Review Das Lokal - Ottawa

A brunch and a lunch at Das Lokal, located near the ByWard market, in Ottawa, Ontario. Great atmosphere, whether you're sitting indoors or outdoors on the patio. Quick and friendly service and a wide variety of delicious dishes, made from fresh, local ingredients. On the menu (Brunch): • Smoked Salmon Waffle Tartine: House buckwheat waffle (gluten free), Sustainable smoked salmon, quark (buttermilk creme fraiche) with pickled red onions, fresh dill and crispy capers, served with homies and side salad. Extra: 2 Bekings eggs and hollandaise. • Ploughman's Breakfast: 2 cheeses (local and European), Seed to Sausage Beaus Bratwurst, 1 house charcuterie, frittata, mustard, house pickles and jam, served with Nats Sourdough bread and butter. (Gluten free bread or crackers available). On the menu (Lunch): • Sourdough BLT: Perth Pork double smoked bacon, roasted garlic mayo, mixed greens, salt and pepper greenhouse tomatoes on toasted sourdough from Nat's bread, served with fries and side salad. • German Burger: Pork sausage patty, sauerkraut, maple dijon, aioli, swiss, caramelized onions on a Nat's Bread pretzel bun. Served with fries and greens. Instagram: @daslokalkitchenbar

Hidden in the deeper side of Byward, there are delicious foods to be found! Both the BLT and the Black Forest French Toast were very very delicious. Very high quality, with not one part that disappointed. The representations of the dishes were also nice. I see myself visiting here again :)

Such a cozy place for winter. Great environment and friendly staff! The Black Forest French Toast is my favorite! Ploughman’s breakfast is very worth trying for food lovers who like to explore some German inspired breakfast!

Their weekend brunch menu is excellent, with many vegan options. I had the sourdough BLT made vegan - using 2 beyond meat patties and vegan mayo. The portions are very generous and the potatoes are to die for.

I am always impressed every time I go to Das Lokal! I am gluten free vegan and I am never left with just a salad here like at many restaurants... Thought and care goes into every dish and I really love an intelligent and well thought out plate :) I had the vegan ploughman's breakfast this time and loved it. My one comment would be that the platter is a bit dip heavy, so maybe another variety of cracker or something would have been nice :)

A go to. Consistently the best eggs benedicts I have had. Super fresh ingredients, been here probably 8 times for brunch, we bring friends from out of the city and no one has ever had a meal less than amazing here. Recently had to try their dinner, and again it did not disappoint. The heirloom carrot salad and spaetzle were fantastic!! Negroni was perfectly made. Love this place.

I've been for brunch twice and it is delicious. The wait staff are so nice and really do such a great job. The setting is a great place to catch up with an old friend

BEST SCHNITZEL IN OTTAWA!!! Food is fantastic and as far as I know much of the herbs and fruits come from their little garden. The cocktails are incredibly unique and taste amazing (Dandy Whip and Coney Island Queen pictured). The schnitzel was well seasoned and perfectly crispy! The spätzle and seasonal veggies were also cooked just right. I was delightfully surprised by their charcuterie board selections. Definitely returning to try more cocktails!

The best vegan meal I've had in Ottawa and I've had them all. The chef let me know they could create 2 vegan options. I was very impressed, as many restaurants treat a vegan option like a hassle or a strewn together afterthought. The chef made me celery root schnitzel, with potatoes and two kinds of salads. It was to die for. The best thing I've eaten in the city. I highly recommend that vegans looking for a place to dine, that will also satisfy non-vegan friends, check this place out. The service was also top notch. These people know what they're doing! Thank you Das Lokal for making this vegan woman's date night perfect.

The braised paprika chicken with potato salad is a must have meal. Apple Strudel for dessert paired with a glass of red wine (Cote Du Rhone) delicious. A wonderful quaint restaurant to enjoy a tasty meal with all your friends. I am very particular about my food, wine and ambience but Das Lokal has it all.

This place is a gem. I booked the restaurant for a surprise dinner for my girlfriend's 30th birthday and it was amazing. I only have good things to say about them. The food is impeccable and the service is on point. Thank you guys for a perfect event!

Stumbled upon this gem -- a little off the beaten path but definitely worth the walk down from the market! The food is absolutely amazing; definite European influence but fresh local ingredients. It's amazing what they put out of that tiny kitchen. The desserts were outstanding. The food wasn't cheap but the portions were so big that each time we were totally stuffed. Highly recommend Das Lokal.

