Where can I get a good brunch in Ottawa?

• Wilf & Ada's

  Bank Street · Centretown

  House-smoked bacon, fresh-squeezed juices and scratch hollandaise done properly. The Mariposa Duck Benedict — braised duck with a carrot chutney — is the reason regulars keep coming back.

• Jax

  Bronson Avenue

  A focus on local suppliers runs through the whole menu, but the banana bread French toast is the dish people drive across town for. Smaller room, worth getting there early.

• Chesterfield's Gastro Diner

  Wellington Street West

  Diner classics with a global bent — jerk-spiced dishes, a genuinely good chicken and waffles, and a rotating list of eggs Benedict variations that go well beyond the standard.

• Gezellig

  Westboro · Inside a converted 1950s bank

  The more refined choice — a seasonal menu in a striking room, with a brunch Benny finished in dill crème fraîche. Worth the trip out to Westboro on its own.

• Elgin Street Diner

  Elgin Street · Open 24 hours

  The no-reservation, no-fuss standby — classic diner fare around the clock, including the "Hangover Breakfast" for mornings that call for exactly that.

• Benny's Bistro

  Murray Street · ByWard Market, inside The French Baker

  French-inspired brunch tucked inside a bakery — a classic eggs Benedict made the traditional way, plus whatever's come out of the ovens that morning.

Weekend mornings get busy at Wilf & Ada's, Gezellig and Chesterfield's — arrive early or expect a short wait. Elgin Street Diner is the reliable option any day, any hour.