Elgin Street Diner in Ottawa

Poutine is always delicious here. Miles the server always aims to please !

I was alone and the waitress a mature woman with glasses almost snared ar me only one then I ordered a soup and sandwich which took 30 minutes to get and she ignored me totally very poor customer service

All depends what time you go......Sometimes its a hit and miss......U can tell the difference if you go in the daytime compared to overnight

Ordered a Philly steak poutine and was extremely disappointed. It was a bowl full of grease. Could barely taste anything but the excess oil. This is one of the worst poutines Ive had, 22 dollars for a bowl of grease!!

FOOD WAS AMAZING AT 1 in the MORNING!! I love the cotton candy milkshake makes my day all the time and their soups are amazing especially the squash soup . perfect place to go after getting wisdom teeth taken out . staff was very friendly and quick! the food was ready in no time and tasted excellent!

No delivery with cash.... What if an old person want delivery with cash...... Such a sad waste... Also their poutine isnt even that good either.. gross

It s a cute diner and great place with super fast service my only thing is I don t like the home fries they are more like mashed potatoes

Great meal as usual at ESD... Tonight I had the Mexican omelette, delicious

Love the vibes, quick and friendly service, and food. Been coming here since I was a kid and have always highly recommended. Eating is out always expensive these days but I find the portion sizes here to be great. The poutine with smoked meat is my go-to and never misses.

Great Service! No complaints as always.

Philly Stake Poutine!!! Every time. Fast and friendly service. An Ottawa heritage landmark.

Waiter made furry jokes at my woman friend and freaked her out so bad she cried. Asked for her number

We stopped here for breakfast before heading out for the day, and for a Friday morning, it was fairly busy. I ordered an omelet with hashbrowns, and my partner went for the chocolate chip pancakes. My meal was decent nothing spectacular, but it got the job done. The hashbrowns were more like flattened potatoes; they were okay but lacked the crispiness I was hoping for. My partner, on the other hand, loved his pancakes. They were fluffy, delicious, and generously portioned. Overall, the portions were large for the price, the service was quick, and the atmosphere was friendly. While it wasn t the most memorable breakfast for me, I d definitely eat here again, especially for the great value and efficiency.

Always crowed, because its so good and fun to go with friends!~

Okay soo I was dragged by a friend to go to his shorties crib we smoked and drinked it was raining a lot I was absolutely fried drunk and tired cuz my buddy kept me at his girls house for. Hour we left at 3am when we was supposed to leave at 10 I was hungry asf and asked my boy to bring me to Zak s dinners and he said no Elgin street is closer and we went to this garbage ass spot I ordered a poutine and it was horrible it was garbage fried tooo tiny sauce was dark asf no golden poutine colour I was traumatized by the experience I couldn t eat that s garbage with the shaky shredded smoked meat worst place to eat if I could give one star I would and I will never dine at this garbage establishment ever if I could sue for assault on my taste buds I would I am deeply hurt by this experience, I went all the way around Canada to try poutine and this was a shame and disgrace I m saddened by the experience the cook should give up on all thoughts of being a good cook you should ve never touched a kitchen u disgrace the people that know how to cook I wish I could erase this experience from my life I would pay sooo much to forget how that garbage taste like , makes me puke whenever I think about it

A classic diner done perfectly.

Update 2024 thankfully came back as we live 7 hours away. Definitely a must do when we visit ottawa You cannot go wrong with this place. My family and I are from London and tried to go here 4 years ago when we were here but parking was an issue. We were really looking forward to a chance to come back and that time is now. The staff are incredibly welcoming and laid back.... like they know you and are not pushy. The food is phenomenal... so damn delicious and flavourful. The sweets looked amazing as well but we had no room for them after eating so much. This place is an absolute must go.

Great service excellent food

Ive been here a number of times over the past few years. A classic diner experience, with all the items youd hope to find at a 24/h diner. I love the atmosphere of this place (for those diner vibes) and the food and service has generally always been good.

Good food and price. Always busy, thats normally a good sign.

Stopped by here for the first time today, and I will definitely go back! Had a great meal for breakfast (recommend the Mexican Omelette), and a bottomless cup of coffee. This place is open 24/7 so if you are ever looking for a late night/early morning place downtown Ottawa this is the spot!

One of the best restaurants I have visited. Food is scrumptious. Service is polite and efficient. Old-fashioned diner atmosphere. We go there every time we visit Ottawa.

Nice vibe! Loved it

everything is great!!! very kind and helpful staff, and the food was so delicious that I was speechless!