First time in in a while. Service was prompt and knowledgeable even when the restaurant and patio filled all at once. It happened to be half off wine night which is always a bonus. Tasty food and a nice atmosphere made for a great experience.

Had our brunch today here. One of the kind. Food taste very different from other restaurant ..good different .can't wait to go again. I recommend to everyone. Great food guarantee

Great service and wonderful meal! From Bratwurst to sauerkraut, from paprika chicken to rosti with dill sauce...tasty and delicious. The Crème brûlé and streudel were fantastic! Highly recommend a gathering of friends and foodies.

The food, ambiance, cocktails and staff were fabulous! I had the steak and my daughter had the lamb - both cooked to perfection! Can’t wait to go again !

Très belle expérience! La nourriture est excellente et l'ambiance avec le "piano man" est parfaite pour passer une belle soirée en amoureux ou entres amis 😀

The food, service and atmosphere was top notch! The meals were authentically homemade style and cooked to perfection! If you are looking for a place to enjoy delicious German food then, as the man says - " You gotta eat here!"

Accueil très chaleureux, service bilingue de grande qualité et la nourriture est excellente. Dégustation de vin mémorable hier soir.

Visiting Ottowa with husband, his two brothers and their wives. Had brunch in Das Lokal and absolutely loved it. The meal was delicious and the waitress JazzLynn was wonderful. Would certainly go back if we are ever hopefully back in Canada. xx

My daughter and I had a wonderful relaxing dinner at Das Lokal last evening. Service and food were amazing. Pink Sangria, Charcuterie, Schnitzel, Black Forest Cake and Creme Caramel...have to do it again some time for sure!

Food was incredible. Our server was excellent. I will go again.

Amazing cocktails and food. We had amazing service as well. Great spot in the market.

Really great atmosphere, impeccable service and stellar food and drink. Arctic Char is such a treat and all the flavours and textures were so beautifully balanced. Also, melt-in-your mouth short rib.

A wonderful dining experience! Food and drinks were excellent, service was perfect!

Loved the setup and atmosphere. There was a pianist playing on Thursday evening (not sure if this is always the case). I had the scallops appetizer. It was almost perfect! The flavours blended extremely well (even with the orange segments which I thought were an odd choice), and the plate was visually appealing. The only negative is that the scallops were rather cold. But I honestly still think about the dish a week later. Secondly, I had the Spatzle (app size - which was a generous portion). It was very good, but not overwhelmingly impressive after the scallops. Overall, a great dinner. Will definitely go back.

The atmosphere was very relaxed and the restaurant had great decor. Our server was very knowledgable and friendly. The food was excellent. I had the lamb and was very impressed. The prices are a bit steep but you get what you pay for and the quality was excellent.

Came here for Brunch yesterday, and I tried their savory board, which was a salad, potatoes, bratwurst, bacon, and a frittata. <br/><br/>The salad was a fairly mild & simple, but tasty dressing, which was good to balance out all the rich & savory flavours on the board. The potatoes were okay, I would say about average. The frittata I believe was spinach, and it didn't blow me away. The bacon was thick cut and not fatty, but perfectly cooked and had a lot more flavour than I was used to seeing. The bratwurst was juicy and delicious, and the board cake with 2 types of mustard (one grainy, one not) which paired excellently with them. The portion size was okay, but I didn't find it exactly generous for the price, but the overall quality & presentation were quite good.<br/><br/>The coffee they served was great, some of the better coffee I've had in a restaurant. <br/><br/>The decor was interesting and unique, I quite liked the ambiance.<br/><br/>The service wasn't the best, in my opinion. There were only 2 servers in and the place was quite busy. It took quite a while to be able to.place our order, but we had been waiting for someone. I had to specifically ask for more coffee, as when the food came, my cup was empty and she did not offer more. She came back to check on how everything was, and then I asked for more coffee, and by the time it came out, we had already finished eating. We also had to specifically flag down the server to get the bills.<br/><br/>Overall, I would go back, they have a fairly unique menu with interesting options, and I'd like to try some of their different offerings.

Returned to Das Lokal and loved it loved it loved it. Spätzle noodles with veal. A delight. Perfection on a plate as we're the desserts. And the mood and the super Cuban Pianist. Excellent. Austrian chef here has done amazing things!!!

Today my my spouse and I had the best brunch experience to date at Das Lokal. We ended up their by sheer luck and were so happy we did.<br/><br/>There is a steady flow of people going in and out of the restaurant. It's warm and welcoming and there were people of all ages. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable of the dishes. The ash was excellent and the bacon, simply divine. I must also mention the coffee that ranks hight up there: rich and smooth.<br/><br/>All the flavors on the plate complement eachother beautifully giving the meal great taste and depth. Every ingredient on the plate is there to serve a purpose: it's fun to mix them in different ways and play with our taste buds. OUTSTANDING!

