This was, without question, the best meal and dining experience I've had in a very long time. It rivals The French Laundry in every way--except the price, which makes it even better. Our party of four began with cocktails, warm olives, and focaccia, followed by the root vegetable salad, scallops, another round of that irresistible focaccia, the cod, and finally the lamb dish. Every course was exceptional--beautifully prepared, perfectly balanced, and absolutely delicious. We couldn't manage dessert this time, but that just gives us the perfect reason to return. I'm not sure when I will be back, but I hope I will have the opportunity to eat here again. read more

Solid place for dinner. It's a relatively smaller establishment and it's actually hard to tell what it's like inside b/c from the outside, the blinds kinda block the view. It's a quaint atmosphere with a nice bar. The staff are super attentive and helpful and very friendly. The food is fantastic up and down the menu - appetizers, entree, and dessert. They also have an extensive drink/cocktail menu that was great as well. Will definitely return when I'm back in the area. read more

We have always had an exceptional experience when we dine here. When we have guests in town this is where we take them. The food and service is excellent. read more

Wanted a nice dinner without kids on NYE without spending $300. Randomly found this spot on Yelp and decided to give it a try. So happy we did. Apertivo is a quaint little spot in Kanata by the movie theatre. The atmosphere is intimate and the space is lovely. Plus the food was incredible. My husband and I started with the olives and focaccia bread. We both had the tomato bisque to follow and then shared the pork belly and polenta. All of the food was delicious and the service was prompt and professional. Definitely recommend for a date night or small groups. read more

Aperitivo - Vino! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

We had a night without our little guy and decided to try out Aperitivo. We were under the impression that it was a fancy place, but some people had blazers while others had jeans on, so I think it's casual enough that you wouldn't have to stress too much about it. The space is a lot smaller than I thought it would be, too. I had a paper plane and a floral fashioned to drink. The paper plane was great, boozy and a nice mix of bourbon and aperol, not sweet. The floral fashioned had St-Germain elderflower liqueur, so it was like an old fashioned but with that floral note. Not as floral as I expected, which was great for me. To share, we got oysters, cornbread with honey butter, albondigas, polenta, and budino for dessert We had six oysters to start, two different kinds. I can't remember what kinds now, even though I asked a second time and forgot to write it down, anyway. but the smaller ones were more salty, briny, while the bigger ones had less of that saltwater flavour but were definitely heartier and juicier. You can order focaccia or cornbread, but I heard great things about their cornbread and love cornbread myself. It did not disappoint! It was nice and hot, moist but with a little crust outside, and not crazy crumbly. The honey butter was perfect with it. We could easily come back here for the cornbread alone. We got the albondigas (meatballs) and paired it with the polenta, at the suggestion of our server/bartender. The meatballs were made with milk-fed veal and pork, San Marzano tomato sauce, and topped with manchego cheese. The polenta had ricotta, black pepper, and strawberry pine nut sofrito. They were generous with the manchego and the meatballs were great, but really small. We ate them much slower, but could've easily scarfed them down in a few seconds without a second thought. The polenta was a great pairing, but salty, and I was missing that vegetable component to round it out. I also wanted the bay scallop ceviche to share, but my husband didn't end up wanting any so I ate it all and no complaints here! The combination of the small but plump scallops, tomato, and cucumber juice made it super fresh. The harissa oil gave it a nice, spicy kick, but not too spicy. It came on a tostada, which was surprise, but even more surprising was that it stayed crunchy. Maybe I ate it too fast haha! I was still hungry, so I also ordered the radishes with brown butter and everything spice. The radishes were cooked perfectly and still had a firm bite, though a smaller portion and quite salty, so I scraped some of the everything spice off. I felt better leaving knowing I ate a vegetable :) For dessert, we got the budino. We'd never had budino before but it was like a custard/pudding. Theirs was made with buttermilk and Kahlua and topped with dulce de leche and coffee crumb. There was a lot of ground coffee beans (I'm sure there was other stuff in it), so it was quite strong if you got a spoonful with a lot of it, but the creamy budino and bit of dulce de leche evened it out. The food was great, but I wish the portions were bigger. It was pretty pricey for the amount of food we got, but nice for a special occasion, in the mood to splurge, or the mezzes would be better if just looking for some snacks with drinks. Cocktails were delicious. Service was wonderful, very kind, patient, and attentive. We'll be back! read more

