Last night was my first patio visit of the season — and my first time out with a friend since Ottawa’s Covid-19 lockdown began! So, of course, it had to rain.
However, we were able to enjoy North & Navy‘s new patio for a couple rounds before the sudden and unexpected downpour (as you can see from the photos, the weather was sunny and gorgeous minutes before).
The lights, decor, and atmosphere reminded me of a charming hidden bistro tucked away in the alleys of Firenze. It was intimate, comfortable, and unpretentious.
A table at the entrance greeted guests with chilled Italian wines, a selection of liqueurs, and an array of cocktail garnishes. This was to be the cocktail bar for the evening, but I was told that it was the raw bar the previous evening. They like to change it up based on the night’s theme.
Strings of Edison bulbs illuminated the laneway, criss-crossing above the tables. Pretty under the sunshine, I can imagine how romantic they would look as the skies darken into night.
On one side was an old cabinet. It stored extra glasses, dishes, and cutlery. Hand sanitizer was also available for guests here. I thought it added a sweet homey feel to the patio. On the other side were the tables and chairs. Most were mismatched, with an entire antique church pew being used as a bench for two tables. There was also an old painting on the wall.
North & Navy (or NoNa, as it is affectionately called by patrons) likes to serve up dishes on mismatched plates. I always take photos of of them when I visit. I really liked the bread plate I had this time.
The storm hit right after we ordered our first round of food. We waited for it to subside as we sipped on refreshing Frizante d’Asti and Tampestosa cocktails (+ snacked on crusty bread with salted maple butter), but it would not let up.
The staff kindly offered to pack up our meal to-go, so we ordered several more items and a bottle of NoNa’s expertly crafted negroni. We mentioned turning this into an impromptu picnic and they packed adorable jars with ice and orange rinds for our drinks, as well as utensils! So thoughtful!
We headed over to one of my favourite picnic spots to enjoy our meal and were graced with a gorgeous view of the sunset over the Ottawa River.
Our meal included polpette, scallop crudo with strawberries and black pepper, spring garlic corzetti with pickled rhubarb, a very generous portion of bread, and tiramisu. The Frizante d’Asti contained campari, gigi bitter apertif, ans Moscato d’Asti. It was similar to an aperol spritz. The Tempestosa contained cynar, amaro montenegro, mint, lime, ginger beer, and Dolin vermouth. Think of a summery version of a moscow mule.
I loved everything that we ordered. I was particularly fond of the corzetti and I would return just for another portion of that! The sauce was buttery and garlicky, and the pickled sweetness of the rhubarb packed a unique punch.
A big THANK YOU to one of my favourite restaurants for still making our night out so special and wonderful. The drinks were delicious, the food exquisite, the service impeccable. I look forward to visiting again, hopefully with better weather!
