We reserved for 845 PM (their last opening for the evening) and the restaurant was relatively empty…read morewhen we arrived on a Saturday. The hostess led us to our table immediately and the server came to greet us and explain the menu. There was a three course and five course meal option with the main differences being: 1) bread and amuse-bouche, 2) chef's choice for the second course, and 3) dessert (three course meal meant souffle and if you wanted to change to their carrot and coconut cake, it was an additional $10). The price difference between the two options were about $20. We selected the five course meal since it made more sense if we were planning to get the carrot and coconut cake. Overall, I would say that the service was great but the food itself fell short for the price that was paid. We added a half dozen oysters for ~$20 and that was our favourite part of the meal. There was repetition with the slaw used for the chef's choice (pork belly) and tuna tartare and the slaw was much less than exceptional. The amuse-bouche fell short and we didnt quite enjoy it. My major complaint was that the tiger prawn dish (main course) that I had chosen was incredibly salty and I couldn't finish any of the lentils and the tortilla crisp felt out of place in terms of texture of the food. The soft shell crab was delicious but the bean salad that it came with was not a good match. I would have much preferred a bean salad with edamame. The desserts were delicious. Lastly, they served a gummy dipped in citric acid and sugar when the bill was presented and while the robot shaped gummy was cool, my first bite into the gummy was not chewy and not soft enough to be jelly (not the texture I would expect). We also got the non-alcoholic pairing (4 drinks that complement the meal for an additional $70). I've tried several other restaurants similar to Stofa in the Toronto and Montreal area and I would rate them much higher than my experience at Stofa.

Lovely new restaurant in Ottawa. Great food, great service. I went with my mom a few weeks ago when…read moreI was in town. She is very excited to have a nice new restaurant very close to our neighbourhood. Nicely executed dishes Recommended

Drumroll please... Riviera -- Wow…read more This is what I'm talking about. Sexy. Sophisticated. Huge ceilings. Gorgeous bar. And a Negroni list with ten different versions. Don't miss Riviera when you're in Ottawa. We arrived an hour early before our third dinner guest joined us, so we started with a drink and a small appetizer. After several of my jokes fell flat, I told the waitress to just pick a Negroni for me based on what she'd heard from me so far. She nailed it. It was a slightly sweeter Negroni than the traditional one, with a hint of rosemary. We shared a dynamite tartare to start. Our buddy arrives and, without even looking at the menu, says: "You have to try a Negroni here -- they clearly know what they're doing." So I went for a second one -- this time a classic. Perfect. Next up: the seafood tower. Honestly, it felt like it had just come out of the sea. Razor clams, tuna belly tartare/ceviche on a mini salad leaf that was outstanding, plus lobster and crab claws that were spot on. A fabulous start. There were three of us, so we shared a steak with fries and a beautiful au jus, perfect gnocchi, and a salad with chicory, little nuts of some kind, and tons of shaved cheese -- Parmesan-ish. I can't remember exactly what it was because I'm writing this the morning after... and there may have been a few more wines involved. We finished by sharing a pavlova with passion fruit -- three spoons. I almost hate to admit this... but it was better than anything I've had in Toronto in years. Everything felt fresh, almost farm-to-table. Light, lively, and just a great vibe. In my opinion, Riviera is the perfect restaurant. Oh, and I added our waitress to my newsletter list because she wanted to try an excellent Polish water called Perlage that I think the restaurant should carry. Riviera -- if I could give you a 10 out of 10, I would. Actually... you know what? You're a 10.

The scallop "chowder" threw me for a loop. It's a curry…read morethat's called chowder. It's just not Chadah as one would say in New England. A light broth with pungent nose and taste tickling spices. Heavy on the lemon grass. Very flavorful and a refreshing change for my pallet. Loved it. An amazing lobster pasta followed that, again with spice combinations that I have never had and thoroughly enjoyed. And let's not forget the attentive staff with amazing service.

