Ottawa Part 1: Peanut Allergy-Friendly Restaurants
Our hometown has a lot to offer allergic diners. Including Chinese Food!
Living in the nation’s capital is a privilege. We are surrounded by beauty, history, culture and an endless supply of festivals, sporting events, and activities. However, just like any other city, living or visiting Ottawa with food allergies can present a unique set of challenges. Over the years we have found some restaurants that we really trust and enjoy. As we became more comfortable allowing others to cook for Gabrielle, we realized that there is a variety of places to safely enjoy a meal. Here is a list of some of our favourite peanut allergy-friendly restaurants in Ottawa. For more information click on the business names to visit their websites
**Updated post pandemic with some new additions and sadly removing some favourites that are no longer open**
Lone Star Texas Grill
Funnily enough, the original Lone Star on Baseline Road was one of the places that Nadia and I would go for date nights when we were at University. Back then this Ottawa favourite was not like it is now. You would walk in and crunch your way over all the discarded peanut shells strewn onto the floor. Remnants from the barrels of free peanuts that greeted diners as they walked in. The days of peanut barrels are long gone. What is left is a peanut allergy-friendly Tex-Mex franchise with over 20 locations and a strong commitment to allergies and safe dining. Much of the food is made fresh, including guacamole, pico de gallo, tortillas, and nacho chips. They even offer a peanut-free dessert option on the kid’s menu.
Kungfu Bistro
Outside of Epcot at Disney, I have not found safe Chinese food for Gabrielle to eat. Chinese food is one of my favourite guilty pleasures. So, when I heard about a place in Stittsville advertising a peanut-free kitchen, it didn’t take long for us to check it out. We were not disappointed. They have a great variety and made us feel very safe. Recently, the new owners have even updated the menu to remove the almonds making it tree-nut-safe as well. Both dine-in and take-out options are available (New Year’s Day Chinese food tradition is back!).
Mexicali Rosa’s
Mexi’s as it is affectionately known is another spot Nadia and I frequented in our younger days. Although it was gone for a while, it has recently returned to its flagship Dow’s Lake location. There are two other spots in the city as well. It is hard to beat the Mexi’s patio overlooking the lake on a beautiful summer day, however, it also makes for a great post-canal skate spot on chilly Ottawa winter’s day. Serving Californian style and Mexican food, there are lots of safe options and the staff is allergy aware and knowledgeable. Gabrielle’s favourites include the flautas, nachos, and tacos.
The Smoque Shack AKA BTP Smokehouse *updated*
Although they are no longer located in the Byward Market, it is still possible to satisfy that bbq craving and now there is lots of beer to choose from! The SmoQue Shack is now located inside the Beyond the Pale Brewing Co. and has rebranded as BTP Smokehouse! All the classic BBQ favourites are available including ribs, chicken, brisket, and all the sides. Takeout and delivery are also available.
Fratelli’s
Another staple in the Ottawa restaurant community. Fratelli’s offers two locations to enjoy their delicious, freshly made Italian food. Gabrielle is partial to the pizza and gnocchi, however, no trip is complete without an appetizer of zucchini sticks and even a tiramisu for dessert! In addition, the bread they bring to the table is made in-house. Making Fratelli’s is one of the few restaurants where she is comfortable eating the bread provided.
Giovanni’s
Sometimes you need to treat yourself! Birthdays, graduations, and family events call for a special meal. Giovanni’s, nestled in the heart of Little Italy is just that. From the moment the valet greets you until the hostess brings you your coat at the end of the evening you are well cared for. The food, service, and atmosphere are second to none. Freshly made pasta and gnocchi make dining with a peanut allergy easy, except for deciding what to order.
The Grand Pizzeria and Bar
Next on the list of peanut allergy-friendly restaurants in Ottawa is The Grand, located in the heart of the Byward Market. When downtown, we like to visit The Grand for a delicious and safe wood-fired pizza, whether dining inside or on the patio, we have always felt comfortable here.
