Ottawa’s first Japanese café recently arrived in the form of a quaint little shop on Rideau street. The café was named after Uji, a city in Japan known for their quality matcha. The café uses Uji-imported tea to make Japanese-style desserts and beverages in-house every day.
As soon as you step in, you’re greeted by the friendly waitstaff and the tantalizing smell of dessert. The soft green decor, comfy chairs, and mellow background music give off that perfect café atmosphere.
Looking at the amazing desserts laid out, and seeing that most of the items offered are less than $10, it’s hard not to want to just order the whole menu.
A café experience isn’t complete without a hot drink. Uji café has a variety of tea, coffee and hot chocolate to choose from. A cup of matcha latté made with quality tea is a good accompaniment with dessert. It’s rich, creamy, and sweet, with just the right hint of matcha.
The only thing better than a crepe is layers of crepe stacked together, bound with pastry cream and drizzled with strawberry sauce. The mango mille crepe has a subtle mango taste, with the strawberry perfectly complementing it. They also have a matcha version.
There’s cheesecake, and then there’s Japanese cheesecake. The Japanese version is lighter and fluffier, with a subtler hint of cream cheese, and makes you feel less guilty about eating an entire slice. Their cheese tart, encased in a buttery crust, has a smooth, creamy filling with a punchier cheese flavour. They also come in matcha or chocolate flavour.
If you’re not familiar with Japanese desserts, now’s the time to get acquainted. At Uji café, the prices are reasonable, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is relaxing. It’s a hangout place where you can just spend hours chatting over cups of tea and slices of Japanese cheesecake.