Drunk munchies. Often the only factor which can motivate me to go out. How good it feels to end the night with some deliciously disgusting meal that soaks up all the alcohol still swishing around in your body. Ottawa has a plethora of places to satisfy your late night desires, but where do you get the best bang for your buzz?
If you’ve been drinking at any of the of the bars scattered among Elgin Street, you can easily crawl your way into Elgin Street Diner. Open 24/7, the place is crowded after 2am with throngs of sloshed individuals looking to forget their night through mouthfuls of poutine. The servers there are incredible. Always patient and charismatic, they greet you with a big smile and water. Lots of water. They know where you’ve been and what you need. So fill up on anything from burgers to breakfast food. I usually opt for fries and gravy which costs a mere 5 bucks. Sometimes I crave their peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Weird I know, but so good.
Craving pizza? Head across the street to Slice and Co. Open until 4am, the vibe here is great and so is the pizza. For a cheaper slab pop into House of Georgie nearby on Gilmour (open until 3am). It may not be as good, but hey, its 2 am and you might not even remember eating it.
Further down on Elgin is Ginza Ramen if you’re in the mood for asian food. Ginza is the only place I know of in Ottawa that serves sushi until 2am. They also have pho, so don’t let this place slip your mind if you’re in need of something nourishing to make tomorrow’s hangover a little less unbearable.
If you find yourself in the Byward Market stumbling out of a bar in search of sustenance, head towards Smoke’s Poutinerie for an array of gravy infused options. I recommend the Mexican poutine which comes with guacamole, salsa and sour cream. The perfect fiesta to end your night with.
Sick of poutine? If you don’t mind your breath reminding you of last night’s sins, fill up on a shawarma at 3 Brothers on Rideau. Load up on the garlic sauce, the night is over. Who do you have to impress if you find yourself at a shawarma place after the bar?
Lastly, if you happen to be craving a freshly made bagel in the early hours of dawn, there’s Kettleman’s. Its open 24 hours a day and they have some wicked varieties of cream cheese. Situated near Lansdowne, this may take some drunken determination to get to, but its worth it. Hell, you could even pick up some bagels to take home and make everyone’s morning. You’ll be hungover and probably moaning about it all day so its the least you can do.
So there you have it. The after hours noshing scene in Ottawa is quite impressive. Poutine, pizza, sushi, shawarma and even bagels. Remember to give this late night industry a try before you reach for that lonely pizza pocket that’s been waiting for you in your freezer.
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