Ottawa | Consistently Delicious, Just Like Always đ„°
Ottawa Food Adventures: Entry 107 đŸThe RowanđŸ Fried Cauliflower đ„Šđ This dish was carried over from their previous menu, and I absolutely adored it back thenâand itâs just as amazing now! Bite into it, and youâll get that satisfying crunch you love in fried chicken, but without any of the dryness that can sometimes come with fried meat. Itâs so tender and easy to chew, making every bite pure joy. The sauce is a delightful sweet-and-sour Kung Pao-inspired flavor (think the same deliciousness as Kung Pao chicken!), and itâs topped with loads of roasted, crispy peanuts that add the perfect nutty crunch. I canât recommend this enoughâitâs a total standout! Fusion Slawđ„đ§ This is such a lovely fusion dish with wonderful Chinese-inspired flavors! Served alongside crispy fried tofu, the slaw is packed with fresh, crunchy vegetable shreds that feel incredibly refreshing. While the menu mentions mango, its sweetness is subtle, letting the other bright flavors shine. The taro slices are also a highlightâsoft, creamy, and perfectly seasoned. And guess what? The peanuts here are the same crispy, roasted ones as in the fried cauliflowerâdouble the yum! Honestly, this slaw is even more delicious than many cold dishes Iâve had at Chinese restaurants. On a cool day like today, a cold appetizer that keeps you happily munching away is proof of just how tasty it really is. Tomato Pasta đđ Here it isâthe dish Iâve been raving about! I mentioned before that their tomato pasta from the last menu was the best Iâd had in Ottawa, and this time, itâs just as amazingâconsistency at its finest! Compared to the previous version with ham, this one swaps in tender, slow-cooked beef thatâs shredded into perfect little pieces. Theyâve also added ricotta cheese, which brings a lovely creamy richness without the heaviness that can come from too much Parmesan. The tomato sauce is star here: bright, fresh, and bursting with that classic tomato flavor, balanced perfectly between sweet and tangyânever too much of either. And the pasta? Cooked to perfection with just the right amount of al dente bite, which is exactly how I love it. If youâre a pasta lover, this is a no-brainerâtrust me, you wonât be disappointed! Rainbow Trout đđ„ I ordered this fish specifically for the pistachios, and I was not let downâthere are whole, crunchy, fragrant pistachios sprinkled on top, adding a wonderful nutty dimension! The fish skin is pan-seared to a crispy, golden perfection, which is such a nice textural contrast. The flesh itself has a unique, rich flavor thatâs a bit reminiscent of seared salmonâsmooth, buttery, and full of depth. Itâs a distinct taste that I know many will absolutely love, especially if you enjoy rich, tender fish dishes. đđș All in all, The Rowan remains one of my absolute favorite hidden gems in Ottawa! Itâs consistently fantastic, with every dish Iâve tried brimming with flavor and care. While I donât typically opt for steak, and I tend to prefer smoked salmon over seared, every other dish Iâve sampled here has been right up my alleyâtotal palate perfection! The value here is also wonderful: after tax and tip, youâre looking at around 60 CAD per person for this level of quality, which is really hard to beat in Ottawa. Plus, they update their menu every so often (P5 shows the current one I tried this time!), so thereâs always something new and exciting to look forward toâno risk of getting bored here! Itâs definitely a spot Iâll keep coming back to, again and again. If youâre looking for a cozy, delicious spot with great vibes and ever-changing tasty options, The Rowan is a must-visitâyou wonât regret it! đŻ #Ottawa #OttawaLife #OttawaFood #FoodExploration #OttawaEats #HiddenGemOttawa #FoodieAdventures #OttawaDining đđŽâš