I checked the websites and reviews of many restaurants in Ottawa to find an interesting place for…read moredinner my first night here. Apothecary Lounge seemed to have many things I knew I'd enjoy, such as the menu items and the atmosphere. It surpassed expectations. Upon entry, going down the stairs, I noticed an enjoyable aroma, but it took me a minute to realize what it was - cocktail smoke from the wood chips used to smoke many cocktails. That eventually included my first drink, the Mortician. Later in the evening, I took advantage of the Dealer's Choice menu option, to have the bartenders craft a drink to my whim. I requested a variation on an Old Fashioned using Canadian Rye and something other than simple syrup as the sweetener. My drink was interesting and complex, including Amaro Nonino (a favorite of mine) and yellow chartreuse. Well done! We ordered both small plates and entrees while there. Everything came out really quickly, everything was fresh and full of flavor. Of everything I ordered, my favorite was the Bang Bang Shrimp. Unfortunately, the wonderful lounge mood-lighting made it difficult for me to take good photos using my older phone. But the highlight of the evening was the service. We could tell we were going to be in for an enjoyable time the minute he greeted us, wearing a tiara, and joking about how he got it and why he wore it. He was friendly and chatty, while being very knowledgeable about the menu, and attentive, checking on us every few minutes with more banter. he had an infectious laugh that he brought to every table, and it was clear he was enjoying what he was doing. I've had probably thousands of meals out over the years, and most service blends together. This waiter, this service, will be memorable, which helped make the entire experience memorable.

We arrived in Ottawa late last night was was ready to grab small bites and a cocktail…read more Unfortunately, the kitchen closed a few minutes before we arrive but we stayed for the drinks and I'm happy we did. They have a late jappy hour special from Sunday-Thursday which included 1/2 price martinis and other drinks. We had espresso martinis which were amazing!

Yep. A five star review. Honestly, how could I NOT give this place five stars - it's open from…read more11-11 every day in the summer, has an amazing patio space, sweet staff, and IS A GELATO SHACK. That's right - hidden in Hintonburg, there exists a fairy-lit shack with amazing gelato, Italian coffee and fresh smoothies and juices. The atmosphere is almost as amazing as the gelato - this is perfect date night material. You can customize your cone and sample whatever flavours you want. I ended up going with the raspberry for my first scoop, and the hazelnut chocolate (can't remember the names - they have excellent wordplay on their menu though!). The hazelnut was outstanding. There were pieces of what tasted like Fererro Rocher - yummiest. The raspberry was tangy and refreshing and super good, but the hazelnut was supreme. I can't wait to come back and try all the menu items! They change their flavours often, so there's always a reason to return!

Do you know what's better than finding a cute little summer patio that serves gelato from a tiny…read moreshack until after most Ottawa businesses have closed down for the night... AHEM 9PM!!! NOTHING! Not a goddamn thing! This little shack serving up gelato and barrista quality caffeinated beverages is like a alternative patio oasis for any weary traveler. My lovely colleague (super Ottawa CM Andrea B) and I had just about walked our last disappointed step as we trudged along the rapidly quietening streets of Ottawa in desperate search of some after dinner dessert - when we came upon the brightly lit trees and patio of Trii Lounge! With little hesitation and with absolutely no resistance from the staff, I tried about 4 flavours of fresh made gelato before finally settling on two amazing flavours that went terribly as a pair: Mint Chocolate gelato and Passion Fruit - amazing still all around! I really hope this place becomes super popular, their gelato is ON POINT!! You'd be remiss to not at least sample their wares - go on.. it's summer after all! Eatcrest Out!

Grow theirs own cocktails herb and flowers…read more The patio is charming and so is the interior. The staff is very knowledgeable it's very pleasant to know more about the dishes.

