Sidedoor Contemporary Kitchen & Bar
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Came with a party of 4 for the "best of Sidedoor" menu and things have definitely changed from a few years ago. The location is beautiful and located in the heart of the By Ward Market in Ottawa. On a short trip to Ottawa, a revisit to this restaurant was on the agenda. But it didn't live up to expectations. The service was the worse part of the dinner. The waitress was rude, did not explain the dishes and all plates seemed rushed. Every time something came to the table, nothing was explained. It felt so rushed that the waitress did not even ask if we were done and was taking plates away. The "best of sidedoor" menu is very fried food heavy and not well balanced, unfortunately. The menu is very Asian inspired but doesn't quite nail it. Each service from the "tasting menu" don't flow well either. Used to be a big fan of this place, which is why the two stars. Otherwise would be a one.
This place was over priced and the service was terrible. They forgot one of our food item and we had to wait 30 mins after finishing our food to get that item Waited for a long time to be seated and order taken. The pork belly was so fatty and poor cut of meat for $20! The braised beef was so dry. The duck tasted dry and not fresh. The papaya salad was soak in the sauce And didn't taste fresh. The dumpling was so salty. For the price it was not worth the money.
I get that COVID-19 has set back business, however when you are just opening back up, I would think restaurants would try a little harder. This was one of the most underwhelming experiences. The decor, vibes and service were good. The food was not. The tacos had to be the best items on the menu, but even then they were nothing special. The Vietnamese pancake was okay, it needed a lot more flavour. The chicken which was a main was awful. It had such a bad chicken taste and smell, I had one bite and so did My friend and I could barley swallow it. The calamari wasn't crispy at all, it had zero flavour as well and had a weird texture. We ordered a lot of food and drinks and despite all that, it was very disappointing. Our waiter comped our calamari because we barley touched it but the chicken and noodles weren't comped for, which is fine. I would MAYBE come back here for drinks but not the food. Keep Eating, Angela
Food is consistently 10/10. The golden hour is a great way to sample some simple things on the menu at this incredible venue. It's a little on the pricy side but it's beautiful and a great spot for date night, patio happy hours, a special occasion. The patio is hidden in Clarendon Lanes by trees and next to a quaint coffee shop. Great for photos. The only downside of the patio is a pipe that smelled quite gross behind the large wooden post. We moved tables due to the smell and it was then fine. I have been there a handful of times and more often than not you are left to wait at the front without anyone greeting you. It is awkward and I have experienced some long wait times, even when the place appears almost empty. I actually had waited so long I called the restaurant just so someone would go to the bar and notice us in order to be assisted. Despite the wait, the server was great and made helpful suggestions. Over all, it is an lovely location and the food is awesome. I recommended the Black Cod(37$), calamari (16$) and fish tacos (15$).
Was looking for a fine dining restaurant and was fortunate to book this place although the only times available were early in the evening. The venue was a little tricky to spot as its nearby the Ottawa sign at byward market but in an open alley between 2 other restaurants. Since outdoor dining was only available, we sat in the patio which was nicely decorated. Since it was a celebratory night, we splurged and got the seafood platter and it was amazing. A large tray containing various seafood options of sashimi, calamari, lobster, and grilled prawn. The platter contained a mix of various flavours and it was enhanced more so with the sauces they include. The plate was just the right amount for two. We also got the vietnamese pancake out of curiosity, but that was more of a novelty as it wasn't made in the traditional way.
It was a last minute date night plan and we tried making reservations here but they were full but the lady at the phone was kind and said we can still try to drop by .m, and so we did! We were lucky enough to find a table for 2! It wasn't the best but we took it and had a lovely time! We ordered the seafood platter and man everything on it was super yummy! Tuna sashimi was my favourite..The plate comes with different dipping sauces which compliment the flavours. We also ordered the side door salad which was full of flavour and yummy! We really had a lovely time, our server was nice. Food did take a while but we didn't mind waiting! We parked outside in the big parking area and thankfully we found a spot! We will definitely come back with a reservation next time for a better table!
