For what it is - a dive bar - it's pretty darn good. Decor is, I dunno, 1950s or so, complete with terrazzo floors and wood paneling. And dart boards. The waitress station/bar is awkwardly but conveniently placed in a weird indent in the main room. The waitresses are hopping, slinging drinks. Ours was awesome. Accoustics for the live bad are not great but the dull roar of people talking over the band is oddly fun. It's definitely a place people meet up for conversation. Beer selection is mainstream, Molsons and the like. If you want craft beer, go elsewhere. Ate the fish and chips, as well as jalepino poppers, both great! The Coleslaw with the fish was not to my taste, it seemed pickled. I prefer fresh. Overall, had a great time and I'd go back. read more

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The Carleton Tavern is a classic tavern in all respects. Cold Beer, Full Bar, and a great selection of food. Nothing fancy but a great selection of pub food. All excellently prepared. All at amazingly low prices. Anyone having a tough time dealing with the high restaurant prices that Covid caused will be pleasantly surprised. No gouging here! read more

Classic tavern, straight out of the past. 40 oz beers and good, affordable pub fare and a friendly vibe add up to a great place to sit and talk for hours. read more

Carleton Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

The only remaining 'Tavern' in Ottawa. My definition of a Canadian Tavern has the two doors (Ladies and Escorts as well as Men) good beer and food. Decent entertainment and reasonable prices. (Although not as good as under the previous management). A surprisingly good place to take kids prior to 9pm on a weekend or anytime mid-week. read more

The food was great and so were the drinks, and it was a pleasant environment to sit in, but the waitress scammed me, I got charged $104 when I was calculating all of my orders as I made them and I should've had to pay $81.75. She insisted I ordered 8 shots of rum when I know for a fact I only ordered 7 total for me and my girlfriend, and she added an extra $20 charge out of nowhere. DO NOT OPEN A TAB HERE, PAY FOR EVERYTHING AS YOU ORDER IT!!! read more

Le service au début était pas si pire la femme a fait sa job mais il a fallu que je la cherche partout pendant au moins 10 minutes Le cuisinier devrait honnêtement changer de profession les hot dogs étaient dégueulasse et les frites, même mon chien en voulait même pas je comprends même pas pourquoi il m'a donné tout ça pour emporter read more

Dropped by there with my wife last week. My wife works next door giving therapy to drug addicts and their families. So it was pretty disturbing for both of us being served at the Carleton by a server who was very obviously high on drugs. It can't get more obvious than that skinny server. She starts talking about her cats to us for what seemed like eternity before even taking our order. We won't be going back. That server needs some serious help. read more

If you'd like to feel better about your station in life, go to the Carleton for awhile, bask in the walking dead, killing themselves one beer at a time, talking about glories and successes of yesteryear. Not a horrible place, just the regulars are horrible people who should really strive for more in life. Great prices on booze and food though. A+, 2 enthusiastic thumbs up. read more

It's not that I don't appreciate a good dive bar, but that this isn't a very good dive bar. First off, it's quite smelly in there. Stale beer and the distinct smell of a retirement home attic. Stuffy and old. (Which makes you worry what the kitchen looks like.) Second, there isn't a bar to speak of, just some kind of cart like you'd see at a stadium -- no place to sit and talk to staff over a pint, which seems to be a large characteristic of a dive bar. Also dive bars should take pride in cheap beer and killer, no-frills comfort food. The beer wasn't that cheap at all, five or so bucks for a Moosehead as far as I remember (though I might be swayed as an American, because Canada alcohol prices are much higher), and the appetizers we got were clearly packaged, frozen food heated up. I don't understand a dive bar that can't at least make an onion ring in house. Finally, a good dive bar should have some games so everyone can chat and have a good time. I didn't see Keno (is that American?), the dartboards are above tables (!!) so you can't seem to actually use them, and I didn't see any other games except a pool table in a separate room from us. This place is right near my new apartment, so I'd really like to be able to come here again. There is good space for groups, so that's good. I hope to catch some Pats games, and I do hear that they're good for sporting events, so we'll see if the Carleton can change my mind. read more

Best deal in town. It's definitely rustic, but the food is totally passable, and you'll hardly break your wallet. Dinner and a beer for less than $10 any time. read more

I have been dropping in to this watering hole for a number years... it is definitely a tavern and one of the last true style taverns to say the least. It still has the divide where I am sure once upon a time there was a men's section only. They have daily specials - and if I were to recommmend something it would have to be the pizza.. yummy. I tend to go here to watch and dance to the live entertainment on the weekends - always no cover! If the band is good, the place will be pretty much full and you may be out of luck in trying to find a seat. The servers know there stuff and if you say "hi" and get their names you will be sure to get that much better service. .... or perhaps they just know that I am that guy that will order a quart of Canadian!!! yes, quarts are the norm here! Long live the Carleton Tavern! Cheers!: read more

cheap eats, cheap beer, a great local watering hole. This place is not classy at all. It's probably the least classy place to be in up-and-coming hintonburg. But the locals are friendly, the beer is cheap, and there is lots of space on the patio and inside. I think it used to be a place where the women were only allowed on one side and the men on the other, because it is completely divided in half, with separate doors to get into one side or the other (there is a door at the back so you can walk all the way around). There is also two patios, one on one side along Parkdale, and one on the other side (in the alley between the next building). We went to see the mechanicsville monologues here, which is a yearly set of monologues about hintonburg/mechanicsville/wellington west (which is a name made up by realtors, btw). Great show to watch out for in late November/early December of each year. read more

