Foodnotes
Summer is here, and what a pleasure it is to be able to live much of our lives outdoors for a few months! Get your fill of picnics and patios while the warm weather lasts, and please share your favourite Sandy Hill food experiences with
Cumberland Pizza,
152 Nelson St.
What a relief to see that the oldest pizza place in the neighbourhood has come back to life, after months spent recovering from last year’s fire! The interior looks great, with a fresh layout that allows for more seating and an appealing view of your pizza coming out of the oven. The welcome is as warm as ever; the Cumberland Special is still loaded with pepperoni and bacon, and the Spicy Chicken Pineapple will give you a satisfying combination of sweetness and heat.
Pie Central Bakery,
305 Rideau St.
It took me a while to twig to the fact that Pi Co., the pizza place on the ground floor of the Theo Building at Rideau and King Edward, is gone, and that it’s been replaced by a purveyor of Lebanese flatbreads with a rather similar name. If you’re looking for a quick snack on Rideau Street, perhaps before or after a movie at the ByTowne, you might like to check them out. The dough is fresh and yeasty, baked quickly with various toppings or folded-over fillings of cheese, ground spiced meat, za’atar, and marinated vegetables for a homey, filling, and affordable treat.
Ratatouille Bistro,
278 Dalhousie St.
We had a very enjoyable brunch recently at this new French-inspired restaurant near the ByWard Market, which has an extensive breakfast menu served every day until 3:00 p.m. We may be back someday for supper, but it will take us a while to survey the morning choices; there are six different variations on Eggs Benedict alone, served on a lovely scone with excellent potatoes and salad on the side. The omelets look top-notch, too.
Reggae Rooster,
321 Somerset St. East
A new Caribbean restaurant is now up and running in the former premises of the Sandy Hill Lounge and Grill. Their menu is very meaty, and portions are generous. Jerk chicken features prominently; chicken is also available stewed, curried, fried or barbecued. You can get goat or oxtail; a hearty chicken soup; or a tender roti stuffed with curried chicken. Your meat will come with a choice of rice and peas (red beans, not green peas) or fries, as well as a few slices of fried plantain and a small portion of coleslaw or macaroni salad. We were favourably impressed with the escovitch kingfish, a whole small fish cooked to moist perfection with a tangy garnish of marinated carrots and onions.