I was SO stoked to finally visit the Moonroom after seven or so years of wanting to go!…read more After a Saturday night at Bluesfest, we waited somewhere else for about half an hour before they told us the kitchen was backed up, so we walked down Preston and I was so glad the Moonroom was still open. We didn't get there until about 12:30am and it was pretty full. We didn't leave until maybe 2:30am and it was still pretty full considering the time. They're not normally open this late, but it seems like a lot of the businesses on Preston decided to stay open later to catch the post-Bluesfest crowd. Good call! We decided to sit inside since there was an empty table, otherwise I would've liked to sit out on their back patio, which looked really pretty with the lights. Inside was a nice vibe though, too. It's small/narrow, dimly lit, with sheets covering the different coloured ceiling lights, and candles on the table. It's very intimate and pretty romantic. We sat close to the bar and there was another party of two beside us. The music was a bit louder so we couldn't really hear the other table's conversations, but not so loud that we couldn't hear each other. They were playing the Bee Gees when we walked (danced) in, so we were really about the jams. My husband got a rotating draught IPA by Daft Brewing, can't remember which one it was. I got the Jill Collins, which had Tanqueray Gin, Affino Limone, fresh lemon and mint, cane syrup, and a Moon soda top. It was super refreshing, bright, and not too sweet, which is exactly what I wanted. We shared/I mostly ate the "OG Grilled Cheese" and "Panzanella-esque Salad". The grilled cheese had aged Balderson and cream cheeses in a crunchy baguette smothered in toasted garlic butter, served with Moon ketchup. It was exactly as described, with very crunchy, buttery garlic bread and creamy cheese. The Moon ketchup is made in-house, thinner and chunkier than processed, store-bought ketchup, with stronger flavours. It was okay, but I didn't need to dip much in the ketchup because I really enjoyed the sandwich and it was on the saltier side itself. Because it was a lot creamier than gooey, I'd say it was more of a sandwich than a grilled cheese, but still very tasty. I really am not a huge fan of salad in general, but I can't complain when it was burrata on top. It also had salty bread, arugula, roasted tomatoes, fresh peaches, herbs, and honey. The peaches were more firm than ripe and juicy, which was good for a salad, though I wish they were a bit sweeter. The burrata wasn't creamy inside like I expected, but I love cheese in any form. I really don't know what possessed me to get salad, especially after a bunch of drinks in the wee hours of the night, but my body thanked me later. Salty, bitter, a little sweet, fresh, and not heavy, even with (more) bread and cheese. It was great. They unfortunately ran out of the affogato, which probably would've convinced my husband to stay longer. Too bad. The vegan dark chocolate gelato from Farinella that they put in it sounded amazing. The beer was $10.50, my cocktail was $19, grilled cheese $16, and salad $17, which was pricey. BUT, the fresh herbs are from their garden on the back patio, they make their own soda and ketchup (among other things), everything was delicious, and even late at night the cocktails and dishes were still well put together and tasted great, plus I finally came here after so long. No regrets! Our server was super nice, same with owner and one of the bartenders, who even popped over and sat with us for a bit to chat. And not in a weird/creepy/in-your-face way lol she was cool. She was the one who greeted us when we came in and said bye to us on our way out. There's no flash photography (I forgot to turn my auto flash off for my salad, sorry!). They're open all week from 5pm to 2am, no reservations, no large groups, and no phone (just stop by). I wasn't sure if it would meet the high expectations and hype I had built up in my head after waiting so long to visit, but it totally did. It's such a nice spot, we had an amazing time, and we will definitely be back!

Loved everything about it. The food, the drinks, service and ambiance are perfect for a non-stuffy…read morebut top notch dinner!

I've been coming here for over 15 years! From first dates to double dates, 5 à 7 or just…read moreneighbourhood casual meet-ups! I can always count on a great wine selection and tasty bites. Really cozy and good vibes.

The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful, the kind of spot that instantly grabs your attention…read morebecause it's right above the water. The view is stunning and honestly sets such a nice mood. I really wanted to love the food as much as I loved the setting... but it just didn't deliver. Everything tasted like it had been pre-made hours ahead, and I'm not convinced they use many fresh ingredients aside from the salads. The dish I ordered was hands down just salt and oil , no real flavor, nothing fresh or vibrant about it. When I brought the leftovers home and reheated them, even more oil poured out, to the point where it literally turned me off from finishing it. The drinks, though? Delicious. I had the spruce margarita and that was honestly the highlight of the whole meal -- super refreshing and really well-balanced. Overall, beautiful restaurant, amazing views, great drinks... but the food needs some serious improvement for me to go back.

