Review Town - Ottawa

Great food and great service! We were well taken care of and we have an amazing meal. My only sads is the beer prices. Working in the beer industry - I couldn’t make myself pay 10$ for a 355ml can of beer.

Town is a forever favourite. They offer amazing food without any of the pretense - amazing friendly service, great vibes, and you’ll always bump into someone you know there! There’s a reason Town & Citizen are so beloved by locals & visitors alike.

Citizen and Town are my favourite restaurants in Ottawa! Every time my partner and I go our meals are beyond delicious and we have the best time. You can always count on this team to deliver delicious food, cocktails and amazing service EVERY. SINGLE. VISIT.

Had the most amazing dinner at Town. Yummy little gem lettuce salad and tuna tartare, focaccia. Great wine selection and friendly service. Will be going back ASAP Update: have been back 5 more times and it is amazing every single time

Always delicious and great service! Love the Italian sodas they offer for non-drinkers, with homemade syrups! All the food dishes are unique and delicious. Donuts for takeaway during the pandemic were epic, and I can’t wait to return for brunch at Citizen once the bring it back!

seriously some of the best food in Ottawa. We ordered 5 or 6 plates to share and they were all to die for. Would recommend the falafel (the snap peas that come with it are really good) and the meatballs!

OMG!!!! Too bad we don't have 6 stars :) this place is insane. Friend and I set at the chef table which is a small table facing the kitchen. It was pleasure to see how the staff is working. Very clean and quick. Every dish we ordered was made in the best way and was executed perfectly. The lamb, the chicken and the duck breast were delicious. Thank God I don't live in Ottawa, otherwise I would be there every day 😏

Delicious plates for sharing with a menu divided in small and large plates. We shared as appetizers the eggplant and whipped burrata. The whipped burrata comes on homemade bread with sweet beetroots which sweetness tends to overpower the delicate burrata. The eggplant was good with creamy sauce. We then ordered the meatballs as the strongly recommended dish from the waitress; filled with ricotta and laying on polenta, it elevates the meatball. The real star plate of the dinner were the caramelle pasta: aldente fresh pasta wrapped as candies (caramelle) with green peas, pecorino, and green zucchinis. Plates vary in price ($15-30 approximately). Expect over $100 for a couple for a culinary adventure with rich ingredients. The only downside of our visit: we had purposely reserve the chef's table and were instead seated by door with patrons waiting gathering around our table. Unfortunate.

I was here while in town on business about 3 weeks back. <br/>It’s an upscale local place just a few blocks from City Hall, and located within reasonable walking distance of the main downtown hotels. <br/><br/>My date for the night had heard good things but wasn’t sure whether us was a casual place or a ‘date’ place. Having seen it now I understand her confusion. It’s in a casual place kind of area, and the vibe inside wavers between upscale and casual. It’s small - I’d suggest reservations as we didn’t have one and were seated but ‘on the clock’ as the table was reserved later on. I get why they bring it up, but you get the feeling that they don’t appreciate the walk-in business.<br/><br/>The menu is a little on the eclectic side and a bit limited, portions are relatively small - you definitely don’t want to order a ‘small plate’ unless you’re treating it as a la Carter and are ordering multiples to share. The food is well prepared, and very nicely presented. The quality is quite good, and should be for the price. The beer/wine list is extensive and with broad appeal although regrettably they were having problems with their draft system the night we visited.<br/><br/>It’s pricey- around $150-160 bar and tip in. I didn’t mind it, but won’t call it good value. It was fine but I wasn’t blown away. I understand some of he mixed commentary- but that said, if you’re looking for a nicer type of place in the area it’s worth trying.

Excellent food and service. Each item we ordered was delicious and fresh. Highly recommend the smoked trout deviled eggs and the eggplant lasagna.

Delicious food!! Excellent service. Great ambiance. <br/><br/>The only reason I didn't give a 5 is because the music was very loud leading people to talk louder.<br/><br/>I definitely recommend the place!!

Fabulous place! We have been there several times. The food has always proven to be delicious, well presented and very fresh! Even providing vegetarian options.

Town was a great place to drink wine and eat dishes prepared from fresh ingredients. The asparagus was perfectly cooked and the scallop crudo was light and tasty. It looked as though they make their pasta in house which was a treat! Would definitely go again!

Too Expensive.<br/>I don't mind spending money if the food , menu and presentations is upto mark.<br/><br/>Food is good but not worth the bucks.<br/><br/>Confusing menu and small servings are two of many irritating things.

Great quality food. Way too small plate size. Confusing menu. Maybe great for some but not the place for me. Probably meant for really picky, fancy, eaters. Not Fun.

Sat at the bar and ordered the fried eggplant and stuffed meatballs... While both were good, there was nothing about them that warranted their price tag. My drink was also overpriced for what it was. The atmosphere was cozy. Overall, I would not recommend.

Phenomenal experience! <br/><br/>Made reservations for 6 last week for last night, and came for dinner and drinks.<br/><br/>Service was awesome, they took our coats to the coat room. Server was knowledgable of the menu and knew what to suggest to each of us. <br/><br/>Washroom (something I really look at to know the culture of a restaurant's hygiene) was clean and well kept. <br/><br/>I got the octopus salad and pork cheek ragu and both were done amazing. For the latter, the meat was very tender and the flavors/herbs used complemented the sauce and pasta well. The octopus salad (the dish in the cast iron bowl in the photo) was so light yet filling. Came with white beans, fingerling potatoes, chili slices, and much more. It was unlike something I've ever had before!<br/><br/>My friends had the cheese plate, scallop small plate and the albacore tuna main and they all liked it. I tried the scallops too and it was raw, thinly sliced with the chives/citrus blend of flavors. I loved it.<br/><br/>I love a red cab sauv, so the wine choice was also perfect! <br/><br/>I'd come back!!

