Chef Joe Thottungal, the owner of Coconut Lagoon and Thali restaurants in Ottawa, is getting ready to open a new concept later this year in Almonte.
Originally from Kerala, India, Thottungal studied culinary arts in Chennai and worked in Mumbai, Saudi Arabia, Toronto, and Windsor before settling in Ottawa in 2002. He opened Coconut Lagoon in 2004 and launched Thali in 2018. Now, the well-known chef announced at the beginning of the year that he is working on a brand new yet-to-be-named concept. Thottungal tells the Ottawa Citizen that he has found a location in front of Almonte Old Town Hall, but he is still working on his new restaurant’s concept and design. Thottungal tells What Now that while he had a great plan for that place in Almonte, he has changed his plan for now due to the tariff threats and economic crisis. More updates should follow in the future.
Coconut Lagoon, located at 853 St. Laurent Boulevard in Ottawa, offers Kerala-inspired South Indian cuisine and features a seasonal six-course tasting menu along with private dining spaces. Thali, located at 136 O’Connor Street in Ottawa, serves a daily thali-style tasting menu that includes a rotating selection of six to seven dishes such as curries, rice, bread, and dessert. Both restaurants focus on showcasing regional Indian cuisine using fresh ingredients. The menus at both locations vary regularly to reflect seasonal and regional specialties.
In addition to his work at the restaurant, the accomplished chef is actively involved in community service. He is the culinary director of Food for Thought, a volunteer initiative that has provided over 200,000 meals to those in need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he repurposed Thali’s kitchen to prepare meals for homeless families. His community efforts have been recognized with the Order of Ottawa in 2022, an honorary degree from Algonquin College in 2021, and the United Way Ottawa Outstanding Individual Philanthropist Award in 2020.
Thottungal is also an accomplished author and chef. He has published two cookbooks: Coconut Lagoon in 2019 and My Thali in 2023. He holds the Certified Chef de Cuisine designation and has received several culinary awards, including Ottawa Chef of the Year in 2008, a gold medal at Ottawa’s Gold Medal Plates in 2016, and a silver medal at the Canadian Culinary Championships in 2017.
