The bar is beautiful and peaceful, but unfortunately, if the cocktails were as good as the place…read moreitself, I'd be there all the time!! Add more cocktails to your menu and make some sweet alcoholic cocktails. That's all I'm asking--your cocktails aren't living up to your bar's potential.

We arrived in Ottawa late last night was was ready to grab small bites and a cocktail…read more Unfortunately, the kitchen closed a few minutes before we arrive but we stayed for the drinks and I'm happy we did. They have a late jappy hour special from Sunday-Thursday which included 1/2 price martinis and other drinks. We had espresso martinis which were amazing!

Great service , great ambience! Beautiful layout on the plate…read more Fruit was plain and not fresh, said "it is not in the right season". I hope they can keep up with their quality of food.

Breakfasted here twice during a weekend trip to Ottawa in November 2014. I was staying at the ARC…read moreHotel and my reservation included a daily breakfast credit at the ARC Lounge. I went pretty early both times and I was the first or second table there. I ordered the Trio Sante (a combination of yogurt, fresh fruit, and house-made granola) on my first visit and the ARC French Toast on my second. Both were excellent - I even dreamt about the french toast for awhile after =P There was just something about the contrast between the soft, rich, custard-like interior and the crunchy, oat-encrusted exterior in combination with a delicate spice, warm maple syrup, and tangy citrus butter... yum. To drink, I tried the drip coffee and a latte - both were average. The decor is modern and clean lines, with some elements from nature. It's bright and sunlight streams in from the windows. Basically, a great setting for a relaxing breakfast. Keeping in mind that both times I was one of only a few people there, service was appropriately attentive - i.e., there when it was necessary and not over bearing. Prices were on the high side, but probably on par with what would be expected in a hotel restaurant. I would come here again if I were staying at the hotel but, truth be told, there are other breakfast/brunch places in Ottawa that are higher on my list of places to go.

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.

I was SO stoked to finally visit the Moonroom after seven or so years of wanting to go!…read more After a Saturday night at Bluesfest, we waited somewhere else for about half an hour before they told us the kitchen was backed up, so we walked down Preston and I was so glad the Moonroom was still open. We didn't get there until about 12:30am and it was pretty full. We didn't leave until maybe 2:30am and it was still pretty full considering the time. They're not normally open this late, but it seems like a lot of the businesses on Preston decided to stay open later to catch the post-Bluesfest crowd. Good call! We decided to sit inside since there was an empty table, otherwise I would've liked to sit out on their back patio, which looked really pretty with the lights. Inside was a nice vibe though, too. It's small/narrow, dimly lit, with sheets covering the different coloured ceiling lights, and candles on the table. It's very intimate and pretty romantic. We sat close to the bar and there was another party of two beside us. The music was a bit louder so we couldn't really hear the other table's conversations, but not so loud that we couldn't hear each other. They were playing the Bee Gees when we walked (danced) in, so we were really about the jams. My husband got a rotating draught IPA by Daft Brewing, can't remember which one it was. I got the Jill Collins, which had Tanqueray Gin, Affino Limone, fresh lemon and mint, cane syrup, and a Moon soda top. It was super refreshing, bright, and not too sweet, which is exactly what I wanted. We shared/I mostly ate the "OG Grilled Cheese" and "Panzanella-esque Salad". The grilled cheese had aged Balderson and cream cheeses in a crunchy baguette smothered in toasted garlic butter, served with Moon ketchup. It was exactly as described, with very crunchy, buttery garlic bread and creamy cheese. The Moon ketchup is made in-house, thinner and chunkier than processed, store-bought ketchup, with stronger flavours. It was okay, but I didn't need to dip much in the ketchup because I really enjoyed the sandwich and it was on the saltier side itself. Because it was a lot creamier than gooey, I'd say it was more of a sandwich than a grilled cheese, but still very tasty. I really am not a huge fan of salad in general, but I can't complain when it was burrata on top. It also had salty bread, arugula, roasted tomatoes, fresh peaches, herbs, and honey. The peaches were more firm than ripe and juicy, which was good for a salad, though I wish they were a bit sweeter. The burrata wasn't creamy inside like I expected, but I love cheese in any form. I really don't know what possessed me to get salad, especially after a bunch of drinks in the wee hours of the night, but my body thanked me later. Salty, bitter, a little sweet, fresh, and not heavy, even with (more) bread and cheese. It was great. They unfortunately ran out of the affogato, which probably would've convinced my husband to stay longer. Too bad. The vegan dark chocolate gelato from Farinella that they put in it sounded amazing. The beer was $10.50, my cocktail was $19, grilled cheese $16, and salad $17, which was pricey. BUT, the fresh herbs are from their garden on the back patio, they make their own soda and ketchup (among other things), everything was delicious, and even late at night the cocktails and dishes were still well put together and tasted great, plus I finally came here after so long. No regrets! Our server was super nice, same with owner and one of the bartenders, who even popped over and sat with us for a bit to chat. And not in a weird/creepy/in-your-face way lol she was cool. She was the one who greeted us when we came in and said bye to us on our way out. There's no flash photography (I forgot to turn my auto flash off for my salad, sorry!). They're open all week from 5pm to 2am, no reservations, no large groups, and no phone (just stop by). I wasn't sure if it would meet the high expectations and hype I had built up in my head after waiting so long to visit, but it totally did. It's such a nice spot, we had an amazing time, and we will definitely be back!