I came here on a Wednesday night in a party of three. We made a reservation and were seated right…read moreaway. We had a great view of the lake. The service was great and the food was delicious! I got the fish tacos and sweet potato fries. I'd definitely recommend coming here for summer patio nights!

Cute cocktail bar/lounge with a very instagrammable bathroom, if you're into that :) the drinks are…read morestrong and tasty. The bites are vegan but still so delicious. The broccoli was perfectly charred and came with a vegan spread that was yummy.

Such a fun spot on Elgin St. Love the lounge/living room vibe. Ample seating and nice ambient…read morelighting. Very aesthetic. Nice drinks but on the pricier side.

Ward 14 is the perfect drinking while in the wall, quirky and all yet without being pretentious…read more To be fully honest, it reminded me of the good old time before COVID. The ambiance was warm, service was great, drink selection was limited but provided just the right amount of selection of local goodness! I would not rush to Ward 14 for the food, but this goes back to the non-pretentiousness of it all... While I had myself craving some parmesan truffle popcorn, the basic fries were crisp and quite yummy, and how can one go wrong with a pogo. They do have seasoned nuts but happened to be out at the time. Overall there was nothing about Ward 14 that should make it special... It's not a lot of things, but truth be told, I kind of really liked it for all that it is and all that it is not. The goldilocks of drinking while maybe?!

I've only been here once, but I'm pretty confident in saying it's already one of my favorite bars…read morein the city. It's a little bit of a hole in a wall - easy to miss if you're not looking. It's super small inside and crammed with vintage finds and knickknacks, like a giant lava lamp, lights, and random other pins, charms, and home decor, all of which you can buy. I think it's pretty popular, so I can see it getting pretty crammed, especially with everyone's winter gear. There's a booth when you first walk in for a small group vs. two folks like we were, and where it would be easier with more space to play one of the many board games they have. We didn't get anything to eat, though I was really debating on getting the totchos (tater tot nachos!) on their limited snack menu. We were just happy with the drinks, since they have some pretty awesome cocktails and craft beers, including their own Ward 14 stubbys. For you insta-obsessed folks - one of the washrooms uses old bingo cards as wallpaper for your next selfie ;)

Excellent service. Comfy and luxurious place with a view…read more Bar Menu is concise and targeted.

Honestly love this spot! GREAT edamame (still thinking about it) & love the pizza croissant rolls…read moreevery time. Would probably skip on the grilled cheese next time I go as it wasn't my favourite for the price. Cool atmosphere inside and quirky servers, which I love. Would definitely recommend stopping in for an appy and drinks.

Being a newcomer to Ottawa, my husband and I went into a few places on a Wednesday night to get to…read moreknow the area. When we went into 10Fourteen, the first thing I said was, "this is exactly how I would design a bar if I had one." The small venue was decorated in browns, grays, blacks and whites, with chalkboards, bubble lights, chunky mirrors, painted quotes on canvas ("Love is all you need" and others in that vein) and other funky, classy decor. It's a small place, with a long, two-piece bar, a few booths, a couple tables and a small lounge area. At 8PM on a Wednesday, there were a few other couples in there, and what looked like a larger group sitting on the couch in the "lounge." Everyone was middle aged or younger. Our helpful bartender immediately greeted us with a martini glass filled with delicious truffle, cinnamon popcorn. I ordered a Slap and Tickle, despite it being what seemed like a more wine-focused bar -- and only three beers on tap. The drink (gin, cucumber juice) was refreshing, but not strong at all. And maybe these stingy pours are just something I have to get used to up here in Canada, but there was 1 ounce of alcohol in the whole drink, despite it being served in a highball glass. Despite both of us ordering drinks, we were not given water, which is a bit of a bartender pet peeve of mine. The chalkboard menu is really hard to follow. An item example: "Glass of bacon/jack/lime/coke." Not exactly sure what that meant, but we saw "BACON" so we asked and ordered it. It was really, really good. Jack Daniels and Coke rubbed bacon (five pieces for $5), baked and served in a martini glass with a lime. Totally cool and funky (and yummy!) but wish the menu were more easily decipherable. Things were a little chaotic behind the bar, which totally contrasted with the more relaxed vibe intended at the bar. There seemed to be no POS system and the kitchen was right behind the bar with the bartenders. I'm talking people pulling food out of refrigerators, prepping it, microwaving -- the whole deal. The bright lights from the open refrigerator door made it all together too bright in the bar, killing the mood lighting, and it seemed nonsensical to set it up that way. I'm all for open-view kitchens, but maybe not as restricted as that, and not right with the bartenders trying to make drinks. All in all, I really liked the place. Cool vibe, good stuff on the menu (when you are told what it is), and really nice and helpful staff. I just wish they could live up to the potential a bit more. I'll definitely go back and adjust my rating accordingly.

