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

Great service , great ambience! Beautiful layout on the plate…read more Fruit was plain and not fresh, said "it is not in the right season". I hope they can keep up with their quality of food.

Breakfasted here twice during a weekend trip to Ottawa in November 2014. I was staying at the ARC…read moreHotel and my reservation included a daily breakfast credit at the ARC Lounge. I went pretty early both times and I was the first or second table there. I ordered the Trio Sante (a combination of yogurt, fresh fruit, and house-made granola) on my first visit and the ARC French Toast on my second. Both were excellent - I even dreamt about the french toast for awhile after =P There was just something about the contrast between the soft, rich, custard-like interior and the crunchy, oat-encrusted exterior in combination with a delicate spice, warm maple syrup, and tangy citrus butter... yum. To drink, I tried the drip coffee and a latte - both were average. The decor is modern and clean lines, with some elements from nature. It's bright and sunlight streams in from the windows. Basically, a great setting for a relaxing breakfast. Keeping in mind that both times I was one of only a few people there, service was appropriately attentive - i.e., there when it was necessary and not over bearing. Prices were on the high side, but probably on par with what would be expected in a hotel restaurant. I would come here again if I were staying at the hotel but, truth be told, there are other breakfast/brunch places in Ottawa that are higher on my list of places to go.

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!

The Short Version: Spacious and beautiful restaurant…read more Delicious food. Service was pleasant, but a bit slow. The Long Version: I had dinner here as part of a professional continuing education event sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. We had a section of the restaurant for our event and it was nicely set up with space for a screen and a projector. Even though there were other patrons in the restaurant we could still hear the presentation and our little nook felt private. I started off with a mixed greens salad and it usually comes pre-dressed, but I asked for the dressing on the side and this was accomodated. Vegetables were fresh and it was a mesclun mix, carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and radishes. The lemon honey dressing was light and not too oily, although I only used about a fifth of what they gave me. For my main I had the salmon which came with a delicious fried polenta cake. The outside was crispy and delicious while the inside was creamy. The salmon was moist and delicious. It came with kale, a tomato confit and an olive tapenade. The flavours complemented each other well and did not over power the salmon. The menu price of the salmon was $39. For dessert I got the gluten-free chocolate brownie, which I was told was made of almond flour. It was a bit crumbly and had a grainy texture. I did not love it. Many others at the event had the Steak Frites and this looked delicious. I was debating between the salmon and the steak and while I enjoyed my salmon I wonder if I did not make the best choice, lol. The menu price of the steak was $49. The other dessert option was a creme brulee which also looked good. And given I wasn't thrilled about my brownie, I felt I should have gotten the other option. Service was pleasant. The wine was flowing freely, lol, but the courses took a while to come out. For these events, the dinner is usually fully served by the end of the educational session presentation, but when the presentation ended they hadn't even served the main course yet. We were a large group of around 30 people. And I don't know if they had their full staffing complement. Attendees were getting antsy towards the end and were asking for their desserts to be packed up to-go. Staff seemed a bit flustered but got the job done. Overall, a beautiful restaurant that is very spacious with multiple sections to the restaurant. Great environment for an event. Food was delicious. Service wasn't as timely, but still courteous and pleasant. Street parking only. Review #83 (2026)

Back in Ottawa for our annual colleague dinner on the first night of CMPA's Prime Time conference…read more The food was great, I had the best wine... A red blended wine, a Syriah-blended with a grape I have never heard about. It was a fixed prix menu for our large group. Lovely steak frites main, cooked perfectly. And a stunning creme brule. Always a great atmosphere and music is always on point. Our service had the most charming, attentive and helpful attendant. Great place.

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.

prosper was an amazing server and rhe food was insane. shoutout to the maitre D Liv as well! she…read moreensured everything went smooth and the music was lovely

We went to Joeys for apps and drinks on Sunday night. The restaurant was not busy so we were seated…read moreright away. There is plenty of bar seating, as well as dining tables. Our waitress was kind and attentive. The food was ok - we ordered the sushi, gyoza, and bang chicken. The portions we a bit small considering the price.

This place has a lot of potential. The food was actually pretty decent, a little over priced but I…read moredon't mind that. The Short Rib Bao was the best item on the menu, I loved the meat and how soft it was. The ambiance was a little weird, but that's an Ottawa thing, it was very dead. The service was awful! We waited 10 minutes to be seated in a place that had 3 other customers. We were given menus right away but then the server disappeared for about 20 minutes. We ordered our drinks which took 35 minutes, and I couldn't even find the server to flag her down. The food came out fairly quickly and I asked for the bill right away. Service needs work but could be attributed to Covid-19 aftermath. Keep Eating, Angela

My friends were interested in a nice girls night and selected Savanna Lounge. After reviewing the…read moremenu and Instagram I could instantly see that this spot was a vibe. We made a reservation and our table was ready for us upon arrival. The ambiance was certainly grown and sexy! I ordered a glass a white wine and the King salmon dinner. My food was delicious however, the portion size was extremely small considering the price. I was definitely hungry after which always sucks when you put time and energy into going out for a nice meal. I kid you not, I probably had four potatoes and four brussels sprouts. If I can count the sides, that means there wasn't enough. If the owners see this review, I hope they take note and make adjustments to the portion sizes because this spot has a lot of potential. Cheers!

We had a great time here, we came to play some games. There are three floors, the main level has…read morethe video games, upstairs has a bar and seating area. The bathrooms are located in the bathroom. They have an organized system, you scan the QR code there are categories for how many players,types of games to choose from. If you have a hard time finding a game, they will help you. There were so many options for all ages to choose from. There was a bit of wait for the video games, but our name came up fairly quickly, we were escorted to the video game section. There are several tables with different consoles. You choose the game, staff sets it up. This was so much fun, there are food/ drink options as well. Staff was friendly!

Food was good and so were drinks! $9 per person to play games seems a bit much, I'd understand if…read moreit was $9 per table....once we said we weren't going to stay and play the servers seemed to be pushing us to leave. Despite the tons of other open tables. Our server was also very rude regarding our US ID's and said we needed a second form of identification, I've never had this happen in my many years going to Canada. Who carries two forms of ID at all times?? They wouldn't accept a college ID either for one of our group. Overall the food is good and would be a great place to spend a few hours playing games if you're willing to pay the high price.

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.