Elgin Street Diner

What a great experience! First meal in Ottawa was nothing short of perfection at the Elgin Street Diner. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious, and the milkshakes were thick and served in a metal cup! The whole family loved it!

Really good place to eat. Not super fancy but great as a bumping diner. Definitely affordable most entrees ranging from 15$-25$.The food was really great. I really enjoyed the cotton candy milkshake. And My fiancé really enjoyed the homemade pea and ham soup. And though we didn’t get dessert, there was plenty of options, I was quite interested in the rice pudding parfait which looked exquisite. The service was great. Our waiter was kind, well mannered and genuinely seemed like he enjoyed working there. And the atmosphere gives this perfect old school diner feel. I would go again.

We took advantage of the first day the canal opened to go for a skate and grabbed breakfast here afterward to warm up. The tater tot breakfast poutine was so tasty, all of the tots were crispy even though they were drenched in sauce. The peanut butter stuffed French toast was by far our table’s favourite of the morning. We also got a make your own omelette that did not disappoint! Our server was a sweetie too. Great service and excellent food.

Loved loved LOVED this spot. I visit from Toronto often, as my boyfriend lives in Ottawa, and I'm so happy we ventured out of our normal "spots" to find this gem of a diner. The food is well thought out and delicious. The service is stellar and the ambiance is next level. We left feeling happy and full and with a desire to return again.

Great food with solid portions. Service was pretty fast even though the place was packed. Suggest getting the smoked meat poutine.

Elgin Street Diner is a great late-night spot, especially after a lounge visit. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming. Despite being busy, we secured a table without much trouble. Their milkshake is definitely a must-try—rich, creamy, and one of the best I’ve had. No wonder it’s what they’re famous for. The poutine, on the other hand, was just okay. The fries weren’t fresh and felt like they had been sitting for a while, rather than being freshly dropped in the fryer. However, the gravy was flavorful and helped make up for the lack of freshness in the fries. One thing that stood out was the portion sizes—they were surprisingly large and definitely enough for one person. If you’re looking for a casual, late-night eatery with a solid menu, Elgin Street Diner is worth checking out.

I came here for the first time and order the regular. I was gonna start eating it until I notice a long grey hair in it. I immediately called the waiter and he came and took it and apologized. He brought me another one and it was good. I appreciate him a lot. :) I’m definitely coming back. 5/5 everything

Open 24 hours! Came by for breakfast, wasn’t expecting it to be as busy as it was on a weekday late morning. They serve breakfast all day! We got seated shortly after. The menu has breakfast, sandwiches, shakes, poutines etc! We tried the club sandwiches, the vegetarian was alright as the eggplant was a tad bit undercooked, I tried the egg sandwich and was tasty! The poutine was good. Overall, everything was reasonably priced for the amount of food. Typical diner food, the service was efficient despite how busy they were.

A classic "does what it says on the tin" all-day breakfast every day diner. Benedict on a (bacon removed for me) grilled cheese sandwich? Yes, please!

Open 24 hours! Came by for breakfast, wasn't expecting it to be as busy as it was on a weekday late morning. They serve breakfast all day! We got seated shortly after. The menu has breakfast, sandwiches, shakes, poutines etc! We tried the club sandwiches, the vegetarian was alright as the eggplant was a tad bit undercooked, I tried the egg sandwich and was tasty! The poutine was good. Overall, everything was reasonably priced for the amount of food. Typical diner food, the service was efficient despite how busy they were.

Seen that Diner In some food network shows and seen it a couples YouTube videos as well so got pretty hyped to try it and so did I for breakfast this morning. Food was ok I took the chocolate chip pancakes and a creamsicle milkshake and somehow was too much for me as I felt way too full after that . Our waiter was very nice polite and professional so that did help a lot I must say. Would I return there if I go back to Ottawa maybe definitely wasn't a wow as au expected to be .