Very interesting place. I variety of Asian inspired dishes and comfort foods. All very nicely done. I had the Lobster curry and Black Cod in mirin. Very tasty. The waiter recommended two to three dishes each which I felt was not a good suggestion. Everything is ala carte but the portions are pretty good. For the dessert we had the house speciality, donuts, I was not very impressed. Over all, I thought this place was a bit overpriced for what we had. The decor was awesome. Modern mixed with exposed brick. Fun and funky. This place would be great for a fancy dinner or just a few bits with drinks. Great vibe.
So we went there on a Friday afternoon and it wasn't awfully packed. The restaurant offers a quiet dining experience at the heart of the Byward market. We ordered calamari and some tacos as appetizers. The calamari were probably the tastiest I've had in a very long time. The tacos, were just as delicious even though not the best I've had. If I knew how big the mains are I could have skipped the appetizers. I ordered some spicy chicken dish and barely finished half. It was quite rich so it needs some rice on the side. Most of the items on the menu seem to be inspired by Asian cuisine. The only weird thing about the whole experience is that one of the mains came 10 minutes before the other which doesn't make sense. Anyways, it's worth to try with friends or anyone else and escape the crowd.
So this restaurant caught me off guard. The entrance is a "side door". Nice and spacious restaurant. Service was great. I had a party of 8 and they accommodated us at the last minute. The food is what I would call street fusion, mexican, a little French, but surely asian. They offer a variety of tacos and dessert. You cannot go wrong stating or ending with either. The drinks were good. If you go, you will enjoy. Bon Apetit.
This beautiful restaurant serves some amazingly delicious food! The dishes are meant to be shared, so you can order a few things and easily share with food to spare. Their flavours are to die for! I always seem to require salt but with them I only asked for salt for the Chinese veggies. All the other flavours were spot on! Their menu rotates so I won't praise dishes by specific name. Why? I went there looking for dishes I saw on yelp reviews and was so sad when they weren't on the menu! Lol So, just trust the reviewers. Head on in and order what sounds yummy to you! You won't regret it. Oh and their donuts are to die for!
3.5 Star 3 Star + 0.5 Star for Happy Hour and Donuts Sidedoor is a perfect place for some pre dinner drink and snacks during their Happy Hour from 4:30-6:30. Special on tacos ($2 off) and drinks. We shared: Crispy Fish Tacos Szechuan Lamb Tacos Korean Pulled Pork Tacos Olivia Chocolate Donuts ($7) is so so so good... Made when order. Food was delicious though portion on the smaller side. But it is what you expected from all the trendy modern Asian fusion restaurants. Service here was attentive. Love the Patio and the Sun Room area though I don't understand why we were seated in the dark corner when the restaurant was empty?! I probably would come back for some more donuts! :) They are just so cute and tasty!
I would give this place a 3.5 if I could only do so. Went with some friends, for our annual "high class" get together, and I thought the address sounded familiar... This is where Foundations used to be, until about 18 months ago, when they closed and Sidedoor took over. Our waiter had only been with this restaurant about 6 weeks. Service was slow, from the kitchen and the server, but they do make things fresh for you when you order it. We did not have a discount coupon for our visit (although one couple did), and so we were eating 'lightly" - and still, it cost us over $80.00 - so don't expect inexpensive fast food; you're here for an enjoyable visit with friends, taking the time to catch up on the news with each other. We started with what they call "tacos", but which are more like upscale fajitas because the pastry shell is soft and maleable. They offer a variety of these, and the 2 types I tried were delicious! In fact, I could have made a meal out of just these and recommended that to the waiter. He said he had never heard of that before, and said he would suggest it to the kitchen. :-) We shall see!! The only downside is that they put a slice of hot pepper in it which was not needed and too spicy, for my taste anyway. The servings are pretty on the plate, but not huge, not that I went away hungry by any means. All in all, it was good, but I'm not in any hurry to go back. Which is pretty much how I felt about Foundations, when it was there before Sidedoor took over.
TLDR very mediocre food, especially for the price. Food was either super salty or super sweet but the ingredients are fresh. Overhyped. Ordered two dishes: papaya salad and Vietnamese pancake Papaya salad 2/5 Dish was overly sweet and everything tasted the same: the crunch taro was too few and the carrot and papaya slivers were the same texture. It was drenched in a pool of liquid that made the salad taste weirdly mushy. Although everything was fresh, it really felt short of expectations. Vietnamese pancake 3/5 Dish was beautifully presented. We loved the shrimp, the herbs, and the chillies. We did not like everything else. The pancake was swimming in a pool of fish sauce that was strangely reminiscent of the pool of liquid in the papaya salad. The dish had all the flavours: sweet, spicy, sour but just way too much salt. It's not unbearable but definitely noticeable. The pancake itself without the liquid was nicely cooked.
