Earlier this month I went for the first time to the Elgin St Diner They were featured on You Gotta Eat Here and my hubby dined here before years back The look and feel inside is of a classic diner They are open 24hrs and they are known for their tagline on their menu..we never close!! We went with them ordering breakfast for dinner that evening We both had the blueberry pancakes...my hubby getting a side of peameal bacon with his I really liked the pancakes Light and yummy A few were a bit overdone but it didn't take away from the taste Wished they would give a bit more syrup or maybe a small table bottle Service was prompt and friendly Really enjoyed the meal and definitely would come back again to try that club sandwich that looked really good on a few customer's plates read more

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We went this evening to Elgin Street Diner while visiting Ottawa They are located in downtown Ottawa near the museum The restaurant was featured previously on You Gotta Eat Here Inside the restaurant it has the feeling of an old school diner which is really cool They feature your typical standard diner fare but are known for their poutines which are included in their breakfast specials such as the Blue Plate Special and the Hangover Plate We had the pancakes for dinner tonight They were great Some were a bit overdone but super yummy I had the peameal bacon as a side for mine Service is super friendly there and make you feel comfortable in their Would definitely come again to eat here when visiting Ottawa read more

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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! read more

Elgin Street Diner - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Amazing food! Went for breakfast. Try the poutine and egg bread toast. John and all the staff are friendly, courteous, and efficient and NEVER leave your coffee cup (or water) empty! We went back the next day too and were not disappointed. The best! read more

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. read more

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It had been almost seven years since I had last dined at ESD, and I was glad to spend more time here. Our group was large, with about six people, and we were lucky to get seated at a large table before the dinner rush showed up. The server was sassy and funny, so we had a good time immediately. Each of us ordered a different poutine from the menu, and many of us decided to order some pop as a treat since we had just been out for a happy hour and thus did not want more alcohol. I was thrilled that ESD still allowed adding extras to poutine, so, I added the pulled pork, of course. The space is unique in Ottawa, evoking an authentic dining experience from years ago. The ambiance was energetic and warm, and I was so thankful that they had coat hooks for our large winter jackets. Other Ottawa restaurants should take note! We spent two hours here, slowly enjoying poutine, laughing, and catching up with old and new friends. We were surprised to learn that our server had a twin, and, by the end of our experience, both were serving us and making us laugh. I really love that the diner experience ends itself with payment at the front--another note from bygone eras. I had enough poutine left over for two more meals, so you will definitely get your money's worth here - no matter the occasion. Beware that during the cold weather, the bathrooms will be freezing, though. read more

We went for brunch and the experice was absolutely amazing, really loved the diners and the service. It was quick and effiecient. The store was full and the vibe was classic north american stlye We had tons of food the chocolate milkshakes was out of the world, french toast, smoked meat pourie was great. Overeall amazing experices read more

The food was okay (do NOT get hamburger steak) the service was amazing and reasonably priced read more

Elgin Street Diner - Meatloaf, French fries, corn and carrots - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

The staff here are the best....Chris And Becca the overnight managers are awesome and always attentive to customers....very polite friendly and courteous Alex james and taylor are also awesome and joe as well read more

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 read more

Elgin Street Diner - Ham and Swiss cheese with soup - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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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. read more

Elgin Street Diner - people walking on the sidewalk - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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 . read more

Everything costs at least $20 no matter what you order but hey. it's exactly what you need. A good milkshake and a solid poutine and you're cured. Every time I get back to the city after being away nothing welcomes me back like that poutine. Good stuff. The staff loves doing a good bit too read more

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! :) read more

Elgin Street Diner - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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

Elgin Street Diner - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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 ! read more

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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. read more

Elgin Street Diner - Eggs benedict - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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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. read more

Elgin Street Diner - Not the healthiest option but you can sub home fries in your breakfast order for poutine. Ultimate hang over cure. - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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 :) read more

Elgin Street Diner - Farmer's egg Benedict - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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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. $-$$ read more

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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. read more

Elgin Street Diner - Poutine fries with egg, and a Dagwood club sandwich - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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 read more

Elgin Street Diner - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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! read more

Elgin Street Diner - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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

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! read more

Elgin Street Diner - Nutella French toast with bacon crumble - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

This is my third time at the diner as we live outside the city, every time the service has been outstandin! Our waiter (who we have had twice now) is so fast, attentive and hilarious. Our food came so quickly, portions were huge and food was delicious. We will be back again for sure. I'm honestly shocked their yelp rating is so low, we have had nothing but good experiences. read more

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!! read more

Elgin Street Diner - Everything Benedict or so...the one with harsh browns. - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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! read more

Elgin Street Diner - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Yikes a low rating for me but honestly it just was ok, nothing actually wrong with the menu items. Just didn't compare to the local competition! read more

Elgin Street Diner - Classic breakfast Burger and poutine - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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. read more

Elgin Street Diner - Regular poutine. Hand for comparison. - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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. read more

Elgin Street Diner - Spicy chicken poutine. - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

So I googled for best poutine in the area, and came across Elgin Street Diner, which seemed to have all these accolades and was rated pretty highly. Of course, I ordered the poutine. HUGE portion size. My first few bites were disappointing. HOW CAN YOU BURN THE FRIES?!?!?!?! The gravy couldn't mask the burnt taste of the fries. The other person I was dining with said she had no issues with her poutine. Perhaps it was my "luck" that of course I end up with the burnt fries while I am on my quest to satisfy my poutine craving (or her tastebuds are less discerning than mine....) It took a lot of willpower from me to not order a milkshake when I saw the monster sized milk shake arriving at the table next to mine. My mom ordered the whole chicken special. She said the chicken was dry and bland. My friend enjoyed her buffalo chicken salad. Salad was also a generously sized dish. Great friendly service. Very efficient. Free wifi. About a 10 min walk from the Parliament. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Elgin Street Diner - Veggy eggs benny, classic blue plate and original breakfast - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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. read more

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

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. read more

Elgin Street Diner - Poutine with chicken, chili with garlic bread - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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. read more

Elgin Street Diner - The Big Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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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. read more

Elgin Street Diner - Massive portions and delicious food! - Diners Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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. read more