This is going to sound ridiculous but I'm going to recommend that you go to this place and order carrots. The guys in the open kitchen are, at the moment, performing some legitimate sorcery with a plate of grilled salt-roasted carrots laid on a bed of harissa yogurt, zucchini pesto and pistachio. I cannot even describe the flavour of this dish except in superlatives. It was one of the best things I have tasted in years; a stop-me-in-my-tracks, silence -inducing burst of sweet-laced, wood-smoke tinged umami. This is the kind of dish I know I will forever try to recreate but will never come close to. Other stuff on the menu is great too. But while they have them, get the f-ing carrots. read more

My partner wanted to try this place out for a while. I would recommend a reservation because we would always come and it was full. We got lucky today they had a table for 2 left in the corner. I took steak and eggs. It comes with a crispy egg but over easy...(very delicious) but I don't know how we call it. On top of the eggs you will find; onions, tomatoes, feta cheese and fried onion. Under all the goodness was sliced steak. ($28) the portion are good. Salade was made out of pomegranate, cucumber and radish. Not the highlight of my plate but good combination. My partner got the BLT he loved it. Because of the wait for our plated they gave us a complimentary dessert. Partner said it was delicious. read more

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Everything about my visit today was perfect. We had a 12:30p reservation, got there at about 12:25, and our table was ready and waiting. The room was otherwise full. Reservations are recommended at busy points of the week and day. It's a charming room, both airy and cozy at the same time. Plants bring earthy warmth as do the green walls. Our waiter was perfect, offering pleasant greetings, attentiveness, and suggestions when asked. He had the skills to show up exactly when we needed him. My meal, the asparagus and egg dish, was delicious and flavourful. The egg came on a delicious bread base, and the asparagus came as part of a delicious salad. Very flavourful with lots of eye appeal too. read more

I had a wonderful time here for a small girl's night out dinner. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and I loved the service. The restaurant is quite small so I wouldn't think it would be good for large groups but I could be wrong. I also heard great things about brunch which I plan on trying some day. The apple donuts were the star of the night! I highly recommend. I had the Aubergine and it was delicious. My friends liked their dishes too. The price is fair for the elevated dishes you get. The only thing I didn't like was the layout of their menu. There is not clear way of knowing what is an appetizer or what is an entree. You kind of have to make guess based on the pricing. read more

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I came with a few friends on a Thursday night and they were pretty busy! I was able to find some parking right on Bank Street, but it can get pretty busy there. Our server was friendly and she explained the small menu and that it was made for sharing. Also, the dishes at the top tend to be smaller and get increasingly bigger but they don't really differentiate which are apps or mains. We decided to get a few things to share, including the pork belly, crispy tofu, seared scallops, and cauliflower fritters. Everything was pretty good! We loved the atmosphere as well! read more

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forgot to get a photo of my actual meal but I think I got what was called the fresh rotatore?? it was really quite good, the sauce was creamy and had a little spice, the pasta was a really unique shape, and the cheese used on top was so fresh and so good. honestly idk how I feel about spending $27 on a pasta dish but I guess this is life. The winter donuts were really good. Gingery, cranberry, delectable. The caramelized white chocolate had kind of separated and granulated which wasn't incredible but it still tasted good. I got the Earl Grey ice tea to drink and I really appreciate that they had affordable non alcoholic drink options. Serving staff were SO kind, so personable, so incredible. would recommend! would love to come back again for brunch next time !! read more

The Rowan - winter donuts - British Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

It is a fun spot in a trendy neighbourhood. Has a good selection of cocktails and wine. The menu includes many interesting items with various prices at flavours. The fries were more tasty than I was expecting with a nice sauce to dip it with, and they have a high-quality burger that is loved by locals. They also had an interesting food item with seared tuna with crispy noodles and cabbage. For a $23 price point, I was expecting a little bit more. When I read the menu and that crispy noodles, I thought it would actually be a serving size of carbs, given the price point, and how cheap noodles are. Instead, it was more crispy garnish. The cabbage was raw, and it was very saucy with a spicy gochujang mayo. The two no where's over cooked and was a dull gray color. For the price point, and the popularity of the spot was expecting a seared fish that was red or pink on the inside I think I would still come back and give it a second chance, but I would not get anything seafood here read more

Loved this restaurant! Came on the suggestion of a friend who lives nearby. Started with the seared tuna and had trout filet as my main. Sides were great - lentils, puréed squash, and a slice of orange on top. Who serves fish with an orange?! These guys! It was a surprisingly good pairing. Finished off with a decaf Americana which was delicious as well. Great beer and wine selection, and friendly service. Took a little while for the server to come back so we could ask for bill but not a big deal. Interior of restaurant is really nice - interesting decor, nice colours, and clean bathrooms. Was also a little too warm in the restaurant but I can see how they wanted to make sure it wasn't cold when it was -15 outside. Would love to come back next time I'm in Ottawa! read more

