Visited tonight with our corporate group of 20+, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the dinner! We landed at this spot for dinner because they were surprisingly one of few restaurants that would accept a reservation of 20+ people on a Wednesday night. The food was delicious, portions were good, drinks were made well, and service was prompt. (Only downfall is that they have limited vegetarian options) Their salmon entree is a MUST-TRY! Had we not come here for tonight's dinner, we likely wouldn't have tried found this place... but I'd definitely recommend it! read more

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Just a few days before Valentine's day, we made reservations for Absinthe and it was dynamite! The service was great! However, as the restaurant fills up, the wait staff and kitchen are rushing and it takes a bit longer to receive the dishes, which is totally understandable. We both chose the 3 course prix fixe menu and the butternut squash soup, steak, vegetables were fantastic. Can't say enough wonderful things about the steak which was cooked to perfection, juicy and flavouful. The dessert of creme brulee was definitely superior to the chocolate mousse, in our opinions. Loved everything about Absinthe! Well worth the visit. read more

My boyfriend and I haven't been out on a "proper" date in a long, long time. COVID and all of the lockdowns have put a damper on being able to go out and enjoy a romantic meal together. Mostly, we get take-out and stay home about twice a month. We decided to throw caution to the wind and get dressed in something other than PJs (and I put on makeup!!) to have dinner at a local restaurant. I Googled "romantic restaurants" in Ottawa. We went through a few and Absinthe caught my eye, we had always wanted to stop in for a bite, so why not? We made reservations. The restaurant is 100% COVID ready. They have a check-in station at the front door where you are asked to sign-in and sanitize your hands, and your table even has its own bottle of hand sanitizer. The tables are very well spaced. We ordered three different types of Absinthe, because who doesn't go to a place called "Absinthe" without ordering the "green fairy"? If you're looking to try some, order the Czech variety, it's very smooth in comparison to the Canadian and French varieties that they currently serve. We had absolutely great service. The prices cannot be beat! For a 3 course meal my boyfriend and I paid $48 each. I ordered the Smoked Tomato soup, the Steak Frites, and the Chocolate Mousse. Everything was generously portioned, delicious, and cooked to perfection! My boyfriend and I left just absolutely stunned with how much we enjoyed our overall experience at Absinthe. We cannot remember a time when we raved so highly about a place after leaving, not kidding. The food, the staff, the restaurant, the whole experience was just wonderful! I am already looking forward to another romantic date night at Absinthe with my boyfriend! We may even make it a monthly thing! read more

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We gor a few times a year. Relaxing and classy. Excellent food. Their fondue night is amazing! Worth making a reservation. They're the only restaurant in Ottawa the serves absinthe in thw traditional manner and they have multiple types to try. It's good for family, business meetings, romantic dinners. Really all settings. The staff are wonderful. read more

Great food best steaks in town Excellent food , great value , wonderful service , the steak and salmon are so delish I go back for those often . Salad is delish and cream brûle not to be missed read more

I've been here before and really had a great time, which is why I gave them a 2 star rating. I told my girlfriend I'd take her here to celebrate her passing her board exam, and I wish I hadn't. We ordered the 5 course meal which included a bread course, seafood course, salad, main dish of beef wellington and a mouse dessert. While we really enjoyed the bread and the seafood, when we hit the salad that's when things went down hill. Fast. The salad was nothing more than a bowl of romaine lettuce, covered in a flavourless dressing with some pumpkin seeds, it was very bland to say the least. But okay, it's salad. Then followed the main course, which really was the only reason we decided to spend the extra and get the set menu... The beef wellington. When it was put in front of us, I couldn't believe what I saw. Both of our 2 thin slices of beef that we were so excited to eat, were clearly raw and cold to the touch, like it hadn't even been in the oven. No biggie, just send it back and ask that they cook it further, problem solved. Wrong. When it came back, while warm this time around, it was clearly still raw as if they passed a torch over it quickly to get it back out. Back to the kitchen it went for the 2nd time. This time they pointed out that they freshened up the plate by putting new mashed potatoes and veggies on it, with the same beef that had been returned twice, which was now covered in soggy underbaked pastry. The potatoes were actually pretty good TBH. Then followed the mouse, which had a caramel twirl on it about the size of a thick highlighter and about 2 inches long. Mine came out just fine, but my girlfriends twirl was visibly burnt as if they forgot they had it in the oven and didn't care to try again. The waitress was apologetic and she gave us each a glass of wine to make up for the mistakes. She was awesome! I paid the bill, which came out to be roughly $235 ($287 after tip), and it's safe to say I probably won't return to Absinthe again, as I feel like I ruined my partners celebratory dinner and wasted my money on a less than desirable meal. read more

