Review Absinthe - Ottawa

I went with my partner. She ordered a salmon, her dish was not cooked properly, it was almost raw. Another hand, the attention or waitress service it was really good, the woman was so nice and really polite. But the kitchen has to improve a lot, even my duck it was good, all the dishes has to be a good. also in my reservation I asked for gluten free options for my partner due to she is intolerant to celiac, but the options were limited.

Very good service. Our waitress was so friendly and was constantly checking on us through the experience. The food was good, but could be improved. I also would have liked more gluten free options on the menu.

I have heard good things about Absinthe for a long time and the reputation was well deserved! We started with Salmon and tuna tartare, and I must say the Salmon was the stand out winner!! I had the duck and was very impressed. My wife had the scallop pasta and very much enjoyed it especially the seasoning. I had the creme brule and very much enjoyed it. My wife had the mousse and found it very heavy like pudding and prefers lighter fluffier mousse. Our waiter was an absolute joy and was on his game the entire night and very pleasant. We had a fantastic evening thanks to Absinthe, highly recommend!

Went here to celebrate my partners birthday and it was SO LOVELY! Service staff were so friendly, and our server, Mitchell, was really great. Our table was near the herb garden that the kitchen staff use for dishes. The food was ultimate in taste! And the cocktail I had was super tasty. Plenty of parking as well makes this place ideal for everyone to go and enjoy the happiness that you will surely feel from being there.

The many years this restaurant has been around is a testimony to just how good it is. During our visit, we saw that for ourselves. Food was spot on in terms of flavour, presentation and the service was professional and friendly. Loved it and will certainly return. Bonus is that it is in our neighbourhood.

My fiancee and I had an absolutely amazing experience while celebrating my fiancees birthday at Absinthe. From the immaculate food, to the wonderful atmosphere and the amazing staff. Everything was top marks. Huge shout out to Catherine, who was our server that evening. She is exactly what you want as a server at a restaurant. She treated us very well. We highly recommend this spot. We will definitely be going back again :)

What an amazing experience for both food and service for our first time here! This place does not disappoint. Emily, our server, from the beginning was attentive, friendly, welcoming and ready to answer any questions. By far some of the best pasta, fondue, dessert and drinks we have had in a long time. We will definitely be back. Thanks to Emily, the staff and Chef for an exceptional time.

A nice, relaxed and calm atmosphere. Don't see a lot of place with it's own planters where the kitchen staff come and pick up their greens from. The service provided by Mitchell was very good and attentive ( thank you for that) and the food was perfect, the burger was juicy and perfectly cooked and the pasta amazing. Thank you for the hard work

It had potential but didn't really deliver. We definitely wouldn't bring a fondue connaisseur here. Cheese fondue was good but we prefer ours that includes a bit of blue cheese. Different recipes but that's ok. However, while I'll agree that normally the bread cubes should be slightly staler bread, they shouldn't be so stale that they're practically croutons, like these were. Strike one. Fondue bourguignonne didn't start off well when the guy tried to light the flame and it went out, then he lit it again and it went out again. My thought would have been that there wasn't enough liquid in the flamepot but he quickly lit it again as the server arrived and deposited the pot and he left. Of course, the flame went out again so we had to call for someone to come add liquid & light it again so that it stayed lit. Strike two but the blue cheese and Dijon sauces were absolutely wonderful. Also, I wouldn't have served the salad in the fondue plate since there was no room left to put the cooked meat. There was nothing in our bread plate since they didn't serve any so we transferred the salad there. The dressing was lovely, though. For the other courses, we each had our own plate of stuff to cook in the fondue, which is the way it should be. Chocolate fondue arrived with everything in the same plate all together with chocolate enough for two, not the three of us. We mentioned that we would have preferred individual plates and that we didn't feel there was enough chocolate for three. The guy who couldn't light the flame at the 2nd course advised us that if we didn't have enough, he'd come back when we finished this and give us more. Ok. In other words, f&$k off. Then it wasn't even barely warm. The problem with all in one plate is that Luc is much faster than mom and I so we had to stop him so that we would have some. Neither mom and i like having to do that. In any cas, we made due with the small amount of cool chocolate and didn't bother asking for more. Strike three. Cold coffee! Strike four? You're out! We won't be back but it gave us good ideas to do a much better meal at home.

Went to this place for the first time tonight with my mom (we are experienced foodies who love to try new places around the world), specifically for their 3 course fondue experience on Monday nights. It’s pretty much the only option for that in Ottawa. We had a nice time, service was good and everything was yummy...but it was pretty expensive for what it is, and small portions, at $50/person ($100 for two people sharing). Sadly, I’d recommend skipping this place and buying/creating your own fondues at home.

Food excellent! Hogan our server was the best 👍 His knowledge of the food & wine was outstanding and he was very professional and personable :). Our new fav restaurant in Ottawa

Service was excellent, and food was all very good except my steak. Had the table d'hote with charcuterie, mixed green salad and steak & frites. We were 3 that ordered the steak all had a dark crusted steak that was suppose to be well done but was overcooked and tasted like burnt. Im assuming its a 1 time thing because everything else was good but I have to say i was extremely disapointed about my steak. Wish I had ordered the burger like most of table did.

Dinner for 8 at Absinthe last night was so wonderfully memorable. Our server / sommelier, Patrick, was attentive, friendly, and caring. Food was delicious, without exception. I had a three-course meal (tartare, soup, and mushroom cannelloni) and added a wine pairing for 33$. What a deal. Pairings were spot on and really complimented the meal. I knocked over three (count em': three) drinks during our evening, all by accident and all water, but still! Never in my life have I ever been such a klutz. I was mortified (and no, not drunk!!). The staff were swift to help clean up and were so understanding and kind. I would have thrown myself out of the restaurant after the second one. God. Can't take me anywhere. Dessert was sweet and satisfying. Lemon tart was perfectly pucker-inducing and the churro plate was just plain ridiculous. We ended the evening with an absinthe flight, which was such a neat experience and a great way to end the night. Thanks to the kitchen and serving staff for their warm hospitality and enviable cooking skills!

