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In searching for a not too fussy late lunch while in the Byward market, Zak's answered the call. We took advantage of the outdoor seating and were greeted quickly with glasses of ice water and menus. My spouse ordered the Eggs Benedict with the eggs medium hard. For me, I got the Hot Hamburger sandwich. Our orders arrived without undue delay and mine had a regular grilled burger patty between slices of white bread and a splash of gravy on top. Included sides were fries and a small paper cup of coleslaw. The patty was well cooked and fine with the gravy, a tad more gravy would have been welcome. My spouse's Eggs Benedict also seemed to be pretty much as expected. Unsurprisingly the hollandaise seemed to be both okay yet pre-prepared, i.e. not hand made from scratch in the kitchen. It came with a lot of hash browned potatoes. All told are meals met expectations by filling a needed at an okay price (for a restaurant in a touristy area). Service was quick and our server was both cheerful and personable. We'd be fine going back someday.
This is my fourth time visiting the Zak for the past 3yrs. Service and the milkshake are good but the food definitely downgraded. My Pancakes and the ham super dry. Toast so dry like eating crackers. The retort amblance stay the same but the time we were there the TV not on and the bus is not available for seating which is the highlight for me in this place. This is still a good place for the 70's experience. With many new choices around will I return? Is a definitely maybe not! All the best Zak!
Since moving to Ottawa people have spoken to me about Zaks. My friend and came around 845pm and sat outside. We were promptly greeted by a young gentleman who was our server. He asked us is we wanted to start off with drinks and then gave us time to choose what we wanted. The waiter gave us time but didn't forget about us or was overbearing. I chose the grilled cheese burger. It was on sourdough instead of a regular bun and was grilled! The tater tots were hot and not oily. The burger was juicy. The pickle and coleslaw was a nice added touch. I was impressed because nailing something simple. Like a burger platter seems to be hard to serve these days in terms of having cold fries or super over cooked beef. My friend had the Nashville sandwich and said it could have been more spicier but this review is based on my food and experience . Well done Zaks! The hype is real and I'll be back.
CLASSIC diner experience. We dropped in on a Thursday afternoon after a casual stroll through the ByWard market area and reading that this diner was somewhat of an institution in the neighborhood we determined this was the perfect lunch spot for us. Foot traffic was moderate inside, but they were pretty busy still. The interior of the diner is very, very, very classic (And, yes, I'll be using that word a lot), with booth seats and pictures everywhere on the walls, and will remind you of any ol' diner in North America. The menu was a bit small compared to diners we've been to, but they had the usuals - eggs, omelettes, pancakes, French toast, wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads, milkshakes...and, OF COURSE, poutine, so there's a little something for everyone. After a walk around the market area, one can get quite hungry and that's exactly what happened to us! After mulling things over, I decided to order the Pancakes & Eggs, which you can customize, but mine came with sausage, scrambled eggs and blueberry pancakes. My wife went with the Ringer Burger and upgraded her fries to a poutine. Oh, and, when at a diner, we can't forget to order milkshakes, right?!?! I went with the Strawberry and my better half got the Banana. Verdict? Pretty much what you would expect when you go to your average diner. The food was good for what it was. Also, huge portions of everything. The Pancake & Eggs arrived with 3 large pancakes and there was A LOT of poutine fries in my wife's order of the Ringer Burger. Nothing stood out as spectacular, but nothing was terrible either. It was all very average, but if you're just looking for a big breakfast or meal, this will definitely hit the spot. I do want the say that the ice cream milkshakes were GREAT though! I loved that they use ice cream and give you the entire mixer cannister on top of your glass cup. If you're a tourist who drove into the area, there is plenty of paid street parking and reasonably priced parking lots to boot. The diner is conveniently located right by the ByWard Market along with other restaurants. If you're seeking a safe bet, go to Zak's.