We had a wonderful lunch at Absinthe. We were all greeted as we arrived and our table was ready and in a great spot. We had a range of drinks, Grapefruit Gimlet, French 75, wine and 2 ABC Amber Ales. I have to say the Grapefruit Gimlet was mmmm good, and everyone else enjoyed their drinks too. Meals were a mixture as well, 2 Niçoise salads, 1 meatloaf, 1 gnocchi and 1 gravlax sandwich. All great sizes for lunch, and full of flavour. We were happy with our pre-Christmas lunch get together! read more

We had a surprise birthday party for a friend & Absinthe turned out to be the perfect place for it. We made reservations but as what usually happens, the guest list doubled but the restaurant staff were very accommodating. They were also happy to provide a birthday dessert for the guest of honour later in the evening. All 12 of us, who each have discerning taste, were satisfied with their meals. I had the burger & it was so good. There was also a lot of it so there was enough to take home. The meal came with a caesar salad & a mushroom & bacon poutine (yum!). The kitchen staff accidentally threw my leftovers = the resto made me a new burger to take home. I forgot my heels = resto staff safely put it aside for me. Again, a great night to celebrate a friend. read more

Absinthe Cafe - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Please note: This review was done during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted restaurants substantially - so my rating may not reflect what they are capable of It was a special occasion and so we decided to risk dinner out. Absinthe had been on my list for some time, and had come up recently, so that's where we went. I thought the room was comfortable. It's a place I could sit with a glass of wine and enjoy a conversation. The waitress was great - we had a lovely conversation with her after dinner. Hubs tried the steak dinner. It was fine. We both agreed that the fries, while good, seemed slightly stale. (It was a quiet night at Absinthe.) His glass of wine was terrible - tasted very musty. We drink Cabernet Franc wines with some regularity, it was not right. Asked the waitress to remove it from the bill, she offered up a different wine, we declined and she did indeed remove the un-drinkable wine from our tab. I had the Hard Lemonade - and it has a licorice flavour to it - it was delicious! For dinner I had the lobster roll. I was expecting a twist. No twist, just a lobster roll. It was good, just expected some oomph. All in all we enjoyed going out of our house to eat! :-) Would I return? Probably not - lots of other places to try instead. Would I recommend: It's a great local spot - like I said, great place for a glass of wine and conversation. read more

