Napoli's Café

After a long week, we decided to go out and try out places in the area. After some research online (google does wonders), we decided on a place called Napoli's cafe. The menu look good and the as did the pictures in the atmosphere. The website did a good job at selling the joint. This does wonders to demonstrate how a good website can really help a restaurant.

This place is a small Italian place with an outdoor patio. There's a bar when you walk in with some TV's showing the food network. Brownie points for that! There were booths on one side and table on the other. We were greeted by a gentleman whom I believe was one of the owners. He sat us down and was quickly asked about drinks. The place wasn't full, but it wasn't empty as well. The noise level wasn't loud, nor too quiet. We dressed up for this place a little bit, but there were customers there who had shorts, or jeans, so I'd say the atmosphere is casual.

For drinks, we decided on a half carafe of red wine and had our orders taken. We started with some zucchini sticks, and I ordered the tortellini con funghi and the boss ordered gnocchi. The appetizers came out very quick, and it was hot, plentiful and very tasty. Bread was also served, but was never offered more when the bread bowl was empty. While waiting for the main course, the place started to fill in more. It still wasn't packed, but it wasn't busy. We got our food, and was offered fresh ground pepper and parm cheese. This is when I noticed that the table behind us, who was there before us, still had not gotten their appetizers yet. Ignoring that fact for the moment, I dug into my food. The cream sauce was very rich, and the portion was very good. It was good, but it wasn't the best I've had. I found the sauce to be almost too heavy. The boss dug into her gnocchi and was very disappointed. The pasta itself was decent, but the tomato sauce has no flavour at all. There was no fresh herbs in it, so really, everything tasted bland. To sum it up, that dish was edible, but not enjoyable.

The service is really what got to us about this place. The food took a little longer then expected for how busy the place was. It wasn't until I was 3/4 done my plate and the Boss half done with her plate before anyone came over to ask how our food was. By the time we got our bills, the table behind us, that was there before us, got their food. I could overhear them saying how they asked a few times to have a faster meal because they were going to Bluesfest. There just wasn't enough staff in the place. There was the owner doing one side, the waitress, one lady who didn't seem to do much, and the busgirl.

The price of the meal was ok. I would not call it a cheap place to eat, but it was not overly pricey either.

Overall, the decor was excellent, but the food and service brought the place down. Would I go back? Not by my own choice, but if someone wanted to still go there, I'd still go.

Review (out of 5):

Food: * * *

Value: * * *

Atmosphere: * * * *

Service: * * *

Price range (dinner): $15-$30

Website: http://www.napoliscafe.com/

Restaurant Les Fougères

There has not been much chance for us to go out to eat recently, hence the lack of a post until now, but good thing I have a few still in my recent memory that I do want to share and recount back to you all!

We decided to splurge a little and go out for a super fancy dinner and just really enjoy the night. I would have to say that this was my first real taste into finer dining. I was not disappointed.

Les Fougeres is located near Chelsea Que, about 15 mins north of Ottawa. I made reservations and we both dressed up to help with the atmosphere. The restaurant looks like a small country side inn. The interior was very nicely decorated in a "quaint french Canadian" style, something you'd expect to see in a nice bed and breakfast, just on a larger scale. The greeting staff was very friendly, and the table decor was subtle and not overly intrusive.

Since this was going to be a splurge meal, we decided to both order the tasting menu, with wine parings. I think this is the best way to really get a taste of what the chef can do, of course at a price. The menu can be found here.

The meal started off with some rosemary rolls with some butter with rosemary in it. It was very fresh, and the aroma of the rosemary really made it something to remember...and this was just the rolls!

I'm not going to go over each and every plate, but the ones to remember was the first plate with the duck. I've never had duck melt with so much flavor before in my mouth. There was so much food, it was hard to finish my desert. The someliere did a wonderful job at the wine parings. It was my first real experience where the food was good, the wine was good, but when you had the food with the right wine, it just brought out this extra burst of flavours.

So, over all, the atmosphere was excellent. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly, and they came out and explained everything about the current course. They will remind you which plate you are eating and tell you a little bit about the wine that is paired with it. The food was one of the best I've ever had. Much compliments to the chef! Sometimes you really do get what you pay for.

Review (out of 5):
Food: * * * * *
Value: * * * * *
Atmosphere: * * * * *
Service: * * * * *
Price Range (dinner): $30 - $150
Website: http://www.fougeres.ca/

Roost: The Urban Smokehouse

The idea of starting these reviews started a few months ago, but really came to the front after last night.

Out in the east end of Ottawa, there is a small place called the Roost: The Urban Smokehouse. If you've been out there, it's located right beside The Works. We've been to The Works many times out there, and each time we go into The Works, the Roost is usually empty. As tempted as we've been to go in and try it out, we've always sided with what we like. Recently, we got an invitation to a re-opening. Roost had a re-vamped menu, and was giving away free sample platters for free. What a great idea to help spread the word out! The lineup was out the door, and the place was packed with people all having the same idea...What is this place about?

The atmosphere there was very well done. It was not too dark inside, but the decor made the place look similar to what you would think a smoke house might look like. The place was clean, and the serving staff was very polite and courteous. The wait for the drinks was quick, and they have the same beer and milkshakes as The Works. While waiting for our platter, we took a quick glance at the "new" menu. It had your typical chicken in quarters, halves and whole, ribs, and chicken wings. Overall, the menu was what you would expect to get in a roast chicken joint, but there was not much more there. The prices were not cheap, and in my opinion, slightly overpriced for chicken and ribs.

Our platter came with a little mix of everything. We got some ribs, a quarter chicken, some wings, onion rings, fries, cornbread, and some chicken sauce. The portion was big, and I was hungry and ready to delve into this feast.

The food was good...but that's it. It was not great, it did not blow me away. After eating it, and thinking about the prices it would have cost me to eat one of those, I would have felt a little gypped. The ribs were decent, but we've made better at home. The chicken was well cooked and moist, but tasted...well, like what you would get at a supermarket for $9.99. The dipping sauce was different, but St. Hubert's is still better. The best part of it all, was the onion rings...which are the same ones you'd get if you went to The Works.

Overall, the food was decent, but I would not go back. The price was too high for the value of the food. On the bright side, all the tips went to help support breast cancer. Good job on that! Sorry Roost, the new menu just does fly...


Review (out of 5):
Food: * *
Value: * *
Atmosphere: * * * *
Service: * * * *
Price Range: $8-$25
website: http://www.roostchicken.com/

New Idea

Hi everyone,

To those who follow my blog, you know it has been a while since I've last posted here. This can be due to the fact my life has been going great, but at the same time, I've come to the point in my life where I don't rant about it online. Just on my tweet account; but I digress. Instead, I've decided to change the idea and theme of my blog to one of my loves in life. Food. To some, that may not be as exciting as my roll up the rim rants, but I think it's something that I might enjoy doing.

I will try and get pictures of the food that I eat when I can, but otherwise, I'll just post about the great foods that I've eaten, or the great restaurants I've been to. I'll also include not so great foods and restaurant's I've been to as well.

Small disclaimer: These are just my opinions of course, so please take that with your grain of salt :P No pun intended.

Let me know what you think of this idea. I'll post whenever I go out to eat, and I have a few places I've been on trips saved up to tell you all about. Enjoy, and bon appetit!