This restaurant is absolutely stunning and the staff are so kind. The seafood tower has us wanting…read moreto come back to try the rest of the menu.

We came for my fiancé's birthday. The ambiance was nice and the service was excellent…read more The steaks were well cooked and you could taste that they were dry aged. The sides were all very good but they were all very heavy. The mac and cheese was very creamy. The brussel sprouts and mushrooms were cooked in lots of butter. Overall, everything tasted good but I would have liked some of the sides to be a bit lighter! Prices are a bit high so definitely more of a special occasion place for me!

Sussex & Co. - A New Ottawa Gem Worth Every Bite and Sip…read more We had the pleasure of visiting Sussex & Co. last night to celebrate Mother's Day early with an evening date night -- and what an experience it was! From the get-go, communication with the restaurant was seamless. I reached out via social media requesting a booth, and not only did they respond within minutes, but they followed up with a phone call confirming the reservation. That level of service before we even arrived set the tone for the night. The anticipation was real -- their social media teasers had us excited -- and they delivered. The design of the space is simply stunning. Warm tones and classy touches give it a cozy yet elegant vibe. The main bar is a showstopper with its extensive liquor selection. I was on the hunt for a tequila I'd never tried, and the bartender delivered -- an excellent pick, delicious and reasonably priced. Now for the food: We started with oysters and the burrata. The oysters were fresh, flavourful, and the rosé vinaigrette was a standout touch. The burrata was rich and creamy, and we loved being able to choose the bread it came with -- a small detail that made a big difference. For mains, my wife had the steak frites -- a surprise hit. Incredible flavour and an unbeatable price. I had the ribeye (medium rare) with dauphinoise potatoes, and let me say this: I've eaten at every top steakhouse in Ottawa, and this was hands-down the best steak in the city. Perfectly cooked, beautifully marbled, and seasoned like a dream. The potatoes? The bomb. We kicked things off with a couple of cocktails -- an off-menu espresso martini and a whiskey-vermouth martini-style drink. Both on point. The wine list impressed us too. The GM personally offered pairing advice and introduced us to a bottle so good, we ordered a second. Too full for dessert -- a rarity -- we ended our night in their hidden speakeasy. This space is jaw-dropping. Intimate, stylish, and full of charm. We capped the night with an expertly crafted old fashioned, the perfect end to a perfect evening. Special shout-out to our server Brianna -- despite it being their second night open, she knew the menu inside and out and guided us like a seasoned pro. Sussex & Co. is a must-visit. If you appreciate top-tier service, an incredible culinary experience, and a beautifully designed space, go now... and then go again. We're already planning our next visit.

Me and my father went for a dinner to Sussex & Co. We ordered a dozen oysters, two roasted bone…read moremarrows, two medium rare ribeyes, potato au gratin, and mushrooms. The oysters were fresh and clean, the bone marrows were phenomenal, and the steak was cooked to our liking. Service was GREAT, very energetic and quick. The ambiance was decent as well. Definitely coming back when im ever in Ottawa again.

Our party of five recently had a wonderful experience at Ember. Every dish was beautifully…read morepresented and delicious. As a fish lover, I'll give special shout outs for the tuna as well as the salmon crudo. Even my husband who is not a fish fan was impressed! The cocktails were creative and uniquely presented. All of this combined with friendly and welcoming service and a beautiful environment made for a great evening. Our only regret is that Ember is about 200 kilometres away from our home. We will look forward to returning sometime in the future though.

We were recommended to come for dinner and had the following items:…read more- Burrata salad $23: comes with bread, served with tomato, pesto. The burrata was lovely, and I loved the fruity olive oil on top - Salmon crudo $25: with muso mayo, ponzu, green onions, sesame seeds. The sauce and topping flavours were great. The salmon had a slightly fishy taste - Brussel sprouts $16: with feta, pomegranate, Dijon, cabbage. Maybe it was the cabbage but something was slightly off with the combination - Beef cheek pizza $34: with prosciutto meat sauce, mushrooms. Really rich and delicious flavours We enjoyed our meal overall. The service was super fast which we appreciated. The setting is nice and romantic. I think it would be a good date spot.