We decided on a quick snack from Zak's before heading to the Art Gallery up the street. A big Wimpy's vibe as you enter with colorful walls and seats fashioned in an art deco period strict COVID-19 precautions including hanging up rIncoats and entering info in tablets before being seated The servers hustle from table to table which minimizes delay and increases the turnover for the next group of hungry travelers. So we shared a turkey club and a mess of poutine. Both were good, and reasonable priced. Definately worth sharing a few items as the portions were good and the sodium count off the charts. Service was good and friendly. Our server shared that her steps are in the tens of thousands daily! All in all a fun touristy stop in Byward market. Be prepared to wait outside a bit as I is a popular destination! -Zuk
OVERALL: -Great poutine, good service, casual environment ARRIVAL: -I came here because I found it on a few lists online of the best places to get poutine in Ottawa. It was also not far from my hotel and near the ByWard Market, which I heard is a cool area that I should visit while in town. -I got a table for one around 9 or 10pm one night in September. Got seated right away. There were a lot of people there so it felt busy, but it was large so there were still plenty of empty tables. FOOD: -I had the regular poutine and a mint chip milkshake. -The poutine was top notch. I got to try poutine maybe 5 times while I was in Canada and this one was my favorite. There was nothing fancy about it or any extra ingredients to jazz it up, but it was still perfect. Served piping hot with curds layered throughout the fries so some of them melted and some didn't. Fries were extra crispy and fresh so they retained their crunch even with the gravy on them. -The mint chip milk shake was very large, but pretty average otherwise. SERVICE -Service was fast and friendly! I got refills of water without asking. My server kindly answered my questions about the menu and was attentive. LAYOUT/ATMOSPHERE: -Very much a classic diner with lots of booths, a lunch counter with stools, etc.
Guys, what happened? This place used to be my go-to. Tonight I went and the overall experience was just awful. When I walked in with my boyfriend, almost every since staff member saw us, but we waited 5 minutes at the door to be seated. It was dead, so I'm not sure why it took so long. We put in our order and waited 30 minutes. People who were seated after us got their full meal before we even got our milkshakes. I ordered the Caesar wrap and was given a wrap that was 99% warm lettuce, a bit of shredded cheese, and a strip of flavourless chicken. We were lucky to have a very kind waitress who did not charge us for the wrap. She was overall very friendly. Felt bad for her as she was running all over the place the whole time. Just don't come here. Sad to say this, as I used to recommend it all the time. But the quality has gone down tremendously and still charges the same for everything.
First place we ate when we arrived in Ottawa. This is a all diner located right in byward market serving all day breakfast meals. We got the french toast with eggs and bacon as well as their signature milk shakes. The food tasted like typical diner food but much more expensive. The shakes were good and they did give a generous amount, enough to share between 2 people. Overall a ok eating spot to try just once. The prices are high for what you're getting.
A perfect weekend breakfast spot. We were seated outside on a beautiful day. Service was great and the food was incredible. Such large portions for a very reasonable price. I loved every dish we ordered. My personal favorite is the eggs Florentine and it was perfect for my taste. Also enjoyed the milkshake!
2 years ago
Food item prices are on the higher end, but that is reasonable considering the vibe or atmosphere of the place. Zak's Diner is at the heart of ByWard Market. There are plenty of botiques and other dining places nearby. You would get the option of patio dining outdoors or indoor seating. Food is standard diner fare with nothing noteworthy. There is an option to "poutinize your fries" for an extra $4.99, which I find a little bit much for the cheese curds and gravy. I did enjoy the Zak's Famous Milkshake ($8.99) and Ice Cream Float ($6.49). The Milshake was creamy and came with a metal cup filled with extra milkshake / whip cream. We came to have lunch a little past noontime rush. It was nice that we, a group of 2 people, were allowed to move to a table for 4 when we requested it. It was always welcome to have more elbowroom. Their table for 2 is a little bit cramped when you also have a bag or some other things with you. read more
8 months ago
Great ambiance. Great food. One of the best breakfasts I've had. Left there full and happy, can't wait to go back! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
