Sweet and simple: Le Coin is short on space but huge on taste photo: Christina Riley

Le Coin du Chiche is little more than a hole in the wall-a bulletin board of clippings on healthy eating provides about the only decoration. But we don't go there for the scenery. We also don't go there after a night of iniquity on the Hull strip (if such a thing still exists) because the place is only open from lunch until 6 p.m. How, you ask me, are you going to get down there and try it out? You'll find a way.

They obviously cater to the government buildings close by, so if you go at lunch you'll probably stand in a longish line of well-heeled-and well-versed-civil servants. Watch them. The Madame who runs the place is insanely efficient and if you aren't paying attention and ready to answer her questions about what you want and how you'll have it, you will piss her off along with the entire lineup. So, short hours, a scary ordering procedure, and did I mention there isn't really anywhere to sit, other than a few stools by the window? Still worth it.

Don't be alarmed when you don't see greasy spitfuls of cooking chicken and beef. They roast their meat ahead of time and it tastes much better for it-healthy and delicious. I suggest you get acquainted with all their sandwiches (and the salads, and the daily cooked specials) at some point, but start out with a chicken shawarma. (Don't worry veggies, they do a great falafel too.) Please, for the love of God, order the sandwich how it was intended to be eaten-all dressed. You can also pay an extra dollar for a dressing called "mohammara." As with their ridiculously good garlic sauce, Madame refuses to divulge what's in it-obviously walnuts coloured red with some pomegranate syrup, but the mixture of spices is unidentifiable.

We escape with our food and lives intact (I almost blew everything when I asked for a receipt) to the scraggly park around the corner. A bite of the sandwich: The chicken is succulent, delicately flavoured and generously smeared with creamy garlic sauce. The pita it's swathed in is warm and slightly crunchy because it was placed in a sandwich press before tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and the best pickled cucumber you've ever tasted were added. With the earthy spiciness of the mohammara co-mingling with it all, what a heartbreaker.

I had to force myself to stop eating my friend's sandwich, offering him some of my cabbage rolls-today's special-in exchange. They are surprisingly light, the pale green leaves wound tightly round a mixture of mostly rice, flavoured with a bit of sweetly spiced ground beef and covered in a garlicky tomato broth glistening with olive oil. This is accompanied by a wonderfully acidic fattouch side salad, toasted pita chips, dark romaine and veggies in a lemony garlic vinaigrette speckled red with sumac for that extra bit of sourness. We polish everything off with some unctuous rice pudding, flavoured with rose water and topped with crushed pistachios.

There you have it. Lebanese food that is cheap, better tasting, and better for you than any I've found yet. Wasn't it worth the trouble?

Le Coin du Chiche
56 RUE EDDY, 770-6152
GATINEAU, QC
$3-$7

 
 

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(You won't know what you are missing unless you try it)     I can bet on all the SHAWARMA places out there that none of them slow cook their chicken or beef with their own juices for hours. we only know about the meat stuck on a wired heat!!! the condiments might be the same everywhere but, the secret is in the sauce... and I am not just talking about throwing some garlic in the mayonnaise sauce, it is a special sauce made from scratch with just the right amount of garlic and herbs. you can always get a side order of salad from their wide variety of healthy and tasty salad bar. oh and what can I say about their homecooked main course of the day, its simply succulent! we wont forget their crunchy Baklavas! So Once you go Coin Du Chiche you wont want to try any other Dish!!!! FROM A FAN...
Savina Thinder	{1 vote}	July 28th, 2005
But, you'll never find out if you don't go!     Le Coin du Chiche (The peas' Corner) is a great tiny little place that I would like to recommend, not only because it's in my neighbourhood, but simply because it's good, and not expensive. It's already been there for more than 15 years. Therefore, if you are "lusting" for a shawarma, and even though there is many different places where you could get a good one in Ottawa, I am sure that crossing the bridge for a delicious one won't Kill you...!
Valerie Augier	{12 votes}	June 28th, 2005
Eat it.     You can find a great shwarma anywhere you go. The reason is because they are all basically the same. the minor variations will be with the condiments that go with it (I.e with or without a pickle) Another great place is Istanbuli's just off of Island Park Drive. Mind you, as is apparent with this article (and comments) you can find a great shwarma nearly everywhere you go in ottawa/hull/gatineau/aylmer/nepean/kanata (etc.). It's funny, people are starting to craze over shwarmas almost as much as when subway hit town.
Jeremy King	{5 votes}	June 26th, 2005
Hull is so far, I'm scared!!     It's a little bit scary when people from Ottawa are afraid to go over a bridge and discover somewhere different than their usual spots. And then, we wonder why people call the Ottawa region so boring. We're not even able to discover what's 5 minutes from where we live. If you break away from the routine once in a while, we might get some pleasant surprises. Not all the time but sometimes. And than, it's like being far away from home by travelling for a few minutes.
Marc Charette	{8 votes}	June 25th, 2005
To Hull With It............     Funny enough, as other reviewers have noted, shawarmas or donairs (as some like to call them) are just as juicy, exploding with garlic and fresh as on the Hull side of things. Bank Street alone has probably more than 12 places that will fill the empty spot without having to cross the river to do it. What's really enjoyable is to hold off on the pressed sandwich approach and ask for an extra pita bread to hold the whole mess together but add tabouli to your shawarma and extra garlic sauce finishing things off with a Sobe garana-injected drink. Yeeum. My earlier years in Hull, after the bars had closed at around 2 pm was highlighted by a visit on Main Street to a place that made the *BEST* pizza around. I forget the name of the place but it was magic. Lucy come back to Ottawa where we can keep an eye on you.
Steve Landry	{16 votes}	June 24th, 2005
Hull???     I don't know about you, but about the only time I'm lusting for a shawarma is after a long night, early morning, out on the town! I wasn't aware that anyone was going to Hull any more and I'm certainly not going to run across town when I can get the same, and possibly better, right here in center town Ottawa. Too many of the best Shawarma & Lebanese delicacies can be found so close to home...to name a few; Shawarma King; Shawarma Palace; and the always generous Kamal's. I don't think I'll be crossing the river anytime soon!
Sloan Long	{6 votes}	June 24th, 2005
There are a lot     of good shawarmas. One that is a little different and worth a try is from the Glebe cafe on Bank and fifth. They have a takeout special that is pretty good. One thing that is striking about this shawarma is the size. It is made with a bigger pita, hence there is more sandwich and bite for the buck. The seasoning is unique, not so much garlic as herbal. Sometimes they give you fries for the same price. It all depends who is working.
Skeleton James	{9 votes}	June 23rd, 2005
What Is it about Eddy Street?     Eddy Street is also home to the world's greatest fries. I could sing similarly effusive praises of the Patate D'Oree, just up the street from the 'chiche'. Have your orders ready and step up to the worn counter. Grease-paradise is just a frite away. And breakfast at 'Chez Barbe'? Fab-U-lous! For all those Ottawa food-lovers who are too scared to cross to the 'other side'... It's just a short trip across the bridge and it's worth it!
Lee Higginson	{4 votes}	June 23rd, 2005
Sounds good     But is the chicken shawarma as good as the one from La Shish on Merivale or Shawarma Palace on Rideau Street? Those two are excellent and the service is A-ok!
Sue Michal	{5 votes}	June 23rd, 2005

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