This past Family Day Long Weekend I coordinated a visit to our Nationals Capital with Ottawa Tourism. I arrived with my father just in time to showcase The Winterlude Festival. We had a jam packed culinary itinerary which had us visiting five of the cities top restaurants. When we weren’t oooing and ahhhing at fantastical ice sculptures or strolling through the National Gallery we were either snapping pictures of our food, napping with bloated stomachs or talking about our next meal. Food was the focus, as it should be.
We spent our Saturday night dining at Town, a tiny little strip off of Elgin Street. The space features a slender dining room with overhead industrial lights and a large chalk board featuring the kitchens menu and wine specials. Our waitress advised us that the owner came up with the simple name of Town because he wanted the restaurant to reflect how a lot of local people feel about their city. Ottawa really is a big town, and Town has a really big heart. The menu is chalk full of comfort food which clearly has romanced local foodies. The bar and dining room were jam packed full the entire evening. Reservations are a must, sad to see hopeful diners walk in on a Saturday night to have to mope back into the cold (plan ahead when places are popular people)! Town is a local favorite with honest food that nourishes the soul.
We enjoyed (* notes my favorites):
Kichesippi Natural Blonde Ale
Townie Cocktail *
white cranberry, peach schnapps, prosecco, blackberry
***
Chickpea Fries *
rooster mayo
Parmesan Sformato *
butternut squash puree, walnut pesto, parmesan crisp
Mortadella Crostini
mortadella mousse, fig and onion compote, hazelnuts
Ricotta Stuffed Meatballs *
soft polenta, san marzano
***
Rjgialla, La Tunella, Friuli, Italy *
Town Cheese Plate
served with crostini, fresh bread, spiced nuts, cherry mostarda and honey
taleggio, Italy
cow milk, washed rind, semi soft, pasteurized
prestige, Quebec *
goat milk, ash crush, soft, raw
riopelle, Quebec *
cow milk, brie style, raw