Great establishment. The atmosphere was nice, if a bit bland, but the music was nice. The staff was great, very attentive, pleasant and helpful. And the food was delicious with a simple, well focused menu. Only complaint was that it may have been slightly overpriced, but still an all around good experience and I would go back again.

Excellent food, superior service, our server’s knowledge of food and drink A+.

Steak Frites & Beet Salad were awesome!! Out of 6 visits to Ottawa in 2016, this place was the best place!

The service was attentive and friendly, the menu offered wonderful choices, the cocktails perfect, the charcuterie appetizer excellent in presentation and tastes, my duck was superb, and the pear dessert tart was the perfect ending. Really, go there!

We had a fantastic dinner here tonight to celebrate my husbands birthday. Food was wonderful and the staff were great! Thanks for a lovely evening �

Une découverte ce soir et j’ai adoré mon expérience! Bouffe incroyable (le magret de canard était délicieux et le fondant au chocolat...un nuage de chocolat chaud qui fond dans la bouche!), de vraiment bon cocktails et un super service!! Merci!

Valentines dinner was amazing. The bread is to die for!

Nice interior, good staff and excellent food. 3 course lunch meal was great

The mushroom soup was fantastic. Service was outstanding. Thank you for a lovely lunch experience.

My husband and I went for dinner last night, no reservation. Beef tartare was awesome, Beef Stroganoff the best, salad with the goat cheese was amazing, and salmon was cooked to perfection. I can't remember the last time we had salmon cooked that perfectly. Just, so good. We'll be back......

Seriously my favourite meal since Paris!! Come hungry, leave happy! Thanks to Pat and your team for the incredible meal and wonderful customer service!!

Excellent de A à Z! J’ai adoré l’ambiance, la bouffe, les cocktails! Go!!

SPECTACULAR food and amazing value for $$ the table d'hôte option is unique and super well thought out. Service impeccable. Shout out to Hogan! Unassuming and extremely well executed. Bravo!!xxx

Patrick continues to work his kitchen magic and produces the same great flavours on his takeout menu that we have come to rely on in these strange COVID times. We enjoy at least one amazing dinner each week. Always a treat!

Great restaurant! Food was above all expectations, service was excellent and atmosphere itself was very lively. I just want to emphasis again that food (taste, presentation, freshness) was exceeding any expectations that we had. Thank you for beautiful evening at your restaurant!

Friday night, my girlfriend and I went to Absinthe for dinner. We were not able to celebrate Valentines Day on the Thursday because of work but I wanted to do something special. She had mentioned Absinthe before and I checked out their website and read reviews. They did not disappoint! Unbelievable food. Phenomenal service and absolutely amazing atmosphere. Our server was fantastic. They were quite busy, but he never forgot about us and always took a second to check in to see how we were doing. The food was incredible. We both had the Absinthe steak frites and arugula salad. Both items were excellent. The chef at Absinthe actually knows how to properly cook a steak medium rare, which is rare, no pun intended. The arugula salad was one of the best salads I've ever had! Then there was the desert. Absolutely amazing. We had the desert sampler and wow. If you're thinking of checking out Absinthe, don't hesitate. By far one of, if not the best dinning experiences I've ever had. <br/><br/>Thanks Absinthe for making our Valentines Day great!

One of our favourite restaurants.  The menu isn't extensive but covers all the key areas (vegetarian, beef, fish, pork, pasta...) and seems to change regularly. The food is always amazing - the flavours, presentation, combinations.  We usually get the 3 course meal combo with wine pairing ($45 - $55 for 3 courses plus $40 for 3 wine selections.)  The service is excellent - friendly and efficient (no trying to get a waiter's attention.)  Decor is pleasant, perhaps the only slight downside is it can be noisy when busy and the tables are fairly close together.  Definitely need to book on popular nights. Last night we both had steak frites, I had an amazing tuna salad (one of the best appetizers I've had in a long time!) and butternut squash soup first and my wife had a beet salad and an arugula salad.  With a cocktail before and a dessert after for both of us the bill was a little over $200 for 2.

My wife and I took our son and girlfriend there for an early supper before the rush on Sun Dec 30th. This was not our first time at Absinthe. We were greeted by the staff and taken to one of the few non-reserved tables. The staff asked if they could take our coats to their coat closet/room. They took all of our coats. After a lovely well served and delicious meal I paid and we were ready to leave. When my son and I went with the staff to collect our coats, the staff member was all flustered as to which cabinet the coats were in. <br/><br/>After being home my sons girlfriend was aware of missing her keys and wallet from her coat. My son made a phone call the next morning back to the restaurant. The answer had turned up nothing but the person that answered finally said that the key was there. My son and girlfriend went back to restaurant to pick up the keys and were greeted by who seemed like the Chef. He was very abrupt and defensive. He said there is no wallet and that was the end of conversation.<br/><br/> Really it would just been nice to have had this issue dealt with by a sympathetic helpful staff and not an arrogant unapologetic person . <br/>The management has my sons contact number to rectify this issue.  <br/><br/>Needless to say we will not be back to this restaurant.

Prepare to not be disappointed. We took out a couple here for their birthday, and oh boy was it a great time. The service was exceptional, our waiter was extremely helpful and friendly. Recommending some good menu items, we all ordered the full course meal. Started off with a cold leek soup, and YUM! We all loved it! We then had the beef tartare and it was very unique followed by the steak. I would definitely recommend this place, however it is on the pricier side but worth it!

Ambiance is nice, if a bit loud (par for the course in restaurants these days); service was inattentive and did not take into account simple dining etiquette (when to take what order, and in order of service); food was acceptable, not noteworthy.

We were extremely satisfied with everything from the greeting, the service, the food and the special birthday acknowledgement for my aunt. Everything was classy. Even after we were finished our meal and paid, our server continued pouring water as we continued our conversation. We didn’t feel rushed and had a wonderful time. We enjoy good food and are often not satisfied. However this time, everyone loved their meal and we each had a different appetizer and a different main meal. Even the drinks (dirty martini) was the most delicious I’ve had.<br/><br/>We have never been to Absinthe before but have a reservation for fondue and thought we’d try it on a regular night as my aunt lives close by. Well there is nothing regular about Absinthe – everything is exceptional and we are now looking forward more than ever to our fondue dinner<br/>.

Good not great place, that was just missing a few things to make it a top-notch experience. I definitely feel like this place has potential, so I'll start with the good. A small menu with quality items that they do well. My cocktail was fantastic with great presentation! Their cheese selections were to die for and probably my favourite part. It was my birthday and they brought me Creme Brûlée which I loved!!! However, the ambience was pretty lacklustre and I was a little disappointed in the wine selection. We ended up going with a bottle that was fine, but not sure if it was worth 75$. My duck was great, but my brothers steak came with two very visible hairs right on top and the server offered to re-plate it. He declined and just re-plated it himself by taking the hair off. All in all, it's a good place but with so many other restaurants in the area it wouldn't be the first place I'd recommend.

Great establishment. The atmosphere was nice, if a bit bland, but the music was nice. The staff was great, very attentive, pleasant and helpful. And the food was delicious with a simple, well focused menu. Only complaint was that it may have been slightly overpriced, but still an all around good experience and I would go back again.<br/> <br/><br/>Update: I've had staff ignore special instructions for an order (I expect better from a high end place) and as of my most recent experience, be downright rude. The server was standoffish to me and made me feel unwelcomed in the restaurant, took away my water away when she sat me, brought out my bread rather late with just oil instead of oil and vinegar and then took ages to bring me my bill (it wasn't busy and I saw her drinking and chatting with someone at the bar after I'd asked for my bill for about ten or fifteen minutes), she then took her tip when I asked her for change without asking me how much I'd like to tip her (I didn't notice this until after I left, so I ended up tipping her twice and she definitely didn't deserve the amount that she took in the first place).

A totally wonderful experience! Charming and classy decore, the friendliest and most accommodating service and the food!! Most definitely the tastiest in Ottawa or maybe on this planet! We took the seafood appetizer which was delicate, yet overflowed with mouth-watering flavours..the mushroom soup was robust and so creamy..My steak with horseradish was beyond divine..My son and his wife took the pork cheek and the duck; both were raving how tender and delicious it was. In all honesty, we spent most of our eating time with our eyes closed, revelling in those sublime tastes...The creme brule that was offered at the end of this birthday dinner was simply perfect; delicate, creamy and crunchy and not too sweet. Even foccacia served at the beginning of the meal, dipped in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar was outstanding. Unquestionably, this dinner experience topped the many high end meals we have had in various countries. We will most definitely be returning there as often as we can! Most highly recommended!! ; )

The trout in white wine sauce with a lime coriander spice was delightful. Perfectly cooked and presented. Loved the wine and the service was wonderful.  Dim lighting was soothing. A real treat. It was a bustling Saturday night so it was also revitalizing. The great reviews from colleagues, family and friends were right on the money. You should go.

Ideal spot for a business dinner in Ottawa.  The service was attentive, informative, and unique.  Everyone enjoyed their meals, several of our group had the Table d'Hôte.  High ratings include the beet salad, the beef tartare 'with a bite',  the velvety roasted tomato soup, and the trout (although mine was slightly undercooked, the service made up for it).  Very happy with our restaurant selection for our out of town guests.

Ate here on Saturday night as part of a very large group. The food was fantastic. I had the pork cheek main, and it was perfectly done melt-in-your-mouth. The staff were extremely accommodating as well. I brought my baby with me to meet the group, and while Absinthe caters to an upscale crowd and may not have a change table, they made sure there was a table put in the washroom for us to use before I could even ask where the washroom was! Thank you for the lovely evening!!

Absolutely delightful would be my description. The 3 course fondue was fantastic. The chef did tempura vegetables for the vegetarians in our group of 8 for one course. The staff was incredibly attentive and accommodating. A huge thank you to the staff for a wonderful evening on my wife's 50th birthday. We will be back.

Our premiere visit to Absinthe included wonderful, sumptuous cuisine and attentive, polite service in a lovely, subdued atmosphere. Needless to say, we'll recommend this restaurant to all of our friends and we shall return, soon.

Was here once before, in the summer and during the week. Food tasty, but service terrible. Admittedly, a Friday night, but myself and companions were seated at the bar despite there being empty tables. I was promised a table should one open up, however the hostess never came back to make good on that promise. The tables remained empty throughout my meal. This place is loud! It's impossible to carry on a conversation even when seated immediately next to someone.<br/><br/>Prices overpriced on drinks ($12 for mediocre red; bartender underpours) with constant pestering by staff for up sells. (Didn't get her name, but black and white striped blouse; despite being seated at the bar, she interrupted our attempts to have a conversation over the din, three times. When, in answer to her question, I described the meal as "fine", which it was, she became argumentative and I had to turn away from her to signal for her to go away. When I'm paying an average of $35 for a main, I expect to not be harassed while I'm trying to enjoy it.)<br/><br/>A good attempt, but given the horrible table and staff management (five tables open for an hour and a half and turning away patrons at the door), not sure how long they will stay in business. A shame really, because the concept is good, but as with many things, execution is proof.

I went for lunch yesterday with a friend and everything was superb;the food,the service and the welcoming atmosphere.The serving staff did not even hint that we should leave even though we talked for a long time.It also has parking! Bonus!

Went to Absinthe yesterday afternoon for lunch with friends.  Each of had something different to eat and all of us enjoyed our meal.  I had a lamb burger and side salad and it was delicious.  Would definitely order it again.  We thought that prices were reasonable for the quality.  Service and atmosphere were very good.  Would definitely go back.

We left before the food came! Cannot comment on quality of the food, but the service was lacklustre, atmosphere was very stale and we didn't feel very welcomed. So glad we chose to leave and go up the street to Wellington Gastro Pub.

