Still one of the cooler, more laid back hangouts in Ottawa. Truly deserves the "lounge" part of…read moreits name. Note that this isn't a go early and have beers type of place, most nights it's not even open for business before 10pm and even then, people don't really start coming in until 11 - midnight. Go early (10pm) and you're guaranteed a spot on one of its few loungy sofas (very comfy), but you'll also probably be alone with your companions. Great music as advertised, they always have good DJs.

This is one of my favourite spots I've been to for live music. It's a pity I haven't returned…read more Don't read anything into that though! It's a really awesome lounge. The Mercury Lounge mainly specializes in variations of jazz music, but it also includes some of the other stuff as well. The atmosphere is very relaxing with warm reds and yellows. The stage is a perfect focal point as it's framed by two twelve foot high (at least) windows that look out into the market from this heritage building. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of space, especially if you arrive with a large group and want to stick together. You may have to resolve yourselves to separate a bit for the night if you want to sit down to enjoy the music. Unlike many bars in Ottawa, this place is open until 3AM.

Amazing and quaint place to hang with friends or with a date for live music, During the Ottawa Jazz…read moreFestival they sometimes host free jazz shows (reservation required!). Love the cozy and intimate ambiance. Will definitely come back!

Great music venue. Located upstairs on Elgin Street. Cosy feel. Art on the walls. Good stage…read more You can usually get food but their source is being renovated so just drinks and snacks for the next couple weeks.

This place was recommended to us by the person we were house-sitting for. I can see why. This place…read morehas a great indoor space and outdoor space, and on a hot day it was nice to be inside for a bit. Looks like they probably do some concerts since they have a nice stage set up in the back. Servers were really friendly getting us situated with our daughter and the wagon we use to transport her around. Very family friendly as we saw several other parents with strollers as well. Nice menu and a lot of good beer options. Opted to try their radler and it was delicious, before I remembered I'm not supposed to have grapefruit. The waitress was quick to get me a replacement Guinness. The food came out pretty quick. My wife got the Tuna Poke Wonton, which came out deconstructed I guess... actually ended up working out pretty well. It was quite good, but the poke wasn't nearly as fresh as what we are used to in California. My chicken burger was delicious, the cranberry and brie on it made me feel like thanksgiving. It was really hearty and heavy for a chicken burger, but worth it! The highlight might be the kids menu though. The kids can pick from 4 items Poutine, Fish & Chips, Burger & Fries, or Mac n Cheese. But, it comes with a drink and dessert. Clearly our daughter was on cloud 9 getting chocolate milk and ice cream included in her meal. Her poutine was quite good too, not too salty, nice gravy flavor and melty curds. If you're in the area this is a great stop for food or drinks or both.

A Barrhaven staple for over 35 years. To be around that long they are definitely checking off the…read moreright boxes. Tge varied menu has something for everyone. The service is great and the atmosphere is comfortable to say the least.

The New Bayou is the very definition of a hole in the wall, and I mean that in a very positive way…read more It's a one of a kind joint. It doesn't come to mind when you think of a place to go to listen to music, but it has some great bands come through. Now, keep in mind a lot of the bands the come through are punk bands. If that isn't your style of music, I don't think I would suggest heading to The New Bayou. As a bar, it's....well it's...I don't actually know. Once you find the place (it hasn't much of a sign out front) you walk down the stairs and meet The new Bayou. There is a bar, and it is limited. Beer, your standard booze, and that is about it. The bartenders are there, but don't expect them to be making Gin Martini's in a dirty glass. they have a limited staff, so don't expect table service either. The first time I went there I was told to come back again on that Friday because the girl bartending was also going to be body painted. Soo, is this a bar, a music venue, a burlesque house? It sounds like a dump, right? No. It's not. It is unique though. there are not a lot of places you can walk into that not only have a stage but a set of couches straight out of 1986 and a big screen TV playing a dinosaur movie from the '60s. Are you confused yet? You should be. That is exactly what The New Bayou is, a very confusing but enjoyable place. Leave your worries at the door and take it all in. You'll quickly become accustom to the venue. Once that happens you can enjoy the music. there is a lot of punk bands that go through and for some reason they can bring in some fairly notable bands, if you're into Punk. Remember SNFU, they play The New Bayou, along with bands from throughout North America. I don't know how they do it, but this little hole in the wall is able to create its own little place in Ottawa's music scene.

Ever been along Bank at Sunnyside late one night and heard the sound of awesome live music? No, you…read moreare not going insane. What you are hearing are the sounds emanating from the New Bayou - an underground (literally) club beneath the Framed! store. The place is small, but vitally atmospheric. Expect the unexpected - couches, weird stuff on the TVs and the hottest underground punk and alternative bands in Ottawa. It is such an oddity in what is essentially a quiet, suburban school zone (yes, there is a school kitty corner to the bar). If you are at all overly sensitive and want to quietly sip a mojito while discussing environmentally friendly cleaning products with your BFF, then you should probably go elsewhere. But, if you like your scene loud and raw and in a place where anything can happen, go to the Bayou.

