Yummy Touch is doing, you guessed it, yummy Middle Eastern vegetarian food

Ottawa may not have an abundance of vegetarian restaurants from which to choose but there are so many Middle Eastern eateries that it covers a lot of ground.

On the scene, in an industrial area for a little more than a year, is Yummy Touch. A Palestinian-owned restaurant offering traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner. A note of caution that the hours of operation listed on their website are not accurate so it’s best to call ahead.

It had been sweltering and I was in no mood to cook so I popped out to Yummy Touch Kitchen to see what their food was all about.

As I have a fondness for lentil soups, I ordered a bowl and also a bowl of sweet potato soup. In Middle Eastern restaurants, these are always a safe bet for both vegetarians and those who follow a gluten-free diet.

This version was pleasant and modestly flecked with pepper and cumin and it had a mild nutty flavour. The lentils here were more yellow than other such soups I’ve had but it didn’t lack character. Lovely stuff. At five dollars, this was a considerable bowl.

The sweet potato soup was incredibly smooth and obviously had carrots in the blend as that was the dominant note. As healthy as it was, it had no depth of flavour and fatigued the palate with too much sweetness.

Foul (pronounced ‘fool’) is a stewed fava bean dish of Egyptian and Lebanese origin. For those first hearing of this, it’s entirely vegan, supremely delicious and so comforting. 

In the Middle East it’s commonly served warm and eaten with saaj or pita breads at breakfast. However, I order it whenever I see it on a menu. 

Dried fava beans are soaked and then cooked for long periods and then topped with olive oil and sweet onions and tomatoes. This foul was a highlight of the meal and made for a bargain at nine dollars for a substantial appetizer that could feed two.

As folks raised on Middle Eastern diets will know, not all falafel are created equal. Sometimes the falafel are too dry, fried too little or too long or is either under- or over-seasoned. 

They also come in a variety of shapes and at Yummy Touch Kitchen, they assume the classic form of a curling stone without the handle.

I do love a good falafel sandwich but I ordered them as a side to dip into both a garlic sauce and tahini. No complaints. They were spot on delicious.

I’d ordered a main mixed shawarma platter and this is where things took a rather dire turn. 

It was first a poorly conceived presentation, everything loaded onto one plate, completely burying some properly cooked rice. I actually forgot it came with rice until I burrowed down further.

The main attractions: the mixed chicken and beef shawarma were just too dry. Each piece was almost purely unchewable, tasting more gristle than meat. The sauce on top did nothing to make it more enjoyable.

The accompanying salad had no dressing but was sprinkled with dried mint and the mass of deep-fried potato cubes advertised as garlic potatoes had no garlic. After a few bites, I was done and while I hate food waste, I just couldn’t take this home.

The takeaway at Yummy Touch Kitchen? Stick with the very good vegetarian items and elect to do takeout rather than sit down, as it’s not a comfortable enough space for that type of meal.