Benny's Bistro

4.3 (125 reviews)

ModerateBistros

Open • 7:00 am - 5:30 pm

Add Review

Call

Directions

Website

Benny's Bistro Photos

Benny's Bistro - a plate of french toast - Bistros Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Benny's Bistro - two people in a kitchen preparing food - Bistros Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Benny's Bistro - Duck Breast on Parsnip Purée - Bistros Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

+118

Benny's Bistro - the entrance to the restaurant - Bistros Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Benny's Bistro Popular Dishes

Tuna Loin

7 Photos10 Reviews

French Toast

3 Photos15 Reviews

Benny 's Salmon Gravlax

6 Photos8 Reviews

BENNY'S BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?

Inside

15 Photos

Outside

3 Photos

Casual

Moderate noise

Good for kids

Good for groups

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Benny's Bistro

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.

Start your review...

Browse more easily on the app

Reviews With Photos

Tim B.

A nice surprise for us Ottawa residents and out-of-town guests. A little hard to find, but worth it. We had the sandwich and salad or soup, and one person had the Gavlax. Superb taste and fresh ingredients. The menu is a limited.

Nikki M.

After reading some great reviews of this place, I had to come try! It was a little difficult finding the place since it's a little hidden (behind the bakery part) and since I'm not from the area. The food itself was very good, though the portions were a little small for the price. You're looking at about $19 on average for a meal. I got their sandwich special, which contained warm Brie cheese, pears, and proscuitto with a side of green salad. The sandwich itself was very, very oily. Not sure if this is because of the cheese, or if they butter/oil their toast when they grill it. I will say the toast and taste itself was very, very good though. The salad on the side was kind of sad. I couldn't taste the dressing very much and it was just a mouthful of flavourless greens. My boyfriend got the salmon gravlax and while it was very tasty, the portion size was smaller than expected, especially compared to my sandwich. It was about half the size of the sandwich, and it didn't come with a side... And considering it was $5 more than the sandwich, we weren't very happy. Service was very good. We were on a time crunch and the food came out very orderly. The waitress refilled our waters regularly and was very attentive. It got busy after 12pm (we arrived around 11:30am), but service never fell!

Just had my breakfast at Benny's bistro and boy what a treat! The food was absolutely delicious, portions were great and the decor of the place was awesome. I had the French toast and it was the most delicious French toast I have ever tasted. Sweet, crunchy, tasty, fresh and good portion too. The staff was friendly and lovely, the food didn't take that long and it was a lovely place.

Yukon gold potato gratin (they forgot to put maple-cured pork loin in mine)

Nataly N.

The food was all right, but the service was a bit... mind-boggling. But let's start from the beginning: The Vibe: Modern, casual, clean, homey... the dining area and kitchen are all in one room, in the back of a bakery. It kind of made me feel like a group of friends were serving dinner out their kitchen, and I was dining in their living room-turned-restaurant. It is colorful and well-lit, though there is no natural lighting. The food is served on white plates, but overall the feel is casual. The Food: Very interesting brunch items and generally good execution and quality of ingredients. The portions do not look huge, but the food is actually quite filling. I had the Yukon potato gratin with pork loin and poached eggs. It was $16, and the hollandaise sauce was $2 extra. It was definitely solid potato gratin, and the hollandaise sauce and eggs were nicely done, but strangely, there was no sign of the maple-cured pork loin... I basically paid $18 for 2 eggs and a small stack of potato slices. Adding in some orange juice and watered-down coffee, plus tax and tip, I ended up spending a bit over $30 for mostly carbs. The Service: I arrived a bit after noon and knew I'd have to wait. There was no quoted time, but there were about 6 ppl in front of me. It ended up being 50mins and I waited patiently in line while charging my phone. It looked like I would get seated about 10 mins after the couple in front of me, but for some reason, the girl at the counter showed the 2 ladies behind me to their table first, adding 10 more mins to my wait time. There were 4 friendly-mannered staff members: 2 in the kitchen and 2 manning the dining room. They all seemed to be hustling, but in a way that someone might hustle if they had never worked at a restaurant before or never learned how to multi-task, as many empty tables were left unclean for extended time, contributing to longer waits, and when customers were sat or got their food, silverware and condiments were also missing for extended time. This was odd to me because the restaurant is not that large. In my case, when I was finally seated, I was eventually given bread, butter, and coffee, but without cream for the coffee (after my server said she will be right back with some), nor utensils to spread the butter on the bread. I looked around at other tables - also missing utensils - then at the servers standing at the front of the restaurant, talking amongst themselves. It took about 10 mins to finally catch their attention (as I didn't want to be weird and walk up to them to ask for the missing items, which had been requested before). Overall: The menu is definitely creative and part of it is well-executed. When I told my server I had a hard time choosing an item because everything looked amazing, she said "Oh - yeah, we know." That statement might not have been as off-putting if the service wasn't quite so abysmal.

Ryna D.

This was an incredible find all thanks to Yelp! Since I knew we'd be spending several hours in Ottawa I took advantage of the VIA wifi and looked for a good lunch destination. I think it's great that this place is tucked behind the bakery and located on the outer edge of Byward Market. Once inside you're met with a warm welcome and the decor itself is adorable. Don't get deceived by the small menu as each item is excellent! Everything is fresh and of quality. I had the house gravlax with potato salad and sunny side egg and the plate was beautiful! Not only was it visually pleasing it was exquisite to the palate. The flavors are rich and bold and I loved the play on textures and harmony of flavors. The price point is reasonable and this was one of my top 3 dining experiences on my recent trip. I would definitely recommend this place and gladly go back again.