Great diner open 24 hours Conveniently on Elgin Street Easy access especially if walking Although street parking is available Big, bright and clean Ordered Black Forest ham and Swiss cheese on brown bread with side of vegetarian vegetable soup Came with a tasty pickle Service was quick and efficient Busy at 11pm Obviously well liked by many I'll be returning when possible

I love diners and this place is a good one. With a mix of unique history and diner food, this place is a bit of a tourist spot but in a good way. The food is diner food but some of it is lacking fulfillment. For instance, I got a western omelette with hash browns and for some reason tomato/vinegar based baked beans came with it (that was weird). The omelette was eatable but it was more like a folded over, thin frittata with a skimpy sprinkling of peppers and onions. The hash browns were neither hash nor brown. They were more like a pile of pan fried glop. Now, none of these items were gross just not diner great. I did also have the waffles with fresh fruit (I know, it was a big day for me). That was delicious and very up to par! I think this place shines in its waffles, pancakes, and French Toast. The history of this place is pretty cool. They haven't closed in 40 years. In fact, behind the bar, chalk boards detail all the stuff they've been through and yet kept the doors open through it all. It's actually a neat thing and great artistry. This place is definitely worth visiting at least once. I want to emphasize, the food is not gross just not American diner quality; however, it is still good and filling. Try it at least once. You will not be disappointed. Note: get there earlier than you think because there will be about a 20-30 minute wait, especially on the weekends. Also, for how busy it is, the service is relatively fast and we didn't feel rushed. Enjoy.

Ate here today with my family for lunch to try this place out for the first time while visiting Ottawa and leaving Toronto. We all had different kinds of lunch dishes to eat individually that we all said it had tasted really good and delicious. The service was also really good, attentive and friendly. I couldn't agree more. Finally, I would definitely eat and come back again next time when I visit Canada someday maybe in the future! :)

Place has cockroaches! Upon walking in and being shown to our table. A huge cockroach came running at me. We left pronto.

Fast, efficient, and friendly service. Excellent diner food. Ordered the Philly Cheese Steak. Dill pickle, coleslaw, fries...All extremely yummy.

My favorite breakfast spot in Ottawa. Very friendly service, old school vibes on the interior. Classic diner feel. Great selection of food. Poutine is fantastic. They have a killer motor oil gravy.

This brunch spot took us by surprise! The staff is super friendly and the portions are HUGE. My fiance and I are travelling from toronto and came across this gem. We do the usual one dish per person and would share, but both these dishes were way too much for us. It can feed a family of 3-4. I believe we got the OMG Benedict breakfast and the blue breakfast. The restaurant itself has the retro diner vibes and it so cozy. 10/10 would recommend, we will be back when visiting Ottawa

This place has a serious retro vibe. It's very busy and the staff seem to be on top of orders. They serve a wide variety of food but we wanted the Benedict experience. It was decent, nothing to rave about but also no complaints.

Can definitely see why this diner is so popular - my friends and I had a great time. I got the breakfast tater tot poutine and sampled a friend's French toast, both of which were very delicious. And the portions are huge. A friend got the smoked meat poutine, and there was just a massive pile of meat layered over the fries and cheese curds. Absolutely amazing! The staff was friendly, and we loved the casual diner experience. All in all, I can wholeheartedly recommend this spot to anyone visiting Ottawa!

Brought my family to eat here for the first time and would definitely return! The staff was efficient, friendly and attentive. The ambiance was cozy with an old school diner vibe. The kids menu had a very good selection as well. Both my picky eaters (10 & 7) were quite pleased. I ordered the nutella french toast with bacon crumble and it was delicious but massive! Portions are definitely generous so bring your appetite! PS: really good coffee!

Order the poutine! The host and waiter were super friendly and suggested some delicious items. They were open late and made me feel at home.

Came here with friends for brunch. It was a great experience! The waiters were very friendly and I really appreciated how they had more unique items on their brunch menu ( not just the classic English breakfast). I got the farmer's market gf Benedict and it can served on potatoes, sausages and tomatoes. It was a rich and hearty meal! The only downside is that it was too oily for my liking. If you are looking for a comfort meal, this is definitely the place to go. My friend got a chocolate banana French toast and that was also amazing! Highly recommend this place :)

Yummy food! Portion size for meal was value for money. Taste was yum. Chai latte was too small and not great but not horrible! Service was friendly and helpful! Will be back!!

Does the standard diner dishes as you would expect! Great portions, quick service and hits the spot when you're craving a burger, fries or a home cooked meal like meatloaf. Our party of seven including kids all had something we liked from the menu. The selection can please any crowd. Vege burger was a chickpea base and really delicious. Fries are unsalted but that's fine cuz you can add if you want. Service was great and surprisingly fast. A well oiled machine that is open 24/7. Prices more than reasonable and ESD is a no brainer if you don't know what you want for any meal of the day. Also, all day breakfast !

