Review The Whalesbone Oyster House - Ottawa

We had a great evening here. One of the best assortments of oysters I’ve ever had. Ate at the bar and had a great conversation with the staff. Very engaging and attentive. One the best aspects was the scotch in the oyster shells. That will be my go-to. Music was outstanding and overall vibe terrific.

This is my ultimate place to go for oysters! Always fresh and soooo delicious. They have so much sauce to choose from for your oysters! I always eat like 50$ worth of oysters every time I come here haha! Their salmon and soup is very good and the deep fried ice cream is my favourite! Love love love it! The staff is very chill and friendly and seems like they love working here! Nice and cozy with great food, excellent place for any kind of occasion.

Good location, fun atmosphere, and delicious food. The staff are also knowledgeable about their offerings and drinks. This is one of the go to places for oysters in the city. Definitely a must, if you're a fan. Their other meals change through the year with local foods incorporated into it. One downside of this location is that there is no AC, so it gets quite hot in there.

Great food and friendly staff. Loved the apps we ordered and the main course. Flavors are well balanced. Seafood is definitely good here. Went on a Sunday and it wasn't too busy and we got great service.

We went to the original Whalesbone restaurant on Bank street. Always great service and food. OMG, I love oysters. C'mon down and try a plate, or two. The Bank street location is smaller, but has great decor, atmosphere. Am I in Newfoundland?? Maybe. Thanks for great food. Loved the salmon. Yummy.

We just finished a museum visit and started walking around the area looking for a place to eat. Did a quick search for seafood restaurants nearby on Google Maps. Nearest was " Whalesbone " merely a few hundred meters away, and it had great reviews. So we began our journey. The instant we walked in the door, my godchild and I knew we were going to enjoy our decision. The charm of the restaurant was in it's decor, the staff and the best part, besides the wonderful food, was the nostalgic feeling I got once I saw the bartender putting on music. He was using an actual record player and we listened to great vinyl albums from the 70s and 80s. We both enjoyed our choices, Mariana had the Atlantic salmon and I enjoyed the Shellfish Risotto. They made adjustments to my meal to comply with my food intolerances without hesitation. Probably should mention that, one needed to have a reservation because of limited seating. Without knowing this, they still served us. They asked a couple of clients to give up a little space at the bar and we all shared it and it made for good conversation. Top notch service and staff, with great food. What more do you want from a restaurant?

Friendly, personable, attentive staff made this high end restaurant accessible to tourists. If you know nothing about oysters, but enjoy seafood fine dining, come here! Everything was excellent. No dress code required. Expect to spend about $40-50 per person.

The Best trout dish I have Ever had! Staff was incredible! Dishes were beyond Fantastic, just an absolutely Amazing experience. I was told Whalesbone was great but you have to experience it for yourself! Wow!! Blew my mind!

Whalesbone (on Bank) has been my favourite restaurant for years. It comes at a price but you can always expect perfectly executed fresh and flavourful dishes. I personally enjoy sitting at the bar and watching the staff prep oysters and interact with them. Everyone is very friendly and the atmosphere is on point. We always do reservations on the weekend given the limited seating. Highly recommend!

Love Whalesbone Oysters - probably the best you can get in the city. The Bank Street location is, however, cramped, and they only do reservations for tables on weekends. Seating at the bar is an option - although it is also very limited. The place has a hipster, NYC SoHo restaurant kind of vibe to it. Music is played on a record player. There is a single row of tables, right next to the bar, where you can easily see oysters being shucked right in front of you. Even though I prefer the Elgin location, the quality of the food doesn't differ between the two. My friends and I were lucky to get a table on a Friday without a reservation. We split the 18 oysters (the beach gems from BC are my favourite!), clam chowder and mussels. Worth every penny for what we got. Definitely a splurge, but you won't regret it.

Staff are friendly and helpful. Oysters were a mix of local and more exotic choices (I.e. New Zealand). Mussels with coconut milk broth were delicious. All seafood very fresh. Would recommend without reservation.