My wife and I went here for the first time on our anniversary. Cozy atmosphere, yet open and loud. If you are looking for a quiet place to eat, this is not it. That said, the place was buzzing and was full of energy which we liked. Complimentary glass of Champagne given to us for our anniversary.  We both had the Steak, and it was better than steaks we've had at more expensive "steak houses". I like how they tell you it will be medium rare, which is how a good steak should be. Our server was pleasant, yet at times seamed like a robot. Her focus never really seamed to be on us, but more on what task she had to move to next. She would mumble something to us, while not making eye contact and scanning her surroundings. Not a bad thing, but a server should be more interactive with their table.<br/><br/>Overall, we were very pleased with our evening.

Great experience again. Knowledgable staff. Great wine and wonderful food. Wine pairing with the meal was definitely worth choosing the 3 courses with the wine. Descriptions of our choices alone with the wine pairings made it a memorable anniversary. Will definitely return to this restaurant.

Great experience! We went to celebrate our son's engagement and are happy we chose this place. We were greeted with complementary champagne. Each starter was terrific and the quail egg on the steak tartar was a very nice touch. The mains were even better. The duck was perfectly prepared. The braised rabbit ravioli is highly recommended. The sampler dessert was an excellent way to try several types of desserts. The service was impecable: polite, very knowledgable, and timely. There was never an empty glass and it was nice to get fresh cutlery with every course. We ordered absinthe to end the meal and it was nicely presented with clear, unpretentious instructions on how to let the water drip to dissolve the sugar cube on the slotted spoon. Definitely a "go-to" place if you want to impress someone!

Just love this place.  Have been multiple times and will return again.  The fresh bread is outstanding, the lemon thyme dressing on the salad is wonderfully light and tangy, the steak frites mouthwatering.  Service is top notch, the venue is perfect for friends, couples, even business dinners

Stopped in for lunch and were told to try the steak and frites. The food was great and the portions were just right. Service was very good and friendly.Will be returning for sure.

Steak frites dish was enjoyable but it was definitely cooked more than medium rare. Service was fast, friendly and knowledgeable. My dining companions really enjoyed their cocktails.

We were fortunate to dine at Absinthe this past weekend. It was one of the best meals we have had in a very long time. The tuna carpaccio and the beef tartar were both excellent. The tuna carpaccio had a wonderful texture, complemented by spicy elements and was beautifully presented. The beef tartar was the perfect presentation of a classic dish. The duck breast and arctic char, which followed were wonderful. The duck breast was perfectly cooked and delicious. The arctic char was moist and flavourful. The accompanying sides made both plates flawless. The meal ended with prifiteroles. The homemade ice cream, chou and chocolate sauce were scrumptious. <br/><br/>Although the atmosphere is relaxed, service is flawless and attentive. It was a great evening.

Very average and super over priced. This restaurant seems to think they are gourmet and charge as if they are...but they are definitely not. Portions are very small, flank steak was overcooked, salad was salty, fries are good, but the poutine is a major let down. Burger was ok but terrible at $24. The desert was disappointing and it's priced at a premium but served at corner store quality. Overall very expensive, menu is uninspiring, save your money there are much better places to eat in Ottawa.

I always go for the Cornerstone Burger at Absinthe and it never disappoints. It's $16 during lunch time and $24 (!!!) for dinner. You get a double decker burger with two thick, juicy, and rich patties smothered with cheese and sitting on an artisinal bun. It comes with salad and fries. This is arguably the best burger in Ottawa. Extremely fulfilling and delicious. Only possible knock is that it might be a little too greasy for some people. Service is excellent at Absinthe and I would not hesitate to recommend it.

Great atmosphere, fantastic salad, steak frites done to perfection. The server, Mike-professional, personable and attentive. We have been there a number of times and will continue to go back.

I was greatly disappointed. My sister had gone there before and it seems like they changed the menu because they had nothing from her last time there. Anyway to keep it short and simple the food was WAY too salty and not in a good way, it has this very upscale image but too me the food was mediocre at best. The beet 'salad' consisted of 1 small beet cut in quarters. the duck tartar was about 2-3 bites and was accompanied by this salty mess they call a salad, the fries...another salty undercooked mess the tuna carpaccio was the only decent thing besides the fact that i had to squirt a whole lemon on it. And the service was very cold and nonchalent. Visit at your own risk.

Absinthe makes the heart grow fondue! :) That's why it was the perfect spot for our Valentine's Day dinner on Monday. Thanks for a fabulous yet relaxed dining experience! The salad greens with lemon thyme dressing and sunflower seeds were spectacular, and the steak frites was delicious. Wonderful service and a nice neighbourhood atmosphere. We'll definitely go back.

We were a group of 4 people from Toronto. We drove to Ottawa for the Winterlude and took the opportunity to visit the restaurant. We were unaware that some dishes changes according to the day and it turns out that what we went there for wasn't available for that day! We talked with the staff and they were very considerate and did the dish for us even though it wasn't on the menu for the day. The service was extremely good and the food was amazing, totally worth the money. Thanks to the waitress Erin and all the kitchen folks. :-)

We went from Toronto to Ottawa on the weekend to skate on the Rideau canal and to eat meat fondue which is so hard to find in Toronto. So we searched on google a fondue place in Ottawa and made a reservation at Absinthe for Saturday night. Unfortunately the canal was closed and later we found out that the fondue night at Absinthe was on Mondays only!!!!! We were sad but we decided to eat there anyway as everything on their menu seems to be pretty yummy!! But when the servers learned that we were from Toronto and we were there to eat fondue, they went to speak with the chef to accommodate a last minute fondue order for us!!! Our server was Erin and she was awesome, but all the staff that came to speak with us they were all so friendly and professional that made our night even more special.. We had the 3 course fondue meal - cheese, meat and chocolate and I can't find words to describe how delicious everything was... I can tell that made the 410km trip worth it! We were so impressed by their customer service, atmosphere and DELICIOUS FOOD!!! Just unforgettable!