Can't believe how bad the the food the food was. Orders cheese steak which turn out be a bunch of crumbled "beef" of hot dog bun covered with two cheese slices. Totally gross. The fries were cold and soggy too. The server certainly didn't seem to want to be there either. Probably because the food was so bad.

Really cool atmosphere. Staff were very friendly and service was quick. Food was quite good with large portions. Fair price for what you get. Some pretty cool shirts for purchase as well.

Open 24/7 this restaurant offers all day breakfast. On Christmas morning, Elgin Dinner was one of a few open for Christmas breakfast/ brunch although it is open for lunch and dinner too. Social distancing protocols were followed: QR code verification, table spacing, employees wearing masks, plexiglass for buffet tables etc... This isn't your Eggspectation or Chez Cora specializing in gourmet breakfast. This is a more blue collar type. Simple menues with simplified drinks. Excellent service for a long lineup that almost went around the corner or a cold morning. Street parking. Walk-in. $-$$

Henry at Elgin Street was the most wonderful man I have ever met in my life, He truly went above and beyond and made this a 5 start experience, shoutout to Travis and Joe you're super cool !

We visited this retro themed diner based on good reviews from Yelp and hotel staff recommendation. We ordered for Brontosaurus Burger and Grilled Vegetable Sandwich. The portions are huge and the staff is amazing. The food tasted fine, ticked off all the boxes!

Breakfast food great baked beans awesome Service excellent Ambiance very good Place was clean quiet Enjoyable meal Would go there again

Refuse my service animal , told me it's fake brought my anxiety up , went for breakfast like ie done for years . Complain about a order we picked up it was the wrong order and it was cold due to the young crowds on Saturday night they just pump out poutine and threw it in a bag we when pre ordered it was around 2 am . I guess it was the wrong time to pick up food . That was that I I was very insultaed to be judge and they mentioned it wasent a real service dog on top the waitress who was very unprofessional refuse to here my complaint . Give me a hand and mentioned that I was rude to her she was actuellement rude to me d set me up . Well I left when the manager ask me to leave I said ok no problem . Now is m Not gonna back up or bother the city every time someone is like that. AMD ask me for my papers for my dog .iy is against the laws or for any of the puplic Unless they are the law . They should of listen to the complain and also if not a real service dog call the city . For me impersonation of my service dog tagL20376

We just moved all the way from Texas, and although the Canadian food experience has been exquisite with such an immense amount of variety, we were craving some classic, belly-filling, regretful (in the best way) breakfast. Elgin Street does just that. The service was amazing! They were all so friendly, gave great advice, and were consistent with making sure our table was clean.

The prices are a little high in my opinion, but they have a great variety of menu items! The pancakes are very good.

I visited on Saturday afternoon and it was fairly empty. They asked for our vaccine receipts and then my group and I were promptly seated. I ordered the 3 cheese omelette and it was too cheesy. There was a lot of food. Boyfriend ordered the grilled cheese sandwich with a Caesar salad. There was more cheese in my omelette than in the grilled cheese. My friend ordered the Mexican burger. She thought it was alright but wouldn't order it again. Our orders came out relatively quickly. The food was alright, nothing special. The customer service was lacking. When it came time to pay, we got 3 receipts. We werent sure if the server would split the bill properly thus we asked for all separate bills. My partner paid for mine but the server rudely asked why we didn't ask for 2 receipts instead. I wouldn't return because the food was just okay and the service wasnt great.

Your basic diner with the type of food you would expect. No surprise there. Burgers etc ... Food was delivered very quickly. Lots of reviews about good service. This was not my experience. Wait staff gathered around the front to chat with some friends. Had to ask the hostess for cutlery. No one took my drink order. Perhaps it was a one-off experience. Never been there before. Left feeling ignored.

