The 10 Best Restaurants in Gloucester, Ottawa That Make You Want to Try Everything
Just a 10-minute drive from downtown Ottawa, you’ll find Gloucester, a sprawling suburb known for its nature trails and historic attractions. It also has a vibrant food scene, with a mix of local staples, buzzy hotspots, and fine dining destinations.
Whenever my friends and I can’t decide on a restaurant, we just cruise along Ogilvie Road until we find a place we all agree on. If we change our minds, it’s so convenient that we can walk to a different spot, considering they’re all just a stone’s throw away from each other.
Below, we’ve made a little guide to introduce you to the best restaurants in Gloucester we’ve tried and love.
1. State & Main
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Website: www.stateandmain.ca
Location: 1880 Ogilvie Rd
Operating hours:
Sunday-Wednesday, 11 AM–11 PM
Thursday-Saturday, 11 AM–12 AM
Phone: +16136564900
Must-order: Bang Bang Shrimp
State & Main is a casual but trendy spot where we like to get handcrafted cocktails and elevated comfort food. They’re known for their shareable plates, which aren’t just delicious but also generous in size.
Serving a globally inspired menu, we like that there’s always something new and exciting to try here. From Baja Fish Tacos and Soup Dumplings to Steak Frites, their contemporary fusion dishes keep us coming back for more.
Our favorite is the Bang Bang Shrimp—crispy, golden-brown bites that add a satisfying crunch to your meal. The flavor mostly comes from the sauce, a sweet and tangy concoction with a little bit of kick.
Aside from the food, we like that the restaurant has a lively atmosphere perfect for a night out with friends. But if you prefer to dine in a more laid-back setting, we recommend getting a table on the patio, which is also a dog-friendly space.
Pro Tip:
Happy Hour happens twice a day, every day. To get incredible discounts on food and cocktails, swing by from 2 PM to 5 PM and 9 PM to 12 AM.
2. Coconut Lagoon
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Website: www.coconutlagoon.ca
Location: 853 St. Laurent Blvd
Operating hours:
Monday, 11:30 AM–2 PM, 4:30–9:30 PM
Wednesday-Friday, 11:30 AM–2 PM, 4:30–9:30 PM
Phone: +16137424444
Must-order: Lamb Chops
Coconut Lagoon is an upscale restaurant serving authentic South Indian cuisine with a gourmet twist. Although it’s a fine dining experience, you don’t have to break the bank to experience it.
If you dine during lunch, you can indulge in a 3-course meal for only $27! We like that the entree is a set of rotating dishes, which include lamb, fried fish, samosas, and of course, curries.
Lamb chops are a must if you’re feeling indulgent. While it does have a slightly gamey taste, the flavors are rich and well-balanced, especially with the sweet and tangy beet pachadi.
What we like most about this restaurant is the variety in its menu. Even if you don’t eat meat, they can whip up vegetarian dishes that are just as flavorful and satiating.
Pro Tip:
If you’re craving indulgence, try the Butter Masala Lobster, a decadent seafood dish simmered in a tomato and cashew nut sauce, with ghee rice.
3. Moxies
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Website: www.moxies.com
Location: 1976 Ogilvie Rd
Operating hours:
Sunday-Tuesday, 11 AM–11 PM
Wednesday-Thursday, 11 AM–12 AM
Friday-Saturday, 11 AM–1 AM
Phone: +16137455556
Must-order: Tuna Poke Bowls
Gloucester is home to Moxies, a popular restaurant chain you’ll find across Canada and some parts of the US. If you’re eating out but want to keep it light, their healthy, well-rounded meals are perfect for guilt-free indulgence.
We love their tuna poke bowl since it’s packed with fresh, healthy ingredients. Over a bed of cauliflower rice, they add generous portions of fish, shiitake mushrooms, crisp veggies, and egg, making it a nutritious and filling meal that helps us power through the day.
Aside from seafood, we’re into their plant-based dishes, especially the curry laksa. The coconut broth is rich, but not too overpowering, with just the right mix of spicy, savory, and sweet flavors.
