The 5 Best Lunch Restaurants in Ottawa
Lunchtime is the perfect opportunity to get out and explore new places. Ottawa has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine, so it’s no surprise that there are many great lunch options.
From gourmet sandwiches to hearty salads, this city has it all! Today, we’re reviewing the best lunch restaurants in Ottawa.
We want to give you fancy and budget-friendly options all in one list!
How much do lunch restaurants charge in Ottawa?
The average lunch meal in a restaurant in Canada is around $9 to $25. The pricing can increase or decrease depending on what kind of restaurant you’re eating at.
In the table below, we listed the most common dishes eaten at lunch and their average cost in Ottawa.
1. Pure Kitchen
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Menu | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Serving | ★★★★(4/5) |
Pure Kitchen in Elgin Street is a great lunch restaurant if you’re into vegetarian food. The dishes are delicious, and the prices are pretty reasonable.
Located in one of Ottawa’s busiest areas, this is a very convenient spot for a midday meal. The menu is extensive, and you can always find something you’ll like as long as you’re into vegetarian food.
The restaurant’s interior and exterior are decorated wonderfully. The seating arrangements are very comfortable and offer a nice view of the beautiful garden outside, and the windows are huge and let a lot of natural light in.
Our top pick is its buffalo cauliflower, which is a unique take on buffalo wings. We loved its taste; its texture is almost exactly the same as chicken.
We also love the fact that this place has a great selection of desserts. The carrot cake is quite impressive, especially when served with vegan vanilla ice cream on the side.
Overall, the only downside of this eatery is the fact that it doesn’t have meat options. Those who love meat will be disappointed, but those who have always been curious about vegan food will be thrilled.
With that said, Pure Kitchen is a must-visit place if you work in the downtown area and are craving a vegetarian meal.
Pros
- Versatile vegetarian options
- Has its own kids menu
- Offers delivery and takeout
- Accepts gift cards
Cons
- Not the best option for meat dishes
Customer Reviews
Lucky find
“We were hot and tired and wandered into the perfect vegetarian restaurant. Our server welcomed us and let us choose a cozy place to sit. She was prompt and helpful with her service and suggestions. I loved that she let our daughter sample two beverages before a choice was made. Our meals were delicious and promptly brought to our table. I really enjoyed the playlist. You won’t go wrong with this restaurant.” – Michelle Aldridge
Buffalo cauliflower to die for
“If you want to have fresh food this place is best. We can happily have vegan food without any second thoughts. Buffalo cauliflower is the highlight for me and carrot cake is good.” – Pavani
2. Gezellig
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Menu | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Serving | ★★★★(4/5) |
For a fancier option for lunch, you may want to check out Gezellig. It has a great atmosphere, and the food there is European-themed so customers can expect a little bit of everything on the menu.
This restaurant serves gourmet quality food at more or less reasonable prices. Its menu is full of unique dishes from the Dutch and the Greek that you may not find anywhere else.
The eatery also specializes in classic dishes from the Netherlands, Greece, Spain, and Italy with a modern touch added to it.
We also love that Gezellig has private areas where customers can dine in with their special someone or with a bunch of people for events and gatherings.
These private rooms are more expensive than your usual table, but they offer an exclusive eating experience.
The only drawbacks of this place are its expensive menu and its unusual schedule. It is only open for lunch on Thursdays to Sundays.
This is to keep the ingredients fresh and new every time.
Overall, with the excellent gourmet selection and the unique dining experience in the private rooms it offers, Gezellig is definitely one of the best lunch spots you can visit in the Ottawa area.
Pros
- Gourmet options
- Private dining for dates/gatherings
- Good selection in menu
Cons
- Pricey
Customer Reviews
Great options and service
“I chose Gezellig to celebrate my husband’s birthday with friends and it was great. I made a reservation in advance and they let me know about gratuity charge for big parties and additional charge because I brought the cake. The service was thoughtful and efficient, great ambiance and good food. We had a blast!” – Monique Moledo
Perfect
“It was simply perfect! The eggs Benedict were great, full of flavour and as I’m a huge lover of them I would really suggest the mushrooms on toast and the french toast. Both were out of this world!” – Inga Schneider
3. Fatboys Southern Smokehouse
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Menu | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Serving | ★★★★(4/5) |
Fatboys Southern Smokehouse is another excellent lunch restaurant, especially for those craving Southern comfort food. It offers a variety of chicken and pork dishes, as well as savory sides such as macaroni and potato salads.
The biker-themed decorations and the employees dressed in angsty leather outfits all make this establishment different. If you’re a fan of biker films or like a little attitude with your food, this is the place for you.
We love the selection that Fatboys offers. The menu is full of unique and tasty options that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
It also has holiday specials that regularly rotate throughout the year, so there’s always something new to try. It also has catering options if you want to bring Faboys’ delicious barbecue to your special events and gatherings.
