When it comes to dining out, there's one thing that everyone can agree on: Brunch is awesome. The idea of rolling out of bed late and going out to eat a mix of sweet and savoury bites, drink light alcoholic beverages and partake in a recounting of the prior night's events is therapeutic.
Unfortunately, it's also resulted in a cookie-cutter idea of what brunch looks like, making for far too many restaurants that serve up the exact same fare. I miss the days of soulful and creative brunch cooking, and apparently so do some restaurateurs in the capital, because they decided to make a difference in the city's brunch scene with these unique Ottawa restaurants.
For my money, here are the six best restaurants in Ottawa that are doing something special for brunch.
Mazarine
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Address: 282 Kent St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Stepping into Mazarine is like stepping off a plane in Greece. The gorgeous white-and-blue aesthetic, patterned accents and plate choices all scream their chosen vibe and make you feel like you're in a different country.
The food follows suit and is absolutely incredible. This small spot found its niche and does it well! A good shakshuka is pound for pound one of the best brunch dishes of all time, and the shakshuka at Mazarine measures up with the best of them.
When paired with the unique drink menu, this brunch is unlikely anything else available in the city and should be at the top of your Ottawa brunch bucket list.
Dukes
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Elevated Diner Classics
Address:40 Adeline St. Apt. 1, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: NEW RESTAURANT ALERT. Dukes comes to us from the same wonderful people who own and operate the beloved Corner Peach.
This concept takes brunch and lunch and redefines the level of quality you can expect from a place with a "diner feel." The casual atmosphere paired with the delicious menu has already made this one of my favourite brunch spots in the city, and it's only been open less than two weeks.
As they're brand new, their menu is still evolving slightly, but I have a couple of must-tries for you that I hope will stick around:
- Spicy fried eggplant sandwich: This guy is crispy, sweet, spic, and that kind of delicious that ends up all over your hands and face. I had it nearly a week ago and I'm still thinking about it.
- Fries: These might just be the best fries in the city. Thick cut but somehow still crispy as ever, and the slightly spicy seasoning is a nice touch. Pro tip: Ask for the breakfast sandwich sauce to dip your fries in!
- Chocolate fridge cake: Think McCain freezer cake, but elevated. It's rich, creamy and chocolatey, and it'll satisfy all of your nostalgic cravings.
Chesterfield's Gastro Diner
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Gastro Diner
Address:1433 Wellington St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Okay, so I know I said we were straying away from the eggs Benny, but when you find a place that flips the dish on its head so aggressively and does it so well, you have to include it.
Chesterfield's Gastro Diner is an Ottawa favourite. There are no reservations, and trust me when I say there WILL be a line (there is always a line) — but this is one line that's well worth the wait.
From Benedict specials like air-fried chicken parm with chipotle mac 'n' cheese to a beef tenderloin steak hash, plus sides like jerk plantains — this is truly an institution of innovation when it comes to brunch experiences. I love this place; everyone loves this place; you're going to love this place.
Cantina Gia
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Italian
Address: 749 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: First, you must know something about me. I am the self-proclaimed president of the Pasta for Brunch Campaign. A campaign I completely made up to convince other people that eating saucy carbs on a Sunday morning is one of the most elite decisions you could make. I even ran an event by the same name, so you know I take this very seriously.
Second, you must know that Cantina Gia has an elite brunch featuring both pasta and non-pasta items.
If you're anything like me, it'll be easy for you to understand that carbonara is a brunch food. It's basically a deconstructed bacon, egg and cheese sandwich but with better ingredients.
And if you're not like me, fear not, because the blueberry pancake stack and the smoked trout rosti will have you weeping with joy at how tasty they both are.
Gia is the sister restaurant of North & Navy, a spot I rave about regularly. I'm here to tell you that Gia deserves its flowers too, and this brunch is evidence of that.
Le Poisson Bleu
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Modern Seafood
Address:610 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: If you read my article on the best seafood restaurants in Ottawa, you already know what makes LPB so special.
If you didn't, here's a refresher: Chef Alex Bimm is pushing boundaries with his unique recipes involving a process where he dry-ages fish into things like bacon, prosciutto and sausages, creating delicious dishes like nothing else seen in the city.
Well, LPB also does brunch, and as you can imagine, it's also unique.
Menu items like a classic breakfast with salmon back bacon or fish sausage, with sides like duck fat beans, are an adventurous way to enjoy something familiar, and their Matane shrimp and Gruyere omelette proves that seafood and cheese DO go together.
All in all, this is something that will push you out of your comfort zone and help you discover something completely fresh in the city!
Lexington Smokehouse
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: BBQ
Address: 344 Richmond Rd., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Lexington Smokehouse in Westboro is just really fun. That's the best way I can describe it. It's hard to not have a good time with the smell of barbecue smoke in the air and unique, hearty dishes on the menu.
If you're someone who believes that most brunch isn't substantial enough, this is the brunch for you.
From brisket breakfast sandwiches to loaded breakfast tots (also with brisket, of course), Lex is for those of us who really want a punch full of flavour on our Sunday morning.
There you have it, folks! A whole list of brunches to check out that will keep you surprised and well-fed. These spots have put so much care and creativity into Ottawa's favourite meal, so remember to show them some love when you pop by!
See y'all on Sunday morning.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
