Thankfully, several Ottawa restaurants have made it a point to provide a number of high-quality options (some even making it their whole concept) that skip the animal products but not the flavour — places where even the keenest of meat eaters can't help but admit their enjoyment too.
Take it from an avid member of the "eat everything club," these six restaurants know how to appeal to the masses while still providing thoughtful, delicious vegetarian- and vegan-friendly dishes that aren't an afterthought or menu substitution. If you never want to chow down on a dry black bean burger again, look no further.
St. Elsewhere
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Vegan Wine Bar
Address: 826 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: St. Elsewhere is arguably the most important plant-based restaurant in Ottawa right now. They are 100% vegan, right down to the last detail.
The concept for St. Elsewhere was to create a wine bar with a beautiful atmosphere that felt good for a number of occasions. It's great for a date night. It's wonderful to enjoy with a group of friends. It's even a beautiful place to sit at the bar. Then, you pair all of this with making it Ottawa's first fully vegan restaurant and you have a winner. The food is delicious, especially the carbonara (who ever thought you'd be able to get a good vegan carbonara?).
Being a wine bar, they also have a long list of wines and a number of varietals that make St. Elsewhere a truly special restaurant experience for both us omnivores and our plant-loving friends.
St Elsewhere Menu
Gongfu Bao
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Chinese & Taiwanese Bites
Address: 365 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Gongfu Bao isn't a vegetarian or vegan restaurant entirely, but they're among the best in the city at accommodating this group. Not only do they serve vegetarian bao and other bites on an average night, but every Wednesday is Vegan Night at Gongfu.
Their Vegan Night menu is extensive. I'm not talking about two or three plates to make people happy — I'm talking about five bao options and NINE snack and appy plates so that you can feast with your friends.
Gongfu Bao is also a huge driver of community and a big supporter of a multitude of causes, both locally and globally!
These are some of the best steamed buns in the city; it's time to check them out.
Gongfu Bao Menu
Kathā
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Indian-Inspired Tasting Menu
Address: 225 Preston St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: This is another case of a restaurant that is not vegetarian by default but makes immense accommodations, and in the tasting menu game, that's impressive.
Kathā is an eight-course chef's-table blind tasting menu. Let's break that down for you.
The eight courses served here are always rotating, and each dish comes with a story delivered to you by one of the chefs themselves. The immersive experience you receive when you enter the building (especially sitting at the bar of their open-concept kitchen) is incredibly special.
Plus, since Kathā is so wonderful, they've actually prepared vegetarian AND vegan adaptations of their menu, so that everyone can enjoy what they have to offer.
A menu like this can be expensive, but Kathā is surprisingly reasonable in that department too! The eight-course experience is only $130 per person, with an additional $70 for wine pairings.
Who said vegetarians can't have a tasting menu?
Kathā Website
The Green Door
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Vegetarian Buffet
Address: 198 Main St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Those who know about the Green Door love the Green Door. Those who are just hearing about it now for the first time are going to learn to love it too!
This family-owned buffet-style joint is doing something unique. Being a buffet, of course, the food is self-serve. However, unlike a traditional-style buffet, you don't pay a flat fee for all you can eat. Instead, your plate is charged by weight! After loading up all of your veggie delights, the cash register attendant puts your plate on a scale and charges you accordingly, and honestly? Super fairly too.
The food is fresh, delicious and appropriately priced.
The Green Door Menu
Falafel Scoop
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Address: 398 Kent St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Falafel Scoop's menu is, of course, falafel-based. You can enjoy everything from a classic pita sandwich to a large stuffed falafel, all at a very affordable price.
Much like most shawarma spots, falafel scoop allows you to customize your meal your way. That means everything with extra pickled turnips and tahini, if that's how you like it.
You don't need to break the bank to eat awesome vegetarian food, and Falafel Scoop continues to remind us of that.
Falafel Scoop Instagram
Astoria Bistro
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Elevated Vegan Comfort Food
Address: 80 Prom. du Portage., Gatineau, QC
Why You Need To Go: For this last spot we're going just over the bridge into Gatineau. Since it's just 10 minutes from the downtown core, I felt like it was still allowed on this list.
Astoria does elevated comfort food, vegan style. Not only do they have an awesome dinner menu, but their brunch menu is substantial and clever as well, and is offered seven days a week!
The accompaniment of their specialty botanical cocktails and natural wine list is an added bonus for anyone who comes through their doors.
This is definitely worth a trip over the bridge for.
Astoria Bistro Website
You might think dining as a vegan or vegetarian in the Capital city is hard, but you just need to know where to look! These are just a few of the many delicious options that can be enjoyed by everyone who loves good food, not just those who've cut animal products from their diet.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
