In a year marked by a vibrant return to culinary exploration, Peter Hum, the esteemed restaurant critic for the Ottawa Citizen, has unveiled his definitive list of the best dishes he savored in 2025. His gastronomic journey took him far and wide across the capital region, from Gatineau to Carp and Prescott to Almonte, culminating in a curated selection of standout plates.
A Year of Extensive Culinary Exploration
Reflecting on a post-pandemic resurgence in dining out, Hum noted that 2025 allowed him to cover more ground than recent years. His comprehensive review involved visits to approximately 45 restaurants, over 20 bakeries, and six ice cream shops. The resulting list, organized into 20 distinct categories, serves as a personal highlight reel of the year's most memorable bites rather than an absolute ranking of the city's best.
Standout Dishes and Must-Try Bites
Among the celebrated selections, the pintxos at Little Barcelona in Prescott earned high praise for their impeccable construction and use of premium imported Spanish ingredients like Iberico ham and dry-aged tuna loin. In the appetizer category, a tie was declared between a sweet spot prawn crudo from Le Petite Primerose in Gatineau's Hull sector and a lemony yellowtail crudo from Ek Bar on Preston Street.
The title for best sandwich went to Paninaro, with locations on Somerset Street West and O'Connor Street, for its mammoth porchetta sandwich. Hum highlighted its luscious, thinly sliced porchetta paired with spicy eggplant, arugula, pistachio cream, and fior di latte, all on exceptional schiacciata bread.
Local Favorites and Seasonal Highlights
For the best taco, Hum pointed to the barbacoa (pulled beef) taco from Yakko Takko, a Hintonburg stand known for its sublime, uncompromising flavors. He acknowledged the occasional wait and cash-only policy as minor hurdles for the sumptuously beefy reward. Notably, the stand is currently on hiatus until spring 2026.
Hum's list also included a nod to The Little German Bakery in Carleton Place for its "Rasbarian" Berliner. He offered a caveat that some seasonal items have already left menus, leaving them as "distant, delectable memories" he hopes will return in the coming year.
The critic's annual roundup provides a valuable snapshot of Ottawa's dynamic food scene in 2025, celebrating both established venues and hidden gems across the wider region. It underscores a year of culinary diversity and excellence, inviting locals to explore these tastes for themselves.
