Art-Is-In Bakery: The best sandwiches in town and MORE

Featured Image: Chicken Caesar Sandwich with House Salad @ Art-Is-In Bakery

This one of a kind gastro-bakery should not be missed when you’re visiting Ottawa.

Location/Ambience

It started as a simple bakery in a pretty hidden strip of warehouses in Centertown West and has since exploded to become one of the most popular brunch/lunch spots. It’s a very hip place with indoor, as well as outdoor seating for the summer months.

Drinks

My favourites here are the matcha latte for the colder months and the iced latte for the summer months. However, I’m always on the lookout for new items on their drinks menu. They have specials popping up all the time. They also have nitro cold brew for you hipster coffee lovers out there.

 

Food

On to my favourite part of any restaurant review. The food here is truly mind-blowingly good. Usually, I would have one or two favourite things I would order at any restaurant. Here, I can never make up my mind because I have too many favourites. Here’s a list of a few:

Their Sandwiches. (Note: These are NOT served Sunday! Come back Monday to Saturday.)

1. Chicken Caesar Sandwich

My first favourite. Think caeser salad but in sandwich form. The brined chicken is nicely paired with the bacon, havarti, tomatoes, arugula and homemade dressing, on top of their one-of-a-kind super flavourful Dynamite Cheddar, Jalapeno and Chive bread.

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2. Classic Grilled Cheese

If you love grilled cheese, you need to try this one. Again, it is their bread (buttermilk multiseed) which truly makes this sandwich. Between the bread, you have nicely melted bruyere and provolone, paired with caramelized onions. Dip it all in their house maple ketchup and you’re all set!

3. Fried Crispy Pickle Melt

My new fave. I’m not sure what possessed me to order this one day but I’m so glad I did. I cannot get enough of the fried pickles with spicy mayo, caramelized onions, arugula and cheddar cheese on top of the same Dynamite Cheddar, Jalapeno and Chive bread used for the Chicken Caesar Sandwich.  It looked so tasty that the customer sitting next to me asked me what I was eating. Or maybe it was because I looked so ridiculously happy eating it…

Others

1. Kevin’s Clam Chowder

I love clam chowder and this is definitely the best in town. It’s hearty and creamy and perfect for a cold winter/fall day (although I eat it year-round). It is served with a side of small pieces of bread but I would usually order it as part of a 1/2 sandwich 1/2 soup combo to maximize the deliciousness in one visit.

2. Tourtiere

Their tourtiere is really good. I’ve only had it once at a part of a catered lunch but it was memorable.

3. Flatbread

Again, I’ve only tried this once but I just remember it being very good. Think, a healthy version of pizza. Can’t go wrong. The toppings change so take a look at their specials board for what they are serving that day.

4. Pastries

As you probably know by now, I don’t have a huge sweet tooth, but if you were looking for tasty treats, you can try their almond croissants, cronuts, and sticky buns just to name a few.

Services
It’s very casual and friendly here. Just line up on the left if you want a hot meal to order and get a number. Find yourself a table and await your delicious food. It can get very busy here, especially in the summer months but usually we are able to get a table with some patience. They have staff helping you find a table if it gets too busy. If you just want something quick (e.g. pastries, coffee, bread, or any non-kitchen items), go ahead and line up on the right side for faster service.

Overall

Art-Is-In is definitely one of our favourite go-to brunch/lunch spots. We were going almost every week at one point, that I had to give myself a break from it. Ever since that short hiatus, I’ve never needed another break! It’s just too good! And they have specials all the time so there are always new items to try! As mentioned above, they also do catering if you want to share the love with your coworkers, family or friends. They even have a holiday menu if you want to treat your staff to a memorable holiday lunch!