PLACES TO EAT

The "staff" at punkottawa.com endorse an animal-free lifestyle for environmental, health, economic and political reasons. We aren't going to push it down your throat, but suggest that you do some research and look into vegetarianism (or veganism) much like you would if you were buying a house or a car, your body is a temple, or a Tempo...

Try a search for vegan or vegetarian to get a plethora of webpages with info, recipes, contacts in your city. Here is a list of places to eat in the Ottawa area.

Please check the websites or call ahead for hours and more information. Make sure to tell these places that you heard about them on punkottawa.com!

Our Top 8

Auntie Loo's Treats
Vegan desserts

All kinds of vegan treats, including gluten and sugar free, can do special orders. Auntie Loo bakes the vegan birthday cake for the annual punkottawa.com anniversary party too! Her items available at Herb and Spice Shop (Bank and Lewis), Natural Food Pantry (York St.), Rainbow Foods (1487 Richmond Rd.) and Cyclelogic (1111 Wellington St.).

Caribbean Flavours
Caribbean
1659 Carling Ave. (view map)

Vegan potato, tofu, vegetable and channa rotis, fried plantains, tempeh and veg platters. Homemade ginger beer, fruit juices. Take-out and catering. Service is slow, but worth it.
Contact: 613 237-9981

Ceylonta
Sri Lankan/Indian
403 Somerset St. W (view map)

2920 Carling Ave. (view map)

Large selection of veg/vegan dishes. Vegans, make sure to ask for the veg dishes "without egg". Friendly staff, very reasonable prices. Veg stringhoppers and kothu roti (without egg) rock. Roasted potatoes is the bomb (not on the menu, ask for it!). Get 10 people together and call ahead for an all-you-can-eat buffet. Catering available.
Contact: ranjanthana@hotmail.com, 613 237-7812

Habesha Restaurant
Ethiopian
1087 Wellington Street W. (view map)

Best new Eithiopian place in town! Better variety than the others as their veg platter has six stews (split peas in yellow sauce, green beans, lentils in spicy bebere sauce, lentils in brown sauce, potato/cabbage/carrots and one more I forget) and salad. It's vegan and an awesome bargain at $8 per person. Food is eaten with your hands using the pancake-like injera bread as a utensil. Super fresh injera.
Contact: 613 761-6120

Govinda's
Indian/Vegan
212 Somerset St. E (view map)

All you can eat vegan buffet. $5 for students/seniors, $7 for others. Soup, green salad, pasta salad, basmati rice, two curries and dessert. Best deal in town! Mon-Fri 5pm-8pm. Krishna festival Sundays at 5pm.
Contact: 613 565-6544

Ottawa Peace Kitchen
Bethel Fieldhouse, St. Luke's Park, Elgin at Gladtsone

Sundays at 1pm - serving free, filling, vegan food to the hungry. Cooking begins at 11am. Always looking for new volunteers.
Contact: Ottawa-Peace-KItchen@yahoogroups.com

Sacred Garden
Thai
1300 Bank St. (between Landsowne Park and Billings Brige) (view map)

Veg(an) thai. Pricey but worth it. Nice ambiance. Make sure to let them know you want the food vegan to avoid fighting over sending something back.
Contact: 613 237-9981 or 613 235-4942

So Good
Asian and vegetarian foods
717 Somerset St. W (view map)

Separate vegan menu with over 60 items! Cantonese Szechuan, Thai... Very busy during peak hours, make reservations or get takeout! We recommend the Wu Se broccoli and tofu and item #290.
Contact: 613 233-0138

Other Vegetarian and Vegan-friendly restaurants

African Palace
Ethiopian
376 Rideau St. (view map)

Similar menu to Horn of Africa. A touch pricier. Downtown. Open late.
Contact: 613 789-7397

Aunt Olive's
Café fare
209 Gilmour at Elgin. (view map)

Try the vegan soup specials and the cookies made by B.goods. Maybe leave with some vintage clothes too!
Contact: 613 565-0564

Blue Nile
Ethiopian
577 Gladstone Ave. at Percy. (view map)

Newish Ethiopian place.
Contact: 613 321-0774

Café Gaïa
International menu
47 Boul Montclair, Hull. (view map)

Brunch, sandwiches, soups, vegan and wheat free items.
Contact: 819 777-9019

Coconut Lagoon
South Indian/Sri Lankan
853 St. Laurent Blvd. (view map)

Good selection of vegetarian dishes. If you're vegan let them know and they can accomodate. Good dosas and thali. Try the eggplant too!
Contact: 613 742-4444

Horn of Africa
Ethiopian
364 Rideau St. (view map)

Longest running Eithiopian restaurant in town. Best deal at $7.00 per person and 15% off with a coupon from the Bytowne Cinema guide. Veg platter consists of four stews (split peas in yellow sauce, lentils in spicy bebere sauce, lentils in brown sauce, potato/cabbage/carrots in yellow sauce) and green salad. Downtown. Open late.
Contact: 613 789-0025

The Garden Spot
Veg/vegan buffet
426H Unicentre, Carleton University (view map)

Volunteer-run pay-what-you-can vegan food service at Carleton University. Bring your tupperware and cutlery to 426H Unicentre for lunch 12:30-2:30 Monday through Thursday.

