I have been going to Ottawa for a while and have never found a really high-end restaurant but that's probably because I'm from California and do not know the city well enough. Anyway, I went to Riviera for the second time in five months and two of the staff actually remembered me...wow, impressive! One of them, the bartender Quinn is a total mixology genius - huge talent, intuition and creativity in abundance...it's almost as if she was reading my mind and mixed the perfect blend. I'm a fan of crazy drinks like Absinthe, Cynar, Fernet Branca, Pisco, Ricard and Suze, any of which are way too overpowering for most people. Quinn blended them in a way that I have not experienced elsewhere; I honestly do not possess the breadth of vocabulary to articulately do her skills justice. The food was also great. Portions a little too small but that just may be my US gauge speaking. The ambiance is great, in that the building is an old bank, so you get to feel the capaciousness of the space in spades. There is, however, a problem with noise reverberation that makes it difficult to talk, but that's just the hard marble surfaces doing what they naturally do with sound waves. One thing to note is that this place is not inexpensive, so beware as you are in for CA$100 per person, quite easily... read more

This place didn't disappoint for Valentine's Day lunch. The burger and pork dip were both succulent and filling. Had a couple of cocktails from the Stephen Flood side of the drink menu. They were delicious - we'd like to sit at the bar in the future and explore...if not for the cocktails themselves, the spectacle! I also snuck in a pint from the mystery tap: Blonde Ale from Dominion City. Decor and service was warm and welcoming :) Price tag is high-end, but we were well taken care of and left the building satiated and euphoric. read more

Riviera - Lunch at Riviera. - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Great service and atmosphere. What a great space for the restaurant! Food was really good but over priced - especially the entrees. I really enjoyed the beef tartare - such good flavours. Our table decided the Cobb salad was the winner though! Lobster spaghetti was good but really oily. Their table bread was really yummy too. Although pricey I would return! read more

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This is one of the best places for cocktails in Ottawa. They have an extensive menu of drinks, excellent service and super nice atmosphere. I keep going back and enjoy seeing and ordering something new each time. read more

Riviera - Bar - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I dream of this place and am quickly planning another a trip back to Ottawa just to eat here again. If you want an interactive experience sit on the bar stools in front of the chefs...it's magical watching them create the most perfect delicious dishes. If you go, be sure to try the mushroom toast - it's divine! read more

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We had the great luck of snagging a last minute reservation for bar seating and we were ecstatic the food and service were worthy of five stars. Not only are the esthetics absolutely gorgeous but they are also alluring and inviting and only added to our dining experience. And then there was our bartender...bravo and thank you for great recommendations and excellent service! We had oysters to start that were some of the best we've ever had, must be the Canadian water...then we had the Lobster spaghetti and Bucatini Carbonara and we knew then we must be in food paradise or heaven, so scrumptious and cooked to perfection. The pasta is homemade and had a nice Al dente bite. The sauce for each dish was lite but creamy and well seasoned. We ended with dessert, flourless chocolate torte that believe it or not was not too sweet nor too heavy. It was a perfect end to our dining experience and our palates were very happy. Our bartender made so amazing cocktails and we tried two of them, he was truly a great artist. Thanks for an unforgettable dinner in a beautiful restaurant. Everyone was very friendly and courteous. read more

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A beautiful restaurant with high ceilings (like 50 foot high ceilings) is located on Sparks St in Ottawa. The location is within an old CIBC bank. Drinks very pricey. $12-$25 but it's worth the price, not sure I would sit there and order 6 Manhattans at $18 a pop but the bar is beautiful. Food was very good. Expensive but would recommend - fresh food, well prepared in a cosey ambiance. I had the Chicken Kiev which did not disappoint. read more

Excellent cocktails. Interesting and unique flavor "concepts" - Whatever that means. Great dinner, so-so desserts. Steak + fries was delicious. The addition of sage and rosemary to the fries along with garlic butter was so good. Steak was cooked medium rare and came out how I like it. Somebody was too heavy handed with the salt on the chocolate + caramel tart. Usually I am a big fan of salt/chocolate combo, but this was way too much. I almost sent it back asking if it was a mistake. We also had the baked Alaska which was big, but underwhelming. At the very least, you've got to go here for cocktails. read more

