The Ottawa Foodie Starter Pack

Every city has one—the unspoken starter kit that says, “I’m in the know.” In Ottawa, it’s a select lineup of dishes, drinks, and dining rooms that you post once, and voilà—you’re officially on the scene.

The usual suspects:

A kale salad at Supply & Demand, preferably with a glass of orange wine just off-frame.

Tacos from El Camino, shot from directly above, with just enough of the patterned table visible to remind people you know what you’re doing.

Bubble waffles at Moo Shu—that perfectly chewy, Instagrammable waffle cradling their scooped small-batch ice cream.

Whalesbone oysters on ice, with the lemon wedge placed at exactly the right angle.

A clean shot of Bread By Us croissants, artfully framed by a pair of hands in the background.

Maybe some mid-twirl pasta from North & Navy, or a pour-over from Little Victories in a handcrafted ceramic mug—if you're feeling niche.

They’re tasty—often brilliant—but they’ve also become visually safe. Comfortable choices that almost guarantee claps from fellow diners and staff alike.

But Ottawa’s food scene is far richer than these go-to shots. There are countless dishes worth posting that still fly under the radar—plates where flavour outpaces likes, rooms that feel more alive than they look in a grid.

Think of the starter pack as that first beat in the mix. What you post afterward is what shows you’re actually exploring the city—not just collecting stamps.