AMAZING !! This experience is literally every foodie's dream . Atelier is a 44 course tasting menu and you are there minimum 4hours , is a whole thing . I enjoyed every bite of everything (besides foie gras , that's definitely not my thing ) . The concept is amazing , the taste , the presentation just everything is top notch . This is definitely something to do on a special occasion as it is pricey , we got with the cocktail pairing (5 cocktails) it had beautiful presentations and it perfect amount of alcohol . Before going I saw a few reviews saying that the place itself was very confusing as the chairs were plastic and there was some random QR codes on the table and it didn't have any identity . I must say the QR codes have been removed however the decor is very minimalist and very black and white . Personally I do not mind, happy that the QR codes are gone for me it was more that just the music was very pop and a bit loud but it was fine with a few drinks I stopped caring. This was a wholesome experience that I don't know when I'll have something like this ever however I'm very happy I did it and I hope everyone is lucky enough to try an experience like this . Believe me you're gonna be FULL when you finish , the last service was veryy hard to finish , so much food !!! 10/10 recommend !! Side note: I'm a veryyy picky eater , so I was a bit scared of the dishes however everything was soo gooddd ! read more

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Had the opportunity to go to Ottawa and looked up the best restaurants in the area. It was apparent that Atelier is the one. Upon arrival, the restaurant is in a fairly nondescript former townhouse structure. Entering in the decoration is elevated but Spartan. For a Restaurant of this caliber, I would have expected a more refined decoration that would match the quality of the food. It would do the Restaurant well to upgrade to match. Overall, I find a chef to be very skilled. Lots of complexity of flavours as well as unique presentation pieces. Standout include his surface tension dish, which was beautiful and delicious. I would note that the Styrofoam like top was probably a touched too thick, but otherwise it was fantastic. The fish dish was also quite nice as was the duck. Wine pairings are well done. They tilt slightly to the sweeter side, which is my preference. A true gem in the city of Ottawa. read more

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5 year anniversary! Each year we pick a different boujeé restaurant for our anniversary meal, and we went to @Atelier this year! Overall, 4.25/5: 3.5/5 for food, 5/5 for drinks, 4.5 for service. Would I come again? Probably not unfortunately. $225/person for the tasting menu, $150/person for the cocktail pairing. Most folks got the wine pairing, of which there are 3 options: bespoke/luxe, regular, and half pairing. I had missed getting the cocktail pairing at Alo last year so was very excited that Atelier's cocktail program is just as exceptional. The cocktails were our favourite part of the night. Now onto the food. The 40 course concept was interesting, but misleading. It's 40 dishes, served over about 6-7 courses. It's not what I had signed up for; we actually got too full after the 4th course because of just the volume of food and poor planning of the menu. We barely ate the 5th and 6th courses, and got all the non-frozen desserts packed in the last course. My problem with this style of courses is also that the 'courses' that were served together in waves really clashed at times, and didn't go together. We had a full protein round where it was 5 different proteins cooked sous vide with different sauces. The flavour combos seemed quite random, and there were actually several dishes (like 5+) through out the 40 dishes with elements I blatantly disliked and even spit out once (sorry, it was just so sour and gross). I understand the concept of 40 courses, but it just wasn't executed very well and several items just weren't tasty to me. Again, personal opinion, I don't claim to be a food critic, I just like eating shit that tastes good tbh this place is the best example of plating over taste; most of the food was very good, but nothing special or outstanding. Even the sphérification and nitrogen tricks that they're known for weren't actually tasty when it came to eating the food after it was presented. read more

