When the regular lunch sandwich and sub options start to become a little routine, break tradition with these tasty sandwiches served on freshly baked bagels. Ottawa has picked up on Montreal’s rich culture surrounding the delicious wood-burning-oven-baked delicacies – showcased at these lunch spots that will have you coming back for more.
Not only does the famous Montreal-style bagel shop offer some of the best bagels in town, but it also showcases the art of bagel making with an open-concept bakery. Customers can admire the process of bagel rolling, cutting, boiling in honey water, and baking in a wood-burning oven. Choose from 15 bagel varieties like poppy seed, garlic, pumpernickel, chocolate and lemon cranberry alongside mouthwatering bagel sandwiches that will have you hooked.
The founder of the Ottawa Bagel Shop was the first to bring the wood-burning bagel oven to Ontario in 1984. After 30 years of operation, the shop now also offers a variety of gourmet products like cheeses, jams and oils. All the bagels are dairy-free, with some vegan, sugar-free and wheat-free options available. Try one of 20 bagel subs like the famous Toast of the Town, made with hot Montreal smoked meat.
Giving the ByWard Market’s warehouse-like building a fresh wood-burning oven smell, Continental Bagel Company was founded by the owner 20 years ago and has been serving some of the most affordable and satisfying lunches in the area ever since. There’s a slew of bagel sandwich options for both breakfast and lunch, including smoked meat with cheddar cheese and egg, as well as smoked salmon with cream cheese and red onion.
JJ, the famed bagel-baker extraordinaire at this east end shop, has 25 years of experience working in a Montreal bakery, inspiring the great taste, texture and quality ingredients of his bagels. Indulge in some specialty options like herb and cheddar, strawberry, blueberry, chocolate chip, or onion and garlic, or have a tasty sandwich on a bagel of your choice. More extravagant bagel-of-the-month varieties include spicy carrot and strawberry chocolate chip.
Operated since 1980 by multiple generations of a family of bakers, Bagel Bagel Bakery prides itself in maintaining original family recipes “the way Grandma made them.” Try one of 10 bagel varieties like cinnamon raisin, multigrain or onion with a delicious coffee at the bakery’s café.
This Centretown gem serves creatively assembled and beautifully presented meals that are prepared using local and seasonal ingredients in a cozy space that feels like your friend Jak’s dining room. The Montreal eggs Benedict are served with smoked salmon and lemon-chive crème fraiche on a sesame bagel with a side of home fries and salad or fruit bowl. Savour this delicious bagel sandwich for breakfast or lunch.
All the specialty burgers at this lunch joint can be served on fresh bagels sourced from a local bakery. Your lunch sandwich doesn’t have to be boring with the dozens of menu options at Manhattan’s Handmade Burgers. Have a classic Yankee bagel sandwich or an inventive and flavour-bursting variation like peppercorn ranch, Sriracha honey garlic, chicken tzatziki or spinach pesto.
Established in Montreal in 1927, Dunn’s continues to keep the Montreal deli lunch tradition alive in Ottawa. The all-day breakfast at Dunn’s Famous Bank Street Deli includes four bagel bennies like a smoked meat Benedict served on a toasted sesame or poppy seed bagel, as well as the famous bagel breakfast sandwich with eggs, ham and cheese.