Mandy Z.

Lot of reviewers mention and suggest this place for brunch. Well, I came here for the tuna, but the menu changes last week. They took out the tuna and replace it with the trout. Big disappointment immediately. We had the salmon and the French toast. The toast is very puffy with the apple syrup. It is very nice, but nothing give me a wow factor.

Iris N.

I tried the Gratin (pork) and the Salmon. Both really good. Flavourful. Yummy! They have a small menu and specialize in them. Definitely going back to try other things on the menu. Go there before 11am on Sunday to avoid a huge lineup. ;)

Amanda S.

I used to love French toasts when I was a kid. I forgot where I tasted them for the very first time in my life. Somehow as I grew older, none of th French toasts I tried would resemble that taste I loved back then. Benny's French toasts went even beyond the taste I used to love. I am so happy I ordered them! I was going to order sandwiches like everyone else, which looked beautiful by the way on everyone else's table. I am still very glad that I was able to love French toasts once again. Super long line all the time, so be sure to get there early. The space is tiny, but it's worth the wait!

Anita T.

Amazing little place, can't say anything bad except they should have a patio (but you can't really make that magically appear). This is the first time I've ever been there, visiting Ottawa for the long weekend. I haven't exactly lurked all around the city, but from my brunch tastebuds developed in Toronto, this place comes pretty clutch. Once you walk through the door, the smell of the bakery hits you before you see all the bread. It's carb heaven. CONFIT ALBACORE TUNA (19) - A bit more on the pricey side but every little thing in that dish was amazing. Poached egg, chorizo, and albacore tuna? I can't even tell you how good it is because a waterfall will just form from my mouth. We also got an omelet of the day (17) which included prosciutto and we'll you can't go wrong with an omelet and prosciutto. The service is pretty bomb. As soon as you're seated, water and delicious freshly baked bread arrive at your table.

Justin H.

I was recommended this place from my brother who is a local of Ottawa and, judging by the Yelp reviews, I thought this was going to be a sure win. When we got there, the place was jammed pack with patrons, and although we were passed numerous times by wait-staff, not one person acknowledged our arrival. We stood around awkwardly for a while, watching the guys in the kitchen create some delicious looking food until we were able to grab a servers attention and ask her, "What's the deal." They take no reservations and it's a first come first serve basis, if you leave the line, then you lose your spot, they don't take names and don't want to. As for the food, I thought I was ordering something really special, pork belly something over hash browns with some sauce (hard to remember now). Presentation and speed of the kitchen was great; however, the food was very very bland. What I found really weird about this place was that there is loads of room for more tables near the front of the restaurant. I don't think they have that extra space there for a reason, it's like they just ran out of tables, and never bothered to buy anymore.

Salmon Gravlax. Very tasty and many different textures!

Mimi J.

Delicious cozy spot hidden in the back of the bakery, make sure to make a reservation as I waited over 30 minutes in line! Food was creative and delicious, but portions were somewhat small. My salmon gravlax was very good, but the tuna dish's flavors were an odd mix, and the tomato broth at the bottom took away from the dish as a whole. Overall still a solid brunch choice, if you choose the right dishes!

See all

Jean-Yves L.

Elite 14

12 years ago

I admit I'm a huge breakfast fan, but the greasy spoon/mom and pop style. However, i really enjoyed this place, It's a bit more than what I'd like to pay for breakfast but then the food was delicious. If you're looking for the brunch breakfast this place IS the place for you. I like the place but then this place should be in front of the store not hidden in the back, but then again maybe some folks like it that way... read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Dean H.

10 years ago

Good breakfast on weekdays can be hard to find around downtown Ottawa. Luckily Benny's offers several delicious options and if you don't fill up you can get some pastries to go at the bakery out front. Every time I'm in Ottawa, I make at least one trip to Benny's for breakfast and I've never been disappointed. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

K S.

136

12 years ago

Can't say enough! Holy moly, these people were lovely. Nicest staff, amazing food, and portions that will seriously fill you (while still being quality and very thoughtfully presented). Great quality, and baked goods are absolutely up to fantastic French standard. Best Ottawa morning yet. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Colborn C.

10 years ago

When I walked into the door, I received a smile and was told "they would take good care of me" and that they did. Excellent service (hats off to the wait staff). I ordered the BENNY'S SALMON GRAVLAX (Warm lemon, caper & fingerling potato salad, informata olive tapenade, sunnyside egg) Simply, DELICIOUS, the salmon had great flavor, the fingerling potato had this dressing that just was heaven on the pallet. When you took a spoonful of all the ingredients at the same time, just left you already thinking about the next bite to come, just fantastic stuff. This was by far the best part of my trip to Ottawa, if in the city and looking for some good food, you CAN'T go wrong!! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ron G.

10 years ago

A simple menu with just a few choice options, I had the frittata with creme fraiche, my wife had the French toast. Both were very good. The bread and pastries from the adjoining bakery were outstanding. Good place for a very good breakfast, a local place, better than surrounding tourist traps for value and quality. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Rachel N.

9 years ago

I was really excited to try Benny's Bistro since I had heard such good things about the food and service but we were a little disappointed. We got there about 10:20 and were seated a little after 10:30 when they started brunch service and a table became available. The place was actually full when we got there since people arrived early to enjoy a coffee before brunch. One of the waitresses came to bring us water and take our drink order. I ordered a tea and my boyfriend wasn't sure yet and said he needed a minute. 30 minutes later she came back to take our order and I never got my tea. The table next to us was seated at the same time and they received their food and left before we even got to order. Another table that had been recently seated ordered 10 minutes after us and got their food 5 minutes before. From the time that we got seated to the time our food arrived it was 1.5 hours! Sure it was busy but it was Saturday brunch, they know it's going to be busy! Over all the food was indeed delicious although my French toast was undercooked in the middle making it soggy. I hope this was just an off day because service was unacceptable. There was no real apology for the wait. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Cindy W.

