Hintonburg Public House Review – Memorable Burger but Disappointing Fries – Average EV Score: 6.3/10

Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa

Each dish is rated using our EV Score (Enjoyment-to-Value Score), based on enjoyment, price paid, and benchmark pricing.

Hintonburg Public House Restaurant Overview

1020 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 1X4

Located in Hintonburg, the Hintonburg Public House is a neighbourhood spot that offers a casual atmostphere with a mix of pub staples and rotating specials. Like many restaurants in the area, there’s no dedicated parking, so you’ll need to find a street spot nearby. It’s expected for the neighbourhood, but something to plan for if you’re driving.

Their menu offers fresh and local ingredients and they are a pretty well known and popular restaurant in the area. They also sometimes host special events, like Karaoke and trivia.

The restaurant has a small outdoor patio that works well in the warmer months and a decent-sized dining area inside. On the day we visited, the restaurant was quite busy, and with only one server working, service was on the slower side. Still, the staff were friendly, and it felt like they were doing their best to manage under the circumstances.

The vibe here is relaxed and unpretentious – a good place to come for a drink and hearty food, though consistency seems to vary depending on the dish.

Would return? Yes, but mainly for the burger.

HPH Burger and Fries

Enjoyment: 7/10
Price Paid: $22
Benchmark Price: $22
EV Score: 7/10
Order Again? Yes.

This was the standout dish of the visit. I’ve had the burger here several times, and it’s consistently good. The beef patty was cooked nicely, juicy without being greasy, and the toppings of tomato, lettuce, pickles, and cheese tied everything together well. The sauce they use is particularly good – savoury with just enough tang to elevate the whole burger.

The bun had a soft texture but held up to the burger without turning soggy, which is always appreciated.

For the fries, I asked for them to be extra crispy, and they came out exactly as requested. They had a great crunch, and I found myself wanting to keep eating more of them. The housemade ketchup was interesting – not as bold in flavour as regular ketchup and a little more watery, but it still worked well as a dip.

Pretty much everything about this dish was very good. The burger tasted as it should have and the fries were very nice and crispy. Overall, a memorable and enjoyable dish, and one I’d happily order again.

Butternut Squash Soup and Fries

Enjoyment: 5.5/10
Price Paid: $12
Benchmark Price: $12
EV Score: 5.5/10
Order Again? No.

The soup of the day at Hintonburg Public House was butternut squash, and I ordered it with a side of fries. The soup itself was mild, which is fairly typical for butternut squash, but it could have benefited from more spices or seasoning to make it better. It was smooth and comforting, but not particularly memorable.

The fries on the side, however, were a letdown. Unlike the fries with the burger, these were soft, flimsy, and lacked crispiness. It’s frustrating when restaurants default to serving undercooked fries, as crispy fries should really be the standard. These fries fell flat and took away from the overall enjoyment of the dish.

In short, it was a very simple dish with underwhelming execution, mainly due to the fries.

Final Thoughts

The Hintonburg Public House offers a casual neighbourhood vibe with friendly service, but consistency is an issue. On the one hand, the burger and fries were excellent, with a juicy patty, great sauce, and crispy fries that hit the mark. On the other hand, the butternut squash soup was bland and the fired that came with it were disappointing.

Given the busy night and limited staff, the slower service was understandable, but it did affect the flow of the meal. That said, the friendly attitude of the staff helped balance things out.

If you’re visiting, the burger is the dish to get. It’s memorable and satisfying and one of the butter pub-style burgers in the neighbourhood. Just be cautious with the sides or the daily specials, as they can be hit or miss.