3 months ago
Celebrated a birthday/Valentine's dinner here with my girlfriend and it delivered on experience. The industrial-modern aesthetic sets the tone immediately -- stylish without feeling overdone. Service was excellent. Our waiter was energetic, attentive, and quickly helped us switch tables when a flashing construction light outside became distracting. We both ordered the "Best of Side Door" tasting menu. Flavor-wise, I'd rate it around an 8/10, but where it really stood out was presentation and the thoughtful explanations for each course. My favorite dish was the YELLOWFIN TUNA SASHIMI If you're doing the tasting menu: * Come hungry. * DO NOT wear tight clothing. (We both made that mistake.) p.s. my pictures don't do the dishes justice read more
This place is able to accommodate large groups, which is nice. Service is good too. However, I didn't particularly think the food was very good. The miso cod was not what I expected at all - it was very soupy and just didn't hit the spot. read more
1 year ago
Came with a party of 4 for the "best of Sidedoor" menu and things have definitely changed from a few years ago. The location is beautiful and located in the heart of the By Ward Market in Ottawa. On a short trip to Ottawa, a revisit to this restaurant was on the agenda. But it didn't live up to expectations. The service was the worse part of the dinner. The waitress was rude, did not explain the dishes and all plates seemed rushed. Every time something came to the table, nothing was explained. It felt so rushed that the waitress did not even ask if we were done and was taking plates away. The "best of sidedoor" menu is very fried food heavy and not well balanced, unfortunately. The menu is very Asian inspired but doesn't quite nail it. Each service from the "tasting menu" don't flow well either. Used to be a big fan of this place, which is why the two stars. Otherwise would be a one. read more
This place was over priced and the service was terrible. They forgot one of our food item and we had to wait 30 mins after finishing our food to get that item Waited for a long time to be seated and order taken. The pork belly was so fatty and poor cut of meat for $20! The braised beef was so dry. The duck tasted dry and not fresh. The papaya salad was soak in the sauce And didn't taste fresh. The dumpling was so salty. For the price it was not worth the money. read more
I get that COVID-19 has set back business, however when you are just opening back up, I would think restaurants would try a little harder. This was one of the most underwhelming experiences. The decor, vibes and service were good. The food was not. The tacos had to be the best items on the menu, but even then they were nothing special. The Vietnamese pancake was okay, it needed a lot more flavour. The chicken which was a main was awful. It had such a bad chicken taste and smell, I had one bite and so did My friend and I could barley swallow it. The calamari wasn't crispy at all, it had zero flavour as well and had a weird texture. We ordered a lot of food and drinks and despite all that, it was very disappointing. Our waiter comped our calamari because we barley touched it but the chicken and noodles weren't comped for, which is fine. I would MAYBE come back here for drinks but not the food. Keep Eating, Angela read more
Food is consistently 10/10. The golden hour is a great way to sample some simple things on the menu at this incredible venue. It's a little on the pricy side but it's beautiful and a great spot for date night, patio happy hours, a special occasion. The patio is hidden in Clarendon Lanes by trees and next to a quaint coffee shop. Great for photos. The only downside of the patio is a pipe that smelled quite gross behind the large wooden post. We moved tables due to the smell and it was then fine. I have been there a handful of times and more often than not you are left to wait at the front without anyone greeting you. It is awkward and I have experienced some long wait times, even when the place appears almost empty. I actually had waited so long I called the restaurant just so someone would go to the bar and notice us in order to be assisted. Despite the wait, the server was great and made helpful suggestions. Over all, it is an lovely location and the food is awesome. I recommended the Black Cod(37$), calamari (16$) and fish tacos (15$). read more
2 years ago
Was looking for a fine dining restaurant and was fortunate to book this place although the only times available were early in the evening. The venue was a little tricky to spot as its nearby the Ottawa sign at byward market but in an open alley between 2 other restaurants. Since outdoor dining was only available, we sat in the patio which was nicely decorated. Since it was a celebratory night, we splurged and got the seafood platter and it was amazing. A large tray containing various seafood options of sashimi, calamari, lobster, and grilled prawn. The platter contained a mix of various flavours and it was enhanced more so with the sauces they include. The plate was just the right amount for two. We also got the vietnamese pancake out of curiosity, but that was more of a novelty as it wasn't made in the traditional way. read more
