Food expert and local resident, Paula Roy is playing #WelliWINGO and showing off the takeout she’s ordering to mark her card.

Support the restaurants and food merchants in Hintonburg and Wellington Village and you could WIN up to $250 in gift cards to spend in Wellington West. Start playing #WelliWINGO Takeout & Delivery BINGO now!

Anna’s Fine Thai Cuisine

For over 20 years, Anna Fine Thai has been a tranquil oasis of deliciousness on Holland Avenue. The restaurant is named for Anna Leonowens, the 19th century governess made famous through the musical ‘The King And I’. Serving up truly authentic cuisine, every dish at Anna is packed with flavour, colour and texture, hitting those hot-salty-sour-sweet notes that make Thai food so delicious. And if you think all Thai dishes are really spicy, check out Anna’s menu as they offer a number of dishes that are not hot so it’s easy to put together a customized menu that suits your family’s preferences. Many people assume that like other Asian cuisines, Thai food should be eaten with chopsticks, but in fact, a fork and spoon are the correct implements. They have a super online ordering system and are currently offering 15% off on all takeout orders plus there is a curbside delivery option if you wish. They’re open for takeout during lunch Monday-Friday and dinner Monday – Saturday.

Here are the dishes Paula ordered:

• Pao Pia Goong – Shrimp spring rolls 
• Beef Satay – skewers of tender cooked beef served with peanut sauce
• Tom Kha Kai – Hot and sour soup chicken, coconut milk, galangal, lemongrass, chillies, and mushrooms. The word ‘tom’ relates to the boiling process so you’ll usually see that in the names of Thai soups. 
• Yum Manuang  – this is a spicy mango salad with shrimp, Thai herbs, and peanuts. I love that in Thai cuisine salads are always called Yum, which means mix or mixed. 
• Pad Thai – probably the best known and most popular dish in Thai cuisine. Anna’s version is authentic with rice noodles, chicken or shrimp, bean sprouts, tofu, peanuts, and tamarind sauce. No ketchup in here! This is a gluten-friendly dish so great if that’s of concern to you.
• Khao Ob Supparod – Thai fried rice with shrimp, pineapple, onions, cashews, and dried shallots. Khao means rice and often refers to Jasmine Rice, which is favoured in Thai cuisine.

The Third

Its name – The Third – evokes the notion of a sociological phenomenon dubbed the ‘third place’ (after home and office) where people are encouraged to gather informally and feel comfortable and relaxed while enjoying the company of others. The short but sweet menu is best described as upscale diner fare, prepared with care and from scratch at this almost three year old spot. All their dishes are wholesome and delicious and offer great value thanks to appropriately-sized portions. There are always vegetarian and vegan options available. While we can’t enjoy their legendary karaoke nights right now, we can definitely phone in our orders to enjoy their fabulous comfort food for lunch or dinner from 12 – 7, Tuesday through Sunday and their patio is still open, weather permitting. Be sure to ask about available wine and beer offerings when you call, in case you want to add some drinks to your food order. You can find their takeout menu here on their Facebook page. 

For her WelliWINGO takeout meal from The Third, Paula Roy ordered two Caesar salads with dressing on the side, the Crispy Chicken Sandwich with sweet potato fries (salad or vegetables and dip were also available), the Flat Top Burger with cheese, bacon, Third Sauce and fries plus a chocolate chip and walnut cookie.

Carben Food + Drink

Owners and spouses Caroline and Kevin are as friendly as they are talented. Their restaurant is cleverly-named – the Car comes from Caroline and the Ben from Kevin’s last name, Benes. It is also a play on the element ‘carbon’ – found in all things; so that everything is inspiration. The food at this five year old spot is described as expressive, modern and ever-evolving, but I would simply call it outstanding. Making great use of local ingredients prepared with Canadian and international influences, CarBen’s dishes are always both incredibly beautiful and superbly delicious. The menu changes regularly so if you see one you like, I encourage you to order it that week before the chefs find new inspiration and switch things up. Their three course takeout menu is available Thursday through Sunday and can be purchased in single or multiple portions, with optional add-ons available.  Also, if you a fan of dessert, as I am, please know that Caroline’s skill as a pastry chef is nothing short of remarkable and while each meal offering includes one of her scrumptious creations, one of her exceptional tarts can be added to your order. 

What Paula ordered:

• Hokkaido milk buns with miso butter
• Roasted cauliflower soup with shallots and cumin oil
• Duck Breast with quinoa, kale, squash and a Saskatoon berry gastrique
• Add on: Carben’s famous wood ear mushrooms with Bok Choy, spiced edamame, King Oyster mushrooms, miso glaze and turmeric aioli
• The Hiya Pumpkin dessert: Pumpkin cake pudding with cardamom and maple whipped cream

Chesterfield’s Gastro Diner

Frequently cited as one of the best brunch spots in all of Ottawa, Chesterfields has the great tagline “a not so greasy spoon”, in part because of the many healthy choices on the menu – including lots of vegan and vegetarian options – but also because they use a steam induction oven for most of their cooking, rather than a grill or deep fryer. It is playfully named for Canada’s answer to the sofa or couch: the chesterfield, because it represents comfortability. The owners Dominique and Demion note that chesterfields are almost universal for Canadians because so many of us share a common memory of the times our parents broke the rules and allowed us to eat in the living room. Their menu is really unique because it functions like a sort of virtual buffet. There are some set dishes or you can build your own perfect brunch by selecting a main component then choosing from a dazzling array of sides. Taste their food once and you’ll quickly understand why Chesterfields has been famous for its weekend lineups (that are totally worth the wait). They’re currently open for takeout – and patio service, weather permitting – from Thursday through Sunday for breakfast and brunch. 

Paula’s selections:

• Freshly squeezed orange juice
• Rainbow frittata with spinach, cheddar, red pepper, red onion, chili flakes and mango salsa. 2 sides chosen: avocado and cornbread.
• Steak hash with beef tenderloin, roasted potatoes, red pepper, red onion, corn, Brussels sprouts and cheese, topped with two over-easy eggs.

Won Ton House

This popular restaurant, first opened in Westboro in 1974, is housed in an almost 100 year old building which the Tang family purchased in 1979 and expanded for their purposes, opening in Wellington Village in 1980. Newspapers of that era report that the new Won Ton House frequently had long lineups of patrons waiting to get a table; part of the restaurant’s big appeal was that it was focusing on the food of Northern China, rather than Cantonese which was customary in North America. Its generations of loyal followers have always appreciated the restaurant’s commitment to working with the freshest ingredients and preparing each dish with care. Similarly thoughtful is the friendly, attentive service – they’re happy to bring your order out to your vehicle, for example. You can find the Won Ton House’s detailed menu on their website and it includes set dinner menus for 2 – 6 people if you prefer that to choosing your own dishes. It’s also worth noting that most dishes come in two sizes, which is very convenient. They’re currently open Thursday through Sunday from 4 – 8 pm for takeout which you can also have brought to your door thanks to Love Local Delivery.

Paula’s order:

• 2 egg rolls and 2 spring rolls
• General Tao chicken
• Beef with broccoli
• Sautéed baby bok choy with garlic
• BBQ pork chow mein
• Steamed rice
• Fortune cookies