The Vanitea Room

3.0 (52 reviews)

ModerateTea Rooms, Breakfast & Brunch

Open • 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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The Vanitea Room - Delectable mini chocolate cupcake - reminds me of Beauty & the Beast when Lumière says "try the gray stuff, it's delicious!" - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

The Vanitea Room - Entrance - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

The Vanitea Room - a plate of food and a glass of wine - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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The Vanitea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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The Vanitea Room menu photos

Menu photo 1 The Vanitea Room Ottawa, ON

Menu photo 2 The Vanitea Room Ottawa, ON

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THE VANITEA ROOM ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?

Inside

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Outside

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Classy

Moderate noise

Good for kids

Good for groups

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The WAP (Waffles ans Poulet) and Brisket Benedict (in the background)

Gladys C.

I made a reservation for Sunday brunch with a few friends, and good thing I did because the place was full when I got there! It's such a cute little spot right by my house and I had no idea. The decor is very cute, and I loved that they were playing R&B and Hip-hop cause that's my jam. The place was kind of small, which is hard with the covid restrictions. I don't think that the tables are 2 meters apart, but they put up plexiglass between all the tables. I got the WAP (Waffles and Poulet) and my friends got the Brisket Benny. I thought the WAP was delicious. The Korean fried chicken with the maple syrup was such a perfect combo since the Korean sauce usually has sugar added in Korean dishes anyway. The combination was just genius. It came with a small side of a salad but it was just ok. I wish the dish had a few more components, but I did enjoy it. My friends raved about the brisket Benny, so I will definitely have to come back to try it. The service was also super friendly. Our server was so bubbly and nice, and I really enjoyed chatting with her! Overall the decor, mood, and great service made this a wonderful experience.

Anita B.

The Vanitea Room is an excellent place for an afternoon tea for two as my bestie from out of town and I discovered. For $45 per person, we got a delectable selection of sweets and savouries with traditional butter scones, jam and our choice of tea from their Sloane Tea collection. Sooo good! I really like how Sloane Tea is a Canadian woman-owned business and how Vanitea supports them by offering their teas for purchase in tins as well as on their regular drink menu. I chose to get a pot of the Heavenly Cream tea, which was indeed heavenly to sip on - think of a creamier, richer Earl Grey. Out of all the little yummy morsels on our tea tray, I loved the beef meatballs with Korean BBQ sauce and the Mexican rice pudding best. Mmm! Our afternoon tea was a fun experience at a reasonable price for the quantity and quality that we got. We were looking for an afternoon tea that made us feel frufru fancy without breaking the bank to do so. Some afternoon tea experiences can be rather expensive, so this one was a welcomed option without sacrificing the wallet or missing out on a cool afternoon tea vibe. The decor and atmosphere are posh without being pretentious and we could tell it was quite a popular spot since it filled up quickly. I recommend booking your afternoon tea experience in advance to ensure that you get a table. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with my bestie over a hot cup of tea and delish little bites. I would come back here again in a heartbeat!

sian p.

I came here for drag brunch on the 26th of march. I got the $45 brunch package and it came with tea, a scone + jam and a scrumptious French toast. The staff were very friendly and attentive. Our waitress in particular was outstandingly kind. Very good show + atmosphere! The restaurant itself is very beautiful.

Disappointed and not worth the money. Came here for a date expecting a lot more. we pre-booked a 3 course meal with bottomless prosecco costing around $65 a person or $127 in total. Upon arrival the moment you walk-in to their indoor dining you are standing in the middle of the "dining room" there is no host stand or host/server near the door, on top of that the space is small so if someone in standing there you have to back up in order for someone to walk by you (making you back into tables/someone else) Therefore, we were waiting for someone to help us which took a good 5-10 mins as the three servers that were there were all too busy, one was on patio, one was talking to someone and one was in the kitchen/bar. None facing you or acknowledging you once entered. When they finally noticed us it was still a bit of a wait to get seated. When we got seated we were disappointed as we were sat at this plastic small table with a gold table cloth and very very small plastic chairs (They for sure had better tables that had cushion chairs and seats) The seat not only was uncomfortable but looked like they just sticked it in a corner to make "Extra seating" (advised that there were tables leaving/has payed the bills but we were not offered to wait as we noticed they were also struggling to decide on a table to give us) it only got worse from there as service was horrible, we were given a seating limit (which is understandable) but the verbiage given made it seem like they want us immediately up and out while other tables were allowed to stay seated after they payed their bills. We ended up not enjoying the meal as it was mediocre, AC wasn't really working and not a great overall experience. We only managed to stay there for 30 mins and the other tables that payed when we arrived were still seated with no intent to leave and as this was a prepaid experience we asked the server if anything needs to be done, they said no therefore we walked out, when exiting the door another server approached us saying "Did you pay?" when they are well aware and knew that we were doing the prepaid experience making it sound like we were walking out on a meal. DO NOT RECOMMEND rather be doing the Shangri-la Tea Room experience or actually buying from a local bakery instead.

Joelle H.