In searching for a not too fussy late lunch while in the Byward market, Zak's answered the call. We took advantage of the outdoor seating and were greeted quickly with glasses of ice water and menus. My spouse ordered the Eggs Benedict with the eggs medium hard. For me, I got the Hot Hamburger sandwich. Our orders arrived without undue delay and mine had a regular grilled burger patty between slices of white bread and a splash of gravy on top. Included sides were fries and a small paper cup of coleslaw. The patty was well cooked and fine with the gravy, a tad more gravy would have been welcome. My spouse's Eggs Benedict also seemed to be pretty much as expected. Unsurprisingly the hollandaise seemed to be both okay yet pre-prepared, i.e. not hand made from scratch in the kitchen. It came with a lot of hash browned potatoes. All told are meals met expectations by filling a needed at an okay price (for a restaurant in a touristy area). Service was quick and our server was both cheerful and personable. We'd be fine going back someday. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
This is my fourth time visiting the Zak for the past 3yrs. Service and the milkshake are good but the food definitely downgraded. My Pancakes and the ham super dry. Toast so dry like eating crackers. The retort amblance stay the same but the time we were there the TV not on and the bus is not available for seating which is the highlight for me in this place. This is still a good place for the 70's experience. With many new choices around will I return? Is a definitely maybe not! All the best Zak! read more
Since moving to Ottawa people have spoken to me about Zaks. My friend and came around 845pm and sat outside. We were promptly greeted by a young gentleman who was our server. He asked us is we wanted to start off with drinks and then gave us time to choose what we wanted. The waiter gave us time but didn't forget about us or was overbearing. I chose the grilled cheese burger. It was on sourdough instead of a regular bun and was grilled! The tater tots were hot and not oily. The burger was juicy. The pickle and coleslaw was a nice added touch. I was impressed because nailing something simple. Like a burger platter seems to be hard to serve these days in terms of having cold fries or super over cooked beef. My friend had the Nashville sandwich and said it could have been more spicier but this review is based on my food and experience . Well done Zaks! The hype is real and I'll be back. read more
CLASSIC diner experience. We dropped in on a Thursday afternoon after a casual stroll through the ByWard market area and reading that this diner was somewhat of an institution in the neighborhood we determined this was the perfect lunch spot for us. Foot traffic was moderate inside, but they were pretty busy still. The interior of the diner is very, very, very classic (And, yes, I'll be using that word a lot), with booth seats and pictures everywhere on the walls, and will remind you of any ol' diner in North America. The menu was a bit small compared to diners we've been to, but they had the usuals - eggs, omelettes, pancakes, French toast, wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads, milkshakes...and, OF COURSE, poutine, so there's a little something for everyone. After a walk around the market area, one can get quite hungry and that's exactly what happened to us! After mulling things over, I decided to order the Pancakes & Eggs, which you can customize, but mine came with sausage, scrambled eggs and blueberry pancakes. My wife went with the Ringer Burger and upgraded her fries to a poutine. Oh, and, when at a diner, we can't forget to order milkshakes, right?!?! I went with the Strawberry and my better half got the Banana. Verdict? Pretty much what you would expect when you go to your average diner. The food was good for what it was. Also, huge portions of everything. The Pancake & Eggs arrived with 3 large pancakes and there was A LOT of poutine fries in my wife's order of the Ringer Burger. Nothing stood out as spectacular, but nothing was terrible either. It was all very average, but if you're just looking for a big breakfast or meal, this will definitely hit the spot. I do want the say that the ice cream milkshakes were GREAT though! I loved that they use ice cream and give you the entire mixer cannister on top of your glass cup. If you're a tourist who drove into the area, there is plenty of paid street parking and reasonably priced parking lots to boot. The diner is conveniently located right by the ByWard Market along with other restaurants. If you're seeking a safe bet, go to Zak's. read more
We decided on a quick snack from Zak's before heading to the Art Gallery up the street. A big Wimpy's vibe as you enter with colorful walls and seats fashioned in an art deco period strict COVID-19 precautions including hanging up rIncoats and entering info in tablets before being seated The servers hustle from table to table which minimizes delay and increases the turnover for the next group of hungry travelers. So we shared a turkey club and a mess of poutine. Both were good, and reasonable priced. Definately worth sharing a few items as the portions were good and the sodium count off the charts. Service was good and friendly. Our server shared that her steps are in the tens of thousands daily! All in all a fun touristy stop in Byward market. Be prepared to wait outside a bit as I is a popular destination! -Zuk read more
