Category Archives: Restaurants

In the Back Lane

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“Main streets are the face of a village; back lanes display its character and heart.”

This is the philosophy that holds true for The Back Lane Cafe. The same would likely be said for anyone who stumbles into this relatively new resto in Hintonburg. Upon entry, you feel slightly disoriented, almost as if someone pulled you in by the collar from the back lane. When you get past the entrance, you are welcomed  by a country-style home, something
you might find in the country-side of England. The windows are adorned with old-fashioned floral curtains that border on tacky. But it works for the Back Lane. It brings out the hand carved chairs and tightly spaced tables that summon images of a bustling pub. The bar was my favourite part of the interior as it was horseshoe shaped and held a collection of mismatched trinkets on the wall behind. It also was the home of some well received beer taps such as Granville Island draft, St. Ambroise, Kichesippi and Hogsback.

Enough about the atmosphere, the menu is an eclectic mix of fine fare, with some hard-to-beat wood-oven pizzas. I was intent upon mussels that particular day and Back Lane Cafe brought the heat with their tomato pesto mussel dish. The sauce was so good, we had to ask for extra bread to save it from going to waste. We also had a hearty lentil soup with a cute little twist. The waitress suggested that we put the accompanying bun directly into the soup. She said it was stuffed with chevre and would melt into the soup adding extra richness which we were obviously on board for. Delicious.

The wine list, though moderate in size, is well balanced with a great selection of Canadian wines as well as other Old World wines.

Will I be back? Most certainly. This is the kind of place to perch for an evening, making your way through the various aperitifs, beers and wines while enjoying some good home-style cooking. Cap it off with a piping hot espresso, and there’s really nothing better. . . in a nutshell.

A quest for the best

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At 11:30 am, I can look up Albert Street in the business district and barely a soul will stumble across my line of vision. Fast forward to noon, and the streets around my tiny downtown pad are bustling with suits, skirts and briefcases. Where are all of these people going you may ask? Well, they are all on a quest for the best sandwich to fill their tummies in a short but sweet lunch break. I decided that, in fact, I had no idea about the various sandwich-eries that are so close to my own abode and that it is about time I figure out a spot that can be my own go-to for a good ol’ sammy ( samdoozle, adam sandler, call it what you will. . . ). Here are 4 of the best known sandwich places in the downtown core, what I thought of each and which one takes the cake for Ottawa’s best sandwich.

First on the docket: Nicastro’s Botega

Nicastro’s is a thriving specialty store with a few locations scattered throughout Ottawa; however, their location on George Street in the Byward Market is definitely the most happening. Filled to the brim with traditional Italian fare, Nicastro’s sandwich counter hides at the back of the store amongst the deli counter and vast cheese selection. In a subway style, create-your-own-sandwich, Nicastro’s has taken the simple sandwich you build for yourself at Subway and made the most delicious Italian version with a variety of breads, meats, cheeses and toppings. One catch: their selections of sauce is limited to dijon, mustard or mayonnaise. So for those of you who care for a little ancho-chipotle or sweet onion atop your sandy. . . forget it.

Top this: Provolone cheese, Hungarian salami, Cappicola, lettuce, tomato, spicy eggplant and mayo - $4.87

Planet Coffee

An unlikely shop to find a sandwich, Planet Coffee is best known for their house blend rather than their paninis. But, truth be told, they also grill up a tasty sandwich along with soups, salads and baked goods. So I popped in to try their panini of the day. The selling point? They grill all of their sandwiches and on a cold day, a hot panini can go a mile.

Top this: Turkey, gouda, spinach and red pepper jelly – $5.25

Next up, and wildly close to home, is The Green Rebel. I had high hopes for this spot, but to my disappointment, it turned out to be a little less than revolutionary. Aside from the sandwich (which was fine), the interior of The Green Rebel is incredibly sterile. Furthermore, the prices are radical. But, the sandwich was good, so next time, I’ll take it to go.

Top this: “BLAT”, bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato with garlic aioli – $8.49

Cafe Delice

And delice doesn’t begin to describe how yummy this sandwich is. Soft bread, mouth-watering toppings, Cafe Delice does the sandwich right. But, this tiny nook is literally a nook and hardly ever has enough seating for the amount of patrons streaming through the doors. I guess this is another “to-go” sandwich spot.