Was here on a Friday night and the experience was a pleasure. Not that I condone the practice, but I made last minute reservations for myself and granny, as she wanted to grab dinner before a concert. They accommodated my grandmother's request to switch tables without missing a beat, and the server was graceful and on point as she helped us both through the Town experience. Let me first say that the bartender makes a mean spicy Caesar. Now that that is out of the way, I'd also like to say I'd go back. There is a short list of each: small plates, large plates, red, white, etc to choose from. Each dish has familiar and not so familiar aspects woven together. Ingredients in novel combinations. We had the salt cod fritters and beet salad to start. Both just a little beyond what we expected them to be, and we were pleased. The portions were good for two to share, as long as you spilt a fritter 😀. For large plates, after much deliberation, granny ordered the tuna, and I had the ramen. She raved about the flavor and freshness of the tuna, but found the accompanying veal cheeks to be too chewy to really enjoy the flavor of. It was served in a skillet, and a good portion size with several small tuna medallions, say 4 oz of tuna. Plenty for granny. I have to say the ramen soup wasn't something I would order again. It arrived with a piece of crisp fried chicken skin standing in the broth, and the other Ingredients artfully placed in the bowl. I could tell the flavor mix was on point, but it was just too salty for my taste, even for a ramen dish. I liked the different mushrooms and the addition of the egg, but the soup quickly cooled and the egg became unappealing as a result. <br/>I was intrigued by several of the dishes bring served around me, and granny and I both agree that the service is on point. <br/>Recommended for a date or business lunch. 115$ for two with drinks, apps, mains and coffees, including tip. Will be returning.

One of THE best meals I have EVER had in Ottawa. Was absolutely incredible! The service was friendly and all servers were on top of it and relaxed. It was a little crowded as their put their tables very close but you don't even notice. I had their newer beef item and it was incredible, so incredible. It's a causal high class experience :) 1 app, 2 entrees, 2 glasses of wine and dessert the bill was approx $150.

Not enough can be said about Town. Came for a celebratory dinner with a date and we were blown away by the food and service. Extremely knowledgeable staff, great atmosphere and beautiful restaurant.

Love locally source ingredients restaurant and Town (@townlovesyou) was no exception, we just had to squeeze in a last meal for our Ottawa trip and here we were there at 5:00pm as they open. Love the decor of the space with the art wall and especially the little area with the book shelves that lead to the kitchen.

Quality, Consistency and Atmosphere - Town Takes the Crown. Dinner for two on a Saturday evening. Happy we made reservations as its small interior filled up quickly. Its upbeat playlist added to its busy, modern feel. Service was on point. Quick, friendly, and answered every question we had about the menu. Two hours went by from the time we sat down to when we paid our bill and never did we feel hurried to leave so the next table could be seated.<br/><br/>Both Grub and myself don't have an affinity for wine but its well varied and long beer bottle and draught list as well as unique set of cocktails did not go unnoticed. Bellwood's Wizard Wolf and their spicy tequila forward Staycation cocktail made for great accompaniments to our meal. <br/><br/>Let's get to the giblets of the situation. The food was incredible from beginning to end. We started with the 3 piece Town cheese platter and a plate of olives. The cheese came in generous portions with a nice variation of soft to firm and subtle to sharp. Candied pecans, apricot jam and honey were welcomed additions. We followed up with the Beef and Brocolli and Ricotta stuffed Meatballs. Both dishes were filling,rich and very satisfying . The order of banana bread was a tough decision after the marathon of flavors we went t through but it was well worth it.The passion fruit cream on top... holy toledo.<br/><br/>Highlights: Staycation cocktail (best we've ever had), the cheese platter and all of its creamy goodness, and the consistency of quality in each dish we ordered.<br/><br/>Improvements: If anise was listed as an ingredient in the marinade for the olives, we probably wouldn't have ordered them. As great as the cocktail was, its size was a touch too tiny for me to warrant its $11 price point.<br/><br/>Overall: 4.5/5 and worth every penny spent. Will definitely be going back.

The first time I went to Town I had the eggplant dish as i am not a supercarnivore. Each time I went there since I ended up taking the same dish. Last week I went again and had the...eggplant. It is a good dish but I do wish they would add a bit more variety when it comes to lighter and possibly vegetarian dishes. The meatballs are delish as always.

First off I'd like to start by saying we are visitors to Ottawa (from Edmonton) and we had been eating all day. So when it came to dinner we weren't even that hungry! We had been referred to Town by my girlfriend's colleague at a conference. So we went and gave it a shot. Arriving at 6pm on a Friday, most of the tables at this small, dimly lit, sophisticated chicly decorated restaurant were either occupied or reserved. So we happily had a seat at the bar which was spacious and comfortable. Our bartender/server (Cameron) was amazing! He pleasantly social and provided great recommendations. We started with a local cheese board (3 types of Quebec cheeses) which were tasty and well accompanied with other savoury/sweet spreads/bits/bites. For the main we had the meatballs (a classic on their menu which has stood the test of time) and the deep fried eggplant. Both were delicious. The flavour was plentiful and the portions were fair. We were absolutely stuffed by the end but couldn't pass on the dessert. We opted for the panna cotta. It was light, but decadent enough to wrap the meal up beautifully. Our meal came to 80 bucks with GST (which included a Caesar and a Soda). <br/><br/>Would definitely recommend this restaurant, and would absolutely come back.

