I had the pleasure of coming here for a wedding reception where we took over the whole restaurant for the evening with a set menu. I enjoyed a myriad of fun drinks (maybe, too many?!) and a great short rib main. The dessert was a citrus creme brulee, and then a poutines bar rolled out around midnight. The whole experience was blissful, and homely we didn't dance to hard upstairs. read more

While this restaurant fares quite well for lunch or dinner, the brunch we had was poor in terms of offer. Look at these two dishes especially the poached egg! Another example of shrinkflation? I wouldn't recommend the brunch at this location unless a better offer comes up. However the service was efficient as always. read more

See all

This has to be one of our favourite restaurants! Located in the historic Royal Bank building in trendy Westboro village, the high ceilings and tall windows provide an elegant ambience. The menu is limited, so check online before you go. The food is always delicious, with exciting eclectic combinations. The servers are excellent, friendly and attentive, but discreet. We highly recommend! read more

A fun place that is a two story location from an old bank. No fun bank details but a nice refurbished story. For brunch, the menu is fun and you get two plates for $28 for a large number of choice of items. Its a bit expensive and difficult if you are not very hungry and just want one item. The food has fresh ingredients and was plated beautifully. Was easy to get a table on the weekend there ample seating there. The dinner menu was exceptional as well. read more

Gezellig - Huevos brunch item - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Brunch. Love the choices they have. If you're looking for something a little fancier and off the beaten path , get in there . Will def be back read more

It was our first time there. Brunch was delicious! The dishes were on the smaller side but that's why they recommend getting 2 dishes per person. I liked the experience since the smaller portions allowed you to try more things out! I'd say, once is enough because the menu isn't huge. Once you try 4 items, it's not necessary to go again unless you reallyyyyy want to try out the entire menu! read more

See all

Great service and wonderful food! The ambiance is cozy. Really impressed with the duck and the butter finger dessert. read more

Beware: the hostesses don't know how to do their jobs. If you have a reservation you had better all arrive at the same time because the hostesses cannot do the job of remembering where they seat members of the same party. This could ruin your event. Perhaps the hostesses are stoned or maybe they are just not that interested in taking care of reservations. In any case, if you can get past this first hurdle you encounter when you walk in, the rest of the service and the food are nice. read more

We went here for our wedding anniversary after Ontario started inside dining after a third lockdown. We had always heard about this place from friends for high end fine dining. This restaurant's sister eatery found in Byward Market, Play, Food & Wine, specializing in gourmet tapas. We enjoyed our time there so why not try Gezellig too. Their menu do change from season to season and what is available. The staff was courteous, knowledgeable with each offering and wine. The food was fantastic! We paired our seared bass and sirloin with a nice half a bottle of Cabernet Chavignon. We recommend to eat inside because it's patio is at a back parking lot next to a church so not so appealing. Also for a gourmet resto, we expected that the great meal would continue to dessert. To our disappointment, no signature dessert and just plain offerings:( $$$$ read more

See all

Pleased to have discovered this gem in the Westboro village. Ambiance was bright and airy with large windows, and tall ceilings. We really liked the tapas style brunch, two choices for a reasonable price. There were many tempting dishes to choose from. The huevos were fresh and flavorful and the banana bread french toast sumptuous. Service was attentive and helpful. Definitely worth stopping in if you are in the area. read more

Gezellig - Huevos - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Came here for birthday brunch with some friends. It's such a cute spot! Service was great. Staff were attentive enough and very accommodating. Prices were great too! 2 dishes of your choice for a set price, so you could get something sweet AND savory. It's perfect for an indecisive food person like me. Cappuccino was also delicious. We had a great time and I can't wait to come back! read more

See all

We came here the day before mother's day with the whole family minus one for mother's day lunch the day before on Saturday.. we each choose 2 small plates and had a great meal and we really appreciate the food, atmosphere, and service, and the fact it is very accessible since Mom uses a walker!. read more

Dined here recently with my wife and son. We were in the area and looking for a restaurant and Gezellig looked nice, so we tried to get a table without a reservation on a weekend night. The hostess was very accommodating and offered to put us at the bar with the idea that if a table was available due to cancellation, she'd seat us. Works for us, so we sat at the bar, and only a few minutes later she had a table for us. Wonderful! First, the staff are super nice, all of them. It's very reassuring to see that masks are worn by staff, and tables are well distanced. We also are visiting an area with a very high vax rate, so all of these combined to making for a comfortable mindset. The restaurant decor and atmosphere are very relaxing and clean. We received our drinks and ordered some food, and shortly we were brought our meals. I had a lamb shank over Israeli couscous with naan and Indian-inspired sauce. It was perfect. So good. My wife had a risotto dish with stuff that I can't recall, maybe some fried leeks? I had a taste and it was very good. She loved it. Our son had ricotta gnudi which was also much liked. Service 5 stars Food 5 stars Ambience/cleanliness 5 stars Highly recommended. read more

