Flight Centre’s Karla Fee blogs about her three favourite restaurants in Ottawa and Karla should know because she’s from O-town. From Malaysian to British pub fare to Mexican, Karla recommends Chahaya Malaysia, The Lieutenant’s Pump and Ahora.

As I sit here wondering what to blog about, I’m still thinking of what I had for lunch. It was a great meal, let me tell you. I had a big bowl of vegetarian chili, and a piece of homemade spelt bread. It was delicious. I thought to myself, I should write about some of the great places I love to eat in Ottawa. If you’re ever visiting Ottawa, there are three restaurants that I would highly recommend.

The first, and my favourite, is a tiny place called “Chahaya Malaysia”. It serves the most amazing authentic Malaysian, Indonesian and vegetarian cuisine. The owner came to Canada from Malaysia in 1985, and opened his restaurant. They serve the best, and I mean best, spring rolls. My favourite dish is called Malaysian fried noodles, (or Mee Goren). It consists of wheat noodles, bean sprouts, Chinese greens, beef, baby shrimp and tofu, sautéed with sweet soya sauce, tauco and garlic. I can’t even describe to you how good it is. They also serve an array of curried dishes, as well as many meat and vegetarian options.

My second fave is a place I frequent quite often as I live right around the corner. It’s called the Lieutenant’s Pump. It reminds me of a British Pub, with its quaint little rooms, and open brick walls; everything they make is homemade, and oh so good. I’ve lived beside it for about four years now, and I don’t think I’ve missed a weekend breakfast yet. Their menu is filled with delicious things like Eggs Parisienne (poached eggs on an English muffin with mushrooms and brie cheese) and a personal favourite — Mulligatawny Indian Curry Soup. Whether you’re going to relax on the patio with a big glass of red wine, or inside on a Friday night watching the game with a pitcher or your favourite beer, I have no doubt in my mind that this is a place you won’t forget.

The third, is a tiny little Mexican restaurant called Ahora. Ahora is a Spanish word that means Now. When I think of it, that’s when I want it, now! It’s located just steps away from the Byward Market, and is filled with Mexican charm. As you enter and go downstairs, you’re surrounded with bright colors and an atmosphere that will make you feel like you’re in Mexico. They only use fresh produce, and they have the greatest salsa bar — with everything homemade. My favourite dish is the Burrito Grande, which is a great big burrito stuffed with chicken or steak, cheese, black beans, rice, salsa gringa, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream. With a side of homemade tortilla chips and refried beans, you’re good to go. They also make a mean margarita! So, if you’re ever in the mood to be transported back to Mexico, this is the place to go.

If you’re ever in the Ottawa area, I suggest stopping by any three of these places if you’re looking for some good eats. You won’t be disappointed. Happy eating everyone!

The location of Chahaya Malaysia in Ottawa, Canada is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Looking for more information on great restaurants in Ottawa and around the world? Contact Karla Fee, an International Travel Consultant with Flight Centre based in Ottawa, Ontario at The Glebe and can be reached at 1 866 991 5584.

Categories: Cuisine

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm and is filed under Cuisine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.