Tasty town. We started with the Bone Marrow which i came to know is an acquired taste. I disliked it, and my girlfriend tolerated it. Its very fatty and just not for us I guess. But i cant review a whole restaurant on a dish i would t like anywhere. For dinner, I had the Pork Chops. It was made in a sous-vid which made it very tender. That said, pork chops have a lot of fat and a sous-vid doesnt allow for any of the fat to melt down. So, aside from leaving a lot of fat on the plate when you're done, everything tasted great. My girlfriend had the trout and she loved it as well. She mentioned the side apple salad (served with trout) being fantastic. Portion sizes are a little small, but nothing to complain about. The atmosphere was nice, but I'd request to sit away from the front door in winter if possible. Dessert (we got the banana bread) was too small to share, but tasted good. Overall I'd go again, but not frequently. Its an above average restaurant with slightly small than average portion sizes and GREAT staff. If I had to change one thing.. I'd make the menu a bit bigger. I'm a picky eater and they only had 2 things on their whole menu I would have considered without having reservations.

Meatballs - really.?. Had not been for a while. Meatballs seem to be the only go to dish. But you can maKe those so much better and cheaper at home. Had a cod thingy with egg which just tasted of poor quality mayo. Potatoes pecorino were fried and dried (out). Wine is overpriced but taps are good value. Staff is energetic but offerings are just profit centers (less expensive components).

Everything was perfect apart from the beef cheeks. Went there the other day for my brother's birthday. We ordered three small plates: the tuna, potatoes, and octopus plates. Each was delicious with the octopus being my favourite. For the large plates, we ordered the trout, duck ragu, fried eggplant, and the beef cheeks. The large plate menu is limited with only one beef choice, the beef cheeks. Our server mentioned they had just started serving it last week, so I wanted to try something new. I'm not sure if I had the wrong expectation, but I really, really didn't enjoy it. I'm not sure if this is the same dish they had offered before, but the plate was disjointed and unenjoyable for me. Luckily, I was pretty full from the small plates and left the beef cheeks alone. We ordered the panna cotta for dessert, which was a nice way to end the meal.

Excellent service! You know you're at a good place when you drop a fork on the floor with no waiter in sight but within seconds a waiter arrives with a clean fork; we had not even ordered yet!

YUP !. I'm disappointed that I took so long to visit Towne. Had wanted to..but finally Thursday night worked. Happy to find our friendly and knowledgeable server was a great (and happily known) plus to our meal. A quick meal - but two brown jugs and one order of chicken and one of steak. My dining partners steak - with an amazing parmesan custard - was a little more done than she would have enjoyed - next time - med rare. The chicken was just wonderful - from the flavorful and moist delicious skin through the exceptionally tender and delicious chicken leg, accompanying brussel sprouts and all surrounding flavours just plus, plus plus. Mmmmm. I'll be back ;-)

Dinner Date. Been wanting to try Town for forever now and finally did and I must say, I wasn't disappointed. It has a nice and cozy atmosphere, dim lighting, music playing, not really a family restaurant type of place (more on that later), a very nice to bring a date to. I thought they had a really good drink menu with lots of selection of wines and beers (both craft and generic), however I found the main menu a little limiting. They break it up into small and large plates, small being considered appetizers and large being the entrees. Upon first glance, I wasn't too impress with the selection, my date neither. We ended up getting the 5 cheeses for $20 as our appetizer instead of picking something off the small plate menu (because none of it appealed to us, and we love cheese, who doesn't?), I had the large order of ricotta stuffed meatballs and my date had the ricotta gnocchi, both were delicious and filling that we couldn't order dessert. The service was great and the staff were very polite and helpful with the menu. The experience was all good except for the family of 6 that came in right next to us with their toddler who was making lots of noise and playing with her toys, not really the type of place for that (as mentioned earlier) more of restaurant for adults, but that isn't Towns fault. Other than that, I would say that is it a little pricey for what you get, but that is the type of place Town is, so you get what you pay for. Overall, I really enjoyed Town and would highly recommend it as a date location and first try, but I wouldn't be running back there any time soon as it is a little pricey for my liking.

Elgin highlight. Great food, great location, great service. Loved the octopus plate! Unfortunately they have a short menu and have had the same menu options for a while, so it was less appealing to return to. Would love to see more creations from them!

Always amazing. Service, food, drinks and atmosphere are always great! Town is always a great meal.

Town Ricotta Stuffed Meatballs. Great dish to share before the main. Mealy in your mouth goodness

Went to Town on a Thursday night around 6:15PM. It was very busy and we didn't have reservations but luckily we got a spot for 2 at the bar. Very intimate little joint. Good, attentive bar staff. We ordered 2 drinks (a local craft stout and a glass of wine) and 2 small plates (octopus carpaccio- which was okay... And the beef carpaccio- which was awesome). Food came out reasonably quick and had good presentation. Meal total was about $50 before tax.

Overpriced. I don't get what all the hype is about. High price point for the quality and in some cases, quantity of food. The food seriously lacked flavour and character. Server was nice. Won't go back. There are plenty of other places to drop $70+ for a meal for two.

So. So . Good. We had the best meal here when visiting Ottawa. We brought our young sons and they made them a special pasta dish with meatballs. The cheese plate and warm olives were awesome. The beef carpaccio, so amazing. The bread? Ridiculous. Eat here. You'll love it.

Try the "nongroni" - bartender knows what he's doing, folks!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMeatballs.. Ordered the small with a zucchini salad, perfect portion for dinner. But, took large order home to have tonight for dinner. Service was attentive enough without being a nuisance and even though we were 4 women we were gently guided through the service and never felt rushed, despite having to vacate by 7:30. Frankly, by 7:15 we were good to go. Great atmosphere, great food, great wine, great service. Couldn't ask for more.