Made a reservation over a week in advanced and didn't get the ideal time I wanted, but that really shows you how popular this place is. Our reservation was for 9:30pm, we got there around 8:45 and they had our table ready already which was awesome. Server and managers were very friendly, and worked all together. It truly works like a well oiled machine. We ordered drinks, and they took about 10 mins to be made, but they are properly hand crafted made with quality ingredients so I didn't mind the wait. We ordered 3 apps, Oysters, cured meats and chicken pâté with toast. All were fantastic, the pâté was as creamy as butter. Dinner did take quite a bit of time to come out, but not an unreasonable amount of time. One of us had to use the restroom before the entree came out, and they were keeping her entree warm. But because of the huge line up at the restroom (there's only 2 unisex bathrooms) they made an entire new entree for us because it got too cold. They actually comp'd the meal as they understood it wasn't our fault the bathrooms were backed up. That was super nice of them! We tried the steak and fries and me and the other person with us ordered the dill haddock topped with dill chips. Amazing. Super unique, I've never had anything like that before. The steak came out exactly as ordered and the fries were fresh. The kitchen really knows what they're doing. Overall, I loved my experience here. Everyone who works here knows how to do their job and it shows. It is expensive but worth the money for a once and a while treat. read more

This place from atmosphere to food to drinks to service. It's TOP NOTCH. Service was attentive and friendly. Cocktails were well crafted and visibly appealing as well flavourful. The food. Unreal. If I weren't at a business meeting, I would have ate the menu :) Can't wait to come back! read more

Found myself here unexpectedly with a group of 3 after a long day at work. The menu while short, and a tad on the pricey side offered many tantalizing choices. The Oysters, Tuna Crudo and Beef Tartare seemed to indicate we'd stumbled upon a great find. The staff was attentive, the ambiance pleasant and the crowd diverse (for downtown Ottawa). The Burrata with Tomatoes was wonderful. They were also able to accommodate Gluten Free needs with aplomb. Then the Sirloin Steak Frites burst the perfectly formed bubble of a wonderful evening with its cold, chewy and tough presentation. I'd definitely consider a return to socialize over drinks or appetizers but I would take my tastebuds and expectations elsewhere for dinner. A shame and ultimately a disappointment. read more

Insanely expensive. Drinks are worth it, but food is definitely not. We ordered a dip that was literally peas in mayonnaise served with ruffles chips..?? We ordered 3 small plates (not even close to being full) and 2 drinks, the bill was $55. On the other hand the decor is amazing, it's worth your while to check it out and grab a drink but definitely eat somewhere else. read more

Best restaurant by far in Ottawa in all aspects. Comparable to anything in New York, Toronto or Montreal.

Our experience at Riviera was great, it definitely lived up the all the hype. The interior is beautiful and it has a nice lively atmosphere. It felt very much like a restaurant in Montreal with comparable food. It's so nice that Ottawa finally had a restaurant on the same level! The service was great all night. The wait staff was friendly, attentive and helpful. Typically there is a 2.5 hour time limit on the table but they were able to make the next reservation to a different table so we could stay for another cocktail. Every cocktail we tried was great, especially the specialty ones created in house and again the staff was great with helping us make our selections. They were also super helpful when it came to food selections and our waiter was honest about what we should and shouldn't get. We were not disappointed. We had the tuna crudo, mushroom toast, corn chowder, carrots and cavatelli pasta and chocolate macarons for dessert and everything was delicious! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Really cool place in downtown Ottawa near Parliament. There is a long bar where you can sit facing the open kitchen or tables - they play decent 90's tunes but the vibe is pretty hip. I had the steak frites which were really good, but mine were slightly more medium than medium rare...but still good. Nice atmosphere and great location if you're staying downtown. read more

Well, that is a disappointment, at least for the food. Returned to the only finer dining spot in Ottawa that didn't make me feel robbed, but the change in chefs was really noticeable. I found the dishes to be underwhelming, by their awkward composition, sometimes unbalanced seasoning and less than perfect execution. If it were for the food alone, I would give 2 stars. I don't like to be harsh but at that price range, the margin for error is slim to none. Riviera has many redeeming qualities, the drinks are expertly concocted and, from my experiences, the service is great. Our server maintained poise and courtesy, even as the dishes were honestly criticized. The management was classy enough to adjust the price to the level of our satisfaction which I found very impressive. That being said, will no longer spend my hard earned money at this place, to my chagrin. read more