Atelier - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

We visited Atelier to celebrate Valentine's day. The restaurant's concept of an interactive 44 course tasting menu served over 4 hours seemed like the perfect way for us to celebrate this special occasion. The courses are served over 4-5 waves with each wave consisting of 8-12 dishes. Our waitress placed each course on the matching QR code which we could then scan for explanations about the dish. While the idea of using QR codes is good, we felt like the execution could be slightly improved. We were a bit confused at first when the QR codes sometimes led to Google search results before realizing that we had to look at the searched sentence itself. I personally wasn't a fan of the table with the QR codes, the entire interactive part of the experience did not give me the feeling of dining at fancy restaurant. For the savory portion of the meal, each course was very experimental and tasted different. A common theme that we noticed was that a lot of their dishes took inspiration from asian cuisine through their use of ingredients as well as their sauces and seasoning. Overall, we enjoyed most of the 32 savoury courses. Our personal favorites were the deep fried soft shell crabs, the duck wings, the carrot hoops, and the fried oysters. As for the desserts, we were served 12 different ones. We found them to be a bit too experimental for our taste. The flavours were different and unusual but did not seem to pair well with each other. The dining experience ended with floating helium balloons inspired by the iconic dessert from Alinea. They wrapped up the meal on a great note and it was so much fun trying to eat them. The 44 course dinner is 180$ per person. They also offer a wine or cocktail pairing for an additional 150$. Since we don't drink much, my boyfriend got a cocktail (30$) and I got a mocktail (20$). We found the drinks quite expensive, even considering it is a fancy restaurant. Our bill added up to around 550$. Overall, we would recommend this restaurant for a special occasion. The dining experience was definitely fun and unique. Each course is small, but 44 courses add up so come with an empty stomach and an open mind. Follow me for more food content on Instagram: @lyliaxfood read more

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Went here years ago, it was a super fun experience having so many unique courses in a tasting menu. My partner and I have spent many years in metropolitan areas with good food. Ottawa in general isn't particularly impressive but this restaurant was definitely memorable enough that this restaurant pops into mind for special occasions when we are in town. read more

We went there for my nephew's birthday. We had wonderful night there. Food is great. Full course wine pairing is great for me too. At the end, I was surprised we could not finish all of 44 courses. We all enjoyed the food and services. Had great conversations with the staff. Highly recommend it for family events. read more

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Best gastro tasting menu I've ever had. The 44 course tasting menu was pretty inventive.majority of the tastings were very good and fun to eat. Some were a bit overstreching on the art aspect and were inedible. Not everyone is going to enjoy all 44 samples. The atmosphere is a bit on the cold side. It is not warm and inviting. But the staff were excellent. The service was great and very attentive. It was a nice outting with my fiance for Valentine's Day. Some of the dishes are quite interactive and have a fun element to them. We did not get the chance to meet the chef but we did buy one of their books and he did sign it for us. Highly recommend buying the book to learn techniques if you like cooking and learning new skills. read more

It's a little difficult to find the restaurant as there is no signs on the entrance. There is no reception area to greet guests either so I was a bit surprised when we arrived. We were there for their tasting menu for my wife's birthday that day. The service was definitely top-notch, professional and friendly. The food however was only mediocre. The presentations are nice but the taste wise was so so. Some dishes were a bit too sweet/salty and the temperature of the food is at room temperature. Something that I am not a fan of personally. What is meant to be served hot should be hot and fresh off the grill...that's my personal preference... read more

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I think they are shooting themselves in the foot with the 12 services. It's just so much hassle for them, and yet only 1 service was 'wow', 2 were 'great' and the others were good or okay. Nothing was bad, but most services weren't memorable. The 12 services force the price to be high, alongside our expectations. I believe if they would do 6 services and cut the price in half, my review would have easily been a 4, maybe even a 5. Service was great, plating was great, taste varied but was mostly 'just good', ambiance and decor isn't up to par with the pricing. I won't be back, as I do not believe that the food was worth the price. It's not bad, but it feels like a waste of money. read more

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The food was exceptional! 40 The dish-tasting menu and dessert was exceptional as well the sever was great as was the sommelier A++++ overall rating is stupendous, if I had to complain about something the music was a little loud for the number of people in the restaurant one other table besides ours wine pairing sent the experience even better according to my date and she is quite a foodie and she loved her night !!!!!! read more

Have always wanted to come to this restaurant! And finally we made it.. I was super impressed how they accommodated our numerous dietary restrictions! Since we booked they called and asked in so many details what we can and can not eat. All plates served came out the same ( us and others in the restaurant ) but ours had what we can eat.. service was top notch , interior very simple food was tasty but not all the plates ... some were ok some were wow! The tofu plate I couldn't eat .. hehehe not a tofu fan! We really enjoyed "the experience" and would love to come back in the future read more

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Atelier is definitely an experience that I'll always remember. The dinner is a set 12 course tasting menu, but they will take into consideration allergies and some preferences. I have a dairy allergy and they handled it perfectly - I didn't feel like things were missing off of the plate, which is always a struggle I have. Each dish was perfectly delicious and the wait staff was very knowledgable. The drinks were also amazing, but they do wine pairings. If I lived closer to Ottawa I would go there again soon! read more