Trying to find a place to go for my birthday dinner was, for some reason, more stressful than the whole getting older thing itself. I was choosing a place for my parents, my mother in law, my husband, and myself. For special occasions, my number one rule is to rule out the ordinary, run of the mill places you can go to any old night. I was looking for something special, something different, and I definitely found it at Absinthe. If this place has been in the market, my first complaint would have been the parking, however since this gem is located conveniently in the Hintonburg area, I was lucky enough to find a great spot out front, but if I hadn't, I'm told there's easily accessible parking out back. Fantastic! My friend suggested I try the Absinthe flight, which I did. I won't lie, I was scared. Since I didn't know which to pick, I asked them to surprise me and they brought: the Vieux Pontaliwe, Taboo, and Hill's Absinthe. Basically strong, stronger, and strongest. I enjoyed the anise kind of smell, very black licorice-y, but couldn't handle the drink, so my dad finished my little trio, and I had his margarita. I'm definitely more of a tequila girl so that margarita went down smooooooth. With our drinks we had their bread. Delicious. It was warm, amazing, and olive-y. So flavourful, I had more than I would like to admit. Now it is important to note, my dad and I had made a deal. We were both torn between two things and so we each got one and decided to sample, so I will be focusing on our meals. Dad ordered the Alsatian Onion Tart, Mariposa Farm Duck, and Raspberry Chambort Sorbet. I ordered the Beet Salad, Soup (Cheddar Vichyssoise, chilled leek, cheddar and velouté, fennel bavarois and garlic chips) and the Steak Frites. Dad's Onion Tart was a hit at the table, we all got to try a bite and it was tasty. Served with a Waldorf salad, he admits he regrets offering to share with others as it left him with much less. It was a fair size, and I've added a picture for reference. Similarly, my Beet Salad was delicious. I was thankful my mom and mother in law don't like beets, and I only had to offer tastes to my dad and husband. It came with a Rosemary tart which, was good, but a bit more dry than my dads onion tart. I won't complain though because all of the goat cheese and beet salad goodness made up for it. When asked how everything was so far, I may have said that it is "goat cheese heaven". Next up was my soup. I quite enjoyed it but was happy to be sharing with my dad. You see, I'm lactose intolerant (but willing to make a sacrafics for a great dish) and this soup was worth it. The flavours worked very well together, and I enjoyed the fact that it was chilled (mom disagrees and thinks it would have been better warm, but I think that may have made it feel a bit heavier and less unique). The only down side by this point was that the people who had not ordered an appetizer or soup were left waiting while my dad and I enjoyed our starters. While this is common in some places, I know that they may have appreciated if we had been asked if they wanted their items to come with our starters (hubby was reeeeeally hungry). But again, I can't complain, I was happily stuffing my face and blissfully unaware of those atarving around me. Sorry. My dad and I enjoyed my steak, medium rare, though I think I have realized I'm not the biggest fan of hanger steak. That's my mistake though, it was done perfectly and was satisfying even though it's not my cut of choice. I had asked for the upgrade to a poutine, because calories and cholesterol don't count on your birthday, but they forgot and had brought me fries instead. Thankfully this meant I got to enjoy the fries while they made my poutine. The fries were crispy and perfect. The Poutine would have been good on its own. It was bacon and mushroom, and delicious, but for me it was a bit rich. I'm torn, it was good enough I wanted to finish, but rich enough I couldn't. Now my dad's duck.. Was fan freakin tastic. I never thought I would say "the duck was better than the steak" but man, that was good duck. Thankfully my dad is a very sharing man and was willing to trade about half the steak for half his duck. For good measure I'll add that my husband had the Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, which I can say nothing about other than- he finished it in under five minutes and did not offer a single bite to anyone. He says it was so good he could have eaten a whole second plate... If he had time for a nap in between. The pleasant surprise was the chocolatey goodness they surprised me with, with a candle. This was sweet until my mom and mother in law started singing. I hate birthday singing, but whatever the chocolate let me forget everything. The service is great and the experience was even better. We will absolutely be back in the future. Probably sooner than later since last night I was dreaming of the duck. read more

I love this place. had lunch on Friday - had steak frites and crème brûle. So, so good. it made me very happy.

Great food, delicious drinks! Nice atmosphere. Easy to book reservations online. A little slow because just like everyone else right now they're trying to staff-up, but suspect that is temporary. Well worth a visit. read more

Great service, good menu, enjoyable ambiance and awesome food. Will be back next time in Ottawa.

The dinner was amazing - opted for the 3-course table d'hote model. Started with beef tartare, then a salad of field greens, then the trout (they were out of the salmon.) It was all wonderful. Started the evening off with the Absinthe Kiss enjoyed Prosecco throughout the meal and finished it off with a Spanish coffee. Delicious. Highly recommend for a civilized evening out! My friends had the steak and the duck as their mains - they were amazing as well. There wasn't a bad dish! read more

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Excellent from start to finish. Service was wonderful. We ordered Tuna Leche de Tigre Ceviche Coconut Milk, Blood Orange, Pink Grapefruit, Radish, Avocado, Candied Jalapeño It was so flavourful and was an excellent starter. We ordered trout and pork chops very tender and flavourful and amazing combination with the vegetables. We finished our meal with creme brûlée which was an excellent finish to our enjoyable evening. A must try res read more