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Was able to come back to Aperitivo after going a few years back when I first moved to Ottawa. And they did not disappoint. The food was created so beautifully that I almost didn't want to eat it. It was just so stunning. Picture perfect, that is for sure. But once you start to dig into the perfectly crafted food you just have a flavour explosion that truly blows your mind. The ambiance is nice. Very subtle but nice for a Outdoor Shopping mall setting. Truly enjoyed this experience. It's something that you will have to try This was on our table MEZZE marinated eggplant | focaccia with bread vinaigrette . chicken charred jalapeno + yogurt marinade | whey brined watermelon | goat feta | roasted pepper + tomato coulis | scallion + mint . brussels stracciatella | brown butter + lemon | almonds | prosciutto | raisins . beef tartare brioche | horseradish creme fraiche | quail egg | manchego | celery read more

Aperitivo - a slice of pizza being lifted by a fork - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Lovely space, with high ceilings in an angled space. It feels airy, but grounded. They are celiac friendly. The small plates menu is designed for sharing. We had an assortment of items and each was fresh and tasty. Some of what we tried include, beet salad, sliced vegetables, Babbaganouj, warm olives, oysters, cornbread and pumpkin donuts. All delicious, all gluten free. Nice wine list, and it looked like they have a decent scotch selection too. The staff were attentive, kind and explained everything perfectly, helping where needed with the menu. Really enjoyed our meal. read more

Amazing service, amazing flavors, and a great wine/spirit collection--this jewel in a strip mall is not to be underestimated or skipped!

We loved our meal! Great service. It is in a mall, but the food was exceptional. Worth leaving downtown Ottawa for our lovely dinner. Thank you! read more

My go to spot when I'm home. Excellent food. Excellent people and service. Relaxing ambiance with comfortable seating to boot. Pro tip: If you can manage to score a spot at the bar, you're in for a treat. The folks there make for great conversations. read more

We just enjoyed our covid friendly take away Valentine's dinner. It was spectacular. We started with a charcuterie/cheese board that was generously portioned for two, with 2 cheeses, 2 cured meats, 3 delicious garnish choices, and house made pickles accompanied by a large portion of toasted baguette slices. The salad came next, which was beautiful and delicious, with a selection of shaved vegetables and radicchio, a blood orange vinaigrette, and crunchy pistachios garnish. The main was a lamb confit accompanied by roasted parsnips and was to die for. We heated the oven while we enjoyed the charcuterie board, and heated the main course while enjoying the salad. It worked out perfectly! Dessert was a cheesecake as well as a selection of goodies including marshmallow, a Florentine style cookie, and a coconut macaroon--absolutely amazing and we were so full that we have lots left over to enjoy tomorrow. Definitely memorable and satisfying. Thank you Aperitivo staff, for a fantastic Valentine 2021. read more

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5 stars. 10 actually Dear Aperitivo, A friend and I visited Aperitivo restaurant on 15 December for a pre-Christmas Dinner. It was an amazing experience. We loved all the food we were served. We had no idea what to order so your waitress decided for us. She was courteous, friendly, and very kind. She explained each plate to us and gave us plenty of time to eat each course before she brought the next one. She certainly went above and beyond her duties. She is the best waitress we have had, and we have been served by many lovely people. We had so much fun that we are saving our pennies to come back. :) During the meal I heard something small drop to the floor. My friend and I both looked under the table, but could not see what dropped. When I went to drive on the Sunday, I couldn't find my car fob/key and realised that was what dropped in the restaurant. I telephone Aperitivo and was told that nothing had ben found although all chairs and tables are removed every night for a complete sweep and clean. I called again a few hours later and told the staff person where we had been sitting and asked someone to look again. About 3 hours later I had a return phone call. The fob had been lodged somewhere against the wall and had been found. A staff person had looked especially. When I went to pick up the fob, the staff person seemed as pleased as I was that it had been found. Aperitivo is obviously a place where lovely people work. Thank you. Verna Moorcrodt read more

Good food and service, but they have a very limited menu. If you want extensive options you need to go elsewhere.

I really loved the food! I have no words for their grilled halloumi, it was heaven on earth! Even their tacos was yummmmmmmayyyyy read more

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Best tapas place in Ottawa. Great service, and very cozy spot. I'll definitely be back.

