wall to take all your cool photos. My friend and I went for dessert after a meal, so we were not prepared for the sheer size of the concoctions, but next time we will just have a milkshake for dinner. We had the chocolate banana and black currant milkshakes, a bit tame to be honest, considering what is avilable. For $8 each we got a generous sized milkshake that was creamy and flavourful, topped with whipped cream. They come in a branded glass milk jar that you can also take home with you with the lids provided. The real showstoppers were being ordered around us by people getting shakes topped with brownies, candy floss, berries and whole slices of cake. There are dozens of flavours and toppings, with a range of prices from $7 to $15. Ordering a vegan or lactose free version costs about $2 extra, and you can choose your dairy alternative as well.
Chocolate banana and black currant milkshakes. Photo: Kiersten Vuorimaki
They have opened their second location on Bank street recently, which will be the perfect place to get a treat in Old Ottawa South and stroll along the canal taking in the views and sunshine. They are also open late – until 11pm Tuesday-Thursday, and midnight on Friday and Saturday, which means it is always the right time for a milkshake.
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>.
