Still Worth the Drive

Not every good restaurant is on a main street. Some of the best ones in Ottawa are tucked into neighborhoods you’ve only driven through. They don’t get foot traffic from office towers or lineups of day-drinkers. They get regulars. They get intentional visits. And they make it worth the trip.

Le St. Laurent (Manor Park)

A rooftop view, a focused menu, and just enough polish. It feels like a special occasion, even if you didn’t plan one. The food is elegant without being fussy, the room is calm, and there’s something deeply satisfying about looking down at the city while eating something grown just outside it.

Baccanalle (Vanier)

Chef Resa Solomon-St. Lewis serves Caribbean food that tastes like memory: generous, grounded, never phoned in. The jerk chicken is full of smoke and spice, and the mac and cheese is rich, comforting, and unapologetically good. It’s mostly takeout, but the feeling is full-service — not in formality, but in care. This is food made by someone who wants you to feel nourished.

Meatings (Orléans)

There’s a reason people drive from across the city for this. The smoke is real. The brisket is proper. The ribs don’t fall apart — because they’re not supposed to. This is barbecue that respects the craft: low and slow, with bark, juice, and a bit of heat. No gimmicks. Just the kind of food that makes you lean back and nod.

Little Turkish Village (Orléans)

It’s been open for decades, and it shows — in the best way. The menu hasn’t chased trends, just refined what it does well: tender lamb, grilled chicken, bright, generous salads, and sides that actually matter. The dining room is unassuming, the service is kind, and the food tastes like it’s been practiced for years. There’s nothing flashy here — just confidence earned the slow way.