I haven't been in a diner so friendly and welcoming in a long time (or maybe ever). I came here twice when I was last in Ottawa -- once I had some time before my train so I just chilled here solo for a couple of hours over an afternoon breakfast. I never felt rushed or like I was taking up space or needed to spend more money, and they just kept giving me more coffee! You can see by the way they treat their regulars that they actually care about the community. I thought the food was great (but yes it's diner food so don't come her if you are looking for "healthy" food lol). I just felt so comfortable and happy here on my own, reading or whatever, which, which when paired with a delicious breakfast or burger, is basically my perfect restaurant experience.

Stopped in for brunch and everything was so delicious. We arrived early at 9am to enjoy their brunch menu. Service was wonderful and the ambience was delightful. Kids enjoyed their homemade mac n cheese and yummy chicken fingers with the most delicious fries while the adults indulged on the peanut butter french toast and grilled cheese Benedict. Oh so yummy. There was no way we could finish it all as the portions were huge, so we wrapped half up and enjoyed it again at our hotel the next morning. Can't wait to come back again.

I was visiting Ottawa recently and one night, I found myself wanting poutine. Now, if I had my car I would've driven to what I believe is *the best* poutine place ever (check some of my other reviews, hint: it's in Hull), but I didn't so I fired up the ole' food delivery app. I settled on ESD, which I know is an Ottawa staple and is somewhat known for their poutine. I ordered a regular poutine, nothing fancy. I'll be honest, while it hit the spot, it just wasn't very good. the gravy was SUPER salty, and the cheese was way too melted and less curdy. The fries were soggy and we're almost like shoestring fries, which simply are not a good vessel for heavy gravy and cheese. I suppose if I was hungover or really just craving meh poutine, I would order from here again. But I really hope I'm never in that position.

Came back after a couple of weeks. The difference is that this time I arrived around 3 am. The place was packed, very lively, lots of movement, cackles and smiles were happening simultaneously. Gigantic platters of poutine were being delivered to the tables. That awesome smell of drunk food in the morning cannot get any better. The vibe and staff of this place are spectacular. I remember ordering a spicy chicken poutine, and I have to admit that that was one of the greasiests, tastiests, finger-licking poutines I have ever had. I went up all the way to my top 3 in Canada. Just a tip. Unless you are an Epic Meal eater, I suggest you share your poutine. Sharing is caring. Or just order the half of the order to -go. Fantastic place to visit to get a quick bite after a party.

So this was my first time here in Ottawa and after my Husbands football game (Let's Go Redblacks!!) he insisted that we try this place since i wanted a milkshake.. Let me just say this, SOMEONE PUT SOMETHING IN MY MILKSHAKE! I'm convinced they put something in it because i can't stop coming in here buying it lol !! So after 4 of their Macchiato milkshakes and several breakfast orders i am finally leaving this review! Love their food and the shakes! I won't be losing any weight this summer but I'm full and happy Welcome to Canada !

August 7, 2021: I walked over to meet a woman from the Facebook dating app. I live downtown and I said we could meet somewhere in Elgin Street and she wound up at Elgin Street Diner. She used to go there when she was young and it turns out Jody the waiter (and co-owner) used to serve her Christian youth group 30 years ago. So she was all nostalgic. This restaurant is the classic place to go to with friends or after a bar or any time. There is a variety of food so there's something for everyone. My friend had poutine and then a mochaccino milkshake with a banana. I got the big breakfast. It was so filling.

Love the diner and the food. Came here for brunch with friends and the portions were worth what you paid for. The classic breakfast I got came with a cup of coffee or tea. Service was quick and fast. The diner gets busy after noon so definitely expect a wait.

The poutine was much better this time. The tenders were great as always. It was delivered to our home and great!

The place is maybe half full on a Wednesday morning at 10. Service is very slow. 30 minutes and no food.

So we made the trek to Ottawa all the way from Nashville, Tennessee, with three lifelong goals in mind. First, watch the Nashville Predators play in every arena in the NHL. Second, ice skate on the frozen Rideau Canal in downtown Ottawa. And third, seek out a classic example of poutine, Canada's favorite comfort food. Word has it that the Elgin Street Diner has the best poutine in all of Ontario, but I read some rather tepid reviews on the overall quality of the food. But locals reassured us this was the best place to get poutine. It was indeed spectacular! The french fries were impeccable, magically retaining their integrity without getting soggy amidst all the toppings. What the Canadians refer to as the gravy, thankfully not the rich gravy of the Southeastern U.S. which would have overpowered the fries, was more like a flawlessly flavorful dark brown sauce, complementing the dish perfectly. The smoked meat atop the poutine was delicious and a good match for the dish. The only downside was the mediocrity of the cheese curds, not squeaky and bursting with flavor as they should be. But unfairly, I've been spoiled by the best cheese curds in the world found in Wisconsin. The curds on Elgin Street pale in comparison. But overall, we felt the poutine certainly measured up to the Internet hype. The hot sauce and a little extra mustard and vinegar really completed the experience.