A small restaurant with an outdoor patio that features a piano. The food, cocktails, and service were all outstanding. It is a great place to get a bottle of wine and charcuterie board to split with friends.

I went to this place not knowing what to expect and at first glance it is very warm and inviting. Beautiful style and nice servers. We were a group of 7 ladies here for drinks and dinner and a big catch up (as friends were in from Toronto). Cocktails were delicious and besides the fact we were 'shushed' by a table of elderly folk it was a nice dining experience. As the restaurant boasts their cocktail menu, we thought it would be safe for a bit of a rowdy (30+) table, but without being rude the crowd was somewhat older and maybe not the best for a boozy meal. Our food was small portions for price but very tasty and gorgeous presentation. I would take my parent here for a nice meal but not take a big group of friends next time.

We came in and thought it would be good, and the food looked very good too... however the waitress was so very rude to us, we didn't even order any food and left.

I found the restaurant by accident and have fallen in love. It have been there for breakfast lunch and dinner and the food and drinks are consistently incredible!

If you want to go to a unique restaurant, this is an ideal choice. The menu is really interesting and the decor has this lovely Scandinavian feeling to it. Although sitting on white (sheep?) skins can be a bit nerve-racking for women at certain times... Anyways, I went for lunch and ordered the Char and Waffles. It seems like an odd combo, but I really enjoyed it! The char was cooked to perfection and the waffle softened the dish. This is most definitely somewhere I would take a person visiting Ottawa, if I wasn't such a loner.<br/><br/>Food: 9/10<br/><br/>Loner Rating: 7/10<br/><br/>Atmosphere: 8.5/10<br/><br/>Location: 7/10

Nice atmosphere and decorations. Very friendly and kind waitress. Well presented food but very expensive!!! They also had a pianist which was lovely

Excellent food, nice presentation, and great value, make this one of my favourite ByWard Market restaurants. The German-Scandinavian food and atmosphere is refreshingly different yet comfortingly familiar. Cocktails are casually prepared but generous and tasty. Totally worth a visit!

Einfach toll! I had lunch here my last day in Ottawa and was thrilled to stumble across this gem. I had the Schnitzel burger but they were out of buns so the Schnitzel (German nouns are always capitalized, eh) was served open faced on a piece of rye- it worked really well, so much so I think they should make this adjustment permanent. Fries on the side were GANZ KOESTLICH. Amazing fries! I loved everything about this place.

Very delicious food and great service. Waiters were very attentive. They also had a great pianist playing live. I had the baked cod and my husband the T-pork. Great ambiance too.

Not bad not great. Charcuterie - poor <br/>mains- very good<br/>wine- very good<br/>waitress- actually she was kinda sexy<br/>don't put a german spin on food. Germans are not known for food.

Delicious - I'll be back!. Das Lokal was a real surprise - their attention to flavour combinations was impeccable, and each of their mains were excellent (our group tried the lamb shank, pork shoulder, and arctic char entrees). The charcuterie was a nice addition as an appetizer, and generous in portion size. There was a piano player (on Saturday night) which was a bonus. Altogether, a good experience and worth multiple visits...

Very pleased. I brought a group of visitors there on my first visit and everything we had was wonderful - the steak tartare was really nice, and the duck for dinner was excellent. the egg nog crême brulée was weird but very enjoyable. Pleasant staff, a nice amount of noise from all the happy tables, and lots of good food made for a great night. It's on the more expensive side of things, but certainly worth it. <br/><br/>It's too bad they have 'sittings' and that you might need to clear out before a certain time, but we were lucky in that there we no later reservations for our table.

Great Atmosphere and Delicious Food. It was my first time here at Das Lokal and I was not dissapointed. In fact, I was completely blown away. I came for lunch with a friend and the first thing that hit was the rustic charm. The server greeted us at the door and seated us in a comfy booth. I ordered the spaetzle (german gnocchi) in a pesto sauce with wild mushrooms, bell peppers, pine nuts, and some other seasonings. It was DELICIOUS. If you love gnocchi you;ve got to try this. It was the same consistency pillowness delight as gnocchi but better. So stop by to Das Lokal and have some delicious food!