One word. Incredible. <br/>Our reso was for 8 o'clock on Saturday September 27th. After a couple of cocktails at Oz Kafe, We made our way up and were greeted upon arrival with smiles and a warm welcome. <br/>The staff was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. The atmosphere was quite lively with beautiful decor. The extensive drink and beer menu satisfied my date and I's tastes very well.<br/>Now the food. <br/>We shared three plates.<br/>First, The Oven Roasted Bone Marrow. Served in the bone with a beautiful salsa rosa. It was light and tasty, when paired with the salsa rosa, it creates a beautifully textured and flavoured bite that melts in your mouth. Extremely pleased. <br/>Second, We shared the Octopus Carpaccio. It came beautifully plated with pork rillete and assorted veggies. With reccomendation from our server, a bit of pork, the compressed melon, and a piece of the Octopus. Its a burst of incredible flavours in your mouth. Highly reccomended it. <br/>Lastly, Was the Ricotta Stuffed Meatballs. Now these are something I could eat everyday. Plated well, four large stuffed meatballs is all you need. They taste as good as they look. The San Marzano sauce compliments it perfectly. We seriously could not get enough. Had we not had the two starting plates, I'm sure another round would have been ordered. A dish not to be missed.<br/>All in all, my date and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and drinks. To top it off, the bill was nothing near what I had expected. <br/>Do not overlook this small gem on Elgin. <br/>Amazing food, great friendly staff and a lively atmosphere. Not to mention great prices.<br/>We will be back.<br/>Thank you Town!

One of the best meals we've had in Ottawa. I had the tagletelli duck ragout which was full of flavour and quite filling. My wife had the eggplant parmesean, she said it was one the best she's ever had in Ottawa. the seating is tight, but makes it part of the charm. The simple menu is easy to navigate. Their cocktails are mixed well and tasty! We are already recommending to friends

Great Italian. A little to "hipster" for me but the food was fabulous we had the tuna, and the octopus carpaccio to start then duck ragu and stuffed meatballs all very well done, decent wine list. a great meal service is friendly however a little to casual. I understand the "it's all about the food" mentality but i still like professional service. just my opinion :)

My Favorite. Town is a beautiful treat and I look forward to every visit! The food is full of flavour, the service has always been warm and inviting. The atmosphere is small, and busy but always has a great energy of people enjoying their evening and dining experience!!! And you have to try the meatballs!!! They are amazing!!! Can't wait to go back!!!

Amazing. Ate here a few weeks ago for the 3rd time. Absolutely love this place!<br/>Had the NOTORIOUS P.I.G (pork tenderloin). Very impressed,

Our favourite. Town consistently has the best service and atmosphere in town.

Our favorite restaurant. After eating our way through Ottawa we found our way to Town!

Worst experience ever!. First off, they changed their whole menu and whatever was excellent on it disappeared! My boyfriend and I were there yesterday and we had a really bad experience. I wanted to go back for their grilled octopus and it was gone from the menu. They replaced it with a skewer of octopus (which is not even the equivalent of one tentacle) on a celery white been/parsnip purée (half the size of my fist) and 3 pieces of pork belly. The purée was inedible because there was way too much Dijon mustard and the pork belly was basically a cube of pork fat. I returned the plate and the server did not even ask if they could redo the dish... he simply brought me the menu for me to chose something else making feel like I was the one who was being too picky. I ended up not choosing anything else since nothing else on their menu is worth the price they're asking for. Our bill turned out to be over 80$ for beef carppacio and one bottle of white wine. The manager never came to our table and the server looked like he didn't care. We will NOT be going back!

The review below me.. It's unfortunate that the gentleman below me doesn't understand the fundamentals of food cost or overhead and resulted in him not leaving a tip whatsoever. There's a McDonald's down the street that I'm sure could cater to your spending habits, no wine though..

Avoid this money trap at all cost!!!. Reservation was at 9 p.m. on a Friday. Not seated until 9:35 p.m.. 2 of us: ordered a half-bottle of red (as the full-bottle choices were extremely over-priced given their less than mediocre quality); ordered starters (1 was $6 & other $17); ordered main course (1 was half portion at @ $11 & the other at @ $17). How can a starter & appetizer be the same price (i.e., $17)??? When waiter was asked for a full body wine, he immediately started with a $64 choice, even though I told him we were willing to share a half-bottle. I had to abruptly stop him after the 3rd suggestion (given it was $120 or more) & we settled for a $29 option. Although served in a timely manner, the food & level of service were definitely not worth the price. In my opinion, this is at a bistro or a pub level, & not a very high level if even at that. When I stated to the waiter very clearly that we were done, he immediately asked if we wanted tea/coffee, more wine,or dessert. Not impressed. The louder than necessary "head-banger" music didn't help much either. We did not leave a tip whatsoever. Avoid this money-trap at all cost!!!

Vraiment trop cher!. C'est bon, mais de trop petites portions, pour un prix trop élevé. Mon conjoint et moi sommes sortis de là affamés, et nous avons payé presque 100$ pour le repas... Première et dernière visite pour nous.

Worth a visit. We went to TOWN for their meatballs- and I'd have to admit I was a little surprised when my dinner order of meatballs was just that- just 4 meatballs in sauce. Still, they were delicious and left me wanting to go back for lunch the next day. Bread was also fantastic. Only down side was how tiny and cramped it was- we sat in the window and felt like we were dining with the couple next to us.

Really enjoyed our evening. Sitting at the bar. Nice atmosphere. Original music. Unassuming service. House made with care. From the bread (home made) to the ragu to the lobster to the braised beef to the artistic guys (clients) with round glasses and checkered shirts ... to the home made ricotta ... all with proper presentation ... worked for us. Would return to try more ...

Not impress!. Came here for dinner with a friend. She's been talking about this place and how much she likes it, so of course I was the excited for it. server was nice and friendly and recommend a wine for us, which we liked very much. However, when I order my food, forgot the name (it was a rabbit pasta dish. ) I took one small bite of it and did not like it at all! I did not like the taste or texture and the pasta noodles looks like worms. The server came and asked how the food was so I told him how I felt about it. He asked if I would like something else, seeing that I didn't like anything else on the menu I said no. so when we got our bill, my dish was on it. seeing that it was untouched, I still got charged for it. I was not happy at all. That dish itself was over $20+ and I still had to pay for it. I took one small bite and left it there as is. I didn't even ask them to pack it up. I'm not happy with the fact I had to pay for something I did not eat! won't be going back there for sure! I don't find it's right to do that to your customers! So not happy.

