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!

Food was pretty tasty and service was great. I'd go back. Had the snug club with sweet potato…read morefries.

Had the pleasure of wandering in on an early Friday afternoon. I was so pleased with the service,…read morethe local vibe and those kimchi potstickers are delicious!!

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!

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 were looking for a good Martini and Cal did not disappoint. He also recommended the favourite…read moreones and was making sure we were satisfied

The aesthetics of this restaurant is INSANE (in the best way possible). As soon as you step into…read morethe restaurant, the aesthetics will blow you away if you are a anime fan. Visuals on its own I would give this 10 out of 10. The seating arrangements are also very comfortable, not too loud/busy when I went which was during lunch time on a weekend. Comparing it to other ramens I've had in Ottawa, I have to admit it's nothing crazy. After eating it don't expect to be blown away because there are better ramen, but at the same time the flavours are still there so it's not bad! The reason I have to give my experience a 3/5 is not only because of the average tasting ramen, but the service was also lacking... don't get me wrong the staff are very friendly, but after placing our order, we nearly waited for 45 minutes-1 hour. I know it's partly our fault for not following up with the waiters sooner, but we're pretty understanding people and we don't like confrontation when it's not needed. But around that 45 minutes mark, I had to say something because your girl was STARVED. Stomach growling and everything. The staff finally checked for us and they said they've JUST placed the order in... however the waiter was super nice and when we went to pay at the end, he apologized and defaulted us to not provide any tips given the long wait- which was much appreciated.

The ramen was standard fare. The price is standard for Ottawa ramen. The portion is filling though,…read moreyou don't have to order extra noodles to feel full unlike some other ramen places. The service was so-so, not the most attentive. Parking on Preston is always a headache, especially in winter when there is snow. For the hassle of parking vs the meal I probably won't go back anytime soon.

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 ;)

The food is fantastic. Try their pizzas. Service =…read moreheaveanly. Look at the artwork Trappist beers. Wow! The best in the East Coast.

I've been to Pub Italia twice thanks to various locals' recommendations. However, the experiences…read morehave been mediocre at best. I remembered I had the seafood pasta in the rose sauce the first time. While the food was good, it did not stand out from other regular pasta restaurants but was priced about 5 - 10 dollars more. I think I paid almost 40 dollars for one plate of pasta (it was for takeout too.) I ordered the lasagna at my second visit, and it was subpar. The meat was quite dry & grainy, while the sauce was overly salty. The plating was also quite rough, while it was still consistently pricier than other restaurants. The only reason I gave it two stars is because of its outstanding collection of drinks (on tap or in bottles), and the atmosphere is excellent (the patio is amazing during the summer!) I wouldn't come back for food again, however.

Oldest bar in Ottawa - dumpiest dive with decent live music nightly and a security guard with…read moreattitude that thinks he is Hulk Hogan. Lol..! I think one can only drink beer here, it's all I've ever seen. Staff are... there.. but not really. Gruff! The bathroom is tiny but operational. Somehow it all works and I'm sure most like it just how it is! Curious to know how much has really changed in so many decades of it being here. It's not unclean..it's just older than dirt. It is for sure, a destination place and just come as you are. No one is really looking!

It's a classic dive bar with some pub food. Oldest bar in Ottawa, circa 1849. Sat at the bar had…read moregreat service. It's in the heart of the Bymart area. Good 80s 90s music vibe. Great place to start an evening.