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I came here on a Saturday night with friends; make sure you book a few days in advance as they get very busy! If you call a day in advance they will likely not have the time slot you are looking for. Their bread with olive oil and butter was very hearty and a great snack to eat while waiting for the food to arrive (which was a bit slow, but understandable since the food is made to order). What we got: - Tuna Leche de Tigre Ceviche: very tender tuna! Taste was a bit light but delicious mix of flavours overall. - Beef Tartare: this was presented beautifully; although the tartare itself was a tad salty, the flavours went well together. - Cornerstone Burger: WOW. When you first see this burger arrive, it looks HUGE! The patty was VERY tender and the secret sauce was indeed tasty. The mushroom and bacon poutine was super hearty and was perfect with the burger! - Absinthe Steak Frites (Hanger steak medium rare): They are known for their steak, and this did not disappoint; the meat was tasty and cooked just right. Their fries are also very solid, thick cut, and crispy on the outside but fluffy on the inside. - Mariposa Farm Duck: It looked like steak at first due to the way it was cut, but the breast meat was tender and the side vegetables and polenta lended extra flavour to the dish. - Dessert sampler: I enjoyed the rich chocolate tart the most out of all 4 desserts; the crème brulee came in second, and I found the lemon tart too sour, and the chocolate cream pastry pretty regular. But a great way to try out all their desserts! Service was professional but a bit slow at times; we had to flag our waitress to refill our water. The place was filled for the night, and the noise level was perfect; not too loud or quiet. I would go again to try their Absinthe flight, and probably get the steak! read more

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Had the lunch special today - the soup was sublime and the desserts (creme brulee and chocolate mousse) were out of this world. The main (fish cakes was tasty) but they were not hot and the salad looked beautiful but was short on dressing so you may want to ask for more dressing. The fries were exceptional and they disappeared very quickly. Prices have risen substantially since covid began but this seems true of every restaurant. read more

Least restaurant and experience as a client I have ever had in my life! When my food was served, I was speaking with that server requesting a food exchange! For the record, I didn't touch the food, but holding the plate, as I was making the request. My fault was, I overestimated his IQ, he replied to me.. oh oh.. I couldn't exchange it for you,, because you have touched the plate... Isn't him blind about himself touched the plates first while serving? No logic at all ! I doubt he passed along any germs read more

Absinthe Cafe - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Great place to get different sorts of absinthe, which is near impossible to find in this city (I thought it was illegal!) The menu changes frequently, and they seem to always have a table d'hote where you can pick which items you want to make up a 3 course meal. the plates are very small so go for the table d'hote and be adventurous! Very tasty, fresh foods, and lots of fun cocktails. The space is really cool, completely wide open with high ceilings. It is a bit echo-y if you are there very early or very late and there are not many other people in the restaurant, gives it a bit of a warehouse or loft feeling. They seem to be open quite late on weekends, so it's also a good place to go for a drink and they have a more exciting wine list that a lot of the restos in this area, so you can get something nicer to drink than if you just went to O'Connell's across the street read more

Absinthe Cafe - Taken from http://www.absinthecafe.ca - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Absinthe Cafe gets very busy over the lunch hour. I went there with my team from work, in a group of 6. The restaurant fills up rather quickly, and it gets loud inside. As with so many restaurants in the trendy Westboro neighbourhood, this one is a bit upscale. the lunch menu ranges in the $15.00 range, without drinks or soup or salad. They do offer a lunch special that included a soup and creme brule for desert, for $20.00. Not being a fan of creme brule, this is not what I ordered. Although the restaurant was full, it takes time to prepare food even for a small group of 6, and this case was no surprise: it took over half an hour for our orders to be prepared before they were delivered to us - so come prepared to wait. It was worth it! I had the Beef Stroganoff, which was delicious! Sorry, no photo - I was hungry and dug right in (as soon as everyone else was also served; need to be polite for work-events!) The pieces of meat were juicy and tender and so nicely spiced with a dollop of sour cream spiced so pleasantly with dill. Others in my group ordered the Steak Frites, which looked delicious. My colleagues who ordered this dish found that there was a lot of steak in it. Another colleague ordered a burger and it was such a large creation that she didn't finish it all! The tables are nicely set up with glasses for water, as well as wine glasses. The waitress brought over chilled water in glass bottles like wine bottles, which I think is a nice touch. I tend to drink a lot of water, so I really appreciated this! I ended up drinking my water out of the wine glass provided, which seemed to make it taste better. I would go back. read more