Our first time in Ottawa! . Let's get to it. Huge respect to the staff! Particularly (Zack Morris) stunt double. and our cool collective waiter a handsome looking cousin of Aiden Quinn.(with a mask) Let's not forget the stellar security. Sean Paul, a local grocery worker by day.. but (regular) customer by night is seated with his friend. 1 min after ordering, friend has a fit about masking up while waiting for food. Sean Then starts picking a fight with the staff that leads to him being kicked out shirtless, empty stomach with type 2 diabetes, ( probably idk) with 3 hours to sleep before his opening shift at the grocery store. This is where it should get awkward. Fast forward to Sean Paul, still cranky from previous altercation is now bagging groceries for Zack who's not wearing a mask while paying for his items... I took notes .. Be nice, respectful to others, everyone is cranky after 2 am. the poutine and liver onions are amazing. Great staff who handled the situation like pros Welcome to Ottawa !

Awesome diner, highly recommend if you're in Ottawa! Huge portion sizes, excellent collaborative service among the staff, delicious food. For tourists in town, they do take credit card so no cash needed. My boyfriend and I came for brunch at noon on a Saturday. The restaurant was at full capacity but there wasn't a line so we were able to be seated quickly. We really liked the decor of the diner; it felt traditional but modern at the same time. We started off with coffee and hot chocolate, both of which were excellent especially given the cold outdoors we just came in from. Food came out pretty quickly. We split a poutine with chicken and a chili with garlic bread. Both were very delicious! I especially liked the chili; it had a slightly sweet flavor. The poutine's fries were well cooked, browned and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, not burnt. I loved the curd and the chicken was a good addition. The staff was very collaborative; one waiter served our food and another asked if we needed any sauces like hot sauce. A different waiter got our waters refilled and gave us a to-go box (the poutine is huge!). Overall we felt like valued guests here and left feeling satisfied and ready to face the cold again.

Awesome diner food with absolutely HUGE portions. The mocha shake was great and huge and creamy and the coffee was decent diner coffee, but the food was excellent. The Hangover breakfast was a full English breakfast with poutine basically (the curds were a bit soft and the gravy was a bit thick, but the flavors were spot on). The lox club was gigantic with 3 thick pieces of challah egg bread and a nice amount of lox, plus other fixins. It also came with a massive pile of tasty french fries.

We came out of our way to try Elgin Street Diner and we're so glad we did. This is comfort food at its finest. I can see why this is called one of Ottawa's best. It seems very dependable. We ordered the Dagwood club sandwich and ordered a small house salad. If there's one thing you should know here, it's that their portions are massive. We upgraded the fries into a smoked meat poutine and there was enough on the plate to be served on its own. Not only did they give us a lot, the food was delicious. That gravy was rich, fries were crispy, and there was a lot of smoked meat and cheese. It's one of the better poutines I've had! The Dagwood club had a lot of meat, and was very satisfying. The salad was more of a standard salad, but it was very fresh and crisp. Prices were more than reasonable and we'll be coming back if we're in Ottawa again. Service was a bit of hit or miss when we went but one of the older guys there (who was the manager?) really went above and beyond and was amazing in getting everything we needed.

Got to stop at this place every time I'm in Ottawa! Back again and was great as always. Open 24 hrs so our late flights to our nation's Capital are never a bother to me cause I can get a great meal no matter what time we land! Had one of my favourite things here last time Cheese dog & Fries. Not sure what it is about these Hotdogs but they always taste great. Fries are crispy and never greasy. The slaw and pickles top it off. It's a simple meal but always great here! This is a fantastic dinner and should be on your list of places to eat when in Ottawa!!