Always friendly and very accommodating would recommend it to anyone enjoying a relaxing atmosphereread more

Had yet another group event at the quaint Von's Bistro in the Glebe. To be transparent, in spite of…read moremy 50 years in Ottawa, I cannot say I had heard of this establishment prior to the invitation to visit for a "menu tasting' opportunity to experience a few of their selections. Part of my original inspiration to join this group, aside from the obvious reason to share with like-minded others, was to experience new, reputable, and recommended restaurants, as well as those that are on my 'Bucket list' for various other reasons. To date there have been a few that exceed expectations and make me feel like I am either a Judge on a show like 'Top Chef' or I am having an experience (relatively speaking of course) similar to those fortunate to visit and afford a multi-Michelin star culinary stalwart. The tasting menu, provided to us prior, had six entries. For me the menu was accompanied with the obligatory glass of red which was reasonably priced and a regular brew coffee to pair with the dessert. First was a Beef Tartare. I personally enjoyed this as the medley, with Capers, Pickles and Mayo on top of two Crostini's decorated with a Parm crisp, left a wonderful taste in my mouth that had me licking my lips. Whenever, this happens it usually means I want more! Next was the Arancini. I have had this dish a couple of times elsewhere. The version I had at Von's was a perfect texture of smoked mozzarella and Arborio rice inside the lightly breaded and crisp exterior plus the Marinara sauce was the ideal amount to add that tangy flavour bomb. The basil oil that the ball rested in made for a perfect base. Thirdly, and the top dish on a few lists that night, was the Mushroom Ravioli. I have spent an hour or two watching the various offerings on the Food Network over the years. I've always wondered what are the characteristics of the several pasta's that the many Hosts, Clientele and Judges have lost their mind over? Well I may have found out. I have eaten many a meal at Italian restaurants and feasts served by my former Father-in-law [who is Italian]. This is by far the best pasta I can recall. Moreover, it was enhanced by the co-existing Blue Oyster mushroom, Beurre Blanc and Cherry Tomato. All topped with a sprinkle of crispy Prosciutto and fresh Basil. The fourth dish was my primary reason for signing up for this visit. I was born in England. Therefore, when I saw Yorkshire Pudding, Roast Beef in a whiskey demi with Pomme Puree, there was no way I could miss the opportunity to experience such a dish served in such a restaurant. I have to say it did not disappoint. One thing I would have preferred is that they served the meal on an oven-hot plate. For me this is a precious childhood memory. I really enjoyed the Demi, that was a luxurious consistency, over the roast and sides. I have a confession... I added a sprinkle of salt and OMG. BTW I did notice, when leaving, that they offer a full entre for brunch on the weekends for $30 or so. The following dish was called a Palate cleanser. It was a Bloody Mary Sorbet with a lime zest. Never have I had anything similar. So a bucket item (try new things) checked. I would not order again myself but glad I got to try it. Finally, the Sticky Toffee Pudding drizzled with Caramel and Creme Anglaise. Not sure whether it was the recipe or the hand that baked it but the sponge was spectacular. Each course was served with enough time in between to savour the experience and enough umami (am I using this correctly?) to leave you looking forward to the next. I have not checked the a la carte menu to see if these items are on it. However, I have been told the pasta and roast beef (weekend brunch) are available for sure. Overall a very pleasant evening and food experience.

Visited tonight with our corporate group of 20+, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the dinner!…read more We landed at this spot for dinner because they were surprisingly one of few restaurants that would accept a reservation of 20+ people on a Wednesday night. The food was delicious, portions were good, drinks were made well, and service was prompt. (Only downfall is that they have limited vegetarian options) Their salmon entree is a MUST-TRY! Had we not come here for tonight's dinner, we likely wouldn't have tried found this place... but I'd definitely recommend it!