Back in Ottawa for our annual colleague dinner on the first night of CMPA's Prime Time conference…read more The food was great, I had the best wine... A red blended wine, a Syriah-blended with a grape I have never heard about. It was a fixed prix menu for our large group. Lovely steak frites main, cooked perfectly. And a stunning creme brule. Always a great atmosphere and music is always on point. Our service had the most charming, attentive and helpful attendant. Great place.

Horrible. Food took over an hour. Manager lied to our faces about compensation. Do not eat here.read more

We came to the Rabbit Hole on a Friday night for after-dinner drinks. It was quite busy so we opted…read morefor a seat at the bar. Here, we got to see the bartender crafting cocktails which was pretty cool. We ordered two cocktails, both which were delicious and, very pretty. Inside of the restaurant was warm and cozy; I especially like the mosaic flooring.

Special night out with my sis. Enjoyed dinner in Chinatown…read moreand came here for a nightcap. Amazing! No wait. I'd been wanting to come here for awhile. Slinked down the steps to a dark, moody speakeasy type place. Seated in a nice booth. Service was great. Attentive...friendly. Loved the lamps overhead. The bar was very cool. Very much a date spot. Can't comment on the food but the drinks are well crafted and interesting. I would recommend and would come back here in a second. I wish parking was more available but hey.. it's downtown. Parking is expensive and so were those drinks but very worth it! Music was great too. Loud and got louder as the night progressed... but this place calls for it.

From the moment we walked into Joey Rideau, we felt welcomed and appreciated. Our experience…read morestarted off on a high note with a complimentary glass of non-alcoholic sparkling wine. What a thoughtful touch! Our dining experience was more on the expensive side this time around. However, you can most definitely get away with spending little due to their amazing happy hour options. We ordered the steak with lobster, lobster spaghetti, truffle parmesan fries, and their signature sangria. The steak was cooked spot on: medium rare and just a touch on the rare side, exactly how I wanted it and mentioned from the get-go. Everything arrived promptly, which made the whole experience feel smooth and well-paced. We placed 4 happy hour sangrias, which were perfectly balanced and refreshing. What really stood out was the service. Our server, Ace, was wonderful, attentive, friendly, and genuinely engaging. She even surprised us with a complimentary dessert to celebrate, which made the evening feel extra special. The restaurant itself is immaculate: spotlessly clean with a smart, stylish setup that immediately catches your eye. The ambiance was electric, creating the perfect backdrop for a memorable night out. Overall, Joey Rideau exceeded expectations in every way. I would come back in a heartbeat!

We went to Joeys for apps and drinks on Sunday night. The restaurant was not busy so we were seated…read moreright away. There is plenty of bar seating, as well as dining tables. Our waitress was kind and attentive. The food was ok - we ordered the sushi, gyoza, and bang chicken. The portions we a bit small considering the price.

We had a great time here, we came to play some games. There are three floors, the main level has…read morethe video games, upstairs has a bar and seating area. The bathrooms are located in the bathroom. They have an organized system, you scan the QR code there are categories for how many players,types of games to choose from. If you have a hard time finding a game, they will help you. There were so many options for all ages to choose from. There was a bit of wait for the video games, but our name came up fairly quickly, we were escorted to the video game section. There are several tables with different consoles. You choose the game, staff sets it up. This was so much fun, there are food/ drink options as well. Staff was friendly!

Food was good and so were drinks! $9 per person to play games seems a bit much, I'd understand if…read moreit was $9 per table....once we said we weren't going to stay and play the servers seemed to be pushing us to leave. Despite the tons of other open tables. Our server was also very rude regarding our US ID's and said we needed a second form of identification, I've never had this happen in my many years going to Canada. Who carries two forms of ID at all times?? They wouldn't accept a college ID either for one of our group. Overall the food is good and would be a great place to spend a few hours playing games if you're willing to pay the high price.

Such a fun spot on Elgin St. Love the lounge/living room vibe. Ample seating and nice ambient…read morelighting. Very aesthetic. Nice drinks but on the pricier side.

Cute decor!! Distinctive comfy seating, and dim lighting, but without overdoing it - still clean…read moreand modern. From what I can tell of their menu, though, all their drinks tilt to very sweet.

Absolute gem in Ottawa. This is the best value French food I have had. The atmosphere is more…read morecasual and cozy, but that does not take away from the quality of the food. Usually when I get escargot it comes with just 6 snails still in shells, but this one they are already deshelled and overflowing. The duck confit was also perfectly cooked with large portions. Wonderful service as well.

Stopped in for nibbles and drinks with a colleague for a meeting during happy hour…read more The server was thoughtful and charming and the food is fast and well seasoned. Highly recommend.