Al’s Steakhouse
An Ottawa institution since 1967. This classic steakhouse offers delicious classics with even better service. A knowledgeable and friendly staff makes dining with a peanut allergy easy. A great place for a standalone dinner or a perfect companion to an evening at the NAC just down the street.
The Heart and Crown Pub
Last but not least on our list of peanut allergy-friendly restaurants in Ottawa is my favourite pub. With several locations scattered around the city, you are never too far from a great beer and good food. The Barrhaven location is our go-to spot for breakfast. Gabrielle’s favourite is pancakes. When we visit later in the day, the supper and lunch options are just as satisfying. From soups to sandwiches, curries, fish, burgers, poutine, and nachos, there is something for everyone.
A couple of extras
Although not uniquely Ottawa restaurants, there are a couple of national chains that are worth mentioning. We have used them many times both here at home and while traveling.
Boston Pizza
One of our more trusted and frequented restaurants. We’re lucky to have one only five minutes from home. Making it perfect for a quick weeknight pizza or sitting on the patio on a nice summer day. Gabrielle safely eats pizza, pasta, and a variety of appetizers here. Her favourite is a create-your-own pizza we affectionately call the “Gabi Special” which has an alfredo sauce base, bacon, pepperoni, and mozzarella.
I hope you found this list of peanut allergy-friendly restaurants in Ottawa helpful. Feel free to leave a comment or add any of your favourite locations I may have missed.
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Very helpful, thank you. Any Peanut and Tree nut free safe options in Ottawa??
Hi,
There certainly are. We actually avoided both peanuts and tree nuts for many years, only recently adding hazelnuts and almonds into our daughter’s diet. Many if not all of the restaurants I mentioned in the post accommodate both peanut and tree nut allergies very well. I must say however that even though my daughter’s peanut allergy is very severe and we did believe for a while that she was also allergic to tree nuts, we did not automatically dismiss a restaurant if tree nuts were on the menu. We do almost always avoid ordering any salads or desserts for her as those are the areas we are leery of cross-contamination occurring. My post on fast food in Ottawa also has several options for tree nut allergies as well. Being a teacher, back to school is always a busy time, so I did not get to as many of the blog posts as I had planned recently, but my next one focusses on bakeries, desserts and treats in Ottawa and features such locations as The Cake Shop, a completely peanut, and tree nut-free bakery. Please let me know if you have any other questions or if I did not give the info you wanted. Thanks. Ted
Sansotei Ramen is great with food allergies. They have an allergen list that has details on each menu item. I have a tree nut allergy I read the allergy list here and I do not recall seeing an issue with peanuts either (may be worth calling to double check if you were to go). Zak’s Diner in Kanata/Byward are also great with allergies. They have nuts on the menu (almost exclusively in pancakes and milkshakes) but are well informed about allergies so I am always comfortable eating there. My last go to is Hockey Sushi in Kanata, again they are well informed about allergies and have no peanuts or tree nuts on the menu.
The Swan in Carp is super allergy friendly – the chef has a nut allergy.
I just wanted to comment and thank you for this. What a valuable resource for the growing number of parents that are asking the same questions as you.
I would be interested in knowing what peanut and nut free bake shops are in Ottawa and surrounding area.
Thanks for the question. This is actually the post I wrote just as the pandemic hit but didn’t post it, as I wasn’t sure what was open or available at the time. I think I will update it and put it out there now that things are open again. Our personal favorites are: The Cake Shop, The Merry Dairy, Strawberry Blonde, and The Piggy Market. If you want any more information on these or perhaps something else, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for the information. My colleague’s daughter has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy so this is very helpful to me as I buy treats often for my staff. The only one I didn’t have on my list was ‘The Merry Dairy’ so I will add it now. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this blog. 🙂
Hi!
I have a severe peanut and tree-nut allergy and am forced to travel to Ottawa for work in February 2023. If you have any more tips or have seen anything change and youd be willing to chat please let me know! I have severe anxieties about this- as you can imagine lol.