Went for my birthday dinner. I had a knee scooter and they set us at the perfect table. I had loads of room to raise my ankle comfortably. The service was 5 star. My hubby had the lamb shank, hummus, tabouleh & potatoes, he loved it and cleaned his plate. I had flank steak, sweet potatoes, green beans & mushrooms. All cooked to perfection. We enjoyed ourselves so much it wasn't until we finished eating that we realized we didn't take pics! Great place with even better food & service. read more

Excellent service and the salmon was outstanding. I look forward to trying other menu items when I come again.

I came here last month during family day weekend and had an amazing dinner here. Honestly, there aren't a lot of words to say, but overall the food that night speaks volumes to the dining experience. we had a larger table (party of 7) so they reserved one of the longer tables upstairs in the loft area for us to sit in. I love the layout of this place, being upstairs in the loft, you could easily book more tables and have a private gathering, and on top of that you get to look down at the rest of the restaurant below - it's a great view! Our server was really friendly and great - made a few wine suggestions - in the end because it was a Sunday special (1/2 price bottle), we chose a Rioja red to share. The wine was full bodied and very smooth. Next we ordered a variety of appetizers and then a few entrees... here are my thoughts on the food: panko crusted blue crab cake - loved the crab cake. GEnerally you can't go wrong with the crab cake, but the crab was fresh tasting, and well put together - not too much fillers, but just enough to hold it together, throw in a panko crust and this was just a perfectly cooked crabcake! Yellow fin tuna togarashi - I love tuna, so automatically I thought this would be one of my favourites. I think I would like the tuna more if there was less sauce on it - the slow and vinaigrette is nice but i felt it was a bit too much so it was sort of powering over the taste of the fresh tuna. But still a great appetiter. Mexican beef tartare - I love tartare in general and this was no exception. nice mexican style on the tartare meaning it certainly came with some guac, tomao jalapenos and it also came with some nice sweet potato chips which i use to put the tartare on. All in all a nice app :) creamy chowder mussels - if you love mussels,, this is for you. the "soup" it came in is AMAZING. packed with flavour from the bacon, potato, corn and carrots, I wolfed down this dish in seconds... and ended up ordering a second one! The sauce after finishing the mussels is almost like a soup you can kind of drink and finish.. it was just too good. Entrees: Pan roasted halibut - fish was cooked to perfection, nicely seared and roasted, but not dry at the same time - which is tough to do for fish. Loved the parsnip and brown butter puree with the fish, and the sauce did wonders for this dish. Pan seared Quebec duck breast - WOW. this dish was freaking amazing! served with braised cabbage, spätzle, celeriac puree, cranberry orange compote this dish is to die for!! My hubby ordered this dish and I actually liked it more than the Halibut! the duck was cooked perfectly medium rare, and all the sides went along with the duck beautifully - a little bit of everything in one bite and that taste is just astounding! Def. my highlight of the night. Bone-in Lethbridge Heritage pork chop - another WOW. the size of that pork chop.. if you saw the picture, is HUGE. Giant pork chop and the grits and puree were a nice side to go with the heavy pork chop - I loved this dish as well. the cornbread was a nice touch to go with the dish - helps soak up some of the sauce as well :) We were too full to eat dessert but needless to say this restaurant did not disappoint!!! Next time in Ottawa I think I would def return to this restaurant for some more delicious food! read more

See all

Came here with friends for a girls night out after seeing it listed on American Express list of recommended restaurants. The food and service was excellent. Highly recommend the mariposa duck magret - wish there was more sweet potato purée with it and the portobello bread pudding was great. The crème brûlée was the best I've ever had and I love that there was a hint of Earl grey; the portion was also generous and could be shared between 2 people. I thought it was better than their other dessert options - coffee cake and butter finger, which were a bit too sweet for my liking. Would definitely come back! read more

Gezellig - Top: PEI mussels $18 Bottom: Mariposa duck magret $35 - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Cute brunch spot with a good concept menu where you can order 2 dishes for 28$ so that you can try out different things at brunch. The eggs Benedict was very basic, the home fries were tasty. The mushroom toast was quite enjoyable. The taco was simple but flavourful and the banana bread French toast was alright especially if you like cinnamon read more

