Excellent food! Every foodie's dream place. Their Wine list is excellent. Service is excellent. They have done a great job with decorating. One of my favourite dining place in Ottawa. They have taken Italian food to the next level of perfection. read more

Food is incredible, but it's a bit pricey for portion sizes! Would absolutely recommend the seasonal peaches and lonza, and the chamomile white fish was to die for. Very nice ambiance as well. read more

Was looking for a tapas sort of place in Ottawa and a friend has wanted to try this place for awhile. We made reservations easily on the web and when we arrived the atmosphere of the place was neat. We were taken to a "room" it felt like we were having dinner at our grandmas. Once we were all seated our waiter came by to explain the menu. If you have taken a peak at the menu, it is a little hard to understand without googling... Haha some of us decided to share some dishes to get a taste of everything. I am going to use the "easy" names of the dishes.. But some of the dishes we ordered were the meatballs which was delish! The sauce was amazing and good to dip aome bread into. Tried some of the spaghetti with clams, a little on the salty side but they did warn us. The salmon which was perfectly cooked and tasted fresh and herby. The pea risotto was mmm cheesy goodness. But my favourite dish was the chicken leg confit pasta boi the meat just melted in your mouth. Lastly but not least, your at an Italian restaurant you got to have a slice of Tiramisu and mmm was that a perfect wnd to the night. If you have never been here you should for sure check it out. I suggest going with a group of people, this way you can try all the different dishes. Overall, mmmm I can still remember the tastes of the dishes and wish I had some for lunch instead of my sandwhich! read more

Sat at the places where you can watch the kitchen action. Service was very good. Food met expectations. Cosy spot with good food, probably good for a date night. Maybe a tad pricier, but location considered, fair enough. I had the liver s as and a few bites of the meatballs apple, along with the sardines. All nicely done. read more

There's a bar in back with space to snack! So far, I've stopped in twice for a post-work pint and a bite. The space has been updated - in a good way - from the location's predecessors. The interior reflects the current vibe of in-vogue restaurants not unlike some I've been to in Montreal. The bar area has a large, wide marble countertop that allows for social snacking, or full on dining So far, I've had an app the first time around, and the sampling/cichèti plate my return visit. The food is on point, and to me that's impressive for a place that's only been open two weeks. I mean, it's really good. The apps made me want to come back for a full on tour-de-force of a meal. Based on what I've seen, I think this place is going to pick up steam. The second time I was there, I nabbed the last free chair at the bar. fyi - the style of Italian restaurant was inspired by Venetian wine bars, as I understand it, so lots of smaller items for sampling with wine. The meatball, and fish based items were really, really good. read more

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. North & Navy is the restaurant equivalent of a cozy Bay blanket--well designed, timeless, nostalgic, and incredibly comfortable. The menu is nicely flexible, from small bites and cocktails to heftier entrees. The fact the co-owner/chef did a stint at Supply & Demand is obvious in all the best ways; The pasta here is similarly all handmade and served in delicate portions that stress fresh ingredients. Standouts are the meatballs and the tiramisu--a light and fluffy rendition of the classic desert. (Definitely big enough to share, though I polished off one solo.) The space is a beautifully restored house just steps off the buzz of the city in Centretown. Service is chatty and amiable, responsive and thoughtful. I appreciate that the restaurant is so flexible; it's a sandwich at lunch, a post-work negroni, family style dining with friends, or a cozy dinner for two. It's a hospitable, friendly, all-are-welcome, kind-of-place serving fantastically fresh food. That is what I call a win-win. I've been back, many times. North & Navy is the place I keep wanting to drag folks to, convinced I've found some of the bests in Ottawa, certainly the best tiramisu. Service remains excellent, though can drag a bit at their peak. The best guidance through the menu and service I have experienced still comes from the bar; it also remains my favourite vantage point for people-watching and kitchen-watching. Among the pastas, the ever so elusively simple farfalle with mushrooms and tomato continues to be a winner and induces moaning every time. My friend and I smartly got our own plates of pasta--we knew better than to try to share a portion that subscribes to the Thomas Keller law of diminishing returns and leaves you wanting just a bit more, ever so slightly angry when your plate is empty. The octopus salad entree was a bit lacklustre for me, reaffirming a belief that the best way to enjoy North & Navy is small bites, pasta, and antipasti. I have yet to be bowled over by entrees but so wildly seduced by the smaller portions that I am now fully committed to the slow, meandering dining through the menu that feels so delightfully Italian (and is also, incredibly delicious). A word on deserts: tiramisu. I have tried them all now, and can safely say, as someone who does not like tiramisu, this is a fantastic desert. It's light, fluffy, a little bit of chocolate, a little delicate tinge of coffee. It's a winner. read more

