The Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli is a Wellington West neighbourhood staple established by Vincenzo “Vince” Piazza in 1984. Nearly four decades later, the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli is transforming with renovations, an updated menu and a new owner—Piazza’s daughter, Liliana Piazza.
The Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli is part restaurant, part bagel shop and deli. Customers can order Montreal-style bagels in large quantities from the bagel counter or enjoy a bagel sandwich at the restaurant for a sit-down meal.
Customers will find new non-bagel additions to the menu, such as pulled pork for $11, beatnik for $9 and chicken salad for $9. Tried, tested and true Bagelshop classics are also available, such as the grilled cheese for $8 or a bagelman’s choice, composed of cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, red onion and tomato, for $13.
Since Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli is not a franchise, I found the customer experience to be unique, and felt welcomed like a family friend. Bagel shop regulars who live in the neighbourhood can be spotted sipping coffee, munching on a bagel sandwich and reading a magazine.
As someone who frequented the shop for post-grocery-shopping bagels with my mother before I moved away from the neighbourhood, I was excited to revisit my old stomping grounds and savour every bite I ordered for lunch.
Being a former local of Wellington West who grew up going to the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli, the renovations of the space give the shop and restaurant a refreshing energy.
Locals and new customers are now greeted with a smaller shop with homey but modern decor that pays homage to the place’s original esthetic. The iconic, historical wood-burning oven still stands at the back of the shop — Ottawa’s first wood-burning oven.
My favourite type of bagel sandwich to order, both during my childhood and now, is cream cheese and lox. This time, I ordered the bagelman’s choice on a sesame bagel, a fudge brownie and green tea.
The bagelman’s choice is a savoury but mild bagel sandwich. The cream cheese was whipped to perfection, while the smoked salmon was a beautiful pink. It was the freshest smoked salmon I have ever had on a cream cheese and lox bagel, practically melting in my mouth.
To top off the bagelman’s choice, red onions, a slice of tomato and capers were neatly tucked into the sandwich. The acidity in the tomato balanced the cream cheese, and the cappers provided a snap without being overpowering. Aside from a fresh crunch, the red onions provided minimal enrichment to the bagel sandwich..
The sesame bagel was evenly toasted and deliciously doughy on the inside, something I expected from a Montreal-style bagel.
To make Montreal-style bagels, the bakers hand-roll the dough and boil them in a kettle with honey water until they float to the top. After letting the uncooked bagels soak in the honey water mixture, which produces their sweet flavour and crunchy texture, they are seasoned and placed in the wood-burning oven, flipped to be evenly cooked and served up.
Aside from the shop’s signature bagels, customers can purchase homemade pastries, imported spreads, chocolate, candies, specialty cheeses and deli meats — a perfect selection for a charcuterie board or a grab-and-go snack.
One of the pastries I particularly recommend trying is the fudge brownies. Don’t sleep on the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli desserts. The fudge brownie will appease the taste buds of all Ottawa chocoholics, as the brownie was warm and not too sweet or dry.
For a self-proclaimed picky eater that only sticks to foods I deem “my go-to’s,” the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli’s bagelman’s choice is a first choice whenever I am craving a cream cheese and lox bagel. The shop’s inviting atmosphere and timeless bagel classic make for a remarkable experience.
Feature image by Anya Swettenham/the Charlatan.