11 years ago

The bistro tucked inside a bakery is easy to miss if you don't know your destination. I had a roasted beet salad, with perhaps the best beets I've ever had. The sandwich for the kids was wrapped in a buckwheat pancake instead, making it easier to hold. Coffee was just Illy brand, OK but nothing to fall in love for. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

J S.

12 years ago

Fantastic food, coffee and pastries. It is in the back of a french bakery. How can you go wrong? The menu is also not your typical brunch fare but absolutely worth it! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Paul V.

12 years ago

This bistro is tucked behind a French bakery and is a true hidden gem. We had a delicious brunch here. We would recommend the goat cheese frittata and omelette (with a great mix of muchrooms). Clear this is a place that locals come to meet which is a testament to what a great place this is. Not a lot seating so you may not find room as this happened to one group that showed up. Overall highly recommend for brunch read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

C F.

11 years ago

I love finding myself here for Brunch on Sunday's. Their specials are mouth watering usually. Love this place. The bread is very dreamy. I've only had one omelette that was a little dry or I would be 5 star all the way. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ro R.

11 years ago

We had a SUPERB lunch at Benny's. The place is unassuming and easily missed behind a French boulangerie. We enjoyed the salmon and tuna dishes. They are both such a complex mix of flavours, true delicacies! I would go back in a heartbeat! Awesome service too. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jim D.

11 years ago

A great find just past the Farmers Market. All 4 of our lunch entrees were great. All agreed. Service was with great care and respect. The house made bread got 4 thumbs up! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Mary F.

11 years ago

We had the Benny's salmon gravlax and potato gratin. They ran out of hollandaise sauce but the gratin was still pretty awesome. The (extremely sweet) chef even came out to give us her recipe! Definitely coming back again. The food will leave you speechless and trust me - your stomach will thank you! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ernie A.

11 years ago

Amazing brunch. Highly recommend for anyone in the area. Went with 4 people and each meal was different and amazing. Good mimosa and beer too. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Sylwia K.

10 years ago

My favourite bistro and bakery in Ottawa. You can see them prepare your food and the service is very friendly. I go whenever I can.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Gorkem G.

10 years ago

It is great for brunches. Good selection of food and fresh pastries. Would go there every day if I could.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jay P.

11 years ago

Nice little cozy brunch place. Very tasty and fresh food. Great idea of the dishes. All the ingredients blend together nicely.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Bryan L.

158

10 years ago

A gem of a French-style bistro in Byward market. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in Ottawa. It's tucked away behind its bakery so oogle and inhale in the pastries and cakes as you enter (you can order them for dessert after). My friends got the salmon gravlax and roasted mushroom mains. They loved it. I got the albacore tuna confit - seared tuna loins (very fresh) on fennel and radish salad, crispy panko chorizo balls (wonderful), soft poached egg (perfectly done). Portion sizes were good and the presentation was spot on. Desserts were great and not overly sweet. A handful of excellent beers (St. Ambroise, Unibroue from Quebec were available. Attentive and friendly service. Bravo! read more

Benny's Bistro - Entrees: Albacore tuna confit. Roasted mushroom entree. Superb. ***** - Bistros Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Rosemary V.

17 years ago

Some kindof yummy! Mainly fresh local ingredients - check it out if you can and then stop at the French Baker on your way out for some delightful pastries! http://www.bennysbistro.ca/bistro/ read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

SB M.

161

13 years ago

Brunch here is extraordinary, as advertised. The wait times are also extraordinary, as advertised! But you can beat the rush, we arrived just before 10:30 when brunch is served and we immediately got a table. By 10:45 there was a long lineup. So if lineups drive you crazy you absolutely need to manage that. But the food is really top notch and worth the effort. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Hoang D.

11 years ago

Love love love this surprising hole in the wall! It's amazing. It's breakfast, with much love and respect for everything they put into it. Spot on always. Don't forget the mimosa! They know what a mimosa is all about! This place will start your day off on the perfect footing. Do yourself a favour, and discover Ottawa's little gem here. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kasia B.

13 years ago

I am the bride that Jennifer P. is talking about in her review. I am still dreaming of the sandwich & salad combo I've had at the bistro. The food and service was delicious. Great atmosphere. Kind people. Delicious food. What more could you ask for? We really enjoyed ourselves.. and YES I will be back once I move to Ottawa (soon I hope). Thank you so much for the delicious meal I've enjoyed hours before getting married. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jennifer P.

13 years ago

I was visiting from out of town for my best friend's wedding when we stumbled upon this hidden gem. We had just finished getting out hair and makeup done and had about an hour or so to kill before we had to head off to the venue, and anyone who has ever been married knows how important it is to eat before the wedding chaos, as it is almost impossible to eat once everything has started. We would have walked right past Benny's had it not been for the delightful chef who had just stepped outside. We had a pleasant conversation about body art and inquired about places to eat in the area that might be vegan friendly. (I am a vegan, my friend and her mother are not, and none of us are familiar with Ottawa) He introduced his restaurant and suggested a menu item he could alter to my dietary needs. This chance meeting proved to be the most delicious meal of the day- even more delicious than the wedding meal. Both the bride and her mother had the sandwich of the day and were floored with how phenomenal their food was, and I had this delicious vegetable dish that will forever be in my memory, or at least until the next time I am able to make it to Ottawa! Definitely recommend! read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Ian G.