Loved the squid ink pasta, and the charred eggplant! It's not the cliched traditional Italian food but it's quite modern and delightful. Service was ok. read more

Very well done. Gorgeous decor, delicious food friendly staff the three main components of a successful eatery. We managed to get a reservation on a Friday night for 8 o'clock, it's later than what I'm used to, but I'm happy to have experienced the restaurant at full capacity. The owner made his rounds as well as the in house sommelier. The waiter was helpful and made excellent recommendations. The menu was efficient and brief! A few selections to choose from but all done so methodically and deliciously. My friend and I order two pasta plates, the divine pallet cleansing citrus salad and the yummy steak plate. We shared and dégusted on wine and bread all night. To finish off, we shared the lemon tart. Good God it was delicious! All in all I was very happy with our night out. Definitely recommend this place. I know it will do very well. It's a bit pricey, but worth every penny. I would put this on the date night list for sure. They have a gorgeous room upstairs for larger parties too. Oh, and the bathrooms are to die for!! We spoke to the owner for quite a while and he told us their plans on expanding with a patio outside... How fun! read more

One of the best restaurant in Ottawa, Period! The food was outstanding, i had the black ink spaghetti and the Liver and onion dish. The wine was also magnificent and the waiting staff are professional but super friendly. The only problem is it's SO EXPENSIVE! For me and my friend are bill was almost $200. I can see myself going here mabye once a year or during a super special event, anything beyond that then i risk breaking the bank. But other then that I couldn't recommend this place enough read more

North & Navy - Black ink spaghetti - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Holy Crap. This is some of the most inventive and delicious Italian food I have ever had. Our party of 4 tried all of the appetizers, pastas, and salads and they were all great. The pastas, in particular, were outstanding, delivering perfectly al dente morsels with perfectly matched and fresh tasting sauces. The smelts, mackerel, and other fish dishes were melt in our mouth but fresh due to the use of lots of fresh herbs. The service offered in the front of the house is as impressive as the dishes that come out of the kitchen, with friendly, knowledgable and laid back servers . The wine list has excellent choices at reasonable price points and the sommelier is extremely knowledgable without being pretentious or pushy. The decor is eclectic, charming and airy with no hint of the stuffiness that was associated with the space in its previous form. The bar in the back and the chef's table (more like a bar) are so inviting you just want to hang out all night. This place is pretty much perfect. read more

Everything about this restaurant really hit the mark. The ambiance was perfect and the cocktails were very well balanced. The service was exceptional, Pascal went above and beyond for our party. He knows his wine and food!! We decided to go share plate style at his recommendation and everything was a hit, from the eggplant and delicious homemade ravioli, to the rabbit and pork mains, and of course the amazing tiramisu dessert and Spanish coffee. Looking forward to the next visit and trying their seafood dishes! read more

An intimate atmosphere, with excellent food. I had the eggplant with yogurt appetizer, the duck with pear entree and a tiramisu for dessert. I really enjoyed everything. read more

Menu seems to change over on a frequent basis. Food was a bit expensive (was expected) but was delicious. From the outside, the restaurant looked like a house but the decor inside was very nice. I would visit again read more

The food is excellent. You have to be ready to try different things. The menu doesn't necessarily describe exactly what you will be receiving as a plate so make sure to ask questions if you're not ready to try anything... read more