Had a superb dinner this past week, and opted for the three course table d'hote. The quality of the ingredients are nothing short of excellent, with beautiful presentations for both the starter and main. The chicken was stuffed with a gorgeous mushroom duxelle, and there was a dynamite sauce to go with. Service was attentive, informative, and very friendly. I will happily return, hungry for more!

Ho this is a wow restaurant the food was so good and tasty and I say very tasty from the porc to the steak and the famous burger/poutine. The appetizer again very good the charcuterie was excellent . Ok for desert I had the cheese plate and again well presented so was the sugar pie and the profiteroles . Not often I give a high rating they deserve it and thank you Mike for the excellent service<br/><br/>Highly recommend

Service bilingue de grande qualité. Menu inspirant, le contenu des assiettes à surpassé les attentes! Nous avions choisi l'option table d'hôte avec l'accord des vins. Cela nous a permis de faire de très belles découvertes.<br/>Nous le recommandons chaudement.<br/>Important à savoir: la salle est assez bruyante, j'éviterais si vous êtes à la recherche d'une atmosphère feutrée et romantique.

It's our second time at Absinthe. <br/><br/>It's a lovely place and the food and drinks are awesome. <br/><br/>We went last night and brought my cousin and her husband that were visiting from out of town. <br/><br/>We all loved most of the experience.<br/><br/>Our main server had a very bad attitude. No smiling, hardly any talking and no effort to help the person sitting with us that was not understanding English very well. He could have at least slowed down while talking. That was disappointing. <br/><br/>All other staff we dealt with was friendly. <br/><br/>This guy must have been having a bad day.

My friend and I went for my birthday dinner and it was amazing. The service was great. The food was amazing. I liked that they had a 3 course option so that we could try a little bit of everything. Would definitely go back!

Nice evening and the food was good and beautifully presented. Quite a busy place but for some reason a bit on the loud side so not ideal for a tête à tête. Will definitely go back.

My wife and i visited this place last night and this was a wonderful experience. The experience was excellent, the pres notation and the flavors were outstanding. I will definitely repeat it...!!

I have frequented this restaurant numerous times and for great reason! The food has always been stellar...from food to service! <br/>Regardless of the occasion - be it casual luncheon or a celebrating a special occasion, you can't go wrong with Absinthe!

Yes the burger is incredible but be ready for a rich flavourful delight The service is always good and their mains are nice and well balanced. Side salads are always good and the atmosphere is comfortable and relaxing. Been here many times.

One of the better restaurants in town, have always thought service was great and was amazingly delicious. Great for a special occasion or a date night, let them take care of you.

This was a very special day for our Senior Engineer Pat who was retiring the next day.  We had a big crowd 50 people and it accommodated everyone without a problem.  The food was great, the service was awesome and everyone had a great time.  It was an awesome day and Absinthe café is awesome.  I would recommend this restaurant to any one who is looking for fine dining.

My mom and I came here for dinner (both of our first times) on Mother's Day for dinner. the food was phenomenal, as was the service. we each had the three course table d'hôte, which was very reasonably priced, and they were amazing. I would highly recommend Absinthe (and already have) to anyone...excellent food, excellent dining experience!

Overrated !!!. The staff was rude and arrogant. Almost walked out before eating and it was my anniversary ! Did not like my table. Mike the waiter was excellent. The food was OK. The wine pairing was not fantastic. I have had much better. The restaurant was very loud and I found it difficult being heard. The menu has not changed in forever. I will not go back since there are other restaurants which I have found to be much more enjoyable.

The Big Let Down. Horribly overpriced for what you get and SALTY like the Atlantic. Don't waste your time.

An excellent destination. The Cafe Absinthe offers an appealing menu with a limited number of very fine choices. The presentation is very good. The staff is attentive without being overbearing. The atmosphere is very convivial and, most important, it is possible to have a pleasant conversation over a relaxed meal.

Wow...what an evening. My wife and I went to Absinthe last night for our anniversary, and our first date night since our daughter was born. The first thing I would like to say is that the staff were welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. <br/><br/>With respect to the food,......"Wow"!!!!! we each did the make your own table d'hote and what an experience, from the Chacuterie and beef tartar starters, to the steak frits and steelhead trout mains, the food was exquisite :)<br/><br/>Thank you for making our anniversary evening such a memorable one.

Super Friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at Absinthe. The food was fantastic as well as the service. Our waiter was very attentive and had a great sense of humour.<br/><br/>Thanks to the Kitchen Monkeys.

I was there last night for dinner and the food is amazing. Will definitely be going back!

Let them feed you and take your money. This place has been a favourite of mine for a few years now. They never disappoint. Two of us went there this past weekend and asked our server just to feed us the best of what they have on offer, complete with wine pairings. It was fantastic, and I'd definitely try this approach again. For each course we were given two different dishes - we opted to share everything so we got to taste it all. The mushroom soup was so flavourful it was almost unbelievable. They took pork, stuffed it with foie gras, breaded and deep fried it. I don't care who you are - that's good eats if done well - and it was done amazingly well. Every dish we had of six dishes was amazing, and expertly paired with delicious wine. Go. Tell them to just serve you what they want to serve you. Pay your money and be thankful you did it all. In the end we paid $225. That's for 2 of us, 6 dishes, 6 pairings, 2 desserts, and 2 absinthe. Completely reasonable for the excellence they're providing. Well done Absinthe.

Absinthe Review. Had a brilliant meal at Absinthe. The serving staff were great. The atmosphere was fun. The food was loaded with flavour. A great french restaurant with many token french flavours. Will definitely go back - soon!

Really Superb!. A real gem in the city. Loved the food, the staff, and the warm atmosphere. The dining experience was such a treat. Try the Duck, you will be truly impressed.

Always a hit!. If you haven't tried Absinthe Cafe yet... what are you waiting for? It is always an absolute pleasure to dine there. Upscale atmosphere without it being too fussy, AMAZING service and INCREDIBLE food.