Thank you so much for this list. We are travelling from Montreal to Ottawa for a little mini break over our March Break and with one kid with a severe tree nut allergy, we are loving your suggestions. Helping us plot our food stops while we’re there. Thanks again 🙂
Do you have any suggestions for places to eat in Ottawa if you have a sesame allergy?
Hi,
Unfortunately, this is not something that I am very familiar with. Other than Strawberry Blonde and perhaps the Merry Dairy, I’m not sure I’m comfortable or knowledgeable about safe places for sesame allergies. Sorry!
Swiss Chalet is not nut allergy safe so be careful on that one! They have a warning right on their webpage, they do not guarantee cross contamination, so I don’t feel personally safe there. St-Hubert is a better alternative.
A few to add – Fried Chicken Club, Jack Astors is GREAT with allergies if you mention it to them, Royal Oak again if you mention, Chipotle, the Keg.
I’m SO HAPPY that you mentioned a Chinese restaurant, haven’t found one. Haven’t had Chinese in 15 years!
Thank you for the information and feedback! We haven’t eaten at Swiss Chalet in many years, but at the time that we did, they were very good with the peanut allergy and had always informed us of possible tree nut cross-contamination. We do not need to avoid tree nuts. After ready your comment I went to their allergy guide and now see that they list peanuts in the allergens they can’t avoid. This is new for me, and will certainly remove them from my post. Again, thanks! Also, I wasn’t aware of Fried Chicken Club, so will look into that. Jack Astors is way out of our comfort zone and not a place that we ever dined with our daughter. They always told us they could not guarantee anything free from cross-contamination and with many dishes containing peanuts in both entrees and desserts, it was not a place we felt comfortable. with. We have dined at the Keg, and Chipotle is a definite “go-to” for us, especially when we travel. So much so, that we tend to not even think of it as a local option (even though we have been to the Rideau location several times). We even found out on a trip in March, that Chipotle in London England is also a safe option. Finally, I’m so glad to help you discover Kungfu Bistro, and hope you love it as much as we do! Chinese food is certainly a rare find with a nut allergy!
Your three part list is an amazing springboard for dining options! My allergic family is traveling to Ottawa from the US and we have no familiarity with the city. Now I need to source a similar list for Toronto and The Soo!
Thank you!!
Thanks, I hope you have a great trip! I haven’t put together my Toronto list yet, but it is a post I want to write soon (just finishing up Boston now), however, I have a couple of suggestions off the top of my head. If you are downtown near the CN tower or the ball stadium, I would recommend Scaddabush Italian Kitchen & Bar. It’s on Front Street. There is also a Boston Pizza just down the street as well. Several Chipotle’s and Wendy’s locations as well. If you are looking to order a pizza, I would suggest Pizza Nova, a local chain with lots of locations. There are several peanut-free bakeries around Toronto as well which are easily googled and located depending on where you are staying. Another of our favourites areas in Toronto is the Danforth (the Greek area). We recommend having supper at Mezes and then heading across the street to Athens Bakery. I haven’t been to the Soo in about 20 years, so can’t be much help to you there, however being such a heavily Italian influenced community, I bet there are lots of safe and delicious options, as well as Canadian standards such as Boston Pizza and likely Wendy’s, etc.. Again, I hope you have a great trip.
Hi! I just found this! soooo great!i just w ould like to know if it still update on this summer 2023? Looking maybe to bring my teenager to show him the wonderful ottawa. Long time i did not go and him never, and he has a very severe peanut allergy .
Thanks for that appreciate work!
Hi! Yes, I have updated it within the last few months. There are some new places we have tried recently that aren’t listed here, but I have edited post-pandemic to remove places that aren’t open anymore. If you have any questions or need more recommendations, please don’t hesitate to reach out. If you come, I hope you have a great vacation.
Thank you🥰