12 years ago

This is a brunch place for people who don't like brunch. The food is absolutely delicious and innovative and not entirely dependent on the usual boring brunch egg varations. My wild mushroom bowl with other incredibly yummy goodness was out of this world. Everyone else loved their fabulous meals. Not super-cheap as brunch goes, but well worth it. Scrumptious! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Jacob Y.

8 years ago

Awful food and awful service. If you want stale croissants you come here. There are so many better places in byward market.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Océane C.

9 years ago

I ordered mushroom omelette with salad it's quite delicious, the croissant was good too. Friendly customer service.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Matylda K.

Elite 19

12 years ago

Giving 4-star for their fancy menu, plate presentation, quality ingredients. My friend ordered Gravlax, I believe she had the most to eat. Her plate had a perfect balance of nutritive ingredients... As for us who had ordered a vegetarian meal, French Toast with Oatmeal: there wasn't enough food for the $17 we paid (barely 3 slices of a French baguette). I wished they had put some fruits, especially for the $17 price tag. I had originally picked this option because the menu said the breakfast had oatmeal. I was disappointed to see it was just a few toasted oats on top of the three breads. Don't give me wrong, the food was good, but I'll remember not to go there for my breakfast as there are not enough options for vegetarians/vegans and not enough food quantity (this is why they got a 3/5). I ended up going to a juice bar to get my fruit fix. Otherwise the service was okay, and we could be served in both languages, French and English. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Janice H.

124

9 years ago

Absolutely fabulous! We each ordered something different- french toast, mushroom omelet, frittata, and eggs all complimented with toast from the bakery and salad...The service was wonderful as well... read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kanonico G.

9 years ago

I was looking for a place to sit a group of 7 comfortably and have a superb breakfast. Found it at Benny's!! Bakery and restaurant with excellent food, bread ambiance. Will come back again! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Matt P.

9 years ago

Casual setting, delicious French food and baked good on your way out, who could ask for more?!

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Terry L.

10 years ago

This was a pretty good brunch place, the tuna was amazing. The portion is on the smaller side for me but the taste made it worth it.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Christine M.

10 years ago

A little taste of France! Brunch is a good option (starts at 10.30am) for a leisurely weekend. If you arrive earlier than 10.30am, enjoy the cafe and fabulous croissants. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Fangfang Y.

10 years ago

The bakery is famous for their Ottawa top1 croissant. I'm not a big fan of croissant, but I think their croissants are great indeed. I had the tuna loin for brunch, and my friend had the French toast. They are surprisingly good. A tiny little place worth to explore. PS. Service is great. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

H N.

11 years ago

Amazing food. I really can't stress that enough. You would expect to pay significantly more for that quality.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kyla T.

11 years ago

Yummmmmmm. This is an excellent breakfast spot! We had the Benny's salmon gravlox and the buckwheat crepes - delicious. Our food and the service was exceptional. They start out by serving freshly baked bread as soon as you sit - bonus points!!! Looking forward to being back. Thank you for an amazing start to the day! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Caren W.

11 years ago

Love their Sunday brunch! Consistent food. A bit slow so don't go if you are in a hurry. Also be prepared to wait to get a table. Food is delicious. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Michael B.

10 years ago

Small selection and should be listed on yelp as 4 dollar signs as breakfast for 2 cost 50$. Portions are small. Nothing special atmopher and bathroom is dingy. If the price was more reasonable we would back but I don't think they will be doing that so we will not be back. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

P. K.

10 years ago

Hole in the wall place. Not fancy at all.Get the French Toast breakfast. It is made with an apple compote and caramel sauce. Served with a topping of granola. Why are you still reading this? Order the French toast now! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Page 3 of 4

119 Murray St
Ottawa, ON K1N 5M5
Canada
Directions
(613) 789-7941
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.frenchbaker.ca

Hours

What time does Benny's Bistro open?

Benny's Bistro opens at 7:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Benny's Bistro close?

Benny's Bistro closes at 6:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Benny's Bistro closes at 5:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 6:00 PMSat-Sun 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Food & Alcohol

Does Benny's Bistro have catering options?

No, Benny's Bistro does not have catering options.

Does Benny's Bistro serve alcohol?

Yes, Benny's Bistro serves alcohol. Full Bar

Indoor Amenities

Does Benny's Bistro allow dogs?

Yes, Benny's Bistro allows dogs.

Does Benny's Bistro have TVs?

No, Benny's Bistro does not have TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Benny's Bistro have bike parking?

Yes, Benny's Bistro has bike parking.

Does Benny's Bistro have outdoor seating?

No, Benny's Bistro does not have outdoor seating options.

Does Benny's Bistro have parking?

Yes, Benny's Bistro has parking options. Street Parking

Other Amenities

Does Benny's Bistro have free WiFi?

No, Benny's Bistro does not have free WiFi.

Benny's Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Explore benefits

Ratatouille Bistro

4.6(29 reviews)

0.0 km

I was super indecisive about what I wanted to eat for dinner, but luckily I stumbled upon this gem!…read moreMercy it's been awhile since I have had a meal this tasty! I had the pork belly risotto and it's in my list of best meals ever. The cocktails were brilliant as well. My waiter was just the sweetest and he was always ready with a great recommendation for my cocktails. I can't recommend this place more

Ratatouille was not there! I brought my two young kids…read morebethany (9) and sam (6) and bless there hearts asked for Mister Ratatouille and the chef kicked us out 1 star!!

