Fontenelle Diner — Restaurant in Ottawa

I remember when the Fontenelle had the $3.75 special but it was not for a a full breakfast, the advertised breakfast on the window was for only two eggs, with two strips of bacon or two pieces of susage, slice a toast and one cup of coffee, there was no potato or beans included and I thought that was a very good price for all that. I have eaten there multiple times and the standard full breakfast that come with two eggs, four strips of bacon or three pieces of sausage, beans and potatos (if you don't want beans, you can just have potoatos or vis versa), two slices of toast and a cup of coffee with one refill, and all of that is for $6.75. Yes the plates are not fancy but if I wanted to eat at a fancy place for breakfast, and pay $15 dollars to feed one person I would go somewhere else but for a simple home style breakfast I Iike the Fontenelle. The potatos are real home fries and the beans are homemade as well.

The service is good, there is not much staff but it is all family. They are all friendly, there are moments when the place is rushed and the servers do seem well... rushed. I think that it is understandable for in the end they are still human just like any other server at any resturant. They are open at 3am to 2:30pm.

Overall I think it is a wonderful place for breakfast, you walk in and you feel as though you just steped into the 1940-50's. The decor is out dated but that helps make it retro. The servers are very friendly and talk/joke with you as though your no stranger.

If you are looking for a simple breakfast thats affordable and friendy service Fontenelle is the place to go, and just like most places and most people there is always an off day, you should try something a couple of times befoe you hate on it because the day you go in might have been just an off day (in general, for...

I don’t know how patrons have such low standards. We began coming for breakfast two years ago moving back from Montreal to our hometown. We are shocked at how low the standards are here for quality. I suggested this diner as it was a favorite of my youth in the 1970’s. Well the quality is a far cry from then. I have a love of diners and when I suggested going here it was based on nostalgia for the decor and food. Although it was affordable at $10 2 yrs ago now $11.99 the toast was still stale and the meal left an odd tasting flavour in both our mouths? Perhaps the oil used for the grill, same with a grill cheese . Bread was stale and had a strange taste. Don’t get me started there was no pickle and they charged $1.00 for one unripe slice of tomato. $28 for two stale grilled cheeses and a small fry which also had a strange aftertaste. Probably a cheap oil for frying. While the waitresses are friendly and the booth’s comfortable, the food is bad. We have found one affordable acceptable breakfast diner here who serves old school hand cut home fries and the toast is never stale. Well stay with them even if it’s a car drive to west end Ottawa. Geesh I know cost of living is outrageous here but we keep having these bad food experiences everywhere in Ottawa. What’s up with that. Diners, fast food in and delivered. Each time its like throwing our money away. Sad senior missing...

I'll always love this place and keep coming here but it ain't what it used to be. Prices have skyrocketed. I paid over $18 for breakfast/coffee today, and two years ago that same menu item was $8.95...I totally get it, times are tight but the truth is with the new ownership, new cooks...the quality is going down and the prices are going up (the potatoes used to be epic!). The decor/atmosphere was butchered back in 2015/16 by the previous owners (bad move) and it's been a slow decline ever since. In 2014 this place was the real deal. A true authentic diner....now it doesn't really know what it is, half diner, half sports bar...Italian food...it's lost most of its character. The restaurant has endless potential....however I think the plans are for it to also be a Pizzeria. I wish all restaurant owners knew this one simple truth. A great restaurant does one thing really well - (K.I.S.S). Not half a dozen mediocre things. One page menu, that's it....and good coffee (less water, more beans). Fingers crossed...