The Rowan - Interior - British Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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When going out with some friends for dinner in the Glebe, I remembered that The Rowan was a place I'd come across in my restaurant researching so I gave them another look. Their menu is bigger than some modern restos that only have five or six mains, but is still lean and focused, with interesting dishes like a curried Cornish pasty, beef and potato croquettes, and a housemade pork pie. I wasn't able to make a reservation online on the day of, so I wasn't sure how it was going to be when we arrived on a warm Thursday evening, but there were plenty of tables still available. The decor is unsurprisingly very woodsy, with birch branches, greens and paintings of birds featuring heavily. It makes for a cozy atmosphere, without being kitschy, and the open windows at the front make for an airy, spacious feel as well. Their beer list has several local/regional varieties on tap and a similar amount in bottles as well, and I got a pint of Beau's to start things off. When it came time to order our food I settled on the beer and potato croquettes to share, and the seared pork chop for my main. Our friends had ordered the cheese plate to share and their was a nice mix of an aged cheddar, a brie, and a mild blue cheese. Cheese boards are hard to mess up, unless you're some godless heathen that doesn't like cheese, pickles and jams, and this one was as tasty as any. As for the croquettes, I was glad that there were several small ones instead of two or three large croquettess, as they were more shareable this way. The crisp, golden brown exterior easily gave way to the lightly seasoned interior of moist ground beef and potato, and they made for good dipping in the tzatziki-ish sauce and mustard sauce that they came with. Our mains were welled timed, coming out shortly after our appetizers and drink re-ups. Per its description, my pork chop had a great sear on it, leaving a lightly crisp crust that was a good contrast to the moist and tender inner meat. The eggplant puree, pine nuts and lemon tapenade gave it a slight Mediterranean feel, while fresh green beans and cherry tomatoes brought the colour and freshness of the summer harvest. Service was friendly and attentive throughout our meal. The Rowan is putting out some great food that reaches beyond the limited menus of steak/fish/chicken/duck of many of its peers, and is quietly doing so without any of the crazy crowds, waiting lists or prices of them either. read more

The Rowan - Beef and potato croquettes - British Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I went here tonight with my family. Atmosphere and mood of the restaurant was great. It was a warm summer night and it was pleasant the restaurant left the front garage door open to let in the summer air. The service was on point and mostly friendly staff. The food was tasty but I left not feeling full. I ordered a rainbow trout dish. While it was flavorful it could have used some kind of potatoes on the side to help complete the meal. For me, going to a restaurant and eating tasty food and feeling satiated is important and I didn't get that here tonight. read more

Location: In the Glebe. Street parking is available but may be difficult to find if an event is going on at the park. The place: Great little spot that isn't overly big but not too small, either. It's got a gastropub feel to it that is cozy and relaxed with no pretence whatsoever. Their front window (is massive) and opens up so that you can get that terrace vibe. The goods: I don't even know where to begin. For real, people! My friend and I ordered 5 dishes because The Rowan's concept is small dishes that area meant to be shared. We got the salad, arancini, cauliflower, pasta with zucchini and ricotta, and the smoked tofu. First off, their portions are very generous and could easily be had as mains (we appreciated that!). The salad was fresh and delicious with no wilted lettuce leaves in site, the arancini were so mouthwateringly good that the next time I go, I'm going to bring bread so that I can finish off the delicious sauce - these were absolutely on par with arancini that I've had in Italy. The cauliflower had a nice caramelized char to it, the pasta was fantastic and the tofu was great. We enjoyed every dish though would have probably ordered 3-4 vs. 5 if we had known these guys were so generous! For dessert, we had the chocolate pot de crème which I really enjoyed, though personally, I found the butterscotch a bit too sweet. Oh, and the cocktails were superb. I recommend the Ruby Collins. Service: Fantastic. Our hostess and waitress was delightfully friendly and always had a smile on. Our waitress was attentive and we didn't lack anything throughout our dinner. Price point: Personally, I think their prices are reasonable with dishes ranging between $14 and about $22 (not sure about dishes with meat, though). The price will obviously depend upon how many dishes you order. I highly recommend this place and plan to go back the next time I'm in Ottawa. read more

Went out for dinner before a show at the TD Centre. Flavourful food, trendy atmosphere and great service. The spare ribs entree was our favourite. Based on our experience, we would recommend. read more

The Rowan - Spare ribs entree - British Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Great food and professional friendly non-pretentious service. I have been here for lunch and dinner. Their service and quality of food is consistent and of great quality. For dinner tonight we made a reservation half an hour before opening and got a fabulous table for two. We had staters, cocktails, wine, mains and desert. Every dish was absolute perfection. read more

Came here for lunch on a Thursday. Nice ambiance. Industrial feel w/copper tubing lights suspended from dark ceiling, garage door open to give feel of patio seating. The waitress seemed abit hurried and overwhelmed. We ordered BLT, beer battered haddock, and Rowan burger. read more

Went here on a Tuesday to get a nice meal out with a friend. Got the Beef Stipploin was fantastic, enjoyed every bite. We shared the roasted cauliflower salad, I'm not a huge fan of cauliflower and I would now never go back without getting it! Amazing!! Great service, great environment. read more

The Rowan - Beef Striploin! - British Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Good food, better service. $160 + tip: 2 small plates, 2 mains, 2 desserts, 4 drinks and coffee Get it: Capocolo with ricotta, watercress and strawberries on toast. Strawberries are . Leave it: lemon pound cake - slightly on the dry side and average dessert overall. Our waitress was attentive and engaging, my wife and I had a great meal and will come back soon enough read more

Sometimes you just need to treat yourself, and the Rowan is a real treat. It was my lovely girlfriend's birthday and we had tickets to see Our Lady Peace at Lansdowne (because we are that Canadian) so started looking around for a nice place close to the park and The Rowan consistently came up as a suggestion so I figured it was the obvious choice, and what a great choice it turned out to be. When you walk in you are instantly greeted by an interesting industrial-esque décor with some cool art on the walls. I was really impressed with the layout and the way it looks in general, and for those interested in seeing the kitchen, it's fairly out in the open so you can watch the cooks doing their thing. I'll start with the drink menu. They have a few craft beers on tap and a solid wine menu. I had a pint of Broadhead Common to start while she had a glass of Pinot Grigio that she really liked. We decided to start by splitting a cheese board that was a bit pricey but came with 3 cheeses, apples and melba-esque crackers. I had 2 of the 3 cheeses, Avonlea Cheddar which is very nice and an unbelievable good Ontario Blue. It was perfectly balanced in terms of flavour (not overly strong, but not overly creamy) and not so blue that it puts people off. I need to find this cheese somewhere, and conveniently they provided the name of the cheese shop where they source their cheese! The third was a creamy brie-like cheese that I did not try (not a fan of creamy cheeses) but I have it on good authority that it was very good. For mains, I had a trout filet with lentils, pesto, dill and some other things and it was excellent! The fish was cooked to perfection, slightly blackened but not rubbery while the accompaniments went perfectly with it. If you like trout, or fish in general, then I highly recommend it. She had Mussels and Clams that she really enjoyed, especially as it came with smoked fish that she said went perfectly with it. I had a glass of a very nice Sauvignon Blanc with my trout that was recommended by our excellent waitress. Overall we were both extremely happy with our meals. The service was also excellent, our waitress was able to take the time to properly explain things and was able to provide wine recommendations with our dinners. She was also attentive but not so attentive that she seemed overbearing, I like that in a waitress. I highly recommend the Rowan for the service and the food, and it's only a few minutes walk from Lansdowne so you can avoid some of the Chainey places in the Lansdowne complex and still have a fantastic meal. read more

I've had the pleasure of dining at the Rowan for both brunch and dinner, and it has become a new favorite of mine. The restaurant's positive traits include: - Interesting menu - Delicious menu (even the side vegetables are given extra care; without a doubt, they are not offering your simple boring side salad). - Warm service - Value for money; a lot of the new chic restaurants these days seem to offer "small plates" at main course prices. It is nice to go to a chic restaurant where a main course is actually the size of a main course. read more

The Rowan - "The Rowan" pork pie. LOVED the pickled vegetables. - British Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

The Fraser Brothers opened the Rowan in the space previously occupied by Zazaza on Bank near Lansdowne. It casts its cuisine as British and one can indeed see the inspiration from traditional British dishes. But this is no pub fare. Rather, the old dish is updated and transformed with ingredients, techniques and platings that reflect the best of modern cuisine. We've been there twice in the past month. The first time we went, we shared the chicken liver pate plate with pickled vegetables and grilled bread. A generous starter plate with delicious paté. I then had the mussels and shrimp, expecting a kind of moules et frites kind of dish but getting instead seafood in a spicy tomato sauce. A rather small portion for a main course but satisfying. My wife had the faro risotto - a nice alternative to arborio rice. For our second visit, I had the steak and chips. Fearing that the English have (or at least had) a reputation for overcooking their meat, I asked for it medium rare, hoping it would be no more than medium. It arrived as a perfect medium rare - I think the best steak I have had in a long time. Seating is close, but not too close. Conversation is lively and the whole place seems relaxed. On both visits we ran into someone from the neighbourhood and had a chance to catch up. We'll go back. read more

