Fifty years of love at Won Ton House

Take a moment to look at these faces. If you notice an air of inquisitiveness, then you have a sense of how the customers of Won Ton House have been welcomed over the years. Thomas and Vicki were always genuinely interested in you.

The sad news came to us last week that owner and chef Thomas Tang had made the difficult decision to close the restaurant opened by his parents 50 years ago.

I discovered Won Ton House upon returning to Ottawa. It became a favourite lunchtime go-to and I always felt warmly received.

Dishes such as green beans with minced pork were forever on point, fresh and sweet, colourful and crunchy with an umami-packed sauce.

I had this dish again on the second-to-last night for the restaurant and, wanting to lick the plate, came close to embarrassing myself. I behaved myself and used a spoon. Yeah, Thomas’ cooking was still so very good.

After closing that night, some of us remained as stragglers trying to hang on in the presence of these two generous souls who’ve given so much to their community and to Ottawans in general. 

I’m unapologetically sentimental when it comes to restaurateurs who’ve come to mean so much to so many people. They work in an extremely precarious business and often keep their doors open for their family of customers, at great personal expense. Sometimes the difficult times pass and sometimes, the times take you.

As they had posted on their website: 

• “We hope you have enjoyed your experiences at the Won Ton House as much as we have gratefully enjoyed serving you. But to everything there is a season, and it is with very mixed feelings that we inform you that our last day of operation will be December 16, 2023. Again, dear patrons, many thanks for your business and we wish you and your loved ones all the best for the future.” 

We know these places. Restaurants that are more than just the food. Restaurants that nourish in other ways. We want to be there. We want to be in the presence of the community that gathers there and perhaps, in the absence of our own family, find solace in the good cheer of others.

No one wanted to leave that night but eventually, with damp eyes, the hugs came and guests extended their gratitude to Thomas and Vicki.

For me there’ll be the afterglow of memory, but there’s also a more grounded takeaway: if you have a Won Ton House in your life, then spread the word and continue to support your local family run business.