A favourite in the neighbourhood. We have been to Das Lokal on a number of occasions and always really enjoy the meal and atmosphere. And while I am a parent of two young boys and all for taking a night away from the kids for a fine dining experience, the set up of Das Lokal accommodates the little ones in the lovely bankers (our favourite spot) with comfy pillows, and the staff go above and beyond to cater to adults and the kids alike. Our 3 and 6 year old love the live music; chalk boards and wooden toys. Our dishes have always been very tasty and this is where we often bring out of town guests as well. Thanks for bridging chic atmosphere, gourmet delights and family-friendly for a great dining experience, even with 3 and 6 year old boys in tow!

What Happened?!?!. I've eaten at Das Lokal a few times since it opened just over a year ago. It was one of my favourite spots in the neighbourhood for the first six months or so (despite a few easily forgiven eccentricities). The decor and warm feeling of the place at night is wonderful and cozy, and the live piano Fridays and Saturdays makes for an extremely inviting atmosphere. The staff are usually quite friendly, and the patio was a nice touch this summer (as well as the mysteriously short-lived Sunday brunch, featuring live music).<br/><br/>However, their once outstanding menu has taken a dive over the last few months. The changes they've made all seem to be for the worse - the selection and variety aren't especially inspiring, the dishes I've tried left a lot to be desired (small portions and relatively bland flavour combinations), and shockingly, the prices have all gone up (way up!). I never expect or want giant portions, but hope for at least two points on the food-portion-price triangle, and they aren't really delivering on any of those, let alone two. This used to be in my top 2 or 3 recommendations whenever someone asked me what to try in the market, and I'm pretty disappointed that I can't recommend it any more.<br/><br/>They do change their menu seasonally though, and I hope they're receptive to the feedback they're getting - it's such a wonderful place and an absolute gem in the neighbourhood, if they can just figure out how to get back on track. I'm looking forward to trying again in a month or two!

Avoid big time. Bad decor, poor service and tiny portions. Nuf said!

Really?. Ordered the summer salad for lunch last week. Consisted of a swipe of goat cheese ( 1 scant tablespoon), mixed greens, less than a quarter of an apple and a scant tbsp of pistachios. That's it for an entree salad of 9 dollars. The poppyseed dressing was all oil except for the 5 poppy seeds is could count. I was sooo insulted, but was with a group for a special occasion! Everyone said they were hungry after!

Went there for brunch today (Sunday 10.30 am) loved it. We sat on the patio, cute tables, hedging around the area, we all had different meals, the flat iron steak was delicious, as were the waffles, we started off with coffee (that too was great) then finished off with Caesar and Mimosa - by 12.30 pm a jazz duo were playing, would recommend this place for sure! Loved it, ambience, good & service were great!

Rehearsal Dinner. We had our rehearsal dinner with Das Lokal and can only come up with great things to say about the beauty and aesthetic appeal of the space, incredible food and extremely personable staff. We've eaten there a couple times before and will continue to do so. Das Lokal is our favorite Ottawa restaurant. Eat there!

Disappointed. This is my third time there, and sorry to say I doubt I will ever be back.<br/>1. Bad service<br/>2. Price for what you get<br/>3. Small menu that just gets regurgitated for brunch, lunch, dinner in various forms. The food is fine, did not enjoy the chips at all though. <br/><br/>Service will always be the dealbreaker.

Very good experience at Das Lokal. Went there for a girls dinner a few weeks ago and we had a really tasty dinner! The atmosphere was great and although it was thursday and there was a DJ, it was not at all loud or disruptive. We shared the braised rabbit appetizer and the pork schnitzel. Both very good but the schnitzel really stood out! Very crispy but not at all greasy, with delicious brussel sprouts and caper berries. Our server was friendly, attentive and made excellent wine suggestions. I would definitely go back and look forward to checking out the patio for brunch someday!

Noise Level Brutal!. Food was good but pricey for what you got. Draft beer not available as machine was broken. Restaurant was 3/4 full but noise level was so high it was difficult to converse with the person beside me let alone the one sitting across. Even the waitress had trouble hearing our orders. One of our group left early due to a headache from all the noise. I won't be back unless I hear this issue has been addressed.

Awful food. Recently ate at Das Lokale, the mackerel on wild rice was bland and soggy, the tofu was flavourless other than the sour taste. Although the waiter was attentive, he lacked skill at reading his customers. Don't repeatedly call an elderly woman of 87 "miss" , she does not appreciate it.<br/>I will not return or suggest this restaurant.

Das Lokal is wonderful. The service is friendly, professional and timely. The cocktail menu is fulsome and unique for Ottawa. The food, dinner and brunch, is delicious: simple, soul-warming and well-prepared. On top of everything, the ambiance and decor is relaxed and cool, which is hard to find in Ottawa. Highly recommended.

