This is the Clocktower place where I shot that delicious-looking pint in my post Longing for Normalcy (May 16, 2020). Just a great pub.
That delicious Clocktower meatloaf.
It is probably no surprise that I have been craving going to a restaurant for a little while. Talk about having beautiful problems in the current situation: I am eating well (wink-wink past posts) and what I am thinking about is to be able to take a breather from all the cooking I’m doing and just enjoying a meal in one of my favorite joints.
Although restaurants are reopening very soon in Ottawa (and are probably not too far off in Gatineau), I have never really been one for being an early adopter, and I think that this is going to be one of these cases where I try to hold off on my cravings for a little bit. I fully encourage economic recovery, but I have concerns over re-opening restaurants the day just before a weekend, potentially leading to a relative rush of people trying to get in. Hopefully my fears will remain unfounded and I will be proven wrong in my misgivings.
Which is not to say that there are not a few places that I very much am looking forward to visiting once the initial rush has passed - and not necessarily in the order in which I’m presenting them here.
#1 - Clocktower Brew Pub. You’ve seen the delicious pint and the even more delicious meatloaf. ‘Nuff said!
#2 - Pho by Night. I’ve heard it said by people that their name was somewhat unfortunate for a eatery, and I tend to agree. However, they are very rigorous in the preparation of their broths and recipes, and their reputation in Ottawa is very well deserved. Definitely more of a casual lunch place for me. Main craving: the rare beef pho.
#3 - Green Papaya on Hull Island. Has one of the most pleasant patios in town, overlooking the Museum of History. Has a wide variety of Thai dishes which are prepared to perfection i.e. which feels neither too pretentious nor too much like mere comfort food. Looking forward to the pad ki mew - I was positively distraught when I found out that the restaurant, despite normally doing take-out, has been completely closed since lockdown started.
#4 - Palais impérial. It is only when taking this photo that I realized that the name of the Chinese ‘half’ of this restaurant is only in French, which I find interesting (but which is quite the triviality). As is patently obvious from the façade, this place shares its space with a Thai restaurant. Different menus and kitchens, but commonly shared great dining atmosphere and quality. I mostly go there for the Singapore vermicelli.
#5 - Chu Shing. Now that’s the Chinese place to go to in Ottawa for the best dim sum experience. It is a well-established annual tradition to go there every year for a friend’s birthday in early June - so it’s a miss for this year. However, the celebration will only have to be better once everything gets back into place. I might do a bit of a photo essay on this if the group lets me.
#6 - Chez Lucien. In many ways, it does not look too different from any other day, but the photo has that vibe of such emptiness. This is probably one of the most quintessentially French places in downtown Ottawa. It’s cool, trendy, laid-back, and the food and service never fail to be great. If I’m going for more than the ambience and a pint, I go for one of their excellent burgers.
It puts a lump in my throat to see this place so empty on such a beautiful day at a time where all the tables could be full. I do not know what the ideal light would be for this photo, but I think it properly translates my mood.
#7 - Le Cellier. A bit more of chic French place, but still not pretentious. Food is excellent - I never know what will be on the menu, but I still have the occasional (and very pleasant) flashback from the lamb I ate there a few years back. It set the tone for the place for me.
#8 - Pizza’za. There is a lot of construction by that place nowadays, so getting a photo of that place can be difficult right now. Even then, the façade is very unassuming and does not really set the tone well for the place. As its name indicates, it is first and foremost a pizza place (I cannot even remember if it has anything else on the menu!) complemented by a comprehensive and easily recommendable wine list.
#9 - Vineyards. Last on the list but definitely not the least place… Actually, Vineyards has got to be my favorite place in the region, hands down. Located in a cellar - which is super cool even in the most humid summer days - it has unequaled ambience, a wine list that I’m pretty sure only Pizza’za could confidently rival, and the occasional jazz performance… The $17 French fries (served with a side of steak and salad) are worth every penny and my definite choice every time I go.
Now, why did I have to go and write this at dinnertime!??