Photos

Seating

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

See all

Elderflower, ginger, Canadian gin

Gyubee Japanese Grill

3.9(77 reviews)

0.2 km

•$$$

My only issue with Gyubee Japanese Grill is that it's really a Korean BBQ place. That said, the…read morefood is good ...because Korean bbq is good. lol Standard process: order meats, grill at your table, enjoy. A nice surprise is the mini crème brûlée desserts that they offer and the popsicles.

Amazing! restaurant was clean, service was great and the food was fantastic! Our favourites were…read morethe prime kalbi and the garlic marinated beef. Also highly recommend the peach mojito for a drink!

Photos

Inside

See all

Beef (Prime Kalbi and black pepper Kalbi)

The Moonroom

4.2(46 reviews)

3.7 km•Little Italy, Centretown West

•$$$

Really cute and cozy. Very good cocktails Staff is very nice and attentive. Space is clean and…read moreconvenient right off Preston street. Easy to find.

Grow theirs own cocktails herb and flowers…read more The patio is charming and so is the interior. The staff is very knowledgeable it's very pleasant to know more about the dishes.

Photos

Creative menus, great cocktails very clean, fresh flowers are a nice touch.

Restaurant is located in Little Italy

See all

Cocktail

The Whalesbone

4.1(134 reviews)

1.3 km•Centretown, Golden Triangle

•$$$

5/5! A local friend of mine took me here and we both really enjoyed the vibe and the food! We…read moredecided to split a bunch of appetizers instead of getting a main dish each - this was a great decision! We were able to try a bunch of their appetizers and nothing was really disappointing. We loved everything! We had: - a round of oysters - garlic bok choy - tuna tare tare - this was served in a taco shell of sorts - beef tare tare - this was served on a piece of bread - our favourite! The beef tare tare was definitely the highlight of them all! The spread on the bread was some sort of fig jam I believe, and it paired amazingly with the beef and other toppings on top. Definitely a more unique beef tare tare that I've had recently, and I would totally get it again!

Very upscale pub food - bone marrow, lots of seafood towers, but not pretentious at all. We had…read moretwo kids in tow and they loved both the food and atmosphere. Plenty of options for anyone to find a meal. Friendly and fast service as well.

Photos

See all

Town

4.3(178 reviews)

1.5 km•Golden Triangle, Centretown

•$$$

All the food we had was absolutely fabulous! The hosts were very welcoming and the hospitality was…read morebeyond belief. We were welcomed and made to feel welcome throughout our stay. The ambiance is cozy and comfortable however there is a vape shop next door so you'll get the odd smell of smoke and marijuana if you're sitting by the open window.

So freakin good…read more This has been on my list for some time. Happy to get it checked off. Decor is comfortable and interesting without being fussy. Art on the wall is all interesting. I loved the hand! Our servers were amazing in their knowledge of both the food and beverage menus. We received excellent advice on drink pairings. We were checked on at just the right moments. Really, service was exquisite while also being relaxed. My Buttermilk Fried chicken was the best fried chicken I've ever had, and I look for opportunities for that meal everywhere! Yes, I have a fried chicken 'problem'. Tried a bite of Hub's Little Neck Clams, also tasty, with a wonderful mix of flavours. Tuna Tataki as a starter, also delicious. All in all, a great meal.

Photos

Outside storefront

See all

Cider selection

The Belmont

4.5(42 reviews)

4.3 km•Old Ottawa South

•$$

We've always wanted to try a small plates/tapas place. My search brought me to The Belmont. The…read moremeal was without fault. The service was excellent. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. Highly recommended. Mocktails to start, and then we indulged in the Family Style. I've captioned each dish.

Incredible little spot! Celebrated our 10 year ann here and wow! Food was amazing, like seriously…read moreamazing! Great service - the staff was all very friendly and polite and knowledgeable! Drinks were delicious and delivered quickly. Will hopefully get back here soon!

Photos

Cute room.

Birria tacos

See all

Riviera

4.4(157 reviews)

0.8 km•Centretown

•$$$

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

Had a lovely dinner tonight. We didn't make a reservation and were fit into one of the smaller high…read moretop tables. Complimentary brioche bread and butter was great. Tuna crudo $30 was our least favourite dish tonight, and was borderline fishy. But the mushroom truffle egg toast $29 was rich and decadent. 10oz steak frites $75 was delicious and well marbled. The fries had fried up herbs which made it more special. Finally, the sea bass $48 on tomato and mussels sauce was a nice sauce, but I wish it came with some sort of withered green as well and the sea bass itself is very mild in taste. We really enjoyed our meal but would only get the steak frites and mushroom toast again. The restaurant ceilings are very high and adds to the ambiance. Service was very friendly, perhaps a bit slow at times but they were also full. Overall great meal and would come back!

Photos

Interior

See all

Beautiful location; wonderfully lit; with bar and kitchen right there for your viewing pleasure.

Supply and Demand

4.5(108 reviews)

4.9 km•Hintonburg, Kitchissippi

•$$$

The best meal we had in Ottawa!…read more This is a small restaurant but you do not feel crowded even when all the tables are occupied. The staff is friendly and the service at a very high level. We had the endive and blood orange salad, the leek and shrimp salad and three of the four pastas on the menu after our server suggested that rather than one full order and one half order we could sample three. She was right and they were all delicious. And our meal here was cheaper than two of the other "big name" places we ate at on other evenings.