The Green Door
Veg/vegan buffet
198 Main St. (view map)

Ottawa's original cafeteria-style, pay by the pound veg/vegan buffet. 100% organic. A little expensive. One major downfall is that the menu NEVER changes. Great desserts!
Contact: 613 234-9597

Irene's Pub
Pub fare
885 Bank St. (view map)

Best vegiburger in town. Chick pea based.
Contact: 613 230-4474

The Manx
Pub fare
370 Elgin St. (downstairs) (view map)

Good assortment of vegan appetizers on the regular and "late night" menus. Hommus, guac, nachos, bruchetta and usually one vegan soup. Healthier after show alternative to Elgin Street Diner!
Contact: 613 231-2070

Middle East Bakery
Middle Eastern
605 Somerset St. W. (view map)

Small bakery with the freshest pita bread in town (regular and whole wheat), hommos, baba ganoush, falafel sandwiches etc. Their zatar (onions/tomatoes/thyme/olive oil baked on a pita) is heaven on earth. Call ahead for large orders or catering.
Contact: 613 238-7342

The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room
Vegetarian tea house
690 Lyon St.

Nestled inside the Glebe Community Centre, this cosy café serves open-faced sandwhiches, soups and at least one hot casserole. Food is organic where possible. Mon-Fri 12pm-3pm.
Contact: 613 233-2784

Perfection Satisfaction Promise
Potatoes and Indian
167 Laurier Ave. E (view map)

Specializing in potatoes served with a variety of toppings, some vegan. Also soups, salads, "fast" foods and desserts. Ever notice how the world leaders who have had their photo taken with Sri Chinmoy end up dying -- Mother Theresa, Lady Di?!? Closed Sundays.
Contact: 613 234-7299

Peace Garden Café
Indian/veg/juicebar
47 Clarence St. (view map)

More Sri Chinmoy approved vegetarian goodness. Juice bar. Daily lunch specials. Breakfast served. Open seven days. Catering available.
Contact: 613 562-2434

Soup d'Herbe
Vegetarian café
168 Old Chelsea Rd.

Excellent variety of dishes on menu. Juice bar, organic coffees and teas, as well as natural beers and wines. Snacks and desserts are also available.
Contact: soupherb@qc.aibn.com 819 827-7687

The Table Vegetarian Eatery
1230 Wellington St.

West end location, pay by the pound veg/vegan buffet. Kindof expensive. Organic where possible.
Contact: wellington@thetable.cc 613-729-5973

Most Indian and Mediterranean restaurants have a good assortment of veg/vegan dishes. Most Japanese restaurants can prepare veg sushi. Be careful with Thai restuarants as some "vegetarian" dishes have fish broth/stock. Always ask your server or better yet, the owner or cook. I find saying I have a deathly food allergy to meat/fish/dairy gets you through the smoke quite quickly :)

Health Food Stores

Bread and Sons
195 Bank St. (view map)
613-230-5302

Organic bakery carrying a variety of breads, soups, sandwiches and baked goods. Ask them what's vegan or gluten free. There's always something.

The Herb and Spice Shop
375 Bank St. (view map)
613-232-4087

1310 Wellington St. West (view map)
613-722-5747

Two locations. Similar products (herbs, spices, produce, ready-to-eat items). Same logo. Different owners. The Bank Street location carries Auntie Loo's vegan treats.

Natural Food Pantry
Billing's Bridge Plaza - 2277 Riverside Dr. (view map)
613-737-9330

126 York St. (view map)
613-241-6629

442 Hazeldean Rd. (view map)
613-836-3669

1309 Carling Ave. (view map)
613-728-1255

Great health food store with four locations. Organic produce, bulk foods, natural cleaning products and a lot more. The York Street location carries Auntie Loo's vegan treats.

Rainbow Foods
1487 Richmond Rd. (view map)

Great health food mini-supermarket. Become a member (free) and get money back on purchases.
Contact: information@rainbowfoods.net, 613 726-9200

The Wheat Berry
206 Main St. (view map)

Organic produce and bulk foods. Great all round health food store. Right beside the Green Door restaurant.
Contact: 613 235-7580

Check "Health Foods - Retail" on page 553-554 of the Ottawa-Hull phone book for other health food stores close to you.

Organic co-ops and markets

Byward Market Organics Club
36 Byward Market Sq.

Weekly inexpensive/organic fruit, vegetable or combo baskets of varying sizes. Delivery available.
Contact: bfm1@on.aibn.com, tel 613 241-6542, fax 613 241-3656

Ottawa Organic Farmers' Market
Ecole Parsifal School - 1664 Bank St

Vegetables, herbs and baked goods. Approx 10 vendors. Saturdays 10am-2pm.
Contact: 613 256-4150

Food Banks

If you are short on cash and hungry or looking to volunteer/make a donation...

Emergency Food Centre
507 Bank St. (view map)

Contact: 613 232-3059

The Carleton Emergency Food Centre
426-C Unicentre Bldg., Carleton University (view map)

On campus food bank for Carleton students. CUID card required.
Contact: foodcentre@carleton.ca, 613 520-2600 ext 2265

Ottawa Peace Kitchen
Bethel Fieldhouse, St. Luke's Park, Elgin at Gladtsone

Sundays at 1pm - serving free, filling, vegan food to the hungry. Cooking begins at 11am. Always looking for new volunteers.
Contact: Ottawa-Peace-KItchen@yahoogroups.com

Ottawa Food Bank
1317-B Michael St. (view map)

Contact: 613 745-7001

Check "Social and Human Services" on page 1090-1091 of the Ottawa-Hull phone book for more food banks and other social services.