It was a last minute date night plan and we tried making reservations here but they were full but the lady at the phone was kind and said we can still try to drop by .m, and so we did! We were lucky enough to find a table for 2! It wasn't the best but we took it and had a lovely time! We ordered the seafood platter and man everything on it was super yummy! Tuna sashimi was my favourite..The plate comes with different dipping sauces which compliment the flavours. We also ordered the side door salad which was full of flavour and yummy! We really had a lovely time, our server was nice. Food did take a while but we didn't mind waiting! We parked outside in the big parking area and thankfully we found a spot! We will definitely come back with a reservation next time for a better table! read more
Very interesting place. I variety of Asian inspired dishes and comfort foods. All very nicely done. I had the Lobster curry and Black Cod in mirin. Very tasty. The waiter recommended two to three dishes each which I felt was not a good suggestion. Everything is ala carte but the portions are pretty good. For the dessert we had the house speciality, donuts, I was not very impressed. Over all, I thought this place was a bit overpriced for what we had. The decor was awesome. Modern mixed with exposed brick. Fun and funky. This place would be great for a fancy dinner or just a few bits with drinks. Great vibe. read more
5 years ago
So we went there on a Friday afternoon and it wasn't awfully packed. The restaurant offers a quiet dining experience at the heart of the Byward market. We ordered calamari and some tacos as appetizers. The calamari were probably the tastiest I've had in a very long time. The tacos, were just as delicious even though not the best I've had. If I knew how big the mains are I could have skipped the appetizers. I ordered some spicy chicken dish and barely finished half. It was quite rich so it needs some rice on the side. Most of the items on the menu seem to be inspired by Asian cuisine. The only weird thing about the whole experience is that one of the mains came 10 minutes before the other which doesn't make sense. Anyways, it's worth to try with friends or anyone else and escape the crowd. read more
So this restaurant caught me off guard. The entrance is a "side door". Nice and spacious restaurant. Service was great. I had a party of 8 and they accommodated us at the last minute. The food is what I would call street fusion, mexican, a little French, but surely asian. They offer a variety of tacos and dessert. You cannot go wrong stating or ending with either. The drinks were good. If you go, you will enjoy. Bon Apetit. read more
This beautiful restaurant serves some amazingly delicious food! The dishes are meant to be shared, so you can order a few things and easily share with food to spare. Their flavours are to die for! I always seem to require salt but with them I only asked for salt for the Chinese veggies. All the other flavours were spot on! Their menu rotates so I won't praise dishes by specific name. Why? I went there looking for dishes I saw on yelp reviews and was so sad when they weren't on the menu! Lol So, just trust the reviewers. Head on in and order what sounds yummy to you! You won't regret it. Oh and their donuts are to die for! read more
11 years ago
3.5 Star 3 Star + 0.5 Star for Happy Hour and Donuts Sidedoor is a perfect place for some pre dinner drink and snacks during their Happy Hour from 4:30-6:30. Special on tacos ($2 off) and drinks. We shared: Crispy Fish Tacos Szechuan Lamb Tacos Korean Pulled Pork Tacos Olivia Chocolate Donuts ($7) is so so so good... Made when order. Food was delicious though portion on the smaller side. But it is what you expected from all the trendy modern Asian fusion restaurants. Service here was attentive. Love the Patio and the Sun Room area though I don't understand why we were seated in the dark corner when the restaurant was empty?! I probably would come back for some more donuts! :) They are just so cute and tasty! read more