Typical dive bar.slowzand unfriendly staff,food is god awful,music is terrible.lots of drugs.wouldnt recommend this place to my best friend.hit up the laugh or the dominion in the market if u want a pub/tavern with character and charm..both dive bars but still amazing staff and great music. read more

First impressions are odd. There is a distinct smell inside that my girlfriend says is jut like a real pub in England. No music on the patio although there are speakers on the wall. We ordered a vegetarian omelet with brown toast and 15 wings. The toast was white when we received it. The wings were good although lacked a decent amount of sauce. No napkins or wet naps were provided with the wings. I'll probably go back as the price was great but I am disappointed in the service it was friendly but absentminded. read more

There are lots of bars and pubs in Ottawa. They are often populated by youngish drinkers (over 19 of course!) interested in being seen/picking up/showing off their knowledge of obscure beers or exotic wines. These kind of people cannot be found at the Carleton Tavern. The Carleton is a tavern. It is a simple, honest, working person's drinking joint. No pretence, no faux Irish decor, no gourmet foods, no BS. Just the guys, their lady friends, some sports, and their drinks. It is the kind of place Toby Keith or George Strait would hang out in. And if you have to ask who they are, you probably shouldn't hang at the Carleton. The food is simple pub grub - sandwiches, wings, nachos, potato skins. But, don't feel like it is exclusive. It is a warm, friendly and cozy kind of place. Go there and be yourself. read more

The waitress seemed annoyed at my questions, and insisted that a chocolate milk shake was not made with chocolate ice cream. (a vanilla shake with chocolate syrup is a different beast, lady.) the food is bland and inedible. The mashed potatoes were not seasoned at all. The breakfast might be okay, since it is hard to screw up eggs, but with the salty staff and crappy food and in interesting decor, I see no reason to choose this place. read more

A proper working class watering hole, a concept that is too often lost in the modern world of faux Irish pubs and awful night clubs. The food is good, the beer is cheap, the people are friendly, and the music is usually good. They have lots of space for live bands and usually take advantage of that, they have plenty of big screens to show sports and the service is usually great. Also has plenty of space for groups. read more

This is a joint favoured by the locals and I've been eating here for decades -- so long may it survive the current gentrification of Hintonburg. I've had many fine breakfasts (the home fries really are; try the farmer's sausage), their club sandwiches are delicious and the burgers have to be the best deal in Ottawa. Sam's the man in the kitchen and he knows how to make delicious french fries as well. If you're looking for something more healthy, they've got salads too. read more

Okay so this wasn't at all where I wanted to go for lunch but some friends of mine wanted to so I gave in. If it wasn't for the fact that I wanted to spend some quality time with people I don't often get a chance to I would have walked out. It took over an hour for my food and the place was not at all busy. Some people were done their meal before others got theirs. The food was cold and there is nothing worse than cold fries when your hungry. The ketchup was gross it tasted like somebody mixed beer with it. I was in good company so at I am thankful for that. read more

The Carleton serves cheap drinks and mediocre food but has a personality like no other. Go there for no cover live bands on Saturdays and I promise, as long as you go in with the attitude that you are going to have a good time, you will. The regular clientele are salt-of-the-earth folks who don't judge you on what you're wearing or what you're drinking. It's a come-as-you-are divey bar where you can just be yourself. And get pretty snookered for not much cash! read more

A good, inexpensive menu during the afternoon and evening. A terrific breakfast. Nice daily specials. Great selection of sports on the many tv screens available. read more

Authentic. Was there for a poetry reading upstairs and was pretty impressed overall, even if the room was uncomfortably squashy. Seems like a neighbourhood undergoing significant gentrification, so I hope the Carleton retains its saltiness. read more

Worst place I have been to. Stinks and the service was just terrible. We asked nicely to sit on the patio because it was nice out and the waitress was super rude about it. After sitting outside for 30 mins we gave up on waiting for someone to ask us what we wanted so we left. Would not advise wastinf your time here. read more

My jacket was stolen and when I complained that it was missing, they offered to call the police...on me. Luckily I don't carry my wallet in my jacket. A server even tried to convince me that a "friend" of mine said I left it in the car. Not true. read more

Great place but watch out lots of homeless drink here haha I'm a bit sceptical about drikning from those glasses in case they havnt been sterilized properly/ No offence to the Carleton I love it but I'd rather drink a bottled beer then risk getting something . Ok food for a great price read more