Below Average at its Price Point. A friend of mine was visiting me in Ottawa and I took him on a weekend culinary tour of the city. The final stop was Town. Here’s the gist in our opinion (out of 5):<br/><br/>Service - 5<br/>Ambiance - 2 <br/>Flavour - 3<br/>Value - 2 <br/><br/>The following are our tasting notes, and represent our opinion based only on the dishes we tasted. <br/><br/>We ordered two dishes and split them: (1) the crispy steelhead trout, and the (2) the ricotta stuffed meatballs. <br/><br/>(1) The trout was accompanied by a clam risotto, which was very flavourful, but did not escape the stock standard risotto. The trout had a buttery flavour, but was slightly dry. It was comparable to fresh fish you would pan-fry at home. For the price of the dish ($27) and its quality, portion size could have been larger. However, it did come with five small clams, and those were nice. <br/><br/>(2) The meatball dish was very disappointing. The ingredients suggest that it could be delicious: ricotta stuffing; san marzano tomatoes. However, it was unforgivingly bland. While san marzano tomatoes often make for a nice sauce, it seemed as though they had come straight from the can - neither of us could taste any herbs or seasoning. A light tomato sauce might be OK if the meatballs are instead nicely seasoned - however, the meatballs were meat in texture only, and absolutely bland. Since ricotta cheese also has a light flavour profile, this meatball dish was DOA. We were surprised: it seemed as though it came from a three-ingredient cookbook. At $21 for four meatballs, that’s $5.25 per meatball. (Note: the menu mentions soft polenta, but this was not noticeable.)<br/><br/>The service was excellent and very attentive. The restaurant has a trendy, clean decor. However, the atmosphere is a bit tricky. Tables are close together and well-lit, so you may find yourself surrounded by awkward first dates. Dimmer lighting or more widely-spaced seats would have dialed-down the potential to experience awkward dates in surround sound.<br/><br/>Overall? Based only on these two dishes and their cost, it is our opinion that there are better options, even nearby on Elgin St.

Wow!. Went there for lunch yesterday and I had the beef cheek pasta and it was so good. The handmade pasta was perfectly cooked and the beef was very tender. However, I thought it was expensive for a lunch dish ($26). I also tried the sunday with caramel popcorn and OMG it was a pure delight. The service was excellent. She was very helpful. I will definitely go back.

Arrogant server. I was in Ottawa for a one-night stay. I researched several restaurants and even contacted the Visa Infinite concierge to get recommendations for restaurants in the downtown Ottawa area. I went out of my way to visit Town even though I was staying on the Gatineau side. Suffice it to say that I left before even ordering, as the server was the rudest individual that I have ever encountered. Stay clear unless you wish to be subjected to very condescending and patronizing attitude.

Delicious Octopus. The octopus is cooked to perfection. The cheese boards are very diverse featuring fantastic cheeses. The steelhead- trout was okay due to over seasoning.

Sandwiches on the lunch menu are a solid option; well crafted and very fresh. Wait staff could use a bit of training- seemed a bit lost when I asked for pairing advice - but that is management's fault.

Superb!. Some friends and I had the pleasure of dining at Town tor the first time this evening and it was one of the best meals we have had in Ottawa to date. The service was impeccable, the food was superb and the atmosphere was relaxed and unpretentious. Our server was on top of his game, our glasses were never empty and his suggestions from the menu were spot on. We will most certainly be back again. Our favorites were the cheese plate, the crab cake, mortadella, ricotta stuffed meatballs and the ribeye. Amazing evening out. :)

Sharing is caring.... Town is the place to go if you like sharing and tasting. Went with a couple of friends and tried the lamb belly, crab cakes, beef with mushrooms and arugula, and octopus starter. Everything was awesome. Had a glass of ripasso wine, and found the prices really reasonable. For me I would prefer a beautiful tasting and looking meal to a giant deep fried "fill you up" low quality meal which seems to be the norm in Ottawa. The atmosphere is really unique and there is a very relaxed vibe which I loved.

Pricey but delicious. I would go again when there is a menu change up.

Refreshing but needs a little tweaking. The small little gem tucked in on Elgin was a nice surprise. The place was crowded & loud. The humidity and heat were a little uncomfortable. <br/>Our waiter was extremely attentive and very professional. <br/><br/>We ordered the ricotta stuffed meatballs with polenta drenched in a tomato bisque and we also ordered the rabbit sugo pasta - which was more rabbit than carb laden pasta dish. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the food and ambiance, but maybe we would have enjoyed our meal if it weren't so crowded, the wine selection is fabulous but quite expensive. This restaurant is another great addition to Ottawa's restaurant listing but there are a couple tweaks to take it make it outstanding.

Far from good. Lunch was OK at best, options are lousy and very limited. There are LOTS of much nicer establishments in Ottawa - I will never spend money at Town again and recommend that people spend their money elsewhere.

Delicious!. This restaurant is on the pricey side, but food is delicious. The restaurant is cozy and service is fast and friendly. Portions are a decent size (for tapas). Would return.

So Satisfying. Many people comment that it is overpriced, small plates, crowded. I would disagree with each of these comments. I believe It was priced fairly according to the quality, and craftsmanship behind each dish. It is an Italian restaurant....and If you treat it as such, share plates, try many things, I can guarantee that you will have an incredibly satisfying experience at a reasonable price. I left extremely satisfied with my meal+desert, and very pleased with the friendly service. <br/>Special mention to the whipped burrata, to die for!