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After coming back from a recent vacation of the most divine meals I have ever eaten in my life, Atelier was a bit of a letdown. Kudos for its creativity (an edible ballon?! GTFO!) and beautiful plating, but some of the dishes were hit and miss. Great service though, which should be expected, given that it's $125 pp. The place is really easy to miss, due to the lack of signage. Doesn't look like parking is an issue in the area, although I Uber'd over from my hotel. read more

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This is a special place for a special meal. $125 pp for a 12 course meal of experimental gastronomy - at least that's how I would describe it. Small portions, wonderful wine pairings, attentive service. At $466 all in for 2 people, and at 4.5 hours for a sitting, it's not going to be a place we go to more than once every 3 years. Very few of the courses REALLY blew me away, with the exception of the very final dish (sorbet with butterscotch - WHOA!).... Everything was good - but almost nothing was WHOA! I expect a lot of WHOA at this price. I will say that the wine pairings were absolutely fabulous - their sommelier knows what he/she is doing. I would recommend Atelier but you definitely need to be in the mood... read more

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A true culinary experience! One of our favourite supper club destinations! Prepare for one of the most expensive dinners of your life - but definitely worth every penny! We did the 44-course tasting menu with wine pairings and everything was just perfect read more

Very playful plates with interesting menu items. The style is Gastro-Chem - and they execute decently well. Not as intricate as an Alinea or as playful as (ex-)Moto (both from Chicago). I thought the price point (for two: approx $400 + tip) was high relative to quality. Nonetheless, there were some highlights (pictures posted). These were: - A fish wrapped in bird's nest phyllo. The fish was buttery and nicely complemented with the delicate bird's nest. My highlight among the savoury stuff. - Quail dish was good as well. - The pea dish was beautiful and tasty. Nice fresh and slightly crunchy peas, a pea soup presented in a "sphere". - A super-freezed blueberry dome with marshmallow cream and graham crumbs on top. Fresh berries inside the dome. - A helium-filled "fruit roll up" balloon. You bit into the balloon, breath in the helium, talk like a chipmunk, and eat the rest of the fruit roll up. A nice playful finish to the meal. read more

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Marc and his staff continue to offer amazing service and food - we had the pleasure of New Years Eve dinner at his restaurant, 8 courses and a few starters with 2 desserts. i will post photos shortly, but the highlights were an incredible squash soup and the chocolate dessert plate....oh and the edible helium balloons for the finale.....lol This dinner is certainly not for the cheap at heart.....however there's nothing else in Ottawa like it. It is a magical restaurant that for anyone that truly appreciates the time and effort that a chef will spend on the most intimate details of a dish. read more

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I heard a lot of whispers about a set menu restaurant in Ottawa last year and that had my tummy grumbling. I then heard it was a molecular gastronomy restaurant and that had me shaking down all the foodies I could find for the name of the restaurant. When I was able to find a name it was Taste Of Winterlude and we were able to get a booking for it! Fantastic! I hadn't been to a set menu restaurant since going to Susur in Toronto right before he moved off to NY. That meal is easily one of the top 3 meals I've ever had. For my first experience with Atelier during TOW I found about 2 of the items from the menu really good and the others were ok. The TOW menu we tried was smaller than their regular menu. The serving staff were wonderful and the chefs were great, unfortunately I felt that they had not perfected their menu. I decided to give it a second shot and my experience was about the same where I really really enjoyed almost half the menu and would have been happy if the rest of the menu didn't come out. Other set menus or tasting menus I've tried have had maybe 1 item I thought was ok and the rest were at least really good to fantastic. I really don't want to give up on this place but at the price range I'd definitely want to give some other places in Ottawa a try before coming back. read more

Oh. My. God. When they brought out the helium filled, edible balloons, I nearly fell out of my seat. One of the best dining experiences of my life. read more