Never had duck before ($34), it was really good. The chocolate mousse was also really good. Downfall was that the portions were small and took home no left overs, and the bill was way over expected budget. It was over $110 for 2 people. 1 appetizer, 1 drink, 2 entrees and 1 dessert. Side options would have been nice to actually fill you up when you leave (and I don't eat much anyways). the atmosphere was nice with dim lighting and blankets, but it was chilly in there. read more

Tries to be something it's not.the new patio is ridiculous as it goes right out o nether street. For a few years I've always wanted to check this place out and when I move to this area(hintonburg)I was very disappointed by his place.the food the staff nothing about this place is appealing.as a chef there is nothing special about this joint. read more

Absinthe Cafe - And again!dangerous.stay away from this place at all costs! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Consistently delicious food prepared thoughtfully and served by pleasant knowledgeable staff. Five stars across the board.

The food is a solid 4*, but the service kicks it down a star. This is a decently sized restaurant that can accommodate larger parties of 6+. I came here with a party of 8 and we didn't feel too cramped at the table they gave us. I had the dessert sampler, which included 4 desserts: creme brulee, a chocolate torte, a lemon/lime tart and a profiterole filled with ice cream and slathered in chocolate sauce. This sampler was much more generously portioned than expected - while I (shamelessly) inhaled all of it, this is a dish I'd recommend splitting between 2 people. While I thought that that the creme brulee was the least delicious out of the bunch (could be creamier, more flavourful) I thought that the other 3 were delicious. The lemon tart had prominent, citrus flavour without being too sweet. The chocolate torte and profiterole were super decadent. The rest of my party seemed pleased with the food. The burger looked really delicious, the braised pork cheek was met with rave reviews, and the tomato tarte smelled amazing. Of course, we had to try absinthe. We tried the star anise and licorice flavoured one (68%). To drink, a sugar cube is suspended over the glass of absinthe, while ice water drips down to melt the sugar into the alcohol. The waitress recommends anywhere from 2-5 parts water to 1 part absinthe. Surprisingly, the absinthe was very smooth going down. I didn't care much for the flavour. Service was not great. While not unfriendly, the servers seemed scatterbrained and inefficient. I asked for a refill of my teapot 3 times before someone actually did it. Additionally, we asked for someone to fix a wobbly table twice - they didn't even end up fixing it for us. To top it off, food came out pretty slowly, and at 9pm on a quiet Thursday night, it shouldn't be difficult to get orders out quickly. read more

Great ambiance,friendly and efficient service and terrific food. What a great combination!

Good place to eat before going to Great Canadian Theatre Company. Romantic environment and nice location. Food is always well prepared and delicious. Great steak and fries. You must try the beef tartar. It was superb. The owner should seriously consider either increasing the portions or reducing the price. read more

Absinthe has always been my go-to place for fine food at a moderate price. The bistro features an open concept with a modern, yet warm, atmosphere. The menu includes many French-inspired items such steak frites, beef tartare, fresh soups and salads, and crème brûlée, all beautifully presented. There is always a good mix of poultry, beef, fish, and pastas (often a vegetarian option), and as well as great selection of wine and cocktails, not to mention Absinthe. The coffee is top-notch. The service is always friendly and attentive - often Chef-owner Pat will come out to greet guests and ask about their meals. It's a amazing place for a night out with friends or for a casual lunch or brunch. Absinthe never disappoints. read more