Note- this isn't a traditional high tea experience. It does not compare to le Château. It's a fun experience, as they put their own modern twist to the high tea, and cool decor/ambiance. Place is small, but cozy. I did not enjoy the top tier dessert plate. As it was very sweet. Bought it through Groupon. No parking lot. Parking is along the roads.

Megan L.

The place and decor is great. I liked the environment which was super cute and nice. I had the eggs benny with the corn bread and I think it was brisket? It was pretty good but portions were too small, overpriced and the eggs were hard even tho the waitress said it would be easy. She was nice though and changed that for me. The tea was nice they have a great selection. Probably wouldn't return

The Mad Hatter's Boozy Brunch (afternoon tea) selection for two Mother's Day.

Vickie M.

I've been to this gorgeous tea salon twice this week and both visits did not disappoint! The first time, I had the most scrumptious breakfast. I enjoyed exploring the huge selection of teas and settled on the Masala Chai tea latte which was creamy and sweet without the need to add anything to it. For breakfast I had the spring omelette with goat cheese and fresh tomato served with a side salad. It was light and fluffy and the perfect portion size. The second time was today for the Mad Hatter's Boozy Mother's Day Brunch - afternoon tea with bottomless mimosas and few extra nibbles. It was divine! We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The tea and food were fabulous and the attention to detail is truly outstanding. Hind and her team really made it a spectacular day for the wonderful women in my life! Pinkies up to The Vanitea Room! Ill be booking a boozy gals brunch again very soon.

Jenny R.

What a fun brunch place!! Very cute decor, great chill music and excellent service. We had the afternoon tea, which was both beautiful and delicious. Their brunch menu also looked amazing. Will definitely be back in the near future!

Kathy L.

So excited to see another high tea location pop up in the downtown core area. The decor is "modern renaissance" and definitely lived up to that theme when you walk in and look around the room. The place is very cozy, but no attention is lost for detail - from the big Marie Antoinette inspired mural to the small porcelain cup trays carrying your bill, the ambience is very European inspired! I had hightea and a brunch here, and both times they were very accommodating to our parties dietary restrictions (vegan, dairy, gluten). They do their best to adapt the menu items to fit the diner. I had wanted a pancake with no dairy; they had tried but ultimately said the substitute was not holding up. I liked that they were upfront with what they can accommodate and where they can't, they at least tried. The menu is expected to change through the seasons. Their selection of teas are divine! The whole high tea experience feels very complete and not just limited to the food. Compared to Zoe's (chateau Laurier) and nectar, the other high tea locations, the sandwiches are a bit more creative, however the sweets can be a bit more on the sweet side. But if you are vegan or GF, you can still get a full tower of food to your needs, which is not always available at the other locations. Super friendly staff and very knowledgeable on the teas selection and pairings. Only downside is that it does get very busy on weekends with parties and groups. The place is super compact, and when there's a large group it does slow down quite a bit the rest of the room. Tip: reserve ahead (they are on open table) and avoid the rush hours. They open wed-Sunday until 5pm!

It's usually hard to find tea spots that carry food, let alone great food! Vanitea checks all the boxes!! Great tea Delicious food Amazing service And a marvellous ambiance! It's the perfect place to meet with a friend and have a nice conversation! Hind, who I believe is one of the owners, was there when I went and she is absolutely lovely!! A must visit gem in Ottawa.

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Flora E.

8 years ago

I wanted to like this place, I really did. It's beautifully Instagrammable, with its painted wall murals, chandeliers and velvet window seating. But despite delicious-sounding descriptions on the menu, the food leaves much to be desired, and is poor value for the money you pay. The service is slow, lackluster at best. I'd come back for a cup of tea and a nice selfie, but would give it a miss for anything else until they up their game or change their chefs. read more

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Brooke M.

8 years ago

I went here once with a few girlfriends and liked it so I decided to go again. This was a mistake. I had THE WORST customer service experience of my entire life. I was outright lied to by one of the hosts causing me to waste hours of my time waiting for a table that they did not even have for us. Would not recommend. Go to The Art House Cafe right across the street if you're looking for a good experience. They're super friendly, licensed, and the coffee and food are wonderful! read more

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Krista B.

7 years ago

DO NOT DO BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS. All orange juice. Servers hate being there almost rude. Foods mediocre. Would not go back.

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Sarah M.

9 years ago

After reading all the reviews we decided to give it a try. Absolute disappointment. The owners need to visit a few good high tea places. It was over priced - sandwiches were dull and boring - some cheese and meat slapped between two pieces of bread! Scones were way too small and cream was kinda off. The jam was actually blueberry sauce. Pastries were soggy and stale - was a total waste of money. Was planning to invite a group of co-workers but NO!! Will never go there again :( read more

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Alyssa M.

8 years ago

I would not recommend Vanitea -- save yourself the trouble and go to the Art Café across the street! It has a very cute aesthetic, but the service was truly terrible and it seemed like they were being difficult about substitutions of any sort just for the sake of it. We arrived at the time they opened (11am) and they didn't even have half the things on the menu and refused to substitute for any reason -- so all of the options with sausage were out entirely. I asked to substitute banana loaf french toast for just regular bread french toast, thinking there would be no problem because regular french toast is already on the menu in other places. They refused to do that switch and gave no rationale, and refused to allow us to order from the kids menu (which had french toast) or order it as a side. The only option for regular french toast was the $30 tea special that included "mini" french toast. I mean... it was just being difficult for the sake of it, really. Im still hungry, I won't go back. Update: the "best culinary experience" is one the customer enjoys. read more

Business owner information

The V.

Good Afternoon Alyssa,…

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Alexandra Q.

8 years ago

Was unfortunately a little disappointed with this. Their website looks very cute, but inside is borderline dirty. The food was overpriced for what you got (17 dollars for 2 eggs / potatoes / toast/ sausage), and the bottomless mimosas/ bellinis were small, warm, had barely any alcohol in them, and the service was very slow for refills. Would not go back and would not recommend. read more

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Christine M.

9 years ago

The location is not great, but the food, elegant decor, and fantastic service more than makes up for it. Great venue for a celebration. Breakfast includes some interesting options (e.g. charcoal infused pancakes). My recommendation to the kitchen regarding the afternoon tea are to use clotted or Devon cream and change the scone recipe as is not up to scratch (scones hard and overcooked)!!! The afternoon tea is also pricey. Instead, I would recommend opting for other items (not high tea) on the menu as these are really excellent. read more

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Owen A.

10 years ago

My girlfriend brought me to this little hole in the wall place that as soon as you walk inside your amazed at how beautiful the decor is. She had herself some tea from their fine selection of Sloane teas and I had a Red Queen, one of their tea infused cocktails. The drinks were delicious and I had to get a second cocktail myself. :) They brought out two afternoon tea sets and we devoured these bite size sandwiches alongside scones and decadent desserts in no time at all. I wanted to savour everything as long as possible but it was just too delicious. Everything was amazing and we will definitely be going back soon! read more

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Susan S.

10 years ago

TLDR: Nice decor, poor value for money. A few observations 1. My tea was brought to me pre-steeped. 2. There is no cream for scones. 3. The scones are 4$ and they are way smaller than one would expect. 4. Service was slow. We waited 10-15 minutes between receiving our drinks and then our scones. 5. We were not offered water. 6. The server checked in on us while we were waiting for our food, but did not mention that it would be on its way, which led to some confusion. 7. The whipped vanilla butter and jam are served on a little dish, pre-portioned. Cute jam containers are pretty standard in most tea rooms. 8. Other tables ordered sliders, which were not on our menu. Our server did not mention these either. 9. There was water underneath the glass table top, in the corner. The server saw me cleaning it up, yet said nothing. The table was like that when we sat down. 10. I had to stop drinking my tea so I could wait for my scone. I could have finished my tea in that time. Positives: 1. Cute teapots and dishware. 2. Nice decor. 3. Good presentation of tea options. 4. Friendly service. 5. Scones were served warm. 6. Overall food quality was good $30+ and we left unsatisfied. It would be nice if they had more than 12 choices for tea. I love Lapsang Suchong and every tea room has had it. read more

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Jackie L.

9 years ago

This place might be nice for brunch or high tea with friends, but they need a serious attitude adjustment.

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Theresa S.

9 years ago

I made a reservation for a group birthday celebration (brunch) several days in advance. I spoke with a staff member 3 times on the phone in regards to the reservation (I called the make the initial reservation, but the staff member then asked me to make an online reservation and their system was not working. This resulted in a staff member calling me back two more times). Not only was making a reservation a frustrating experience, when we arrived for our reserved time, we were informed that they were completely full. Apparently, a staff member had seated a group of 7 (walk-ins, so no reservation) at the table that was to be reserved for us. The staff apologized and blamed the kitchen staff for seating people without checking the bookings. We were asked if we could come back in an hour. We said no. Incredibly disappointing and frustrating experience. Poor communication between staff and poorly run overall. I have never had this happen at a restaurant before. They lost our party as customers for sure. Our party will never return after this experience. We had this place in mind for other upcoming festivities but never again. read more

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Cindy T.

9 years ago

We were told we had to leave before we were even finished our meal after 1 hour because our table was required for another reservation. As the Chateau Laurier had no availability for afternoon tea, I booked a reservation at the Vanitea Room for noon on a Saturday for myself and my two grown daughters. At no time was I advised that my reservation would be for 1 hour only. When we arrived I thought the place was quaint and we were seated at a cozy table in the window. The food, although not remarkable, was more than adequate and we were quite enjoying ourselves. By the time I was ready to eat the dessert component (a several minutes before 1pm) as my teapot was empty, after waiting a few moments to gain the waitresses attention, I asked for a refill of my tea. The waitress went to get it, then returned and told me that she could not bring me another pot of tea as my table was needed for another reservation. My daughters and I were stunned speechless. A few minutes later another person, presumably some sort of manager, arrived and told me that they would bring me more tea but we would have to leave in 10 minutes. I declined and took my desserts to go as we were essentially made to leave before we finished our meal. Whoever heard of afternoon tea for only one hour? Even the Windsor Arms in Toronto, probably the most well known place for afternoon tea in Canada, has their settings 2 hours apart. Afternoon tea is a ritual my daughters and I have observed since they were young children, from Fortnum and Mason in London to the Plaza Hotel in New York City and dozens in between and never have I been subjected to such a spectacular display of inhospitality. I understand it is a small place and Saturdays are perhaps their busy day, however, I should have been informed at the time of making the reservation that we would only be able to sit for one hour. Given the cost, $40.00 per person, although I have willingly spent more (albeit even the aforementioned Windsor Arms is only $5 more on Saturday and actually less on a weekday) if limited to one hour, I may very well have decided to go elsewhere. I think it is incumbent upon an establishment purporting to serve afternoon tea to have at least a modicum of understanding as to what that event means. It is not the hoovering down of food as quickly as possible to make way for the next patron. That place is called McDonalds read more

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More info about The Vanitea Room

551 Somerset Street W
Ottawa, ON K1R 5J9
Canada
Directions
(613) 695-8832
Call Now
Visit Website
http://thevanitearoomteasalon.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does The Vanitea Room open?

The Vanitea Room opens at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does The Vanitea Room close?

The Vanitea Room is closed on Monday and Tuesday.The Vanitea Room closes at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Tue ClosedWed-Sun 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Food & Alcohol

Does The Vanitea Room have catering options?

Yes, The Vanitea Room does have catering options.

Does The Vanitea Room have a happy hour?

Yes, The Vanitea Room has a happy hour.

Does The Vanitea Room serve alcohol?

Yes, The Vanitea Room serves alcohol. Full Bar

Outdoor Amenities

Does The Vanitea Room have parking?

Yes, The Vanitea Room has parking options.

Other Amenities

Does The Vanitea Room have free WiFi?

Yes, The Vanitea Room has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Morning Tea Service Brunch Afternoon Tea Service Childrens Tea Service Cocktails,Tea Infused Cocktails

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Broadway Bar & Grill

I made this account specifically so I could review this place. I've been going here since I was in…read moreelementary school (I'm 17 now). It's always been a special morning when we got Broadway for breakfast. They're a similar restaurant to Zak's Diner; with great food and their signature Homefries (that could sometimes use a bit more seasoning). You can get their Homefries anytime, even after breakfast, but their quality isn't as good as fresh in the morning. On top of just the food, the have amazing service. The staff is always happy for a quick chat or there for a good recommendation. In terms of speed, it depends on when you come, but provided you know what you want, it can be as little as 5 minutes (the time it'd take to drive to the store). Now to the Ambiance. The place is inspired by NYC's Broadway (specifically their Musicals) so the restaurant's walls are decorated accordingly. Overall, this is one of my favourite restaurants in all of Ottawa, and probably my favourite one for eating breakfast. My only qualm is asking that the Homefries receive more seasoning, but that is something so minor that it shouldn't result in the loss of a star from my review, and similarly it only really happens when I order takeout. Edit: I forgot to mention that from what I've seen, the owners are great people. Some of their staff have worked for over 10 years (some over 20), and they still have good things to say of their bosses (the staff, I mean), which is not something you tend to see. Also, this place is locally owned and operated.

This spot is always full on weekends. Expect 10-20 minute wait. I took a take 1 ($19.50) 3 eggs…read morewith 3 meat, switch my ham for bacon. Service was quick breakfast was good.

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3 way egg omelette Spinach & cheese omelette Broadway omelette

Breakfast menu

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Take 1 breakfast

Wilf & Ada's

Came here while in Ottawa after seeing all the great reviews and it definitely lived up to it…read more There was about a 15-minute wait, but it was worth it. I got the special--eggs Benedict with pineapple and ham--and it was honestly so good. The flavors worked really well together, a little sweet and savory, and everything was cooked perfectly. Overall a really great breakfast spot. I'd definitely come back!

Very small-town friendly neighbourhood atmosphere and fun diner-y options! I had an issue with my…read moremeal but it was quickly remedied and covered by the staff, who were all helpful and nice.

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Chalkboard menu with the special.

Hungry Human

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Outside of Wilf & Ada's

Jax

Good homefries, sausages. I was excited to try the banana French toast since I've heard great…read morethings, but unfortunately it was very dry and disappointing. I should have sent it back

When we were planning our trip to Ottawa, I specifically checked to see if Guy Fieri had popped…read moreinto any nearby restaurants. And lo and behold, Triple D indeed made a stop into Jax, which is about a five minute walk from our rental. So it was on a recent Tuesday morning that I popped in and ordered the Banana Bread French Toast ("House banana bread, served with cinnamon apple compote, local maple syrup, fresh whipped cream") for takeout. The food was ready about 10 minutes later and I was back at the rental and eating five minutes after that. It's really, really good. The French toast by itself is impressively not too sweet, but the when you eat it with the syrup and the apple compote and the cream, it turns into a perfectly balanced, super delicious concoction. I also got their ice coffee and we both agreed that it was far better than most ice coffees we've ever had. What an awesome little place.

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ARC Lounge

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.

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ARC French Toast - oat & cinnamon crusted cranberry focaccia with maple syrup and spiced orange butter. It was amazing.

Latte. It was OK.

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French toast. Up close and personal.

Heart & Crown

We had two plates of chicken wings and a poutine. I had the whisky BBQ and some fries that had not…read moretouch the sauce. They are really thick fries but pretty good. The wings nice and crispy came with a side of sour cream. You can pick between blue cheese, ranch or sour cream. Portion is ok for 20$. The waitress was friendly. Wait time for food was a bit long for the place not being busy.

I've been twice. A bit far from home for me but they get some decent bands and djs in on the…read moreweekend. Moody and lively in a good pub type of way. Hard to get a drink at the bar, I found on busier nights. Table service, ok. Clean. I haven't eaten here but I watched friends devour perogies and potstickers. They enjoyed them! Prices on par with everywhere else. Parking, no problem. I love big, sprawling suburban parking lots. Makes life so much easier than going downtown!

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Brisket melt & Burger

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The Start. Great band. This bar has great sound.

The SconeWitch

This place is a bit legendary. Scones and preserves are next level, coffees have also been great on…read moreeach visit. This visit was for breakfast. It's a very limited menu, which isn't an issue, but you should know! Essentially, it'll be one of their savoury scones, with egg and cheese, and ham if you wish. There was also a brunch options which substituted some fruit for the side salad otherwise included, and a side. The one quibble is that for the cost (tax and solid tip in, $60 for two of the Sconewitches and one brunch, and three lattés), you won't leave stuffed...but the food is that good. Not complaining, just advising!

Pretty excellent scones! While they have a variety of jams available, they didn't have any clotted…read morecream, which was disappointing. I visited three times during my stay in Ottawa, and one morning, only three types of scones were available -- not sure if that happens often. While the lack of variety was disappointing, it was alright, as all the scones were still delicious. Whether you get the sconewitch or just a scone + jam, all good choices. The date and fennel one in particular was a less common flavour that I enjoyed. Soft gooey date chunks and fennel here and there providing a good contrast of textures and tastes. Spacious, well-lit, comfortable space with plenty of seating. I'd love to come back and try all the different things on the menu.

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Peach Cobbler Scone https://www.instagram.com/the.wanderin.foodie/

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Ham & Gruyere on cheddar cheese scone

Perkins American Food Co.

Good food, good service. Came here twice on my trip. First time to Perkins as an American. It…read morereminds me of Bob Evans.

Pooh and I came here for breakfast on our last day of our Ottawa visit…read more The ambience is family friendly and the staff are super friendly. Unfortunately we didn't take any pictures but the food was delicious. I ate the hearty man's breakfast with sourdough toast. Pooh had the two eggs and sausage. We both had the shredded potatoes and I recommend them. Note: Neither of us had pancakes but our server told us they were voted the best in North America. We will try them next time!!

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Inside the mammoth pumpkin muffin. $3.49.

Mammoth Pumpkin muffin $3.49 (limited time, seasonal item).

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The Magnificent Seven $13.99 (2 eggs, 2 slices of bacon and 3 pancakes).

Ratatouille Bistro

4.6

(24 reviews)

2.0 km

Ratatouille Bistro was exactly what I needed on my February trip to Ottawa. I flew in on Family Day…read moreand everything was closed, so I ended up eating at Starbucks. The next morning I was craving real food and found Ratatouille Bistro online. It did not disappoint. I went back multiple times during my stay. The dishes were incredible. The Short Rib Hash Skillet was rich, flavorful, and comforting with the braised short rib, wild mushrooms, caramelized onions, smoked cheddar, sunny side eggs, and crispy smashed potatoes. The Beef Brisket and Caramelized Onion Benedict on their homemade herb scone was just as good. Both dishes were memorable. The walk through the ByWard Market and Lowertown area in the snow made it even better. It felt cozy and cinematic being bundled up and heading to a French fusion cafe. I loved this place.

I'm very mixed on Ratatouille…read more The concept is that the chef traveled a lot and learned different cooking styles and blended them into a French fusion. The techniques are good. I just wish that he spent a little more time working in seasoning foods. None of our food was bad but none of it was standout great. I take that back; the ratatouille Wellington did actually taste good if you don't mind readiness in your ratatouille, which I guess I don't mind but don't prefer. Our server was very into food and did a great job describing the dishes. I was a little put off that he sort of sat/leaned his butt on the table next to us while he did so. It was almost too chilly in the restaurant but bearable. 3 stars: If someone else really wanted to go back, i guess I would, though reluctantly.

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Seating

Ratatouille Wellington with fries and a salad. It tasted good but what a strange appetizer!

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Meatballs and rustic sourdough toast

Benny's Bistro

I popped in at Benny's specifically for a bowl of their soup. Their soups are absolutely top notch…read moreand hit the spot when you're craving something comforting on a cold day. They do have a beautiful menu of delicious offerings but that day was a very specific meal of soup for me. Will definitely be back for their mushrooms! The service was fantastic, and fast and it's got quite a bit of seating back there as well. It doesn't look like it would from the outside but it's quite spacious back there

Great spot right in the market that is casual, what upscale French cuisine and bistro items. They…read morehave a nice bakery in the French for those who just want a baked goods or fresh bread. The food is nicely curated with french flare Only downside is they are a bit overcommitted to the theme of French cuisine. For example, no cola or pepsi products because that is "not French". The coffee doesnt have anything but cows milk because oat milk is "not french". Just something to be aware of

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Duck Breast on Parsnip Purée

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Chesterfield's Gastro Diner

Fabulous breakfasts and the flexibility to adapt menu items for Gluten free and food…read moreintolerances/allergies. Service was excellent. Interesting decor. Good coffee. They share a space with another resto who does dinner time. Line up and wait times can be disheartening, so plan to add your name to the list and take a walk around the area.

So yummy! We got the shakahuka board and the classic eggs benny and both were so tasty. love that…read moreyou can choose the sides and that there were so many interesting choices. the restaurant was packed (expected as it was sunday brunch) and it was about an hour wait for a table of five. service was excellent! even though it was so busy, the restaurant wasn't loud and we could hear our conversations just fine.

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Inside the restaurant

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Bread By Us

I went in today to buy bread that was the plan.. I ended up buying a sandwich, a scone, latte and 2…read moreloaves of bread.. the smell is incredible and everything is so fresh and tempting! Sour bread is amazing I ate most of it before I got home.. there is plenty of free street parking! I realized it's 4 minutes from my work so guess I will be coming here alot more :) they have a simple space to sit down with few toys for kids

This bakery is within walking distance from us and I have no idea why it took us so long to check…read moreit out. We walk by it all the time and finally decided to go in on a Saturday afternoon. I got a breakfast sandwich ($7) for my husband and I to share and I got my husband a Nanaimo bar ($4) as it's one of his favourite desserts. The breakfast sandwich was delicious and my husband loved the Nanaimo bar. The breakfast sandwich was vegetarian and had a thick potato croquette as the main filling. It also had pickles, tomatoes and a delicious sauce. It was served cold, but the bun was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Talk about fresh! It was so tasty. I will be dreaming about that breakfast sandwich! I had a small taste of the Nanaimo bar and it was good. It was very sweet, but not overly so, for what it is. The chocolate and cream layer were soft and velvety and the bottom layer had a good texture with all the shredded coconut. I don't love Nanaimo bars but I can appreciate a well made one. Staff were very friendly and helpful. The space is small and it's takeout only. They sell drinks as well as baked goods. They have lots of breads. I have definitely found my new favourite breakfast sandwich place! Oh did I mention their breakfast sandwich is delicious? Lol. I was skeptical about a cold breakfast sandwich, and admittedly it didn't look that delicious, but I'm glad I took the chance. Street parking only.

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Art Is In Bakery

Best CLAM CHOWDER ever! Very flavourful and so hot. Service was nice and fast, you come to the…read morecashier order what you like and they will give you a table. The thai chicken sandwich was very juicy and huge portion as well! Great to share between two peers. They sell their home made bread for quite cheap. They have a cafe station at the front on the go! The cafe has a rustic warehouse look and very spacious ceilings and seatings. Highly recommend coming here!

We saw this spot on the Food Channel awhile ago and we bookmarked it, as Canada was on our short…read morelist to visit. We drove from Quebec to Niagara and one day on the road this was the perfect pit stop for coffee and an early lunch. The lunch menu is not available until 10 and it did not say that on their website, fyi. We were lucky to arrive a few minutes before 10. We enjoyed a very healthy sized meal of a sandwich and soups. These are huge meals, and very delicious. The staff was friendly and the coffee was great! Don't pass this one by...

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Pumpkin Pie

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Restaurant

Pelican Seafood Market & Grill

Amazing!!! We made a reservation (learned our lesson the last time) as it is always so busy…read morethere.... and for good reason! the food was incredible, service was amazing, and i love how bright the restaurant is! My partner and I shared a bowl of the clam chowder and it was spectacular. Almost wish I had gotten my own bowl, haha. We also got the PEI muscles in the garlic white wine sauce and the shellfest special seafood paella. The muscles were amazing and the calamari on top of the paella were delectable.

If you enjoy fresh seafood, this restaurant is worth a try. The lobster meat is tender and plump,…read morethe fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the accompanying fries are also very crispy. The quality of the ingredients is clearly carefully controlled, and you can taste the natural freshness of the seafood in every dish. Overall, a very satisfying experience.

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Lobster roll and fries

SuzyQ Doughnuts St. Laurent

4.2

(16 reviews)

6.0 km

I've been having SuzyQ since they were based out of a truck on Wellington Street. Hands down my…read morefavourite donuts. I don't know if it's nostalgia or the consistent quality and service, but I highly recommend SuzyQ! However- My absolute all time favourite flavour has been the London Fog donut and I'm heart broken that it's discontinued :-(

TL;DR/The Short Version: Tasty fancy donuts (mostly yeast…read moredonuts) with cool flavours. The Long Version: I've been a fan of Suzy Q donuts since they opened their first location in Hintonburg. They have expanded over the years and have several locations across the city now. My brother picked up a half dozen donuts here for one of our family get-togethers. He got there too soon after opening and their filled donuts were not ready yet, so he got their regular/unfilled donuts. I much prefer filled donuts, but the unfilled ones were good. They have their permanent line of flavours then they have seasonal and rotating flavours. The seasonal/rotating donuts sometimes cost a bit more, like a $0.30 premium. It's usually $23 for 6 donuts (Feb 2025 pricing). My brother got a Spicy Pineapple Twister, a Dirty Chocolate, a Cookies n Cream, an Old Fashioned, a D'OhNut, and a Raspberry Cassis. There was a premium charge on the Spicy Pineapple Twister and the Old Fashioned. The Spicy Pineapple Twister is just a regular donut, it is not a Mochi donut despite the shape. I tried a bit of it and enjoyed it. The spiciness was incredibly mild. I tried a sliver of the old fashioned just to try it, but I'm not generally a fan of cake donuts. I much prefer yeast donuts. I didn't have any of the others because I've had them before and needed to save stomach space for other foods at our family feast, haha. Suzy Q donuts are always aesthetically pleasing and taste good. This location lives up to that standard. Review #55 (2025)

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20 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Norah F.

10 years ago

Where to begin about this gem?! Such a beautiful place, and the food is really good. I've been there twice now and quite frankly one of the most beautiful tea rooms i've ever been to with a fabulous selection of tea...and I am a woman who loves her tea! Came across it after I found their Facebook page which looked like a lot of fun and had some gorgeous pictures. So here's the skinny about The Vanitea Room Tea: They have a tea chest which carries about 12-15 teas, server mentioned they had more of which weren't in the box but were available for serving but were switched out seasonally. Bonus: they have tea lattes & tea smoothies. Food: Amazing selection for brunch as well as their all day menu...and love the charcuterie boards! Their avocado toast with spice and goat cheese spread was delicious..Got a poached egg with some sort of chill oil and pesto on it as an add on.... Shared the french toast special with my gf, terrific as well! Ambience: Such a good music playlist, great vibe and the place is absolutely gorgeous and super comfy chairs. Makes you appreciate the tea and food that much more. Staff: Waiter was knowledgebale and very doting on my friend and I (super cute too!) Overall: Loved my experiences, can't wait to go back and would totally recommend it to anyone who liked pretty food,awesome tea and girly surroundings. read more

Maria S.

10 years ago

I stumbled across this place while my mother in law was in town visiting from Victoria. My oh my so glad we did. Such a beautiful, pretty and stunning establishments. Can't say enough good things about the cuisine either. Very much gastro, fine dining and trendy all combined. I've only reviewed for a few places on trip-advisor before so I was surprised that I found this place on yelp, a site i've never even heard of! So voila of my enjoyment at this place. Was tempted to the afternoon tea, however the menu showcased so many great items. We did the sharing plates menu and tried the charred cauliflower, kale salad & charcuterie board which consisted of duck sausage, an egyptian meat, and duck rilette. Great selection of little yummies on the board. Everything was delicious and incredibly tasty, presentation was stunning- i've always been a huge fan of micro greens and florals on plating presentations and they seem to be very in style these days with bistros. Gorgeous array of colour on the plates. Service, great waitress 10/10 Wine selection, fantastic 10/10 ( have a huge appreciation for tawse wines) Tea EXCELLENT. They have over 20 teas to choose from ( rooibos, black tea, matcha,white,greens etc) Ambience is amazing, much gratitude to whoever designed their venue a great gem in the city read more

Maria L.

9 years ago

Right away let me begin with saying WOW! This place is such a beautiful find. Exceptional ambience and even better service. The brunch was nothing short of legendary and I had the great pleasure of enjoying a cotton candy mimosa as well as an amazing pot of Oolong Creme to go with my Stacked On Top meanwhile my gf had this peas and chicken with cornbread dish, super rocked my world since I ate some of it!:-)) Some notes to make mention of: Positives Reservations: for brunch range about an hour-an hour & 15 minutes for seating ( super reasonable since we got our food in under 10 minutes) Food: 10/10 so so so so good! We had the lemon dish for dessert to share as well, their pastry chef whoever he is, fab! Ambience: BEAUTIFUL, this place belongs in a magazine, gorgeous surroundings and super comfy chairs reminds me of morocco chocolat in Toronto. Service: amazing, our waitress was this spunky blonde with an infectious laugh :-) very attentive and knew the menu exceptionally well especially the teas Negative Nothing much to say here except that they do get very very busy on the weekends from what we saw, as a small establishment the turnover is relatively fast, perfectly understandable for brunch service. Kinda a different beast altogether for us hungry morning animals! Rawr! read more

Marco S.