This was the last meal on the last night of my 10 day trip to Canada. Indeed, it was the best decision I made! If you do not read the details below, just know that I had the best meal I've had in my life, and the reason is that it was a complete package - perfectly executed 'fun' food such that your taste buds and other senses are tingled & stimulated! You know you're in for something special when even the bread was unique - Sriracha Focaccia! The names of the dishes were pretty funny, and was my kind of humour, which added to the experience of the meal. The first dish was 'Forest Fire' and came enclosed in a dome of burnt wood aromas; as it was finger food you had to use your hands - no sign of pretense at this place! My favourite dish was the "From Husk Till Dawn" which was like a fun lab experiment paired with delicious flavourful food. The "Spring Slinky" which used a local root vegetable - Salsify - was also as tasty as it looked pretty. See the pictures for a glimpse of what the meal was like. If your budget allows, I would strongly encourage you to do the wine pairing. Steve - the best Sommelier in Ontario (and I believe Canada as well) - is passionate about his wines, and it shows in his selections that go oh so well with the food. He is also willing to accommodate preferences (like mine for Reds), but in the end I decided to leave it all in his capable hands, and had no regrets! Overall, this was the most fun meal that did not compromise on taste of quality, and was complemented by a huge dose of humour and creativity, matched only by the excellent service. I highly recommend this meal as an essential if you're in Ottawa or near that region in Canada. Tip: Not sure if my experience was enhanced being the first customer, and not knowing how the dishes would be presented. read more

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Full review in the blog - a few highlight dishes below: The Codfather: Sous-Vide Salt Cod was presented in a bed of Asian ingredients including a soy/mirin Reduction, lotus root baked in brown sugar, a crisp of Chinese Five-Spice, soy 'paper,' shredded aged tofu, and whole edamame, snap peas, cilantro, wasabi greens, scallions, and ginger. Another salad of sorts, but this time far more savory than sweet each bite was a different experience from the last and save for one particularly briny bite of the soy paper everything worked nicely together, the salt cod acting as an anchor to various tastes and textures. Liver Let Die: How do you get chicken liver to be as smooth and creamy as foie gras? Apparently you take chicken liver, make it into a mousse, then freeze it and crush it. Take that composition, now room temperature, and place it next to a pair of purees - mustard and "chicken pot pie" then add in some buckwheat brioche, fermented garlic, plum and rhubarb cooked in Grenadine, julienned apples, and finally some chives and what do you get? A big, fussy, overly complicated plate of delicious...something that could certainly have been accomplished with far fewer steps but the kind of dish where the variety itself acted to make each bite as compelling as the last. #ccc2012 Culinary Championship: At the midway point I'd see Chef Lepine's award winning dish, a superlative "surf and turf" consisting of a seared sea scallop juxtaposing a deep fried Chorizo meatball served over truffled pommes puree, and topped with bacon powder and bacon bits, fennel pollen and dehydrated fennel, plus lemon-thyme shallot sauce, lovage, and a compressed celery sheet. Complicated, but not simply for the sake of complication I particularly loved how the aromatic potatoes melded the sweetness of the scallop and the spice of the pork while the aromatics of the fennel and shallots hid in the background lingering on the finish. Marrakesh Express: Probably my favorite course of the meal this presentation of sous vide leg of lamb in 'Moroccan spice sauce' along with goats cheese, chickpea croquettes, pistachio eggplant puree, green garlic foam, garlic confit, and pureed date was essentially a modernist take on the traditional tagine. At times sweet and at others spicy but at all times aromatic and texturally compelling I particularly loved the croquettes - crunchy bites of chickpeas with a nearly liquid center making the bites of lamb all the more flavorful when taken in succession. The Boar Identity: Moving on to the first of two locally sourced wild-game courses, another outstanding presentation would arrive featuring wild boar belly from Mariposa Farms (a place we'd visit ~12 hours later,) alongside white bean and tomato cumin puree, pickled shallots and purple cabbage, caraway seed 'gel,' diced potatoes, jalapenos, tomatoes, cilantro, and a deep fried plantain. Complex and unexpected in many ways with the protein itself almost acting as savory seasoning to the fruits and vegetables on the plate I particularly enjoyed the interplay between the pickled components and the sweet plantain plus the aromatic puree - the cumin particularly rising to the palate and working particularly well with the smokiness of its wine pairing... Parsnip Cake: Assuming nothing ordinary of the desserts I was surprised by the lack of clever title, but with a dense coffee cake made from mashed parsnips as its base this certainly was not a typical dessert. Semi-sweet but more so buttery and savory the cake was garnished with dehydrated parsnip chips and crumble parsnip cookie for texture plus brown butter powder, caramel, pineapples poached in vanilla, birch sugar ice cream, and finally the zest of Keffir lime to form an almost tropical flavor profile. Interesting and far more delicious than other vegetable cakes I've had at Schwa and Ko I particularly liked the ice cream here - a light mint that worked well with both the heft of the cake and particularly the lime. The Verdict: Obviously a shock n' awe sort of restaurant, Atelier did an admirable job of offering both food and fun with a service staff that fit Chef Lepine's whimsical sense of humor to a t. Seemingly out of place in a Canadian landscape where molecular cuisine is not nearly as widely embraced as in the United States or Europe I think Atelier fills an important gap in the local food scene and while some dishes were seemingly complicated simply for the sake of being complicated most of them offered something delicious while all of them at least brought some interesting technique to the table. Certainly not the 'destination' restaurant that many of world's best 'mg' restaurants have become I particularly appreciated the half-pour wine pairings, an educational opportunity for someone with quite a low tolerance featuring some things I'd have never opted to try otherwise and I would definitely return if I should ever find myself back in Ottawa. read more

