Azim A.'s Profile

Swung by here when I was in the area working, looking for a quick bite.

Unfortunately I had to wait a bit because it was a friday night and these guys were extremely busy! But once I got the food, namely a breaded chicken sub, and a slice of pizza, it was definitely worth the wait.

Loved the sub; the chicken was fresh, the dressing was superb, and the size of the sub was generous. It did come up to $9, but it was very filling. The vegetarian pizza was also fresh, and the sauce used had a zest to it.

They can be a bit more organized, you could see it was quite crazy back there;  but then again, I'm sure most kitchen's are on a friday night.

The Buzz is a new bistro-like restaurant on Bank street that certainly is eye-catching; high-ceilings, brick walls, and a chic New York City-like interior that is often frequented by young professionals and public sector employees.

What's cool about this place is that the menu is not static, many of the items change along with the seasons and the latest in culinary tastes. One constant that is there is the 'Buzz steak frites', which involves a 6 oz. steak covered with sweet potato fries and fresh market vegetables. This is a house specialty and very good.

I was scared that seeing the interior the prices would be absurdly expensive, but thankfully there were somewhat reasonable. However, I was in the mood for a burger, but not prepared to pay $15 for one! The salads were good though.

The service could have been more attentive and more efficient, particularly since it was not very busy at the time. We had to get up and search out our server to ask for something, and again at the end to ask for the bill.

Overall it's a cool place to check out, and their Sunday brunch is apparently really good.

I've only been here once, but since I now live within walking distance of here, I'm sure to come by more often.

I enjoyed the experience here; the food is affordable, tasty and filling. The inside is nice and authentic-looking, though from the outside it looks like a generic strip-mall outlet.

The waterfall beef was my favourite, I found the name interesting and new. Very saucy they're items are; perhaps a bit too much. The food is sweet and presumably being a family-run restaurant, it has a homemade feel to it, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

After talking to the friendly owners, I found out another reason why the food here is a bit different from most Thai restaurants is because it is derived from the Esan region of Thailand, which is in the northeastern part of the country, where 'sticky rice' is popular. Most restaurants are inspired by the central part of Thailand. The staff and owners are very friendly and talkative, especially pertaining to their culture and the ingredients special to their region!

All in all, a slightly different Thai experience, friendly staff, decent food, and really affordable.

The one thing about Siam Kitchen is that, while the decor and ambience might not be the greatest, the food is outstanding.

What I particularly loved is the variety of different sauces they have, and the fact that they don't shy away from adding spices. Loved the Tom Yum soup, and the pad thai is also very good.

The service was decent; they were relatively timely and efficient, and no orders were messed up. They're not super-friendly though, would be nice to see the staff look like they're enjoying their job! But to dwell on that would be nit-picking.

They could spruce up the place a bit, as it is already a bit cramped. Adding more ambience would give more of an intimate feel for sure.

But as for the food, the main reason I go to restauants - it's definitely top-notch.

If you're looking for an unpretentious, no-frills, nothing-over-the-top place that has a good beer selection, friendly staff and above-average food, check out the Conroy Pub.

I stumbled upon it one night after working in the area, and being very hungry, it definitely did the trick. I'm positive my review isn't biased because I was already hungry, because I still had the sense to know how good the food was, rather than just gobble it down unconsciously!

I love my wings spicy, and these guys know how to make them spicy and good. Couldn't get enough of them. The burger's were decent, standard pub fare. Some people might call this place a hole, and while it's not fancy and not spotlessly clean, it's far from being dirty. The staff is extra-nice, and the people there are usually regulars who come for a good, hearty time. I'd love to come back here with a group of friends.

This might be my favourite park in Ottawa, and one of my favourite urban parks, period.

The setting is certainly beautiful: Overlooking Parliament Hill, nestled next to the stunning Rideau Canal, situated above the Ottawa River, and hugging historic landmarks such as the National Art Gallery, Photography Museum, Chateau Laurier, and of course, Parliament.

It does get busy here with tourists, particularly during summer and weekends, so it's not the quietest, most tranquil park. However, that is expected, and considering the location, it's really not even close to being overcrowded. If you can swing by during a work-week afternoon, I definitely recommend it.

I finally made my way to Colonnade's after hearing a lot about it. Most places that are hyped I end up coming out disappointed, especially when you here such hyperbole as 'best pizza in town'. But for once, this place actually lived up to it's hype, mostly.

The pizza is definitely high-quality, and ranks as one of the best I've had in a long time. The toppings are fresh, the crust is spectacular, and the portions are healthy. The Meditteranean Special is something that must be tried, which really gets the taste buds going.

The pizza's here are bit cheesier than most, so if you like cheese, you will love this place even more. If you don't like too much cheese and want a healthier pizza, you may have to request this or make an exception this one time. One possible complaint can be that the toppings are burried under the cheese, but this does not mean the quantity of the toppings is compromised. They may not be as visible as other pizza's, but you can still taste them in all their fresh glory! I actually asked and apparently Colonnade's buys their own special ingredients, which explains why they are so fresh and tasty.

There are other items on the menu, such as salads and pasta's, but those are average at best and not really anything to write home about. Pizza is their specialty, and that's what you should go for. The prices are not cheap either, but still worth it, in my opinion, in terms of the taste and portions you get.

My friend from Montreal loves this place because it is the closest thing to authentic Montreal-style bagels you will find in Ottawa. In fact, it's better than most of the bagel shops in Montreal!

Kettleman's is worth the visit if only to experience the art of bagel-making. The Wood-burning oven is a sight to behold, and the senses are swarmed with fresh dough, wood-burning scents. The Bagel's themselves are outstanding, fresh, a lot of variety, high-quality ingredients, and filling. I personally like to keep my bagel simple, and love the cheese bagel. However, those more daring having a plethora of options in customizing what they want!

Their sandwiches are also worth a try, and the soup's are said to be good. I didn't really like the pastries offered, but they have some variety in that department as well. Overall, this is a great place to visit to have the whole bagel experience.

Lago is a premium night spot in the city, it is a dazzling location that is set right along the beautiful Dow's Lake and the Rideau Canal.

Its ideal for the summer time because of its really large patio, overlooking the water. It's a huge facility in itself, as it also has a banquet hall inside.

The atmosphere is ok, though a bit dull and pretentious. The music varies depending on the night and the DJ, though I've only been here twice. A lot of weddings and private parties are booked here as well.

This is a traditional old-school diner that has the usual burgers, milkshakes, fries and the like. However, in an odd and unexpected twist, they also present Chinese food! Not sure how this happens, as this place does NOT look like a place that would serve chinese food (it looks like an all-American casual diner), but I think the ownership is now East Asian, as the friendly people behind the counter would suggest.

Anyways, I went with the traditional burger, fries and chocolate shake combo, and it was good and filling. The fries were a bit too greasy for my liking, but I guess thats expected.

My buddy though went with Shanghai noodles and chicken stirfry, which he was raving about. Each combo went for about $9-$10, which I found to be a bit steep.

The interior was nothing special, no efforts to try to be retro or themed, which was fine by me, since the food was good and filling!