Cake quest: Find a slice of heaven in Ottawa
Whether it’s a grab-and-go situation (maybe the boss let you off early on Friday afternoon), a late night snack (we all know how well Black Forest cherry cheesecake complements cosmopolitans), or the grand finale to a successful first date, here are the top picks for Ottawa’s cake-by-the-slice connoisseurs.
Holland's Cake and Shake
229 Armstrong St, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2W5Holland’s is a modern twist on the classic malt shop and ice cream parlour, serving up sandwiches, cakes and shakes all day long. Try its cherry blaster, cinnamon bun or almond joy cakes, and if you’d like it a little cooler and creamier for the summer, get ready to be blown away by the cake shake: a classic milkshake blended up with one of your favourite slices of cake. This is cake and ice cream like you’ve never had it before!
Memories Restaurant Ltd
136 St. Patrick St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5J8Most Ottawa residents have fond memories of popping into this ByWard Market restaurant-bakery for a late-night sweet slice. Chocolate lovers looking to take cake tasting to the next level need look no further than the infamous chocolate oblivion layer cake. Espresso cheesecake and white-chocolate raspberry also top the list of dessert offerings. Give yourself time to choose, because the massive repertoire on display in the towering cake fridge will have you tongue tied trying to decide.
Thyme And Again Creative Catering And Take Home Food Inc
1255 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3A6This creative catering and food shop consistently delivers the highest quality cakes, made with the best, freshest ingredients possible. For a very reasonable price, dessert hunters can sample a slice of the shop’s signature lemon thyme or Grand Marnier poppy seed cakes. For the sweet tooth with dietary issues, Thyme and Again makes chocolate paradise, a killer, gluten-free cake.
Oh So Good Cafe
25 York St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5S7Are you a dessert lover looking for a sweets specialist? Look no further, Oh So Good deals exclusively in cakes, desserts and coffee from plain and simple and sinfully decadent. With over 30 types of cake to choose from, this spot has been in business since 1994. Its portions are incredibly generous, making it a great place to share a slice on a date night or to indulge on your own. The shop also serves a creative array of cake concoctions to suite a variety of dietary restrictions, so more folks can have their cake and eat it, too.
Elgin Street Diner
374 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1N1If you haven’t heard of the Elgin Street Diner by now, stop reading this, and go there immediately! With its doors open for over two decades, this classic diner is an Ottawa institution. Its dessert menu is a simple offering of four cakes, including one peanut butter pie to die for. What it lacks in variety, it more than makes up for in kitschy charm.
Da Bombe Desserts
18 Avenue Beechwood, Ottawa, ON K1L 8L9William Ross chose his restaurant’s name wisely. Not only does it offer the classic frozen French dessert that is a literal taste explosion in your mouth, but for the streetwise cake crowd, this place is simply, “the bomb.” Ross takes desserts seriously, and elevates the traditional slice with his mini, personalized cake servings. Picture a palm-sized caramelized apple cheesecake or lemon meringue pie, all for you. Now imagine tasting it....
The Cake Cafe
1034 Merivale Rd, Ottawa, ON K1Z 6A7Another of Ottawa’s pastry shop cafés that has stood the test of time, The Cake Cafe has been in business for more than two decades, so when it comes to desserts, this place means business. Look for perfected classics such as the orange-chocolate dome, tiramisu and chocolate raspberry mousse, all served as small personal cakes. Pick one up to take home for a special after-dinner treat, or indulge on the spot with a hot cappuccino.
French Baker
119 Murray St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5M5Voted best croissants in Ottawa by the New York Times, this authentic French bakery, or "boulangerie de quartier," was founded and is staffed by French expats. Offering more than bread, this bakery handcrafts classic French cakes. Try a slice of its opera or palais royal cakes. Mark this location for an afternoon’s staycation that will transport your tastebuds to Avenue des Champs-Élysées with one bite. Also visit Benny’s Bistro in the back of the bakery.
Zak's Diner
16 By Ward Market Sq, Ottawa, ON K1N 7A1The unofficial motto of this classic retro diner with regards to its desserts is ‘go big, or go home.’ The serving size of its cake by the slice is not for the faint of heart, and can easily be shared, but often, you’ll want one of these monstrous, delectable treats all to yourself. Go for the New York style cheesecake topped with hot fudge, blueberry or raspberry sauce, challenge yourself to the multi-layered chocolate eruption cake or go for something a bit lighter, such as the mile-high apple pie.
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