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Category: Restaurant

How the mighty have fallen

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I used to go to Local Heroes regularly after sporting events, wither hockey or softball. My usual location was on Bank St. It was a neat spot filled with paraphernalia and lots of TVs. Founded in 1981 by former Ottawa Rough Rider Mark Kosmos, Local Heroes Sports Bar & Grill became popular for selling chicken wings by the pound, one of the first spot to do so in Ottawa. It dubbed itself the “King of Wings and Ribs”. It expanded across the National Capital region, opening locations on Clyde Avenue, Bank Street, and Carling Avenue in Kanata. Another wave of locations were opened a few years later, at Bells Corners, on St. Laurent Boulevard, in Stittsville and at Scotia Bank Place. But competition is tough, and most of the Local Heroes have now fallen, the Bank street location going under in May 2013. Hometown has now settled in that location.…

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Viva Vitalia

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It was a rainy evening, it was a kidless evening. Ms. Waffle and I were out on a date and we were going to make the most of it. Ms. Waffle was craving Italian, so we ended up making our way towards Bistro Vitalia, on rue Principale in Aylmer.  Opened less than a year ago, Bistro Vitalia replaced the much beloved Bistro Ambrosia, which was quite a popular Italian eatery. It surprised many when Ambrosia shut its doors for good, 10 years after opening. When we got there around 8 PM, the place was packed. Not a single seat was available on the main floor. We were a bit worried, but wisely, they decided to open the upper deck as more people came in behind us. We settled at a table by the railing to admire the spectacle below. Soon enough, half the tables in the upper section were occupied. The…

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To bee or not to bee, that is the question.

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I was driving back from Toronto after a conference and some business meetings. I was swallowing kilometers on the 401 when I realised I was really hungry. Lunch time! I stopped at the Trenton South OnRoute. My choices were Tim Hortons and A&W. As usual, the line-up at Tims was illogically long, so I elected to get some burgers. I hadn’t had A&W onion rings in quite some time, so I thought it would be a good idea to get some to go along with my burgers. Once my order was ready, I ask for some honey, as one is bound to do when getting ready to eat theses delicious golden circles. “We don’t have any honey, sorry.” GASP! – “You don’t have honey???” – “We don’t carry it.” – “You used to.” – “Yes, we used to.” What was I going to do? I sat down and looked at…

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Schnitzel Works works!

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I enjoy a good schnitzel from time to time. Ms. Waffle absolutely loves them. A schnitzel is a thinned, pounded flat piece of meat, usually breaded lightly and fried.  Originating from Austria, the schnitzel is traditionally made with veal, but can also be made of pork, chicken, mutton, beef, turkey or even reindeer. So when I heard about Schnitzel Works, I figured I would check it out. I made the mistake of mentioning the spot to Ms. Waffle, who pledged to kick me in the Schnitzel if I tried it without her. Tucked in the industrial park on Cyrville road, you could easily miss Schnitzel Works if you weren’t looking for it.  A classic lunch spot, it is not open for dinner, except for Saturday. The restaurant is small, maybe 20 seats. It has a bit of a dinner feel to it, very casual. Mel considered the Around the World Sandwich menu, which seems to be the most…

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Mezzaluna a quiet, hidden Italian discovery

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I had a lunch date with Marie in downtown Ottawa and was trying to find a spot I had never been to. I had heard good things about Café Mezzaluna, so that’s where we headed. Located on Cooper near Elgin, this Italian restaurant is connected to the Cartier Place Suite Hotel.  It has a nice little patio in the summer, but since March begun at -10, it wasn’t open, despite yesterday’s hype about year-round patios being considered by the city.  I mean, this is not Vancouver, especially not today. The restaurant’s decor is kind of dated, but I actually do not mind.  It gives it a classic, old school feel, a warm and comforting atmosphere. We sat at a table in the back corner. There was a party of 8 by the front window, sitting around a big round table. A couple of women showed up some time after.  So it wasn’t empty, but it was quiet. Which,…

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