My daughter turned 18, and where's a better place to celebrate than Restaurant E18hteen…read more I booked a table a week before to make sure we have a table. Thankfully, there were 2 spots left. The place is very elegant inside out. The service was perfect, music was very classic, food was delicious. An amazing fine dining experience on every level. I felt that their menu is limited. We ordered the following: Grilled Octopus with mint chermoula, roasted chickpeas, 'nduja aiolo, blistered tomatoes & chicory. The Octopus was cooked to perfection & the flavors were amazing. Vol au vent d'escargot Puff pastry stuffed with braised escargot l, goat cheese crumbled, spinach, Parmigiano & mizuna My daughter loves escargot & she enjoyed it very much. Halibut with shrimp & Octopus escabeche, shishito peppers, stewed lentils, butter braised asparagus, garlic parsley oil, cilantro mojo & watercress. It was so good, each component was delicious, when you eat them together it was heaven. Two, 7 oz angus reserve tenderloin it comes with two sides, and a sauce. We had one with mashed & mushroom, the second fries & Ceasars salad. Both steaks were a perfect meduim rare! Mushrooms & Ceasars salad were so good. The mashed lacked seasoning & the fries were too salty. For dessert, they celebrated my daughter with a complimentary pavalova which I thought was so sweet! It was a wonderful surprise. We also ordered pistachio chocolate and it was OMG! The perfect ending.

What a disappointment last night. We clearly informed the restaurant about my wife's gluten and…read moredairy allergies. As well we indicated that subbing cow cheese with goat cheese would be great. Upon arrival our waitress told us she had read the notes and was aware. Much to our surprise, they served her a beet salad....with cow cheese!! Later that evening she became ill as a result. But that wasn't the worst of it. We waited 1 hr and 15 minutes for our main meals. Leading up to that moment they also forgot to serve her gluten free bread, which was store bought and like cardboard. That was 20 minutes after I had finished mine. At this point we had had enough of this atrocious experience. Rather than wait longer, we spoke with both the waitress and maitre'd and asked for our bill. They both lied and told us it would be ready in 2 minutes. Ten minutes later, they showed up with it as we were in the process of leaving and had our coats on. We agreed to sit back down and try the mains. My wife had a sablefish meal that was flavourless and not fresh to say the least. I had a lobster tail meal whereby the lobster was watery and not fresh. Needless to say 1 bite of each meal and the coats were back on and we were settling our reduced bill and leaving. What a disappointment for our special Valentines outing. Never will we go back, and I advise people to do the same.

I may have had a better meal but I don't remember it. I may have had better service but can't…read moreremember when. The entire experience was stellar. Had the filet and lobster with scallops appetizer. Fabulous, generous and perfectly cooked. Service was fantastic. Don't wait just go the restaurant was packed!

Visited Ottawa for work and went to The Keg twice during my 3 day work trip…read more Service was amazing. Food is no frills yet perfectly seasoned. I live in NYC and a ton of places are overhyped. Pay $$$$$ for mediocre. This place on the other hand was rock solid. Peppercorn steak Chicago style was fire AF. Would fly back just for that! Nothing fancy but definitely consistent, impecable cooked, and bartender was sooooooo handsome which made it even better! 10/10

The Short Version: Posh restaurant in the Byward Market…read more Excellent Happy Hour. The Long Version: My husband and I came here for Happy Hour during our time off work in between Christmas and New Year's. Happy Hour is everyday 2pm-6pm and Friday and Saturday 10pm-close. We started off with drinks. The hubby had the Luxe Lager $6 and I had the French Martini $10. He said the lager was ok. I loved my French Martini. I enjoyed the pineapple flavour and it was nicely presented with a slice of dehydrated orange. We shared the following: -Sliders $8 -Mussels in white wine with leeks sauce $12 -Electric squid $13 -Mini steak sandwiches $13 -Mushrooms on toast $10 The Sliders were so good. We got 2 tiny bacon cheeseburger sliders. The bun was a soft brioche bun and the burger was sort of a smash burger with crispy edges. Very delicious. The mussels were in this delicious creamy white wine and leek sauce. We should have gotten some bread to soak up the sauce, lol. The electric squid were thick slices of calamari. They were rectangles not the rings that I'm used to. Nonetheless they were so tender and not rubbery at all. They came drizzled with chipotle mayo and seafood sauce for dipping. The mini steak sandwiches were open faced and had a lot of sauce on it, too much for my liking. I also found the aged cheese a bit too nippy for my tastes. However, my husband absolutely loved the sandwiches. He loves old cheese, so that explains it. Haha. The Mushroom Toast was excellent. Lots of mushrooms and arugula. I enjoyed these. We really liked the Happy Hour options and it was fun to try several different items. Luxe Bistro has one of the best Happy Hours in Ottawa, in my opinion. I would happily return! Decor is upscale. I loved the curved booth we were seated in. Service was pleasant. We were served by Adria and she was attentive without being intrusive. Overall we had a great experience at Luxe. Street parking or paid garage parking only. I'm so happy to start off 2026 with a 5-star review :) Review #1 (2026)