Top this: Art-is-in-bread with spicy eggplant,hot peppers, havarti and cappicola - $5.79

Can I say that in these stops I found the best sandwich in Ottawa? I certainly hope not, because all three of these places could use a tweak here or a topping there. So, nuts, I leave you with this: the quest is not over. Drop us a line with your favourite sandwich spot in the city and I’ll check it out for Part 2 of the quest for the best.

Not forgotten: 10fourteen

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It has been a few weeks since I ventured to Rod Castro and Rani Aramouni’s restaurant, 10fourteen.  After interviewing owner, Rod, I was very excited to taste what was in store and decided to check it out on opening night. Then, came Christmas. Then the new year. And now, here I am writing about 10fourteen once again to say that I have not forgotten about my experience and for all the right reasons.

Upon arrival I immediately noticed two things:

1) Owners, Rod and Rani, were visibly present (I’ll get to that later when I discuss the service).

2) There was an easy-going vibe resonating throughout restaurant, almost a hybrid between a lounge and a pub. People were stippled across the bar, all of them relaxing with a glass of wine in hand and munching away on some sort of delectable tapas item. I took a seat in a cozy nook just to the right of the bar. The interior was trendy, with a collection of eclectic mirrors adorning the main wall. On the other wall, where the bar lies, traditional incandescent bare bulbs hang from the ceiling. And the most intriguing part is the kitchen. Unlike many of the restaurants in Ottawa, ALL of the action- including food preparation- goes on right behind the bar. 10fourteen pulls off a hip vibe without feeling pompous or elitist. It’s a down-to-earth tapas bar where everyone is welcome to try a new style of food and a new way of eating.

The service met my expectations, especially for an opening night. None of the staff appeared to be flustered or unprepared for the later rush of patrons. As I mentioned above, Rod and Rani, were milling about touching base with all of their guests that evening. This, in my opinion, is monumental in providing a good service. If the back bone makes a point of being a present, visible being within their restaurant you can be sure of two things: Everything is getting done the way they want it to be done and they are 100% committed to making their business endeavour a successful one. Rod came by my table a number of times asking for feedback, as well as providing insight as to what he liked best on the menu and what items they hope to test out in the future. His presence made me feel like I was part of the restaurant instead of just an onlooker.

The menu was so much fun! It asks you to be open-minded, as you can see it is not very extensive. Executive Chef James Foley is clearly having fun too, mixing and matching some of the most unlikely foods to make some of the most mouth-watering dishes. It is a true tapas menu. I was happy to see the inclusion of meats and cheese, which is very à la mode, to polish off the menu (and my appetite). I began with the seared tuna dish and the bison reuban. Afterwards we moved onto a tapas style charcuterie board of Capriny goat’s cheese, Noyan and rillette. Prices range from $4-$14, but keep in mind everthing is about appetizer size.

I must give an honourable mention to the well-cultivated wine list. Although small, it certainly is big in flavour. I tried the Forrest Sauvignon Blanc which was fresh, clean and crisp. But the highlight was the Lucas and Lewellyn Pinot Noir. It blew me and my taste buds out of the water and I was thrilled to see that 10fourteen offered such a sophisticated and delicious wine.

In a nutshell, 10fourteen has the right idea and is off to a wonderful start. Looking forward to how this tapas bar evolves throughout the new year, we will certainly be back!

NYE in the capital

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The day that everyone swears to lose 10 pounds “this year”, quit smoking “this year”, stop biting their nails “this year” and stay more organized “this year” is right around the corner.

2012 (as well as your personal NYE resolution, whatever that may be) deserves to be rung in with the proper welcome from a well lubricated you, but before you hit a bar for a night of dancing and midnight cheers, you may want to check out one of these 5 restaurants for your last indulgent dinner of 2011.

This list has a little something for everybody, whether you like to keep it simple, or wine and dine until quarter to midnight. . .  Personally, Back Lane Cafe seems to have it all figured out- well priced, creative menu with spot on wine pairings ( and it is one of the newer additions to the Ottawa restaurant scene). Read on to find out which NYE menu gets your tastebuds dancing.

