Ratatouille Bistro was exactly what I needed on my February trip to Ottawa. I flew in on Family Day…read moreand everything was closed, so I ended up eating at Starbucks. The next morning I was craving real food and found Ratatouille Bistro online. It did not disappoint. I went back multiple times during my stay. The dishes were incredible. The Short Rib Hash Skillet was rich, flavorful, and comforting with the braised short rib, wild mushrooms, caramelized onions, smoked cheddar, sunny side eggs, and crispy smashed potatoes. The Beef Brisket and Caramelized Onion Benedict on their homemade herb scone was just as good. Both dishes were memorable. The walk through the ByWard Market and Lowertown area in the snow made it even better. It felt cozy and cinematic being bundled up and heading to a French fusion cafe. I loved this place.

I'm very mixed on Ratatouille…read more The concept is that the chef traveled a lot and learned different cooking styles and blended them into a French fusion. The techniques are good. I just wish that he spent a little more time working in seasoning foods. None of our food was bad but none of it was standout great. I take that back; the ratatouille Wellington did actually taste good if you don't mind readiness in your ratatouille, which I guess I don't mind but don't prefer. Our server was very into food and did a great job describing the dishes. I was a little put off that he sort of sat/leaned his butt on the table next to us while he did so. It was almost too chilly in the restaurant but bearable. 3 stars: If someone else really wanted to go back, i guess I would, though reluctantly.

Amazing! restaurant was clean, service was great and the food was fantastic! Our favourites were…read morethe prime kalbi and the garlic marinated beef. Also highly recommend the peach mojito for a drink!

One of the best Japanese grill places I have been to. They have wide selection of meats and seafood…read moreand all of them taste delicious! Their bibimbap, takoyaki and creme brulee were nice surprises. Their service was excellent as well. While seating limit is 2 hours, I think that is more than enough time to try a variety of their food. Surely, by the end of 2 hours, all of us were pretty full! Definitely a good interactive dining experience that one must not miss!

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!

Dinner with a business colleague and we were looking for some great food and location. Whalesbone…read morewas recommended by a coworker and it hit the target dead center! Walked in and got seated near the bar, in a booth type of table. Seating was well diversified with several large tables, bar seats, and plenty of 2 and 4 tables. For a pub style place it was busy but not overly loud. The service was spot on. The servers took great care to get drinks and bread out to the table quickly. Water glasses were never empty. The food selection was very good, with many options. A hearty French Onion soup, with croutons, cheese, and a deliciously flavored broth was first. Followed by a crispy salad, with the right blend of added veggies, really hit the spot. Entrees all looked good, with plenty to choose, including meats, chicken, fish, and vegan options. I chose the roasted Atlantic Salmon, with fall veggies. Added the roasted Broccoli and Corn Ribs. The sides alone were capable of being combined to make a meal. The Salmon was fresh, roasted in juices with a nice smokiness. Dessert could not be avoided. Churros with a Carmel like sauce to dip. My coworker chose the lemon cheesecake, which was described as being just like Moms. Looking forward to going back!

Hot seafood platter, oysters, steak tartare & truffles fries & chocolate mousse cake…read more The seafood platter was great if you wanna try multiple items, and was more than enough food for two. My favourite were the bacon wrapped scallop and crab cakes.

So freakin good…read more This has been on my list for some time. Happy to get it checked off. Decor is comfortable and interesting without being fussy. Art on the wall is all interesting. I loved the hand! Our servers were amazing in their knowledge of both the food and beverage menus. We received excellent advice on drink pairings. We were checked on at just the right moments. Really, service was exquisite while also being relaxed. My Buttermilk Fried chicken was the best fried chicken I've ever had, and I look for opportunities for that meal everywhere! Yes, I have a fried chicken 'problem'. Tried a bite of Hub's Little Neck Clams, also tasty, with a wonderful mix of flavours. Tuna Tataki as a starter, also delicious. All in all, a great meal.

Town is a little gem in the downtown area. It is a great spot for drinks, tapas, and dinner. The…read moreservice I received at dinner was amazing. Server was personable and very knowledgeable of the menu. What she recommended to have was delicious. The olives wrapped in sausage was mouthwatering. My meal, which included pork belly and quail was outstanding. Although the decor and style of the restaurant is unique and stylish, it is quite cramped for space. But it doesn't take away from the experience too much. If you haven't been to Town, you have to check it out.

Superb food, superb service, lovely spot I really really…read morelike the Belmont I had salmon on toast with greens, both were great

Cute little spot I would recommend a reservation. This is my second time and once again I had not…read moremade reservations. (Expect 45-1h wait time.) not bad as there are a lot of cute shops around. Both me and my partner got the Belmont breakfast. Has a bit of everything ($23) I gave my partner the bread and got his salad. He said the bread was really good. I really enjoyed my salad nice and fresh not sure what kind of leaves was used. First time I see that shape. Back to salad it was light and a little bit sweet. Potatoes are the next best thing on my plate. I like them he spice that was used, I added a but more salt on mine. The breakfast sausage did not give me heartburn... not guaranteeing anything but worth mentioning. I believe they were lighter in oil simply. My partner always trades them for bacon. I only got a half sausage, he had the rest. The last thing I want to mention is less positive. I usally like breakfast beans. Got excited when I saw the black beans. However, really disappointed nothing more than warmed out black beans. Not what I would expect from breakfast beans. I expect a maple or sugar flavour. You can pay $5 to add to your breakfast... mine came with them but I would skip. Unless unflavoured black bean is your thing.