Long wait for very mediocre, expensive food in an unair-conditioned 80 deg F setting. Underspiced and unimaginative assemblage of ingredients. And now a stomach upset to boot! read more

We seem to be on a roll in checking off "to-eat" restaurants in Ottawa, and after having eaten here, we're glad we put Rowan on our list. Also, very rarely are we in the Glebe to actually sit down for dinner (parking woes and all) that it was a happy coincidence that we even made it here mid-week. Service was warm and friendly we got in. The place is small, cozy, and would probably have been (physically) warm if not for the big open window and the fans. The menu is not long, but I remember having a tough time picking a dish. They all sounded so good. Eventually, I chose the trout filet and my partner got the Rowan pork pie. Here's a free tip. If you're one not too pay attention much to the sides (in the menu); in Rowan, you probably should (or be pleasantly surprised, your choice). For me, when I ordered, I was just imagining a filet of fish with some potatoes and vegetables on the side. What came out was slightly different (mostly because of the sides) - but not in a bad way at all. They make some very interesting and creative dishes, especially in the way they complement the sides with their entrées. I can see that they put the same amount of effort in delivering both, and well, why not? If you can rave about the veggies almost as much as you can the meat, even better right? The portions, I find, are quite large (but at the price point, reasonable). My dish was a lot lighter than my partner's pork pie, but with the potato cake (which I found heavy), I almost did not finish my dish. I did find it delicious though. The trout was well-seasoned and went really well with the ragout underneath. I could have done without the potato cake. As for the pork pie, my partner said he was a little turned off by too many flavours on his palate at the same time (you decide if that's good or bad). He, too, was very full after his dish. Pleasant dinner, interesting food options. Cocktails are also excellent (I had the Pimm's no. 1). Definitely worth coming back at least one or two more times. In fact, we're already discussing plans to come back for brunch! read more

What can I say about The Rowan. One of a few restaurants that take reservations for brunch. Service was amazing. Steph was very attentive and gave some great suggestions. First, when you start off with such a high quality coffee it sets up for a great meal. I had the Oxtail Terrine. I am a big fan of oxtail but the way this was made blew my mind. They braise the oxtail and then pull it apart only to form it into a Burger shape. The flavor from the oxtail was outstanding. Complimented by their chips which is just WOW. This was a great experience from start to finish. Absolutely love this place and will be back soon. read more

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Solid service. Friendly staff. Nicely decorated and inviting. Beer wine and cocktails are unique but well thought out. Good choices are upscale pub inspired meals. But definitely not typical pub food. Fresh ingredients. Made in house and with care. Pricing is reasonable for good food. Returned many times. Staff service is excellent. Their drinks are well crafted. Ask for the Pims cup. For something different. Cheese board is. Reasonable. Feel like oysters they have them. Looking for authentic good quality pork pie. A must try. read more

Had dinner last night at The Rowan. What a lovely and relaxed atmosphere. Service was excellent and the food to die for. My husband and I shared the cheese plate which was well balanced and the home made chutney was excellent. As our main, we both had the striploin which was done to exactly to our liking. Also had a nice selection of wines. We had a nice Spanish Crianza. All in all, a pleasant experience. Highly recommend. read more

Have only eaten here once for dinner but I'll be back! Had the apple and beet salad to start and was a nice light starter. The beef strip loin with escargot was cooked perfectly for my main and the side veggies were fresh and delicious. They had a decent selection of local beers on tap and friends who had cocktails were all happy as well. Overall a great new spot in town. read more

Good service and nice atmosphere, but $24 for burnt duck leg. Burnt to black and inedible. So disappointing. Another mediocre, overpriced Ottawa restaurant. This city's specialty. read more

Food here is very very good - we had the fish, but will be back here because we want to try the lamb. Good portion size, friendly atmosphere, but has very limited seating so would definitely advise to get a reservation. read more

Very nice atmosphere, colorful and comfy (if a bit too dark). Service was friendly and attentive, good beer and wine selection. Food was delicious: we started with soups, then had the lamb and beef, both were flavorful with great presentation, generous portions that were neither stingy nor wasteful. Will definitely return, new gem in the city that easily bests current Lansdowne offerings. read more

I've had lunch here twice in the last few months and it was great every time from the service to the food, and at reasonable prices.

I went to Rowan today around 1pm as I am always on hunt for great places to take my family out. Your place is convenient and menu looks good but we wont be visiting your place due to unpleasant greeting by your server. There was no welcoming gesture but very serious face that I had to ask her; if she is mad because I have entered the place.?? She said ; no, and then she smiled. Than was so weird. However I looked around but it will take a time to forget first visit to your place. read more

Try the cocktails, and get the bartender talking about his creations if you get the chance. Well worth a visit!