Restaurants in Ogdensburg

Instead hefting flatware-laden platters, servers at Ekko de Brasil emerge from the kitchen with skewers of flame-kissed meats straight from the kitchen's grill tops. They slice these succulent cuts, which include bacon-wrapped chicken breast, top sirloin, and leg of lamb, directly onto diners plates, continuing until the guests either signal them to stop by flipping a color-coded coaster or stump them with a riddle. A veggie-filled salad bar of hot and cold sides incorporates as many fresh, seasonal ingredients as possible. The spacious dining room brightens up its dark-wood ambience with cherry-red curtains along the windows and lively Brazilian dance performances on Friday and Saturday evenings. Bartenders also help to keep morale high by uncorking Brazilian-vinted wines and mixing cocktails with cachaça, the favoured spirit of Brazil.

Pura Vida Bistro's founders Darlene and Jennifer believe in gradual change. Upon their return from Costa Rica, they started tuning in to their distaste for life's "overwhelming" pace, and began to swap out old routines for healthier pursuits. Their pursuit of nutritious meals led them to found Pura Vida Bistro, where chefs craft seasonal, nutritious dishes that follow the bistro's philosophical directive to "create good."

Pura Vida Bistro's menus overflow with dishes that maintain robust flavours while lowering fat and calorie content, such as fluffy eggs, gourmet sandwiches, and fruit smoothies, as well as daily gluten-free options. Inside, the bistro's tiled walls enclose a lush garden of potted greenery, and a deep coffered ceiling shelters diners. The bold aroma of American-grown, organic, and sustainable Equator coffee awakens the senses of the café's guests and makes sleepy houseplants around the eatery stand bolt upright.

By mastering the unique synthesis of Southeast Asian flavours that distinguishes Burmese cuisine, Rangoon Restaurant's chef and owner, Ngun Tial, earned the praise of the Ottawa Citizen, which dubbed her a "good ambassador" for her bold flavour combinations and generous portions. Brimming with fresh ingredients such as chicken, seafood, and squash, Tial's signature curries waft the scent of garlic and ginger among the dining room's taupe walls. The chefs also happily prepare a number of meatless entrees—including a signature salad made with green-tea leaves—that easily accommodate both vegetarians and reformed venus flytraps.

Typically, family recipes are used to link one generation to the next. Building on this belief, Penny Palermo considers her family recipes to be the sturdiest foundations upon which to build a restaurant. So in 2010, she fired up the ovens and swung open the doors to Pinelopi's Greek Kitchen, sharing her time-tested, traditional Mediterranean flavours with the Barrhaven community. Each day of the week, diners descend upon Penny's softly lit dining space to enjoy freshly made flavours. From the oven-roasted lamb to the flaky, honey-coated baklava pastries, the restaurant's impressive array of offerings is authentic enough to trick a Trojan horse into believing that it never left its stall.

The sandwichsmiths at Lazy Pickle give a nod to their community by showcasing local ingredients in each of their healthy menu selections. From hearty meats to crisp veggies, every sandwich is packed with items carefully cultivated by local farmers, distributors, and bunnies wearing straw farmer hats. With a special focus on gluten-free items such as sandwiches and cakes and through their Celiac Kids Club, the owners also help to combat celiac disease, a gluten intolerance that can cause migraines, joint pain, and anemia.

Through the steam rising off slabs of all-you-can-eat garlic home loaf, families all across Canada sit down to feast on East Side Marios's heaping plates of classic Italian fare. The chain's chefs ladle spicy arrabbiata, rich alfredo, and meaty bolognese sauces across foundations of toothsome De Cecco pasta, which they import from Italy to ensure each entree has an authentic jet-lagged flavour. They also slide cheesy baked pastas and hand-pressed pizzas into ovens, toast up loaded sandwiches, and dress crisp salads in their signature dressing.

East Side Marios strives to make every meal a pleasant, relaxing experience. It helps eliminate potential ordering jitters by designating vegetarian and spicy items on the menu for diners with dietary restrictions, and taps into guests' joy reserves with a selection of signature cocktails, spiked lemonades, and ice-cream shakes.