Beautiful atmosphere, delicious food, and great service!

It s been my favorite please. It is my first time here I enjoyed with the poutine. Everything was so delicious and full of flavor. Service was quick. I will miss the Ottawa only for this thank you. Food

Friendly staff great breakfast great place any time of the day

If you re in for some classic dinner cuisine with a world famous poutine this is the spot for you.

Classic place foods good but a little pricey

Late-night munchies after a wild night out? The Elgin Street Diner is your go-to spot. This Ottawa classic has been serving up satisfying plates for decades. Craving something specific? Just ask! Theyll whip it up, no problem. The service is speedy, friendly, and top-notch. But hurry in before last call, because this place fills up fast. The food is delicious, the vibe is chill, and youll find a mix of folks, from young to old. Its a true Ottawa institution.

Warm atmosphere and an extensive menu the whole family can enjoy. Service was fantastic with a professional, yet casual approach. Love!

Big portions, friendly staff, my go-to place if I m hungry

Apps were good to share but the best thing is the sangria pitchers which was enough for six people to get buzzed and still had some leftovers.

Charm of an old diner with fresh and beautiful dishes

Great place to go anytime of day. Very accommodating for children as well. Service is always excellent here.

Food was yummy, warm, pleasant atmosphere, great service.

THE BEST gravy Ive ever had. Their poutine altered my personal opinion about poutine in general :)) Club sandwiches are delicious. Hits the spot specially for late night craves! Food : 5/5

Classic diner in Ottawa. Milk shake is a must have

Regular diner fair. Great milkshakes. Friendly staff.

Had breakfast with a group of seven. There was a small line when we arrived at 10 am and a longer line after we left at 11:10 am. All of us ordered something different and everything looked so good. Food was fresh, tasty, and portions were huge. Plus food came out rather quickly considering every table was occupied. Service was excellent. The owner was there talking to customers and helping out. Like he said this is not a hobby for me. And it shows. Our server was kind and thoughtful. Someone at our table asked about the sausages and our server brought him one to try. I could write another 2 paragraphs about how good this place is. I will save you the reading just try the place. Oh and the bathrooms are clean so you know the place is good.

Great food. Chicken pot pie was amazing

Very expensive breakfast: $15 for 2 plain eggs, $15!!! $1.50 extra for tomato and lettuce slices (to fill the bare plate). The cook (or waiter) forgot our order, we had to take take out because we waited too long! VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH OUR CHOICE. Paid in advance to save time. I regret leaving 15% tip!!! Really disappointed and very expensive. I would have appreciated some compensation or something, really..

Great food and atmosphere - appears to be a clean and well run restaurant (I had the very filling western omelette combo). A really cool team of employees at this restaurant! Will probably stop by again.

Great atmosphere, great service, and surprisingly great food! This diner packs a punch and is open 24 hours a day. You should definitely check this place out!

Went here for brunch and will not need any food until a late dinner! Espresso milkshake was fantastic.

Not open 24 hours. Absolute nonsense. Change online hours.

The Dinner atmosphere was quite present. I had Macaroni and Cheese, which I dont recommend at all. it was tasteless. Food

The seating is tight, but the food is good and always there.

Fun atmosphere and nice servers, open 24h is nice. Food is average but kind of expected

I want to thank the whole family of the restaurant, kind and responsive. They helped me in a difficult moment of my life. They provided assistance. I am very grateful to Catherine Ronald Marilyn for their kind hearts and decency. Also the large team of workers for their support and delicious food Sincerely, Natalia.

Open 24 hours. Great breakfast available all day. Do not recommend getting burgers/salads/poutine.

We were visiting Ottawa last week and the receptionist at the hotel suggested the Elgin. We were not disappointed. The food was great and the servings were huge. The atmosphere was fantastic and more importantly our Waiter was very impressive. Im sorry I forgot to get his name but he was so helpful. When we come back to Ottawa we will definitely be back

I like it

No better Diner in Ottawa. Always go for the Milkshakes and the poutine

Huge portions (just share). Delicious milkshakes and poutine. Quick service.

(ESD) as it s commonly known by my friends and family is the best spot to do hangout, eat, study, relax and enjoy your down time. I try to go and spend at least a night a month there. I m actually in love with this place. It s so beautiful and the ambience is amazing. Vegetarian options: Vegetarian options upon request to your waiter. Dietary restrictions: Dietary restrictions upon request to your waiter. Parking: Plenty of parking. Kid-friendliness: It s a gem of a place for kids. I believe it s got a great menu for children under 12 and adults as well.

Cool atmosphere with great food and service. Generous portions for the money.

Breakfasts here are pretty expensive compared to other breakfasts spots in the city. Some items you d expect to be included are not here. Coffee is extra. Make sure you ask for enough condiments as the potatoes her are mashed which are not as flavourful as you might think. They need salt pepper and lot of ketchup. You d think the beans might be a decent amount as you see in the photos but if you take a breakfast to go the portion for the beans are really small. Elgin St diner has become a place I go once a year now if at most.

Kid-friendliness: My children love to eat here. The staff are always friendly and the options for children are great. The staff even made suggestions if a portion or drink would he too big or too small. Food

Great atmosphere and food. Staff can be more friendly. They act like they are forced to be there. Maybe they are ?

Definitely a vibe. And convenient.

Service was stellar (special shout out to our server Jamie) and both friendly and fun. Food was delicious and the portions were generous. Truly enjoyed the entire experience and will be back next time I am in Ottawa.

Decent little dinner, not a place Id go out of my way for. I was actually a little disappointed with the food. My family went for breakfast, and the hashbrowns were just lumpy mash potatoes. It was odd and not very tasty. We did get seated quickly, and our server was good. If youre in the area check it out if dinners are your thing.

I always get the blue plate special breakfast. Great food, great staff, reasonable prices. Recommended. Food

Spectacular....

Food was good, milkshake great. Server was unnecessarily rude at times. Bus boy and hostess was the only friendly workers. Won t be coming back.

Very nice waitstaff! :)

Food is a bit oversized but good for the price. Everything tasted great!

Service was great! The French toast wasn t my favorite but some of their other dishes looked good.

Great place and great service. Loved my breakfast.

Great breakfast/brunch place. Dont miss their milkshakes, they are the best in the city!

Really good, only the Hostess area little rude but the food and the server very good, tx

The best of the authentic Ottawa experience. 24/hrs, great milkshakes. Poutine for the brave and hearty. Pleasant atmosphere, memorable staff. Optional natural banter for all. #SupportLocal!

We used to come here in the 90s after nights out partying. Staff are great. Foods ok but big portions.

Just wow can accomodate for dietary restrictions too, staff are always kind and fun! Will go back again soon!

The price is right and the portions are generous, the service is fast and the waiters are pleasant. The dish was good.

Probably the most interesting place I ve been to. Server stared at me until I asked for a table for 2, instead of saying hello. Server was good, food was not.

Great diner.

Excellent liver and onions and great service. The mashed potatoes seem to have been instant but they were yummy. So. Yay.

Wow food is just unbelievable so njami njam njam!!! Kid-friendliness: Coloring paper and Crayon, whats else do you need? And greatest pancakes ever they said. Food : 5/5 |

Always a pleasure to return to Elgin diner. Might I add AT ANY HOUR!! Their Philly Steak sùb is to die for. Do try. With a shake of choice.

Amazing g

The roast beef sandwich was quite yummy. The portion of all other breakfasts was huge and is probably good enough for two meals combined.

This should be a destination for everyone coming to Ottawa. Great food. Great staff. Worth the lineup.

Very pleasant and friendly staff, hearty meal, maybe too much but you never have enough, the poutine is decent and the coffee is good

Service and food are good. This place is definitely a good place for the whole family to come and enjoy the meals together on a casual day.

Nice food. Good environment

Food and Staff here is amazing and so funny! Ryan was a great sever!

Always something happening here - had the blue plate breakfast- so good and so filling - can t say enough about this Ottawa classic eatery

Food is always excellent. Its been 30+ years I still keep going back. Old stomping grounds. Maxwell etc lots of great memories. This landmark staff and food will not disappoint you.

Amazing service and lovely food. The server was absolutely brilliant not just to our table but with everyone in the place. The food was great. Would recommend this place if you re in the area.

Solid diner eats. Love that they re open 24/7. Don t overthink it - get the milkshake, you won t regret it.

Discovered this place on our last trip to Ottawa when we were in search of a good spot for breakfast. So far weve eaten here twice and were far from disappointed both times. The staff here are really friendly and funny. This is a solid diner experience. There are some great classic breakfast choices with some interesting concoctions like the tater tot breakfast poutine. We stayed at a hotel near the market and the location of this place was a 5 minute drive from there with plenty of parking.

This place is always amazing. They do diner perfectly. Whether its 2 in the afternoon or 2 in the morning and packed youll always get great service. Food is consistently good and fast.

Good food at good prices. Great breakfast options, all day

Had not been to to the ESD in over 20 years. Had to take my family here, to this Ottawa institution. It did not disappoint. Traditional breakfast $17 & includes coffee. They do a mashed potato style hash brown on the flat top, which I really enjoyed. Eggs were perfect. Good diner coffee. Bacon & sausage done perfectly. I prefer my beans a bit sweeter, but that is prob my only criticism. Wife s pancakes were excellent in both taste & presentation. This place is known for its poutine & they have a an excellent selection of desserts in a display near the counter. As it s a 24hr operation, we will likely return in the evening for a late-night poutine & dessert

Good sandwiches. Fries weren t the best but okay. Salad was a better option. Desserts look amazing but we didn t have room. Friendly service. Restrooms were not pleasant though. Go before you come?

Very nice place!!!!

If you think everything is closed at Christmas I recommend this dinner in Elgin. The restaurant is full and the dishes are very generous. Open 24/7, this is the place where you will find a lot of atmosphere. The service is fast and everyone is friendly.

Stopped here for breakfast on a cross-country road trip. Easily found parking around the corner. Yummy food. Pricey souvenirs

Had brunch twice there! Very good options , tasty food and especially amazing service!

Many years ago, this place was awesome. Fast forward 20 years, I didn t like it at all. The food wasnt good, had breakfast at 1030pm. Eggs were cold, potatoes had a weird taste and were all mushy. The clientele was weird. The restaurant was dirty and is in need of renovations. The service was very good though. Will not return.

O M G you gotta get a milkshake. I highly recommend the Salted Caramel. Also get your sandwich in the egg bread!!!

Nice dining atmosphere, however service and prices are ridiculous.

Great food at the end of a night of drinking. Might be good other times but ..... I cant say...heh

Fabulous food with massive portions. The waiter went above and beyond to serve our group including ensuring the kids were served as quickly possible.

I loved the food and the services , the staffs are so kind and speak softly. I took out one star from 5 because of the presence of flies ,I hate to see flies pitching on my food while eating and I couldnt sight any insects/flies catcher installed, hoping theyll improve on that. Thank you for such a yummy meal today.

Great staff and delicious good!!

Food was quick and tasted okay. Ambience was fine. Our visit was ruined however by our rude server. We quickly realized that he lacked any semblance of hospitality today and brushed it off. His demeanour included tossing napkins across the table when we asked for extra and seemingly annoyed when we ordered at separate times instead of together as a group. What pushed me to write this review is the fact that upon paying, he had the audacity to say to us that we should not have bothered to tip him, insinuating that he wanted a bigger tip than what was given to him. Unfortunately, tipping is not mandatory and for a server with a poor attitude nonetheless to even make such a statement is poor!

Lost my business. Didnt realize ordering a 30$ poutine with tater tots as an upgrade meant subbing the fries for basically 5 tater tots... ordered them crispy they ignored that. They used the bacon and onion add on to hide their min-maxing. Sorry to be a Karen but the last two orders had issues like stale fries and it sucks to see games like this played when its so busy it doesnt make sense unless the staff are being directed to do this. I would wait an extra ten minutes to have my food right. Dont order the bacon and onion upgrade for your poutine people this is the second time this was done but I trusted the waiting staff which are outstanding. Just seems like lip service now. I like many love this place sucks to get shafted when I add three upgrades.

I loved the atmosphere of this dinner! The portions are more than generous and the dishes delicious. I would have liked more freshness for the fruit but that didnt stop me from finishing everything! The staff is attentive and friendly.

Wayyyy too overpriced. A small club sandwich is $25.99.. Even more than inflation. And its not healthy food. I would rather go down the street and spend half of that on something healthier and cheaper

Great dinner ! The staff is amazing with a smile , ready to help and answer. The food is tasty and presentable ! Recommend for a revisit Food

Great atmosphere, service and food service very slow though so not great if you re in a hurry. I ll come back back only when I have lots of time.

Cozy diner with really good breakfast. The homemade fries are amazing. Well priced, and staff are quick and welcoming.

Love it! Really good and open great hours!

The best French toast Ive ever had! Service was great.

This is where me and my boyfriend went for our first date and ever since we go every month. This is THE best restaurant ever, the food is BEYOND AMAZING, the service is impecable, the servers are the best most friendly waiters you can ask for. The atmosphere is wonderful, some even come to study! Totally recommend!!!

Was really good and fast service

What a good experience today at the ESD. Girl at the front bar is best. Thank you much!

My wife and I just moved to the Gleb area recently. We were looking for a new place for breakfast. We stopped in at Elgin Street Diner. The service was good. Our breakfast was great. The prices are reasonably good. The waiter we had forgot my wife s sausage and the manager came over to see if we needed anything. Well I have to say that the manager in the orange sweater has a great sense of humor. We will go back again.

A typical diner like you see in the movies, also open 24/7! Very nice service, and super good food... Every individual German request was taken into account; the scrambled eggs are the best thing we ate on our 15 day trip to America/Canada. Absolutely recommended!!!

Amazing food, service and people. Alot of noise but amazing.

Ok

Freaking awesome diner

The milkshakes here are the best! Staff is friendly and the vibe is decent.

The customer service was friendly and attentive, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was welcoming.

Went with a friend. Food is mediocre. Fries are good but much too many.

Its somewhere to relax after hours and grab something to eat or drink .

Food is delicious! Highly recommend!

i really like it a lot. not quite cheap in price, but quality is very much there. love that it is open 24 hours! try the peanut butter pie & the mocha coffee + espresso milkshakes are the best!

A 24/7 Dinner with an American atmosphere, Very hearty and good!

They serve a LOT of food. If you go with children, do not order a dish for them. Please dont throw away the food. Ask for a take out.

I admit it s been awhile since having their poutine, but I had remembered it being yummy. Sauce and fries were good, but they used shredded mozzarella instead of cheese curds? Was very strange. Also prices for everything are up dramatically.

Good food. Nice atmosphere. Good service. They need to have breakfast menus that includes pancakes. If you want pancakes with your breakfast, you have to do a separate order. Wheelchair accessibility: At street level.

The service was amazing. Thanks.

If you re looking for a good breakfast at a reasonable price, come here. Kids meals were generous. The poutine is delicious and yes you can have it for breakfast, no judgement!!

Mochachino milkshake is the best!

The perfect, familiar, cosy diner. If youre alone, going with friends or on a date, it is suitable for literally any type of occasion. The service is always top-notch and the food is always delicious. Especially since I learned about the double frying the fries option for the poutine. Every time I have visitors from outside Canada, I take them there and they absolutely love it. Its my go to place not only for poutine, but for the fact that theyre open 24/7, their all breakfast, their chilli dogs, their chili in general, etc. I should take pictures but im usually roo busy eating.

Best diner to go to post-Friday night. Portions are huge and there are a ton of options so something for everyone!

Well, I have to be honest. I really like the ambience there, but the food was not great. And I think the prices are a bit high. I had liver and it was a bit dry, the steamed carrots, they were a bit funny, not tasty at all and not definitely not fresh. Also the corn was not good at all Also, the fries with poutine, they were not great at all either. I m sorry to say I m not gonna return there to eat.

Where else can you get great food and service at 2:00 AM.

Downgraded to 3 after not being here in awhile. Staff still good Food prices lil too high for a diner. Cook thinks customers wont notice when they recook the fries twice. Normally wouldnt complain about that but Im paying $21 for french fries, bacon and eggs which I feel is way overpriced I expect them to give me fresh fries

Used to love this place but today, on our way to our table, was a huge cockroach!

Good food and good service. Typical movie diner.

This is one of the best, if not the best diners in Ottawa. We have been patronizing this diner for years and without fail the service, staff and food has been great. The portions are huge and the presentation is appetizing. My husband says he loves the vibe; but I know it s really the size of the portions and the dessert display case which never disappoints. I don t hesitate to recommend this diner for anyone looking for a place to eat whether solo or with your family!

Overall a really nice location especially early in morning (1-2am). All the food was cooked well, and the staff are really friendly. I would say they have some of the best smiles.

Nice atmosphere and pretty good milkshakes! The beauty is that it s 24hr/7days/all year.

Open 24 hours, always, and for that, I love it dearly. Plus the foods great

Solid late night bite

Yum! The poutine, clubhouse sandwich and Oreo shake were all delicious. Nice prompt service and love the late hours.

The staff is always helpful and friendly and the food is delicious! Best bagel with cream cheese and lox Ive had yet.

Great service, lovely 24/hour diner with yummy food and the BEST milkshakes we have ever had!! Easy to see why they have won awards for them - so good we went back the next day just for a milkshake before leaving Ottawa!

The classic diner experience in Ottawa. You cannot come to the capitol without visiting. Its simply not allowed. Love their gravy.