Loved it! We will definitely be back :). My friends and I went here last night for some late night drinks/food. We got there late, and the kitchen was closed, so we didn't order anything from the menu, but they were still doing cheese and dessert. We each ordered our own chef's choice cheese board - so good and so much food provided for a modest price. We also enjoyed their drinks - gin caesar was delicious!<br/><br/>The ambiance and decor is wonderful - such a cosy place with so much character. There was also a live piano player - very nice touch. I will definitely return. Great value in the prices.

Small menu that needs no apologies. The rabbit was moist and flavourful with so many great savoury ingredients that enhance the taste. The venison goulash was rich and sweet. This is not your German beer hall but a more sophistated glimpse of German cuisine. You may not leave stuffed but you will have a memorable meal. Guten Appetit

Best Restaurant Experience we've had in a Long Time!. Who would have thought such an amazing restaurant could exist in a repurposed KFC? <br/><br/>From the funky rustic decor to the amazing food and drinks, the experience was so worth it! This was the first time in a long time that the starter cocktails actually had alcohol in them. Sick and tired of watered down drinks. Everything we ordered was exceptionally creative in presentation, taste and texture. The biggest surprise was a dessert with cubed squash, whipped cream and other ingredients that tasted almost like the best pumpkin pie we've ever had! Service was amazing, never in your face but very knowledgable, helpful and fast but never rushed. Even the bartender was great when she whipped up a surprise Spanish type coffee although it wasn't on the menu. Turned out whatever she, should be on the menu as it was amazing and they didn't even gouge us when the bill came...impressed! <br/><br/>Highly recommended!

Lovely place for Sunday Brunch. Walking in the area after a disappointing and barely eaten meal at Mellos on a Sunday afternoon, we were looking for our next place to try and to fill our bellies.<br/><br/>This place showed up unexpectedly in our sight. Remembering it being on our wishlist, and drawn by the good vibe its exterior gave, we went in and got a lovely table by the window.<br/><br/>Friendly German looking waiter (Dee suspected him being French pretending German), who got Jay's order wrong by mishearing German Board to German Hamburger, but Jay delightedly took it after seeing our neighbor table's German burger being delivered, which was pretty dang mouth-watering.<br/><br/>Good brioche bun, what a pleasant difference from what we just had at Mellos. Homemade pork patty was nice and juicy as well. Fries were hand cut and properly fried, though a bit too thick in size to make a perfect ratio of crispiness and softness. Overall a satisfying dish.<br/><br/>Dee ordered Breakfast Gratin and came the right thing. :) Loved the presentation and the crumbled sausage in goulash sauce. The poached egg was done just the way Dee liked - just enough runniness but not too much to make a messy plate. The amount of fingerlings was belly filling indeed but a bit much too make it a delicate dish - maybe that was the element we were both wondering what "lacked" for this dish.

Simply great. Das Lokal uses great ingredients, perfectly cooked, in a way that emphasizes but harmonizes each individual flavour. The charcuterie plate & duck dish were the best examples of each dish I've had in Ottawa.<br/><br/>And the bartender was great. <br/><br/>The only problem? A little loud, but not a big deal when the food is this good.

Excellent food & Great atmosphere. This place is a total gem. Went there on a Saturday night and they had live piano music which sounded so great in this dim-lit, cozy place. Every dish was truly delicious and the service was outstanding. Highly recommended!

Nice "Lokal" restaurant with few misses. The good: Food was excellent and priced well for such large portions<br/> Service attentive<br/> Deco unpretentious and laid back<br/><br/>The bad: - Virgin caesar served in a small tumbler w/ice $3.25 which was ridiculous when a regular caesar was served in a highball glass, my husband had their U-band cocktail (vodka w/juice mixture) and it was also served in a small tumber, we were very disappointed with this<br/> - Ordered a decaf coffee for myself as my husband had dessert and a coke, I asked for a refill and was charged $6.00 for two coffees<br/> - Not recommended for an intimate dinner, noise level is very high especially when the piano man is playing. So, don't sit near the piano!<br/><br/>We will go again as it's in our neighbourhood, but it's hardly a "local" restaurant when they charge outrageously for coffee and their small drinks.

Cool place but food not excellent. I went there with my husband to check it out, we love to try out new restaurants on both sides of the river and that week we set our eyes on Das Lokal. The deco is cool, our waitress, who was also the barmaid (weird?) was very nice an helpful even though she was covering the floor and the bar. The food was just not that great, too many weird flavours together, just not quite right. I had the vegetarian meal (not that great) and my husband had the duck (ok but not amazing)... This place was not a big hit for us, only because of the food experience. The rest was fine.