One of my friends recommended this place for having the best poutine!! Mtl and Ottawa known for their smoked meat so I had to try the "poutine that made them famous" and added smoked meat to it! It was delicious!! Best when you eat it warm. Allot in quantity, 2-3 people can munch on it. Fries, gravy, cheese curds and smoked meat- 10$ + 2$ for smoked meat. Totally worth it! Also tried the smoked meat platter which came with rye bread sandwiches and cole slaw. It was alsoo great but for 14$ not enough amount. Only good for 1 person to eat. Diner was nice, separate section for take out orders so that's convenient and only took about 5 minutes for order to be ready! Service was quick, person was sweet, it was packed but they were seating people quickly!

Having been to a few of Ottawa's iconic restaurants this was one from the list. We were staying nearby and we had picked up kids from the airport and it was almost midnight and none of us had dinner and were hungry and tired. As this was close by we decided to cross this one off the list. The restaurant a bit busy at midnight but were seated right away. Ordered a veggie cheeseburger with fries, a veggie burger with veggie soup, a Poutine and a grilled eggplant sandwich with no cheese and fries with on side gravy. The sandwich on rye was OK. Could have used some more flavour and eggplant seemed a bit underdone. The fries - why do they have to use these thin almost shore string fries? We do not like them! The fries were a bit over done. The gravy perhaps with cheese tastes great, but with just fries not so much. The veggie hamburgers not meaty, but fairly good. Not the best, but good. The Soup seemed a bit Sour perhaps the tomatoes from can? But not bad. The Poutine good as well. The gravy does seem odd, but on Poutine it tastes OK. For a 24 restaurant this is good food.

After watching this restaurant being featured on the Food Network's 'You Gotta Eat Here', we decided to come give its signature dishes a try! Overall, the experience was good, but it started off quite poorly. We were welcomed to sit down, and figured out our orders quite quickly. My parents, who immigrated from Hong Kong over 20 years ago, are still used to raising their hands to flag down waiters when we are ready to order. It's a subtle culture difference that I did not quite notice until we came to Elgin Street Diner, when they were called out by a waiter who came over and made a snark remark, "What do you think you're doing, calling for a taxi?". It was completely unnecessary, and made my parents somewhat uncomfortable when I had to explain the situation to them. Apart from that one incident, the meal was quite decent. The waiter turned out to be extremely friendly and cheerful (it was likely just a comment that slipped out of his mouth, where he did not mean to be rude but it came off as such). My ice had some dirt in it, but I did not expect clean water, to be frank. We ordered the Big Plate Breakfast and their Chili Poutine, to share among four people. Surprisingly, the fare wasn't as greasy as I thought it would be. They were very generous with the cheese curds on the poutine, although the gravy was slightly overly salty. I loved the baked beans and chili though! :) Once is enough for us, but this is definitely a good place to check out with friends when you have time!

Classic diner. In give only 3 stars cause the bathroom are disgusting. Time for bathroom renos elgin.

We ordered three meals for dinner tonight. Trying to support local business. Two breakfasts and one burger with mashed potatoes. The breakfasts were standard fare - no real complaint there. Nothing great either. The mashed potatoes, however, were extremely sour - like sour milk was poured into them or something. I rang the restaurant to let them know, and the person who answered quickly said "oh ok thanks" and hung up, no trying them out, no offer to refund, no apology or anything else. I think we'll support another local diner next time.

I absolutely don't get the hype about this place. It's dirty, the food doesn't taste good and staff is rude. WiFi is fast, that's really the only advantage of the place (when you're looking for the right one to connect to you'll see one with the name "Elgin Street Diner Sucks"--I should've listened, clearly the WiFi's owner has visited the place before...). Our waiter wasn't friendly at all, he basically threw the sauces, water glasses, etc. on the table, and also got our order wrong. The food arrived quickly and everything is HUGE so this could be a positive except that who wants to eat a LOT of something that doesn't taste good? The poutine was tasteless and made of the cheapest ingredients--the two eggs on top were great, though, as well as the cole slaw. My husband's beef liver was rather dry and tasteless and came with mashed potatoes (more like a pathetic looking, watery potato "cream"...) although he specifically asked for fries--he got one portion on the side after he mentioned that it wasn't what he had ordered. The corn and the carrots it was also served with were horrible and tasted spoiled! It wasn't a pleasant experience at all and we won't be back.