We reserved for 845 PM (their last opening for the evening) and the restaurant was relatively empty when we arrived on a Saturday. The hostess led us to our table immediately and the server came to greet us and explain the menu. There was a three course and five course meal option with the main differences being: 1) bread and amuse-bouche, 2) chef's choice for the second course, and 3) dessert (three course meal meant souffle and if you wanted to change to their carrot and coconut cake, it was an additional $10). The price difference between the two options were about $20. We selected the five course meal since it made more sense if we were planning to get the carrot and coconut cake. Overall, I would say that the service was great but the food itself fell short for the price that was paid. We added a half dozen oysters for ~$20 and that was our favourite part of the meal. There was repetition with the slaw used for the chef's choice (pork belly) and tuna tartare and the slaw was much less than exceptional. The amuse-bouche fell short and we didnt quite enjoy it. My major complaint was that the tiger prawn dish (main course) that I had chosen was incredibly salty and I couldn't finish any of the lentils and the tortilla crisp felt out of place in terms of texture of the food. The soft shell crab was delicious but the bean salad that it came with was not a good match. I would have much preferred a bean salad with edamame. The desserts were delicious. Lastly, they served a gummy dipped in citric acid and sugar when the bill was presented and while the robot shaped gummy was cool, my first bite into the gummy was not chewy and not soft enough to be jelly (not the texture I would expect). We also got the non-alcoholic pairing (4 drinks that complement the meal for an additional $70). I've tried several other restaurants similar to Stofa in the Toronto and Montreal area and I would rate them much higher than my experience at Stofa. read more

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Lovely new restaurant in Ottawa. Great food, great service. I went with my mom a few weeks ago when I was in town. She is very excited to have a nice new restaurant very close to our neighbourhood. Nicely executed dishes Recommended read more

Stofa Restaurant - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Absolutely loved the tasting menu, a very good price point for the quality! Only negative was that we were seated outside under table lamps on a cold night and it was hard to concentrate on the food, but thank goodness the host allowed us to move indoors when room became available. If you get an outdoor seating in winter- I'd recommend skipping until you can insure indoor seating or when they have better heating outside read more

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I celebrated my partner's birthday a few weeks ago so we decided to splurge a little by ordering a few things off their menu. The service was great but the place was very cramped. You'll most likely get to hear the conversation beside you. The sourdough bread was delicious - these are made in-house. We opted for the seafood platter and thankfully the server said that this would most likely feed 2 people because we wanted to get more food. The platter was asian-fusion, but I feel like the seafood was lacking flavour. The original pairing of the sauces didn't enhance the dish. Though I must say, the presentation was beautiful. We also ordered the Duck Breast and Mole Poblano but I found that the mole was very very bitter and the duck being really chewy. read more

Service was great! Went there for dinner with my gfs...we came in the mindset of trying their tasting menu $90 for 8 services and $135 with wine pairing. I think this is a good price as you will never find that in Montreal. Finally, we opted to go with the seafood tower and a few items on the menu. Seafood tower came with a side of popcorn, nori chips and croutons...all of them were stale which I found disappointing. When you come to such a fancy and we'll rate restaurant, you would expect every single detail to be perfect as well. Now the seafood tower, the oysters were sweet and fresh, tiger shrimps were too spicy and heavily seasoned which removed the natural sweetness of the shrimp. The smoked esturgeon was amazing, the heart of palm with anchovies was the best, the crab dumplings were just too salty. Some items were hit and missed. We then had the soft shell crab which was excellent, the veal was also good but we were too full to appreciate it properly. Thé souffle is a must try! We ordered a bottle of wine and an extra glass each and bill came to $300 before tips. Very reasonable for what you get but not je best I've tried. read more

