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!

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.

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!

I've been coming here for over 15 years! From first dates to double dates, 5 à 7 or just…read moreneighbourhood casual meet-ups! I can always count on a great wine selection and tasty bites. Really cozy and good vibes.

Wife and I have eaten here 2 times in the past couple of weeks. Why? Because it is that good!…read more Small plates for sharing, superb cocktails, great service, and excellent music add up to a perfect place to explore creative food. The chef is putting out some top notch dishes. Inventive and beautifully presented, this is a neighborhood joint with serious culinary chops. If you're a little adventurous and not the stuffy type, you will love this place. Vibe - artsy, Joy Division meets White Stripes. Food - creative, Social Distortion meets Los Lobos. Drinks - decadent, Rolling Stones meets Velvet Underground.

The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful, the kind of spot that instantly grabs your attention…read morebecause it's right above the water. The view is stunning and honestly sets such a nice mood. I really wanted to love the food as much as I loved the setting... but it just didn't deliver. Everything tasted like it had been pre-made hours ahead, and I'm not convinced they use many fresh ingredients aside from the salads. The dish I ordered was hands down just salt and oil , no real flavor, nothing fresh or vibrant about it. When I brought the leftovers home and reheated them, even more oil poured out, to the point where it literally turned me off from finishing it. The drinks, though? Delicious. I had the spruce margarita and that was honestly the highlight of the whole meal -- super refreshing and really well-balanced. Overall, beautiful restaurant, amazing views, great drinks... but the food needs some serious improvement for me to go back.

I came here on a Wednesday night in a party of three. We made a reservation and were seated right…read moreaway. We had a great view of the lake. The service was great and the food was delicious! I got the fish tacos and sweet potato fries. I'd definitely recommend coming here for summer patio nights!

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.

Ward 14 is the perfect drinking while in the wall, quirky and all yet without being pretentious…read more To be fully honest, it reminded me of the good old time before COVID. The ambiance was warm, service was great, drink selection was limited but provided just the right amount of selection of local goodness! I would not rush to Ward 14 for the food, but this goes back to the non-pretentiousness of it all... While I had myself craving some parmesan truffle popcorn, the basic fries were crisp and quite yummy, and how can one go wrong with a pogo. They do have seasoned nuts but happened to be out at the time. Overall there was nothing about Ward 14 that should make it special... It's not a lot of things, but truth be told, I kind of really liked it for all that it is and all that it is not. The goldilocks of drinking while maybe?!

I've only been here once, but I'm pretty confident in saying it's already one of my favorite bars…read morein the city. It's a little bit of a hole in a wall - easy to miss if you're not looking. It's super small inside and crammed with vintage finds and knickknacks, like a giant lava lamp, lights, and random other pins, charms, and home decor, all of which you can buy. I think it's pretty popular, so I can see it getting pretty crammed, especially with everyone's winter gear. There's a booth when you first walk in for a small group vs. two folks like we were, and where it would be easier with more space to play one of the many board games they have. We didn't get anything to eat, though I was really debating on getting the totchos (tater tot nachos!) on their limited snack menu. We were just happy with the drinks, since they have some pretty awesome cocktails and craft beers, including their own Ward 14 stubbys. For you insta-obsessed folks - one of the washrooms uses old bingo cards as wallpaper for your next selfie ;)

Excellent service. Comfy and luxurious place with a view…read more Bar Menu is concise and targeted.

Honestly love this spot! GREAT edamame (still thinking about it) & love the pizza croissant rolls…read moreevery time. Would probably skip on the grilled cheese next time I go as it wasn't my favourite for the price. Cool atmosphere inside and quirky servers, which I love. Would definitely recommend stopping in for an appy and drinks.