See all

I want to give this place 5 stars because the staff were so professional and pleasant, the décor modern yet welcoming and the wine list amazing but my salty and a bit harder than average duck confit was a bit disappointing. My duck confit was served on pan fried spätzle mixed with Swiss chard and a smudge of mashed cauliflower. I wish there was a little more of the latter two and that the spätzle was not so fried. My husband had the lamb shank which he found fell off the bone tender and pretty good. We started with escargots in a cheesy sauce which we shared and thought was amazing and a good departure from the usual garlic escargots. For dessert, we ordered the Butter Finger, peanut butter crème layered with chocolate and graham crackers bits in more chocolate. This was rich and delicious! Again, the service and atmosphere is great but I would have expected a better main given the price point. read more

Gezellig - Duck confit - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

See all

The food was awesome. I dont remember the service but thats a good thing because i only remember the worst one

I just love this place. Casual high-end. Comfortable elegance. Impeccable service. For a special occasion, like Thursday. I've never had a bad experience here. The only downside is that the menu sometimes makes choosing difficult: it's all so good. read more

Food was fine, but nothing at all special. Soup was too thick, chips served with tartare were burnt, service was fine but not warm. Server never asked us what we thought about the food. For the price, it wasn't a good value and we will not be returning. Also, we were celebrating a wedding anniversary that we entered into the reservation notes, and not one mention was made to wish us a happy anniversary or recognize it. read more

What a super dining experience every time. James is one fun and professional server. Food is exquisite . Atmosphere is fun noisy. Go enjoy-da best read more

Amazing fine dining food with regular portion sizes. The service was great too, and it was less pricey than expected.

On my last visit to Ottawa, my girlfriend and I went out to dinner with my sister and brother-in-law, making ourselves an excuse for them to go out and take a break from the kids. This lovely restaurant, with its invigorating palette of blue, ryegrass and light wooden tables, has a very fresh and open feel, helped by its high ceilings and a good chunk of one wall being windows. Banquettes run down the middle of the room with booths and tables along the sides, and additional seating on the second floor in the back. The menu had lots of interesting appetizers and entrees out of about eight each, including foie gras, escargot and quail for the apps and short rib, duck confit and lamb shank for the mains. For my appetizer I was feeling adventurous, so I went with the escargot. I figured my girlfriend would get one of the fowl dishes, so I ordered the short rib, which seems to be the new steak for restaurants these days. It came with fondant potato (which I prayed wasn't wrapped in moldable sugar), horseradish braised leeks and a sage and oyster mushroom jus. The escargot, which came in a cream and smoked paprika sauce, was probably the standout part of my meal. The escargot were tender and tasty and weren't overpowered by either the rich sauce or thick lardons of double smoked bacon. Chives and pickled red onions helped to balance the richness of the other ingredients and a slice of puff pastry was there for dipping and dipped it was. My sister's foie gras was also a good dish, although it's hard to go wrong with it - smooth and easily spread, with its trademark richness and just a hint of sweetness as well. My short rib was nice and large, and very tender although it could have used a bit more seasoning; thankfully the jus came to the rescue with some flavour. The leeks were very good, being roughly blended and having a conservative amount of horseradish which didn't overpower. I didn't know what to expect with the fondant potato, and what I got was a few thick coins. I wasn't a huge fan as I found them to be a bit undercooked, however it was a fairly good plate all in all. Service was fantastic, with a knowledgeable and attentive waiter and other front house staff as well. I always enjoy exploring the food scene in Ottawa and livening up the lives of a family with two young kids, and Gezellig made for a good night out. read more

Gezellig - Escargot in a cream sauce with double-smoked bacon, pickled red onions and puff pastry - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

See all

This was the perfect restaurant for our Valentines lunch date! Service was amazing and food so delicious! Our server noticed we speak Spanish and she did her best to communicate with us in Spanish! Isn't that going above and beyond?! Her recommendations were spot on. I wish I could remember her name because she was amazing. We are already planning our next visit here! read more

Great place for fine dining within the Westboro neighborhood. The waitstaff was very knowledgeable and helpful. The menu is nicely laid out with a good variety of choices but not so many that you get the impression that things are all pre-made and waiting. Each entree is accompanied by a reasonably priced wine recommendation which was nice to see as it showed the owners are more concerned with your experience than their profit. This concern was evident at every turn, from the reception to the busking. I will most definitely be back again on our next visit to Ottawa. read more