Celiac heaven! Perfect gluten-free menu!! Erica and her team have provided a fantastic menu that is heavily GF safe and absolutely first rate! Grilled calamari is delicious, arancini are terrific, even the authentic Spanish meatballs are fabulous. Cornbread (yes, GF cornbread) is amazing. But if you are not gluten-free, you will never know the difference...It's that good. What a find; my new favorite spot in Ottawa!! read more

The food is always amazing. Get creative with your menu choices, the chefs are always coming up with new amazing dishes. Erica is an absolute delight and the staff there are attentive. The location is cozy and modern so don't forget to make reservations. My single favourite restaurant in the Ottawa area read more

Best spot in Kanata. Great for a quick bite of for a full night out. Great menu and ambitious wine program.

popped in here before the hockey game, as it was a short uber drive away from the area. to my surprise they were overly busy and we were lucky to have walked in right at the time of a cancellation and got seated right away. their service was impeccable for a small establishment, they were timely, mannered and honest. We asked for their most popular dish and went with it. Share the corn bread and the brussel sprouts. my friend had the creamy steak for dinner and i had the chicken. We were both very satisfied with our meals. i liked that the portion sizes for the shareable plates was just enough to keep you hungry for your main, definitely not american sized. we didn't have time for dessert but definitely would check this place out again! read more

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Had an amazing dinner here Saturday night. We shared warmed olives, seasoned nuts and bread...which takes 45 minutes to make...so be prepared..it is worth the wait. Followed by a special of Grilled Greek cheese that we also sha..delicious. For dinner the guys both had the lamb shank and it literally just fell of the bone...so tender. The gals had the shrimp dish...so amazing...I am still thinking about it 5 days later...the best I have ever had. Followed buy amazing desserts. I do not know how we are it all. It was just far too delicious to leave anything behind. Can not wait to go back for another delicious meal. Maureen P read more

Aperitivo is a cozy place that focuses on cocktails, wine and small, shareable plates. The tiny open kitchen turns out some really tasty stuff, the service is top notch and the flavours are terrific. It's in the pedestrian portion of the Kanata Centrum, directly across from the entrance to Landmark Theatres read more

Amazing food and great spot in Kanata. The wine menu is extensive. We had charcuterie and loved it.

My home away from home...A simple menu that is full of variety and flavour, each plate is a work of art! I enjoy the choices of beer on tap (most locally brewed), and if I was ever in the mood for an amazing glass of wine, they would not disappoint. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the service is always fantastic, friendly, and personal. This place is a hidden gem in the Kanata area, you'll feel like a rock star yet still have money left over for a movie afterwards. Fav dishes: the fish tacos and whatever form of poutine is on the menu! See you there! read more

Aperitivo - E's world famous Caesar! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I really enjoyed my experience here! I don't usually give five stars but this place deserves it! I came for dinner on Valentine's Day of all days and they had a special menu with two new mains and a dessert! What i tried: - Figs: this was perfectly sweet and went well with the fresh made ricotta! Putting it on salty crostinis made it even better! Seriously want to re create this at home! - Porchetta: this was pork belly rolled and baked then broiled so the skin was crispy. Not sure how but the meat was incredibly tender, it was my favourite dish of the night!!! :) - Fried Brussel sprouts: definitely my favourite version of friend sprouts to date, Not too salty and no longer bitter! - Seared snapper: a special for valentines! this was a hearty piece and it was nice and crispy on the outside. It came with a beautiful veggie pasta which was a good compliment. However, I thought it was too salty. - Cornbread with honeyed butter: the bread was warm and almost too hot! It went amazing with the butter! - Ciabatta with butter: i really enjoyed the espresso butter and want to make it for daily life. The herbed butter was delicious too, and the bread was just freshly baked! - Brownie with smoked buttercream and mint strawberries: this was a special for Valentine's Day, and was a perfect mix of flavours to complement the rich brownie. Service was really friendly and informative when I asked about the good. Atmosphere is a good volume and very cozy. Definitely will be back! read more

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Stopped in on Friday night for a date night. We had the charcuterie board and added a cheese. All was delish! And the service was impeccable. read more

Aperitivo - Charcuterie Board + cheese - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Still a quality location in Kanata Centrum. This is the third time I've been here, and I was very happy with the food quality and the service. I asked for a custom drink from the bar, and they were happy to oblige without hesitation. We ordered a range of the plates including the charcuterie board, paella, and cheese platter for dessert. Would definitely recommend this location to anyone! read more

Late afternoon on the patio. Three people. We ordered everything on the mezze menu plus two larger dishes, the "salad" (forget the actual name) and the Yukon Gold potato dish. First surprise was the portion size: we had expected each of the mezze plates, priced from $5-7 to be tiny but each one was generous enough for all three of us to have a reasonable sized portion. When I commented on the unexpected size of the plates, the server acknowledged that these appetizers were "Kanata sized". So, we had ordered too much food but with great determination we managed to finish everything. Each dish was delicious and nicely presented. The bill for all these plates came out, with tax, to under $100. We would have loved to try their desserts, but we just could not eat any more!! Next time, for sure. read more