This place came highly recommended. Now I were to rate them…read morejust on apps they would be a 4 star. The main fish was just OK and the pasta being overly oily. The scallop crudo being on best app IMO. The tuna was OK and so was the welk which surprised me as being a menu item. Service is decent but being priced at this level I think 3.5 stars as the mains didn't do it for moi.

Photos

Parking spot

Tuna crudo and Gin&Tonic

See all

Bread and butter

Chez Fatima

4.4(42 reviews)

2.0 km•Somerset

•$$

I have only lived in the Ottawa area for one month, but I feel I have already found one of my…read morefavorite restaurants. We went to Chez Fatima for dinner on a Saturday night, and I couldn't have been more impressed. I'm still not very familiar with this area, and I was surprised to see how dead everything was on the weekend. We were able to find free parking right across the street. We did not have reservations for dinner, but came early in the evening and we were able to get a table. Most of the tables were reserved, so I'd recommend calling ahead. For dinner you are able to pick from the menu or the buffet. The buffet is ~$25 and includes soup, a beautiful salad selection, bread, two veggie dishes, lamb/fish/chicken tangines, sausage, shrimp and dessert. It is a phenomenal value, and all of the food is homemade and fresh. They even bake their own bread, which is a delicious anise loaf. The restaurant is very welcoming and cozy. I can't wait to return!!

Very disappointing second experience compared to the one I had a year ago…read more The staff (1 person) tries to push you towards the regular menu even though the buffet option is still offered. Apparently, because people abuse! Ok! So the buffet is reduced to the third of what it shows on the pictures, with an insulting sweet section! Clever way to get us to order from regular menu... And then comes the service ! Here is a summary : You got the dish, eat , drink, pay and get out!

Photos

Mint tea

Soup

See all

Dessert offerings

Prohibition Public House

4.1(83 reviews)

1.6 km•Centretown, Downtown

•$$$

Loved it! Cool atmosphere and interior design, food was great and service was fast!…read more No complaints! Will definitely come again!

The Short Version: Popular gastropub in Centertown. We went…read morethere for happy hour and had a good time. The Long Version: Prohibition Public House opened in 2016. It's in a large converted Victorian era house. I like the layout with smaller rooms. I also like the thoughtfully placed hooks near the tables for coats or bags. It's a gastro pub and they use locally sourced ingredients, which I also like. My husband and I stopped by for happy hour (which is literally just one hour 5pm-6pm, Monday-Friday). For happy hour all their appetizers are 40% off and they have specials on drinks. I had the strawberry peach sangria and the happy hour price was $10. My husband had their house Pilsner ($6 happy hour price). We also shared the mushroom tacos ($13.20 happy hour price) and the smoked brisket arancini ($13.20 happy hour price). I really enjoyed my sangria. Although I was expecting actual strawberries and peaches in the drink based on the menu description. But the fruits I got were an orange slice and some blueberries and only a tiny sliver of strawberry. Nonetheless it was still tasty. I loved the mushroom tacos. I'm not sure how they prepared the mushrooms but they were crispy but not oily or greasy. I really loved the texture of the mushrooms. I found the taco shell a bit thin and dry tasting. But the star of the show was the mushrooms. I would get these again. The smoked brisket arancini was also very good. The meat had a delicious smokey flavor that blended well with the rice and cheese. The tomato-based sauce it came with complemented the arancini well. Service was pleasant. Washrooms are up a flight of stairs. There's more seating and an additional bar on the upper level but it was empty when we were there. Which made going to the washroom a little creepy for me. Older houses always give me a haunted vibe. Lol. Street parking only. Review #166 (2026)

Photos

Inside the restaurant

Onion and cheese dip (shared plate)

See all

Front of the restaurant

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

12 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Lal M.

9 years ago

THIS IS NOT A PET FRIENDLY PLACE. YOU WOULD BE ASKED TO STEP OUT, IF YOU HAVE A PET This quite against all the reviews they have on various sites, claiming they are PET FRIENDLY. No options given and after a One Hour Wait on Mother's Day, had to walk out with our 1 year old, 8 year old and their Mother and the pug dog. Food maybe great, however, don't claim, what you are not. read more

Susan P.

10 years ago

This is my favourite place. It serves unique and very tasty food. I come here for the things I would t make at home. It's out of the ordinary and generally accommodating to my gluten and not allergies. I like also that I can have a glass of bubbly with my brunch. Be on time for the first seating or expect to wait. It's well worth the wait! read more

Bee S.

12 years ago

Ohhh I love this place. this is what I miss the most about Ontario :-( Always great service and always great food. It's just a little glum inside, but everything else is so nice. Prices are a bit high, but worth treating yourself. read more

Susan H.

6 years ago

We had brunch here when visiting from Toronto. Great little spot with yummy bites. Menu is not massive, bit everything we had was good. We did wait in line around 10:45 so keep that in mind. Try the french toast it's good read more

Noah L.

11 years ago

This restaurant is the height of sophistication. If the French cuisine is your passion, They offer delicious and excellent food and Their wine collection is also excellent. So far so good! read more

Richard M.

11 years ago

Great staff very quick and helpful, They have a good menu with a lot of choices.The food arrived quickly after ordering.I definitely recommend trying this restaurant. read more

Roberta B.

11 years ago

My friend and I had dinner here this evening. It was fantastic. The atmosphere and decor is quite nice. The staff were quite attentive and service was exceptional. read more

Sandra P.

12 years ago

OMG! You want brunch this is THE spot!!! AWESOME!!!! all fresh ingredients and real maple syrup! The steak is cooked to perfection!

Echo L.