A great dining experience at Absinthe!. The food was delicious and the service attentive. Strongly recommend this restaurant. No need to drive to Montreal for a great tasting meal. I made reservations online and the server remembered we were celebrating a birthday. A nice surprise!

My husband and I went to Absinthe for the first time and for my birthday... and we were SO pleased that we did! The staff was so kind - they treated us to a lovely drink to celebrate when we were seated. And after dinner, they surprised us with a birthday cake as well! Talk about amazing service - it was totally their initiative to do all of that. We had steak frites and it was delish! The ambience and atmosphere was just perfect. Highly recommending this place to all friends and colleagues. We will definitely go back!

Disappointing. My first experience was fabulous, we were very well served and the food was awesome! Definitely a place to go back to. Well 6 months later, we went back for a night out and it wasn't at all the same. I don't know if they have a new chef but everything was extremely salty. Will not go back.

Fondue Monday's - great fun!. Went to Absinthe with a big group and enjoyed the fondue set menu that they have on Mondays. The fondue worked well with our big group as we were able to relax, eat and chat whilst we dipped our food. The fondue itself was fantastic, service was great and no complaints here. I would definitely recommend Absinthe for larger groups.

Great food, excellent wine pairings.. Y wife and I have been to Absinthe a half-dozen times now, and it has quickly become our favorite restaurant in the city. The atmosphere is great the food is excellent, but it's the wine pairings above all that keep us coming back. The Sommelier is second to none. If you haven't been already, it's definitely worth your time to check it out.

Was expecting a much better culinary experience for the price. Plates were overseasoned with salt mostly. The exprience itself was great, good service and good drinks. Unfortunatly will not be back.

Warm Dark Chocolate Fondant. Delicious and great Canadian touch.

Great as usual. Best steak frites in town. Great service, great drinks. We're regulars and never had a bad experience. Do yourself a favour and try the actual absinthe as well.

Damn That Poutine Is Good!. I have been here twice with the intention of going back again. The first time I went the waiter was a bit rude, but the second time I went the waitress was a wonderful and attentive.<br/><br/>I got the burger twice which comes with a salad to start and a side poutine.<br/><br/>The salad is very tasty and it is a good starter! <br/><br/>Then comes the poutine and burger. The poutine is amazing, the gravy is very flavorful! The burger is also very good, although I usually end up bringing most of the burger home because it is HUGE! (not that I am complaining)

Would you like some steak with your salt?. Went to Absinthe for the first time with my husband and small group of friends. Our waiter was friendly and left our table to be for the most part, checking in every so often. The focaccia was pretty good. By the time our food came everyone was very hungry, so the food was wolfed down. I, however, could not scarf down my food despite being quite hungry. My steak was incredibly salty, which was what was agreed upon by the entire group (though they had finished theirs). By this time we flagged down the waiter and explained I could not eat this food on account of it being too salty (the frites were also incredibly salty). He took mine away and probably 20 minutes later I had a new steak in front of me, with the exact same problem. It turns out they marinate their steaks in soy sauce and then use a sea salt brine, which explains why the sodium content was fairly high. Apparently they do not have any steaks that are not marinated either. I was then offered to have another dish. By this time everyone else had finished eating. One of the couples even had their dessert before my new food came 30 minutes later (and nothing for me to munch on). When my new plate finally came I had them pack it up because it was so late by then. Despite the server being nice and them giving my meal on the house, I won't be returning just because the salt content was over-the-top and the prices high for the quality of food.

Everything tastes like salt and butter. Very slow service.. I came here a week ago for lunch with a work group, the menu was terrible, and when asked if we could have a chicken breast with the salad they said no. So I went with the burger as I thought this would be the "SAFE" approach but my question is, how do you **** up a burger... Terrible.<br/><br/>The bun was soggy like wet dog and tasted like nothing but salt and butter. I removed the bun from the burger and ate the beef patty by itself, which lacked taste. It basically tasted like salted ground beef cooked in a pan, very plain, seemed like no other spices used to enrich the flavour. It took just over an hour to receive our order.<br/><br/>Never go here.<br/><br/>Dan.

Lacks creativity and is heavy-handed on the salt!. We dined here last night as a group of six. The kitchen was quite slow with us waiting half an hour for mains to come out and with the house less than half full. <br/><br/>Steak frites and hamburger mains were all extremely over-seasoned (too much salt). I found this to be the case when I dined here on my previous visit as well. The hamburger was cold and bun soggy. Cod was the only dish that was actually under-seasoned. Only good dishes were the pork tenderloin and duck, although the duck needed to be rendered more. All dishes were boring. Chefs should take a look at what other restaurants are doing - they're being left in the dust in the creativity compartment. <br/><br/>Yes, the prices are somewhat cheaper than other bistro restaurants in the neighbourhood but the quality and creativity is far below that of it's peer restaurants. Save up a bit more and go to Allium instead. I would put this restaurant on par with Wellington Gastripub which I also don't like for similar reasons (lack of proper execution, creativity, and haphazard service). But if you like salty and safe (aka standard) food in a dim- lit place, you'd like it here.

Great Food and Great Place. Went for anniverary. I had the Hanger Steak and my wife had the stuffed chicken. Both were great, and they even gave us a complimentry glass of Port and dessert for our anniversary.

Fabulous Dinner!. The Duck was to die for! Many layers of flavours!! The escargot appetizer, with tarragon cream sauce was amazing!<br/>Great service!

I am undecided. Our server was attentitive and friendly but by the final end of the last dish we were looking at a two and a half hour dining experience. This did not include the 20 minute wait time of getting seated when we had a reservation. Now for the food. The charcuterie board was a major disappointment, yet the beef tartare and escargot were rather tasty. For my main dish I ordered the duck breast and the flavours were great but the portion was extremely small for the price. Overall I would say that Absinthe is an average restaurant with high prices. I do not think I will be returning to this establishment as there are other restaurants I would like to try in the city.

