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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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…
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Panash Bakery Markham Review – Hit-or-Miss Buns with Great Texture but Disappointing Cakes – Average EV Score: 5.8/10
Read more: Panash Bakery Markham Review – Hit-or-Miss Buns with Great Texture but Disappointing Cakes – Average EV Score: 5.8/10Panash Bakery offers a variety of Chinese and Asian-style baked goods in a modern, clean setting. While some items delivered on expected textures and flavours, others fell flat either due to dryness or misleading presentation. It’s a decent stop if you’re nearby, but not everything is worth a try.
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Kingsfield Chinese Cuisine Markham Review – Great Service, Mixed Dim Sum Results – Average EV Score: 6.7/10
Read more: Kingsfield Chinese Cuisine Markham Review – Great Service, Mixed Dim Sum Results – Average EV Score: 6.7/10Kingsfield Chinese Cuisine is a slightly upscale dim sum spot in Markham with attentive service and a modern setting. The experience overall was pleasant, and the service stood out as one of the stronger aspects. While several dim sum staples were well-executed, others missed the mark in flavour or presentation.
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Good Taste Casserole Rice Markham Review – Flavour-Packed Clay Pot Rice Worth the Trip – Average EV Score: 8.3/10
Read more: Good Taste Casserole Rice Markham Review – Flavour-Packed Clay Pot Rice Worth the Trip – Average EV Score: 8.3/10Good Taste Casserole Rice isn’t trying to impress with decor—it’s all about delivering hearty, delicious clay pot rice. The space is unassuming, but the food speaks for itself. Each order comes with a light vegetable soup and a side of Shanghai bok choy, which was well-cooked and helped balance the protein-heavy mains. It’s ultimately serves…