 

Murray Street - Early seating $65, Late seating $75

NYE Menu

Charcuterie

Pate encroute, duck liver mousse, glazed ham, condiments

Beets

Roast beets, Walnut butter, cheese fondue, biscuit croutons

Bones

Roast beef bone marrow & Christophe’s mushroom toast, parsley & caper salad

Bellies

Cider braised, smoked pork belly, baked beans, brown bread and molasses

Beef

24 hr Braised shortribs, spaetzle, braising jus

Fish

Pan-seared haddock, confit of octopus & smoked clam chowder

Duck

Confit leg, braised lentils, patio-grape jelly, walnuts, mustard & kale

Pork

Smoked confit shoulder “Dauphinoise”, trotter broth

Lamb

Shoulder & shank ragout, giant gnocchi, braising jus

Veg

Meatless shepherd’s pie, toasted quinoa, roast garlic, Trio of christophe’s mushrooms,

canola oil whipped potatoes

Smores

Dark chocolate espresso pudding, graham crumbs, toasted in-house marshmallow

Apple Tart

Hall’s apple & pecan butter tart, caramel ice cream, apple cider reduction, bacon

The Wellington Gastropub - $80

NYE Menu 

FIRST

chicken velouté

bacon, peas, carrots, truffle oil

or

sunchoke, butternut & frisee salad

quince preserve, smoked Blue Elizabeth,

walnut streusel, sherry-mustard vinaigrette

SECOND

foie gras torchon

dried apricot jam, spiced pistachios,

pretzel bread

or

sea scallops

celery root & apple puree,

ham hock vinaigrette

THIRD

grouper

shitakes, broccoli, duck broth

or

roasted venison chop

crushed parnsips w/ brown butter,

swiss chard, star anise jus

FOURTH

chocolate & hazelnut semIfreddo

vanilla creme anglaise,

hazelnut shortbread

or

tres leche cake

caramelized pineapple

coconut cream

Fresco’s Italian Bistro - $ ???

NYE Menu 

TO BEGIN

MAPLE ROASTED   BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Topped with Romano cheese

FOLLOWED BY

BABY ARUGULA   SALAD

Strawberries / blood oranges / goats cheese / red onion / pine nuts /   champagne vinaigrette

THEN…

LOBSTER STUFFED   AGNOLOTTI

With a buerre blanc truffle oil and fresh chives

OR

VEGETARIAN   AGNOLOTTI

Stuffed with portobello mushroom, sun dried tomato and goats cheese   tossed with herbed tomato, mushrooms and leeks

THE MAIN EVENT

HALIBUT HOT POT

Sustainably caught Halibut fillet served in a tomato-fennel broth /   seasonal vegetables / black olive tapenade crostini with lemon aioli

OR

BEEF TENDERLOIN

Pan seared certified ‘Angus’ beef tenderloin / topped with fois gras   / brandy-mushroom sauce / mashed potatoes / seasonal vegetables

OR

STUFFED CHICKEN   SUPREME

Organically and locally raised at Mariposa Farms / stuffed with   proscuitto, gouda and asparagus / pinot noir reduction / barley risotto /   seasonal vegetables

THE SWEET FINISH

GRAND MARNIER   CREME CARAMEL

Served with fresh berries, fair trade/organic coffee and/or tea

The Back Lane Cafe- Meal $85, Wine extra $45

NYE Menu 

1

Kafta Tartare, Beet Carpaccio and Scallop Ceviche

Grillo, Sicily, Favulo 2010 (5 oz)

2

Vitality Consommé of Beef Oxtail with Shitake Mushroom & Scallions

Or

Lobster Bisque, Vanilla Scented with Butternut Squash, Cardamom & Crème Fraiche

3

Granita Trio: Tomato, Pear & Ginger

4 

Land: Venison Flank Roast, Lamb & Hunter Sausage

Or

Sea: Branzino (Sea Bass), Lobster & Merguez

5

Profiterole with Ice Cream & Warm Chocolate Sauce

Or

Lemon Sponge Cake with Black Berries & White Chocolate Sauce

Midnight Buffet: Artisanal Cheese & Petit fours

Absinthe - $150 with wine pairings

NYE Menu 

AMUSE BOUCHE

K.F.Q

Fried Quail Drums, Waffle (chip) Barbeque Sirop

FIRST COURSE

Trilogy of Trout

House Gravlax, Fish and Chips, Cold Smoked Lox

Chardonnay, Estrada Creek, California, 2010*

Or

Mariposa

Venison Carpaccio with it’s Traditional Garnishes, Black Angus Tartar Onion Rosemary Crisps, Deviled Bob White

Quails Egg

Blauburgunder Pinot Nero, Schreckbichl Colterenzio, Italy, 2010*

SECOND COURSE

Lemon Thyme Sorbet

THIRD COURSE

Duck Two Ways

Seared Magret Ginger Bread Spice Juniper Reduction, Duck Confit Pastilla, Cranberry Chutney Aligot Beignet, Confit

