Need help from Ottawa hounds

[crawfish]

My family is taking the train to Ottawa for the weekend in 2 weeks. We will be 6 adventurous adults with 2 not so adventurous kids (7 and 9 yrs. old). We're staying downtown - sorry I'm not sure exactly where but it's walking distance from the market, Parliament etc. I'd love recommendations for mid priced to cheap restaurants where the kids can find something basic and the adults won't have to suffer. Good beer and wine are also important (to the adults).

Thanks!

[hipfunkyfun]

if you search there are lots of good recommendations from ottawa chow hounders on this site. ottawa is so much smaller than toronto, that what you read on here, really is what we have to offer, not too many other hidden gems.

one place that i haven't tried, but has gotten some good reviews is oz cafe on elgin st (across the street from the manx)
http://www.ottawaxpress.ca/food/food.aspx?iIDArticle=12682

to post on ottawa foodies, you have to create a user name and password, i think if you go to the 'sign in' option you will find the info you need.

manx has a great brunch, though very, very busy. it is a very tiny pub which fills up quickly. definitely my favourite spot for beer and good food.

what about just skipping pizza in ottawa? i love ottawa pizza and there are lots of spots to get a good thin crust down in little italy, but that would require driving down there.

whale's bone oyster house is a fantastic spot for good wine and fresh seafood. there is also fish & chips for the kids.

down in the byward market, go to the french baker for croissants, try a beaver tail for the kids (killaloe sunrise with fresh squeezed lemon is the best), ideal coffee or bridgehead coffee on dalhousie st, mello's diner on dalhousie is a great greasy spoon for simple bacon and eggs. a bit of an institution.

another place to check what ottawa people are saying is:
http://www.restaurantthing.com/ca/on/...

[vorpal]

For much more information than here (which seems to largely be GTA-centric), check out the amazing community at OttawaFoodies:

http://www.ottawafoodies.com

They've got great tips and they're a friendly bunch that will be happy to help you however they can.

[crawfish]

Thanks for the link. I found a few possibilities there but I don't understand how you actually post on that site so I'd still appreciate some advice from Chow Hounders. Would we be comfortable bringing a 7 and 9 year old reasonably well behaved kids to and would you recommend the following:

Ahora
The Manx
Wellington Gastro Pub
Marroush (take out shawarma for the train ride home!)

Still looking for a Terroni-like pizza place (I'm the picky eater when it comes to pizza) and bacon and eggs breakfast place.

[vorpal]

I've personally never been to any of those places myself, so I can't help you out there. It's been a few years since I lived in Ottawa and my focus while I lived there was largely on Thai and Indian food, both which I find Ottawa does better than Toronto.

I've never been to Terroni, but Ottawa does have some good pizza places, although if you're looking for something thin crust and reasonably authentic, I'd venture to say that you'll be disappointed and you're better off in Toronto. Ottawa pizza tends to generally be thick, fluffy crust, and two of the better known places are Gabriel's and Colonnade, both which I think might have multiple locations. The definitive place used to be Eggspectations for your standard bacon and egg breakfast, but apparently they've gone far downhill so avoid. I know that Cora's receives a lot of flak for their Toronto location, but most Ottawa folk can't rave highly enough about the Cora's locations up there, and I've found that they serve great breakfasts. I'm sure there are amazing hole in the walls and local joints, but I didn't look too hard for them so I can't be of much help there.

Hope you get the information you need and that you enjoy your trip! Ottawa has some *fantastic* food... I really miss it!

[PaulV]

Ahora is fine with kids (assuming that they like the food). The Manx should also be fine, but you might want to go off-hours when it is not as crowded. Don't know about the Gastro-Pub (although there are tons of kids in the area). Marroush is take-out so, kids are as welcome as anyone as long as they like what they serve.