One of the things I love about the Ottawa dining scene is the wide choice of diner-style restaurants that serve up good old-fashioned breakfasts.
Over the last few years, I have looked for little gems and I found one again in Cindy’s Restaurant. It is in a small strip shopping center in an industrial sector of the Ottawa suburb of Nepean.
“Cindy” is owner Cindy Shields who told me that the restaurant has been in her family for 35 years. I met my friend Jack, who lives in the area, and when I arrived on a Monday morning at about 8:15 am almost all the 54 seats were taken, and it was clear to me these were regulars. On my out, I spoke to a few of the clients, many of whom said they have been coming here for many years. “I like the service and the atmosphere,” one fellow told me.
Cindy is a charming woman who shows people to their tables and does all the serving while her kitchen staff doles out large generous portions of whatever you order. It is her cousin George, a big Dallas Cowboys fan, who has been the main chef for the past three decades. Her mom and daughter help from time to time as do other family members.
I decided to order the I’m Hungry Special, which included three eggs over easy, two slices of bacon, two sausages, ham, home fries, toast, two slices of tomato and a cup of tea. This kind of breakfast is always a treat and I was not disappointed.
Jack went for the veggie omelet, which contained mushrooms, onions, peppers and tomato. He was beyond impressed with the size of the plate and had some baked beans on the side.
There are a variety of egg dishes and omelets, as well as pancakes, French toast, sandwiches and bagelwiches.
Breakfast service ends at 11 am and lunch is then served until 2 pm, with more sandwiches, salads, wraps, burgers, chicken tenders and other tasty items.
If you are visiting Ottawa with your family or if you reside in the area, I think this restaurant is worth the trip. It is just a fun place to dine where everyone has a big smile on their face and so happy to be there. I felt the warmth in this place and while I just met Cindy, I left with a very high opinion of how she runs this operation.
Cindy’s Restaurant is located at 15 Capella Crt # 117. You can call 613-727-9362 and log on to their Facebook page at fb.me/cindysrestaurantottawa. Take-out items are also very popular.