Heirloom Carrot

Tempranillo Crianza, Lar de Barros, Ribero del Guadiana, Spain, 2006*

Or

Wellington

Left Coast Albacore Tuna, Coprin Mushroom Ragout, Beurre Citron

Viognier, Magellan, Languedoc, France, 2010*

FOURTH COURSE

Chocolate

Chocolate Mousse Tart Honey Ganache, Pot de Crème, Bonbon

Warre’s Otima 10 Year Old Tawny Port*

 

 

In a nutshell with: 10fourteen

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 One of the hottest neighbourhoods in town  is welcoming its newest addition to the Hintonburg family. As you crawl up Wellington Street, it would be a blatant lie to say that Westboro and the Hintonburg area are shy of restaurants. However, you will notice that a certain breed of restaurant is missing from the scene. Something that merges exceptional food with a holistic, unpretentious approach to dining is exactly what this strip is begging for. . . And happily, Rod Castro and Rani Aramouni are here to deliver. I asked Castro a few questions about his upcoming endeavour, the opening of his first restaurant, the struggles he faced as well as the moments that made the ride worth his while. On Tuesday, December 20th, 10fourteen will see its grand opening just in time for the bustle of Christmas and the New Year.

Kate: So 10fourteen is going to be Hintonburg’s newest tapas bar. Why did you decide to open a tapas bar in the first place?

Rod: Over the last few years, the quality of restaurants in Ottawa has grown substantially. None of us are classically trained but tapas is something we can tap into. We can bring another level of food to people who haven’t had the chance to try this kind of thing. We will be part of a community which is the important thing. I think the bottom line is we’re really not trying to take ourselves too seriously.

K: Tell me a bit about your dishes.

R: We are doing some traditional tapas dishes like civiche, carpaccio and some prosciutto dishes but tapas in Canada goes beyond that. We are going to branch out.

K: What price range can we expect to see?

R: $6-$7 per dish. We don’t want to go any higher than $13. A tapas style dinner should have more than just a few plates.

K: What dish do you expect will be a favourite?

R: I think our #1 will be the carpaccio. It is carpaccio bison served on artisan bread with parmesan biscuits topped with a dijonnaise.

K: Do you do much cooking on your own time?

R: Oh yeah.

K: If you were stranded on a deserted island what 5 ingredients would you bring with you?

R: Definitely artichokes. I have a passion for them. I can’t explain it. Some fresh basil, I would definitely need some fresh basil out there. Olive oil. Artisan bread and whole black peppers. A little fresh basil and olive oil, it’s so simple!

K: I don’t know much about the team you have 10fourteen, who is your partner and Exec Chef?

R: I’m working with Rani Aramouni and our Executive Chef is James Foley. Rani and I have known each other for years and we have a shared passion for food and wine. When we started looking for a chef we tapped into our connections in the industry but Foley ended up coming to us.

K: What is your background in the hospitality industry?

R: I’ve been working in restaurants since I was 15 years old and have worked in every possible position. I worked on the corporate side of things for a while too, with outback steakhouse. I was also the original GM of Pub 101. Working in the pubs was good for the people you get to meet but in terms of food and drink? I never felt challenged.

K: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in the opening process?

R: Well this is Plan F as far as site location goes. They always say “location, location, location”. A great space in the wrong location wasn’t going to work. We knew this was the area we wanted to be in.

K: Are you planning to source any of your products locally?

R: One of the best things about being in the Hintonburg area is that everyone wants to support other Hintonburg businesses. We have Wellington Fishhole down the street and they are willing too supply us with meats and tuna. And then Saslov’s is really close by. We are trying to do everything as close to home as we possibly can.

K: Do you have anything up your sleeve for NYE?

R: We are hoping to have a set menu for the night; we’re still working on it.

K: You know I’m a lover of wine, so I have to know: If you were to buy 1 bottle of wine what would it be?

R: From the LCBO? I’ve been having such a fun time with all of the wine suppliers we have had in over the past couple of weeks, but if it has to be from the LCBO it would be Ancient vines Cline Zinfandel. It has to be ancient vines though.

K: Well good luck with your soft opening tonight, I’ll see you on Tuesday for public opening!

Stay tuned for a full review of 10fourteen on Wednesday

Memories

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Memories can be made on the corner of Sussex and Clarence.

It’s one of those places where friends go to catch up and an hour turns to three. It’s where parents go with their sleeping tot to spend a Sunday afternoon reliving their youth over a cup of jo. It’s where a single working girl can go to reflect on a long day . . . and enjoy a blueberry tea.

