#bramasole

Type: Diner, breakfast Location: 428 Bank St Price: $7–$12

No list of local food venues is complete without a good place for a classic diner breakfast. Ottawa has several great diners, but for an inexpensive and traditional diner breakfast, Bramasole is my go-to. You don’t get much more classic, so if you have a simple yearning for unlimited coffee, butter-soaked toast, and eggs any style, this is my top recommendation.

Located near Bank and Gladstone, Bramasole is central and busy in the morning, especially on the weekend or after special events. However, you’re not likely to have to wait for a table as they have lots of seating. Service is occasionally a bit slow due to how busy they get, but the price is right, the plates are huge, and everyone is friendly.

Though they have a full breakfast or brunch menu including pancakes and eggs benedict, it’s the classic egg breakfast that brings me back to Bramasole. Their eggs, toast, bacon and fried potatoes are a comfortable and homey start to the day, and I find myself craving them after a busy night.

The fifties decor and big vinyl booths are a great addition and set the tone for this classic diner. If you’re looking for a big and affordable North American-style breakfast, Bramasole is a must-try.

I Wish I Were Under the Tuscan Sun

I just finished watching Under The Tuscan Sun for about the tenth time. The landscapes depicted in the film always force me to take a deep cleansing breath. I particularly love the hills filled with sunflowers, one of my favorite flowers. As the protagonist  in the film, played by Diane Lane, I too am mesmerized by peacefulness and serenity that surrounds her new property. Every time I watch this…

Frances Mayes' house, Bramasole, in the Tuscan town of Cortona - Frances Mayes has grown used to watching crowds of people photograph her house. Ever since the American writer published Under the Tuscan Sun in 1996, the small Italian town of Cortona where she lives has been besieged by besotted fans.