After reading reviews about this place on YELP and other search engines online I was prepared to face "loud noises" and so forth that people made comments/tips about. I was greatly impressed not only by the quality of food but the service! Wow! You don't get treated like that much any more... with genuine kindness and attention. I'd highly recommend this place for your next dinner out. read more

Not COVID safe. Stopped for drinks on the patio. Waitress wearing a mask - as we did while ordering. Other waiter (manager), no mask. Chatting with customers at a close range. No regard for physical distance. Came to our table for payment. We asked him to please step back - he was breathing on us - he asked us to leave. What ensued was not pleasant. Bottom line. HE MUST take care of CUSTOMERS and WEAR A MASK. And he has every right to ask Customers to Wear a Mask. drinks were fine - why mine came with a plastic straw is unknown - not necessary or requested. read more

Food: 5 stars Service: 4 stars Atmosphere: 3 stars We had a wonderful meal here, classic french bistro food for the most part, with gourmet gastronomic flourishes. The steak frite is as good as I've ever had. Portions vary from sufficient to overly generous; so you are most likely to leave feeling stuffed - as leaving anything on your plate is inconceivable. The service was good; not hovering, but attentive. The atmosphere is perhaps the weakness here. The decor is pleasant but unremarkable, and as some here have noted, it is noisy. The sound is not absorbed at all by all the hard surfaces, and the space is somewhat cavernous and echo-y. And the layout has the floor well and tightly packed with tables, there are many conversations all around. Food pricing is rather reasonable; the wine list less so - although the rather limited selection is excellent. We've been back already, and we'll be back again. read more

First Date night in Ottawa and it was amazing! I will be sure to return! read more

The owner of this place seems to have an anger issue about COVID-19. He came very close and we asked him to keep his distance, he got quite annoyed and asked us to leave. The beer was fine and the waitress did wear a mask. We felt for her. read more

We had the fondue on Monday night. It was delicious. An excellent cheese mixture to start, followed by beef tenderloin with very tasty sauces. Dessert was incredible dark chocolate with more selections than we could handle. Enjoyed a "Death in the Afternoon" house cocktail. Lost afternoons were imagined while consuming this perfect concoction. Staff are well trained and excellent. Well done Absinthe. The place was buzzing! read more

This place is excellent and there isn't much else to say about it. However, I'll detail the specifics anyway. The decor is fabulous, a bit artsy while still being sleek, and distinctive. The little bar area in the corner is painted beautifully to give the walls an aged copper green look, and I couldn't get over how it lent a specific mood to the entire establishment. The small individual bathroom also has unusual tileworks along the wall. When I first flipped on the light, I felt startled by the splatter appearance on the tiles and my brain couldn't decide whether to parse their appearance as Jackson Pollock or Dexter Morgan. Either way, your interest will be seized by the surroundings, which provides its own form of entertainment while you await your courses. When it comes to ordering, my first and primary suggestion is to splurge the 33 dollars and opt for the wine pairing, no matter what three courses you end up ordering. The choices really do match up extraordinarily well with each dish served. In my case, I ended up with three different whites, and it was interesting to see just how varied each one was from the other, and how they blended in or cut through specific tastes in the food. Out of all three, I think the Reisling provided with the fondue Quebecois had to be the best pairing I had that night. I nearly wept at the savory taste of the fondue mixture on raw broccoli florets being cut through by the white at the same time. My other food choices were a spring-like greens salad paired with a citrusy, almost grapefruit flavored white, and my main, which was the vegetarian ravioli with what seemed to be a goat milk crème fraîche. There was definitely a flavor of sundried tomatoes in that as well. I sampled my partner's pureed mushroom soup, which also had a similar crème fraîche dollop in the center, and encountered a lovely infusion of tarragon flavor as well. The service was incredible. Attentive, informative, and yet not intrusive in any way. I always like hearing about my food when it is presented, and most places don't do so, relying more upon menu descriptions for basic information. It was nice to have various things explained concerning the wines, the dishes, and the methods. Finally, I had to try absinthe since it was one of my bucket list items, and growing up in the United States, it was illegal and inaccessible to the public. No visions or green fairy appeared, except on my spoon, but take note there is a high alcohol content, so it'd best to have this as an digestive after you've had dinner. I opted to have the server suggest which absinthe to sample, and I ended up with a french version. The flavor is very strong, almost like drinking black licorice, though these flavors come from anise and fennel in this case. To commemorate my first time, I also opted to buy a souvenir absinthe spoon from the restaurant for an extra 15 dollars. Mine came with delightful green fairies. read more