Wow, wow, wow. They say the recipe for success is simple, in Gezellig's case the recipe is as follows: 1) they have very knowledgeable staff 2) they have amazing chefs 3) they have a great space snd lovely atmosphere 4) this results in amazing food with a modern and fresh take in a great environment Bravo Gezellig, your passion and love for your craft is apparent in all that you do. Thank you for the gastronomic adventure! read more

Been travelling Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, Belgium and UK this year. No question, this is an amazing restaurant. Great food. Best meal all year read more

I was excited to try Gezellig and complete the Beckta trifecta (oh yeah, you know I had that little rhyme all ready to go!), but while I think it has a lot of great potential,this new Westboro addition is not there...yet. One of my biggest problems is that it's impossible to review this place without thinking of the amazing Beckta or Play, both tried and true Ottawa foodie locales. The expectation that comes with a new restaurant from Stephen Beckta is pretty ginormous, so maybe it's not fair to review it 'til it's had a few months to work out the kinks, but I'll give it a shot. To start, the place is bigger (ie. less intimate) than either Beckta or Play, which makes for a good group dinner spot. Definitely get reservations - on a Thursday night, this place was totally packed, and we even waited (at the bar, with delicious local beers) for our table to open up. Our service all night was fantastic, and I wasn't even bothered (though some might be) by the one hour wait between our appetizers and mains - my friend and I had a lot of chatting to do, and our drinks were kept fresh and comped by the apologetic server. I didn't find the menu overly exciting, but I assumed that a Beckta venture would find a way to add pizzazz to the norm. I started with the romaine salad, and my friend with the red chicken salad roll. We were both a little bored by the flavours and didn't find a lot to be thrilled about. Our mains (pink salmon and squash risotto, respectively) were a bit more flavourful, but still not as great as we've come to expect from Beckta. I wanted to love the food, but instead i just liked it. And kind of wished we'd gone to Play instead. We contemplated getting desserts, but again, the wait was pretty long, so we decided to settle up. Maybe another time. I think this place probably will get better over time - at this point, it's only been open a month - but I do hope they shake the menu up a bit. Beckta pretty much has a captive audience here in Ottawa; I would love to see some crazy new menu options. read more

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

A wonderful spot in Westboro. Entrees for dinner range from $25-36, but the lunch and brunch menu provide exceptional value. For both lunch and brunch, you can enjoy two plates for only $25. One of the things I love about the brunch and lunch menu is if you aren't a fan of sweets, you can order two main dishes, to have one as an appetizer instead of dessert. read more

See all

I spent a delightful evening here with my girlfriends and we were impressed and in awe of how delicious our food was. As if that wasn't enough, we had terrific, knowledgable, and friendly service from a couple of lovely ladies who took care of our every need-right down to knowing we'd need extra forks to sample each other's meals. We didn't even have to ask. I started with the butternut squash soup with candied pumpkin seeds and if ever appropriate I would have licked the bowl clean, one downfall, if I dare call it that, the generous portion had me a little full come the start of my entree. My entree was a lamb and mushroom ragu over hand rolled gnocchi topped with super fresh arugula and Parmesan-it was melt in your mouth, do a little dance, holy crap this is good, good. I was too full for the fantabulous looking desserts, but next time I will know better and will skip the app and save room for dessert. Looking forward to my next visit. Bring your friends, bring your enemies and they will become your friends. Bring them now. Seriously. read more

Gezellig - Amazing mouth watering delectable lamb and mushroom ragu over hand-rolled gnocchi! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Sorry, I'm going to have to downgrade this place to 3 stars. My brother and his wife took my husband and I here as a "thank you present" a few months ago (our second visit, their third). My brother and his wife were obsessed with the shrimp and popcorn grits so they wanted to have it again before the restaurant changed the menu. Anyway, I can't eat corn, so I didn't have that dish. I had what was the equivalent of steak frites. My husband also had the same dish. The steak was ok but the fries were so salty. Other than the saltiness of the fries, I found this dish was really unremarkable. For the price tag, I expected a bit more than just unremarkable. We also shared some appetizers beforehand: The beef tartare (which I did not have. At the risk of sounding unrefined, I honestly cannot bring myself to eat raw meat. Although I had the deviled egg that it came with - to me it tasted like the deviled eggs I eat at potlucks, nothing special.), the sautéed calamari (which was quite tasty, flavourful and succulent, not chewy or rubbery at all), and another appetizer which I forget. My husband and I both had the Butterfinger Cake, which was so rich, creamy and heavenly. My brother and sister-in-law also each had a dessert but I don't remember what they had. The waitress was aloof during our visit. She was competent, but seemed to have an air of ennui. I don't need serving staff to pretend to be my friend, but I kind of felt like it was a bother for her to serve us. We ordered 3 appetizers, 4 main courses and 4 desserts, but I felt like her attitude was like we just ordered 1 dish for all of us to share. It was only at the end, right before bringing the bill that she perked up (probably in hopes of getting a good tip, or maybe her shift was over soon). Listen, I don't know what baggage people have in their lives, so I try hard not to judge. Maybe she was having a bad day. However, I'll probably never know, because I doubt that I will be back. 3 stars for the Butterfinger Cake, calamari, nice decor, and good service at our previous visit. Mains during this visit and last visit way too sodium-laden. Next time I am feeling in the mood for this kind of atmosphere, I will go to Allium or Absinthe, or spend a few more dollars and go to Juniper. read more