My boyfriend and I haven't been out on a "proper" date in a long, long time. COVID and all of the…read morelockdowns have put a damper on being able to go out and enjoy a romantic meal together. Mostly, we get take-out and stay home about twice a month. We decided to throw caution to the wind and get dressed in something other than PJs (and I put on makeup!!) to have dinner at a local restaurant. I Googled "romantic restaurants" in Ottawa. We went through a few and Absinthe caught my eye, we had always wanted to stop in for a bite, so why not? We made reservations. The restaurant is 100% COVID ready. They have a check-in station at the front door where you are asked to sign-in and sanitize your hands, and your table even has its own bottle of hand sanitizer. The tables are very well spaced. We ordered three different types of Absinthe, because who doesn't go to a place called "Absinthe" without ordering the "green fairy"? If you're looking to try some, order the Czech variety, it's very smooth in comparison to the Canadian and French varieties that they currently serve. We had absolutely great service. The prices cannot be beat! For a 3 course meal my boyfriend and I paid $48 each. I ordered the Smoked Tomato soup, the Steak Frites, and the Chocolate Mousse. Everything was generously portioned, delicious, and cooked to perfection! My boyfriend and I left just absolutely stunned with how much we enjoyed our overall experience at Absinthe. We cannot remember a time when we raved so highly about a place after leaving, not kidding. The food, the staff, the restaurant, the whole experience was just wonderful! I am already looking forward to another romantic date night at Absinthe with my boyfriend! We may even make it a monthly thing!

I had the pleasure of coming here for a wedding reception where we took over the whole restaurant…read morefor the evening with a set menu. I enjoyed a myriad of fun drinks (maybe, too many?!) and a great short rib main. The dessert was a citrus creme brulee, and then a poutines bar rolled out around midnight. The whole experience was blissful, and homely we didn't dance to hard upstairs.

While this restaurant fares quite well for lunch or dinner, the brunch we had was poor in terms of…read moreoffer. Look at these two dishes especially the poached egg! Another example of shrinkflation? I wouldn't recommend the brunch at this location unless a better offer comes up. However the service was efficient as always.

We came on Saturday for brunch and it was not very busy, and for good reason. At the time we didn't…read morerealize that this restaurant is actually part of the andaz hotel. The food was overpriced for the portion and for what it is. It wasn't bad but it was also nothing special. For the price, there are definitely nicer places for brunch in the market. Unfortunately I won't be returning even though the service was good and the interior was cute!

Eggs and Benny seem like good value at $23 compared to other brunch places, considering I pay the…read moresame thing for plain eggs Benny. The one here comes with smoked salmon and black caviar! The eggs were cooked perfectly and the sauce was yummy. Wished the potatoes were crispy instead of mushy. Overall I think this was an okay dish as it was very heavy. Just good value. Other items are a bit expensive such as $7 for addition of avocado. Mushroom + kale + egg toast ($10?) was 1 very tasty slice of bread. Very flavourful and heavy. Lots of butter or cream that flowed from the toast. The fried egg was also cooked fully, wish it was more runny. Although it was extremely heavy and a bit salty, I would recommend this dish as well as get it again! Coffee ($3) was strong. Cream and sugar on the table. We were double charged for the coffee. My friend and I didn't love the locally made ketchup, it was watery and not flavourful but they also provided regular heinz ketchup too. Love the venue and atmosphere, very high class looking.

This cozy French Canadian restaurant in the heart of ByWard Market in Ottawa Ontario Canada offers…read morecreative dishes. We sat inside without a reservation after 8pm. They also have outdoor seating. We shared the House Bread $8, Trout Filet $56 and Grilled Savoy Cabbage $22. It was all delicious. Our server was very friendly and efficient.

This place is rock solid. Good wine list. Think French tapas. Everybody orders two or three and…read moreshares. Service was impeccable in a very casual ambiance. Check out the photos. All the food was outstanding. Of note Duck Tartare, scallops and the pressed potatoes with egg on a smoke tomato sauce were worth going back the next to eat again. Yes, Duck tartare. Eat here.

We had a very good experience dining here tonight. The appetizers were focaccia, carrots , ire ash,…read moresquid , carrots and a mixed salad. All were very good. For the mains there were two halibuts, two scallops and a lamb shank. Everything was excellent. Our waitress was outstanding and suggested the wine which we really enjoyed. I highly recommend this restaurant. This is an historic house transformed into a restaurant so it is unique.

Lovely restaurant with friendly, unpretentious staff. I dined here for an anniversary with my…read morepartner and we enjoyed the overall experience. We opted for the tasting menu; the food was pretty good although I felt that the value for the tasting menu was average compared to other fine dining options. Also, their choice of music didn't match the ambiance and decor, in my opinion as a former DJ! Overall, I'd recommend Beckta for a nice evening out.