I have been to the Whalesbone in the past few years for lunch at least 6 times, had a good experience each time. <br/><br/>Dinner there however is quite a different thing. On March 28th for 8pm we had booked the large table in the front so we could introduce our friends their food. Our experience was something less than pleasant. In summary it will be impossible to ever get our friends to visit this place for dinner again. I can no longer recommend this restaurant. <br/><br/>I am providing further details on the meals, but as you see below wrt to the pricing you have the right to expect a good to excellent meal. <br/><br/>Food Quality ( 5 meals )<br/><br/>1. Atlantic Salmon (0/10) $39<br/><br/>2. Ontario Walleye (8/10) $43<br/><br/>3. Angus Prime Strip loin (6/10) $47<br/><br/>4. Atlantic Salmon (4/10) $39<br/><br/>5. Mackerel (5/10) $34<br/><br/>Atlantic Salmon: ( The problem meals )<br/><br/>The salmon was presentd as a 3 inch thick piece with some lentils, beets and carrots on a large plate. The real issue is that in one case the salmon was mostly raw, the second salmon dinner was raw in the for an inner inch. I do mean raw. The size of the plate vs the portion also gave you the impression that the meal was undersized. This was ordered by 2 of the 3 women in our party.<br/><br/>For one of these meals the server was ask to send it back and have it cooked further. She took the salmon piece and informed the customer to eat the vegetables while she waited. After 3 minutes the salmon came back .. still raw, Really. Note to server: You should have ensured it was cooked throughout like the customer requested and returned it on another plate complete with hot vegetables. Additionally, she did even check on the second customer who also ordered the salmon.<br/><br/>Ontario Walleye:<br/><br/>It was exactly what expected. Served in a bowl with clams and what I think were brussel sprouts it was tasty and tender with a nice presentation.<br/><br/>Angus Prime Strip loin<br/><br/>Served in bowl with potatoes, mushrooms and kale the meal appeared nice. The customer ordered the strip loin to be cooked medium rare. It was quite apparent that it was cooked well / medium. No pink to be seen. Additionally, it was served with a fat residue around the outside of the strip loin.<br/><br/>Mackerel:<br/><br/>My wife had the mackerel with pork belly, bokchoy and mushrooms. This was a similar meal as the walleye but was lacking presentation. She also commented the next morning that mackerel was not that great and would not order it again. <br/><br/>"Sea-Cuterie" Board:<br/><br/>It had a nice presentation on a wooden board. It was not really good value for the money. The contents were hard to identify and small. It was really not worth while ordering this.<br/><br/>With regard to the server. We found her to be pushy, rude at times and lacking any real sincerity in addressing the identified dinner issues. We were treated to the meal by friends, but if I was paying the tip would have reflected the value (5%).<br/><br/>Generally, I think I will visit again for lunch but avoid the dinners. Our friends however will never visit this place in the future.

What can I say that already hasn't been said? This is one of Ottawa's best restaurants not only when it comes to seafood, but when it comes to a restaurant concept and presentation. A small restaurant that has managed to stand out in the crowd because of its excellent food and signature oyster dishes. <br/><br/>Even after all these years, there is still a crowd and a lineup so simply arrive early if possible. <br/><br/>Naturally, if you an oyster lover you will definitely want to sample the menu. Other seafood dishes are certainly worth trying as well.

I came here for my birthday and I definitely would do it again. Everything is so fresh in this restaurant. The oysters were very clean and fresh and the main courses were great too. We ordered a variety of things and all tasty.

Their Bank St. location is small, warm and cozy. It does get very crowded on a Friday night so be sure to make a reservation. They have a small but very diverse menu which gives a lot of options. Some of their appetizers are quite big and filling, like the mussel bowl I ordered. It was a delicious bowl of mussel, cooked with coconut milk and Thai flavours (lemongrass, Thai basil, ginger) and it wasn't too spicy. Staff is very friendly and attentive. Will definitely come back.

We went to the Bank location. I found the restaurant way too expensive for the portions you get. They ran out of bread apparently the night we went!! I felt the restaurant had an ambiance of a college pub; as such, the noise level was too high, and the place was very tight and cramped. The prices were extravagant and did not match the quality of food or portions you get. Definitely will not be returning.