1 year ago
OVERALL: -Great poutine, good service, casual environment ARRIVAL: -I came here because I found it on a few lists online of the best places to get poutine in Ottawa. It was also not far from my hotel and near the ByWard Market, which I heard is a cool area that I should visit while in town. -I got a table for one around 9 or 10pm one night in September. Got seated right away. There were a lot of people there so it felt busy, but it was large so there were still plenty of empty tables. FOOD: -I had the regular poutine and a mint chip milkshake. -The poutine was top notch. I got to try poutine maybe 5 times while I was in Canada and this one was my favorite. There was nothing fancy about it or any extra ingredients to jazz it up, but it was still perfect. Served piping hot with curds layered throughout the fries so some of them melted and some didn't. Fries were extra crispy and fresh so they retained their crunch even with the gravy on them. -The mint chip milk shake was very large, but pretty average otherwise. SERVICE -Service was fast and friendly! I got refills of water without asking. My server kindly answered my questions about the menu and was attentive. LAYOUT/ATMOSPHERE: -Very much a classic diner with lots of booths, a lunch counter with stools, etc. read more
5 years ago
Guys, what happened? This place used to be my go-to. Tonight I went and the overall experience was just awful. When I walked in with my boyfriend, almost every since staff member saw us, but we waited 5 minutes at the door to be seated. It was dead, so I'm not sure why it took so long. We put in our order and waited 30 minutes. People who were seated after us got their full meal before we even got our milkshakes. I ordered the Caesar wrap and was given a wrap that was 99% warm lettuce, a bit of shredded cheese, and a strip of flavourless chicken. We were lucky to have a very kind waitress who did not charge us for the wrap. She was overall very friendly. Felt bad for her as she was running all over the place the whole time. Just don't come here. Sad to say this, as I used to recommend it all the time. But the quality has gone down tremendously and still charges the same for everything. read more
1 year ago
First place we ate when we arrived in Ottawa. This is a all diner located right in byward market serving all day breakfast meals. We got the french toast with eggs and bacon as well as their signature milk shakes. The food tasted like typical diner food but much more expensive. The shakes were good and they did give a generous amount, enough to share between 2 people. Overall a ok eating spot to try just once. The prices are high for what you're getting. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
A perfect weekend breakfast spot. We were seated outside on a beautiful day. Service was great and the food was incredible. Such large portions for a very reasonable price. I loved every dish we ordered. My personal favorite is the eggs Florentine and it was perfect for my taste. Also enjoyed the milkshake! read more
5 years ago
Ok fine. standard fair. The standout was the pina colada milkshake. Totally a treat and if you buy one for a couple to share they will bring in two large glasses. Impressive portions overall. Don't need to go back because quality breakfast places are all over. I figured I would give them a try since they offered my hotels guests a discount. Not terrible but not great either. read more
I give this a four star rating because of the excellent service. The waitress was super friendly and accommodating. My eggs benny were overcooked, and when I asked her about it, she confirmed it shouldn't have been served that way. She offered to have it remade, but I don't like food waste, so I opted to continue to eat it (it wasn't bad, just overcooked). When the bill came, she had comped it from the total. I insisted on paying, but she humbly declined, so I left what I would've paid as her tip. Thank you for your hospitality. read more
Pooh and I were visiting Ottawa today and decided to lunch at Zak's. I had the basic cheese nachos which I truly enjoyed because they were flat so all the chips were covered with the toppings. One of my pet peeves is when Restaurants heap the nachos on the plate so only the top has cheese and salsa and half way down its just dry chips - Zak's didn't do that. My only negative comment would be that the sides like guacamole and sour cream were extra. Pooh had the Zak Attack burger and a poutine. Being from QC he knows his poutines and Zak's poutine passed!! The burger was great too but just be really hungry when you order it cuz it's thick. We washed it all down with a pitcher of Beau's Lug Tread beer. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
