Elgin Street Diner

After a long car ride, we made it to Ottawa! This was our first time using Airbnb (if you want to join & get a $30 travel credit, click here). It was actually fabulous, we had a studio apartment for 4 nights that was walking distance to everything with underground parking & rooftop patio for just $314. We didn't have to meet anyone or check in or out with anyone, everything was through keyless entry that I got the codes for through email. I am glad it was a great experience, since we have 2 other Airbnbs booked in the future!

As weary travelers, we headed to an Ottawa staple:  Elgin Street Diner. I ordered the Chubby Checker Chicken Burger, and made my side poutine instead of just fries. The poutine is really what it is all about here. The gravy is thick and meaty, and the St. Albert cheese curds are fresh and squeaky. If you haven't been eating St. Albert cheese, you have been missing out entirely. Go get some now, I want to. The chicken burger was fine, nothing special. It hit the spot in terms of the greasiness I was there for, bacon & cream cheese are rarely a mistake. That pickle was delicious, but the coleslaw... not my thing.

Chubby Checker Chicken Burger - Grilled chicken breast with cream cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato, served on a fresh bun

Scott decided on the Smokey Burger, also with poutine. He said the smoked Gouda was great and the burger was cooked well, so what more can you ask for?

Smokey Burger - All beef patty topped with bacon, smoked Gouda cheese, house BBQ sauce, lettuce and tomato, served on a fresh bun

This was 9:30 at night. and there were only a couple other customers in the diner. We got the food we imagined when we chose a diner for dinner. Not only would I go back, but we did! For breakfast on our last day we both ordered the Hangover Breakfast before starting our long drive home. Again with the poutine, how could we not? The beans were delicious, and we both ended up breaking our poached eggs over the poutine, a decision I recommend. The bacon was cooked perfectly for me, crispy and delicious. The egg bread toast wasn't a hit. it was over toasted in a lot of ways that didn't make it great. The coffee and the service were on point. Between both meals, our water and coffee was never long between being topped off. Our service was friendly, yet still felt genuine.

Hangover Breakfast - 2 poached eggs, bacon, baked beans, poutine, and egg bread toast

I had been here before when I lived in Ottawa and knew the Hangover Breakfast was a personal weekness. I was excited to see that things hadn't really changed, and we lucked out with our timing not having to wait for a table. The diner is also a Pokestop, which is a new thing you have to deal with. It means you can hear people playing all the time, and maybe it will wear off as the novelty does, or maybe they will incorporate it into their marketing, but at the time it was a cheerful thing that everyone was in on, and no one seemed too annoyed (yet).

Likes: The poutine is one of my all-time favourite things to eat. The atmosphere is great.
Dislikes: Coleslaw and egg bread are not my thing. I knew about the coleslaw, but I thought going in that the egg bread would be a good choice. Now I just wish I ordered Rye.
Food: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Would I go again?: Yep. Next time I am in Ottawa I will probably try. The poutine is just so delightful, and I love the diner vibes.