Delicious!. Ive been for lunch before and while it was very good i found it to be a little slow. In all fairness it was very busy, since it is new and all. <br/>So i decided to go for dinner before i judged, and boy am i happy i did. The new winter menu is a winner. I wish i had more room for my yummy creme brulee but i could only have one bite after 2 apps and a main! I had the soup, shared the endive salad and the most amazing duck breast ive ever eaten for my main. The winter vegetables just shows how much chef Harriet cares about local and seasonal foods, and the menu overall.<br/>If youve ever been you know how lovely the place is. the owners put so much thought into the ambiance of the place. its warm and cozy, with servers that converse with you like a real person rather than treating you like a dollar sign to add to their stack. All the decor is adorable. The fireplace, piano that was being played, gluvien stand outside with pine trees and a really nice bar. <br/>This place is a win for sure. Im so happy its not another pretentious place, and im looking forward to trying every seasons menu!!

Disappointing main, but..... I was hoping I would like this restaurant because it is very handy for me, located on the north end of Dalhousie Street with lots of street parking. I had the duck confit salad, which was underwhelming to say the least. The duck was tasteless, and the salad dressing had no flavour. I suggest that they reduce the price($17) of this salad , which is mostly lettuce, add a little powdered mustard to the dressing, and some cranberries and basil to the lettuce. What was good was the apple and pecan dessert which was wonderful!<br/><br/>Also, the waiter looked like he had just got out of bed, and was dressed far too casually. His rap-style jeans looked like they were ready to fall down any minute. I didn't like the napkins either--they looked like old tea towels.

Fun place; Delicious food; awkward service. The Good: Very cool ambiance - they did a great job in this former Scott's Chicken Villa; Charcuterie board was very nice (although they should not just plop it on the table and walk away but rather introduce it); tartelette was delicious; Mains were very tasty (cornish hen, duck, rabbit and pasta) - everyone was really pleased.<br/><br/>The not so good: the waiter was friendly but a disaster as a waiter. Forgot to place our order with the kitchen and realized it 45 minutes after we ordered; was awkward and confusing in his communication with us; Interrupted us at awkward times; had fights with other staff; looked completely confused through the evening - if I'm paying $100 for dinner, I don't need to see those things. Kind of damaged the evening as we never knew what the next problem was going to be.<br/><br/>Food: 9 out of 10<br/>Service: 3 out of 10

Disappointed. Really disappointing. Had the pork burger which was very ho hum. My co-diners liked their tartlets but they were small portions and were more like starters. I couldn't hear my friends across the table, so awful are the acoustics. All in all, a poor experience. Hope they can raise their game, cos there's lots of potential customers nearby at foreign affairs.

Underwhelming Food but Great Service. While the service was fantastic, unfortunately the food was underwhelming. I had the cornish hen - decent, but not flavorful. Moreover, the portion was incredibly small (I had an appetizer and desert as well, which were also minuscule). I understand that there's a trade-off for wonderfully designed meals with excellent ingredients, but that wasn't the case here. Overall: great service, decent food, small portions, low value.

Has Potential. I visited Das Lokal with a group of about 12 on a Friday for a reserved lunch. The place was packed; it has a nice rustic feel but modern with a clean colour scheme. Wooden tables with chrome and copper accents, chrome and black framed mirrors help enlarge the space. I have been to other restaurants at this location before and Das Lokal has the best design concept for the small space.<br/>I Loved the little girl sitting at the bar colouring! Whether she was a customer or a family friend, it was welcoming to see her scribbling away with a smile on her face when I entered.<br/>The place has a good, modern vibe. Guests were crammed in quite tightly but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Service was efficient, although a little difficult to hear due to the noise in the restaurant.<br/>The majority of our table ordered the German Burger. Pork patty, mustard, onions, side salad, side wedges. Very 'homemade' feel, not greasy, well plated and the portions were generous. One guest had asked for no mustard but her request was forgotten (probably would have helped if our waitress had written the orders down instead of tried to memorize a group of 12 people.)<br/>I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of my fish dish with anticipation. <br/>I was disappointed. The flavours were good (trout, I think... it was so mediocre that I've forgotten the protein!) but placing seared fish on top of what is supposed to be a cold potato salad only makes for bites of cold and warm potatoes nearing the end of the meal. Mushy and unappealing. There was a little herb sauce on top of the fish skin, nicely crisp skin, however the portion size of the fish dish compared to that of the burger was grossly underwhelming. It looked closer to an amuse with a side of potato salad than a full main dish. The fish fillet was small, the potatoes were poorly presented on the plate and lost their temperature, and I was still hungry after finishing. <br/>There was one other fish order at our table and he and I were both finished our meals before the burgers on the other plates were half gone. We were salivating longingly over the side salads of our companions. Luckily, there was good conversation and we were able to bide the time to the dessert course.<br/>Everyone ordered the vanilla spice panna cotta. It was wonderful. It was the best panna cotta, from a textural viewpoint, that I have ever had. It was the second best panna cotta from a flavour perspective. <br/>Slightly citric caramel floated on perfect spiced vanilla bean and ground cherry. It was delicious. I could have lived without the shortbread on the side, it was unnecessary, but I will go back again even if only to try the other desserts.<br/>All in all, I was disappointed with my meal, as was my other "fish course" companion, however the burgers looked good and I am intrigued by their evening menu. <br/>Go for supper. Make a reservation. Try their wines and selection of German beers!

