Gooneys Sandwichworks — Restaurant in Ottawa

I don’t work downtown , when I’m down there on business I always try to pick up an arepas … sooo good. However there is no parking near Gooneys usually I park illegally ( yes that’s how good the arepas are) run in and run out. The other day there was a city of Ottawa parking vehicle on Laurier so I thought I’d call ahead arrange to run in just as they were done making the sandwich and run back out , maybe a minute tops. When the woman answered the phone and I explained what was happening a car came up behind me and wanted me to move , flashing his lights , he even got out of his car , this all happened at the same time as I was trying to “ place my order” the guy was inching towards me in his car now, the Gooneys woman said I would have to wait 10 minutes for the sandwich, every time I’ve been there ( even busy times it takes 3 minutes to make the sandwich, so why 10 ? Because I’m illegally parked and just because your in your car you can still get ticketed . I swore ( at the guy who was attempting to nudge me ) she was still on the phone and heard it . I hung up waited for a few minutes and thought maybe theyyyr really busy when I looked in the restaurant it was pretty much empty. I saw someone on the phone and tried to get her attention , she came to my car ( which was nice ) but what happened after wasn’t . She said i refuse to serve you because you swore at me , I tried to explain what happened but she said I don’t see a guy , of course you don’t because he basically damaged my car ( slightly ) and took off. So trying to get a sandwich I’m basically assaulted by this dude whose having a really bad day , and then abused by the staff at Gooneys . I think I even said I’m sorry if you think that was for you but it wasn’t . Why not believe someone who is literally apologizing for something that they didn’t do to you ? Then REFUSE to serve me … gee I hope this woman never is in this situation herself , it’s sometimes nasty out there ( the mean streets of Ottawa) it must be nice to sit in judgement of others and be so rude. Unfortunately they make the best arepas in town , ( the only arepas ) but it’s so hard to get to by car and this staff was completely unsympathetic or maybe just mean ? Idk 🤷‍♀️, but it will be a long time before I ever go back there. I’ll miss it but I have my pride . Sorry Gooneys you really are the best ! And this is for you young lady who spoke to me in my car …....

TLDR:

Arguably the best, unique sandwich shop in Ottawa. A family runned business in the nation's capital, they deliver a perfect arepa experience with the perfect menu and friendly service. They cater, deliver and always welcome walk-ins. A very rare 5 out of 5 stars based on our experience at this cute little restaurant. Hey family,

Here’s my honest review of Gooneys Sandwichworks. I made the visit with my partner in May, 2022 and I wanted to share my personal experience with you below:

Location: 1 star. Located in the Nation’s Capital, Gooney’s finds itself in Downtown Ottawa. When visiting the city you can find it along Laurier Ave W, which is a few minutes walk to the capitol buildings and main tourist attractions. A perfect spot should all the comfy government officials want to sneak in a quick lunch or some of the locals who live in the city.

Staffing: 1 star. As this is a family runned business the staff is hired by the family so they share the same values. Staff is friendly, courteous and of course professional. They offer suggestions should you ask and are able to handle large lunch crowds with ease.

Food: 1 star. The shining star of this business. The food is just simply incredible. They have all day breakfast and a very simple, affordable menu. I ordered the Reina Pepiada and it was perfect. Made fresh, and served within a few minutes. The owner and staff have absolutely nailed these sandwiches and the ingredients they use are fresh and delicious. Without going on and on about the food you just have to try it.

Service: 1 star. It can be busy during the lunch rush. When we visited there were a few customers waiting for their orders but the staff handled the rush with ease. Tables are clean, washrooms are available and drinks are self-serve. If it’s a beautiful day you can even take your sandwich to go and head over to the parks close by.

Wow factor: 1 star The food. Period. It’s just so goooooooood.

If you’re planning a visit to Ottawa in the new year, I strongly recommend checking this restaurant out. I give this restaurant a rare 5 out of 5...

It's a modern-looking place at the corner of Kent and Albert in downtown Ottawa that apparently just moved from a smaller space down on Laurier, and it has a loyal lunch clientele. I joined the line one Thursday afternoon and it was pretty full with people both dining in and taking out.

They serve a selection of arepas, as well as sandwiches and bowls. An arepa is basically a South American sandwich. To quote wikipedia, "arepa is a type of food made of ground maize dough stuffed with a filling, eaten in northern parts of South America since pre-Columbian times, and notable primarily in the cuisine of Colombia and Venezuela, but also present in Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama."

While it was a busy place, they run an efficient operation that puts the sandwich artists at Subway to shame and I quickly had my sammy in hand, paid, and found a table.

After careful pre-scouting of the menu, as I usually do, I landed on the "sweet Isabella" which said menu describes as as arepas with "Roasted Pork, Coleslaw, Cheddar Cheese & our house coriander sauce." I also got a side Caesar salad, as I wasn't sure the arepas was enough to satisfy my hunger.

To dispense first with the salad. The dividing line between a good Caesar and a mediocre Caesar often comes down to the dressing. This dressing was creamy and garlicky. It was a good Caesar.

Now, the arepas. The pork was plentiful, not dry, and had tasty char. The sauce was good, and not all the arepas had slaw but this one did and I choose it because I wanted that second note to complement the meat. It did and it was good. My only note would be the cheese shread. It would have really elevated the sandwich were it melted.

Overall, a good lunch,...