Pro Tip:
For each day of the week, they offer different drink specials. Ask the bartender for the drink of the day to save a few bucks.
4. Montana’s BBQ and Bar
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Website: www.montanas.ca
Location: 1750 Ogilvie Rd
Operating hours:
Sunday-Thursday, 11 AM–10 PM
Friday-Saturday, 11 AM–11 PM
Phone: +16137472744
Must-order: Beef Ribs
Another popular restaurant chain you’ll find in Gloucester is Montana’s BBQ and Bar. It’s always a busy and lively spot, where the entire family can indulge in Canadian comfort food.
Our go-to order is their beef ribs, which they smother with their signature BBQ sauce and smoke in-house daily until they’re fall-off-the-bone tender. The meat has a rich, smoky flavor and just melts in your mouth with every bite.
Despite the crowds, especially during the dinner rush, service is quick, but the quality of the food never dips. Every time we dine here, the staff is pleasant and accommodating, which enhances the dining experience.
Pro Tip:
They have special braille and large print menus for the visually impaired. If needed, ask the staff for the menu.
5. East Side Mario’s
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Website: www.eastsidemarios.com/
Location: 1820 Ogilvie Rd
Operating hours:
Sunday-Thursday, 11 AM–10 PM
Friday-Saturday, 11 AM–11 PM
Phone: +16137486931
Must-order: Chicken Parmesan
East Side Mario’s is a family favorite, offering a wide variety of Italian-American classics. On certain days of the week, you can order from their all-you-can-eat menu, which features unlimited pasta, salad, and soup for an affordable price.
We order the Chicken Parmesan most of the time, a crispy hand-breaded cutlet topped with tangy tomato sauce and salty mozzarella. We like that it’s served with a heap of spaghetti, so it’s quite a filling meal that gives us the best bang for our buck.
Another dish we suggest is the Italian wedding soup, also known as Minestra Maritata. Made with meatballs and veggies simmered in a flavorful broth, it’s simple, hearty, and comforting.
Pro Tip:
Check their socials for daily deals, so you can get incredible discounts when they’re available.
6. Little Turkish Village
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Website: http://www.turkishvillage.ca/
Location: 2095 St Joseph Blvd
Operating hours:
Saturday-Sunday, 4 PM–10 PM
Tuesday-Thursday, 11:30 AM–9 PM
Friday, 11:30 AM–10 PM
Phone: +16138245557
Must-order: Lamb Shank
Little Turkish Village is the neighborhood’s go-to for authentic Mediterranean cuisine. The meats are braised and slow-cooked to perfection, creating a flavorful dish that just falls off the bone.
One dish we’ll never get tired of is the Lamb Shank, which they infuse with a traditional blend of spices and aromatics. The meat and the veggies soak up all the flavor, creating a deeply comforting bite, especially when paired with soft, fluffy rice.
To balance out the rich, meaty dishes, we always order the Mezze Salad, a mix of fresh veggies, creamy feta, and briny olives. They have lighter options like the Coban Salad, which has diced cucumbers and tomatoes tossed in olive oil and lemon.
We like that all the dishes come in shareable portions. Whether you’re dining with a partner or a family of four, you can order enough for the entire group.
Pro Tip:
If their regular servings are too large for you, ask for their Light Meals menu. They offer the same delicious Turkish dishes but in more manageable portions.
7. Crust & Crate
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Website: www.crustandcrate.com
Location: 2018 Ogilvie Rd
Operating hours:
Sunday, 9 AM–9 PM
Tuesday, 11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday-Thursday, 11 AM–10 PM
Friday, 11 AM–11 PM
Saturday, 9 AM–11 PM
Phone: +16136566567
Must-order: Fredo Corleone Pizza
Crust & Crate is a gastropub known for their Al Forno style pizzas, which are hand-stretched and fired in the oven. They have a lighter, airier crust with crispy, blistered edges.
