I am not usually a huge fan of fries topped with cheese curds and then slathered with artery-clogging gravy – otherwise known as Poutine, but for Spud’s I will henceforth make and occasional exception.
I know that it has been a while (ok, so almost an entire year) since I last posted a restaurant review here. However, this is not because I have been in hibernation but rather that I have been busy (and still am) with other projects. Nevertheless, we haven’t stopped eating out in and around Ottawa, so I have a good number of exciting venues to tell you about over the next couple of months.
Spud’s Potato Bar and Poutinerie in Elmvale Acres in Ottawa’s East End near the Museum of Science and Technology is a good place to start off with because in the now famous words of Monty Python it is something completely different. From the outside this restaurant is perhaps a little underwhelming being located, as it is, in the middle of a fairly dismal strip mall. Also, merely looking through the window, you might suspect you are peering into a SubWay store or other fast food joint. It is true that Spuds is a self-serve establishment. If you are looking for fine dining, you are in the wrong place.
Personally, I chose the ‘Chicken Pot Fries’ (click thumbnail for full view). This involves the addition of chunks of chicken, caramelized onions, mushrooms and peas. Of the five gravies available (regular, beer, chicken, cracked pepper and lastly mushroom), I chose the latter. I had been pre-warned that the portions were large so only opted for the small size. The fries were fresh, the toppings were plentiful and the overall concoction was very tasteful even if the picture does not do it justice!
Dorothy opted for the ‘Piggy gone Wild’ which added 3 variations of pork (pulled pork, bacon and sausage) to her poutine and she selected the cracked pepper gravy. She apparently also very much enjoyed her chosen dish. Our only slight complaints were that the plastic forks were woefully inadequate for the task of digging out and holding onto the contents. Also, the straws provided for the drinks were too short to reach the bottom of the bottles.
If you have followed the Adventures of the Supper Seven in the past, you will know that we are usually a gang of seven and getting seated and served can be a problem. In this case, we simply put two tables together, ordered our food and were happily eating away less than ten minutes after entering. Every one of our little band ordered something different and no-one was disappointed. Even Fayth, pictured here, who often eats less than a sparrow, ate a healthy (not really) portion! For the first time ever though, not a single person, including Amber who has a voracious appetite, was able to completely finish their meal. However, the containers that the food comes in can be easily closed and carried home (for the dog?!)
Whether you think you like poutine or not, you owe it to yourself to give Spuds Potato Bar and Poutinerie a try!
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