Food was good but prices are insane (for what you are getting). The menu is also very limited. Furthermore, 5<br/>raviolis should not be classified under "large plates". There are better options in Ottawa

Average Food and Over priced.. I had dinner at Town last night. Here are my comments:<br/>1. The ambiance would be nice if it were not so crowded.<br/>2. The menu was extremely pork heavy which left me with Crab Crostini the only choice for appetizers. One would think that a nicer food place would have a better variety. The Crostini was average.<br/>3. I had their Tile Fish main and it was strictly average for the price they charge. I think everything on the menu is over priced for the quality of food they serve. None of the people at my table would give Town another shot.<br/>4. We were asked to leave as we were pondering desserts as their next seating had arrived. Again, for the price we paid for the meal we did not expect to be kicked out.<br/><br/>I have eaten at many amazing places in Ottawa and Town definitely, is not one of them. All hype no substance.

Good but Expensive. The food was really good, the ambiance was ok the price is too much. There are many really great places to eat in Ottawa and I can't say this one justified the price. I wanted to try them and I did and overall I wasnt dissapointed but I wasnt blown away either. If you're an Ottawa foodie than give them a try for sure I just won't be making a habit of going often.

Extremely good food, been multiple times and the food was always very good. Service is extremely friendly and chef Marc is a great guy. I would highly recommend going to Town if you are int the Ottawa area.

Went for dinner and started with a cheese plate. Absolutely delicious - the fruit and honey were so good as compliments with the cheese. Had the whipped burrata as my main plate and, although its considered a small plate, I found the portion size perfect. It was so tasty! The flavours were amazing together. I have nothing negative to say about my overall experience here. The service was outstanding - very attentive server who had great wine recommendations as well. Will definitely be back.

The service was phenomenal and the wine list was wonderful. The food was... Alright. It was all very Hipster and Foodie but a little too much. There were only two items on the menu that I genuinely wanted to try. I'd go again but just for a snack and wine.

It was ok. I don't eat red meat, and with the very small menu, there weren't a lot of options for me. I wouldn't recommend the chicken. My boyfriend liked the 2 meatballs. Service was good. We sat at the "chef's table" which I wouldn't recommend either since you have your back to the entire restaurant with a small slab of wood for a table. Hipster joint, probably won't go back.

Stuff yourself. You should go here as soon as you can and stuff yourself silly with meatballs and a cheese platter and the romaine lettuce starter. The expert and very pleasant servers will help you with this.

Well priced and good food..will come back..service was a tad off but the places was very busy so will give them another chance.

I love this place. The ricotta meatballs are always a great choice. A very nice establishment that will never let you down.

Just go! Its amazing. One of the best in Ottawa. I was back in town in May and had dinner there and wish I didn't live so far away. I had the sous-vide pork chop and it was by far the best piece of meat I have ever had. Just go!

I usually sit at the bar every Sunday night so I know and love the food, the vibe and the people but tonight was special. I had .. the SPECiALS ... Which I can't really adequately describe except to say that I was getting concerned that I might be moaning out loud because the taste was so totally awesome... MmmmmmMmmmmmMmmmMmmmm<br/>Did I say that out loud???

I keep going back!. I go to Town just about every time I'm back in Ottawa - it's fantastic. Great food, relaxed atmosphere, and the prices are fair.

This place is awesome! Love the vibe- it's really busy all the time so if you don't like sitting close to other tables it might not be for you. The staff are great and friendly. The food exceptional. I went with a friend and we had the salmon starter and octopus salad. Both amazing and the octopus was the best I've had. The chef said they marinate it over night then grill it. Mmm it works:) then the famous meatballs and the wild boar pasta for mains were ridiculously good. It was more then enough food for both of us. In fact the octopus salad could almost be a main course on its own. Will be going back!!

Elgin Street has another gem!. Scoring as parking spot right in front of the restaurant just added to the great time we had here last night. Pecorino potatoes with rosemary/chili oil fantastic. Salty savory and filling. Crispy Rabbit Milanese had it going on with it's panzanella bred pudding squares right down to the lemon ricotta this dish was super flavorful with so much going on one sure would be hard pressed getting board of eating this dish. Just loved the fried coating almost southern style chicken but a flavorful juicy rabbit hind quarter instead. This might be our new favorite. The table we got was our only gripe in the window with stools not the most comfortable but we will know for next time to get reservations further in advance.

Wonderful Restaurant. We had one of the best meals ever at Town. The staff is wonderful too. We highly recommend it!

Poor service. Everything in this place was good except for the staff...

Great night out! went here for dinner before the BBKing concert... had the "local" selection Charcuterie and it was REAlly good the accompaniments were stellar too: some sort of sultana raisin and mustard spread was YUM! next we had the ricotta meatballs- SO yum and an amazing stewed lamb with noodles that I had never heard of before and pistachios ... both dishes were RIDICULOUS ... didn't stay for dessert but the sundae with caramel corn looked divine! we will definitely be back!<br/>HIGHLY recommend!!

Delightful!. The menu is fairly priced and quite delicious. From the appetizers to the salad (pickled grapes, walnuts, goat cheese, pear, heaven, etc). to the dessert, it was all phenomenal. Service at the bar is not the most superb I've ever had but we walked in on a busy night with no reservations so I did leave quite satisfied overall. I noticed some of the mains come in small sizes and look forward to going back to try some pasta as it all sounded and looked delightful as it passed by us. Highly recommend, but call ahead to get a good seat!