Memories has been standing for almost 30 years and thus, is one of the oldest standing restaurants in Ottawa. In the last six years it has come under new management but, they haven’t changed much. They still rely on that cafe next-door feel, their regulars and

a little something special about what seems to be a regular soup & sandwich place. Memories, along with a handful of other places in Ottawa, is a licensed bistro, hence the blueberry tea I happily enjoyed on my break from work (shhhh). Along with Blueberry tea, Spanish coffee and cocktails, Memories also has a few selections of local beer and house wine. Nothing fancy, it really is the coffee-house where you can top up your coffee with Baileys and no one will judge you for it.

Try the foccacia sandwich; the bread is made in-house topped with pesto, grilled chicken and avocado. Another staff favourite is the smoked salmon sandwich. Most of the dishes are priced between $10-14 which is completely reasonable for a delicious mid-day meal.

Be sure to save room for their decadent desserts, all of which are made in-house.

Memories Restaurant and Bakery

7 Clarence Street

613.241.1882

How Do You Like YOUR Poutine?

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Sometimes, you just crave classic comfort food. For me, today was that day. When pondering what to do for lunch after a late Saturday night, I decided that today would be the perfect day to try a restaurant that has been open for some time, but that I’ve never made it to before, Smokes Poutinerie. I had heard about Smokes from a few friends, who had indulged in their cheesy goodness post-bar on a Saturday night. They raved about it, but let’s face it – sometime late night eats seem so much better at night than they do in the morning.

About to venture in!

Well, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the Poutinerie, even at 11:30 a.m!  A small restaurant that only has 2 tables and a bar that seats 10, the Poutinerie had the most casual of feels, which was exactly what I was looking for. Their slogan is “How do you like YOUR poutine?” and they offer a multitude of ways that you can have yours prepared. From vegetarian nacho to bacon cheeseburger, we took our time studying the menu, but in the end we ordered two classic varieties of poutine. (Traditional for me, Bacon for my date).

So. Many. Options.

The laid back ambience of this place made it what it is. The band Real Estate’s album was being played directly off of the employee’s iPod. The walls were covered with published articles that gave them rave reviews. There were bags of potatoes piled up on display. They even made an effort to keep things green, using recycled paper napkins and having multiple recycling bins scattered around to ensure customers used them. They sold old-fashioned soda. Overall, the vibe I got from the Poutinerie was perfect for this Sunday morning.

So. Many. Potatoes.

When our poutines were ready, we dove in and I must say that my craving for comfort food was fulfilled. The traditional was everything that you expect from a standard poutine. Lots of cheese, served at the right temperature so that it was nice and gooey. I will admit that my date’s poutine with bacon was much better than mine, but I blame myself for not opting for one of their more diverse menu options.

The Traditional: Everything I wanted it to be.

Bacon actually DOES make everything better!

In a nutshell, we got exactly what we were looking for. A tasty lunch that didn’t break the bank in an environment that made us feel comfortable and relaxed. I will definitely visit again (not too soon, because it’s an indulgent lunch meal!) and plan to order something a bit more adventurous!

Poutine and Flannel...I've never looked more Canadian, eh?

Chef Appreciation Night

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I think we’ve seen Oz Kafe pop up more than once on inanutshell, which means one thing: It’s awesome. As one of our favourite spots to hang out, grab a drink, catch up with friends and listen to awesome music, Oz Kafe just keeps getting better. Why? Because of Chef Appreciation Night. If you remember  my wild ride with the Spare Parts menu presented by Beckta Dining & Wine, Chef Appreciation night comes once a month – the last Monday of the month. I wasn’t able to get a reservation for the jam- packed night last month, featuring the lads from Whalesbone Oyster house. But this month, I manged to squeeze in a reservation for two at the midnight seating to see what Courtyard Restaurant had in store for Oz’s mouth-watering patrons. It just so happened that the last Monday of the month of October was Halloween, so the bar side of the restaurant was bumping with men in drag, about 3 where’s waldos and a sweet set up of Halloween decorations. It certainly made for a lively atmosphere when sitting down for a 5 course meal. Did I mention that this 5 course meal is only $25?

The Menu was entitled “Things White People Eat”, which humourously preceeded dishes like Kraft Dinner, Liver and Onions and a BLT. Upon first glance, I was slightly disappointed with the seemingly ordinary dishes I was about to taste, but that skepticism was quickly dissipated.