Great atmosphere with very friendly staff. My husband and I had reservations for 8:30pm and we had arrived 30 minutes early; expecting to have to wait, but they were happy to accommodate and seated us immediately even with how busy they were (as always there). I think the prices are fair according to portion and quality of their dishes. Why I didn't rate it 5 stars is because the chowder came out lukewarm, the lobster lasagnetti pasta was under cooked and very salty this time; which was a little disappointing. I've had these dishes here before and have never been disappointed in the past. Overall, I will return and hopefully next time it will be just as good or even better. read more

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Loved the ambience and the interior of the place with the high ceilings. Started off with the beef tartare and potato chips - it was flavourful, the beef was very fresh, and the chips were a gd pairing as the beef has a stronger taste. 8/10 We also had the mushroom toast with shaved truffle. It was okay, I had higher expectations as this appears to be the must-have app at this restaurant. The toast is sitting in sauce so you must eat it quickly as it gets soggy. It was meh. I'm usually biased with mushrooms since I typically love mushroom dishes, but it did not hit the mark for me. 6/10 For the main, I had the striploin steak frites with bordelaise sauce. To start the fries were overcooked. The steak is pre-cut for you so that was a nice touch. I had it ordered rare as I typically do with steaks which they did follow through with, however it tasted bland, the crust had all the flavour, but overall I definitely had better elsewhere. 7/10 Overall thoughts, this restaurant was nice to try, but I would not choose to come again, unless it's based off a friend's birthday or something. This restaurant in my opinion is kinda over-priced for what it is. read more

I'll start off by saying that the location is great if you're in the downtown core and the ambience and clean decor of the restaurant is wonderful! The service is top notch too!! However I must admit that I felt underwhelmed by my food and drink experience. I don't have a very exotic palette so I was left with minimal food choices on the dinner menu. I ordered a lemon non-alcoholic drink, same as my friend sitting beside me. Even though we ordered the same drink, they each were served looking and tasting differently! Could have sworn they were not the same drink! My friend's drink looked like an amazing margarita and mine looked like flavoured water. For dinner, I ordered the Tagliatelle, with hen and pistachios. The pasta was cooked perfectly but there was definitely no WOW factor to its overall taste. I am not sure that I will come back again for dinner - maybe for lunch as I heard they make a mean burger! read more

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Fantastic service and food. The mushrooms with the shaved truffle and the bread are delicious. The cod with the dill sauce is excellent. And this is as take out. Imagine how good it would be in person. And the service was spot on. read more

beef tartare was amazing! So flavourful and the potato crisps were perfectly crunchy. The cocktails are STRONG and mixed creatively. highly recommend for craft cocktails with friends or a special occasion for dinner read more

Good for lunch and dinner. Seasonal menu means it changes often so you get variety. Service is good. It's not the cheapest place in this area but it's consistently good. read more

Dazzling dish set in an old bank on Spark Street. An intentionally limited menu offers exceptional tastes. Consider iceberg wedge (not what you think) - steak frites - corn creme brûlée. Professional wait staff with uncanny wine intelligence. read more

Riviera is not in my snack bracket unless for a special occasion. Last Friday, lunch, with our best friend gaining Canadian Citizenship, it was the day. Party of five, awesome food, friendly competent service, we really enjoyed ourselves. Thank you very much. read more

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

Went here on a whim based on good Yelp reviews. The decor is simple but clean. The menus are small placards on the table that you all share. They could add some frills, nicer chairs/tables. The food was delish, prices were reasonable. Service was slow. Its nicer than the average brunch spot in Ottawa. No mimosas before 11am boohoo read more

We sat at the bar and loved watching all of the chefs. My husband's pate appetizer was delicious but my roasted carrots were nothing special. My roasted carrots are tastier. He got the Chicken Kiev which was very tasty, but being under cooked on one side was a waste. This was even after we saw the chef checking the temp on 2 or 3 occasions. I got a pasta dish that was very good. I'd love to give a 3.5 and I would go again and give them another chance. Very busy and all the staff hustle. read more

We had a great experience, and great food at Riviera. The restaurant is energetic, and a bit loud, but the decor makes it a fun place to hang out. We asked the waiter to bring our party of 4 whatever he thought was good - and we weren't disappointed. Everything was really outstanding, with not a single bad dish in the bunch. Service was friendly and helpful, and we even had a great conversation with the waiter on other great restaurants in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Highly recommended! read more

We spent a delightful evening here, specially accommodated by the host and entertained by the bar staff. The food was exceptional.