The sauce that it provides for its barbecues is also available to purchase and take home. It’s a great way to bring the Fatboys experience home with you.
Overall, the only drawback of this establishment is the small location. Luckily, there are tables outside that kind of add to the biker experience.
With that said, Fatboys is definitely a good lunch option, especially if you’re craving some good old-fashioned barbecue.
Pros
- Great barbecue selection
- Themed restaurant
- Offers catering options
- Holiday specials
Cons
- Location is a bit small
Customer Reviews
Great even for kids
“We were wondering about bringing our kids to this restaurant at first due to its biker bar styled appearance …but we are glad we did! The staff there made the kids feel special and gave us some great recommendations for dinner. I usually come to smokehouses for the brisket but the chicken was the real home run here! Their house BBQ sauce made it that much better. We will be back!” – Jer Green
Can’t go wrong
“Great Barbeque, had the sharing plate for 2, came with all their meats, pulled pork, pulled chicken, fried chicken, brisket, ribs, two sides and two corn breads. You can’t go wrong.” – Julien H.
4. Gooney’s
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Menu | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Serving | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Gooney’s is a great choice if you’re looking for something fancy yet affordable. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, and the food is top-notch and quite unique, especially in Ottawa where most establishments offer similar dishes.
Located in the busy area of Laurier Avenue, Gooney’s is a family-owned restaurant that serves Venezuelan food, a cuisine that is famous for its spice and European influence.
The ambiance of this place is warm and welcoming. The interior features unique artwork on the walls that gives a European vibe.
The menu at Gooney’s has a wide variety of dishes to choose from, including sandwiches, salads, pasta, and meats. All of this food has a Venezuelan twist that isn’t present in most other eateries.
We also love that the establishment offers an all-day breakfast menu. For lunch, customers can have eggs and bacon or French toast served alongside traditional meals like steak and cheese sandwiches and chicken fingers.
The only issues we have with Gooney’s is its pricey menu and the fact that it takes a while to respond to reservation calls.
Overall, because of the unique menu it offers and the great service from its wonderful staff, we think that Gooney’s is one of the best options for lunch in the city.
Pros
- Open everyday
- All day breakfast
- Available for delivery
- Great feedback
Cons
- Pricey
- Long responses for reservations
Customer Reviews
Excellent
“Ordered on UberEATS, very reasonable price and great value for money! 100% will order again.All meat was tender, not dry at all. The coriander sauce is excellent! No complaints at all.” – Blair Waterman
So good
“Scouring Google reviews in search for the perfect lunch place? Stop searching. Come here. 10/10. That is all I have to say as I think I’ve died and gone to heaven???” – Katie B.
5. Roast N Curries
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Menu | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Location | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Serving | ★★★★(4/5) |
Another great lunch spot is Roast N’ Curries. With a variety of options to choose from, this eatery will have something for everyone.
The Bank Street restaurant is known for its tasty lunches and delicious dishes that will leave you wanting more. The potato dishes at this place are quite something, and the same could be said for the meat options it offers.
Its bestseller is the chicken kabab and the tandoor chicken. These dishes are loved by customers for their flavourful filling and great taste.
We also love that its menu is available online, and some options are affordable for those under a strict budget. If you’re curious, you can even check out the restaurant’s website because its menu is available there.
Roast N Curries is also very accommodating for dates as it accepts reservations in advance. It offers delivery options if you want to taste the establishment’s food in the comfort of your own home.
Unfortunately, the restaurant isn’t available for big events. But if you have a small group to hang out with or you’re celebrating your anniversary with your significant other, then it would be the ideal place to go to for lunch.
Overall, because of its selections and convenient services, we believe Roast N Curries is one of the best options for lunch meals in the city.
Pros
- Great selection
- Menu is available online
- Accepts reservations
- Accepts delivery
- Cheap options
Cons
- No private options for events
Customer Reviews
Above and beyond
“Above and beyond place in terms of customer service as well as food. Located right in the middle of Downtown Ottawa, this place is great for Indian food. Found this place randomly searching online for good Indian food and it exceeded our expectations. The host serving us was very helpful in suggesting what should we order and made food taste to order. The portion size is great as well. Can’t recommend it enough.” – V. S.
Wonderful menu
“After continuously being dissatisfied with all the Indian restaurants I’ve had a chance to eat for the past year or so, found this gem while traveling to Ottawa. We had chicken combo and Fish curry platter. Good portion and tasted so good. The chicken curry was good too. But the fish curry was well cooked and delicious. On top of all that, good service too. Highly recommend this place.” – Jega K.
FAQs about Lunch Restaurants
And those are the best lunch restaurants you can eat at in Ottawa. Hopefully, you found a perfect place for you and your companions.
If you’re looking for other types of restaurants, check out the following: