No resos, had come from another event and didn't know if they could take us (just 2 of us) but up to the chef's bar/table we went! Staff were great, friendly, explained everything well. We got a selection of oysters, mostly from the east coast and a had couple of glasses of wine. The food was good. Fresh. Loads of condiments on the side. I love the spiciest stuff! Bread came too. It was yummy but it was so hot in there that the accompanying butter had soured.... Sad. Had to skip that but what a place! Great presentation and vibe. I'd come back for main meals and also recommend. Just a place where the room seems like one big get together East coast style. Great location on Bank not far from better parking choices on Gladstone. read more

The Whalesbone Oyster House - Oysters East to West - Seafood Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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The food was great but the price just didn't feel right. A tad bit too expensive. Would not dine there again.

The food overall was tasty and ambiance of the place was nice. For the most part id say all the servers were enthusiastic and welcoming. During out meal how ever there was a silver fish bug in the bread which I can understand happening although it shouldn't be on my plate between my bread I can let that slide. What was disappointing how ever is the reaction from out particular waitress which shrugged it off as if its normal. Did not even offer a new plate of bread. Further down the road I had a dead fly in my wine glass which completely threw me off this time... twice in a meal this happens. To further add insult to injury when we asked for compensation towards the bill the manager came out to basically say its a kitchen and its normal for these kinds of things to happen. Was very disappointed by that experience as my other visits at the restaurant were much more enjoyable with all the other servers and the ambiance of very nice in that restaurant. Especially the basement is very cool you can see all the meat in the fridge aging. I would have definitely been happy to go here again if not for that experience. read more

Why have you not gone here? First off, we meant to reserve a table at the Elgin location, where we have eaten before, but Jay from the Bank St. Location called to confirm us, and gently encouraged us to keep our reservation there. We are SOOO glad we did. First off, Jay was amazing, as was the whole staff. Our 15 old daughter even tried an oyster, with Jay's direction and loving instruction. Then, our meal came, and 5 stars went to off the charts. The cod was brilliant, and the fritters with cavalier cannot be topped. Only negative... the cozy, comfortable intimate atmosphere coupled with the classic songs Jay and the crew refresh on the actual record player (my daughter had never seen one of them). We WILL be back. read more

Excellent food experience. Staff definitely know their stuff. Can't wait to visit their Oyster Bar.

This is quite a find. Walking down Bank Street off the 417 west in downtown Ottawa, this is eatery is sandwiched between a Japanese culinary resto and an all day breakfast dinner. The waiter mentioned that this place gets crowded during late week evenings and weekends. They specialize in mussels crab legs and they offer Artic Char during the summer as one of their specials. I wound up eating their bad boy of Fish and chips a very popular choice for my lunch. Although petite but comfortable they can cater to one large group of 10-12. Need to call for reservations. Great service! Parking easy find on the streets. $$ read more

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Awesome we had there cater at my bar twice. Menus is awesome, staff out standing!!! And everything is fresh, being from PEI, they rock

Charming décor in a small space with a lively atmosphere helped along by vinyl music. Garage door window brings the outside in, while the vines growing out front keep it private - cute! (Very beach house.) Knowledgeable wait staff are friendly, helpful and casual - they'll sit down at our table if there's room to go over the menu and answer questions. Got a great wine recommendation. Ordered the Civeche (sp?) and we enjoyed it - though I enjoyed it a lot more without the hot pepper garnish which was overpowering for the scallop. Steelhead trout was perfectly prepared with almonds, raisins, couscous and sauce. I cannot put into words how delicious this was, with eye appeal and texture to go along with the flavor.. Often trout is improperly deboned - this was done the right way and not a bone was to be found. (Thank you!) Walleye was hubby's option. He found the fish itself bland but the surrounding components were fabulous. I had a taste and thought it was also delicious with a bit of smokiness. Considering this is really an oyster house - and I don't do oysters in the shell, one might think it was a bit of a wasted trip - but I enjoyed it. Yes, it is on the expensive side - if you plan to have a glass of wine, appetizer and dessert, plan on $75 *or more* a person. I'm going to mark this as 'not good for groups' as the place is small, holding 30 customers at most - but there is one table at the front that can handle about 8 people. Call for a reservation! Even at 8:30 on a Saturday night, they were full up and turning away walk-ins. Would I return: Yes. Would I recommend: Yes read more

The Whalesbone Oyster House - Steelhead trout - Seafood Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

A friend and I had a very good meal last night; the seafood was fresh, properly cooked and tasted great! What took the evening up a notch, though, was our very personable, funny and knowledgeable server, along with the casual, friendly "neighbourhood" vibe. A very good evening out. read more

Wow. Just wow. My fiance used to work for the federal government and traveled to Ottawa often. A trip to the nations capital for Heather wasn't complete without an evening at The Whalesbone. This is her self proclaimed "all time favorite restaurant", so when I went to Ottawa for my first time ever a few weeks back I was made to promise I would check it out. And I'm so glad I did. Heather told me how small this place was, but I think it caught me a bit off guard. It's a tiny spot, but cozy and with such cool decor. We sat at the end of the bar and had the friendliest staff. They made the night even better. We ordered some local beers that were on tap (no clue who, but a delicious Pale Ale from a local craft brewery... Kichesippi?). We feasted on a variety of delicious, fresh oysters. I love mussels, and the steamed mussels here are likely the best I have ever had. The coconut broth combined with basil, cilantro and peanuts was amazing. I accidentally ate one of the chili's from the bottom while we used the fresh served bread to soak up the remaining broth and it was ridiculously hot. I was hurting for a bit, so be cautious there! I washed down my oysters with a Wild Turkey bourbon on the rocks and all in the world seemed right. This place was awesome and was my "non sightseeing" highlight of my Ottawa visit! read more

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lots of choice for seafood lover and the food is decent enough but i thought it was really expensive staff are helpful and friendly read more

Great stuff! All I had was the Fish and Chips, and it was quite good. The staff was very friendly, the restaurant is nice inside, and you can tell they take seafood seriously which is great -- it's not just a gimmick. The person I was with had a special of the day, which was a tuna melt. I didn't have a taste, but they said it was quite good. Both of us agreed we would definitely go back if we were in the area. I would recommend this location for a quick bite at lunch or a fun dinner. read more

The best seafood in town bar none! I'm going to give it the tag of the most overpriced restaurant in town as well though. It's also gone downhill a bit from a few years ago. I've been here on numerous occasions for the seafood and it's been always pretty good. There is one thing that I really enjoy from here and that's when they have sword fish. The thing is like a damn steak with a fin! Think Jaws on your plate! Ok maybe not that big but you get the point. I love the taste and texture of it more than anything and really that's the only dish I'd automatically get if it's on the menu. As for most of the other dishes though, I would say they're pretty good but nothing I'd order a second time. The great thing about here is that their menu changes regularly. Ever have great oysters in Ottawa? They're probably supplied by Whalesbone! Do yourself a favour and grab a few. The place is tiny, you should call in for a reservation most of the time as you won't be guaranteed to get a seat when you walk in. In the summer it can get hot in here but it's a great vibe and the staff are awesome. read more

The food was very good. I ordered fish as a main course. It was served with some veg and calm. The environment was very lively. The service was very good and friendly. Washrooms are individual. They have some decor downstairs for you to look at. read more

The Whalesbone Oyster House - Seafood Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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My previous experience with Kenny Rogers and food was limited to his chain of chicken joints which were popular in the late 90s. This changed when I walked into Whalesbone and heard him crooning on the turntable behind the bar. As I was drinking a local pint, eating an array of oysters and listening to Kenny's dismay about Lucille, I was feeling that life was good. The euphoria didn't go away when I got the scallop ceviche or walleye main either. Both were well executed, balanced and beautifully presented. The banana cream pie was on the sweet side but delicious nonetheless. The only thing that keeps it from 5 stars were the prices. Although the oysters were a fair market price (around $3 each), the scallop ceviche at $20, the walleye at $30 and the dessert at $11 were all are a little on the high side. All in all, Whalesbone has a great vibe with great food and great service. It's well worth the gamble. Just bring your rubies. read more

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Not a great experience but would try one more time... This review is a little late. I went here back in June for a late dinner with some friends. The service was attentive but the food took a little longer than expected. The restaurant is very small so be sure to book reservations on weekends. I only ordered a main- the seared trout with Moroccan couscous and cumin carrots. The presentation was stunning (see photo I posted) but unfortunately the food was barely warm. I've heard such great reviews about the food here so I was truly a little stunned at this fact. I think what happened is that the plates sat out for a long time while waiting for the whole table's order to be complete (we had 6 in our party). I didn't see any warming lamps at the plating station so that's likely why the food ended up almost cold. It tasted good however and I liked the medium portion size. I think everyone's food was lukewarm as well but no one said anything because someone was friends with our waiter and didn't want to offend him (I guess). Dessert was also very disappointing. The churros really didn't have the proper crispy outside/custardy inside texture and were very heavy like pizza dough. The chocolate sauce was at room temperature. I've had some incredible authentic churros in the past so this dish really came nowhere close to being good. The story was the same with the banana cream pie- looked good but lacked flavour, was really bland, and really just tasted like Jell-O vanilla pudding with some caramelized banana on top. So despite my experience there I would give this place another shot. I love fish and they have a reputation for doing it justice. Sometimes you just have a bad night but I think enough people rave about this place to come back at least one more time. read more

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We came out on friday night around 8pm and good we came in a bit early cause we did not have reservation and it's packed. We got a seat at the bar, which is pretty cool, got to see all the oyster actions. The oysters are soooo good. From the west coast to the east coast. Loved ones from PEI. We got a deal $35for a dozen. Sooooo delicious! read more

The Whalesbone Oyster House - Seafood Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

This is by far my go-to in Ottawa! Any occasion, the atmosphere is cool, casual and comfortable. Come as you are. Jared is awesome and probably the best shuck I ever had! Bloody biggest oyster of my life! Wait staff are friendly and cool - just the funnest time! Serious about their service and they are fast. Didn't want to leave and can't wait for the next reason to visit. Oysters - out of this world. "Sea"cuterie - wow! (Do share this one!) Mussels with Thai flavours - my favourite mussels ever Mackerel and Pork belly - inventive and hearty Shots - yass! Wine - Fat Monk Pinot Noir was delightful! Thanks Jared! read more

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Wow. One of the best meals we have ever had in Ottawa. Everything was exceptional. Staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. Each dish had great flavours and presentation, but also smell. When things came to the table we started moaning with pleasure from the scent. Everything was great but favourites definitely include the Thai mussels and the yellow fine tuna which was cooked to perfection. Will be back for sure. read more

The Whalesbone Oyster House - The whole oyster set up - Seafood Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

SUPER EXPENSIVE!!! From my experience it was lovely and the service was top notch. However, their menu was hard to navigate, extremely expensive, roughly about $100 per person and not as satisfying as I'd expect for that kind of money. If you're into oysters and that's all you get, then it's unbelievable. Otherwise, I hate to say it, but there is much better for a lot less. read more

Simply amazing (albeit pricey)! This location is really small, but it's very hipster and cozy. The entrance gets very tight if there are people waiting since they have coat hangers that take up quite some space. There are probably 10 bar seats and 6-7 small tables and a really big table. We got seated 30 mins earlier than our reservation since the bar seats are first come first serve. It turned out way better than our reserved seats because we got to chat to the bartenders/oyster shuckers. The guys behind the bar are friendly, chatty and pretty funny. We ordered the "sea-cuterie" board, which comes with plenty of grilled bread and an amazing assortment of roe, preserved mussels/oysters, creme fraiche and other spreads. We also got 12 oysters (assortment of PEI and New Brunswick). The daffodils were my fav! Our mains (cod and trout) were downright amazing too. Other than the fact that the prices were a bit high, I have zero complaints about this place. Also, for those of you that like stouts, they have an oyster stout that's quite tasty. It's brewed over a bed of oyster shells! read more

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Whalebone was highly recommended as a "must go to dine." We enjoyed it. The wait staff were lovely. And the food was good if not amazing. The portions were small for the price-- even for this New Yorker: six baked oysters for $36. And for a place called "whalebone" there were not a lot of fish options on the night we dined. read more

Truly marvelous oysters and cheese plate. Risotto is perfect. Atmosphere is awesome. Music is vintage gold. It is pricey, but in my expetience here, you get the value that you pay for. Truly recommended to every epicurean. read more

The Whalesbone Oyster House - Fantastic oysters with great selection of condiments. - Seafood Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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I haven't tried their dishes, but I can vouch for their oyster quality, which blew my mind! They have east and west coast oysters, and they are super fresh, plump, juicy, and meaty! Their condiments are also interesting, they have some sauces that other places do not have. Very cozy spot, small, but has dim lighting and friendly servers so it makes for a relaxing time. read more

The Whalesbone Oyster House - Champagne to celebrate everyday! Cozy dim lighting and environment. - Seafood Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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We were in town for business and found this place on Yelp. We had a dozen oysters. Very high quality. A bit of shell in them but overall the quality exceeded the shucking. Bread was to die for. We had octopus, salad which ended up being bok choy that was sautéed, the king salmon, seafood pasta, and a 30oz bone in ribeye. Everything was delicious. The steak was a touch overcooked, but the flavor was exceptional. We all found a good local beer to drink. The service was attentive. The only issue is the noise level. It's very loud, so it requires effort to maintain a conversation. read more

I came on a week night with some friends. We ordered some oysters, which were fresh and came with a selection of toppings (not that I recommend more than a simple squeeze of lemon at most). I ordered the lobster risotto. It usually comes with half of a lobster but I asked if I could upgrade to a full one and they agreed for an added cost (worth it in my opinion). WOW was this dish ever good! The risotto was so creamy and the lobster was perfectly cooked. Garnished with seasonal greens, the dish had a nice presentation. The flavours were incredible-I really savoured it. Overall, I recommend this place. My only gripe is the serving was quite small for the price. Would visit again however. read more

The Whalesbone Oyster House - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Terrific food and conscientious service make this a keeper. Came here after a long walk around the city - started with 18 oysters - a varied selection of 4 types from around the maritimes - well shucked with a variety of 8 accompaniments provided. Moved on to the sea-cuterie board, which was one of the most creative and well-balanced seafood presentations I've seen in many years. Finished with the mussels - which had a great blend of asian flavors including kaffir lime and a hint of curry - making this one of the great mussel dishes of my dining history. Restaurant is small - 8 tables and 12 or so bar seats, but cozy and the service was very attentive despite there only being one dedicated server plus a bartender. Prices were a touch on the high side - $18 for apps and $30-60 for entrees, but well worth the price. A great meal. read more

I am so happy that I found The Whalesbone!! My wife an I were in town on business and we needed a good meal to make up for the lite lunch we had :) I searched through Yelp and other a few places near our hotel. However, as soon as I found the Whalesbone, we knew wh Phil and the team are very professional while listening to my concerns, at the same time their office was full of joyous laughter! Its really an amazing place. They took my complicated tax situation and turned it around in a very quick and painless way. I am just so grateful for them I will definitely be back for years to come. I highly recommend them! read more

I agree with Andrew K: "This place is okay. Its got the best seafood I have had in Ottawa, which isn't saying much. This place wouldn't last a month in Vancouver. " This is a very good restaurant... for Ottawa. I was looking for the best of the best for Seafood in Ottawa for my mom. Yelp decided it was Whalesbone. We ordered oysters, scallop ceviche, mackerel & lobster risotto. The oysters were good but you can't really do bad oysters apart from them going bad or not being shucked properly. The scallop ceviche was well done but the garnish overpowered (and not complemented) the scallops. The lobster and the fish were overdone. The deep fried eggplant was nice- not great. The risotto was very good- not incredible. It's an expensive restaurant. You could get slightly better quality for 50% less in Vancouver. I understand why this place gets such good reviews. I'm sure it is very good for Ottawa. It's just not comparable to other cities. Especially Vancouver. And even Toronto. read more

Took my wife here for dinner for her Birthday. She is a huge fan of oysters, and to that end she was not disappointed. That is where the good ended. While my wife dove in to her 18 Oysters, I had the 'Clam' Chowder. I could not detect a clam, potato or anything else that resembled what goes in a chowder. Just a creamy base with a hunk of Rye bread plopped in the middle Our mains then came out (My wife's main was presented to me and vice versa, but that's not a huge issue) I had the Lobster Roll, which may or may not have contained lobster. It was served on a cold white bread which I found stale but may have just been the fact that it was still cold from the refrigerator. This was the size of a Twinkie® and the scant filling it did contain was void of any seafood flavor. There was definitely apple and maybe pear and mayo and a visible abundance of some seasoning all over the top which neither my wife or I could identify or palate. It was served with a handful of tiny potato chips and a mere garnish of slaw. It was $19. I wept a bit, not for the price, but rather for the fact that it was just not a lobster roll...or good My wife had the walleye, and the fish itself was actually very tasty. The portion was about 4 oz and server on a mushroom ragu which I thought was 'OK' but not enjoined by my wife. It was also served with a mini mushroom pot pie which we both found 'Odd' Anywhoo... Oysters, chowder, walleye, lobster roll with water and one pint of beer was $135+tip (granted the oyster sampler was $50) I'd take my wife anytime for the oysters which she loved, and have a pint while she dined. Two stars only because of the Oysters...Other than that it is a pass for me read more

Great lunch. Seems to be a "men who lunch" kind of haunt. Go early, it gets crowded and it will always be small. Avoid sitting at the tables just across from the bar. I got an elbow in the head. Seafood was excellent. Lunchtime menu has simple hearty stuff (bahn mi, fish and chips, lobster roll) etc. Friendly service. More like you just dropped in to a buddy's place than formal dining. read more

Easily my favourite restaurant. The food is delicious! I've never enjoyed such tasty food before. The oysters were delicious. We enjoyed a rich, red wine that was delicious! (Can't recall the name). Their menu changes every night, which ensures a fresh meal, and variety. All of the seafood served is sustainable. Service is fantastic! It's a very cozy, lively space. I love that I can enjoy a good meal without having to get dressed up for the space-- it's quite casual. The only downside to Whalesbone is the cost of eating there. It's a bit pricey, though worth every bit, I wish it were a bit more accessible. read more

