Portuguese Bakery — Restaurant in Ottawa

Now also known as SYRIAN KITCHEN (says on their new business cards).

Based on what I have overheard and read, this place is now owned and operated by Syrian families, employing some recent refugees. They have retained the Portuguese name and products from working with the previous co-owner.

This is currently the only place you can get Syrian falafel in town. They gave me and my partner each a sample falafel to try - the falafels were flavourful, crispy on the outside and moist inside. I liked it much better than a lot of other falafels in town!!! $0.65 each if you were to buy. Looks like they are made to order, or the pre-made ones are within the hour and fresh.

We tried the Syrian falafel wrap ($6) and Beef steak sandwich ($7) and both were delicious. Don't expect the food to come super fast like other shawarma-type places because they don't have an assembly line. For the beef steak sandwich, they sauteed mushrooms and onions along with the beef on their grill until caramelized, which took a while, but it tasted so homey and fresh. Beef was a little tough but the flavour was good.

We got a bunch of natas (Portuguese egg tarts) and they were really good. $1.75 each.

We also got a bunch of kibbehs (beef croquettes) - which I have just reheated and am eating right now on Day #2 - and they are flavourful and still juicy inside even after reheating. 5/5 would buy again. And of course we got extra Syrian falafels to go....because they're so good and we eat them like cookies.

Lovely people, homey food at very reasonable prices. Cannot wait to come back again.

Minus 1 star because service is slow and for the lack of ambiance/space if you...

Absolutely delicious food. The croissants filled with this apple-y, cinnamon-y gooey inside are amazing. The chocolate cookies are so yummy. The kaiser rolls are crisp and crunch on the outside with a pillow-y light interior. And those tarts? Divine. And then there is the Syrian food on offer. I have never had such delicious falafel before, so fluffy, so light, so tasty. The beef sandwich (in a pita) is also unreal. Extremely friendly service, they even offered me a free sample. This summer they've upgraded the little patio out front with cute tables and fresh hanging baskets of flowers. This is a lovely part of the neighbourhood....

A couple of years ago I was going through a divorce, not seeing my child for months and roaming the streets of downtown all day and night, lost in my mind and starving.

One late night, I smelled the aroma of wonderfully fresh baked bread and follwed my nose to this mom and pop looking bakery surounded by residences and encountered a genteman outside. I mentioned to him that I was starving and he led me inside and said take whatever you wish. I took a few buns and devoured them while we shared our life stories and had the opportunity of meeting one of the most inspiring gentleman that helped me through those...