11 years ago

So good! The tuna loin is a must try. It looks small in the picture but it can get you full as a brunch. Service was good.

Jebediah A.

2 years ago

Elite soup! The bakery is also amazing. Bread paired with soup is always a good combo!

Xander F.

10 years ago

Tricky to find at first but well worth it. Great spot for brunch. Will be back again!

Ian B.

11 years ago

Best croissants you'll get. Coffee is excellent as well.

Benny's Bistro - bistros - Updated November 2026

Best of Ottawa

Things to do in Ottawa

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

Ratatouille Bistro

4.6

(29 reviews)

0.0 km

Ratatouille was not there! I brought my two young kids…read morebethany (9) and sam (6) and bless there hearts asked for Mister Ratatouille and the chef kicked us out 1 star!!

Photos

Seating

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

See all

Elderflower, ginger, Canadian gin

St Martha's Brasserie D'Orleans

My wife and I went there for dinner and considering it's a Wednesday, the place was nearly full…read more There is only one server and she was excellent, attending everybody and ensure their foods and needs are met. The food is very good, I order a margherita pizza and it tastes great, perhaps it is one of those stone oven which I can see from where I sat. The seafood is good and particularly the calamari is cooked just right and its homemade sauce is really nice. I will not consider this as a French cuisine restaurant but it definitely is a nice restaurant for the taste of the food and the size of the food. I am surprised we have this hidden gem restaurant in Orleans. Highly recommended to anyone who lives in Orleans to give it a try.

Been here once before pre 2020. I had the burger and salad back then. Today I got the crab cake and…read morecalamari as apps. Both gluten free and very tasty. For my main I got Canard a l'orange it came with mash potatoes and broccoli. Everything was good and flavourful. Finished with a creme brûlée price online are a bit different than at location.

See all

Black Dog Bistro

What a great place in a beautiful area in Ontario! Manotick…read moreis a wonderful place and The Black Dog Bistro is excellent! They have 2 patios, the front one by the street and the back patio that we were at. It's much quieter in the back compared to the front and then of coarse they have a good sized interior space as well. It's quite a large place but that didn't slow down the service, our experience here was nothing but exceptional! Right away I noticed the food orders coming out and wow, the different dishes looked good! Food and drink was great and our server was personable and very efficient. He made our visit fun and I really enjoyed the charcuterie board. I had a couple Perth Breweries IPA and I really enjoyed them. One thing tho you must know, if you order a Caesar they don't use Motts Clamato but a more organic one with no msg which of coarse is a good thing but you have to know it does not taste the same. My wife wasn't a fan. But outside of that everything was great. If your in the area that's definitely a stop for at least a snack and refreshing beverage like we had!

Great food and outstanding service with excellent atmosphere on the patio. A summertime treasureread more

Photos

Salmon fillet

See all

Keith's. Cold, crisp.

Clandestin

4.9

(17 reviews)

1.9 km

What a fabulous meal tonight at Clandestin! Everything we had was delicious and the service…read more.. well, we could not have asked for better. So glad we picked here for our last night in Gatineau. Wrap with crab and poulet frit and with a chipotle mayo with roe. Frites that we're out of this world. And my wife had a salad with duck and cellophane noodles. I can't show the mousse because it disappeared too quickly.

Food was amazing, beautiful and absolutely delicious. Service was incredibly friendly and helpful,…read morebeers and ciders were a great fit to the hip and skilled ambience.

Photos

Tostada and fries

See all

Metropolitain Brasserie

The Short Version: Lovely large restaurant. Very popular…read morewith tourists and locals alike. Beautiful patio. Delicious food. The Long Version: My first time at Metropolitan was many years ago, before chronicling my food adventures was a thing for me, lol. I actually don't remember the food from that time at all (which is why I like documenting my experiences now). I recently returned for a continuing education event sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. The four course dinner I had there was great. As per the restaurant website, we got the "Group Dinner" menu, which is $72 a person. We started off with a bread basket and the bread was baguette slices which were warm and slightly crusty on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Next up was a wild mushroom and truffle soup with spinach and Parmesan cheese. It was rich and creamy. Then we had a spinach salad with blueberries and strawberries. The balsamic vinaigrette was light and not too oily. The sunflower and pumpkin seeds added a nice crunchy texture. For my main, I got the Filet Mignon. I asked for it cooked medium and it was perfect. It came with asparagus which were deliciously al dente and mashed potatoes, which were not as smooth I expected, but still good. For dessert I chose the Chocolate Mousse Cake which was so soft and smooth and very rich. It was a great ending to an overall great meal. Service was pleasant and they kept our water glasses full and the wine was pouring freely. I had to drive home so only had a glass and a half. We were in a curtained off area and it wasn't too loud. We were able to hear the presentation clearly. There was at least one other event going on at the same time and of course regular restaurant customers, but the space is large enough that they could accommodate all this. They have a very large patio which is great for people watching. The restaurant is on poshy Sussex Drive, a stone's throw away from the Chateau Laurier. There's street parking or some paid parking structures nearby. Review #109 (2026)

What a nice evening sitting in the courtyard enjoying a wonderful meal…read more My table tried the steak options and thoroughly enjoyed their meals. I had the Tuna tartar which reminded me of a Hawaiian poke stack, just without the shoyu, or rice. Loved it. My lobster ravioli was very tasty, but...(And this is the missing star) was obviously sitting on the line while waiting for someone's steak. It should have been the last thing plated before coming to the table but it appeared to be the first sine the sauce had a skin on it and the ravioli was lukewarm warm. Don't get me wrong, it tasted GREAT. So close to 5 but not quite.