I would give this place a 3.5 if I could only do so. Went with some friends, for our annual "high class" get together, and I thought the address sounded familiar... This is where Foundations used to be, until about 18 months ago, when they closed and Sidedoor took over. Our waiter had only been with this restaurant about 6 weeks. Service was slow, from the kitchen and the server, but they do make things fresh for you when you order it. We did not have a discount coupon for our visit (although one couple did), and so we were eating 'lightly" - and still, it cost us over $80.00 - so don't expect inexpensive fast food; you're here for an enjoyable visit with friends, taking the time to catch up on the news with each other. We started with what they call "tacos", but which are more like upscale fajitas because the pastry shell is soft and maleable. They offer a variety of these, and the 2 types I tried were delicious! In fact, I could have made a meal out of just these and recommended that to the waiter. He said he had never heard of that before, and said he would suggest it to the kitchen. :-) We shall see!! The only downside is that they put a slice of hot pepper in it which was not needed and too spicy, for my taste anyway. The servings are pretty on the plate, but not huge, not that I went away hungry by any means. All in all, it was good, but I'm not in any hurry to go back. Which is pretty much how I felt about Foundations, when it was there before Sidedoor took over. read more
8 years ago
TLDR very mediocre food, especially for the price. Food was either super salty or super sweet but the ingredients are fresh. Overhyped. Ordered two dishes: papaya salad and Vietnamese pancake Papaya salad 2/5 Dish was overly sweet and everything tasted the same: the crunch taro was too few and the carrot and papaya slivers were the same texture. It was drenched in a pool of liquid that made the salad taste weirdly mushy. Although everything was fresh, it really felt short of expectations. Vietnamese pancake 3/5 Dish was beautifully presented. We loved the shrimp, the herbs, and the chillies. We did not like everything else. The pancake was swimming in a pool of fish sauce that was strangely reminiscent of the pool of liquid in the papaya salad. The dish had all the flavours: sweet, spicy, sour but just way too much salt. It's not unbearable but definitely noticeable. The pancake itself without the liquid was nicely cooked. read more
Nice small plates place, and a glorious spring evening to enjoy the patio! Waitress was helpful and fun! She was telling us about the chefs special donut, and said it had a 'cheppy' sauce - never heard of it?! She goes to the kitchen, comes back laughing at herself, she had misread cherry! Docking a star cause it was RE long times to get refills and the check, but I'd still come back read more
Delicious, beautiful food served in an inviting setting in downtown Ottawa - great for catching up with friends! I lived in Ottawa for 25 years but have been living abroad for the past 10 - I was super happy to find this restaurant located in the heart of the Byward Market when I stopped by for a visit last week. It's a great central location to eat during Winterlude (or any of the other Ottawa festivals, for that matter). My friend and I made reservations for 5PM on a Thursday evening and were seated promptly upon arrival - the restaurant was empty then but filled quickly by the time we left. We sat in the section of the restaurant with a glass roof; the natural light really added to the ambiance! During Happy Hour(s), the tacos are $2 off. The vegetarian tacos had a variety of textures on the plate and were really flavorful and complex (the vegan chorizo's earthiness was enhanced by the salsa's acidity), and my friend really enjoyed her Cajun chicken tacos, too. The tortillas were also just perfect - they tasted like fresh chapatis made in my mother's kitchen! The fries were delightfully crisp and and salty (maybe brined?), and the Korean cauliflower had a nice crunch and a good amount of heat to it! Everything was so colourful and beautifully presented. We were nice and full after the meal, so we didn't have room to try dessert this time, but I will definitely be back for the doughnuts! This meal ranks among one of the best I've had in its class, and I've been to several similar concepts in California that don't even come close to measuring up. read more
6 years ago
Food quality is good, service is ok- but I think $14 for 2 street size tacos is too high as was $34 for the black cod. I realize that it's Byward Market and all, but get real. read more
4 years ago
Nice patio, kinda pricey. We had some noodles which were ok and very good soft shell crab, dumplings and tacos, and a mock tail. Presentation was amazing. Decor on the patio and inside was very nice read more
8 years ago
The food here was amazing but not quite amazing enough for the price. I love that everything was fresh and of course fresh means more expensive; however, I wasn't in love with anything I tasted. I ordered the soba noodle bowl and the vegan chorizo tacos. The tacos were closer to authentic tacos and so, they were a bit smaller than most people are used to but in my opinion, much better. They come with lots of cilantro! The soba noodle bowl surprised me with every bite. There were flavours of mint, jalapeño, beet, pickles, and so much more. I really loved how fresh and exciting this bowl was but again, I kept thinking about the price of it and whether it was worth it or not. Some of the tastes didn't quite work as well together but still, I enjoyed how different it was. The service