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Where to Find the Best Pizza and Cheesecake Near Ottawa
- Miranda Caley
- Nov 12, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 14, 2024
As a self-proclaimed pizza lover, I’m always on the lookout for the best pizza near Ottawa. Seriously, I think I could eat it every day. But let’s be clear, not just any pizza will do. When I heard about Pizza Express & Le Cheesecake Bar, just across the river in Gatineau, QC., I knew I had to make the trip. And let me tell you, it was worth every kilometre.
Location: Pizza Express & Le Cheesecake Bar, 175 Maloney Est, Gatineau, QC
Appetizers: $4 - $18
Pizzas: $16 - $40 (size dependent)
Cheesecakes: $5.49 +
Customer service: 5/5
Craving: Sweet & Savoury
This place is about 30 minutes from downtown Ottawa. I don’t venture outside of Ottawa very often, but Gatineau is so close that it feels like a no-brainer for a quick foodie adventure—especially when pizza and cheesecake are involved. With high expectations (after all, if I’m going to another province for pizza, it better be good) I arrived on a Wednesday evening at around 6:00 p.m., and right from the start, the place felt welcoming, both inside and out.
Outside, string lights twinkled, bouncing off of some stacked patio chairs and tables indicating that, in warmer conditions, they have an outdoor seating area. Lively music echoed from a speaker. It was as if the restaurant was inviting me in for a laid-back night.
Inside is another story—I think the best word to describe it is “homey.” Picture a warm, cozy space with soft lighting, wooden tables and comfy fabric chairs to match. A large display of mini cheesecakes greeted me right at the door (thus “Le Cheesecake Bar”) and a slight scent of baked dough filled the air. It’s the kind of place that just feels right—comfortable but with enough flair to make it special. There’s even a booth with an Instagrammable plant wall behind it, highlighted by a “Treat Yourself” neon sign.
The wall shelves are also newly stocked with items for sale; from Christmas mugs to coffee syrups, they have more than food available here.
The Main Event: Pizza
A large bar illuminated by menu screens in the back of the room displays Pizza Express’s extensive menu: subs, pizza, pasta, poutine, and even shawarma.
I went with a custom mini pizza topped with pepperoni, tomatoes, red onion, and green pepper. For the record, I’m typically a fan of greasy, cheesy pizzas with a thick crust; but what I got was completely different. I received a fresh-looking pizza with equal parts sauce and cheese, blanketed with fresh-cut vegetables.
The highlight? Their crust. I learned the owners import the flour from Italy (which contains less gluten and tastes a bit sweeter than your everyday Canadian crust). This Italian-style pizza with a unique crust was less dense than what I’m used to, and honestly, I can now say I prefer it. I’m usually the type to leave the crust on my plate, but I happily ate every last bite of it.
As for the pizza itself? It tasted fresh with a hint of sweetness, and the cheese-to-sauce ratio was perfect. I can also report it tasted even better as leftovers—the true sign of a great pizza.
Irresistible desserts near Ottawa
For my drink, I went for a white chocolate raspberry frappuccino, which was quite good. The pink beverage was light, refreshing and not overly sweet; it was topped with a thick layer of whipped cream, strawberry syrup and some rainbow sprinkles for a bit of pizazz. The coffee menu on Le Cheesecake Bar’s side is extensive and intriguing—I intend on returning to try more in the future.
But I wasn’t done with my sweet tooth cravings yet. I had to try a mini cheesecake and one of their cookies. I opted for their Ferrero Rocher cheesecake and the classic chocolate chip cookie. In my opinion, a lot can be said about an establishment if they’ve got a solid chocolate chip cookie.
The Ferrero Rocher cheesecake was not as sweet as you’d expect—the chocolate coating leaned into the natural bitterness of cocoa. The cheesecake itself was rich and cheesy, which made me curious to try other flavours (the Biscoff cheesecake-on-a-stick looked INCREDIBLE).
The ultimate test: the chocolate chip cookie. As a baker who has been tirelessly attempting to find the perfect chewy texture and chocolate ratio recipe, I have to say… they knocked it out of the park! Le Cheesecake Bar did it. This cookie was soft, sweet, and gooey. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if it was served warm, which, had I visited earlier in the day, I likely could have scored a fresh-out-of-the-oven batch.
Final Thoughts on the pizza and cheesecake combo
While chatting with Le Cheesecake Bar owner, Laila Tenn, I learned she and her husband George Bahnam opened the dessert side of the business during the pandemic, while Pizza Express has been their family-run place since 1990.
The cheesecakes are made fresh at their headquarters in Laval, QC, but the cookies are baked in-house and are a new addition to the menu. It’s clear there’s a lot of love behind this place; it shines through in the food and customer interactions.
Pizza Express & Le Cheesecake Bar is a wonderful family-run restaurant. The atmosphere is cozy and warm; the food is fresh and filling; the overall vibe is comforting. It’s easy to tell that a lot of passion and love goes into everything made here. Whether you’re craving pizza, pasta, or just something sweet, their menu has something for everyone.
Price-wise, it’s fair—it’s not the cheapest, but you are definitely getting your money’s worth. So, next time you’re looking for a reason to venture over to Gatineau, I highly recommend trying Pizza Express & Le Cheesecake Bar.
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