Ottawa is home to some pretty great brunch spots but there is also a lot of places that do brunch so it can be difficult to narrow down the options. I’m rounding up my favourite brunch spots that I keep coming back to and hope you enjoy them just as much as I do.
Wilf & Ada’s
Wilf & Ada’s serves breakfast and lunch with ingredients that are all fresh and locally sourced for incredible farm to table meals. It is a small spot with limited seating but the food is great.
They do not take reservations so keep that in mind for when you go. You may have to wait a bit but it is definitely worth the wait.
Dessert First (Bank Street)
Dessert First mostly serves breakfast, lunch and sweet treats but they do offer a dinner service on Saturday evenings. Everything is made fresh and is super delicious. The home fries are actually my favourite thing about their breakfast. They’re pillowy soft on the inside with golden crunch outside.
It’s a fairly small space so I do recommend making a reservation if you’re planning to go on a weekend as it can get quite busy. They do have two locations but the one on bay street only serves desserts, cakes, beverages and all-day breakfast sandwiches. Bay street location is great if you’re looking to grab something quick on the go.
Chesterfield’s Gastro Diner
Chesterfield’s is a great local spot serving delicious fresh food with a great staff. The menu has a ton of great options whether you’re looking for a classic breakfast or something a bit more health conscious. They are also very eco-friendly as the entire restaurant is run off of hydroelectricity and you won’t find any styrofoam here.
They do not take reservations here and people typically start lining up 30 minutes before the restaurant even opens. I went 15 minutes before it opened and was able to be sat right away but it will certainly be a longer wait the later you go.
The Rowan
The Rowan is a great little gastropub that serves brunch, lunch and dinner. I’ve only been there for brunch and had delicious breakfast tacos with home fries and bacon. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked really good so I’m sure you can’t go wrong with anything your order.
You can make reservations so I definitely recommend making one as this is a busy spot for brunch. The menu changes frequently here so it may not be the same the next time you come back. The good thing about a changing menu is that you’re always trying something new!
Jax
Jax is most famously known for their bison burger, which was featured on the food network’s show ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’. They offer a small breakfast and lunch menu but you can’t go wrong with either. They also usually run a couple specials if something on the menu doesn’t catch your eye. The food is fantastic and all locally sourced.
This is probably the smallest restaurant on the list and they don’t take reservations so I recommend going at opening time to get a table or you’ll most likely be waiting.
The Belmont
The Belmont has a great brunch menu with some delicious dishes. Their Turkish eggs are a popular item but I opted to try the french toast, which was really good and had hazelnut crumble and lavender whipped cream. They are also serving up bottomless mimosas, which always make for a great brunch!
This is another small spot that doesn’t take reservations so be prepared to wait a bit during busy times. If you’re able to go closer to opening time you likely won’t have to wait.
Gezellig
Gezellig is a popular bistro in the heart of Westboro serving up brunch, lunch and dinner. They have a small but delicious brunch menu, which will not disappoint. Gezellig is unlike any brunch restaurant I’ve been to before. They do a 2 plate format for $28 so you end up getting to try two dishes instead of one!
Gezellig does take reservations and with it being a popular spot in Westboro it is definitely best to make one in advance.
Evoo Greek Kitchen
Evoo is a Greek restaurant only open for brunch on Sunday’s and the rest of the week they don’t open until lunch time. They’re serving up brunch items with a Greek twist. I had their tomato feta baked eggs and it exceeded my expectations. Many restaurants can be cheap with the cheese but this dish was packed with feta cheese so there was some in every bite!
Luckily, you can make reservations and avoid having to wait for a table as it can get quite busy. It is also a smaller location so it fills up pretty quick!
Mati
This is another spot that is only open for brunch on Sunday’s. What initially drew me to this restaurant was the lobster grilled cheese. I love anything with seafood so when I saw this, I knew I had to try it. I had the lobster grilled cheese and the truffle burrata eggs and both were delicious. I’m looking forward to going back and trying the french toast next!
You can make reservations here and because they only do brunch once a week it can be a very popular spot.