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Almost unbelievable clean intelligent, myriad often tiny combinations and juxtapositions reflecting time season and place. Numerous complex plates never stale or seem redundant. Understated molecular contribution lets underlying ingredients sparkle and shine.They DO Almost too complex to describe . Think intense , real, varied, discreet yet integrated.Staff knowledgable, swift yet kind. read more

I went for my birthday and personally LOVED 11 out of the 12 meals (the 12th wasn't bad, just not for me. And from what I see from other reviews, people don't seem to understand that distinction). Honestly I would go back just to hang out with Bernard the sommelier - what a treat he was! 5 out of the 7 of us got the wine pairings (which I personally hadn't done before) and I feel like I. GET. IT. NOW. Thank you Bernard for showing me the light! The atmosphere is quaint and comfortable, the presentation was elaborate and divine, the service was impeccable and if I had the money I'd be there every single time they had a menu change. ***bonus points for all the employees signing my menu at the end of the night. What a sweet and personable touch that was! read more

My husband took me out for dinner at Atelier for my birthday and it did not disappoint. The meal was not only a feast for the eyes but for my mouth as well. Yes, it's about $120 per person, which equates to about $10 a plate and the price will make sense once you see and taste each plate. Every ingredient has a purpose, from the main bite to every small dot of sauce. Our server was very knowledgeable and explained each dish right down to the tiny detail. The meal began with two amuse-bouche - a yellowfin tuna carpaccio and a rabbit terrine, served with sriracha-infused focaccia (so delicious!) on top of the 12 course meal. It was the perfect way to start the meal! I enjoyed each plate (minus the tiny pickles on the Ostrich plate - that's just personal preference), my highlights were the soup, the pork and the edible sugar balloon filled with helium. The meal ended with a surprise - an extra dessert for my birthday topped with a white chocolate edible birthday candle. We both thoroughly enjoy ourselves and while the plates were small we left satisfied. read more

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Atelier offers a 12 course molecular gastronomy dishes, where every dish is a work of art that tastes just as amazing. read more

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An odd mix of very tasty and very flawed. Atelier's menu changes with some frequency, so what we had may not be representative of what others ate. Having said that, we had turkey that was cooked sous vide then pan fried in panko crumbs, and it was delicious -- the best turkey I've ever had. We also had a very small but flavorful serving of a dashi-based broth. One of the desserts featured almond-infused apple pieces which were delightful. The flip side is that the chef seemed to be trying so hard to show off their molecular gastronomy chops that they forgot the ultimate goal of serving tasty food. The dishes were all visually intriguing, but many of them were better to look at than to taste. All of the highs I mentioned above were individual components, not complete dishes -- for every tasty bite, there was something else on the plate that had been inexplicably dehydrated (they came across as very proud of their dehydrating things), with no benefit to its flavor. There were also a number of oddly amateurish execution errors. Most of our dishes were served cool or cold (on at least one, a puree had congealed and developed an unappetizing crust), the same wine was served to different people in different sized glasses, one of the dishes had an overwhelming amount of wasabi in it, and our waiter was oddly apathetic when presenting the dishes. These were all forgivable because of the strength of the night's better dishes, but kept me from thinking that Atelier is a five star restaurant. In summary -- worth a visit, but don't expect perfection. read more

