If you haven’t considered any suburban Ottawa strip malls for your next foodie adventure, you may be missing out on a very unique and tasty experience!
While restaurants in Ottawa’s downtown core entice us with their attractive storefronts, beautiful decor, lavish menus, and world-class chefs, we often forget to consider some of the shining stars of the suburban foodie scene – neighbourhood restaurants located in Ottawa strip malls.
We’ve managed to find several great restaurants in Ottawa’s suburbs deserving of more attention than they seem to get. Consider trying any (or all!) of these restaurants the next time you are looking for a suburban foodie experience!
Ottawa Strip Malls – 7 Places To Eat In Ottawa That May Surprise You
Moe’s BBQ
For any of you who may follow the Canadian Blog House social media channels, you will likely remember us sharing some stories about what has become our favourite southern-style BBQ restaurant in Ottawa – Moe’s BBQ.
Since our first visit to Moe’s BBQ back in February, we have made our way back to this restaurant a half-dozen times to enjoy several of their mouth-watering dishes. We just can’t stay away!
Must-try items? It all comes down to personal preference but, in our opinion, you won’t want to miss out on the smoked brisket, the smoked pulled beef, the mac and cheese, poutine, and cornbread. Heck, everything is delicious at Moe’s BBQ!
Located in the busy Towngate Shopping Plaza, at the corner of Bank St. and Hunt Club Road, Moe’s BBQ is not visible from the street, making it a hard location to spot. Be sure to take the time to venture to this strip mall location the next time you are craving some southern-style BBQ. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
Say hello to Moe, the friendly owner, and tell him Canadian Blog House recommended you come try his southern-style BBQ!
Mr. B’s March House Restaurant
Mr. B’s March House Restaurant has been a long-time favourite of my family’s ever since my aunt discovered this Ottawa strip mall restaurant years ago.
Featuring an extensive menu of both food and beverage items, Mr. B’s (as we affectionately call it) specializes in delicious Italian cuisine. I never miss a chance to have a taste of Mr. B’s lasagna!
Located near the northeast corner of Bank St. and Hunt Club Road in Ottawa (not far from Moe’s BBQ!), Mr. B’s can also be difficult to spot. Situated in one of Ottawa’s strip malls that don’t face the main road, you won’t regret the effort it may take to find this local favourite!
Pelican Seafood Market and Grill
My aunt has raved about Pelican Seafood Market and Grill for years but, until early this year, I had never eaten at this Ottawa strip mall restaurant.
I’m now officially “hooked” on their scrumptious lobster rolls (with fries and salad).
You know that person who orders the same thing every time they go to a restaurant? That’s me at the Pelican! I know they offer all kinds of delicious seafood entrees, however, I just can’t bring myself to forgo the lobster roll and order something else. Maybe one day!
You’ll find the Pelican Seafood Market and Grill in the Blue Heron Mall just north of Bank St. and Heron Road in Centretown.
By the way, save room for dessert. One of Ottawa’s favourite specialty donut shops, Maverick Donuts, is located in the same mall. You’ll thank me later for this little tip!
Shawarma Chef
Local residents will tell you – Ottawa is home to plenty of shawarma restaurants.
I’ve tried a few around town but, as their tagline says, Shawarma Chef has the “best shawarmas in town”. I couldn’t agree more!
I first paid a visit to Shawarma Chef after reading my friend Vanessa’s review of this Orleans eatery over at Turnipseed Travel. I concur with all that Vanessa says about Shawarma Chef. I will add that our favourite meal is the chicken platter, with roasted potatoes, fresh veggies, tossed salad, and pasta salad. It’s a platter full of delicious garlicky goodness!
Laziz Broast & Mix Grill
I recently had the chance to experience lunch at Laziz Broast & Mill Grill, located in the Ottawa suburb of Gloucester, a restaurant that I have driven past many times but, never once noticed its existence in an open-air mall.
While the interior of Laziz Broast & Mix Grill has an industrial feel with its very tall ceiling, cafeteria-style seating, orange serving trays, and bright coloured walls, it’s the food and not the atmosphere, that is the reason to give Laziz Broast & Mix Grill a try.
The menu items at this Ottawa eatery feature “authentic recipes from around the world…offering unique delicious food that the people of Ottawa have never tasted before.”
I ordered the Chicken Souvlaki (Greek Kabob). The chicken was moist, tender and delicious. The Greek grilled potatoes were tasty, as was the greek salad. It was the basmati rice that really tickled my taste buds. So soft, with such a beautiful aromatic scent and flavour. I need to find out what spices they add to the rice to make it so delicious!
My friend Roland ordered their signature Broast Chicken (chicken fried in a pressure cooker!) with fries, and both were so tasty. His clean plate (and a taste-test for me!) were proof that Laziz does Broast Chicken perfectly.
You can find Laziz Broast & Grill at Blair and Innes Road in east Ottawa.
Pearl House Dining Lounge
This hidden gem of a restaurant can be found at the Manotick Mews Shopping Centre. Featuring inspired Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine, Manotick’s Pearl House Dining Lounge is another Ottawa strip mall restaurant that is not easily discovered due to its hidden location.
My family and I happened upon this restaurant a few years ago when looking for a new eatery to try. Again, this is a restaurant who’s outer appearance in the mall doesn’t exactly entice you to walk in, however, once you do, you’ll be glad you did.
The food is delicious, the menu options are plenty, the portion sizes are large, and the staff is friendly and accommodating. We’ve never had a bad meal at Pearl House Dining Lounge.
OCCO Kitchen
With two locations here in Ottawa, OCCO Kitchen has been steadily growing its fan base since opening its doors in Orleans just a few years ago.
From their website… “OCCO kitchen focuses and prides itself on using local premium ingredients that we prepare from scratch in our kitchen. From our bread to our ketchup everything is made daily using perfected recipes.”
I’ve tried several of their dishes, most notably their Fried Fish Tacos (yum!) and their Newfoundland Cod Cakes (you know me and crab or fish cakes!). OCCO Kitchen’s Fog Town Seafood Chowder is so very tasty, as is one of my favourite salads – the Heirloom Salad.
OCCO Kitchen’s location in the Ottawa suburb of Orleans is not part of a strip mall, however, it is located within an open-air shopping centre, and can easily be missed when driving along Innes Road. Be sure to try OCCO Kitchen next time you are in the area!
Have you eaten at other restaurants located in suburban Ottawa strip malls that you would recommend? Share them in the comments below!
