Ottawa poutine places to satisfy big cravings
Poutine is a glorious combination of two things that are already good on their own – cheese and fries – covered in rich gravy. Whether you like your poutine the classic way, or prefer to add pizzazz with various toppings, these poutine spots will fill that empty void in your stomach.
Elgin Street Diner
374 Elgin St, Ottawa ON K2P 1N1As a place to go after a night out carousing on Elgin Street, Elgin Street Diner never closes. I’ve seen poutine consumed there at all hours, including a gruesome pile of fries smothered in the darkest gravy imaginable for breakfast! Very loyal staff and customers make this spot an Ottawa classic.
The WORKS Craft Burgers & Beer
363 St Laurent Blvd, Ottawa ON K1K 2Z7Perhaps best known as a burger and onion ring spot, they make a pretty mean poutine here. If you come in a big group, they put you into the cage – a separate area of the restaurant where the tables are in an enclosure made to look like a cage. I’ve been in the cage – it’s just you and your guys against the cholesterol and the fries.
Corner Bar and Grill
344 Richmond Rd, Ottawa ON K2A 0E8This place is an Ottawa-wide favourite. You might try poutine as a $7 appetizer before tackling the Kichesippi chicken dinner. You want to savour your meal in one of the few eateries that hasn’t been swept away by the gentrification on Richmond Road.
Great Canadian Poutinerie
200 Deschamps Ave, Vanier ON K1L 1A7This spot is the real McCoy. Years ago, when chip wagons in Ottawa were banned, Vanier held the market. This place still attracts folks from around town, including bikers from the Bikers’ Church down the street. And, they have a vegetarian poutine.
Dunn's Famous Deli
355 Dalhousie St, Ottawa ON K1N 7G1Dunn’s likes to claim that it made poutine famous - a highly disputable claim, unless they are referring to outside of Québec. Still, theirs is wonderful. It is a great place to go after a night in the ByWard Market. Heck, I’d even go there for their smoked meat.
Pure Kitchen Ottawa
357 Richmond Rd, Ottawa ON K2A 0E7Although it’s a vegetarian restaurant, Pure Kitchen still makes amazing vegetarian poutine that always hits the spot. Made with hand cut fries, mushroom peppercorn gravy and cheese curds, this is a winner. It’s guaranteed to please even hard-core carnivores, thanks to that delectable mushroom peppercorn gravy.
Hintonburger
1096 Wellington St W, Ottawa ON K1Y 2Y5You might expect a hamburger joint located in an old KFC to ruin poutine. But, you’d be wrong. Ottawa’s favourite burger place makes a very decent poutine. Add it to your burger - you would not be the only one to partake in this primal instinct. And yes, they use St. Albert’s cheese curds.
Smoke's Poutinerie
407 Dalhousie St, Ottawa ON K1N 9K4There is no smoked poutine at Smoke’s, the creation of a Smith Falls, Ontario entrepreneur. However, poutine creations including perogies, sausage, nachos and even steak fajitas make up for it. It’s so popular that you may not be alone here, even at four in the morning.