Some of the best seafood appetizers I've had. The tuna crudo, mushroom toast, and oysters really hit the spot along with the seafood tower we ordered for the table. For a main I had the yak bolognese which was hearty and paired perfectly with an old-world red. Solid cocktails as well! read more

This is my new favourite restaurant in Ottawa. The prohibition era decor was a nice touch. Our waitress Melissa was incredibly knowledgeable about the drinks and food. We had the tuna tartare, lobster pasta, rockfish special, and the chocolate ganache salted caramel tart. Everything was delicious! read more

Amazing food. Love their private room. We have booked it a few times for family events. Service is always great. Love the ambience and the food is amazing. read more

This place made me change my mind about the Ottawa restaurant scene. Outstanding service, marvelous decoration, and more importantly, the food was nothing short of a life-changing gastronomic experience. It doesn't get much classier than this. 10/10 Sorry, Sidedoor. I think I have a new favorite. read more

One of the best service experiences - very knowledgeable and personable wait staff. I was here with a large party for a birthday and the staff was very accommodating grouping everyone together. The amount of seating is rather limited so we made our reservation about three weeks in advance. The drink menu is extensive with an awesome selection of alcohols to choose from. In terms of the menu what we tried and really enjoyed were the tuna crudo (highly recommend), tuna tartare, venison tartare (again highly recommend), coppa, burrata & tomato salad, mushrooms on toast, lobster spaghetti, and the rabbit pappardelle. We tried some of the other dishes but those were the ones that stood out. It was an awesome evening from start to finish. read more

I love the setting of an old bank with its high ceilings and marble. The mushrooms on toast appetizer was quite unique and tasty. As others have noticed the menu rarely changes which is a good thing if you like their selection. If you get a chance sitting at the counter right in front of the chefs is always a neat experience. read more

Charming setting and good service. Lobster linguini and braised lamb was spot on, would definitely recommend.

Wow! I went here for a friend's birthday and was very pleased. I am quite the food snob so when I heard it was finer dining I was worried that I wouldn't end up feeling justified with the prices but I was so wrong. The food here is on point. Everything is fresh and absolutely delicious. Personally I had a steak frites. Something so simple but they truly managed to elevate the flavors. Great ambience. Just be sure to reserve your table in advance and have the time for a king romantic meal. read more

One of the best dining experiences I have ever had! The tuna crudo has convinced us to move to Ottawa. The cocktails are amazing, the food is delicious, and the service was warm and attentive. The wedge salad was the best salad I've ever had. My husband loved his short ribs and our friends were very pleased with their pastas. 5 stars! read more

Delicious! Best restaurant meal I have enjoyed in months! Amazing cocktails, fabulous chicken pate, and octopus-pork over squid ink pasta that I will dream about. In addition to this our server was fabulous! read more

This is a very expensive restaurant with ordinary food and a great bar. Entree prices are around $50, pasta dishes which are small and not meant as stand alone are between $20 and $30, and the quality is not impressive. I found the scallop crude overwhelmed by the taste of vinegar and the sauce so that you could barely taste the scallop. The pasta was generally tasty and well done although the rabbit pappardelle contained a very few shreds of rabbit and the ramp spaghetti although tasty was rather glutinous. The mains are unimaginative although well executed. The wine list is predominantly European and again expensive - few options under $100 a bottle, with heavy mark ups. With so many good Canadian wines out, why oh why don't good Canadian restaurants put some effort into adding a reasonable section of local wines? The venue is fabulous but - a small thing - at this price I do not want to be lining up to use the bathroom. However, the bar is amazing. Italian influenced with an amazing selection of Amari, and, when we were there, a feature of Negroni variations that were creative and interesting. Along with desserts that are fun and well done, don't come for dinner unless you want a fairly ordinary menu for $150 or more per person with wine and drinks - instead come for the bar, and maybe a light pasta or drinks after dinner with a dessert. read more

Riviera. The venue is beautiful. You'll be wowed everywhere you look. The service is also very good, and consistently so. The food, less so. Honestly, the food is not amazing, and given the prices you want amazing. read more