I went to Town this weekend and was really impressed. The service was friendly, knowledgable and quick. The food was also great. Throughout the evening my date and I split two good dishes: the beef carpaccio and the wild boat bolognese. We also split two exceptional items: the ricotta stuffed meatballs and mortadella crostini. <br/>The four small plates was enough food for the two of us and allowed us to sample more than we would have normally. Also it allowed us to indulge in a delicious ice cream sundae for dessert. <br/>I would highly recommend Town, and look forward to the opportunity to go back again soon.

Not Bad. I was sooo ready to be wowed by the food, service and experience at Town. <br/><br/>The food was..good. I ordered the trout, my dinner partner ordered the lamb. Although my meal was good, it really wasn't amazing. My friend was expecting something a little different than what he got and the food runner, or person that delivered it did a good job communicating that to our server. Net result was our server checking in on his meal only...kind of weird if you ask me. Also, although our server was attentive, she was kind of awkward. Nothing really wrong, but I really didn't want her to come by more than what she did!<br/><br/>All in all it was a great evening. I was in good company, which made the food less of a focal point...but my meal was tasty. I had high high hopes for something out of this world, but Town offered great ambiance, good food, and okay service.<br/><br/>All that being said, I'd definitely go back again...maybe only if Whalesbone's booked up though! ;)

A-MAZING!. I have been to Town about 4 times now and every time I go there I am not disappointed. Even with the hype from friends and the #3 on Ottawa Magazine's Top 10 Restaurants of 2011 list, I enjoy it every time. I have had the meatballs there (highly recommended!) and the chicken under a brick and they were always great. I like taking my Toronto friends here in order to make Ottawa cooler than it is but its always hard to get a table. Reservations are a must (even on weekdays).

Wouldn't bother to go again. I went to Town in late November to celebrate a birthday. The menu looked interesting, the service was friendly, but the food (with one exception) was truly disappointing. My crab and citrus salad was a case in point: crab tasted 'fishy' (i.e. old), there was no citrus tang in the dressing, and the blood orange (or pink grapefruit) were mushy and they'd left all the white inbetween the rounds. Given that I didn't have a serrated knife, It was pretty much impossible to cut a piece of this tasteless citrus off to try and eat with the crab.<br/>My gnocchi were tasty but lukewarm. The scallops were also rather bland (and overcooked). Not sure if the chef was out with the flu, or if this is typical, but I would not bother to eat here again. Pity, because it's close to where I work.

Hempsa so lame. If you you think that Ottawa doesn't have a lot to offer in terms of food, you must have been living under a rock. Wake up, man, the Town and many other awesome restaurants are putting this place on the map! Cook at home if you don't like the prices, Town and it's ilk are far from outrageous. Any main under $30 is very reasonable.

Good food but a little over priced. I liked the meatball, the morel mushroom pasta. The so-so is the cheese plate and chicken dish. I would come back again.

Good. Highly recommend to make a reservation before you go . I liked the environment as well.

Not dazzled. When a restaurant ventures into the category of prices that Town charges for its dishes it opens itself up to criticism from sticklers like me. To be fair, Town's chef(s) whip up good meals; in fact probably in the top 25 percentile when measured against what the rest of Ottawa has to offer. And the place is always packed so it's appealing to a lot of people. <br/><br/>On Friday Oct. 7 my wife and I thought we'd give Town a go after some friends raved about it. Reservations were for 8:30 (couldn't get earlier on 2 day advance booking). While we waited for 8:30 to roll around we shared a great Riesling at Johnny Farinas. As a side note, this restaurant has a decent wine list with very reasonable mark ups over prices at the LCBO (i.e. about 25%). But I digress...<br/><br/>When we arrived at Town and were seated the waiter was very friendly and attentive; gave us a run down of the specials for the night and asked whether we wanted to start off with a glass of Prosecco. I asked for the wine list since we wanted to have a bottle of something (I always like to look at a restaurant's wine list in any event because the depth and breadth of the selection indicates to me flash or substance to what the restaurant is all about). More on this below....<br/><br/>My wife ordered the special (baked dates with Italian sausage, etc.) and i ordered the beet salad. We shared a pulled lamb ragout with mint pasta shells and finished things off with a 3 cheese plate. We paired things up with a bottle of Cave Spring Gamay. <br/><br/>The food was good, but at the prices Town is charging I expect to be 'wowed'. The beet salad certainly wasn't worth the $14. After tip and tax, that's a $20 salad. My wife really enjoyed her dates and since I never tried them I can't say much about how they were. Most tables were ordering them. The lamb dish was quite good but i'm on the fence as to whether it was worth the $25. <br/><br/>The biggest disappointment was with the wine. Like I mentioned I ordered a bottle of Cave Spring Gamay. I would not have ordered this had there been better choices so I went with what Town had. This bottle retails for $13.95 at the LCBO; Town sells it for $58. That's a 315% mark-up in case you're reaching for your calculator. I felt like a bit of a sucker to pay this but more telling is what the owner(s) of Town are thinking when they come up with this sort of pricing scheme. And to me it goes to the rest of the items sold (i.e. food). High prices for just good food. And don't get me wrong; I have no problem spending money on mains but when you enter the $25+ you'd better be justified. <br/><br/>In my opinion Town has found Ottawa's marketing sweet spot and the only reason its owners can charge what they do (and get away with it) is because Ottawa doesn't have much else to offer. A Town in Montreal or Toronto would certainly survive (after all the food is good) but patrons would spend about half as much or go searching (and find) better restaurants at the same prices Town charges.<br/><br/>The bottom line? Good food at unjustified high prices. Know this going in or you'll feel suckered when the bill comes. I won't be back.

