One certainty during an Ottawa summer is that we all love a cottage weekend. Ottawa is often much emptier Fridays to Sundays once the weather warms up as people get away and relax after a week of work in the city.
However, residents are still in the market for a great bite! I asked people to tell me their favourite places to eat and hang out in Ottawa’s cottage country. Here are the fan favourites!
Neat Cafe – Burnstown
On the way to Calabogie heading west from Ottawa is a small cottage town called Burnstown. If you’ve ever driven this way, you know the most happening stop sign in the area is at the corner of Calabogie Road and Burnstown Road. This lively 200 square feet is home to the Neat Cafe. This is your one-stop, all-day dining shop! From morning coffee and breakfast to pizzas and libations in the evening, Neat Cafe has become a favourite among locals and those just passing through.
Its frequent evenings of live music, vibrant summer patio and unique drink selection are more than enough to warrant a stop on your way to the lake. The love for music runs beyond live performances, as many of the menu items are named after famous musicians. I recommend the Ziggy Stardust, a margherita-style pizza with pesto dollops.
Oh-el-la – Calabogie
Just 10 minutes or so down the road in Calabogie proper is my personal choice for a cottage country coffee pit stop. Oh-el-la brands itself as a place for coffee lovers and foodies, and I would be inclined to agree.
The carefully selected coffee roasts and surprisingly well-curated kitchen menu create a coffee shop experience that makes you want to stop on every trip. The staff is kind, the atmosphere is welcoming and there is a calmness in the air that jumpstarts your relaxation mode, making it perfect for the weekend ahead.
Thinking sweet? Try the French toast with raspberry sauce and whipped cream. More on the savoury side? The caprese baguette is an ideal option for a light and fresh lunch. And trust me when I say that the Nutella capp is something worth trying at least once.
Wilno Tavern – Madawaska Valley
If you find yourself in the Madawaska Valley, it’s a must to check out the Wilno Tavern. Proudly serving cottage country patrons and locals for more than 100 years, this little Polish tavern is worth driving out to as a destination on its own.
Blending traditional Polish pub fare and classic Canadian dishes, the Wilno Tavern is a celebration of the early Polish settlers who made their way to the area. Aside from a love of Polish food and Canada, the Wilno is famous for its music nights. Blues on Tuesdays has become a tradition and the weekends are filled with a mix of rock, country, jazz and folk performers.
If you’ve been to the Wilno Tavern before (or you have Polish friends/family), then you know there is no skimping on portion sizes. Hearty servings of pierogies, cabbage rolls, Polish sausages and more are the popular choices at this long-standing establishment. Every second Saturday marks the return of the Polish food buffet from 4-8 p.m.
Gather – Perth
If you are anything like me, your cottage duffel bag isn’t complete without a bottle of wine! (Just because we’re in the woods doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the finer things, right?)
Well, Gather in Perth is a representation of enjoying the finer things in cottage country. Husband-and-wife team James and Kerri have a love for time spent outdoors and the culinary arts. This two-pronged admiration is what gave rise to the idea for Gather, a modern, refined approach to comfort food.
Gather has developed the winning formula: approachable prices for refined dishes in a comforting atmosphere. It’s found a way to make items such as lobster and scallop croquettes and candied bacon BLTs have a home on the same menu.
Even better, it has found a way to make that menu affordable and pair it with a sommelier-selected wine list. I don’t know how much more we could ask for!
Mallard’s Milk Bar – Arnprior
No cottage country dining list is complete without dessert and one of the top choices for cottage-goers is Mallard’s Milk Bar.
Every kid (and, honestly, every adult) has a memory of stopping for ice cream on a hot day. It’s one of the finer things in life and one of the most enjoyable experiences whether you’re with family, friends or your partner. Finding a bench seat with your favourite scoop is a nearly perfect movie-esque experience.
Mallard’s Milk Bar is that ice cream shop in the movie that your favourite character goes to.
Its weekly rotating scoops mean that no two visits have to be the same!
Co-owners Sean Mallard and Chantelle Heeley-Mallard took their respective culinary backgrounds and decided it was time to produce something great of their own. Their love for coffee, baked goods and, of course, ice cream resulted in a shop that brings patrons house-made and meticulously crafted ice cream recipes.
At the time of writing this article, the weekly flavours were sea salt and raspberry fudge, chocolate brownie, strawberry Biscoff waffle cone, blueberry raspberry, coffee stracciatella, chocolate mint, strawberry passionfruit, and maple pecan.
This is just a glimpse into the creativity and expertise that Mallard’s Milk Bar brings to ice-cream making.
No matter where your cottage is (and no matter how many burgers you plan to grill), there is always space to support an incredible local business. If we missed your favourites, let us know! But for now, check out one of these incredible local cottage country spots and enjoy the hot Ottawa summer.
Jordan Pizzuti has been a local Ottawa food writer, content creator and hospitality professional for over 10 years. Through his “best of” series, Jordan has cemented himself as an expert in Ottawa hospitality and nightlife. He continues to promote the Ottawa hospitality scene through his “Are We Having Fun Yet?” brand and his work with OBJ.