I have returned to this place for lunch while in Ottawa. The food was great and the service was very attentive. I had the crispy cod and frites and assorted gelato 3x flavour for dessert. The portions are not big however the food quality is great and the ambience is nice and suitable for a business or social get together. I've only had their lunch so maybe I'll try to go there for dinner next time I'm in Ottawa. read more

Gezellig - This is the best way to remember a new resto located in an area I don't usually visit. - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Came here for a late lunch and it was one of the best. The service and food made it an all around amazing dining experience. I was there with my parents who both felt the same and will certainly be back. The server was helpful and accommodated my gluten allergy by offering a bread alternative without having to ask. The server also was easily able to identify which items I could order or not due to gluten. He also allowed my dad to sample a beer before getting a full pint. All signs of top service. The food was simply divine and the flavours paired beautifully. If you're after delicious food and terrific service, I highly recommend making a reservation and enjoying a top notch dining experience. read more

See all

I came here for brunch on Sunday with my boyfriend and a friend around 11:30. It wasn't packed but there was a good number of people there. The waitress told me that it was all-day brunch that day when I asked her if we were going to get the brunch or lunch menu. They set their brunch price to a standard $22 + tax for any 2 dishes on their brunch menu, which has a good variety of starters/ small dishes, mains, and desserts. All of the food was so scrumptious! My friend and I got the brisket benedict, which was delicious and the perfect portion for me (places like Art-is-in, Baker St Café, etc. fill me up too much). My bf got the huevos and the brunch poutine, which were also delicious although he didn't like how hard the huevos bread was. For dessert, I got the cheesecake and my friend the butterfinger. The cheesecake was better than the butterfinger, which had too much peanut butter sauce. Both were really good though! The ambience was beautiful -- open and modern, kind of like an upscale Ikea. The food was very high quality and the service was pretty good. There is street parking all around the neighbourhood (you can park on residential streets too). I think this is my new go-to for brunch now! read more

See all

this place is beautiful and the service was great. I felt very cozy eating here and not to mention the food portions are great. A bit more on the fancy side but a great place if you are looking to go for a nice lunch or dinner with a loved one :) read more

Always accommodating and delicious food and top tier service. In Covid time , we celebrated outdoors our mothers 75th birthday. Fantastic!

I came to Gezellig for drinks after work with a pal (which turned into dinner because of course). We didn't have a reservation, but it was 5pm and I swear to you no one was in there. I still got some stink-eye from the host, which was kind of rude. But I guess I was the one without a reservation? Maybe she thinks I'm rude for not calling ahead? It was a spur of the moment thing though! Ok, so for future reference, I will never go into Gezellig spontaneously anymore because obviously it has caused me to develop a complex,a nd if you see the host can you please tell her I'm sorry. Our server was very knowledgeable, especially when it came to booze, which I appreciate in any human, but extra-appreciate in the person who will be bringing the booze. My pal had a G&T and I had whichever red wine the server suggested. For the record, I enjoy to drink wine very much, but I my palate is far from distinguished. I cannot tell you this is good wine because I was raised in a place there there are only two types of wine: red and white. The ambience in Gezellig was hip, open, bright (windows!), and comfortable. The food was amazing, albeit pricey. But I mean, it's the kind of place you expect to be pricey, amirite? read more

A casually elegant atmosphere, with superb food Always top-notch service --attentive and professional yet in the background and not all over you. Knowledgeable about the wine list with wine pairings by the glass for every dish. Great ambience. And the food is always fantastic. Great flavours and textures that come together to make something wonderful every time. This is one of those short menus where you know that you'll be delighted with every single item on the menu. A great lunch deal available too. Covid update: there is outdoor and indoor dining available. Safety precautions are taken seriously. read more