• Peter Hum at the Ottawa Citizen loves the mandi from the tiny takeout Yemen Gate on Bank Street.
• NarCity says these are the 12 best restaurants for Japanese cuisine: Sansotei Ramen, Kuidaore Izakaya, Koichi Ramen, Shinka Sushi Bar, Sapporo Sushi, Ramen Isshin, Hanabi Japanese Cuisine, Haru Isakaya, Edo Japan, Hockey Sushi, and MHK Sushi. 
• Savvy Mom has listed the Ottawa restaurants where kids eat free: Zaks Diner, Montana’s (actually, it’s $2), Saveurs des Continents, East Side Marios, Barley Mow, Johnny Canucks, and Mandarin. You had better hope you have not raised a ‘foodie’.
• The Fulcrum, the students’ newspaper at the University of Ottawa, has published ‘Where to find the best drinks, music, and vibes in Ottawa’. They are: The Show, Lieutenant’s Pump, Heart and Crown, Blue Cactus Bar and Grill, and Pub 101. 

Weather

• ❄️  Snow. High of -8°, low of -7°. A heavy snowfall of up to 20 cm is expected tomorrow.

Number 

• 60
• – Where Ottawa lies on a list of the sixty most overrated cities in the world, with the Canada Science and Technology Museum being the most disappointing attraction. 
• Toronto is the most disappointing city in Canada according to the same survey, at 36th place in the world. People were disappointed in their zoo.

• The number one most overrated city in the world is Bangkok, which doesn't seem right and, frankly, makes us question the rigorousness of the statistical methodology used by King Casino Bonus. (CTV)

Ottawan of the Day

• Heather Scoffield
• The Toronto Star’s Ottawa bureau chief is leaving the paper after a dozen years on the Hill. She will become the senior vice-president of strategy at the Business Council of Canada. (Heather Scoffield at the Toronto Star)

Quote 

• ‘We're not two months out of the LRT inquiry, and we're about to embark on the next phase of a significant investment in our transit technology’ 
• – Barrhaven West ward councillor David Hill, referring to the bit in the Provincial LRT Inquiry report on how council should ‘exercise meaningful oversight of critical decisions made by city staff’. City Staff had recommended going ahead and buying 350 new electric buses but council instead put the proposal to the Transit Commission, where the public and experts could comment first. (Kate Porter at the CBC)

👀 Eye yi yi

• The Ottawa Hospital will be working with two private eye clinics as part of the Province’s blitz to get a backlog of cataract surgeries done in the City. The partnerships are with Focus Eye Centre and the Herzig Eye Institute. Cataract patients will be registered with the hospital and the two clinic’s surgeons will also work there. The Province pays private clinics $605 for each surgery but only $455 to hospitals. (Elizabeth Payne at the Ottawa Citizen)

🤑 In Lieu Of

• The City of Ottawa is suing the Federal government and Canada Post for $22 million. Federal institutions don't pay property tax but instead transfer over an amount of money of equal value. The Province gave businesses a reduction in property taxes last year for COVID-19 relief but the City argues that the Federal government is not a business and thus should not have given itself a discount. (Cindy Tran at the Canadian Press)

🛻 Convoy

• Former MPP Randy Hillier wants his trial to happen somewhere else other than Ottawa. Hillier is facing nine Convoy-related charges including asking his followers to flood the police non-emergency line and assault of an officer. Hiller’s lawyer says that an Ottawa court room would not have a ‘unpolluted’ jury. (Gary Dimmock in the Ottawa Citizen)

Click here to feature your event

Today

• If you attended Parkdale Market, Parkdale Night Market, WelliWednesday concerts in the Park, or Yoga in the Park in 2022, Friends of Parkdale Market wants to hear from you. They’re asking attendees to complete a survey that will assist in the organization of events in Summer 2023. The survey will be available until February 11.
• WorkSpace Safety 201 Workshop. This course is a prerequisite to using the router, joiner, and table saw at the OTL WorkSpace. 6:00p to 9:00pm

Tomorrow

• It’s 2SLGTBQA+ Women's Games Night at Royal Oak Pubs 180 Kent St.
• Pee Wee’s Big Adventure is at the Bytown 9 pm. Korean award winner Broker is at the Mayfair, 6:30 pm.

Friday

• Enjoy live music by Alanna J Brown at the Bicycle tap room, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. 12-850 Industrial Ave.
• House of TARG presents 80s Dance Part w DJ Remi Royale + The Retrogrades, described as “The Most Authentic 80’s Dance party in the Universe”.