Absinthe. Impressive absinthe cocktails served very professionally, the best absinthe-inspired drinks I have ever seen. The food quality was average for a high-end French restaurant, nothing spectacular that stood out, but still a great Steak Frites and Duck Confit.

Great service and food. A group of us visited Absinthe for a friend's birthday, and we couldn't have asked for a better evening. Food was fantastic, and the server was perfect. We were a relatively big group, and he was friendly, attentive, and extremely professional. We'll be back!

Delightful Everything. Absinthe continues to amaze. Food and service are second to none in Ottawa. I have not had a bad experience yet, in fact it get's better all the time. When you park your car at the back your are greeted by the large, well kept herb garden. That's commitment! Great food, great service that is knowledgeable and efficient AND courteous, great desserts, even the coffee is great. <br/>BTW, I believe, all meat is sourced is locally.

Keep Walking!. Have they heard of any other flavour apart from salt? <br/><br/>If the cold breeze and half-ass service doesn't start you off on the wrong foot, then the price of the poor-quality will...McDonald's would have been better. I know this may sound harsh, but for the prices this place charges you could have an amazing meal if you just keep walking down Wellington Street to some much nicer and creative restaurants.<br/><br/>Not impressed.

Ease up on the salt

THE BEST!. Absinthe, I cannot say enough good things about this place! The servers (we had Partick tonight) also highly recommend Nosh (sorry if I spelled incorrectly). We've eaten there quite a bit and every time they recognize us, and the service is ALWAYS fantastic. <br/><br/>On the menu they did not have fois terraine, which is amazing. I asked if I could have it and Patrick said wait one minute came back said yeah they'd do it. They made their own plate up on the spot because we requested it. If that's not service I don't know what is. The duck - how can you really spell out how much you love something with so many words. My husband said it's the best duck on the planet as far as he was concerned. I've ate their duck many times, and tonight was by far my favourite. The slaw they had was OUT of the world - my mouth was partying like it was 1999 (yes I just said that). They had flavours of garlic, bacon with smoke, fennel and then the duck with the sweet red wine sauce, so much was going on but the flavours all came together and it was fantastic. <br/><br/>So thank-you guys! For another amazing night - we will be back :)

Wonderful meal, and terrific mid-week date night. The service was impeccable - knowledgable, attentive, pleasant but not cloying. My husband had the steak frites with poutine and bigness great, and I loved the beet salad and bacon wrapped pork tenderloin. Nice, trendy but comfortable ambiance rounded out our enjoyment of the evening. Highly recommend.

Great food! Had the frog legs which were delicious and a good size app, but had the duck and was a small portion. It was tasty but was expecting more, infact someone else I was with actually got more duck than I did so maybe they ran out or they just aren't consistant with portions. Good beer and wine selection, and service was good too.

Disappointed. Went for dinner on a Tuesday night - excellent service! We were on a tight timeline and were out ahead of schedule (although it wasn't very busy!). The disappointment was with our main - the hedgehog and pine mushroom tortellini in a rosé sauce. For $27 / plate we were expecting spectacular but got bland. The sauce was bland, the stuffing undefinable and the mixed veggie / kale ragout also bland. As a side note (and usually not required), there was no pepper offered at table. While we appreciate that Absinthe is premium priced and have frequently dined there - this main was not worth the price.

Went to absinthe for the first time on a dinner date with my girlfriend. The menu was interesting, however, nothing really popped out at me. Don't get me wrong, what we ended up ordering was delicious, but upon first glance, nothing caught my attention. I really wanted the deep fried frogs legs, which were awesome, and the burger or steak sounded good, but something I could get anywhere. After reading the whole menu and not really liking the sound of the dishes, I went with the benevolent burger, which was essentially a gourmet version of a Big Mac and was AMAZING, so big I could barely eat it with my hands. It was very greasy though, a minus. It came with a mushroom bacon poutine and salad; very filling. My girlfriend got the broccoli cheddar soup and squid ink tortellini. The soup was good, I wasn't a fan of the latter, she enjoyed it. The service was great, however, the environment was a little noisy, so it was hard to hear each other talk, but that was ok. The only downside I would say is that absinthe only has one individual washroom for everyone, a little unpractical for a restaurant that seats so many. Overall, good experience, a little pricy, but the food is worth it. Good place for a date or night out with friends, not the most romantic evening though due to the noise level. But still an enjoying and tasty experience.

Great food, but what really impressed me was the service. It was excellent. Our server was friendly, attentive and professional. It matters!!! (In case his manager is reading this, our server was Patrick and he is stellar). Well done! Thank you.

Not impressed ... especially for the price. Service was great, the server was very attentive and explained every course in great detail <br/><br/>Frog Legs<br/>- frog legs were good, good batter crisp but bland<br/>- the accompanying Celeriac and Kohlrabi Slaw tasted like soap and very bland; incredibly under seasoned<br/><br/>Beet Salad<br/>-Very tasty with good flavor under seasoned also<br/> - almost too much going on here<br/><br/>Arugula Salad <br/>- Best part of the meal with the combination of toasted pumpkin seeds, parmesan, and the vinaigrette - very enjoyable. Seasoned well <br/><br/>Steak Frites (recommended to me) <br/>- Steak was served blue rare; far from medium rare<br/> - Burned, beyond charbroiled actually no one in the party found it enjoyable (as they all tried as it was recommended)<br/>- Frites/fries seasoned well <br/>- Horseradish Aïoli; not a fan at all<br/>- Green beans were my favorite part out of the main course

Wow!. Tonight was our second visit to Absinthe and it reiterated our first terrific experience. The cocktails were interesting and delicious. And while the food - beet salad, chacuterie, and mushroom tortellini may sound like regular fare, each offered its own unique twist and was superb. The unexpected delight was the"burger and poutine" that puts to shame anything else that tries to use these terms. On top of all the excellent cuisine was our first rate server whose attention, expertise and friendliness rounded out a fabulous meal.