Had time to slip out for a pint. Got to sample some smoked duck in a cherry reduction. Once again Aperitivo kicks ass! Great service, fun selection of beer - tried a scotch finished Broadhead : ) Will be back this weekend for Mother's Day Brunch! read more

Aperitivo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

My favourite restaurant in Ottawa. Stellar service along with food that tastes amazing every time. Rotating menu to keep things interesting. Great wine selections that you won't see at the lcbo and servers who can guide your decisions. Willing and able to accommodate any food sensitivities without compromising the integrity of their dishes. A great place to go with 4-6 people and share dishes or for date night. read more

After reading a number of "rave reviews" about Aperitivo on Yelp, my father and I decided to take a chance and try out the restaurant. The result, quite simply, was a fantastic dinner in a gem of a restaurant. The food, quite simply, was both fresh and tasty'; the ambiance and service was perfect. We shared three plates; the starter salad was fresh and say on a lovely "in-house" dressing that left us ready for the second plate, Our second plate was the Fish Tacos, and each of us enjoyed another delicious treat. Finally, we finished our plates with the Paella sans chicken and pork, and it was wonderful. Although it missed a little of the kick from the marinade used with the chicken and pork, a squirt of lemon quickly tuned up the seafood, and the Paello was a hit! Finally, we wrapped up the night with Cappuccinos and the "in-house" ice cream sandwich creation. A perfect finish for a wonderful night out. How good was it? Good enough for me to plan a date night out with my wife in the next few weeks! read more

Very disappointed. 2 drinks and a charcuterie board was $45. You would think it would be a fancy app based on the place. Seemed like cold meats right out of a plastic package from Walmart. With some crispy baguette crackers. Nothing fancy about it. Portions were poor. I feel like I just wasted $45. Drove over to Fratelli's to get a little more value read more

I arrived on an unsuspecting Thursday evening, after dinner time, for treating myself to a delicate yet memorable meal. I had the SEARED SCALLOPS coming in an unforgettable sauce with thinly sliced apple, having a square cross-section, accompanied with some wonderful rosemary-embedded bread. Truffle and pumpkin donuts for dessert - simply delicious. And I'm writing this only after one glass of Syrah blended wine, who'd have thought? Was I hear on a date or alone, are you listening? Had there been a fireplace in front of my table, would I have sat there to begin with? Overall a 5-star food experience in the shivering corner of the kiddy-cornered restaurant by way of the landmark cinema. read more

My husband took me out for our anniversary dinner on a Monday night and this place did not disappoint. Everything we ordered was amazing! And on top of that the service was fantastic and very knowledgeable of the dishes. We had the fish tacos, the marrow and escargot, beef shoulder, the beef tostadas and we finished off the meal with the stick toffee pudding - if it was socially acceptable I would have licked each plate clean. Overall, an amazing experience - I can't wait to go back! read more

Finally I am writing this review. As a celiac, I was so excited to try this new gluten-free restaurant. I was very surprised to know they had gf beer on tap, and it was one of the best gf beers I've ever had. My bf and I decided to try a few items and share to get a taste of everything. We started with the fried oysters. Now I will admit, I am not a fan of oysters at all, but I had a couple and they were tasty. For me, I don't like the texture of oysters so not a huge fan. My bf loved these and was more than happy to eat my share. The cornmeal crust was good. Next we had the country ham terrine. We had high hopes, however it was disappointingly lacking flavor. It was bland and could definitely use some more seasoning to really make it stand out. For our 3rd course we had the beef tartare. I've had this many times in restaurants where I worked and I remembered it as a really garlicky and spiced dish. Again I was disappointed in this dish as it was bland and lacked seasoning. Finally we finished with the fish tacos. These are delicious! Really amazing tacos. I was sad to only see 2 on the plate for that price however. Service was good, and it didn't take too long to get our food. Decor is nice and cozy. I will be back here since I was too stuffed to try their deserts, and I would order the tacos again. I hope management will read this review and perhaps taste the food to see how they can improve the taste. Also, need more tacos than just 2 for $12. But don't change the recipe- they are really tasty. I would recommend this place and I will be back to try more since this place did have some dishes that were quite good and I'm curious to see if the rest of the menu is as good as the tacos. read more

