We made a reservation here for a special occasion. It has been on my list for quite a while…read more Checked in and the hostess verified the special event. We were seated on the second floor. I was a bit surprised at how business casual the decor was. It's comfortable, with lots of leather type bench seating. A good portion of the customers were business people. Our waiter knew we were there for a special occasion. He also knew the menu very well and was willing to express an opinion when asked, like what paired well, what his favorites were. All of the dishes were beautifully prepared and delicious. Thank you Play staff!

TL;DR/The Short Version: Delicious food at popular…read morerestaurant in the Byward Market. The beef cheek was melt-in-your-mouth. The Long Version: I was at Play Food and Wine Bar for a professional event that was sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. We were a group of about 30-40 people and had a section of the restaurant to ourselves. We had a set menu with a choice of mains (beef or vegetarian). We started off with a few hors d'oeuvres served on spoons. Servers were going around with them and I got to try two different types. One was a shrimp on a dollop of wasabi cream and the other was a gnocchi. Both were tasty and prepared us for the delicious meal to come. We all had the mixed salad, which was a spring mix with grapes, candied pecans, and whipped goat cheese, in a cucumber and mint vinaigrette. I loved the different textures and even though the salad came pre-dressed (I always prefer dressing on the side), the dressing wasn't heavy, so I didn't find it too overdressed for my tastes. For my main, I chose the beef cheek (the vegetarian option was gnocchi). The beef cheek was so tender and literally fall-apart. I didn't even need a knife. It was so flavourful too. It came with mushrooms and mashed potatoes. There was an olive and sun-dried tomato sauce on the beef that I found a too potent and overwhelming in flavour, but overall I still enjoyed the main. For dessert we had the chocolate tart. It had salted caramel on it and under the layer of chocolate was a layer of white chocolate fudge. It was very rich and decadent...overly so. I finished it nonetheless, lol. Service was excellent. We had several servers assigned to our group and they were attentive. They kept our water glasses and wine glasses full. Although I enjoyed the Pinot Grigio, I was driving, so had to limit myself to a glass and a half. Play Food and Wine Bar is owned by Stephen Beckta, who is a bit of a local celebrity, lol. His first restaurant is Beckta, which I have been to and while it's more upscale than Play, I actually enjoyed the food at Play more. His other restaurant is Gezellig, which is in my neighborhood (Westboro) and I've been to it a couple of times, and I definitely like Play better. I'm glad I was introduced to Play. The room we were in was lovely. It was long and narrow and had a bar. As with all restaurants in the Byward Market, parking is paid parkade parking or paid street parking only. Review #139 (2025)

Was looking for a wine bar and wanted something different. What sets this spot apart from other…read morewine bars is that they specialize in organic wines. The selection is huge so getting recommendations is very important. I decided to go with a good wine pairing so I could try many different wines. I was not disappointed with the selections. The staff knew so much about every bottle and had a story to go along with it. Service was impressive. The food was good. The highlights were the charcuterie board, pork belly and Brussel sprouts. Ambience was casual and low key. It was a good experience especially having the opportunity to learn and try so much.

"Soif: A Wine Bar That Forgets About Dinner" I understand…read morethat Soif is primarily a wine bar, but if food is on the menu, the portions should at least resemble a proper meal. Last night, I ordered the fish with vegetables. What arrived was honestly insulting: two tiny, sad slivers of fish perched on a bit of kale -- for $22. I'm not exaggerating when I say it couldn't have been more than 10 grams of fish. Imagine going out for dinner and your "main course" looks more like a garnish. My friend didn't fare any better. She ordered the crab guédille, which turned out to be served on what was essentially a hot dog bun. For the price and the setting, that choice felt lazy and downright ridiculous. Soif may be a place to enjoy wine, but the food should not feel like an afterthought or a joke at the customer's expense. Unless you plan to eat beforehand and only sip here, I cannot recommend Soif for dinner.

We recently had the pleasure of dining at 107 4th Avenue Wine Bar & Café, and it was wonderful. Our…read moremeal was outstanding -  you must try the steak frites that was cooked to perfection. Their wine selection is extensive and more importantly they have Bogle chardonnay on hand.   What truly elevated our visit was the exceptional service provided by Julia and Melanie. Their friendly demeanor made us feel at home, turning a great meal into a special occasion.   The atmosphere of the bar/bistro is cozy and inviting adding to the overall charm of the place. Delicious food and stellar service - what more can you ask for.

Awesome little spot for lunch with a diverse list of wines sold by the glass or bottle. We stopped…read morein here and it was very quaint and quiet mid afternoon. Intimate, the server was very attentive.

My husband and I had a wonderful experience at Arlo. I ordered the duck frites, which were tasty…read moreand cooked to perfection. My husband ordered the chicken, schnitzel and escargot. This was also delicious and had such an interesting combination of flavors - I was very pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is very quaint and cozy. Our server was also friendly and attentive. Definitely recommended.

