Summertime in Ottawa marks a multitude of things we all look forward to as the weather warms up. Patios are open, festivals and events are starting, and we get to tell our friends who aren’t from here why you shouldn’t swim at Mooney’s Bay… but none of these things top the fact that every summer we see a slew of new restaurants, bars, and other hospitality establishments start to open their doors to the public.
Centretown is no different! In our lovely little neighbourhood we are already starting to see some new spots open to the public that we believe will quickly become favourites across the city. Happy start of summer in Ottawa everyone! These are 4 new spots in Centretown that you need to check out this month.
1. Baguette Brochette - 222 Bank St.
You may have seen Revello Williamson (or @Reviewsbyrevello on Instagram and TikTok) on our Centretown Instagram page (@centretownottawa) raving about this new Bank street sandwich spot, and if you did we hope you’re as excited as us about it!
This brand spanking new gem in Centretown takes the flavours of African street food and tucks it nicely into one of the worlds best bread vessels, a Parisian baguette.
Whether your favourite protein is beef tenderloin, chicken, tofu, beyond meat, or my personal favourite (hi, Jordan here), Merguez; there is something for everyone at Baguette Brochette.
The Afro-Parisian influence that this restaurant is inspired by brings a world of flavours to your Centretown door step.
Baguette Brochette classifies themselves as a “luxury sandwich experience”, but fear not! That is only in flavour and execution – not price!
The sandwiches will run you less than $15 a pop, and if you want to save on the carbs and upgrade to a bowl you still won’t see an option for more than $18!
Baguette Brochette: Your Afro-Parisian experience in the heart of Centretown this summer.
2. Dumpling Bliss - 111 Cooper St.
One minor complaint about Ottawa hospitality in recent years has been that some of the city’s favourite dim sum spots have sadly closed. Dumpling lovers all across the capital are searching far and wide for the next hot spot in the world of dumplings…well, consider your search over dim sum fans. Dumpling Bliss has what you’re looking for.
Dumpling Bliss offers up Cantonese style dumplings with a variety of fillings, sauces, and styles to choose from.
Whether you like your dumplings steamed, deep fried, or pan fried – Dumpling Bliss has you covered.
I know what you’re asking yourself. Centretown Ottawa blog writer Jordan, how will I possibly decide what to get with all of these options?
Well our first answer is to go with some friends and share a bunch of stuff (duh).
However if that is not an option, the pan fried three delicacies dumplings is our current go to. Pork, shrimp, and chives, all neatly packed into a perfectly sealed dumpling. The soft top and crispy bottom creates a textural experience that we think is perfect. When paired with their chili sauce and vinegar sauce it doesn’t get much better than this for dumplings.
Once again, Centretown has you covered.
3. Chef Bai Noodles & Bao - 286 Bank St.
Sticking with the Eastern part of the world here in Centretown is Chef Bai Noodles & Bao. In case your ability to deduce things has taken an early summer vacation, let me confirm your suspicions – This is a noodles and bao spot. Specifically, Chinese street food meets Japanese influence style noodle and bao spot.
Two items that warm the soul, and can turn any bad day into a good one. So let’s break them down separately in relation to the Chef Bai approach.
Chef Bai’s noodle soups:
The name of the game here is variety. The ramen inspired noodle soups are hearty and comforting. With 12 different options to choose from PLUS a build your own bowl option, it’s not an exaggeration when we say there is something for everyone.
But the noodles don’t stop here. Outside of their ramen options, another 9 (nine) noodle soups are available.
We recommend the lamb belly soup, or the braised pork ramen, but you really can’t go wrong with any flavour.
Chef Bai’s Bao
The two pan fried then steamed bao dumpling options are winners in their own right. A traditional fresh pork bao and a northern style beef bao are both available and both worth your attention. The crispy bottoms are seared to perfection and add a textural experience that will keep you coming back as often as possible. This is another new winner in Centretown.
4. LA Africana - 252 Bank St.
There seems to be a theme with the hospitality businesses opening in Centretown right now, because after our trip to Asia we have returned to Africa!
LA Africana is a black, woman owned business serving up classic African dishes to the Ottawa community.
If you love African food as much as we do here at Centretown, you know how big and bold the flavours can be! LA Africana is no exception to this. Popular classics like goat suya, jollof rice, egusi soup, and so much more are available inside this new Centretown staple.
Normally this would be the part where I tell you our recommendations on what to try, but I’ve sat here staring at my computer screen for a whole ten minutes unable to decide between all their delicious options. The only acceptable answer here is to work your way through the entire menu as soon as possible. Each platter, soup, dessert, or side offers something unique and shouts the essence of African cuisine from the top of its lungs.
We hope you’re as excited as we are about LA Africana.
We love new business season in Centretown. It is a showcase of hard work, passion, and desire from people who want nothing more than to share their love with our community. This is just a small sample size of what’s to come in our beloved neighbourhood and we can’t wait to share it with all of you soon!
From Centretown, with love.
Author: Jordan Pizzuti
July 23, 2025