Ever since I had a sustainable oyster from Whalesbone at a downtown restaurant, I have been wanting to try some of their other offerings. I didn't know there was a restaurant as well as the retail store on Kent St. (thank goodness for Yelp). I had takeout lunch from the counter at the retail store and it was DELICIOUS. The catch-of-the-day was a fish sandwich. Fabulous fish, nice spicy (Cajun?) coating, with lettuce on a nice ciabatta bun. My order was written down on a paper bag and sent to the kitchen. A few minutes (more than 5, less than 10), my lunch came out, freshly made and piping-hot. The idea of picnic tables in the parking lot don't sound very nice until you arrive and see that there is a veggie and flower garden planted along the edge of the parking lot. It was a lovely spot to eat my sammie. read more

I got food poisoning! Went to whalesbone on kent the day before Mother's Day to celebrate with my mom because I was working Sunday. It completely ruined our whole day! I had to walk out of the theater so I could go home to puke. Missed a day of work to. I work in a restaurant and Mothers Day was really busy, they had 350 people that day. I lost $170 because of them. I will never return ever! read more

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Kinda grotty(= hip?) crowded. Good assertive staff. Salmon - think of all that dirty oily fish feed in those farm pens). Nice oysters a bit small all over these days.Chowder very good cool served in hot bowl - reheat ordered. 5of 11 menu dishes on menu had bacon or pork- overrated . Albacore tuna Ap excellent and wi chowder + 6 oysters plenty. Uncomfortable bar seats ; good company there. read more

This review is for the retail store, not the restaurant. I ordered two dozen assorted oysters to bring home. Good: Ordering is easy - I just gave them a call 2 days before and spoke to the kindly oystermonger about what I needed. No forms to fill out, no deposit needed. Better: Service is great. We asked to have ours shucked and they were done so perfectly. Easy to transport and came placed on a large bed of ice so they would stay fresh a few hours. He described the taste and origin of each type of oyster before we left the store. Best: The oysters themselves were just delicious! The four types tasted quite different from one another, but all were excellent and easily enjoyed about four hours after we brought them home - still tasted fresh. Only minor complaint is that they don't provide any garnishes, so be prepared to decorate the ice tub with a few lemon wedges if you're serving them at a party. You'll need to buy horseradish/hot sauce/vodka beforehand if that's your thing, but we found them perfectly enjoyable with just a squeeze of lemon (they were that good!). Order at least 2 days in advance, and consider shucking them yourselves if you'll be waiting longer than 4 hours before devouring them. Price: $60 for two dozen assorted shucked oysters. read more

Simply the best casual resto in Ottawa for great atmosphere. Can't get to the menu because we end up eating too many oysters. Wine selection is good. This restaurant is always full - get there early for a spot at the bar (before 7) or make a reservation. read more

The Whalesbone Oyster House - Seafood Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

More shabby than chic, the Whalesbone should stick to its specialty oysters and not try so hard on the dinner menu. Eco-seafood is expensive, but servings are just too paltry despite the fact that they are very flavourful. For example, the octopus was tasty, but it was too much like octopus bits than even an echo of what a hearty pulpo could be. The tuna tartare, while savourific, was too thin a tuna line to warrant the big catch price. All in all worth a visit, but eat before you get there. Or just stick with the oysters. read more

I love seafood! And this is the best place to have seafood in Ottawa. Even if you don't like seafood, this place is a place to eat. I had one of the most amazing brisket's ever here, it was cooked in duck fat, it was a religious experience. This place is all about atmosphere, great staff, and great music. The place is tiny, and I have never sat anywhere but the bar, it's a great place to sit, you get to chat with the awesome bartendar, talk about their record collection, and get to watch them shuck the oysters. You will have to plan ahead to come here, make reservations, as it is too small for walk-ins. They have a retail store as well, on Kent st. with amazing sandwiches and soups at lunch time. read more

I'm in town visiting for a few days and decided to try whalesbone based on a local's recommendation and the great reviews on yelp. The place is fine, but not worthy of 4.5 stars! I started with a dozen oysters, which were fresh and delicious, but poorly shucked. For a place with "oyster" in the name, I expect better. I had oyster shell in almost every piece. As I was sitting at the bar and having a good chat to the shucker, I felt too bad to say anything! The walleye was next - way too salty for my liking. Lacked sophistication. Having said all this, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the staff are great. The old school vinyl is a nice touch too. It's a shame the food let them down. read more