See all

Cocotte Bistro

I have limited expectations of brunch spots, they fall between meh to acceptable. The ones that are…read moregood are rare and in Ottawa even rarer and in some cases even acceptable one's come with hour+ waits. This spot luckily takes reservations and with lots of seating even a walk in might work. The setup is decent and is at the lobby/entrance of a hotel. Lots of hustle and bustle the space can get very loud depending on where you are seated. Service was decent. Now for the food I had the Pain Perdu and person I was dining with had the croque monsieur. Pain Perdu though looking decadent was just ok. With the creme anglaise sauce having something off imo. Croque monsieur was decent apparently. They are somewhat reasonably priced. With the added benefit of reservation give them a try if in the area.

I enjoyed a wonderful meal at Cocotte Bistro. They have a diverse enough menu that everyone should…read morebe able to find something they will enjoy. I started my dining experience with a wonderful cocktail offering; spicy coconut pineapple margarita. It was very enjoyable. It was not overly sweet like you'd expect with a margarita and the tropical flavors were enjoyable. $19 was a reasonable asking price. I ordered the poulet sauce fermiér. It was nicely crisper chicken quarter with smashed crisp baby potatoes on a bed of peas, leeks, nantes, mushroom and white sauce. The sauce didn't dominate and the flavors all messed to make this a wonderful and pleasing dish. I enjoyed that the veggies were purposely prepared (not over cooked and mushy) retaining a bit of their natural crunchy bite. $39 was a little high for the amount BUT the quality and presentation offset my opinion and I'd definitely order this dish again. I ended with a wonderful dessert offering mango bavarois which is a custard dessert which was topped with fresh berries; strawberry, raspberry, blueberry and blackberry. Again sugar didn't dominate flavor the tangy mango was the star of this dessert. Service was on point initially, then as the time progressed it got a little slow which is why I only give 4*. That said I would most definitely return and offer recommendation for this wonderful restaurant.

Photos

See all

Restaurant Les Fougères

This was an lovely restaurant in a lovely setting. The service was top notch and kind. It's a bit…read moreout of the way but we are up in Wakefield and it's perfect, and we don't have to drive in to the city. It was a bit pricy, but the price matched the quality. We definitely got what we paid for, and it was all marvelous! Highly recommend as it's farm to table to. All fresh, all kind service, clean place, plenty of parking.

The food was impeccable and very well prepared. Since everything is made fresh per meal, you are…read moreallowed the pleasure of digesting your food between courses. Enjoy the ambience of this restaurant on an evening where the quality of the food and the ambience of the restaurant are more important than how quickly your food arrives.

Photos

See all

L’Orée du Bois

Amazing food, with an excellent wine pairing by a knowledgeable waiter/sommelier. Plenty of…read morechoices for food. The atmosphere is rustic and romantic. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. I feel it was a very fair value for such a great experience!

The service was great, very attentive. The decor and ambiance were very cute…read more The squash and apple soup was delicious. We liked their terrine as well. The downside, the duck confit sauce was too salty and the sweetbread was not very tasty either (compared to another place we have tried). I'll probably won't go back again.

Photos

Patrick Biuze bubbly was perfect with the appetizer

But and chocolate éclair

See all

Duck confit

Le Moulin de Provence KD

Dropped in for a coffee and breakfast pastry…read more Nice airy space, white industrial feel. Comfortable. Staff were pleasant. I can't resist a Palmier pastry. I have been searching for one as perfect as I had in St. Pierre many many years ago. An elusive memory that's hard to live up to. This Palmier was the closest I've gotten, quite good.

Stopped in for a breakfast pastry on our way to Parliament Hill. We shared a bacon omelette…read morecroissant. It was delicious! Our server was very friendly. There were tons of other pastries, breads, and drinks, as well as a few knickknacks for fun. It would be a great place to return to grab a sandwich for a picnic in the park.

Photos

Wall of wheat

See all

Pretty ceiling lights

Le Troquet

Cute spot. We went for standup comedy. The brownie was particularly good. Probably not ideal for…read morevegetarian.

This is my favourite restaurant in Vieux Hull. The service is great, the selection delicious and…read moreit's always buzzing with people at the lunch hour. My favourite thing to order is the crevettes au gratin. Paired with a rosé and a seat on the patio on a sunny day and you've got paradise. They have pastas, soups and sandwiches as well. It's best to make a reservation ahead of time for lunch, as hungry bureaucrats tend to gather here.

See all

Benny's Bistro

Benny's Bistro Photos

Benny's Bistro Popular Dishes

BENNY'S BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Benny's Bistro

Reviews With Photos

More info about Benny's Bistro

Food & Alcohol

Indoor Amenities

Outdoor Amenities

Other Amenities

Benny's Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

Verify this business for free

More businesses like Benny's Bistro

Ratatouille Bistro

Gyubee Japanese Grill

The Moonroom

The Whalesbone

Town

The Belmont

Riviera

Supply and Demand

Chez Fatima

Prohibition Public House

12 Benny's Bistro reviews that are not currently recommended

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

12 reviews that are not currently recommended

Benny's Bistro - bistros - Updated November 2026

People found Benny's Bistro by searching for…

Related Searches in Ottawa, ON

Best of Ottawa

Browse Brands

Browse Articles

People who viewed Benny's Bistro also viewed

Ratatouille Bistro

St Martha's Brasserie D'Orleans

Black Dog Bistro

Clandestin

Metropolitain Brasserie

Cocotte Bistro

Restaurant Les Fougères

L’Orée du Bois

Le Moulin de Provence KD

Le Troquet