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I went to Absinthe for my birthday last May and was a little disappointed. First, the openness of the place is a little disconcerting, I was looking forward to conversing with my boyfriend and having a little privacy but there is barely a foot or two between tables. And the echo makes it easy to hear everyone's conversation. As for the food, the drinks were cute. We ordered the charcutrie board, I had duck mariposa and foie gras and finished with the trio of crème brûlée. I like to think that I love a lot of things but it was overall disappointing. The charcutrie board was bleak compared to Murray St.'s, the duck was too dry and the foie gras almost liquid and finally because of the very small portion of crème brulée, the torch heated the custard making it lukewarm. Maybe I just had too high expectations... read more

My wife and I have been busy working hard over the last few months, what with moving to the city and all and trying to find work and an apartment. I wanted to treat my wife out to a nice, romantic dinner - hey, you have to rekindle the magic every once and a while! My friend Steve suggested Absinthe. Absinthe is a hipster eatery on Wellington, along that cool strip of stores and bars. In fact, it stands out as the most hippest of places along the street. It is beautiful inside and the food is not your normal pub grub: venison striploin anyone? They have almost 40 wines in their wine list, including some champagnes. So, it is the perfect spot for that special dinner. Pricey, yes. Worth it? Totally - Absinthe is a totally unforgettable dining experience. read more

Absinthe Cafe - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I went there during a business trip as a local friend brought me there. I didn't know where I was going but I knew (as my friend knows I love this) that I would eat a good steak ! First of all, the place is nice. A little bit noisy, but nice. Dimmed lights, the service is very nice, very helpful, and fast ! and the food ! nothing to say, we had a good time, my steak , as promised, was great ! I promised to go there again to try the absinthe shots, but that day I had had a 14hrs trip and I wanted to go back to my hotel ! read more

I absolutely adore this restaurant and the food and service, a friend had recommended that I eat there and I was not disappointed. The restaurant staff are very warm and hospitable. One time during the winter, our waiter held the door open for my husband and I and even helped me into my car. The food is delicious and I enjoyed the fact that along with their regular menu items, they also try and cook what's in season which makes a difference in taste as well as experience (it's a nice surprise as well). I also enjoy the fact that the staff are very knowledgeable about wine pairings, most of their staff have been there forever (our waiter even remembered my husband and I and was genuinely happy to see we were back) I can't say that about other establishments. The food is simply delicious, definitely a must see restaurant if you're looking for good food and service as well as ambiance. read more

Absinthe is a longtime neighborhood favourite in Wellington Village that never disappoints. We had a delicious lunch with our group ordering the three course specials. Every detail and ingredient clearly chosen with care, many we understand from their own on-site garden (but we may have taken the last of their tomatoes before frost). We were rewarded with perfectly paired, fresh, elevated comfort food on a crisp fall day. Their homemade pasta in the ragù was the perfect complement. The attentive service was as warm and welcoming as their focaccia. We were served promptly but never rushed and able to linger over our tasty crême brûlée's. read more

It was the first time I'd tried an absinthe. I found it to be much like pastis. The waitress gave full instructions, but I found that one whole dissolved sugar cube made it a tad too sweet. The food is good. Small servings on large plates, tastefully arranged. They feature local products and some game. As the servings are small, we were able to eat 4 courses without feeling full - soup, main, cheese and dessert. While all was good, nothing was truly memorable. Wait staff is attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is relaxing. Our meal lasted about 3.5 hours and it was all in all a very pleasant experience. The acoustics are good, so that we could have an easy conversation, yet were not able to hear the conversation from adjacent tables. The seats were still comfy after 3.5 hours. A very good wine list. A bit pricey. read more