30 years in this neighbourhood
seen a lot of people
lot of restaurants
come and gone
all leaving their mark
in this transplanted resident’s mind

I’ve always contended that if a restaurant
can make a good breakfast
then it’s worth returning to check out
their lunch and dinner fair

Cindy and I started coming out to this area
in the early 80s
after Jason was born
years before it was known as South Keys
Mary’s Diner being the main attraction
a highway greasy spoon
in the outer inner city
popular for their round ham
that tasted like bacon
mouthwatering home fries
eggs any style
suppers quite good as well

By the time I moved out here
seven years later
Cindy was gone
Mary’s was gone
replaced by a car dealership
with the largest Canadian flag I’ve ever seen
though several alternatives remained

The famous K&S
renowned for its pizza
great breakfasts
a mom & pop operation
but Nick the owner died
wife and staff retired
then it moved nearby
after one visit to the new location
under new management
Dawn and I never went back

Harvey’s
at the corner of Bank and Hunt Club
experimented with breakfast for a time
it was good
I went back several times
but as all good things
guess wasn’t meant to last

There have been other pretenders to the throne
in the immediate vicinity
Blue Moose
Tucson’s
Hard Rock Café
even a Chinese buffet
to name but a few
all passed into history
more chapters for Lost Ottawa
but one still remains

A popular name
though at my end of town
an unassuming eatery
In a corner mall
not far from where I live
been here for years
pretty well tried everything on the menu
especially their breakfast
pizza in or to go
always up to par

30 years
I’ve been in this neighbourhood
seen a lot of people
lot of restaurants
come and gone


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Photo © May 2016 by author





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09/29/2021

Posted on 09/29/2021
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti