Elgin Street Diner
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I love diners, a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. This one may have ruined that, as nothing will ever be able to compare with how great it was. The food was very tasty and the staff were friendly, but not that overly friendly that you can find at some diners. The ordering process was quick, they allowed us to customize a meal without trouble, and the food hit our table fast and hot. The El Diablo was tasty and a bit warm with pickled jalapenos, but I would not call it hot. The meat was tasty, and fully cooked. The Classic Burger was tasty, and the Chicken Fingers were exactly what you would expect. We ordered side salads instead of fries, and they were good healthy sized salads, not those tiny bowls you often get. Additionally we shared an order of their famous Poutine, with caramelized onion and bacon. It was huge. I regretted ordering the other food, because this portion was enough to feed a small family. The gravy was wonderful, the cheese completely melted, it was exactly what you want in a Poutine. We also ordered shakes and found them to me served right in the metal cups, with another huge portion. The flavour options were unique, I have never had an espresso milkshake before, but completely recommend it. If you found yourself in the area, go here, bit make sure you are hungry. I wanted to try the chocolate peanut butter pie, but was risking a Monty Python type explosion already.
Vincent WolfeVincent Wolfe
10
I've been here several times over my lifetime. I went here recently in September 2023. The food was quite good. The milkshake was amazing. Those beans too. Our server was not a great experience. I had told her I had a bad allergy to nuts and peanuts and she said she'd tell the kitchen about the allergy re: and whether or not the banana bread french toast had any nuts. General safety stuff you know? I was served what I ordered. It looked like it had walnuts in it. And it did. Thankfully I asked... "Hey are those nuts in the banana bread?" and she checked and said yes. So EpiPen use anaphylactic trip to the hospital averted 😅. You get used to double and triple checking these sorta things when you have an allergy like this. She apologized a few times thereafter but please be more careful in the future!!! I left a full tip afterwards out of habit, and wondered later if that was the right thing to do under the circumstances. Probably not. But whatever, the food was later corrected to something else without nuts. Previous experiences at this diner have been better, hence the higher rating.
David PDavid P
00
I recently had the pleasure of dining at this fantastic 24-hour diner with three friends whom I met for the first time, and it was an experience to remember. Despite the late hour, the staff warmly welcomed us and provided attentive service throughout our meal, even though we arrived at 4 am in the morning. The diverse menu offered something for everyone, and the food was nothing short of phenomenal. From classic diner fare to more adventurous choices, each dish was delicious and served with care. The friendly and accommodating staff enhanced the dining experience, catering to our various preferences and ensuring that we felt right at home. The cozy ambiance and the warm, inviting atmosphere of the diner added to our enjoyment, creating a memorable early morning of good company and exceptional food. I highly recommend this 24-hour diner to anyone seeking a welcoming environment, outstanding food, and top-notch service. Whether it's for a quick bite in the early hours or a lingering meal with friends, this diner has truly won me over with its quality offerings and hospitable staff.
Sandip PuriSandip Puri
00
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.
S Patel (patelsr)S Patel (patelsr)
10
In need of an early morning breakfast spot, I stumbled upon Elgin Street Diner on Google Maps. Opting for convenience over familiarity, I ventured in without prior knowledge of what to expect. True to its name, the diner ambiance was charming, and the cleanliness added to the appeal. Welcomed by two courteous staff members, I settled in for a meal. Opting for the Blue Plate Special, a hearty combination of three eggs, bacon, sausages, ham, beans, a full-sized poutine, and coffee, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors. However, the portion sizes were undeniably excessive. While the food was delicious, the sheer amount seemed unrealistic for most diners to conquer. Although the quality was commendable, the steep price tag of over $30, including tip, for breakfast gave pause. Personally, I would prefer more modest portions at a lower cost. Overall, Elgin Street Diner offers a satisfying breakfast experience, albeit with room for adjustment in portion sizes and pricing.
Brandan JohnstonBrandan Johnston
10
Asked for an iced Americano, was meet with confusion (understandable, it wasn't on the menu). The server was playing a character and he was quite fun. The thing is, I explained what an iced Americano is and I was given an espresso shot with like 5 ice cubes. Was a bit confused but his character and I had a conflict (NGL I was kinda high) but he brought me a glass filled with ice, and I made the Americano with the glass and added some water. Good service (I honestly don't want them to do more work than they need to). The server gave me an extra espresso shot since he felt bad. It was all good though. Thanks a lot! Pictured is the iced Americano! Turns out, both were double espressos. I got a quadruple espresso. Thanks! I needed it for my night shift
Punit DagaPunit Daga
20
Nearby Attractions Of Elgin Street Diner
Canadian Museum of Nature
Lord Elgin Hotel
The Business Inn & Suites
Confederation Park
University of Ottawa
Ottawa City Hall
Rink of Dreams
The Corktown Footbridge
Fandom II
Minto Park

Canadian Museum of Nature
4.7
(5.4K)Click for details

Lord Elgin Hotel
4.3
(1.5K)Click for details

The Business Inn & Suites
4.4
(1.2K)Click for details

Confederation Park
4.5
(1.2K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Elgin Street Diner
Sultan Ahmet Turkish Cuisine Ottawa
The Lieutenant's Pump
Johnny Farina
KINTON RAMEN OTTAWA
Pure Kitchen Elgin
Wilf & Ada's (No reservations)
Sansotei Ramen
The Whalesbone Elgin Street
Al's Steakhouse
The SconeWitch (Elgin)

Sultan Ahmet Turkish Cuisine Ottawa
4.7
(2.1K)$$$$
Click for details

The Lieutenant's Pump
4.3
(1.3K)Click for details

Johnny Farina
4.3
(1.2K)$$
Click for details

KINTON RAMEN OTTAWA
4.8
(959)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
374 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1N1, Canada
Map
Phone
+1 613-237-9700
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Website
elginstreetdiner.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.4
(2.6K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Informal, always-open eatery serving diner classics, from breakfast & burgers to poutine & meatloaf.
attractions: Canadian Museum of Nature, Lord Elgin Hotel, The Business Inn & Suites, Confederation Park, University of Ottawa, Ottawa City Hall, Rink of Dreams, The Corktown Footbridge, Fandom II, Minto Park, restaurants: Sultan Ahmet Turkish Cuisine Ottawa, The Lieutenant's Pump, Johnny Farina, KINTON RAMEN OTTAWA, Pure Kitchen Elgin, Wilf & Ada's (No reservations), Sansotei Ramen, The Whalesbone Elgin Street, Al's Steakhouse, The SconeWitch (Elgin)
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