{Although this was our least favourite dish, the deep-fried Kraft dinner ball was still quite tastey}

 {Hendricks Martini to keep things interesting}

{“Liver and Onions” which  was actually our favourite dish. Translation: Liver terrine with deep-fried caramelized onions}

{Tuna Casserole}

{A BLT spin-off with pork belly, spicy tomato,swiss chard and a garlic aioli. YUM}

{Pumpkin pie!!!}

Once again, tried and true, Chef Appreciation night at Oz was a smash hit and something you can expect to see much more of on inanutshell. Simply because it is such a fun experience, I will continue to bring little insights from this spectacular evening. The music is fresh, the drinks are hot and the meal is an experience all in its self, something everyone should experience at least once!

The Village Cafe . . .and pumpkin pie cheesecake

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In the last two years, Westboro village has become one of the trendiest spots in Ottawa to whet your appetite. We’ve seen restaurants like the Wellington Gastropub make a name for itself through innovative molecular gastronomy, Siam Bistro has run away with the title of best Thai food in Ottawa and places like Alium, Absinthe and Juniper continue to win gold and silver medals for superior cooking in the nation’s capital. The Village Cafe is just another hot spot to add to the list, that I happily discovered on Tuesday afternoon.

The Village Cafe, I’m a little embarrassed to admit, has been open since 1996 and certainly is a hidden gem of the Westboro wing. Executive Chef Craig Beaudry and his soon-to-be-wife (and sous chef) Monique Haugen are intent upon local, fresh produce which made my heart skip a beat from the minute we walked in. Upon entry you will find a black board of daily specials with an emphasis on handcrafted, artisan comfort food using a variety of fresh and local ingredients. Everything is reasonably priced and the food is delicious, home-made style nourishment.

I decided upon the prosciutto,tomato and mushroom pasta and my companion went for the pulled pork sandwich which sits a few notches above any other pulled pork I’ve had in Ottawa (. . . Sorry Smoque Shack).

. After our main courses,  the waitress habitually offered us the dessert menu which usually, I politely decline. But on this crisp, autumn day I thought a slice of something nice would be just what the doctor ordered. The Village Cafe desserts are made fresh, in-house by chef Haugen and her efforts and culinary care are reflected in the presentation as well as the taste. With October being a pumpkin crazy month  (pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin bisque, pumpkin pie, you name it and Mr. Pumpkin is all over it), I decided to try the pumpkin pie cheesecake.  Let’s just say that the slice was nice…very nice. Heaven on a sugar dusted plate nice. Okay, fine. I loved it. It was the highlight of the meal and I urge anyone who likes good things to go and try the pumpkin cheesecake. Now.

Inanutshell, the cheesecake is a mousse-like consistency with crushed hazelnuts and walnuts atop of the whipped cream cheese icing with a dainty silhouette of a fork made out of icing sugar.  Along with the cozy meal, an intimate setting, friendly service and reasonable prices, the pumpkin pie cheese cake is worthy of a visit to Westboro’s The Village Cafe to satiate your October pumpkin-anything cravings.

 

**Have you had a delicious pumpkin treat this October?? Leave us a comment so we can fill our gluttonous tummies with more pumpkin-deliciousness!**

SmoQue Shack

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On June 22nd, 2011, ribbers from all over the world took over Ottawa for Ribfest. This international cook-off  is held to determine the best meat across the continent and draws thousands of tourists to Ottawa each year. I know people who book off time from work to indulge in a weekend of hickory sauce and finger-lickin’ fun.

About 6 weeks ago, Warren Sutherland decided that the summer time festival could have the potential to fill a hole in the Ottawa restaurant scene. “With a menu drawing from the best of the best in BBQ genre”, The Smoque Shack is our new, permanent Ribfest in restaurant form.

Sampling Platter with Jerk Chicken, Brisket and Ribs

The Texas-style brisket and North Carolina style pulled pork is just shy of the magic you find at Ribfest, but it’s a great substitute if you are craving a taste of Southern BBQ anytime other than those wet-nap weeks in June.

Monday night football with half price Rib Tips and $5 pints

The interior of The Smoque Shack has been criticized for lacking atmosphere but you will quickly realize that this BBQ joint is meant to be more of a smoke house/sports bar than a romantic nook. So roll up your sleeves and tune into your carnivorous side for a taste of Ottawa’s best BBQ!

The Smoque Shack

129 York Street

613.789.4245