Is it just me, or is life starting to feel normal again? I mean, are we almost over this pandemic? I don’t want to jinx it, but I am happy to be able to dine out on patios, just in time for summer. Today, I would like to share patio recommendations for summer in Ottawa. You may know, I also shared patio recommendations last year. Clearly, I like to dine out! These new suggestions are spots that I have come to love. If recently, you have been curious about suggestions in Ottawa, for brunch, lunch and/or dinner, please look no further.
1. Gitanes
You must go here, you just have to. Quite frankly, I am obsessed. The vibes are unreal. I wish there were more restaurants and patios like this one in the city. The inside is like a speak easy, and the ambiance during nighttime while out on the patio is pure elegance. In a dream world, I would eat here every week, but I know it’s bad for my health and wallet. Book here for the ultimate girls night, dress up and go to town!
I like their French onion soup as it comes with bone marrow for extra flavour. Furthermore, their focaccia and pommes frites are bites of heaven. As for my friends, they love to suggest the steak frites to anyone who asks. Finally, for dessert, you have to order their ice cream sundae. It comes with the cutest cherry on top and a caramel sauce for drizzling.
2. Mati
I can’t say enough good things about Mati. I have been to this place multiples times. The servers are attentive, kind, funny and knowledgeable. You can tell that they genuinely want you to have a nice experience. As for the restaurant building itself, it is always clean and the outdoor patio is magical. Towards the back of the patio, there is space that is covered in case of any rain and it includes fancy décor. For example, they have a fun couch, modern lighting fixtures and a plant wall. Perfect for Instagram! 😉
As for the drinks and food, well, you can’t really go wrong with anything on the menu. I truly mean that. Everything is flavourful and fresh. As for a drink, during a night out, I highly recommend The Queen Bee. The Queen Bee gives a burst of lavender in every sip.
Next, my friends and I always go for their oysters to start off dinner. Mati likes to change up the accoutrements that go with the oysters. Sometimes there will be a blueberry option, which is something unique. Also, I recommend their caesar salad and lobster tacos. The caesar salad comes with a boiled egg, a generous amount of cheese and is very fresh overall. Then, the lobster tacos come in three. They are very crispy and the fish filling is light and tasty. Topped with jalapeños, there is the perfect amount of spice.
Other dishes I recommend include their calamari, sushi and of course, their famous tomahawk steak. All in all, this place is ideal for either a romantic date night or to catch up with your girlfriends. Ps. their brunch is also amazing. I highly suggest their croissants and eggs benedict options. Lastly, the bonus is, I love how this place gives me an excuse to dress up!
3. Mamma Teresa Ristorante
I honestly wish that I had better images for you throughout this blog post. Truthfully, the food and environment here is so awesome that I forget to take pictures before eating here (which if you know me, that is rare). I recommend both Mamma Teresa Ristorante locations, either on Somerset, or north of Gatineau, in Chelsea.
Firstly, their patios are full of umbrellas and lights (no matter which location). Also, they offer complimentary fresh bread and olives to start your meal. When I have visited, the service has always been very kind with helping me pick the perfect wine pairing. As for their appetizers, they offer a lovely antipasto which comes with calamari, scallops, meats, cheese, stuffed peppers and more. I suggest you choose the antipasto, too. For their main course options, I really like their penne arrabbiata. If you enjoy the right amount of heat in your dishes, then you would also rave about it.
For dessert, their tiramisu is the way to go, as it is airy and decadent. All in all, Mamma Teresa Ristorante is a perfect choice for a romantic date night or for celebrating a milestone with family members.
4. Prohibition Craft Beer & Public House
If you are looking for a casual and chill vibe, this place is great for that. Whenever my friends and I want to go out for drinks and we sometimes decide on the day of, we can count on Prohibition Public House (but there can be a bit of a wait time). Their patio is a great size and is very cute, with modern brick walks and string lights.
What is cool, is that they offer local beer from Ottawa! For example, I like the WhitewaterBlood Orange Sour in particular. Also, what is funny, is that my friend has been talking about how great their Watermelon Sangria is for the past few days. Pair these drinks with their charcuterie and you are guaranteed to have a relaxed, yet fun night ahead!
Maybe it is Sunday morning and you are in need of a starchy meal? Or, you genuinely just want to chat with your friends about the Saturday that you had? Either way, this is definitely the place to stop at for brunch. This location is excellent as it is right on Elgin street, which is busy in a good way. This means that the patio is always a good time. They also have a tv outside which is great for watching sports with buddies, if you are able to snag seats close by.
I find that their eggs are always cooked right and their home fries are some of the best. Moreover, they also give you a good portion of fruit (it is all about balance). Specifically, I like to order their Poached Eggs Portuguese dish, as it includes poached eggs over crispy potato pancakes instead of the usual English muffin.
Well, that is all.. for now. I hope that some of these patio recommendations for summer have you intrigued, so much so that you want to try them out soon, too.
Next on my list of patios to try are places such as:
- Arlo
- Chop Shop
- La Terrasse
Let’s get to it!
