Postby rejtable » Mon May 28, 2012 11:20 am
Just chiming in to echo the comments so far. My only real addition would be that I just never seem to have any luck with food at Pub Italia, and I've been probably a dozen times. I was downright insulted by the mussels there, for example.
The tap list is decent, and the place is neat inside, but I can't forgive the number of very underwhelming, and the few flat out terrible, meals I've had there. If a group is going, I won't squawk about it, but if I had my choice I'd rather go somewhere else.
One omission above was the Arrow & Loon, and while I'll be the first to complain about the staff there, they do have a decent tap list and the food is solid for pub food.
Clocktower is also local brewpub with generally "meh" beer, but pretty decent food.
On Elgin, the Manx is a great place to enjoy a pint. Tap list is only ok, but really neat place with good atmosphere.
If I had to pick one beer+food place in this area, with a kid in tow, it would be Brasseurs du temps without even a second to think about it. Best combo of food+atmosphere+beer+price in this area for sure. Also, since all the Ottawa-side places will carry a lot of taps you would already know, Brasseurs gives you something you can't get anywhere else that you would normally frequent. One small point about kids there, they have certain seating areas they won't allow kids on past 8pm (patio, for example, has to be kid-less after 8pm).
For flat out beer, L'autre-oeuil, but it's pretty tiny so not sure how kid friendly it would be.
... if you come over, PM me and I'll bring you to the hotspots myself.