Great food, abysmal service, which was too bad. This was…read moreanother stop for dinner on my birthday trip. I was really looking forward to this one. We have six houserabbits, so the bunny decor was a touch I loved. The hostesses outside were very nice and professional. There is an outdoor seating area with super nice furniture that looks very comfy. I was a little early for my 5 o'clock reservation, but they let me come in and sit down about 10 minutes early. I want to make it clear that I did not expect service until opening. I had a tall table at the bar. The decor is a combination of woodsy and steampunk. Metal on the walls and a chandelier that looks like a log with branches. Two rabbit portraits just inside and tiny lights that look like fireflies covering the ceiling. The table was beautiful with a really nice little light that flickered like a candle. I don't know my server's name, it is not on the bill, and if I were him, I would be embarrassed to have it on there. Male with close cut silver hair and I believe a moustache...he wasn't around enough for me to notice much. The bartender did speak to me when i was navigating that stool. My server asked if I wanted to start with anything. I ordered a drink and he ran away. He was always in a hurry to get away. No small talk, no attempt to get to know his customer. As someone who worked as a waitress in my youth and all through college, his lack of attention was a bit stunning. When he brought my drink back, the Flower Child, which was incredible--looked and tasted like rainbow sherbet, took me back to my childhood and is now in my top three cocktails ever, he tried to run away immediately. I caught him by asking if the Wagyu burger could be made with a gluten-free bun. He said no but they could do a lettuce wrap. I told him that would be perfect and was surprised he didn't ask me how I wanted it cooked or check with me on anything else, didn't tell me what it came with. I wasn't sure he even took my order for a few minutes. The burger came out soon though to my relief. He set it down and ran away, I mean *POOF* gone. I wanted another drink. Now, I was annoyed. The restaurant was not busy. Luckily, there was a server, dark hair who was watching and she stepped toward me and let me order another drink. Original server dropped it off without speaking a word to me. Didn't ask how anything was...nothing. I wondered if this was yet another case of solo diner syndrome. You know that saying you can tell who someone is by how they treat service persons, well, you can tell a LOT about a restaurant by how they treat their solo diners. Luckily, there was nothing amiss with the meal. Wonderful salad with cute little half moon cut veggies. Fries and the dip they came with were phenomenal. Burger was tender and delicious. Guy never showed up, but I could hear him talking to the bartender behind me nearly the entire meal. Felt like I'd stepped into an episode of Vanderpump Rules. I had to get the other brunette server to get him to bring my bill. He had stopped to pick up my plate and then asked how everything was. I told him, "Finished." Then, I waited while he milled about with no bill forthcoming for a good while before I asked the other server. The lowest tip percentage was 18%. I did that but regret it and wish so much I'd hit custom and given him $5. The bill for only me was right at $100, which I never mind paying if the food and service are good... and my server was so amazing the night before, I tipped her 30%. He didn't deserve what he got. I found the other server and pulled out $10 for her help. She was so sweet and asked me if I wanted her to give that to my server. I said firmly, "No, that is for YOU." The food here is awesome and the atmosphere very cool, but the service was so bad that it wouldn't be worth it. Too bad.

We came to the Rabbit Hole on a Friday night for after-dinner drinks. It was quite busy so we opted…read morefor a seat at the bar. Here, we got to see the bartender crafting cocktails which was pretty cool. We ordered two cocktails, both which were delicious and, very pretty. Inside of the restaurant was warm and cozy; I especially like the mosaic flooring.