8 years ago
They serve pretty typical diner food here. I really loved the ambience and decor of this place. It really makes for a fun dining experience. We arrived at the lunch time hour and had to wait a couple of minutes since the place was heavily packed. I was happy that they gave us a booth to dine in since we also carried luggage with us. For lunch we ordered the Cheeseburger, the Quebecer poutine, honey garlic boneless chicken wings, and a vanilla milkshake. For just 2 people, this was a LOT of food. The cheese burger was a pretty standard tasting burger. I felt like it could be replicated in anyone's home. The boneless wings did not taste like chicken wings that were deboned but more like white meat. I found that they were slightly on the dry side but the flavour profile was pretty good. Their milkshake was really nice. I liked how creamy and simple the drink was. Finally, the poutine tasted authentic and delicious. It was covered in a good amount of gravy and had tons of cheese curds. Their fries were also had great texture. I like how hip restaurant this restaurant is with affordable prices and huge portions. read more
7 years ago
The service here is what made me give them 2 stars. I walked in and waited over 15 minutes to receive service. The decor is like an American 50's era diner in my opinion. The waitress was nice once she finally got to my table. I ordered my $15 CAD poutine and I was ready to go shortly after. I got the classic poutine which was really good. Plus it was vegetarian because the gravy is mushroom gravy. Just kidding, the cheese is not vegetarian. It's more than enough for 1 person and I didn't finish it. I guess there are other places to get poutine in Ottawa because I doubt I would come back here. read more
"Zak's Cantina" #wheretoeat in #Ottawa This amazing authentic diner had a long queue and waiting of 1/2 an hour(they Swear by that is was not a busy day for them which is unbelievable). We almost gave up as we had to catch a show soon after. Thank God we waited and gave this a try, they are actually famous for their burgers and milkshake. Relevant to the time we ordered from breakfast menu and it was scrumptious. One meal is sufficient for a person with good appetite. Service is fast and they bring the meal together for everyone on the table. Coffee is on the house and they offer refills. Swipe right for the full picture, on the table, all their dishes comes up with in house fries and baked beans(noticed a bit sweet in Ottawa): . . ________ 2) blueberry pancakes with honey syrup and butter 3) Huevos Divorciados (Huevos in the menu comes up with 2 sunny side up on the bed of tortillas topped with refried beans, guacamole, ranchero sauce, salsa, sour cream and feta cheese) 4) tripple cheese and veggie delight omelette which was melting in mouth and layered with cheese(jack, cheddar and mozzarella cheese) 5) Zak's traditional bloody Caesar(my highlight) we got this is happy hours and I was really happy as this is the tangiest one I had. They served it with pickled green beans. Yeah I was shocked too. Try this next time you are in town and thank me read more
3 years ago
I had breakfast here this morning, it was one of my last stops before heading back to Montreal after celebrating Canada day in the capital. I love the idea of all-day breakfast places and since our hotel was very close by, I figured this would hit the spot. Unfortunately for me, I was disappointed to see that they were offering a special Canada Day weekend menu that was reduced to about a third of what they should normally offer, with higher prices. That's when I felt like I landed in a tourist trap of sorts and not a low key diner favored by the locals. With no back up in mind, I wanted to try Zaks anyways. My omelette was good, but not amazing. Cheese and tomato slices were melted on top instead of being incorporated in the egg which I found a little strange. My bf ordered a breakfast burrito but the pita was doughy and raw. Flavor was good though. You see everyone getting milkshakes so you think they're going to be amazing, they are huge too, but really you're just dishing 6 bucks for some melted ice cream with a squirt of whipped cream. Most of their flavors are syrup based unless you get banana then they actually blend the fruit in. My first choice was mango, but it tasted like plain vanilla so I had to switch. I'm surprised their strawberry shake isn't made with real fruit either, as it's in season. Breakfast was filling, food was alright, service could have been faster. Our server never even offered us coffee or tea, despite it being included in the meal. For two people, 52$ for eggs, potatoes, toast and "ice cream" sure seemed like a lot. I won't be back, and certainly don't recommend this place on holiday occasions, menus and prices aren't representative of their potential. read more