The Fried Calamari was great, with a crispy batter and calamari that practically melted in your…read moremouth. The Waldorf Salad I had was also delicious. The lettuce bed was kept cold and crunchy, and the mix of salty blue cheese with sweet apple slices and grapes created a unique flavour. The celery added an extra crunch. The drinks were nice too, offering some good options to choose from. Service was great. The staff was patient and attentive, ensuring we had a pleasant dining experience. Food (quality, creativity, consistency) - 4.2/5 Drinks (quality, variety) - 4/5 Ambience (interior design, cleanliness) - 4/5 Service (courtesy, knowledge, timeliness) - 4/5 Value (quality vs. price) - 3.5/5 OVERALL - 3.9

The Short Version: Their claim to have the best Happy Hour…read morein Ottawa is true! Great drinks and tasty small bites in a posh environment that won't break the bank. The Long Version: My husband and I stopped by Al's Steakhouse for Happy Hour. Their Happy Hour is Monday to Friday 3pm-6pm and only available on their front patio or lounge, not their main dining room. We sat in the lounge. I got the feature cocktail ($8) which happened to be a Peach Bellini that day. My husband got the Al's Lager ($6.50). We shared the Calamari ($10) and Sliders ($13). My Peach Bellini was delicious and was served with a slice of dehydrated orange and a paper straw. The hubster thought the lager was ok. The sliders were excellent. There were 3 sliders and they were a good size. The bun was a plain brioche bun and was lightly toasted. The beef patty was flavourful. It came with cheese, pickles and burger sauce. I would get these again. The Calamari were good, although not particularly unique in taste. They were battered and tender, not chewy. They came with seafood sauce. Service was courteous, although the server came back twice to verify our order, lol. Our order was correct in the end, so no big deal. The restaurant ambiance is poshy but not pretentious. Their regular-priced menu is on the expensive side, but their Happy Hour deals are awesome. I will definitely be returning for more Happy Hour adventures here. Street parking only. Review #195 (2025)

Had a reservation mid week 5pm. Nice servers. Nice place…read more Been to happy hour in their lounge before and thought it was great. First time to dining room. Sticky goo on 1/2 of table, but when asked they cleaned it. Ordered 1/2 carafe house red wine, good. Table bread, butter & salt, good. Ordered appetizers crab stuffed mushrooms were good. Warm mushroom toast....I sent it back, the tiny crustini bread coukdnt hold the toppings, and bread was stale, break a tooth tough.... Dinner: mushroom ravioli...not good at all, I wanted to send it back too, but since I had already sent back my appetizer, I was too embarrassed! But it truly was awful. Very little ravioli and you actually could not find the pasta squares under the slippery shitake mushrooms, the tremendous amount of oil and butter, the cream sauce was so overly done and sickenly rich. Why add so much to a what should be a simple pasta? I had a couple of bites and then boxed and brought home.....picture of all the toppings, too much, and look at that oil and butter! Still couldn't eat it. I should have known better; I went to a steakhouse and ordered pasta. You should always go with the specialty.... lesson learned. My companion had steak and baked potato, and enjoyed it.