I was visiting Ottawa for the weekend from Vancouver and was very excited to try Atelier. I had heard that the Chef recently won a national cooking competition and so I made reservations weeks in advance to make sure I could get a table there. A few days before my trip I got a call from the restaurant to confirm my reservation and to inquire if I had any allergies. The restaurant is located in a cute little 2 story house that seats around 50. We were promptly greeted by the server when we got there and was welcomed to Ottawa. We had the 10 course tasting menu (which is the only option there) and opted not to get the wine pairing as I am not a big fan of red. The menu apparently changes and evolves every few months or so and costs $110/person. The dishes were all presented beautifully and the server would explain to us what each ingredient was on the plate and how the chef prepared it. My favorite dishes were the first course, which was some kind of pate with beet puree that was dried that were shaped into a music notes and also the helium filled balloon dessert - the whole thing was edible and definitely a fun photo-op! If I had to pick one dish that I did not like, it would be the elk as I am not a big fan of game-y meat. All in all, this was a very interesting meal. 2.5 hours later, I was stuffed and happy and very glad that I had the chance to visit Atelier. read more

My partner and I came here for our 6 year anniversary and were blown away! We moved from Vancouver a few years ago and are still discovering the food scene in Ottawa. I'd say Atelier tops our list in the city! The atmosphere was intimate and the service, from the server to the sommelier, was attentive and accommodating. The food and wine pairings were beyond anything we were ever expecting, and we were so happy that Atelier was so accommodating to different dietary needs. My partner doesn't eat red meat and restaurants usually substitute vegetables or tofu, but Atelier substituted several dishes with fish. We will definitely be back for another special occasion! read more

Interesting food, but only about 1/2 the tasting menu was phenomenal. For the price and hype, I expected more. Service was great, but the food was only good. These chefs do like their dehydrators and liquid nitrogen, with much of the menu being dessicated or frozen. Worth a try, but probably not worth the hype... Note, there's no sign in front of the restaurant, so look only for the street numbers. read more

Dining at Atelier is to enjoy a mixed and modern experience from the kitchen: equal parts creativity, science, and culinary skill. Atelier brought all these together with polish and really wonderful service. This is a good restaurant with a talented kitchen, no question, and the front of the house staff were attentive, friendly, even the right amount of funny - which is important, because without a little bit of laughter, well... The couple next to us wasn't laughing at all and in observing them and thinking about our own evening the crux of the matter sort of dawned on me: a four hour twelve course tasting menu is a pre determined experience. You have to be ready for it, and ideally you have to really want it. The couple at the other table was a lot like us and there for a special occasion - he brought her for her birthday; my wife brought me for our anniversary. Both the birthday girl and I weren't in the right mindset for a four hour twelve plate wine pairing experience. Next time, the birthday girl said to her boyfriend, just bring me to the Keg! Not because the Keg is better or worse from any manner of speaking, the talented team at Atelier would probably cringe at this comparison, but because at the Keg you can order whatever you want and Keg-size your wine. You control the optional direction of the evening and thereby course content, tone, and timing of the experience. Wine chosen by someone else doesn't come out two ounces at a time and hence wine glasses don't sit empty for what feels like an eternity - and this was the case for both our table and theirs. Wine pairing invites, if not forces realization of a cardinal sin in the hospitality business: never an empty glass. Our glasses were literally empty all evening and it created a tone of impatience. The evening didn't flow; it was herky jerky because we were always waiting for the next thing, like subway stops. For me I sort of didn't care because I was with my wife whom I still adore and I could be anywhere with her and we'd have fun. But a little part of me was with the birthday girl in spirit - I'm sorta done with tasting menus. It's like we time warped back to 2008. To paraphrase the Great One, I'm not sure tasting menus are where the puck is going anymore. Dinner for two was more than $500 after tip. That's still a lot of dough and as we left we just didn't feel the value. We felt the sting of the bill rather than a lingering after taste of enjoyment. read more

This restaurant needs to set some etiquette for its clients. I have never witness such rude customers swearing every other word and stepping in and out of restaurant. Asked staff to address the obnoxious , intrusive&impolite attitude of its guests on adjacent table and nothing was done. I felt i was sitting next to a pimp with a prostitute. Loud banging on table graphic kissing foul language. Don't care about the food. Needless to say horrible experience. read more