Being a newcomer to Ottawa, my husband and I went into a few places on a Wednesday night to get to…read moreknow the area. When we went into 10Fourteen, the first thing I said was, "this is exactly how I would design a bar if I had one." The small venue was decorated in browns, grays, blacks and whites, with chalkboards, bubble lights, chunky mirrors, painted quotes on canvas ("Love is all you need" and others in that vein) and other funky, classy decor. It's a small place, with a long, two-piece bar, a few booths, a couple tables and a small lounge area. At 8PM on a Wednesday, there were a few other couples in there, and what looked like a larger group sitting on the couch in the "lounge." Everyone was middle aged or younger. Our helpful bartender immediately greeted us with a martini glass filled with delicious truffle, cinnamon popcorn. I ordered a Slap and Tickle, despite it being what seemed like a more wine-focused bar -- and only three beers on tap. The drink (gin, cucumber juice) was refreshing, but not strong at all. And maybe these stingy pours are just something I have to get used to up here in Canada, but there was 1 ounce of alcohol in the whole drink, despite it being served in a highball glass. Despite both of us ordering drinks, we were not given water, which is a bit of a bartender pet peeve of mine. The chalkboard menu is really hard to follow. An item example: "Glass of bacon/jack/lime/coke." Not exactly sure what that meant, but we saw "BACON" so we asked and ordered it. It was really, really good. Jack Daniels and Coke rubbed bacon (five pieces for $5), baked and served in a martini glass with a lime. Totally cool and funky (and yummy!) but wish the menu were more easily decipherable. Things were a little chaotic behind the bar, which totally contrasted with the more relaxed vibe intended at the bar. There seemed to be no POS system and the kitchen was right behind the bar with the bartenders. I'm talking people pulling food out of refrigerators, prepping it, microwaving -- the whole deal. The bright lights from the open refrigerator door made it all together too bright in the bar, killing the mood lighting, and it seemed nonsensical to set it up that way. I'm all for open-view kitchens, but maybe not as restricted as that, and not right with the bartenders trying to make drinks. All in all, I really liked the place. Cool vibe, good stuff on the menu (when you are told what it is), and really nice and helpful staff. I just wish they could live up to the potential a bit more. I'll definitely go back and adjust my rating accordingly.

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.

Came for lunch at 1pm on a Saturday and there was a 30 minute wait. There isn't much space to wait,…read moreso it good that they take your number down and call when your table is ready so you can walk around a bit. We missed the brunch menu as I think they stopped serving that around 1pm. The lunch menu was mostly sandwiches, and I had the crispy chicken sandwich with half side of fries and half salad. I love that they offer you the option of half/half. The portion size is definitely on the smaller side but the sandwich with side was only $13 and I prefer the smaller portion as I've been trying to control my portions better. The chicken sandwich was ok - the chicken could have been more seasoned / better coating but it wasn't bad.

I've had The Third on my list of places to try for some time now (pretty much since they opened in…read morelate 2017/early 2018), and finally got around to it. The place is always very busy and I now I understand why. The food is delicious, service is good and the prices are great. My husband and I were both off work on a Friday, so we decided to head there for a late-ish lunch. We got there close to 2pm and it was packed indoors. The patio was relatively empty, and that's where we opted to sit. The patio started to fill up as we were there. I got the fried chicken sandwich with fries ($12) and my husband got the Brisket Plate ($13) which came with corn, mac and cheese and some toast. The portions are smaller than at most restaurants, but I actually prefer the lower price and smaller portions. My fried chicken sandwich was delicious. The chicken was crispy and the slaw had carrots, jalapeno and celery. They were generous with the sliced pickles. I asked them to hold the mayo, which they did. I hate wet sloppy sandwiches, so it was perfect without the mayo. The fries were thin shoestring fries, my favourite type. They were crispy and so tasty. My husband also enjoyed my fries, lol. I also gave him a bite of my sandwich and he liked it too. My husband loves his Brisket Plate. I had a taste of the brisket and he gave me a lean piece because he knows I hate fatty meat and it was good. I also tried some of the mac and cheese and I liked that too. Apparently there was sweet potatoes in the mac and cheese, but I didn't taste it. I like how they give you water in a bottle, so you don't have to ask for refills (unless you drink more than the bottle, in which case I'm sure they'd give you a second bottle). Service was lovely. Although the patio is at the side of the restaurant and is next to a parking lot, the ambiance was good. I liked that some tables were in the shade (ours) but they had some in the sun for those who like that. The inside ambiance is more drinking hole-like, lol. It was loud and crowded. I preferred the patio environment. The Third is where The Blackpepper Urban Pub used to be. They actually kept one of the awnings that you can see from the patio; it says Blackpepper. The parking lot next door has limited parking spots and some are marked as reserved for SuzyQ (the donut shop) and others for QpiXXX (which used to be an "adult entertainment" store and it might still be, but now mostly sells bongs and other cannabis paraphernalia). Some spots are unmarked, so maybe customers of The Third can park there (?) I've seen Circle K customers parking there. Circle K is the business immediately west of the parking lot. We walked there, so I'm not entirely sure about the parking situation. My only regret is having waited this long to try The Third. We will definitely be returning. I want to try their Veggie Burger next :)