Wow...wow...wow...WOW! You know how you think you found your…read morefavourite restaurant and you think of that meal with complete fondness and think you'll never find anything better. This was the better. Literally, this is the best meal out I've ever had. There was only one tiny disappointment, which was that I'd looked at an old menu online and didn't realize and picked out this amazing sounding drink beforehand. If you see the Major Payne online, don't pick it in advance! LOL I did get a super nice Prosecco at happy hour for a fabulous price. My server was Jamie, and I ordered every suggestion she made, and was not disappointed. Started with a salad, perfect mix of sweet with charred peanuts for a touch of bitter. The cheese that was on that salad was phenomenal. One of the best salads I've ever eaten. Dinner was the lobster risotto. Hands down, best risotto I've ever eaten...and I thought Vessel in NOLA would never be beaten. So creamy. The butter poached lobster was perfect, so tender. There were macadamia nuts, which broke up the creaminess of the risotto and crispy sage, which was also a perfect break from that rich, perfectly cooked rice. Never had a better dish out. I'll be dreaming about it for months after I go home. I wasn't even thinking about dessert, but Jamie brought over a menu with so many gluten-free options. I got a mini pavlova that had coconut cream inside and raspberries and blueberries. I don't usually enjoy desserts with berries, but the tang was such a perfect compliment to the vanilla/coconut. Nice crispy shell too. It was so light that after the risotto, it didn't make me feel overstuffed. Such a cute, homey vibe, and I had a seat by the window and could watch the busy street. Wonderful that they had a parking lot too (free). Service was perfect. Jamie had a real sense for when she should stop by and kept my water glass filled at all times (and it was small). She was amazing. I left my glasses in the window sill and had pulled the curtain, so I missed them when I left. I went right back and she had held onto them for me. This place is perfection. I know it will be one of the top highlights of this birthday trip! Please, visit and have that lobster risotto. Your tummy will do a happy dance!

Wow...wow...wow...WOW! You know how you think you found your…read morefavourite restaurant and you think of that meal with complete fondness and think you'll never find anything better. This was the better. Literally, this is the best meal out I've ever had. There was only one tiny disappointment, which was that I'd looked at an old menu online and didn't realize and picked out this amazing sounding drink beforehand. If you see the Major Payne online, don't pick it in advance! LOL I did get a super nice Prosecco at happy hour for a fabulous price. My server was Jamie, and I ordered every suggestion she made, and was not disappointed. Started with a salad, perfect mix of sweet with charred peanuts for a touch of bitter. The cheese that was on that salad was phenomenal. One of the best salads I've ever eaten. Dinner was the lobster risotto. Hands down, best risotto I've ever eaten...and I thought Vessel in NOLA would never be beaten. So creamy. The butter poached lobster was perfect, so tender. There were macadamia nuts, which broke up the creaminess of the risotto and crispy sage, which was also a perfect break from that rich, perfectly cooked rice. Never had a better dish out. I'll be dreaming about it for months after I go home. I wasn't even thinking about dessert, but Jamie brought over a menu with so many gluten-free options. I got a mini pavlova that had coconut cream inside and raspberries and blueberries. I don't usually enjoy desserts with berries, but the tang was such a perfect compliment to the vanilla/coconut. Nice crispy shell too. It was so light that after the risotto, it didn't make me feel overstuffed. Such a cute, homey vibe, and I had a seat by the window and could watch the busy street. Wonderful that they had a parking lot too (free). Service was perfect. Jamie had a real sense for when she should stop by and kept my water glass filled at all times (and it was small). She was amazing. I left my glasses in the window sill and had pulled the curtain, so I missed them when I left. I went right back and she had held onto them for me. This place is perfection. I know it will be one of the top highlights of this birthday trip! Please, visit and have that lobster risotto. Your tummy will do a happy dance!

Great food, we tried the salad was awesome, potatoe wedges was great, sautéed shrimps are a must,…read morefried shrimp, calamari and the grilled sea bass with vegetables All were good but what was awesome was the service! Our server was amazing and she was very accommodating in every way! We were celebrating a birthday and she surprised us with a song in the background! The place in spacious and clean their tea was a great ending for a heavy dinner

This was my second time at this restaurant and both times I enjoyed my food. The owners and the…read morestaff are very warm, kind and welcoming. The first visit the restaurant was crowded and busy with two large parties (both very lively and friendly). This visit was quiet with about four tables occupied with sit down guests. There seemed to be a lot of pick up orders as quite a few people came in for food and left. The restaurant is very clean with lots of light coming in from the window and doors. It's a casual setting but you could dress up and still feel comfortable. I will definitely go back to this restaurant on my future visits to Ottawa.

This place came highly recommended. Now I were to rate them…read morejust on apps they would be a 4 star. The main fish was just OK and the pasta being overly oily. The scallop crudo being on best app IMO. The tuna was OK and so was the welk which surprised me as being a menu item. Service is decent but being priced at this level I think 3.5 stars as the mains didn't do it for moi.