My hubby and I go to Arlo every year for our anniversary, it's where we had our very first date, so…read moreit's super meaningful to us. The vibe is always cozy and romantic, and the service is honestly top-notch every single time. Everyone is so friendly and attentive. We were seated next to a loud group of ladies, and without us even asking, our waiter noticed and moved us to a quieter section. Such a small gesture, but it made the night so much more enjoyable. He even brought us complimentary wine to help us celebrate, which was so thoughtful. The food was a bit of a mix this time. The tuna crudo was bursting with flavor: fresh, bright, and hands down one of the best dishes of the night. The lamb kebab, though, was way too salty, to the point where it was hard to really enjoy the flavors. And the salad was drenched in dressing, which made it wilted and heavy instead of refreshing. A shame, because Arlo is usually so consistent. Dessert totally redeemed things, though. The panna cotta was delicious, silky, smooth, and the perfect way to end the meal. Even with a couple hiccups, Arlo still holds a special place for us. Until next time, Arlo!

Amazing, simply perfect. This place is amazing! I enjoyed a…read moreflawless dining experience from start to finish. This gem is tucked among the many businesses on Bank Street. The atmosphere is eclectic, with lampshades of different designs hung over the tables, a brick main wall and a small, intimate seating capacity. I made reservations, which most often earns me a table at such establishments instead of being offered uncomfortable bar seating only as a single diner. I was lucky enough to get parking just around the corner on a side street as this area can get extremely busy (spent a Thursday night driving around for two hours looking for a spot). There was a storm that made me a couple of minutes late for my reservation. Just to note, you do get an allotment of two hours per reservation, despite the limited number of tables. I was greeted right away by the friendly hostess and placed at a small, cozy table with a back booth seat. I ordered a spicy margarita, which was sublime. Wait times were stretched out which gave one the opportunity to enjoy that first cocktail before the main dish comes out. The quality of the food was just off the charts! I ordered the risotto which had preserved lemon and prawns. The flavour was Italian with a sharp lemon tang. One of the best risottos I've ever eaten. Exquisite. I enjoyed every single bite. The service was impeccable. Quinn was my server and she knew just when to stop by to check. I had everything I needed at all times. I don't often order dessert, but couldn't resist their panna cotta with peanut and caramel topping. It was like a cloud. Such a treat. Definitely in my top five all time desserts. Dining here makes you feel special. Truly wonderful food, amazing service from everyone who works there and is so friendly. I will definitely visit again and recommend this restaurant to everyone. They treated me like someone special, even though I was a solo diner, and I do not get that everywhere I dine.

Classy Italian restaurant with some chic vibes. Low lights and hip music is the feel of this place…read more Service was very good with the waitress coming often to refill water and following up on the food. Focaccia with Buratta, pistachio and arugula pesto - Large portions and delicious bread. Fluffy inside and crispy outside. Buratta, pistachio and pesto was good, but a bit too steep on the wallet. Calamari - light batter with fresh calamari. Some bites were crispy and some were soggy. Overall the calamari was well seasoned. Some lemon pasta with broccolini and cheese - An item that I can no longer find on the menu. Even more intriguing now that I cannot find on the menu. Interesting dish that was light and well balanced. It was interesting to try, but not sure I would go for this again.

Kicking off my new year new badge with a banger! This was an amazing experience. Three course meal…read more Food was not only delicious but the presentation was on point. Atmosphere was cozy and intimate. While we didn't know what the Italian meant our server was very nice and walked us through the whole menu! 100% would do this again!

The Tuscan potatoes are my new addiction! Service was perfect and super friendly. Very cosy vibe…read moreinside, had a fantastic dinner.

We were recommended to come for dinner and had the following items:…read more- Burrata salad $23: comes with bread, served with tomato, pesto. The burrata was lovely, and I loved the fruity olive oil on top - Salmon crudo $25: with muso mayo, ponzu, green onions, sesame seeds. The sauce and topping flavours were great. The salmon had a slightly fishy taste - Brussel sprouts $16: with feta, pomegranate, Dijon, cabbage. Maybe it was the cabbage but something was slightly off with the combination - Beef cheek pizza $34: with prosciutto meat sauce, mushrooms. Really rich and delicious flavours We enjoyed our meal overall. The service was super fast which we appreciated. The setting is nice and romantic. I think it would be a good date spot.

EMBER WAS SO GOOD WOW!! service, ambience, everything. burrata and eggplant dip were great and they…read moreare helpful with navigating the drink menu

White walls. Wood interior. Paper menus. Dark ambience. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" playing…read morevia mini projector at a couple spots. Amazing cocktails with obscure methods and ingredients. And that's what Jabberwocky is. An unorthodox and random speakeasy, but it all fits with elegance and excitement. I walked in confused going up those stairs in Union, but I left with a refreshing view on custom cocktails. My friend and I bounced around on that small but diverse menu. I jumped on the Stirr'd Aiquiri and the Bee's Knees. The presentation and taste of the latter blew me away with its use of a beeswax-gin blend. The texture really stuck out when sipping and the lavender cordial was refreshing. It's like I'm a worker bee having a drink after a long day of pollenating! I'm definitely craving another round. The bartenders were absolutely amazing with their demeanor, attentiveness, speed, and transparency of their craft cocktails. Conversations with them makes the night fly right by. And if you're a good person and you play your cards right, they can put you on the wait list for another secret spot...

I wish I found this place earlier while in Ottawa! I had the Panacea which was delicious and…read morewell-balanced. I really enjoyed the low-key but creative vibe. There's lots of cocktails, spirits, and beer options to choose from on their menu. I would definitely come back.