374 Elgin Street Ottawa, Ontario 613.237.9700 website
On my last day in Ottawa, my sister and I headed out for breakfast, before she started classes and before my long drive back to Hamilton. My sister suggested going to the popular Elgin Street Diner. If you ever go for breakfast here on the weekend, you will likely have to wait in line. However, we were there on a Wednesday morning and there was no waiting involved.
I love the authentic diner furniture.
I had been to this diner once before and my one memory was not really liking the mashed up, home fries. What I did not remember was the prices of the breakfast combos. Slightly higher than I expected but not too bad since they all include coffee. We both got the breakfast special ($7.99) that included two eggs, bacon, home fries and baked beans. I actually liked the home fries this time, mainly because of a spice in it - I think fennel. I'm not a fan of baked beans but did not mind them either (although I definitely did not eat all of it!).
Breakfast special for $7.99.
I was tempted to try out the hangover special, which includes poutine instead of home fries. However, I couldn't justify the extra $4. I'm glad I didn't because there was no way I could have finished it. Maybe next time, when I have a more empty stomach and a fuller wallet.
308 Dalhousie Street Ottawa, Ontario 613.789.9188 website
After my visit to Montréal, I drove to our nation's capital Ottawa with my sister L. She is going back to university to become a high school teacher. Another engineer changing her career! I spent a couple of days there for moral support and we got to eat out a couple of times. On our first evening there, we dropped off some of L's things and went to look for dinner. We walked by Parliament Hill and headed off to ByWard Market. We agreed on Indian and ended up at Shafali Restaurant.
Parliament Hill.
Ottawa is very pretty!
After going back and forth, we decided to go for a vegetarian combo meal for two. We started off with a plate of appetizers, consisting of pakora's and samosa's. My sister and I can never resist Indian appetizers! Both were served with a tamarind sauce.
Starter of pakora and samosa.
Our combo included two curries and rice. We asked to change one of the curries to matar paneer (one of our faves!)and the waiter was happy to oblige. The second curry that was included was podiyal, a South Indian vegetable with coconut dish. We had never tried it before and it was good. You could really taste the coconut. There were no leftovers after this meal!
Rice with fried onion. Yum!
Matar paneer.
Vegetable podiyal.
After we finished our curries, the waiter came up to us and asked if we preferred gulab jamun or payesh for dessert. My sister likes both desserts and I definitely have a weak spot for payesh (rice pudding) so we had the rice pudding. Even though we were both stuffed to the gills, we managed to finish our rice pudding. It was creamy and not too sweet. Perfection! My sister told me she sometimes makes this at home. I will definitely have to try this! I rarely have dessert at Indian restaurants because I'm usually too full; however, it's included, I won't refuse it!
It was getting dark so this was the best shot of my rice pudding topped with almond.