Oh mon dieu.....YES. I could only 'like' this resto, what a shame. I Adore this resto. When you save up that discretionary spending money, put it in a jar labelled 'Absinthe'. There's nothing I can say bad about this wonderful restaurant/experience. The apps, the mains, the desserts, the wine.......I especially loved the beet salad: Goat Cheese, Rosemary Tart, Apple Cranberry Jelly, Smoked and Pickled Beets, Goat Cheese Sherry Vinaigrette. That was my favourite dish. Scrumptious meals, elegant service, warm atmosphere. A huge Yes.

Excellent food, creative menu, great wine and beer, friendly service and wry nice relaxed atmosphere.

Amazing Service. I went out to this restaurant with a small group for a birthday party yesterday and I was absolutely blown away by the impeccable service, beautiful decor and delicious food. What really amazed me was that, as a vegan I was fully prepared to eat the basic house salad, but the server suggested the chef could prepare something special for me. The chef then whipped up a delicious vegan alternative for me. The entire experience was excellent. I will certainly be back!

Just absolutely wonderful!. 3 of us went for dinner on Thu 5 Dec for our friend's birthday and the evening could not have been better. Apetizers were wonderful (soup, beet salad and escargot) and the main course were just absolutely full of flavour (pork, burger with poutine and the duck). The atmosphere was very nice, cozy and not too loud even with all the tables full. The price was very reasonable especially with all the food and drinks we ordered. The evening was topped with our wonderful waiter - friendly Patrick. The evening could not have gone any better!

Superfantastic. Wow our experience at the Absinthe cafe was super. The food was delicious: flavours were unique and creative..amazing. Service was second to none. One of the best dining experiences we have had in Ottawa. Thanks Patrick!!!

Amazing burger...cold steak?. I ate here for the second time this past week. Rarely will I order the same meal twice in a restaurant where I have not experimented with the menu yet, however their Benevolent Burger is an exception. So. Freaking. Good. My boyfriend on the other hand ordered their steak frit which is suposed to come "Medium Rare". Not even a touch of red, the steak only had a pinch of pink, at the Keg this would be considered well done. The flavour was still nice, however it was served cold. Overall great service, will def return...just won't be ordering that steak anytime soon.

Great first experience. Went to Absinthe last night and it was a very good experience. I did the three course meal. Escargot, soup and then the Bison. Everything was very good. <br/>The service was fantastic they made you feel very comfortable. <br/>I will go back.

Excellent steak and frites. My husband and I were practically fighting over it. We also enjoyed duck the ways. The atmosphere was lovely and the service was impeccable.

Soo délicieux, j'étais bourré. J'ai adoré le Magret du Canard.

Love it!. The food is soooo good! Service was amazing. Only complaint is the lighting is a bit bright.

J'aime beaucoup ce restaurant, lorsque l'on veut manger à une bonne table. J'y suis allée 3 fois environ dans les 2 dernières années. Il n'y a qu'une fois où le service était vraiment très lent, et j'aurais aimé avoir un geste commercial de leur part (genre apéro gratuit), mais il n'y en a pas eu. Grande sélection d'absinthe et surtout le personnel parle très bien français.

The wait staff must be family. <br/><br/>I have been to Absinthe 3 times in the past year. I love the atmosphere, decor, wine list, presentation and the food is top notch. Kudos to the kitchen staff.<br/><br/>My issue is the servers. Not only have I witnessed them being rude to and engaging in confrontations with other customers, but one in male server (tall, dark spikey hair, light eyes) is particularly intimidating and confrontational. He unfortunately served our party each time and left me feeling that he was just waiting to go off on us or another table. I shouldn't have to walk on eggshells or be humble to avoid my waiter's unwarranted tumultuous mood. <br/><br/>My only theory is that at least one, if not more, of the wait staff is related to the manager/owner. Why else would they still be employed after repeatedly treating customers with disrespect (I've read the other reviews). They need to deflate their egos and refocus on the meaning of a server. If a customer rubs a server the wrong way, they need to suck it up and carry on, NOT confront them in front of the restaurant. <br/><br/>Please tell me, manager/owner of Absinthe, if I am wrong and that none of the staff is related to you?<br/><br/>Fortunately, there are other great restaurants nearby where waiters are trained to cater to customers and make them feel comfortable and that there business is appreciated, like Allium and Supply and Demand. <br/><br/>Unless I'm informed of a change in wait staff, I won't be spending my money at Absinthe.

VIP Treatment!. My family celebrated my father's 65th birthday at Absinthe tonight and we were all thrilled with the service and the food. When I made my reservation I added a comment that it was my dad's 65th and they really stepped up to make us feel special. <br/><br/>THE SERVICE. The server brought the 5 of us each a champagne glass of prosessco (and something else added, forgot what it was) to toast with, on the house. When it was time for desert, they wrote a big happy birthday on the plate next to my dads crime brûlée, which later we found out was also on the house. These gestures and super friendly service really was the cherry on top of the great food and wine we were served. <br/><br/>THE FOOD. I don't think any of us were dissatisfied with the taste of any of the dishes tonight. They either met expectations or was above. I will only mention the exceptional dishes. Everyone always appreciates good bread and butter, their bread had a great crisp crust and was fennel infused served with brown butter which made it very flavourful. The duck! Wow, don't remember the last time I was so happy with a duck dish at a restaurant. I hate when duck tastes like chicken. But this dish had an intense duck flavour in the sauce and it was seared perfectly on the outside so that when you took a bite you had a crispy smokey sear with wonderfully tender medium rare juicy meat. Artic char trio and bbq korean quail deserves a special mention too. The Dessert was the perfect end to the meal, chocolate fondant cake was so intensely chocolate that it was almost black but managed to still feel light. Bread pudding was deliciously maple flavoured. <br/><br/>Perhaps one suggestion to the restaurant. The decor doesn't match how great the food and service is. Not a fan of the wall colours, makes the place feel dingy. Bathrooms have a strange red, silver thing going on. It would be nice to see a more chic and unified interior. But definitely don't judge this restaurant by its cover. Thank you! We'll be back again :)