If you’re new here: welcome! Tastes of Ottawa is a dish-focused review site where I rate every bite using the EV Score—Enjoyment-to-Value. I focus on how good the food actually tastes, and whether it’s worth your money.
Recent Reviews
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Wise Town Cafe Ottawa Review – Overpriced Desserts and Underwhelming Experience – Average EV Score: 4.6/10
Read more: Wise Town Cafe Ottawa Review – Overpriced Desserts and Underwhelming Experience – Average EV Score: 4.6/10Wise Town Cafe positions itself as a modern coffee and dessert spot where you can sit down for drinks, cakes, and casual conversation. At first glance, the Wise Town Cafe looks inviting enough, with decent décor and a reasonable amount of seating inside. It’s a place that seems designed for people to linger with a…
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Sammi and Soupe Dumpling – Authentic Soup Dumplings in the ByWard Market – Average EV Score: 5.7/10
Read more: Sammi and Soupe Dumpling – Authentic Soup Dumplings in the ByWard Market – Average EV Score: 5.7/10Sammi and Soupe Dumpling is located in Ottawa’s ByWard Market, a busy area with plenty of dining options but very limited parking. On a weekend evening, it can be a challenge to find a spot close by. When we visited, we ended up parking several blocks over and walking to the restaurant. By the time…
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Heart and Crown Preston – A Classic Irish Pub Experience in Little Italy – Average EV Score: 4.8/10
Read more: Heart and Crown Preston – A Classic Irish Pub Experience in Little Italy – Average EV Score: 4.8/10Heart and Crown is a well-known name in Ottawa, with several locations spread across the city. This review focuses on their Preston Street location, right in the heart of Little Italy. Unlike the bustling ByWard Market branch, which is famous for its nightlife scene, this spot feels a bit more low-key, at least on weeknights.…
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La Roma Restaurant Review – Classic and Flavourful Italian Cuisine in Little Italy – Average EV Score: 5.9/10
Read more: La Roma Restaurant Review – Classic and Flavourful Italian Cuisine in Little Italy – Average EV Score: 5.9/10La Roma is located right in the heart of Ottawa’s Little Italy. It’s an area lined with Italian restaurants and cafés, which makes it a competitive spot for any restaurant to stand out. We decided to stop in for lunch on a Friday, and surprisingly, the place wasn’t very busy at all. Including our table,…
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Sona The Indian Kitchen Review – Authentic Indian Flavours and Generous Portions – Average EV Score: 6.4/10
Read more: Sona The Indian Kitchen Review – Authentic Indian Flavours and Generous Portions – Average EV Score: 6.4/10Sona The Indian Kitchen is tucked away in a plaza on Hunt Club Road — the kind of place you wouldn’t stumble upon unless someone told you about it. Despite being a little hard to find, it’s clearly well known in the community because the restaurant was very busy when we visited. The space itself…
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Schoolhouse Pizza Ottawa Review – Flavourful Buffalo NY Pizza but Disappointing Crust – Average EV Score: 6.5/10
Read more: Schoolhouse Pizza Ottawa Review – Flavourful Buffalo NY Pizza but Disappointing Crust – Average EV Score: 6.5/10Schoolhouse Pizza serves up generously topped pies with creative flavour combinations. The Buffalo NY sounded promising with its mix of tomato sauce, mozzarella, chicken, jalapeño, shallots, Frank’s buffalo hot sauce, crème fraîche, and cilantro. While the flavour was solid, the crust let it down.
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Farinella Snack Bar Ottawa Review – Smooth Pistachio Gelato with Room for More Flavour – Average EV Score: 5.5/10
Read more: Farinella Snack Bar Ottawa Review – Smooth Pistachio Gelato with Room for More Flavour – Average EV Score: 5.5/10Farinella Snack Bar is a compact offshoot of the popular Farinella, offering gelato along Preston Street. It’s a casual stop with good variety, and while the pistachio gelato was smooth and enjoyable, the flavour intensity could have been stronger.
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Umbrella Burger Ottawa Review – Solid Cheeseburger and Surprisingly Great Curly Fries – Average EV Score: 8/10
Read more: Umbrella Burger Ottawa Review – Solid Cheeseburger and Surprisingly Great Curly Fries – Average EV Score: 8/10Umbrella Burger is a casual spot on Preston that keeps things simple—burgers, fries, drinks—but delivers on what matters. The space has a laid-back, approachable feel and is well-suited for a quick bite or a relaxed hangout. While the burger was good, the curly fries were the unexpected highlight.
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Cha Kee Restaurant Markham Review – Honest Look at a Modern HK Café with Hits and Misses – Average EV Score: 6.6/10
Read more: Cha Kee Restaurant Markham Review – Honest Look at a Modern HK Café with Hits and Misses – Average EV Score: 6.6/10Cha Kee Restaurant offers a modern take on Hong Kong-style café fare with a stylish space and broad menu. While some dishes hit the mark—especially the pork chop noodles and creative twist on French toast—others suffered from inconsistency, particularly the curry beef brisket.
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Linh Anh Vietnamese Cuisine Markham Review – Incredible Bone Marrow and Steamed Rice Rolls Worth the Hype – Average EV Score: 8.7/10
Read more: Linh Anh Vietnamese Cuisine Markham Review – Incredible Bone Marrow and Steamed Rice Rolls Worth the Hype – Average EV Score: 8.7/10Linh Anh Vietnamese Cuisine is a bustling spot in Unionville with all tables full during our visit—a great sign. Despite the crowd, service was efficient and the kitchen delivered a range of standout dishes. While pho may be the go-to here, their expanded menu includes items not commonly found at similar restaurants, and they do…