8 years ago

First time at The Vanitea Room, definitely won't be my last. Came by on a busy Friday and they were able to accommodate us easily ( they do reservations mainly for weekends) but they do accept walk ins whenever they can they explained to us. My gf lives in Ottawa now so I'll be visiting more often. I did afternoon tea, she did brunch. Both were superb and beautifully plated. Done with a lot of fun and flair. The French toast that she had was actual banana bread done as a French toast! Major cool factor. You can tell there's a strong creativity note in the dishes. The breakfast tea was a delight of various flavours. I've done my fair share of tea times here in the u.s and that was probably one of the less typical ones I've done. Unique and avant garde flavours for the savouries and sandwiches, interesting and flavourful desserts with lots of enthusiasm in explaining the items from the waitress! Bonus! Lovely service, great feel to the space...will definitely be back and with friends too! read more

Shannon W.

7 years ago

The first time I went to the Vanitea Room, I brought a friend from Toronto for Brunch. We were both blown away by the decor, staff, food, and of course the BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS! Seriously, $15 for all you can drink mimosas (talk about starting brunch off right). I chose the sparkling raspberry mimosa and was not disappointed, it was a delicious and refreshing take! We also each had a sweet scone following our eggs benedict, both savoury and perfect. Lastly, we both ordered a pot of Sloane tea. For anyone who hasn't had Sloane tea before, it is a 'fine merchant' tea that's a luxury to have, yet affordable! The tea is served with hourglass timers to let you know when your pot is steeped. If you love brunch, bottomless mimosas and amazing food all within a #instaworthy environment, the Vanitea Room is for you! I mean c'mon, look at these photos. . . read more

Phil L.

10 years ago

This place hosts a cozy and elegant space that brings the tea dining experience exactly the right direction. We went ther twice and both times were completely different experiences. The first time we had a quick meal but lost in the details of how great the placed looked and needed to come back for the afternoon tea. We shared the afternoon tea just like in the British movies., complete with macarons, scones and little sandwiches. It was a great moment spent on real genuine conversation and quality food. Way more memorable than any other meet for drinks routine. The tea selection is well drafted and you can taste the quality. The food was excellent, best deserts in town. read more

Kali F.

10 years ago

The establishment, the food, the service...transcendent. very few times have I had such amazing cuisine as I have in this establishment. I have been twice now, for brunch and dinner, both were exquisite examples of how well thought out a menu can be. The chef executed the food immaculately with delicious creations that I had never tasted before. The lamb merguez breakfast dish was succulent and enticing while the charcuterie board I had for dinner was immaculate and breathtaking. Served with a selection of meat and cheeses as well as artisan jams and made in house bread it is without a doubt the best place in the city for a unique culinary experience. read more

Melinda J.

8 years ago

Really glad to see another place in Ottawa that serves Sloane Tea ( it's from Toronto) The breakfast here is really good. As a vegan it's very hard to find vegan options especially restaurants that can cater to dietary issues like mine. Heard great things about the vegan options.My husband and I really enjoyed the vegan poutine and the French toast which was covered in chocolate. Yummy. I especially liked the feature mimosa ( this was was elderflower and mango I think) We will be back:-) read more

Theresa V.

8 years ago

What a gem! Its my first time in Ottawa visiting a friend who recommended this place. We went with a group of girlies and absolutely loved the space! Completely beautiful decor and the food was awesome! Their eggs Benny is one of the best I've ever had at the Bottomless Mimosas were awesome! A point to mention, definitely make a reservation, the place is small in size and gets super packed with people from I saw which was the entire time I was there. Praise to the music playlist too! read more

Ryan M.

3 years ago

Had a sweet time with my grandmother and aunt today. Both are elderly. The nice team at Vanitea took very good care of us. Despite not having a ramp outside, they were able to help my elderly grandmother indoors for a morning tea service. Only thing that was challenging was getting to the washrooms for her. They encouraged us to write a review about our experience and we look forward to returning for the picnic in the park. This seems like a place for many women! read more

Paige M.

8 years ago

A female central in centretown. Vanity is one of my favourite places in the city for brunch and bubbles and I'm happy to say that I do recommend it often. I noticed there was a lot of irritated customers today that were waiting on tables, cut them some slack people considering they are really a very establishment despite its small size. This is a great little spot that needs to stay, i'de say due to how busy it gets it'll be around for awhile. read more

Julie H.

8 years ago

Am on a cleanse, and chose this tea room for Valentine's Day with my husband. Was greeted by two lovely ladies who made the experience a very positive one - even though all I could have was green tea and the sight of food and mimosas everywhere made my mouth water and my tummy rumble! Wonderful ambiance, excellent service. Will be returning for a bite soon. read more

Rosa M.

5 years ago

I was so surprised to find this gem of a place! Went back twice with friends in the same weekend. Service was fantastic and I was a huge fan of the multiple vegan/vegetarian options available to us. Also very happy to see such wide variety of teas and non alcoholic beverages as my friends and I don't drink. Would recommend to many people! read more

Jamila S.

10 years ago

First time here, service was outstanding, very friendly and courteous. We had the Vanitea omelet from the breakfast menu, it was delicious. Looking forward to the next time to try tea and scones read more

Tania R.

3 years ago

beautiful space and very nice service. really liked our afternoon tea and the ambience was very sweet and warm. thank you for a lovely experience. read more

Vicki L.