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Category: Restaurant

Chipotle has arrived in Ottawa

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The rumours started last spring with what appeared to be a job posting. Chipotle was looking for a restaurant general manager… in Ottawa. Even though Chipotle wouldn’t confirm, it seemed obvious. Even more obvious when Cadillac Fairview posted a new floor plan for the Rideau Centre – something folks on reddit shared widely in August: Chipotle had a spot secured in the old Elephant & Castle (followed by the failed The Exchange) location at the Rideau Centre, at the corner of Sussex and Colonel By. Chipotle confirmed on Twitter what every Ottawa Foodie was hoping for and expecting: @CBCOttawa @parkerwags Yep, if all goes according to plan, we’ll open there on January 30th. Don’t beans a stranger. -Dre — Chipotle (@ChipotleTweets) January 10 2017 It didn’t quite go according to plan, as the first Ottawa Chipotle finally opened on February 2nd at 10:45 am. It is now open every day…

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Riviera is sticking out

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Riviera is sticking out on Sparks street, figuratively speaking. The restaurant, opened six months ago by Matthew Carmichael and Jordan Holley (of El Camino and Datsun fame), has a very discreet neon blue sign and you can’t really see what’s going on inside from the pedestrian mall. If you don’t know about it, you could walk right by it without noticing. Located between Metcalfe and Elgin, the spot actually sticks out because it is a fancy-schmancy restaurant on a stretch better known for its pub fare, cheap breakfasts and quick lunches. It is also quite stylish. Built in 1869, the building was a bank for most of its lifespan. It features fantastic high ceilings, more natural light then you would think, an open, humming kitchen and a very long bar, spanning almost the length of the entire restaurant, with plenty of space to sit, drink and eat comfortably. I’m a sucker…

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Is a Big Mac with Bacon still a Big Mac?

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As most of you Wafflers know, we are Big Fans of the Big Mac in this corner. So when I found out that McDonald’s was adding (temporarily) Bacon to it’s flagship burger, I was intrigued. This is the first change to the sandwich in Canada in 50 years and it is seen by business insiders as a test for making the move in the American market. Nevermind the fact that you always could have asked to get bacon on your Big Mac, the real question is, is a Big Mac with Bacon still a Big Mac? The fast-food chain is confronting us with this deep existential dilemma™, via a Cosette marketing campaign. I headed over to the McDonald’s on Bronson, squeezing this existential dilemma™ between a tv appearance and a curling game. I ordered my Big Mac Bacon meal deal, a little more pricy than the regular Big Mac, and was now on my…

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St-Hubert Classics

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Our little Wafflings simply love St-Hubert. Whenever we ask them about going to a restaurant, St-Hubert is their choice 95% of the time. Here and there, Boston Pizza or Benny & Co. will pop up as an option. But St-Hubert is where it’s at. Now, we used to always head tothe Maisonneuve location in Hull. But ever since they renovated, at a cost of a million dollars, to make it more modern and somehow “retrochic”, the Wafflings are done with it. Imagine, St-Hubert replaced their favorite games room with a wine cellar. “We don’t drink wine at St-Hubert, papa. Not even you!”  Wise words. Indeed. I’ll have the odd beer, but I usually stick with the bottomless Coke or Sprite. But that’s beside the point. Bottomline is, our new family location is now on the East end of Gatineau, a location that was also renovated in 2015 (for 1.3 million)…

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This hot chicken is in the Cage

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We were on our way to Poutinefest on Sparks Street. As we got to the Portage bridge, we realized it was closed. I turned left towards the Alexandria bridge, which was completely jam-packed. I kept going, thinking I’d cross on the MacDonald-Cartier bridge. I did. But there was no getting anywhere near Sparks street. “Everything around here is purple,” stated Ms. Waffle after looking at her traffic app. ”What’s going on?” Ms. Waffle looked it up. The CN Cycle for CHEO. Road closures were numerous. So we gave up on Poutinefest. We made our way back across the river. First, I thought we could go to Le BBQ Shop on Fournier. But it was closed. I kept going, and figured we could still get our Poutine fix at GAGA Patate. Also closed. I kept driving around, and Ms. Waffle suggested Routine Poutine. Guess what? Closed. “Well, La Cage aux Sports…

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