Fabulous!. Just had lunch there & was immensely impressed. We had the flat iron steak, the German Hamburger & the Tomato Tartine with Cream of Mushroom Soup & they were all excellent. My companion said it was the best cream of mushroom soup she ever tasted. We were very surprised to be presented with a complementary gravlix appetizer board because the owner thought we had been waiting too long for our plates. Honestly, we didn't even think that it had been that long & hadn't displayed any discontent of any kind so it was quite a bonus to be treated so well. I really liked how my Ginger herbal tea was served in a Bodum pitcher. Very classy. We had the Caramelized Apples with Spiced Pecans for dessert & it was delicious without being too sweet. The decor & ambience are superb, very comfy cozy & the service was top notch. Free attached parking made the whole experience a lovely day to remember. We will be back with more friends as they will thank us for introducing them to this fabulous place.

This place is super cozy and welcoming. The drinks are all creative, and the bartender is very friendly and personable. I had the rabbit and it was fantastic. I will be back.

LUNCH REVIEW. Saw this place being built over the past few months and had to try it. Went for lunch with co-workers and it was delicious. Had the Flat Iron Steak with fries, aioli and corn relish. Das Lokal is definitely a good option in the area; nice atmosphere, decently priced menu and great tasting food. I would highly suggest it for those who favour quality tasting food. However, if you are the type who eats a lot, this place isn't for you as the portion size is not that big. Overall, good choice and I would go back to try their dinner menu.

The leeks main was amazing. The menu has not yet been updated to reflect the changes made to the dish (no longer stuffed leeks but a rice dish with mushrooms, leeks, pecans, feta, and herbs). It was incredibly satisfying and I am now eager to try other menu items. Don't go if you have any time constraints though, or try to go without making reservations. It is a very busy place.

Wonderful Experience. Great food and wonderful atmosphere, exactly what the market was needing! Good job ladies!

I went to Das Lokal for the first time with my family. It was good food, lovely presentation - but I found that everything took painfully long to serve, and my family members complained that there isn't enough choice on the menu to lure them back even though they enjoyed what they had.

Food was good , however you just can't run out of things on a Friday night as early as 8.30

Beautiful design mixing rustic with urban, cosy and intimate. The Cornish hen was perfect with an assortment of vegetables cooked to perfection!<br/>I highly recommend this place.

Great new addition to the Market, Das Lokal is a contemporary but warm take on a German bistro. The owners have completely reinvented the space on Dalhousie with cool lighting/furnishings, and some jazz the night we were there. The menu is small but we found that a refreshing change. The onion tartlet and gravlax were great to start. My partner had a spaghetti squash rösti and I had the braised rabbit with spaetzle -- both very good on a chilly fall eve but too much to follow with a dessert. If you're looking for a warm environment to relax and enjoy some good but unpretentious food, I'd suggest trying Das Lokal.

Great addition to the area. Anticipation for this new restaurant built over the summer, as we watched the old building morph into a far more appealing venue. For the overall aesthetic alone, well done! What was once an eyesore now looks like the place where everyone wants to be - and rightly so. The interior space is warm, inviting - dare I say cozy? - but spacious and airy at the same time. The juxtaposition of cool tones and warm lighting is perfectly balanced. My favourite design element? The soft cloth "napkins" that are a cute wink to the home kitchen and much preferred to the super starchy white alternative. And the food? For a week's worth of service, the kitchen brigade has mastered its menu items: the cornish hen was perfectly cooked with nary a sign of dryness, the gravlax was sublime and a steal at $14. The vegetables, I suspect all local from the Market or from local suppliers, were fantastic. It's nice to see dishes with so many colours. The only negative remark thus far (and it's a very minor detail, granted): the steak knives. With such beautiful food, the cafeteria steak knives have got to go... We will be sure to visit again and are very happy to have DasLokal as part of the neighbourhood. Overall, Das Lokal: Wünderbar!

