Ottawa poutine places to satisfy big cravings

Poutine is a glorious combination of two things that are already good on their own – cheese and fries – covered in rich gravy. Whether you like your poutine the classic way, or prefer to add pizzazz with various toppings, these poutine spots will fill that empty void in your stomach.

By Bruce Sach

Elgin Street Diner

1

374 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1N1

• Phone Number
  • 613-237-9700Primary
• Directions
• Menu

As a place to go after a night out carousing on Elgin Street, Elgin Street Diner never closes. I’ve seen poutine consumed there at all hours, including a gruesome pile of fries smothered in the darkest gravy imaginable for breakfast! Very loyal staff and customers make this spot an Ottawa classic.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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The WORKS Craft Burgers & Beer

2

363 St Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1K 2Z7

• Phone Number
  • 613-748-0406Primary
• Directions
• Menu

Perhaps best known as a burger and onion ring spot, they make a pretty mean poutine here. If you come in a big group, they put you into the cage – a separate area of the restaurant where the tables are in an enclosure made to look like a cage. I’ve been in the cage – it’s just you and your guys against the cholesterol and the fries.

Corner Bar and Grill

3

344 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K2A 0E8

• Phone Number
  • 613-421-6712Primary
• Directions
• Menu

This place is an Ottawa-wide favourite. You might try poutine as a $7 appetizer before tackling the Kichesippi chicken dinner. You want to savour your meal in one of the few eateries that hasn’t been swept away by the gentrification on Richmond Road.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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Great Canadian Poutinerie

4

200 Deschamps Ave, Vanier, ON K1L 1A7

• Phone Number
  • 613-255-6745Primary
• Directions
• Menu

This spot is the real McCoy. Years ago, when chip wagons in Ottawa were banned, Vanier held the market. This place still attracts folks from around town, including bikers from the Bikers’ Church down the street. And, they have a vegetarian poutine.

Dunn's Famous Deli

5

355 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7G1

• Phone Number
  • 613-562-4966Primary
• Directions
• Menu

Dunn’s likes to claim that it made poutine famous - a highly disputable claim, unless they are referring to outside of Québec. Still, theirs is wonderful. It is a great place to go after a night in the ByWard Market. Heck, I’d even go there for their smoked meat.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• Grab a bite late at night: 24-hour restaurants in Ottawa

Pure Kitchen Ottawa

6

357 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K2A 0E7

• Phone Number
  • 613-680-5500Primary
• Directions

Although it’s a vegetarian restaurant, Pure Kitchen still makes amazing vegetarian poutine that always hits the spot. Made with hand cut fries, mushroom peppercorn gravy and cheese curds, this is a winner. It’s guaranteed to please even hard-core carnivores, thanks to that delectable mushroom peppercorn gravy.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• Vegetarian cuisine for the masses in Ottawa
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Hintonburger

7

1096 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2Y5

• Phone Number
  • 613-724-4676Primary
• Directions
• Menu

You might expect a hamburger joint located in an old KFC to ruin poutine. But, you’d be wrong. Ottawa’s favourite burger place makes a very decent poutine. Add it to your burger - you would not be the only one to partake in this primal instinct. And yes, they use St. Albert’s cheese curds.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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Smoke's Poutinerie

8

407 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON K1N 9K4

• Phone Number
  • 613-789-2873Primary
• Directions

There is no smoked poutine at Smoke’s, the creation of a Smith Falls, Ontario entrepreneur. However, poutine creations including perogies, sausage, nachos and even steak fajitas make up for it. It’s so popular that you may not be alone here, even at four in the morning.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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More from Bruce Sach

Bruce Sach has happily signed up and joined the culinary renaissance in the National Capital Region. He is secretly hoping and, at the same, dreading that the next 'in' neighbourhood will be his.

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