Big fan of North and Navy. We went here for dinner with a group of six, with 4 opting for their own thing and 2 of us doing shared plates. Considering the portions of the primi and secondi were comparable, I think sharing was definitely more value for money vs ordering individually. You get to a sample a swath of their delicious plates as well, which I much preferred, especially for a first visit. Doing the shared plates, I was able to taste the following dishes: farfalle with chicken leg confit (which is exactly what it sounds like - bowtie pasta with a light sauce and tender chicken meat); risi et bisi (rice and peas cooked à la risotto - with cheese); polpette (homemade meatballs in rich, slightly sweet tomato sauce); and tiramisu. From mooching off my partner, I also had a taste of the bigoli con le Vongole (long thick pasta with clams cooked in tomato sauce); the BC Keta salmon with cauliflower and corn; and the giuseppe luigi (their take on the zeppole). Everything was excellent, but some dishes really stood out. I quite enjoyed the farfalle; I loved how light it was without sacrificing flavour. The polpette was also up there, and our host was on point in bringing us more bread (anticipating that we ladies would want to dip and finish the sauce - right he was). My partner thought the salmon tasted bland, its taste overpowered by the cauliflower/corn side it sat on; but I personally thought it was just right. Cooked so perfectly that it would have probably melted in your mouth. They did warn us that the bigoli contained saltwater clams (so the dish would be saltier), but personally, I enjoyed the plate's distinct saltwater taste. When asked about my first impression of that plate, I believe I said "it tastes like the sea". The risi et bisi, which I thought was the richest out of all our plates, in hindsight did seem out of place with everything else we ordered, but certainly still good in its own right. Dessert-wise, my stance is definitely tiramisu over the luigi; finding the latter a bit too sweet for my taste. Cocktails are good too, if you're willing to pay a premium. Next time, though, I'll make sure to mention 'less ice'. Overall, a very pleasant meal with delicious plates, even if not everyone on the table agreed with me. Ambiance and service are easily five stars. We were seated in our own room that opened up to the bar, so it was cozy, for sure. Great place to take a date, or some friends visiting town. I know we'll be back! read more

My girlfriend and I tried this place for the first time and loved every second! We tried the beet and avocado and Chicheti plate for an App, from their we had Polpo & Porchetta and Spaghetti & Baccala! Everything was so delicious and authentic! The service was amazing and the atmosphere was very welcoming! Take it from an Italian, you have to try this place out if you're in the area! read more

I really loved this place. We had a few dishes that weren't our favourite but we also tried dishes that our friends had which were amazing. The service was 5 stars and more than made up for any blips with the food. As for the food, my wife and I started with the Chiceti plate. It was fun and great to try everything but when we go back I think we will stick to one or two like the polpette and the beet goat cheese. Everyone raved about the potato tortelletti and while the sauce was divine, the filling itself was basically just potato. For antipasti I tried both the Eggplant and the chicken liver mousse. Both were outstanding and I would be very tempted to order one next time. By that time we were stuffed but we had ordered the octopus and squid main and so we soldiered on. This was the only dish where our opinions diverged greatly. I loved it but my wife wasn't a fan. I thought the seafood was excellent and didn't need any bold sauce while my wife would have preferred that the meat was more subdued. If you haven't been, go, and if you have been I expect our paths will cross at at the restaurant at some point in the near future. read more

My girlfriends and I are all moms and we don't get out much... in fact we had booked our reservation almost two months in advance (that's how difficult it is for us to get together). We were greeted and brought to our table and the maitre-d walked us through the menu which was great. Our server was very friendly and had a great sense of humour. We each had two drinks each, with three courses - all super delicious. Every bite was amazing! We just paid and ordering our Uber when the Maitre-d came to us and in not so many words told us another reservation was waiting for our table. There were other free tables in the restaurant and no one was waiting at the door... I never felt so disrespected and unwelcomed at a restaurant before... especially after we just dropped $300. I can understand if we were a walk-in but I would still expect to be told in advance that there was another reservation. This would have been a five star review but that one minute interaction left a bitter taste in my mouth. Thanks to North and Navy for ruining the one night I had out with my girlfriends. read more

If you are looking for no fuss, wonderful and masterful North Italian dishes and a great pairing list, I would highly recommend * MAKING A RESERVATION * to visit this lovely establishment. Everything from the graceful, but not forceful, decor, sweet and knowledgeable servers, to the amazing Classic Negroni - creates an intimate and personal experience both with your meal and the people you may be sharing it with. read more

From FAR...best Italian food in Ottawa...modern and creative . Nice crowd, beautiful decor ,great service and exclusive wine list. We will be back soon. congrats to chef and owners. read more

North & Navy - From far, THE best restaurant in Ottawa - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

This place is amazing. Must visit. Sit at the bar and you can see the chef cooking. It's super cozy and everything on the menu is delicious.