Great new spot. It's tucked away, just outside of the market. It's sophisticated yet cozy and warm. Reminds me of my travels in France. I love it. The service is very knowledgeable and professional yet still friendly. And I'm pretty sure I saw one of the owners behind the bar polishing (well done; you don't see that every day). <br/>Now onto the food. I ordered the onion tartelette and my boyfriend got the "tomatoes!" Both were packed with nicely balanced flavours just right to get our palates going with the dry acidic white wines we had chosen to start. (All wines are available by the glass, btw). Next I had the Duck Confit which was one of the best I've ever had. And my boyfriend loved the flat iron steak. So simple, but perfectly cooked, well rested, and delicious. We shared a half litre of st. Emilion with our mains... Oh and FYI, you can get every wine on the list by the half litre too. <br/>To finish we shared the chef's creative take on Black Forest cake. Oh my goodness; I have no words. Perfection on a plate. <br/>Bravo. <br/>Danke. <br/>See you again soon. <br/>:)

Awesome new place just outside of the market. Absolutely delicious food, great service and cool homie vibe !!! Definitely worth checking out.

Opening Night. We went to Das Lokal for the grand opening on Friday September 27th. We are by no means the type of people that go to grand openings restaurants but we live across the street and have been watching this place being built for the last several months so we thought we thought why not celebrate a friend’s birthday and welcome the new neighbours.<br/><br/>We made a reservation for 4 but still had to wait about 10 minutes for our table which was not a problem, but the entrance way is very small and the restaurant was packed with people so while the length of time we waited was no issue, our surrounds were a bit cramped.<br/><br/>The server was very friendly. After we had selected a wine ourselves, she boldly recommended another one, which we went with. It was just as good as our first pick would have been. We didn't mind, but I think a really "foodie" would have been a little offended that the server basically told us our first choice wasn't good and recommended another one.<br/><br/>My friend and I both had the flat iron steak. It was listed on the menu as medium rare, I usually prefer medium but I was willing to go medium rare. Again, the server insisted that we have the steak rare even though it was listed on the menu as medium rare. Being that medium rare was already a bit of a stretch for me I stuck with it but my friend opted for rare. When the item is specifically listed on the menu as medium rare I'm not sure why it would be recommended to us as rare. The gravy was more of a soy sauce, which I found tasty but very very salty. The menu is not yet posted online so I can’t go back and check was it was listed as but we were both surprised by the soy sauce gravy. I enjoyed it, my friend did not. <br/><br/>It was a very small menu with not to many options to choose form but all the food is supposed to be locally sourced within 30km of the restaurant to I imagine the menu will change seasonally. I would go back in another few months once the service has calmed down a bit and the menu has changed. $24 for the steak and $10 a glass of wine so prices are middle of the range, typical of the market.<br/><br/>We waited quite a long time for our bills at the end of the night but overall it was enjoyable. Worth checking out.

I literally gasped when I walked in the resto. Gone was the dark, dated, European restaurant look of the 60's... and I was suddenly transported into a northern European/Scandinavian space - light wood surfaces, colourful banners, natural light pouring in - it was the perfect winter getaway. Our hostess told me about some of the extras they were working on - cute little fire outside, with fur covered seats to curl up in, even a piano that gets played on the weekends.

Chicken Liver Mousse + anything pickled + crostini = tasty. The rabbit rillette in the centre doesn't look like a rillette on the plate but tastes heavenly with a touch of moustard. The most disappointing part was the buffalo "bacon" which I guess was my own fault for going in with such high expectations because it just tasted like less salty bacon. Overall not bad but it feels like there needs to be something creamy on this plate to balance the meat and acid components, like a cheese or something of the sort.

Das Lokal seems to be the top dining destination among locals in Ottawa, this statement may be true in the first few months of 2014, but it isn't the case anymore.<br/><br/>My roommate was raving how good the food was at Das Lokal. But for no apparent reason, the quality of the food and service has simply gone downhill. Our evening did not start when the waiter asked us if we had reservation, then going to check in their system if they can squeeze us in a half-filled restaurant at 7:30pm. No new guest showed up after 8pm.