While everything about their pies is traditional, the pizza flavors and names are anything but conventional.
One of our favorites is named after The Godfather’s Fredo Corleone, a white sauce pizza topped with grilled chicken breast, smoked bacon, mushrooms, and more.
We love that they add oregano, giving the creamy sauce a slightly peppery and earthy taste. The herb balances out the flavors and complements the richness of the toppings, which is why we can easily gobble down an entire pie.
On the weekends, from 9 AM to 2 PM, they serve brunch. We love their savory Breakfast Pizzas with sunny-side-up eggs, bacon, and Italian sausages, but the waffles are a must-have if you have a sweet tooth.
Pro Tip:
Visit on Thursdays to get 2 fast-fired pizzas of your choice for only $35.
8. Mandarin Restaurant
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Website: www.mandarinrestaurant.com
Location: 2055 Tenth Line Rd, Orléans
Operating hours:
Sunday, 11:30 AM–3 PM, 4:15 PM–9 PM
Monday-Thursday, 11:30 AM–3 PM, 4:45 PM–9 PM
Friday, 11:30 AM–3 PM, 4:45 PM–10 PM
Saturday, 11:30 AM–3 PM, 4:15 PM–10 PM
Phone: +16138347000
Must-order: Black Pepper Steak
Mandarin Restaurant is a sprawling buffet, serving a wide range of Chinese dishes, desserts, and cocktails. With free parking and no time limit on their all-you-can-eat meals, you can savor every bite of your food.
Out of all their year-round staples and seasonal items, the Black Pepper Steak is a dish we crave again and again. While the beef is tender and flavorful, the bell peppers are fresh and crisp, adding a refreshing crunch and a bit of sweetness.
The restaurant is always packed with people celebrating whatever milestones they’ve achieved in life, so it’s not the place to go for an intimate dining experience. We just ignore the loud chatter to get an incredible variety of food for a great deal.
The best part? For every paid adult, two kids under 4 years old can eat here for free on any day of the week.
Pro Tip:
Follow their socials for announcements on food festivals and limited-time offers.
9. Shinka Sushi Bar
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Website: www.shinkasushibar.com
Location: 2900 Sheffield Rd
Operating hours:
Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 AM–9 PM
Friday-Sunday, 11:30 AM–10 PM
Phone: +16135658998
Must-order: Sashimi Omakase
Shinka Sushi Bar is an upscale restaurant, serving traditional cuts of Japanese fish that look too pretty to eat. It’s a quiet, intimate space, making it a perfect choice for romantic dinners.
They offer maki, gyoza, tempura, and katsu, but our go-to order is the Sashimi Omakase, where you leave it up to the chef to decide your meal. Since they have fresh fish flown in from Japan daily, it can be an expensive experience.
Their Omakase is available at different price points: $175, $235, $350, and $600. This is already set for two people, which is great for dates and other special occasions.
Pro Tip:
Always book a table ahead of time. Go to their website to make your reservation.
10. La Bonita Restaurant
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Website: www.labonita.ca
Location: 1128 Cadboro Rd
Operating hours:
Sunday, 5 PM–9 PM
Tuesday-Thursday, 11:30 AM–9 PM
Friday, 11:30 AM–10 PM
Saturday, 3 PM–10 PM
Phone: +16136957373
Must-order: Mole
Located in a small, very unassuming strip mall, you’ll find La Bonita, an artsy Mexican restaurant serving tacos, quesadillas, quesabirrias, and more.
What makes this place unique is the vibe. The whole place is decorated with quintessential fiesta favors.
It comes alive at night with music and refreshing cocktails. But if you want to dine in peace, come by during lunch.
All of their wraps are delicious and hearty, but a must-order for newcomers is the Mole. It’s a rich sauce made with cacao and a mix of other spices, giving it such a complex flavor profile—sweet, savory, spicy, and smoky—that might seem unfamiliar yet still very comforting.
Pro Tip:
For an extra $5, you can ask the staff to make changes to the dishes to suit your personal taste or dietary restrictions.