Drumroll please... Riviera -- Wow…read more This is what I'm talking about. Sexy. Sophisticated. Huge ceilings. Gorgeous bar. And a Negroni list with ten different versions. Don't miss Riviera when you're in Ottawa. We arrived an hour early before our third dinner guest joined us, so we started with a drink and a small appetizer. After several of my jokes fell flat, I told the waitress to just pick a Negroni for me based on what she'd heard from me so far. She nailed it. It was a slightly sweeter Negroni than the traditional one, with a hint of rosemary. We shared a dynamite tartare to start. Our buddy arrives and, without even looking at the menu, says: "You have to try a Negroni here -- they clearly know what they're doing." So I went for a second one -- this time a classic. Perfect. Next up: the seafood tower. Honestly, it felt like it had just come out of the sea. Razor clams, tuna belly tartare/ceviche on a mini salad leaf that was outstanding, plus lobster and crab claws that were spot on. A fabulous start. There were three of us, so we shared a steak with fries and a beautiful au jus, perfect gnocchi, and a salad with chicory, little nuts of some kind, and tons of shaved cheese -- Parmesan-ish. I can't remember exactly what it was because I'm writing this the morning after... and there may have been a few more wines involved. We finished by sharing a pavlova with passion fruit -- three spoons. I almost hate to admit this... but it was better than anything I've had in Toronto in years. Everything felt fresh, almost farm-to-table. Light, lively, and just a great vibe. In my opinion, Riviera is the perfect restaurant. Oh, and I added our waitress to my newsletter list because she wanted to try an excellent Polish water called Perlage that I think the restaurant should carry. Riviera -- if I could give you a 10 out of 10, I would. Actually... you know what? You're a 10.

I'll be brief, as much has already been said about this gem:…read more Ambiance is gorgeous. Such a refined but relaxed setting. Service, door-to-door, was impeccable. Kind and attentive. Most definitely part of the wonderful experience. Food was top notch. We had the sea bass, lobster spaghetti, Riv Burger, and Chicken Milanese. Everyone was happy. Dessert was astounding, I have to say. We had the pavlova with a peach filling and a vanilla cream. So delicate in substance and flavor. Heaven!

This place came highly recommended. Now I were to rate them…read morejust on apps they would be a 4 star. The main fish was just OK and the pasta being overly oily. The scallop crudo being on best app IMO. The tuna was OK and so was the welk which surprised me as being a menu item. Service is decent but being priced at this level I think 3.5 stars as the mains didn't do it for moi.

We had to book our reservation 3 weeks in advance because of the time slot, and the day. Saturday…read moreat 530. I guess itsya popular time to eat! 3 weeks was worth the wait, as the anticipation of what we were about to enjoy grew stronger. Bread to start, with whipped butter. Hot from the oven. Soft, pillows of carb goodness, with a touch of salt. We started with the TOMATOES WITH FIOR DI LATTE AND RICOTTA STUFFED ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS which was devine. My main was the ROASTED RAINBOW TROUT WITH BOILED POTATOES, PASTIS HOLLANDAISE AND SEA ASPARAGUS and hers was SWEET CORN AGNOLOTTI WITH BUTTER, PECORINO AND JALAPEÑO. Both dishes were faultless. We finished with Eton Mess with meringue, whipped cream and stewed rhubarb for dessert. It looks like a LOT, but the meringue is mostly air, so we tackled it with ease. And, it wasn't as sweet as expected. Americano to cleanse the palate. Fortunately, we found a parking spot right around the corner, so our full bellies didn't have to go too far.

With the go to spot for Moroccan food being a victim of COVID. This one serves the gap I suppose…read more They are more geared towards the buffet as other than our table almost everyone had the buffet. This lead to very very slow food delivery. I enjoyed the combo of sweet and savory (especially for meat dishes) though I wish they could spice up the tajines was more. For a cuisine that's known for bold flavors there are hints of flavor here and there. There is a lot food here for what one pays and dessert is almost all you can enjoy. The tea was good as well. 3.5 stars.

My husband has actually traveled to Morroco, and his impression was that the food here, as others…read morehave observed, is authentic. I found it all to be delicious. The chicken tagine had complex, clear layers of flavor, and was not weighted down with too much sweet fruit: it was just right. Lamb shanks were a treat, slow-braised to fall-off-the-bone tender. Some of the best hummus I've ever had and a whole different point of reference than the grocery store variety. Fatima herself was tending to guests and she sets a warm tone. We plan to return to the area and will definitely return to this spot when we do.

I came here by myself, sat at the bar, and had a great meal…read more The Prohibition Public House is indeed a house, or was a house. The bar was in this small room and the bartender was fantastic. He was the type of bartender that made small talk between pouring drinks and I very much appreciate that when I'm dining alone. The on-tap sangria was amazing! I have never experienced that before and was just so impressed! I had the burger which was delicious and extremely messy. I needed to wash my hands after eating it as my fingers were just covered. I may recommend it as a fork and knife affair. All in all it was a good time!

Loved it! Cool atmosphere and interior design, food was great and service was fast!…read more No complaints! Will definitely come again!