Food notes

Paula Kelsall

Sun? Wind? Shorts? Puffy coat? As summer makes its uncertain entrance, it’s hard to know what we’re in for here in Sandy Hill. But surely a reliable season of patio weather is near at hand! As you explore the eating out possibilities in the neighbourhood, please remember to share your favourite Sandy Hill food experiences with editor@imagesandyhill.org.

Chef Ric’s,
384 Rideau Street

The restaurant and food services training program associated with the Ottawa Mission has expanded its hours in the last few months. It’s now open seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., making this affordable option available for any meal you might think of. The menu seems somewhat simplified compared to the restaurant’s early days. Breakfast is the same every day of the week—eggs with bacon or sausage—and each week seems to move through a similar rotation of daily specials. The most interesting item on offer over the last few weeks has been the Thursday special: butter chicken with basmati rice. We were pleasantly surprised to find that this is a very tasty rendition of the classic Indian favourite with a creamy and flavourful sauce, a couple of tender pita wedges and a nice little side of tomato and cucumber salad. For $7.99, this is a pretty unbeatable bargain for a quick lunch or supper, and it supports a worthy cause.

Jackson Café,
10 Daly Avenue

Off to a late start on a recent Sunday morning and wanting a quick breakfast before visiting what remains of the Byward Market, we stopped in at the cafe in the Ottawa Art Gallery. Our spirits were raised instantly by the sight of families working away creatively in the studio space on the gallery’s lower floor, as well as the smell of coffee in the air. The cafe’s morning offerings are limited, but they’re good. We enjoyed a breakfast sandwich with fried egg, bacon and roasted tomato on excellent sourdough bread, as well as a bowl of creamy overnight oats adorned with berries and a sprinkling of nuts and seeds. The lattes were delicious, and the apple turnover, from the excellent Maison ODDO in Gatineau, was exceptional.

Nostalgica Pub & Beer Garden,
601 Cumberland Street

Surely no restaurant in our neighbourhood has taken longer to re-open after the pandemic than Nostalgica. After five quiet years, it will be good to see some life on their roomy terrace this summer. The bar has an impressive two-page list of beers on tap, most of them Canadian and many of them from local breweries. It’s great that those of us whose beer capacity is limited (or who might want to try more than one) can get a modest 10-ounce glass. The food menu is also brimming with possibilities, with a nice assortment of pub food and all-day breakfast. I really enjoyed my banh mi fish sandwich, a battered filet served on a soft, crusty Portuguese bun with lightly pickled vegetables, chilies and coriander. It’s very nice to see the menu offering a half fries, half salad option with all sandwiches and burgers. My companion’s smoked salmon salad was a hit—a generous filet, nicely cooked, atop a bowl full of baby greens with sun-dried tomatoes, green beans, and roasted potatoes.

High Tea at Laurier House by Working Title Kitchen,
330 Laurier Avenue East

How lucky was I to be invited to taste-test the 2025 offerings for the return of high tea on the scenic terrasse of Sandy Hill’s historic Laurier House. A copious array of decadent hand-held nibbles, both sweet and savoury, served alongside a large personal pot of my choice of tea, all served in gorgeous porcelain dishes from a time gone by. Be transported to another time and revel in self-indulgence (note, this is not for those avoiding gluten, dairy or sugar!), Thursdays and Fridays, until September 26.
– Christine Aubry

Working Title Kitchen’s new family-style dinner,
330 Laurier Avenue East

Working Title Kitchen is trying out something new on Sunday evenings: family-style dinner. For $36 per person ($18 for kids under 12), a generous amount of food is delivered to your table in shared platters. The menu will vary somewhat from week to week, but we tried out the first night’s menu of roasted beef tenderloin, Juniper grilled vegetables, herb and garlic new potato, and garden salad. The delicious, copious meal was followed by a decadent dessert of sticky toffee pudding with fruit, served alongside in-house, homemade ice cream. We left with full bellies and boxes of leftovers! Now we wait patiently to try out the other flavours of homemade ice cream, including bars and sandwiches, which Working Title is set to launch soon, hopefully by the time you read this