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On the 2019 list of Canada's 100 Best Restaurants, Stofa certainly did not disappoint. Even while doling out innovative gastronomic experiences, Stofa's atmosphere remains relaxed and casual, making it an excellent option for any occasion. We ordered the Blind Tasting Menu for $90/person, along with wine and a cocktail, and an additional dessert (the highly recommended soufflé). We received 10 things and despite each plate containing just a morsel, by the end, we were bursting at the seams. While we had our favourites (i.e. the mushroom soup and the seared duck breast, the latter of which can be found on the menu), we found each dish carefully thought out and well-executed and enjoyed everything we were presented. Service was highly-professional, if not a bit cold; they took the time to explain each dish, which was highly appreciated, but zipped through it rather quickly and disappeared. Nonetheless, they were thorough throughout our dinner, checking in and making sure there were no questions or concerns. All in all, I'd definitely recommend trying Stofa. I, for one, am interested in having their tasting menu again, just to see what new creations they've come up with. read more

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Was in Ottawa for the weekend and decided to check out Stofa. We made reservations for a Saturday night, which we booked online via Stofa's webpage. There is plenty of street parking along Wellington, just east of Island Park. I was there with my wife and we each ordered 1 appetizer and 1 main dish. I started with the Crab Cakes, which tasted amazing- especially with the mango coconut salsa. I ordered the Lamb Sirloin for my main. Probably the best lamb I've ever had. It was such a high quality piece of meat that didn't have an overpowering "lamb taste". It was cooked to a perfect medium rare. All the dishes my wife and I ordered were very well-sized portions and after two courses were more than satisfied. We felt Stofa got it just right; finding that fine balance between price, quantity, quality, and experience. Overall, we had an excellent time at Stofa. The dining room had a great vibe as it was easy to have a conversation at a decent volume. Wait staff was very professional and attentive. This is a great addition to the Ottawa food scene. I would definitely like to go back and try some of their other dishes, especially the soufflé dessert that I've been reading about. read more

Stofa Restaurant - Lamb Sirloin - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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I went with a party of 5 to try the 10 course blind tasting menu (where a wine testing pairing could be added but we opted out of that). The food was absolutely amazing and a wonderful way to ring in the new year. The food had great fusions of various cultures tastes but mainly focused on a Canadian type cuisine. There were notibly aspects of Italian and East Asian highlights that balanced very well. One of our members mentioned how certain dishes had strong ingredients but were wonderfully pulled back as to not take away from the other flavours. This in itself showed the talent of the chefs and how creative they were in creating unique dishes that allowed an aromatic, tasteful experience. We were all very full by the end of the savoury dishes (but of course, dessert goes in the second stomach (haha) so that was finished off well. The dishes were all carefully plated and arranged beautifully showing true care to create an art with the food as well. The server was also very patient, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. She explained all the dishes and what was in it (as it was best since it was a blind test menu) which helped identify items as you see them presented on the dish. The food also came out in a very timely manner. Despite it being about 3 hours, the entire experience did not feel that long at all. There was adequate time allowed for chatter in between meals. The place was quaint but beautiful and modern. The giant glass pannel seeing into the kitchen allowed you to see the chefs at work, which gave a great view in seeing their integrity, focus, and dedication to making the food with care. This was duly appreciated and respected as a customer looking in. Since it was new years eve when we went in, they also provided complimentary champagne for the new year and as the countdown ensued. The staff, waiters/waitresses and chefs stepped out to toast along with us. Overall a fabulous experience and gave me a richer perspective into fine dining dishes. Kudos to the chefs for an amazing menu! read more

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A generous 4, but I'll throw them some stars to pad the stats. We left in good spirits. Executing this stuff is hard. The menu is extremely creative. Stofa's concept is a choose-your-own-adventure tasting menu: two chef's choice courses (amuse-bouche [oyster with mango and chili] and appetizer [scallop crudo]) and a guest-picked appetizer (stuffed calamari) and main (deconstructed quail) from a given selection. All of them were great. My only criticism on taste was the addition of strong-tasting broken popcorn pieces atop the delicate scallop crudo. The rest really, really worked and was executed perfectly. Dessert (souffle and dark chocolate raspberry tart) was good. The service was amazing. My remaining criticism was on price. $90 for food and $45 for (4 4-ounce classes of Ontario) wine pairing. A $90 price point to me suggests more courses. However, I acknowledge that running a business like this isn't easy and you gotta keep the lights on and the staff happy. I'd recommend it to any foodie in the Ottawa area looking for a different, unique, modern-Canadian culinary experience. read more

