Why does Ottawa seem to root against local restaurants?
Ottawa’s food scene has become dramatically stronger in recent years, with more ambitious restaurants, more talented chefs, and a much broader range of dining experiences than the city used to have. Some local restaurants and chefs are even receiving national and international recognition now — which feels like something a city would normally celebrate and rally behind. Do we not want places like that here?
Online discussion around restaurants in Ottawa still often feels unusually cynical or dismissive. I’ve noticed that almost every restaurant discussion eventually turns negative — even toward places that are objectively trying to do interesting or ambitious things. Criticism is fair and important, obviously, but sometimes it feels like people here are quicker to tear restaurants down than support them.
Curious why people think that is. Is it a cultural thing? A Reddit thing? Price sensitivity? Expectations? Or do people just enjoy being critical of local spots more than celebrating them?