Without doubt, the most innovative cuisine I have ever tasted. It took us four hours to get through the 12 courses, each one a visual delight and, contrary to what some reviewers found, I think that every one presented tastes that ranged from interesting to amazing. As it is a tasting menu, each dish is small (some might say tiny), with tiny components. But as you are getting 12 plates, you'd never make it to the end with larger portions. As the plates are small, you need to go slow and savour rather than wolfing it down in two bites. We decided not to get the wine pairings at $75 per person, but next time we'll leave the car at home and go for the pairings. I think that any attempt to describe the dishes will not do them justice, but here's a brief sampling of what we had; Siracha focaccia; Oysters with mimosa foam; Salad with beet purée splat; Smoked trout with corn barley porridge with a miso broth heated in a flask that infuses corn husks and bonito flakes; Scallops with foam edamame purée, confit turnip in duck fat, anchovies, fava beans and fava bean paste. Bean curd noodle; Mackerel w lemon velouté, beet chip, corm lentil salad; Sous vide lobster with whitefish caviar; Pulled lamb in steamed buns with radish with baby romaine leaves with eggplant purée and manchego; A sheet of puréed carrots formed into a large loop with apples and a delicious lemongrass crumble; Sous vide rabbit loin wrapped in chorizo on smoked squash purée with rabbit terrine and mushroom and grainy mustard; Sous vide and seared bison with celeriac 3 ways: coleslaw, puréed and roasted with pomegranate seeds and brussel sprout leaves; An orange blossom balloon filled with helium and held by a cranberry ribbon. You bring the balloon up to your mouth, suck in and try to get it all into your mouth. My wife inhaled enough helium to make her voice change to the delight of diners at the next table; Passion fruit purée hollow "egg" frozen in liquid nitrogen with dehydrated banana crumble on top; Sous vide cheesecake, tonca bean sponge cake and compressed persimmons. We were told that the chef changes one plate every week, so that in three months you get a totally new menu. The wait staff are professional and friendly, the selection of wines by the glass is better than any restaurant in Ottawa and the sommelier provides expert advice on what will go with what. As others pointed out, there is no outdoor signage - just a house on the street so make sure you note the address before heading out. Seating for about 24 people. Not casual dining, but not stuffy either. This is a food experience and an expensive one at that. Dinner for the two of us with a couple of glasses of wine each, coffee, tax and tip came to $400. But it was worth it and we'll go back again at another special occasion. read more

Five years ago, I tried Atelier for the first time. I would have been back however a child arrived and made things busy. So busy that 3 hour meals were no longer possible. Friends arrived from Toronto for the weekend and we felt this would be a perfect time to give Atelier another try. Five years ago it was still 12 courses. It still had impeccable wine and also service. The dishes although both fun and tasty had something, something you couldn't quite put your finger on until you fast forward five years. Quite simply, Atelier has grown up. No longer does molecular gastronomy concepts seem to put the science ahead of the food, they complement and accentuate the dishes. Molecular gastronomy now more commonly known as modernist cuisine and perhaps in the future just called cooking takes lessons straight out of the science lab. Chef Lepines kitchen also bears resemblance to something where lab coats should reign over chefs whites. No cooking with gas in this kitchen! I will not try to pay homage to particular dishes as no justice would be paid. They were all write home worthy. I will leave it at that. I will conclude with this. Last fall, my wife and I went to NYC on our annual culinary pilgrimage. We tried WD50, a place I've wanted to try for a long time. It was good. I wasn't blown away however. There is no question in my mind, Atelier is producing better dishes than what is arguably the godfather of modernist cooking, WD50. So, get to Atelier while the prices are still low. If Atelier was in a bigger market, like NYC, you would pay 250 a person. What would I suggest? Really, not much. I hope chef Lepine continues to innovate and push culinary boundaries. Ottawa is ready for it. Also, maybe it is time for a couple of tasting menus. A 7 or 8 course along with the epic 12 might be a good idea for late night diners such as ourselves or people who want a taste of the goodness without the full meal deal. However, that is a minor detail. Oh, and kudos for a Canadian only play list. It did not go unnoticed! read more

