Hunter's Public House in Ottawa South does weekend gastropub brunch with enough kitchen conviction that the trip from downtown is worth making. The breakfast poutine — cheese curds, gravy, poached eggs, and a bed of properly fried potato — is the kind of dish that sounds excessive until you're halfway through it and realize the ratios are correct. The baked brie waffle earns its place on the menu through flavor rather than novelty.
The eggs Benedict variations rotate with enough thoughtfulness that regulars find something new to order on successive visits, which tells you the kitchen is paying attention beyond the fixed menu. OpenTable included Hunter's among Canada's 100 Best Brunch restaurants in 2024.
The room is a proper gastropub — warm, unpretentious, built for sitting rather than cycling through tables quickly. Ottawa South is underrepresented in the city's dining conversation, and Hunter's is a consistent argument that the neighborhood deserves more attention.