An Epic Father's Day Meal - Rose Bowl Steakhouse Sets the Bar High…read more Wow... just wow. After a full day of surprises and celebration, our dinner at Rose Bowl Steakhouse in Ottawa was the perfect grand finale. From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for something special--and the experience exceeded every expectation. Let's talk service first. The waiting staff were absolutely incredible--attentive, professional, and perfectly timed. You know that sweet spot where they're there when you need them, but never intrusive? They nailed it. Our server was on point, making us feel welcomed and looked after the entire evening. The bartender deserves a shoutout of their own--he crafted what I can only describe as the greatest Old Fashioned of all time. Seriously, I've had many, and this one takes the crown. Even the busser went out of their way to make us feel at home, offering kind words and a smile that instantly elevated the vibe. It felt like every member of the team genuinely cared about the guest experience. And then came the food... We started with the calamari and escargots, and they were nothing short of outstanding. The calamari was perfectly crispy with just the right amount of seasoning, and the escargots were rich, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They set the tone for what was to come. For the mains: I had the sirloin steak, cooked to absolute perfection--juicy, tender, and bursting with flavour. My wife ordered the grilled salmon, which was beautifully presented and tasted as fresh as it gets. Our oldest went for the lobster ravioli, and let's just say they're still talking about it. Rich, creamy, and loaded with lobster--an unforgettable dish. Portions were generous (to say the least), and we definitely didn't leave hungry. We were tempted by dessert but had plans to grab gelato elsewhere, so we'll save that for the next visit--which is already a guarantee. Rose Bowl Steakhouse gave us more than just a meal--it gave us a moment. It was the perfect way to wrap up Father's Day: with full hearts, fuller stomachs, and a shared memory we'll be talking about for a long time. If you're in Ottawa and want a place that delivers exceptional food, world-class cocktails, and top-tier hospitality, do yourself a favour and book a table here. You won't regret it.

This was my first time at Rosebowl. We had a reservation for 4 at 7:30PM. We started with 3…read moreappetizers the beef tartare $23, scallops and Arancini. The beef tartare was really good had some pickles, and spicy mustard to compliments it. Scallops and bacon came with a peanut sauce with nice crunchy texture. I didn't try the Arancini (not gluten free). The ambiance is very dark but the little lamp on the table gave really good lighting. Easy to read the menu. For the main I went with prime steak $75 for 18oz medium rare. it comes with broccolini and carrots. For the side we ordered onions, mushrooms, mashed potatoes and bien sur my favourite fries. Most sides are around $7. Wish I would have tried the stuffed baked potato. It will have to be next time. Steak came cooked perfectly. I really enjoyed the mashed potato and my side of fries. My friend ordered the salmon and shared a piece. I thought it was missing flavour for having all the citrus on top. It was also on the dry side. I do have to say that the service was a bit off. Drink ordered all at the same time. Beer came fast, but martinis and drinks were forgotten a few times. We had to ask twice for the same drink that didn't come until much later. Maybe, it's a good thing limited us to 2 drinks. But if you want to enjoy your wine with meal... I was a little too full to look at the dessert menu, next time. Overall, good experience at this steakhouse. I will have to come back over the summer for a date night. lol

Absolute gem in Ottawa. This is the best value French food I have had. The atmosphere is more…read morecasual and cozy, but that does not take away from the quality of the food. Usually when I get escargot it comes with just 6 snails still in shells, but this one they are already deshelled and overflowing. The duck confit was also perfectly cooked with large portions. Wonderful service as well.

Stopped in for nibbles and drinks with a colleague for a meeting during happy hour…read more The server was thoughtful and charming and the food is fast and well seasoned. Highly recommend.

Superb food, superb service, lovely spot I really really…read morelike the Belmont I had salmon on toast with greens, both were great

Cute little spot I would recommend a reservation. This is my second time and once again I had not…read moremade reservations. (Expect 45-1h wait time.) not bad as there are a lot of cute shops around. Both me and my partner got the Belmont breakfast. Has a bit of everything ($23) I gave my partner the bread and got his salad. He said the bread was really good. I really enjoyed my salad nice and fresh not sure what kind of leaves was used. First time I see that shape. Back to salad it was light and a little bit sweet. Potatoes are the next best thing on my plate. I like them he spice that was used, I added a but more salt on mine. The breakfast sausage did not give me heartburn... not guaranteeing anything but worth mentioning. I believe they were lighter in oil simply. My partner always trades them for bacon. I only got a half sausage, he had the rest. The last thing I want to mention is less positive. I usally like breakfast beans. Got excited when I saw the black beans. However, really disappointed nothing more than warmed out black beans. Not what I would expect from breakfast beans. I expect a maple or sugar flavour. You can pay $5 to add to your breakfast... mine came with them but I would skip. Unless unflavoured black bean is your thing.