I visited it a while ago. Small portions and bland food. Quite disappointing. Convenient location, nice decor, but food is a total let down. There are better Italian options in town. Do not recommend. read more

Very cool and trendy restaurant tucked away in an old building. Atmosphere is lively and food is delicious. Try the 'cinq a sept' for some small bites and cheap drinks and wine. You won't be disappointed. read more

Awesome spot, very cool and unique ambiance. Tomahawk steak and sides is unreal. Only negative is some of the dishes are on the smaller side for my liking but the flavours more than make up for it. Cocktail program is good as well read more

Had a great time, good food and service. Prices were a bit on the higher side but it was well worth it. I would recommend and visit again.

An evening adventure. Came with a large group that was undecided on a la carte versus sharing - the waiter said they would do whatever we want. What followed was 1) Serving pine nuts to the person with that exact allergy (that was mentioned five times - the response was "I thought it was someone else". (Note the lack of the word sorry). Fortunately there was a shoppers drug mart 150 m away...Ironically the same waiter didn't recognize us when we came back with allergy medications 2) giving the wrong main meal to one person (the waiter admitted that he put in the wrong order 3) giving the wrong meals to half of our group. In case you don't want to judge based on our service experience... The food itself tasted good (I and my friends all rated it 4 or 4.5 stars - my only complaint was that the al dente pasta was inconsistent. The mains and appetizers were overall good. There are only three desert options and we found them to be ok but not phenomenal) But... the service could be improved. It was really slow, not withstanding the multiple adventures.... Black mamba out. read more

This place has buzz but what it needs is much better lighting. None of us could read the menu without using our iPhones; none could see the food when it arrived after unconscionable delay. I know it was Monday and few places are open, but the servers couldn't cope; maybe they couldn't see where they were going. The food was good, not great, the wine overpriced. read more

Firstly, the food is really, really good! With that out of the way, here's the reasons for not rating it higher. The place is NOISY! Definitely not the place to go for a quiet dinner, or if you're looking for a refined setting. Great if you want to have a festive feast with friends though. The other big issue is that the place is not air conditioned, so you're gonna sweat while you're eating if you go in summer. Seating is really cramped too, with other tables right on top of you. read more

The place is actually way bigger than what appears to be from the outside. The food is very good! Try the tiramisu

Food was very nicely presented and very tasty, but we found the service fast. Too fast. And a little unorganized. For instance - next table got their bottle of wine after they got their entree. - my husband was given the next set of fork and knife before taking away our appetizer. Water was out of the tap and warm. Wine could ave been more chilled. Little things! read more

Dinner was sensational. Definitely sit at the bar and watch the kitchen work their magic. The place exudes a very chill atmosphere - from the decor to the people working there to the effortless way in which the food was presented. Love! read more

We were a party of 5 that was excited to try the new restaurant that replaced Beckta's this summer. Based on previous yelper reviews, we had high expectations. First of all, I'm not sure why the menu could not have a few lines of explanation. The menu is Northern Italian, and includes terminology with which most diners would have difficulties . It was annoying to have to either 1) Google the definition or 2) ask our waiter to describe the dish. Well, we'll say two parts pretentious and one part annoying. I'm sure it is meant to "create conversations around" the menu. We made our choices based on online recommendations and those of our waiter. Small plates made it easier to try different options. Here our our choices (from what I can remember) in order of arrival: 1) polpette: perhaps I have been spoiled by the exceptional meatballs at both Supply and Demand (my absolute FAVOURITE IN THE WORLD) and Town. These were dry/overcooked, and tiny. 3 small meatballs for $11 = disappointment. 2) Primi: the pasta (though so sorry, I don't remember exactly, perhaps Farfalle?) was al dente, and we were all impressed by it. Perfectly al dente and flavourful, our fave dish of the night. If we had stopped there, we would have been happy and even return. 3) Secondi: The hangar steak. This was the one item our waiter raved about. We ordered it medium rare, and it came well done, in very few slices. Overhyped and overcooked, was our unanimous opinion. When our server asked, I felt compelled to respond honestly, which was received with an apology but no attempt at rectification (To be fair, it is mostly my own fault for not mentioning earlier, but he did not appear again until he collected our plates). For $25 a plate, I'm not inclined to try again. Would I come back? Likely no. Perhaps it was an off day, but there are a lot of great restaurants in Ottawa that deserve my business. One great item out of three does not a return customer make. read more

