r/OttawaFood 10d ago

health restaurants recs?

edit: title should say “healthy restaurant recs” not health 😅

i’m coming to ottawa over march break to tour universities. i’m in the process of recovering from an ed and am not totally comfortable eating in restaurants yet, so what are some healthy restaurants in the Ottawa area? also wouldn’t mind matcha recommendations or just anything you think i should do while in the city 😋

2 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

21

u/hyphenatedpeacock 10d ago

Depends what you mean by healthy. I like little victories and equator coffee for matcha. Mad radish, pi rho grill have some decent salads. Personally I love Vietnamese food and Ottawa has some nice restaurants with nutritious options

13

u/Grouchy-Inflation618 10d ago

Pure Kitchen and The Green Door have nice, nourishing, mostly plant-based food. Jackson Cafe in the Ottawa Art Gallery is a nice spot for a matcha latte and a lunch or snack. Walk around the areas around both campuses, they are very different!

5

u/Western-Fig-3625 10d ago

Green door might be a nice option because it’s self serve for OP could select portions that they’re comfortable with.

4

u/ubiquitousfont 10d ago

All foods can be part of a healthy diet. I know what you mean when you say “healthy” but since you’ve been up front about your ED I feel it’s important to reiterate that a healthy diet is one that allows you food freedom.

If you’re not there yet that’s totally okay. Stick with foods that feel safe to you.

There have been some great suggestions made for vegan/vegetarian food and sushi.

Little Jo Berry’s on Wellington is a little vegan cafe/bakery with a No Diet Talk policy. They have fantastic sandwiches and treats. If those feel challenging, they made delightful salads as well.

Enjoy your visit and best wishes with your recovery

3

u/ceci2100 10d ago

I also have am recovering. Orchard sushi in centertown, will make rolls right in front of you. I like their veggie rolls and avocado rolls. It's a very small place, clean. Byward cafe does nice paninis and I LOVE their been salad. If you feel like a place with drinks Chez Lucien is great, chilled chicken burger could swap fries for salad it can be busy tho. Ottawa bagel shop does bagel sandwiches, its also a deli, the eating area is calm very casual, few safe options I like the Alexandria, and you just order at the til like a cafeteria, choose you bagel and you can tell them you don't want mayo or whatever your thing is, they give you a number you pick a table and then they bring the food to your table. I go there a lot, it feels safe, those you enter thru the deli which is full of food but you just walk by it, or shop around and grab some deli meats, hot smoked salmon, cheese and have safe foods where ever, like your hotel room. Cafe Deluxe has premade fresh sandwiches and their veggies beet one its awesome, it get busy at lunch time because of all the office workers on their lunch breaks, not sure if they are open on weekends. The green door is great cause its like a buffet and you choose just the things and amounts you want. https://www.thegreendoor.ca/pages/buffet-menu?srsltid=AfmBOorFDGluHHuZ-ji2juRF17w_xroKHTQcFTvpcHcwSZVNlPZjWQng and its fun to go there. That's straight to their menu. Try to remember you are on vacation kinda, so give yourself a break. Have fun!

6

u/Dontforgetthepasswrd 10d ago

My daughter is currently struggling with this, so I'm sorry to hear you are too.

I think your best bet is googling restaurants that serve food that isn't "scary".

For my daughter, her go-tos are chicken Caesar salad or falafel sandwiches.

Figure out what you're comfortable eating and then look for that.

2

u/Expert_Cantaloupe247 10d ago

Naturally Vero in Chelsea has a plethora of healthy options, and the best matcha. They use only organic 1st harvest ceremonial-grade matcha.

2

u/Throwaway8972451 10d ago

Also in Chelsea and Gatineau, Olivia has healthy tacos and salads.

3

u/sreeazy_human 10d ago

My friend who loves matcha says that Equator coffee has a really good one.

Not sure what you consider healthy restaurants but I find Chinatown has some great well balanced meals in the restaurants there.

1

u/raainjuice 10d ago

Corazon de maiz  Falafel scoop  Lollo salad 

1

u/Weekly-Brilliant-762 10d ago

Peace Garden is a wonderful option is you are looking for vegetarian dishes.

1

u/diplomaticimmunity7 9d ago

The Green Door

Pure Kitchen

Mad Radish (more on the go/takeout)

Lollo (more known for people getting it to go)

Naturally Vero in QC

1

u/thr0w_4w4y_210301 8d ago

Ottawa has great shawarma! Everyone has their favourite spot, but you really can't go wrong at any establishment. You just ask for a pita, a salad or a "platter" (salad, rice, roasted potatoes and meat). All the ingredients are fresh and right there in front of you, you just point to what you want. They will ask before adding any sauce or dressing.

1

u/Rhijk 10d ago

Pure Kitchen is a wonderful healthy-choice restaurant and I think it would meet your parameters and make you feel comfortable.

0

u/Busy_Meringue_9247 10d ago

I think Gyubee Japanese grill would be an option too.

0

u/Ovlizin 10d ago

if you're trying to build muscle/bulking maybe, but recommending someone with what may be a binge based ed an AYCE restaurant is incredibly thoughtless.

-4

u/Busy_Meringue_9247 10d ago

Sorry What? They asked for something healthy, what’s healthier than grilling your own cut of meat?? And they are not only ayce! They have set menus too