was amazing. The waitress we had was extremely kind and helpful. She explained the entire menu for us and how the place works (basically it's supposed to be sharing food and the food comes out as it's made so some plates will get to your table before others). The decor was also very appealing. There are windows and mirrors almost everywhere you look. You enter through a literal side door and walk down a few steps only to be amazed by how the place looks. I really do recommend this place for a nice night out. It's definitely somewhere I'd go to every now and then for a special occasion. Almost forgot, but if you like donuts you should for sure get them for dessert. I'm not a huge fan of donuts but my friends ordered them and they loved them! They take a while to get to your table because they're made to order so I'd recommend ordering them before you're done your meal. read more
we were shopping downtown and happened to walk past this restaurant and noticed their Top Chef poster hanging in the window - we are huge fans and are excited to watch the new season starting next week. Turns out their chef is in the show....so therefore we had to try it out...:) it's a tapas style restaurant and their box lunch features - salad, tacos, and soup - 2 please, one with fish taco and the other shredded beef. service was great, quick, friendly and informative - the beef platter arrived before the fish....this was confusing, must have been dying at the pass...lol anyhow we started on the beef tacos, super tasty - the carrot and coconut soup was the star of the show i think, great salad - very tasty meal....we will repeat. read more
7 years ago
14 years ago
Everything about this place is amazing. From the perfect room, to the chandeliers of glass bottles to the pretty little rock and flower arrangements on every table to the beautiful and BIG restrooms. Our server Cam was awesome and our food to die for. Baja fish tacos, steak tacos, lamb tacos, and seafood laksa were thoroughly enjoyed. The cocktail list is unique and interesting...we loved the Jalepenoa - Hendricks gin, muddled cucumber & jalapeno ..delicious! This would be a great place for a party..one of the most well put together rooms I have ever seen. And Cam let us know that Chef is on the next Canada's Top Chef. My bet is on him to win. I have one more day to lunch in Ottawa and I have to say, I may just go to Sidedoor again tomorrow it was THAT outstanding! read more
11 years ago
I feel that Sidedoor is too expensive for its food. I was surprised at how small the tacos were after ordering them...two bites and you're done. If it weren't for happy hour, I wouldn't have ordered them because they were so expensive ($4.50/taco!). During happy hour, the tacos are a little cheaper $7.00 vs. the $9.00. Aside from the tacos, the rest of the menu was okay, except for the calamari. The calamari was SO TASTY. If you must order only one thing on the menu, get the calamari because it is the best calamari you've ever tasted. The mapo tofu was had an incredible amount of citrus taste to it which made it too overpowering for us. The salad on top of the cornish hen was also quite acidic as well. I also had the chef's special donuts for dessert, and it was cool. I found the donuts a little too dense for my taste, but the fillings were really sweet and delicious. Though everything was tasty, I found that everything that I ordered had cilantro on it as garnish (literally every dish!). I love cilantro and all but I would've appreciated a variety of herbs. Overall, the dishes had a great western(?) spin to classic Asian dishes that I think many will like, but it wasn't really for me. Personal preference! read more
We originally went to Play and they couldn't seat us within 30 minutes. So we went for the next best option and we were not disappointed! We got the chicken tacos, pork belly, dumplings, crispy beef, and braised beef. Everything was phenomenal with flavor! My favorites were the Cajun chicken tacos and the braised beef. Every flavor was developed and wonderful. We finished with a trio of donuts, which was a nice sweet finish. The wine was delicious but expensive. Our meal was $225, which $110 of that as wine. Expensive but worth it. Definitely will go back, but might get bottles instead of glasses of wine! read more
8 years ago