We went on recommendations from a few friends who very much enjoyed their entire experience, but we were incredibly disappointed with our ours--namely, the food. The server was kind enough to run through the entire menu with us, which was helpful. When we ordered a smoked tuna and braised beef appetizer, we were expecting a raw, smoked tuna similar to smoked salmon. What arrived was what looked like canned tuna in the middle of a plate with what would have otherwise been a delicious app (the braised beef with lemon aioli was fantastic). As for our main dishes, my mushroom bowtie pasta was bland and flavourless--the sauce was soupy. The fish was the best plate, but it was also nothing to write home about. I've read stellar reviews in the Citizen, so maybe we were there on an off night? The atmosphere is romantic and cozy, but when the food disappoints, it sadly does not make up for the experience. We likely won't return. read more

Fine Italian Dining in Ottawa. You could miss this place easily walking on Nepean because it looks like a house-sitting beautiful vintage brick! The food is high end and creative, pulling from Roman and Sicilian influences. Great eggplant appetizer! read more

As a second generation northern Italian hailing from a family of chefs you could say I'm a tough customer when dining out for Italian especially that of the northern variety. This was my boyfriend and my first time in Ottawa and decided to try this place at the suggestion of a local we met our first night in town. This was my boyfriend's birthday dinner and everything was phenomenal from beginning to end. From the impeccable service to the beautiful and unique atmosphere and of course the food. We tried the Polpete and ricotta and fig chicetti to start which were both great. The sardines and rabbit pasta were our second courses.. Phenomenal. And the lake trout prepared Piedmont style (red wine preparation) for the final course. I only wish we had room for dessert! I will most certainly be back next time I'm in town and this will be a meal I won't soon forget. read more

This is very good Northern Italian cuisine served by knowledgable and professional staff. The meat balls are to die for. The quality of ingredients and preparation was top notch in all of our dishes. The wine list is an impressive selection of reasonably priced bottles. We ate in the front dining room. It is a quite comfortable repurposing of what was probably the home's original dining room and living. The vintage character has been retained. It is a warm and lively environment. I can understand why the Prime Minister and Sophie enjoy it! Call for a reservation and have a wonderful meal :) read more

We had a great dinner. The bread was perfect - as we find out everything is made on the premises. Butter with hint of anchovie ! As we don't eat much meat, we opted for pasta's - perfectly cooked, tasty, not over the top complicated - just right. Ceasar salad, marinated sardines - no complaints. The lemon/shortbread cookies served with coffee could not have been better. The only thing that could have been improved this evening was the coffee. It lacked fullness, and flavour - for an Italian restaurant coffee is very important. Also no cream available for coffee - this should have been corrected - no excuse for a restaurant not to have coffee cream. read more

Excellent on all fronts to say the least. Accommodated our child and we had an amazing dinner. 5 stars? I need 10!!

Food was just average. I had a small pasta and veal. Tips and tax total was $75. I had better veal elsewhere.

North and Navy won five-stars from me before I even stepped into the restaurant. I have some pretty restrictive dietary needs, so I often called ahead to ask if there's anything on the menu that might work for me. I was told of a couple options that would work, but then was also told that if there wasn't anything on the menu I was I wanted, the chef would cook something up special for me. AMAZING! I've never been offered that. Got there, food was amazing, the venue is beautiful and the service was fantastic. But, hey: don't take it from just me, Prime Minister Trudeau eats here. Nuff said. read more