A casual lunch in Ottawa, ON

When you’re looking for a cafe to work in, the conditions have to be just right. You need a cosy ambience, good lighting and just enough background noise to help keep you focused. Oh, and great coffee doesn’t hurt. Luckily, Ottawa has several great office-away-from-home cafes for you to choose from.

Plenty of Ottawa restaurants offer the opportunity to indulge in a sophisticated lunch and sip on a glass of chardonnay while you enjoy a masterful culinary creation. But if it’s cheap you're after, downtown Ottawa’s got those lunch options too.

Once upon a time, Ottawa foodies wanting a gourmet meal knew just the place to go – Montreal. Those days are so over! Amazing fine dining establishments have been sprouting up all over the city for years, boasting food on par with the world’s best. Here’s a list of shining examples to tempt you.

If you want to live a long and healthy life, fried chicken’s probably not a regular feature on your plate. But when that craving strikes, nothing quite hits the spot like it! At first glance it may seem like a challenge to find something in Ottawa other than the Colonel’s red and white buckets, but here are some reliable spots for fried chicken that go above and beyond.

There’s lots about Ottawa that shines, but it’s the city’s restaurant scene that really stands out, thanks to its sheer variety of great places to eat. This includes a stellar selection of fish and chips restaurants, ranging from relaxed hangouts to award-winning establishments serving everything from classic English-style to Cajun-hot varieties.

For those who love meat, charcuterie boards are the perfect combination of cured and thoughtfully prepared meats. From salami and prosciutto to pates and terrines, these plates are devoted to meat. Whether you’re sipping on a glass of wine or aiming to try a variety of meats and accompanying condiments, these spots in Ottawa deliver stunning charcuterie plates.

Eating out can be a challenge when you’re gluten-free, unless you know where to go. Many of Ottawa’s cafes and restaurants offer gluten-free options and some stand out for doing them particularly well. Try these options for an enjoyable lunch with your friends or a romantic dinner with that special someone, all without having to settle for just a salad. [Image credit: iStock.com/Sarah Bossert]

There is something to be said for wandering into a noodle place in the middle of an Ottawa winter and slurping up an excellent steaming bowl of noodle soup. Don't get us wrong, though, we'll take that bowl in summer too! Whether you want some simple ramen or some tasty pho, this city has a large selection of options to choose from. [Image credit: iStock.com/Lisovskaya]

If you are a person that loves a great sandwich piled high with awesome fillings – and who isn’t – you could spend weeks trying to find the best place to get one since there are so many around Ottawa. Or, take the easy route and try one of the crazy good places in this list.

Whether you abstain from eating meat or simply like to do Meatless Mondays, vegetarian food has a wide range of flavours and textures – it’s about more than just salads. These vegetarian restaurants offer cuisine so delicious, they could convert even a hardcore carnivore – at least for one meal.

When the regular lunch sandwich and sub options start to become a little routine, break tradition with these tasty sandwiches served on freshly baked bagels. Ottawa has picked up on Montreal’s rich culture surrounding the delicious wood-burning-oven-baked delicacies – showcased at these lunch spots that will have you coming back for more.

Ottawa loves its sandwiches; they’re a convenient grab-and-go option during a busy work day and the city’s fine eateries offer a wide variety of tasty stacked flavour combinations. These local sandwich spots offer a myriad of fresh-baked breads and endless permutations of meat and vegetable fillings slathered in saucy condiments.