Brunch Worth Waiting For

On our second morning in Ottawa, we woke up and realized the cupboards were bare so we had no choice but to go out for breakfast, which, in reality, is awesome! There’s nothing like going out for brunch on Sunday. After running through our options we decided to try the Lieutenant’s Pump at 361 Elgin Street.

We braved the crisp winter morning and walked a few blocks to the pub. When we walked by, I figured we’d have no trouble finding a spot, because the place seemed extremely spacious. There are a number of rooms to dine in, but when we arrived around 11:00am all the tables were full. We were told there’d be a 15 minute wait, but we decided to stay. We passed lots of restaurants and pubs offering brunch, but none seemed to be as busy as the Lieutenant’s Pump.

It appeared that we arrived just in time; while we were waiting the line kept getting longer and longer. It seemed every few minutes another party came looking for a table. It is unbelievable how many large groups were meeting for brunch. The waiting area quickly became crowded as more and more hungry people decided to brave the wait. No matter where I stood, I was in someone’s way. The restaurant should seriously consider a more efficient way to organize their waiting list. A couple of hostesses would walk around meekly calling out for the next party and it seemed the patrons were never near by. I’m not sure where they went, but it seemed like the waitresses needed to organize a search party to fill the tables.

Eventually we were seated at a well-worn table in the corner. There was lots of natural light, a stone floor, and the energy of the people waiting created a warm atmosphere. The Lieutenant’s Pump has an extensive breakfast menu, with lots of creative dishes such as white-chocolate pancakes, a wide variety of Eggs Benedict, yogurt and other traditional breakfast fare. I decided on something a little off the radar- a roast beef sandwich served with peppercorn mayonnaise on a butter croissant. It came with fresh fruit and home fries, and despite already getting lots of starch, I ordered a side of Rye toast.

Despite the crowd, it didn’t take long for our meals to arrive. My sandwich was delicious. The shaved beef was tender and flavourful; I was expecting cold cuts, but this meat definitely was roasted in house. The croissant was soft and buttery and the mayo was chock-full of peppery goodness. Another highlight of the meal was the home fries that were golden brown and seasoned with lots of rosemary. They were the best breakfast potatoes that I’ve ever eaten at a restaurant.

The only part of the meal that didn’t work was the not-so-fresh fruit. I understand you aren’t going to find fresh fruit in Ontario in the middle of March and that’s okay- we shouldn’t expect it. You can’t ship fruit from California and expect it to be fresh. The pineapple ring was brown, the melons were flavourless and the strawberries tasted like water. Why not just wait until the summer when the fields of Ontario are producing bountiful produce? I would’ve been just as happy without the browning fruit. It really took away from the rest of the meal.

The Lieutenant’s Pump is a bustling pub, with an energetic atmosphere that serves an excellent breakfast. If you’re hungry on Sunday and don’t mind dealing with a crowd, the Lieutenant’s Pump is a place you should seriously consider checking out.

March Break Starts at the Mayflower

After an adventurous overnight train ride, we arrived in Ottawa with hungry bellies. Amanda and I had planned to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the Montreal train station, but since we arrived late our layover was virtually non-existent and there was no time for breakfast.

The trip from Montreal to Ottawa was quick, and we got here just in time to enjoy an amazing breakfast at The Mayflower Restaurant and Pub, at 247 Elgin Street.

This was my third trip to the this popular weekend spot. We arrived around 1:00 so we thought we’d beat the breakfast rush, but we still had a short wait.

Once we were seated, we were quickly served coffee by a slightly frazzled server. He was clearly a little exhausted after a busy morning. At the Mayflower, the menus are on the table waiting for you, which is fun, because it allows you to jump right into the decision-making process. And anyone who’s ever eaten with me knows my selection process tends to be both time-consuming and indecisive.

Since it was one o’clock the first decision to be made was lunch or breakfast? The chalkboard specials looked enticing. They included such comfort food classics as baked macaroni and cheese and chicken pot pie. There was also a club sandwich made with freshly spit roasted chicken and served on pumpernickel bread, but since I hadn’t eaten yet, I decided to stick with breakfast.

I had narrowed my breakfast selections down to the two meals I’d enjoyed on previous visits to the diner. It was tough decision between homemade oatmeal, served with your choice of toppings or the five-pancake breakfast. After consulting my very empty stomach, the much larger 5 pancake breakfast was an obvious choice.

Once our orders were taken, we had lots of time to catch up with friends, because it took a long time for our meals to come. The restaurant was packed, and the server did an excellent job keeping our coffees topped up. This is the third time I’ve eaten here and the food always takes time. But I don’t mind waiting for quality freshly cooked food. It’s a good sign that it takes time to prepare. If you’re somewhere and the food comes out just a little too quickly, you have to wonder how much of the food you’re eating has just been reheated in a microwave.

When the food arrived, we were treated by large scrumptious portions. The pancakes were buttery with just the right amount of fluff. My only complaint about the pancakes was the syrup. It’s a sin to serve “table syrup.” It should be mandated that all breakfast joints serve 100% Canadian Maple Syrup. It depresses me to think how many pancakes and waffles I ruined by soaking them with Aunt Jamima. But I digress.

The pancakes were enjoyable, and they were served with wonderfully grilled home fries, and decent breakfast sausages. I added a side of pumpernickel toast, which I enjoyed a little too much.

What I love about having breakfast at restaurants in Ottawa is the variety of breads available for toast. There’s nothing like enjoying dense pumpernickel toasted to perfection. It’s nice to have a choice beyond white and whole-wheat. When you throw in a chance to enjoy some pumpernickel, brown or dark rye- it adds a whole element of deliciousness to breakfast.

Aside from the pancakes, and oatmeal there are lots of omelettes, Eggs Benedict, and traditional breakfasts to choose from. The Mayflower is a cozy diner, packed with lots of people in search of delicious comfort food. So if you’re looking to discover a place to have a scrumptious breakfast or lunch you should stop byThe Mayflower and have an amazing meal.