We stopped in at the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield Qc for a bite to eat. As we sat down at a table…read morethe sever told us that if we wanted drinks that she would be getting them and the food would be another server. So this meant two tips. For a tourist town I was expecting well dressed staff and a better ambiance The food was alright but there wasn't much choice. Very disappointing.

The Black Sheep Inn, or Le Mouton Noir, is an amazing bar/music venue in Wakefield Quebec which is…read moreabout 25 minutes north of Ottawa. This venue is legendary for performers and is always on the list of top 10 places to play in Canada. The setting is intimate with table seating but there is also room to dance or stand around depending on what band is playing. The decor is simple, worn in and charming with a retro feel. I have seen many amazing shows here and both the venue and setting in Wakefield make it tranquil and memorable. Sitting on the front patio overlooking the lake before the Neko Case show starts and the Wakefield steam train going by. If you are visiting Ottawa make sure you take a trip up to Wakefield and I suggest you drop by for drink at Le Mouton Noir.

Great arcade, bar, music and perogies. Service is great. The perogies are always delicious. The…read morestaff is friendly. I enjoy the live music and the people who come, the regulars.

I think there was a Yelp event here years ago that I couldn't make it out to because I ended up…read moreworking late, but House of Targ has been on my list to try ever since! I'm not in this area often, especially during the pandemic, so when I saw that they were offering frozen pierogis through Burrow Shop's online grocery delivery service, I had to buy them. I got the traditional pierogis made with flour, sour cream, eggs, potato, cheddar cheese, and salt. It was a 12-pack of frozen pierogis sealed in plastic in a little cardboard box with the instructions at the bottom, which included boiling and panfrying. I was lazy and starving at that point and looking for something fast, so I decided to brush six of them with olive oil and stick them in the air fryer. I should've taken them out sooner because the potato started leaking out the ends, but they were still great. Of course, if I had followed the instructions, I'm sure they'd be even better (I saved the other half to try it making it the way they said). Simple and comforting, not lacking flavour, but not too tame, and not too salty. The six were a great snack for just myself - I can see how people could easily take down plates of these!

Views 4 Service 2…read moreCold beer 3 Food... No idea Lots of regulars exist that appreciate this watering hole and the water view. Main drag of Wakefield. Not sure how old this building is but the washroom is an experience. I've never had any kind of decenct service here but maybe they were off days.

TLDR - Kaffe 1870 sells a good time, so it is my opinion that food quality takes a back seat to…read morehappiness. It helps that Kaffe sells the cheapest dinner on the Riverside Street. Kaffe has live music most evenings. The evening we went they ran a game night at the same time. It was loud. It was fun. We joked around with strangers. Everyone was relaxed. And did I say it was a pub? Oh draft beer was so delicious! Good times for everyone. The food at Kaffe is 3.5 stars at best. My beef stew was loaded with beef brisket chunks and vegetable bits. It was bold, delicious, down to earth, country styled. My boyfriend described his pasta as rich and hearty. Portions of both entrees were not generous but they were satisfying nevertheless. They surely weren't fancy. Most dinner offereings were priced at $18. Compared to most other restaurants charging over $20, Kaffe had the cheapest dinner that filled you up. Many patrons were french speaking. Yet the server was accomodating to us English speakers. I got a distinct impression that some people were regulars. If I was correct, this pub was the locals' social hub. How cool is that?

Delicious baked brie and waffle. The baked beans were the surprise star, and the mini smoothie very…read morerefreshing. Service was good. There was live music on a Saturday morning which was very nice, but made it a little hard for conversation. The chairs are very heavy!

Their appetizers are really underrated. I enjoy all of them, especially the wonton app!read more

I really enjoyed my cocktail from the Cheshire Cat and my boyfriend enjoyed his beer on tap…read more My one issue is how busy it is and how it was kept extremely cold. It felt as though the staff had a hard time being attentive to the demand. I did appreciate the glasses customized to the Cheshire Cat, as well as the ambiance. I would've appreciated going on a quieter evening, if that exists.

Quality is rarely an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent…read moreexecution. Kudos to Front-of-House (FOH), Back-of-House (BOH), and management!!! Lunch yesterday--my wife n' I visited for the first time--celebrating my birthday. Work colleagues had raved about the good food and service at The Cheshire Cat Pub. Our visit absolutely confirmed their perceptions--wow!!! Based on our experience we'll add an additional x15+++ to their 'rave' sentiments. A dedicated a top notch team effort from reservation, meal and final wrap up! The food, venue, the entire Cheshire Cat Pub Team working in unison made for an outstanding birthday celebration experience! We started our lunch with amber beer on tap, followed by Hot Beef & Yorkie, 2 piece FIsh n' Chips and Sticky Toffee Pudding & tea. To the The Cheshire Cat Pub...your teamwork and dedication to excellance is commendable. Kudos to all of you.

Great place to meet friends and have a good time. Lots of tables and staff are friendly and helpful.read more

Its like a Cheers of the pool hall scene - comfortable cozy. Tables play well, waitresses are…read moregreat, lots of TVs and good selection of beers.