Great food, great service and good wine list. Cozy place to enjoy a night out with friends. Reservation is a must. Leave room for desert. read more

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From the moment we walked in we knew that this restaurant would be perfect. Ambiance was nice but plain. The service was impeccable. The servers were extremely knowledgeable, explained each dish and helpful. The food was unbelievable tasty and beautifully presented. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. We will definitely return for another beautiful experience. read more

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Stofa's menu is adventurous and delicious. Our party had the scallops, the duck and the sirloin. Each meal was its own tableau of flavours, expertly assembled for maximum eye-candy effect. The real-deal, though, is taste-buds driven - amazing combinations of flavour bursts with sauces, compotes, jus, and main ingredients forming a perfect gustative experience. The dessert souflé is a must! Our server was energetic, smiling, warm and unobtrusive - the right combination of attention and discretion. Well done. Sit at the bar if you want a show with your dinner. Congrats to all the kitchen staff for its creativity and execution. read more

We had an incredible experience! From the wine on-tap right until the sour cherry soufflé for dessert, our minds were continually blown. As a self-proclaimed "foodie" I was in awe of the flavors, freshness, presentation (some dishes almost looked too good to eat...almost), and food combinations. The seafood tower was epic, and the duck and scallops were absolute perfection. Despite being a large party of 10, the service was outstanding- we never felt rushed, and our courses were perfectly timed. I will definitely be coming back! read more

Stofa advertises home delivery for a set menu during COVID-19. My parents (who are in their 70s) live several blocks away from the restaurant. I wanted to get my mother an amazing birthday gift (to save her cooking and give her an unforgettable meal, given the reviews I've read). I purchased a gift card of $150 from their website because their set menu is $125 (serving family of 4). When my mother called to schedule the delivery, they told her that gift cards cannot be used on delivery purchases! WHAT?!? I'm all for supporting restaurants in hard times but the way I want to support them is through FEEDING my parents, not seeing my parents sit on a card for months or years until they feel comfortable going to a restaurant again! I won't forget that you left me and my family out to dry, Stofa. I'm waiting for you to call me and refund my money. And update your website with clear information for your ridiculous policies. read more

We were just here last night for a pre-Christmas dinner. We like to eat out a lot and try new restaurants, but have been disappointed lately with passable dishes that don't justify the price (I'm looking at you, Riviera, Fauna and Carben). We weren't disappointed here. The plates are thoughtful and well crafted, all with contrasting textures and tastes. Especially outstanding was the celery root soup (you have to mix it all up to get the best taste - the soup, foam and chicken confit, all sweet and salty and crunchy and smooth) and the pork loin with this amazing cheddar spaetzle that I'm still thinking about. But most amazing of all was the passion fruit souffle for dessert. Seriously, it was so good I wanted to cry. That souffle made me happier than I've ever made anyone else happy. It made me want to go accomplish something to be worthy of it. Unfortunately, while the food was pretty faultless, the ambience was basically like eating in a high-end high school cafeteria. It was pretty full when we first arrived and it was really, really loud. The decor is very minimalist, verging on bare, which I guess is in keeping with their Scandinavian theme, but it doesn't really invite you to linger. The only pretty detail was on the bar which we couldn't really see anyway because they really pack the tables in (which is fine, you need to get as many people in there as possible to enjoy that food). So it depends on what kind of experience you're looking for. If you just want a really good meal, this is probably one of the best in Ottawa. If you want a romantic evening or are celebrating a really special occasion, you might want to try elsewhere. This has been positioned to be more of a casual neighborhood restaurant (with non-casual prices). read more