Pretty good. I keep hearing about this place so I decided to try it out. I had the spaghetti and it was great. Fresh pasta and fresh sauce with REAL parmigiano. The people who review restaurants based on price should not be reviewing any restaurants when it comes to fine dining. I see reviews with "small portions". Really? that is what you are basing it on you might as well go to a Chinese buffet as quality is not your priority

Great meal and experience. Sat at the chefs box overlooking the kitchen and cold plates/dessert prep area, and enjoyed every minute of our meal.<br/>The chef is eager to share his thoughts on food, etc, and easily engages in conversation while remaining focused on preparing exceedingly tasty dishes.<br/>Ordered the cheese plate, beef carpaccio, warm olives, ricotta stuffed meatballs, and mortadella mousse. <br/>All were excellent, deep in flavour profiles and well worth going back to enjoy again.<br/>The wine selection was also spot on, offering high quality, little known estates, helping make the sticker price worth paying (I hate paying 3x the price for a wine I already know!) to compliment the meal.<br/>I will surely return, and try some of the other fantastic looking dishes we enjoyed watching be prepared.<br/>Oh, and the service?<br/>Spot on from hostess to server(s).<br/>Great job TOWN, keep it up.

Best Dinner in Ottawa. I have been so many times and never disappointed. My Fav is the beef carpaccio and the meat ball of course. For dessert the panacotta is a nice light dessert.

Had dinner there the other night and it was as great as ever! Excellent service and food -- well priced. It is crowded but not uncomfortable -- do yourself a favor and get a reservation and a great meal!

Worst. Restaurant. EVER.. Avoid this place. Why? The service was so slow, drinks were ordered and he disappeared. Bread eventually showed up, but ran out as the minutes turned to an hour for a serving. Oh, and wait, there's more: The food was stunningly poor. The tomato sauce was too acidic, the raw tuna flavored in a strange citrus flavor. Everything lacked flavor and distinction.<br/><br/>Anyway, I'm talking Sunday evening - can you imagine a high demand night? Awful - anyplace else would be better.

Simply the best. I have been to Town on 3 occasions now, and about to go for number 4 tomorrow! <br/><br/>I have never been disappointed from the Chicken liver crustini, ricotta stuffed meatballs, to Chicken under a brick.....the cheese platter is a wonderful way to end your meal. The wines are decently priced.<br/><br/>Moreover the staff treats you so well, making your visit very memorable!

DISREGARD the negative reviews. We tried almost all of the small plate options and were blown away. I highly recommend the carpaccio and the meatballs. We wished we'd ordered the olive plate and the fig salad, sitting at the chef's bar didn't help! A must try is the Panna Cotta, as well as the Caramel Sundae... Oh hell, just order EVERYTHING, you won't regret it!

A Memorable Evening. While visiting Ottawa recently, my wife and I had the very good fortune of being invited, by friends, to dinner at Town. What a wonderful experience. The menu is not overly large but has something for almost any palate and the obviously carefully assembled wine list is exclusively Canadian and Italian - interesting. The 4 of us had 6 starters ("Small Plates) and a couple of main courses ("Large Plates"). We finished with a cheese plate and some of the desserts. <br/><br/>Everything was great - a few highlights:<br/> - the beef carpaccio was exceptional, a little unusual with the capers and almonds a fantastic flavour and beautiful presentation;<br/> - the ricotta filled meatballs were very good (we were informed that they make their own ricotta) but the tomato based sauce with them stole the show - it was among the best any of us had ever had; tasty, well balanced and a perfect match for the meat balls;<br/> - strozzapreti (a salad) was wonderful, an unusual combination of greens and mushrooms with the surprise topping of a poached egg. Excellent.<br/> - the dessert we chose was a combination of 3 things which included the best panna cotta we have had, a great rice pudding and a very fine chocolate pudding.<br/><br/>We asked the staff to choose the wines (we are not up on Canadian or Italian) and were rewarded with a fine Valpolicella and a very good Chianti.<br/><br/>A memorable evening.

They mean serious business!!. We stayed there for a good 3.5 hours last night. From the pecorino potatoes, gnudi, prawn and tuna crudo, cavatelli, ricotta meatballs, linguini nero, to the pana cotta and chocolate budino ---every thing was super yummy!!!<br/><br/>Here's the best part, we were eating too much too long that they moved us to the chef's bar and that was a treat on it's own. Right after desert, we decided to go backwards and their special which was the salmon tartare. We watched the chef mix up the ingredients for the dish and then, he took a spoon and TASTED it!!! Then he added a few enhancers. This was a Friday night at 8 and it was a full house yet he took time to pay undivided attention to everything he touched that night... These people know what they're doing!

Went to Town a couple of weeks back and enjoyed my evening tremendously! Ricotta meatballs are amazing! Great cheese board, an amazing Nagano pork dish! We had a bunch of other small plates--all well cooked and beautifully plated! :) Highly recommend!

Love it!. Although the food at Town is quite pricey, I still love going there for martinis with the girls! The wait staff is incredible!!! Go out of their way to be friendly and make you feel comfortable! <br/>Will have to save up the pennies to go there for supper one day, but in the meantime, drinks will have to suffice so that I can enjoy this intimate environment!<br/>P.s. - Make reservations in advance! It is a very popular place with very limited seating!

Excellent food & service!. Everything I ate at this lovely little restaurant was excellent! We started with simply titlted "salad" - arugula, toasted hazelnuts & perfectly tangy vinaigrette and the roasted fingerling potatoes crusted with salt & topped with pecorino cheese. Totally irresistible - well I guess I resisted from licking the serving dish....<br/>The mains were wonderful- I had the cavatappi with chicken meatballs and my friend the "under a brick" cooked chicken. Both were incredibly flavourful and eaten to the very last morsel.<br/>We finished the evening with a cheese platter selected from Quebecois as well as international cheeses and a lovely chocolate mousse type dessert served charmingly in a mason jar. <br/>Overall a great evening and we were well taken care of by a friendly & knowledgeable waiter. I would definitely return!

Amazing selection of appetizers and mains. No point in suggesting items because it will change before you come. Get a selection and share.