We had to book our reservation 3 weeks in advance because of the time slot, and the day. Saturday…read moreat 530. I guess itsya popular time to eat! 3 weeks was worth the wait, as the anticipation of what we were about to enjoy grew stronger. Bread to start, with whipped butter. Hot from the oven. Soft, pillows of carb goodness, with a touch of salt. We started with the TOMATOES WITH FIOR DI LATTE AND RICOTTA STUFFED ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS which was devine. My main was the ROASTED RAINBOW TROUT WITH BOILED POTATOES, PASTIS HOLLANDAISE AND SEA ASPARAGUS and hers was SWEET CORN AGNOLOTTI WITH BUTTER, PECORINO AND JALAPEÑO. Both dishes were faultless. We finished with Eton Mess with meringue, whipped cream and stewed rhubarb for dessert. It looks like a LOT, but the meringue is mostly air, so we tackled it with ease. And, it wasn't as sweet as expected. Americano to cleanse the palate. Fortunately, we found a parking spot right around the corner, so our full bellies didn't have to go too far.

5/5! A local friend of mine took me here and we both really enjoyed the vibe and the food! We…read moredecided to split a bunch of appetizers instead of getting a main dish each - this was a great decision! We were able to try a bunch of their appetizers and nothing was really disappointing. We loved everything! We had: - a round of oysters - garlic bok choy - tuna tare tare - this was served in a taco shell of sorts - beef tare tare - this was served on a piece of bread - our favourite! The beef tare tare was definitely the highlight of them all! The spread on the bread was some sort of fig jam I believe, and it paired amazingly with the beef and other toppings on top. Definitely a more unique beef tare tare that I've had recently, and I would totally get it again!

Very upscale pub food - bone marrow, lots of seafood towers, but not pretentious at all. We had…read moretwo kids in tow and they loved both the food and atmosphere. Plenty of options for anyone to find a meal. Friendly and fast service as well.

The best fish and chips in town. And you know it's fresh because they also have a little fish…read moremarket on the side where you can buy fresh seafood. Everything from the calamari, to the clam chowder, to the sweet potato fries (which I think are the most amazing sweet potato fries I have ever eaten in my life). It's seafood heaven here!

I really hate leaving low reviews but this was 4.5 stars so my expectations were high. Granted…read morethere has been no reviews in awhile, we thought we'd try this place out for seafood since they are a "fish market" so we figured the seafood would be fresh. Ordered the haddock dish & chips cuz that seemed like a food standard to act as a base. Also ordered the paella cuz who can resist a good paella? The fish and chips were super greasy. Ugh. There was a pool of grease and I had to use several napkins to soak up all the grease. The fish and chips were nothing special which would have been a 3 star but the grease factor dropped it to 2.5. The paella was good. The seafood fresh and hot. and the rice had an excellent flavor. The portion was a bit small so I'd give it a 3/5. Wait staff took our order, brought it, and then the check. Never came back to check on us. They were nice tho. If I lived in the area, I wouldn't come back. Will stick to my favorite fish & chips shop in Pacifica, CA!

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.

A large group of us met for dinner recently at The Elmdale…read more Dinner was great, a little overpriced. Our server was amazing. We were happy -- it was a celebration. Then came the part that defies common sense. After dinner they were clearing space for a DJ. We had settled our bill. I went to order a drink at the bar and was told I had to walk to the front door to pay a $5 cover before I could buy a $10, one-ounce drink .... after I had already spent nearly $100 on dinner. When I politely asked how this possibly made sense, the manager stepped in and argued that we had to pay. I have decided that I will not mention his name despite how insulting I found this to be. I'm choosing to give someone the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was having a bad day. So let's do Math 101. An empty bar. Paying guests. Good-tippers. A lively group ready to keep spending. And you stop the sale over $5 and talk down to your customers. This felt like a perfect example of what I personally feel is going wrong in society today -- people blindly enforcing "rules" without applying any human judgment, common sense, or situational awareness, and mistaking a small bit of authority for good decision-making. In fairness, perhaps he doesn't have the power to override silly little penny-pinching rules by owners/mgmt. We walked out immediately -- on principle. It wasn't even about the five dollars. That single interaction left a worse taste than anything we ate. It takes real talent to turn happy dinner customers into walking warnings. I have to say, everyone else, including the doormen outside, were really super nice (hence the 2 stars).

A nice spot in Hintonburg, with lots ofindoor and outdoor seating as well in the summer. Lots of…read moreseafood options, and a few options for those who don't eat seafood like steak. The staff is very friendly and kind , very attentive. If you come early in the evening on weekend, you won't have any issues getting a table It has the same owner as whalebone , so if you enjoy their restaurant downtown, you will enjoy the spot as well It is a spot that is a casual dining experience without being pretentious, while also being a nice date like spot for a more casual person