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My favorite restaurant in the Ottawa area. I come here often. Creative well presented tapas dishes that vary from spicy stuffed peppers bursting with flavor to succulent bacon encrusted beef Wellington. Drink creations that are equally creative and a staff that is always willing to customize. The staff provide some of the best service I've had worldwide when things are slow or busy. The menu changes frequently so check out their website or Facebook for weekly specials. read more

This place is a little piece of heaven on earth that serves heaven on a plate and wine in a glass. Erica, my server, helped select my dinner this evening and she did not steer me wrong. I ordered the roasted beets, lamb kofta and cheesecake. The food is well balanced, the perfect portion and upmost, unwaveringly delicious. The cheesecake is positively the best cheesecake I have had in my life. Plan a night out here, you won't be disappointed! read more

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The bone marrow and escargot were the highlight dish of the evening. So good! We were lucky enough to make reservations for 6:30. This is a very intimate seating area so reservations are definitely recommended if you want to have a meal. we also had the squid and ink. Food was good. Service was also really awesome. read more

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Wow. Entire menu is gluten free except the breads they don't make in house. Food is spectacular. I read some reviews about the corn bread. They make it fresh when you order and serve with whipped honey butter. Divine. Couldn't decide from so many menu options, so asked the server for suggestions. Had the lamb kofta with whipped garlic and pickled onions and pistachios, and the roasted beets with goat cheese and olives. Wow. Amazing meal. read more

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It's been a while worth writing a review on Yelp because I believe it is worth my time to write one for Aperitivo. I am from Toronto visiting Kanata and I wanted to pick a nice restaurant to have dinner with my wife. I was skeptical first with Aperitivo because it is located in a plaza near a cinema, not a usual location for a serious restaurant. But once we had our first dish, my skepticism evaporated right away. The very knowledgeable manager Erica recommended us to start with the Zucchini Blossom, a lightly fried in season zucchini flower filled with ricotta cheese sitting on lightly spicy tomato sauce. I have to say that was mind blowing! The zucchini flower didn't feel greasy at all. The ricotta cheese was just a perfect soft texture. The tomato sauce just gave enough kick to highlight the flavour of the dish perfectly. Then I ordered my cornbread. I LOVE cornbread and I have to say I never had a cornbread that was just freshly baked. The aroma from the freshly baked cornbread just took me to heaven and back. Paired with the house made honey butter, the combination of being sweet and savoury really brought this cornbread to the next level. Now I could really feel the love from the Chef. Chef's passion made such a simple dish so memorable. I mentioned to Erica we would like to meet and thank the Chef personally afterwards. Our paella came. We love paella. The paella from Aperitivo was more on the subtle side compared with the previous two dishes. I understand it is a bit difficult to bring out the Mediterranean flavour using local food supply even though Aperitivo tried hard to use a sustainable shrimp supplier. The shrimp was good. True flavour. The dish was still good, not bad at all. But I had better before. One thing to highlight is, Chef was able to stay true to bring out the socarrat (I believe that is what the locals call the slightly toasted rice from the bottom of the pan) which was our favourite part of the dish. The toasty flavour rice is truly something! We finished off our dinner with fish taco. Fish taco? Really? We love a good fish taco. And guess what, Aperitivo presented a fish taco with fish that was perfectly cooked and seasoned right, NOT deep fried! The fish was so soft. It really showed the skill and level of detail Chef paid attention to, regardless of the price of the dish since the fish taco was a more economical dish on the menu. The fish was marinated with a lightly spicy sauce and the sauce had a bit of jalapeno in there. I really enjoyed this Chef's style. Very good level of control on using lightly spicy taste to bring out more flavour of the dish. Super well done. We paired our dinner with the Pecorino wine from Italy. A bit of the acidity paired nicely with our lightly spicy mostly seafood meal. A good recommendation from Erica. When we almost finished our dinner, Chef Steven came out from his kitchen and introduced himself. We immediately felt we already had a good connection with him through the food he cooked for us. We really felt the strong passion and love he put in preparing his cuisine. The experience of the dinner went from being a great dinner to a great dinner with personal touch. I felt like we just had a great dinner with a long time friend. We truly admire this restaurant and we are blessed to have an opportunity to enjoy a nice meal filled with love and passion from Chef Steven and his team. Aperitivo is now our go to restaurant when we visit Kanata. Thank you Chef Steven and Erica and team for such a wonderful night. read more

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The food here is a religious experience. Highly recommend this amazing restaurant with friendly staff and chic decor. read more

Aperitivo - Halloumi - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario