Ottawa’s Italian Favorite: Mr. B's

Mr. B's Osteria 📍2446 Bank St, Ottawa, ON Recently, I had a chat with some Italian friends and asked them to recommend authentic Italian restaurants in Ottawa. They mentioned Mr. B's, and I immediately added it to my must-try list! Tucked away in a plaza in South Keys—surrounded by Middle Eastern and Arab eateries like the popular Sem Sem, Sona, and Shawarma Palace—the plaza might look a bit bustling from the outside, but stepping into Mr. B's feels like entering a cozy retreat. The ambiance inside is truly charming and inviting! ✨ Pre-meal Bread Freshly baked and served warm, the bread initially feels crusty to the touch, but don’t let that fool you! The exterior is delightfully crispy, while the inside is soft and fluffy. Starting with these warm little bread rolls paired with butter balls made for a wonderful first impression—no disappointment here! 🍞 Calamari & Capelin Combo Fried calamari is a common starter, but capelin (small fish with roe) is harder to find, so I opted for a combo of both. Both were perfectly cooked with great texture and flavor—though the portion size was a touch small. Still, a tasty way to kick off the meal! 🦑 Pork Belly (Today’s Special) This felt like a delicious fusion dish! The skinless pork belly chunks were lightly fried, offering crispy bits throughout. With more lean meat than fat (and never dry), it was perfectly seasoned. The sauce—something like a sweet-and-sour blend with a hint of Thai sweet chili—added bold, zesty layers, and there was a nice kick of spice too. The pork was incredibly clean-tasting, with no gamey notes at all. Simply delicious! 👍 Veal Scallopini Served with a lemon white wine sauce, accompanied by mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, and potatoes, the veal was thinly sliced and tender. While the dish was pleasant and well-cooked, the flavor was a bit mild overall—enjoyable but not the most memorable on the menu. 🥩 Seafood Pasta Handmade fettuccine paired with a generous mix of seafood: large shrimp, prawns, scallops, mussels, and clams. You can choose from tomato, cream, or rose sauce, and the handmade pasta was fresh, al dente, and cooked to perfection. The seafood portions were generous, making this easily the standout dish of the day! It left me eager to return soon to try other pasta flavors. 🍝 On a side note, when my Italian friend was asked about Vittoria Trattoria, they said the food is good, but Italian cuisine shouldn’t be that pricey. 😅 We skipped dessert at the restaurant this time because we spotted La Bocca Juice, a dessert shop in the same plaza, offering Arabic-inspired treats like ashta ice cream🍨 and Dubai chocolate🍫—the perfect sweet ending! #OttawaFood #OttawaEats #ItalianRestaurant #HiddenGem #FoodRecommendations #FreshPasta #OttawaDining #FoodieGuide