Heard some here to see what all the fuss was about. Top chef runner up restaurant and all. Can't say we were impressed at all. Portions were bigger than expected. Food was ok. Had the striploin steak, miso snapper, lettuce wraps and the final course of donuts. Striploin was good. Not great. Came already sliced up which was slightly weird. The side included was good. The waiter didn't tell us it came with a side on the plate, so we ordered another side and had 2. The lettuce wraps seemed to have the same steak, also pre- sliced. Fish was in a salty miso sauce which made it taste better. The donut sampler arrived warm. Presentation wise, I'd give it a 10. Donuts were as the waiter said the cinnamon sugar ones were 'Like beaver tails' which it did taste like. The chef feature donut was the only one which was great. It was a raspberry filled with meringue topping and sprinkles. Meal came to over$160 without drinks. Waiter was too preoccupied with another tables and Service was meh. He wasn't knowledgeable about the entrees and ( our side that came with the steak vs ordering a side) and I personally didn't like the fact that when he presented the credit card machine he watched and hovered right beside you as i typed in your tip. I noticed he did this for all 4 tables around us. Talk about pressure. read more
5 years ago
Five of us went here on a Thursday night with an 8:30 dinner reservation. I pushed hard for this place, but some in my party were skeptical. They weren't feeling it based purely on the lack of "curb appeal," as one person put it. But when the doubters walked in to make the reservation, they were pleasantly surprised, and so was I. This joint has a great vibe. Old stone walls. Ideal lighting. Aesthetically pleasing artwork. Perfect volume on the music. Spacious seating. Trying to decide what to drink, I was underwhelmed by the draft beer options. Two Kronenbourg options (France), two Kichesippis (Canada), but at least they had one Asian option (Sapporo from Japan) to compliment the heavily influenced Asian menu. In fairness, we weren't here for the beer, and you shouldn't be either. Trying to keep it local, we opted for the one bottle of Ontario Pinot Noir on the menu (2009 Le Clos Jordanne from Niagra, $70). We were instead presented with a 2011, tried it anyway, didn't love it, but accepted it. (The waitress warned us it was not her favorite.) We later switched to the only Tempranillo on the menu (2011 Heredad de Baroja Crianza, Rioja, Spain, $45) and were much happier with that. Torn between the creative dishes put together by Chef Jonathan Korecki, I convinced one person in my party to share his braised beef w/ Panaeng curry, roasted peanuts & fresh herbs ($29) in exchange for some of my Hainanese chicken breast w/ ginger-scallion nam & natural nage ($26). The braised beef was so tender, packed with flavor, contained little fat and was topped with just the right amount of peanuts, which were perfectly crushed. The Hainanese chicken, on the other had, didn't blow me away. They cook the chicken sous-vide, the end result being a nice and tender chicken breast, but inevitably sear-less. Personally, I like a little crunch for texture. That aside, I feel like the chicken wasn't cooked WITH the broth, but rather just served IN the broth, thereby not absorbing as much flavor as it could have. I may be wrong, but at least the chicken breast was bone-in. The only downfall was that the meat appeared to be a little uncooked near the bone. The salt and pepper calamari ($13) was probably in my top three favorite calamari dishes of all time. The fries are also delicious. For dessert, I thought one order of 7 of the chef's feature donuts would have been sufficient, but someone in my party was having a rough day and didn't agree. So after some resistance we got two orders and all left feeling worse than she did on her own beforehand. At least this ended up being the best part of the meal. My only real gripe is that we weren't offered coffee and tea with dessert, but one person in our party was in a hurry to leave so our server may have thought the rest of us were as well. Aside from that, I wish they served knives with the place settings so we didn't have to ask for them. read more
What a gem! We found this Mexican/Asian fusion in the blistering cold and gave it a try... Let's just say I'm headed back tomorrow to squeeze in a round 2 before heading back to Vancouver! We ordered a few plates of tacos... The Baja fish tacos, and the Spicy braised beef tacos, both of which were fantastic. A touch of lime and cilantro was present throughout both, while the asian spices softly knocked on the door. The Papaya salad is also a must, very well done with the tuna sashimi added! A definite new stop in my ottawa must eat list! read more
4 years ago
11 years ago
A bit on the pricey side but it is home to a beautiful patio with a lovely atmosphere. The inside was fairly dead when we were there so I'm not sure what the crowd is like otherwise. We ordered tacos to share which were a bit runny but pretty delicious. We also shared a pitcher of Sake mojitos and when we couldn't decide which fresh donuts to try, our server was super helpful and offered something that wasn't even on the menu! 1 of each doughnut (4 total) for $9. I don't even have a sweet tooth and I thought they were delicious! Would love to come back and try a full meal next time I'm in Ottawa! read more
11 years ago
5 years ago
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Sidedoor Contemporary Kitchen & Bar - tapasmallplates - Updated May 2026
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