Going to Ottawa... - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

peter12 · 01-24-2008, 12:42 PM

Hey! I'm going to Ottawa too on Feb. 27th. I'd recommend a stop at the War Museum, maybe head on down to the market for some Lebanese food. Quite a bit of stuff to do. It's a weird city though. I didn't find the people very friendly. Too many power hungry narcissists in that city.

STeeLy · 01-24-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

maybe head on down to the market for some Lebanese food.

Shawarmas???? Those things are AWESOME

Winterlude are the Weekends of Feb 1 to Feb 17... so when u come on the 27th, u'd miss it.

MaDMaN_26 · 01-24-2008, 12:58 PM

Umm... Montréal. There is nothing to do in Ottawa... The Parliament buildings tour is free and interesting I guess and ya if you like Museums there's a few... but its not exactly a 6 flags fun kind of place. There is what they call the market place (I think), which was a cool area to go for beers and food and some shopping... but in the end its just restaurants and Bars...

Don't get me wrong, I had to spend a week in Ottawa for work, I went to a senators game and saw pretty much everything I could, its a small town city, with great people and a very friendly atmosphere and parking downtown is $8 a day and they think thats a rip off... Even though I found it to be a little dirty in places if I had to leave Alberta it would be in my top 3 list of other places in Canada to live. IMHO tourist-wise there is very little to do... but its only a few hours from Montréal... and that place is fun with a capital F.

Bill Bumface · 01-24-2008, 01:25 PM

If you don't already have a car when you are there, you can just hop a train to Montreal... way more comfortable than a car too, and it will take you right downtown.

I agree though, unless you really love museums one night in Ottawa is enough, then hit Montreal before Montreal hits you.

GreenTeaFrapp · 01-24-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STeeLy

Shawarmas???? Those things are AWESOME

Yeah they are. But I'd avoid buying them in the Market. Try Shawarma King on Elgin or Shawarma Queen on Bank instead.

In the market I'd recommend the croissants at The French Baker on Murray. That place has the best croissants you're going to find anywhere.

If you're looking for a latte / espresso, try Bridgehead in either the Market or Bank @ Grove in old Ottawa South. Best in Ottawa but only those two locations. Avoid lattes at the other locations.

Get a burger at The Works. I'd suggest avoiding the Don Cherry burger though.

Try the enormous wings at Local Heroes.

Check out the Diefenbunker in the rural part of the city near Carp.

MaDMaN_26 · 01-24-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Get a burger at The Works. I'd suggest avoiding the Don Cherry burger though.

That has my full endorsement... gooooood burger, albeit maybe the single most expensive burger I have ever had... I think my burger, shake and rings was around $20.

STeeLy · 01-24-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Try the enormous wings at Local Heroes.

Or if you're here on a Monday, go for 1 cent wings at Gracie's on Merivale. (U need to buy a drink for every 10 wings, but still good though, drink can be beer/soft drinks/juice)

And don't forget to get a beaver tail too, I love those things.

troutman · 01-24-2008, 02:34 PM

Try my cousin's restaurant:

http://agavegrill.ca/

Ask for Doug and/or Scott - they will tell you what's happening in Ottawa.

GreenTeaFrapp · 01-24-2008, 04:21 PM

Oh, and one more recommendation. Fajitas at Lone Star.

jammies · 01-24-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I know... when you see what a sweet car Hitler had, and then you look at the rust bucket you're driving around, it makes you feel like you haven't accomplished very much.

Pff! He might have a nicer car, but my moustache doesn't look like I haven't yet finished eating a marsupial. So for now, we're even - and I still have time to get a better car.

RougeUnderoos · 01-24-2008, 10:33 PM

Okay forgive me if I'm missing some sort of inside joke, but is Hitler's car really at the War Museum?

If so, is this a permanent thing?

STeeLy · 01-24-2008, 11:23 PM

nope, Hitler's car is REALLY at the War Museum, no joke... I also think its been there for a while as well.