Went to Atelier last weekend with a couple of friends. Had a 9pm reservation and it took us till past 1 to eat. We each had the wine pairing with the food. Overall experience was really positive, but easily the most expensive restraurant I've eaten at in Ottawa. Ambiance: Atelier has a very understated look about it. I didn't see a sign on the outside and there are bars on the windows (I'm guessing this is a combination of the "look" and some common sense. The neighbourhood isn't bad, but it isn't in a high restaurant traffic area. The restaurant is stark. Seems silly but I think they could upgrade the bathrooms a bit. For a high end restaurant they seemed a bit too much like you'd find in a pho place. Service: Excellent. Server did a good job of explaining the dishes and was very attentive. Sommelier was also good and was patient with our questions. He also pitched in clearing plates where needed. At one point one of the white wines had some sediment in it from the bottom of the bottle. They actually replaced all 4 glasses of wine. I thought this was a bit unnecessary, but showed their attention to detail and desire to ensure everything was perfect. Food: like any tasting menu there are some items that one really likes and others that are less memorable. The menu changes with some frequency I gather, so specific reviews of the food aren't that helpful here. There was nothing that I didn't like and the presentation is superb. It was a nice mix of seafood (the scallop was superb) and meats (boar, beef) and a range of vegetables. I haven't eaten MG food before and thought it was beautiful and creative. My only complaints are that I thought there was a bit too much dessert. Two full dessert courses seemed one too many for me given they were quite substantial in size. Wine: the wines were generally really nice and well matched with the food. As per my comment about the dessert above, it included 2 dessert wines (a late season merlot and a sauternes). Combined with the desserts that meant a lot of sweet stuff after a very filling meal. The white rioja went over particularly well at our table and was quite unexpected. Overall I thought it was a good experience and quite enjoyed it. I'm not in a rush to go back, but that's more because a) I don't get out as much as I'd like; b) there is only so often we want to spend $400+ on dinner; and c) there are a lot of good options in Ottawa right now. It was definitely worth going though and I'd recommend it to anyone who fancies a big night out and something unusual. read more

This restaurant lost my reservation for Valentine's Day. I made that reservation two weeks before the Valentine's Day. Never gonna go to that horrible place again. And never suggest anyone to have a dinner there! If you still want to go there, triple check your reservation with them. Wish you guys all the best! read more

Best in Ottawa (and stands-up well among the best anywhere, really). I have eaten here about a dozen times and have never been disappointed. Seasonal changes to menu are excellent. Dishes are always the most inventive you'll have and yet remain delicious (inventiveness doesn't get in the way of good flavour and ingredient use). The pairing is the best in the city - sommelier Steve - a must have. read more

Off the back: If price is a big factor in your selection, then this probably wouldn't be the spot for you. I'm a huge fan of cheap/hole in the walls, but once in a while I like to spurge and go for a fancy dinner. If you have to pick one place in Ottawa to go all in, this would be it. The menu will change by the time you read this and visit, so no point talking about the specifics. Each of the 12 course was unique and different. Didn't have much overlap between the style, flavours, texture, and presentation. Out of the 12, 10 of them were done to perfection. 2 of them were not my favourite, but can't fault the restaurant for that. Each person will have their own likes/dislikes so can't possible please everyone. High marks for creativity! Mixing of the tastes with textures was done to perfection and the order of the dishes was carefully designed to not upset the flow. There was even a palate cleanser in the middle which was one of my favourites (used watermelon in our case). The service was great as well. Friendly and professional, but still joked around. The decor was simple and minimalist, so it all fit together nicely. From the outside, you will never guess there is a restaurant inside, but believe me, there is. Value is subjective. As mentioned above, the price is higher than most places you'll try in Ottawa. From purely quantity, you'll get to try 12 completely different dishes and you'll be full by the end (guaranteed). From quality, you get every pennies worth. This is something your'll try once or on special occasion. Overall, I wasn't sure what to think when we first walked in and heard the price (didn't know ahead of time it was that high). However about 3 courses into the meal, I was planning my next trip. It is an experience to be had if you want something different in Ottawa. read more

Everything is perfect there, every time we go. we love gastronomy and this is a perfect place for us to enjoy a long, tasty meal with wine pairing. I can't wait to go again, it's a MUST visit. read more

A truly unique dining experience, of the 12 courses I really enjoyed almost all of them. A few were off beat but I would recommend Atelier for a special occasion. On the expensive side but an enjoyable evening. read more

Good food, good service good ingredients. With tip it came up to close to 300 / canadian for 2 people who don't drink. Not quite sure how to put my finger on it, but I've left places that were super expensive like Jean George in NYC or Ymazushi in Durham NC feeling really content and satisfied. I guess something was missing from Atelier. It is a great experience but there is something missing to make it an amazing experience. read more