This place has great service and an American amount of food! I mean each serving is ridiculously large! A colleague and I needed a place for dinner our only evening in Ottawa. Since our hotel was nearby, we decided to explore this fun part of town. She was on a budget and not willing to splurge, so we opted for Zak's Diner. She went for the Quebequer Poutine and I opted for a burger. My burger was awesome, but it had also been 8 hours since my last meal. I was starving! Since we were on a break from work, we opted for dessert. The diffference between Betty's Rocky Road Brownie and the mini Rocky Road brownie was just $1. Obviously, we opted for Betty. And, it was gigantic (see photo). We ashamedly left so much of it behind ... next time, I'm in this city, I may come here either just for dinner or just for dessert- not both! read more
Had my first 2017 breakfast here. The decor is typical style, very local and chill. New year with old brunch habit - I ordered pancakes as usual, but this time with blueberries. They did add lots of real blueberries into the pancakes. They were relatively fluffy and came with packed butter and maple syrup. I like the packed ones cuz it's easy to take away - of course I couldn't finish all four pancakes. My bf had omelette with sausages. Looked like to omelette wasn't salty enough to him and he wasn't quite happy with his first breakfast in 2017. But overall it was a good local dining experience. read more
A bit disappointed by the "Less than enthusiastic" staff that couldn't be bothered to attend to me. Food was very generic and lacked thought. Despite being open 24 Hours - I think, I'm sure you could find something better. Don't bother coming. Watch yourself in Ottawa - I'm stunned at how shady and dangerous things were. I'm also very disappointed at how unfriendly folks were; especially the staff at the restaurant. This place truly lacked any bit of character; people did not seem happy. read more
7 years ago
Good food, great service. Too bad the Jukebox doesn't work. A little expensive for diner fare, but as a tourist destination, well-priced. :) Beware: They don't accept debit, and the washrooms are up a huge flight of stairs. read more
Was in the Byward Market area and selected Zaks for our dinner. The inside seems like frozen in time from 60s and 70s. Most of the walls have frames with lines on the and all of them are funny. Started off with Four Cheese Poutine. The grave is vegetarian and fries although thinner than I would like the Poutine was good. The gravy not too runny or salty. The chef did not skimp on cheese I must add. Ordered a Mac n Cheese burger with veggie patty with a salad and Grilled veggie wrap with mashed potatoes. The wedges Mac n Cheese were gooey and crispy on the outside. The burger patty was chickn flavour. The wrap was good with perfect veggies inside. The mashed potatoes were fresh made and not made from a box. The gravy was the same as the Poutine. The salad was ok, but a generous helping. All in all good place to go. Seemed to be a favourite spot for a lot of University Students. Half the tables were full of them. read more
8 years ago
My dad and I passed this on the way back from a bar the night we arrived in Ottawa. The next afternoon, my dad desperately wanted breakfast for lunch and I believe it was solely because he saw Zak's twice the evening prior. We walked in to find an empty restaurant. This was to be expected as there was a large amount of snow hanging around and it was an off hour. We were greeted and seated promptly. Their decor and menu is reminiscent of a classic 50s American diner. Had the color scheme been different I would have simply assumed I walked into a Johnny Rockets. Their menu is traditional diner fare with Canadian twists including smoked salmon, smoked meat and poutine. Having a very "when in Rome" mindset, I made my own omelet with smoked meat, Brie and veggies, and upgraded my home fries to poutine style. (My poutine count for this trip ran into the double digits. I have no shame.) My dad went down a slightly healthier path and did not upgrade to poutine and substituted tomatoes for his side of bread. For such a dead restaurant, the food took a little while. I assumed they were just putting extra love in my order. There is a lot of food that comes with it. It was very typical of a standard American portion. While it all looked good, I found my food to be lacking flavor. I gave everything a heavy shake of salt and pepper and still found it all subpar. This wouldn't have been so bad had we not paid so damn much for the food. Each meal was roughly 20 American dollars but the quality and taste was nothing more than what you could find at IHOP. It just simply wasn't worth what we paid. Apparently Zak's has a cult following in Ottawa. Considering the pricing and the quality of food, I don't think I'll join said following anytime soon. read more
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