Bill Bumface · 01-24-2008, 11:36 PM

I think it's permanent because they had a lot of them, and lots of the allied nations got there hands on a museum piece.

icarus · 01-25-2008, 01:10 AM

Take the tour of Parliament just to see the library. It was closed for renovations for a couple of years (thus I still have never been there) but it is reputed to be one of the nicest rooms in all of Canada. I think it is loosely modelled on the British Library reading room at the British museum in London.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Fajitas at Lone Star.

Ah yes! Is it Monday or Tuesday night which has all you can eat fajitas? Never went to the Lone Star in Ottawa, but at the Kingston location all-you-can-eat fajitas was the best day of the week.

My favourite pub/restaurants in Ottawa are The Royal Oak, Heart & Crown, and the Honest Lawyer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Okay forgive me if I'm missing some sort of inside joke, but is Hitler's car really at the War Museum?

The car found its way there after being stolen from the Barbie museum by Jon Lovitz.

Regulator75 · 01-25-2008, 07:46 AM

Thanks for all the info!

We are staying near the core, is there need for a car rental?

How's the transit system?

icarus · 01-25-2008, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Thanks for all the info!

We are staying near the core, is there need for a car rental?

How's the transit system?

Bad, unless you like buses. If you don't mind the cold, you should be able to walk anywhere you'd want to go, unless you want to go to the museum in Gatineau.

GreenTeaFrapp · 01-25-2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulator75

We are staying near the core, is there need for a car rental?

How's the transit system?

You probably won't need a car. If you're close to the Transitway, you're set.

The biggest attractions are all in the core, except for Scotiabank Place and the Museum of Science & Technology. If you were going to a game at the rink, you'd probably be better off taking a shuttle from somewhere instead of driving.

STeeLy · 01-25-2008, 08:38 AM

If you're staying near the core, then u'll be near the Market (all the bars/food places)... I don't think u need a car rental as we have a pretty good transit system. We have a short 5 stop LRT that started not too long ago, otherwise, its all buses

If you have time and want to bus around places, the Fare is $3.00 if up aid in cash, BUT if you go into the Rideau Center (Downtown mall) there is an OC Transpo office (OC Transpo is the transit company in Ottawa) ask for a sheet of bus tickets, I think they cost $9.50. And when you want to bus places, just pay 2 tickets and ask for a transfer (The transfer usually lasts CLOSE to 2 hours).

We have what is called transitways, where its entire roads for Buses and city vehicles only, and its really quick.

MoneyGuy · 01-25-2008, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STeeLy

nope, Hitler's car is REALLY at the War Museum, no joke... I also think its been there for a while as well.

Hitler's car has been there for many years. I saw it about 12 years ago. It's cool. Look for the bullet holes in the seat. Oh, I think I already that.

Eastern Girl · 01-25-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icarus

My favourite pub/restaurants in Ottawa are The Royal Oak, Heart & Crown, and the Honest Lawyer.
.

The Heart and Crown is one of my favourite haunts. My friends seem to really like the Honest Lawyer, but I am not as crazy about it. Gracie's is another that's great. I used to go to the one in Merivale all the time, but I haven't been in a long while. The Highlander is a good one, right on the corner by the Rideau Centre, so you can stumble outside and step right on to a bus home. I tend to like the pubs best if you couldn't tell.

Zac's Diner in the market is pretty good. My friends aren't really into it though, so perhaps it's not as good as I think it is. I haven't been in awhile. Elgin Street Diner is quite popular for the after hours bar crowd. It's always quite packed. Maclarens is good if you want to watch a hockey game.

As for bus tickets, there are lots of places around Ottawa that sell them, you don't just have to go to Rideau Centre's OC transpo. Or you could just get on the bus and ask for a day pass. I don't remember how much they are, but they last the entire day so you just flash it when you step on the bus and you're good to go. They are cheaper if you purchase them before you get on the bus though, I think.