Service was amazing and the food was excellent. What I didn't like was the price vs the portions. I ordered the Cod and the size of fish was approx 2inches by on 1inch. Next was the glasses of wine. Minimum $12 for a 6oz... a bit too much. Would go back for a drink and some Oysters at the bar but wouldn't go the wine or a meal.

The new location is great, everything is wonderfully laid out and it is very enjoyable. The food was prepared to perfection and everyone enjoyed their choices. The staff are friendly and very helpful.<br/><br/>The only down side is the noise level. The restaurant was not full but we had a hard time to hear each other in our party of 5.

Hands down the best restaurant we have ever been to. Cool casual pub like feel. The best high end food you will find anywhere. The staff is friendly and helpful. We are from 6 hours away and we will most definitely be back.

We sat at the bar as it was a busy Sunday evening we decided to visit. This place is pretty small so many I would recommend having a reservation. The oysters were fresh and served with many tasty sauces. I had the lobster risotto and thought I had died and gone to heaven. Great food, <br/>great service!

This place is quite amazing! The oysters are fresh and delicious, and I would recommend this place for any seafood lover. The waiter was knowledgeable of each type of oyster, which made it interesting to know the background of the food. Would definitely recommend!

The Whales Bone was a great spot for lunch if you wanted to eat a bit cheaper at a really nice place. The environment was cozy and very quirky. We shared some oysters, fish and chips, and the thai mussels, which was all very delicious. The oysters came with a bunch of noteworthy sauces we kept to eat with our fish and chips. Definitely worth the visit.

Whalesbone has been at the top of my list for years, but I only just got around to eating there a few weeks ago. It's a small, cozy environment, although our table was almost out the door, which meant that walk-ins were forced to almost sit on our table. That being said, I had a wonderful experience. The staff were friendly, the food was delicious, and I would absolutely go back again.They have a small menu, but everything on it is delicious and innovative. The mains range from roughly 25-40$ (lobster being at the high end), and I had the trout, which was absolutely wonderful.

One of Ottawa's more popular restaurant - and for good reason. Inspiring meals and an excellent selection of seafood. Naturally, one of the things that they are known for is their oysters - so good that other restaurants in the city actually buy from them.<br/><br/>The staff is friendly and accommodating and makes you feel welcome. The restaurant is SMALL but cozy and if you can get in for dinner, then you'll surely have a good time. A definite must-visit for anyone who is loving the food revolution that is happening in Ottawa.

I brought my parents here for Father's Day. They have travelled all over Europe and they said that they have never eaten food of this quality. Perfect 10 on all counts of food and service.

Noise may be a factor for some. As much as we wanted to try the Whalesbone Oyster House's fare, based on the excellent reviews, our table in the otherwise full restaurant, was directly under what appeared to be the primary music speaker. Conversation was difficult, and we had to excuse ourselves and leave before ordering.

Quality seafood, pub environment - like the East Coast. The food and service is exceptional, no doubt. However, the place is a bit overrated. The ambiance is like a watering hole/pub, very loud and tight. The prices are very very high. Understandable for some dishes that require distance to bring in product, or authentic local fare, but you can get comparable dishes in Ottawa for less $.

Earthy and fun with great food. Down home feel and the food rocks. Always love eating here.

Mediocre Oysters. Atmosphere and beer selection is good. Oysters themselves less so. If this was marketed as a hipster bar I would think of it more fondly. Since they market specifically as an Oyster Bar, I expected better oysters. Oysters are not fresh, obviously nothing compared to anything you get in the Maritimes or BC. Even as far as Ottawa is concerned, the oysters were no better than Big Daddy's used to have, with worse sauce options available. Might be nice for Ottawa locals who have never had fresh oysters and want to try a new experience in a happening social setting, but nothing special for oyster lovers IMO.

Large sandwiches got smaller.. I went to the Kent location for lunch with my girlfriend the other day and we both noticed that the Large "lunch special" sandwiches we ordered were actually smaller than they were several months ago. The buns seemed to be the same size as before, but the staff seemed to have skimped on the fish quite a lot. Even after eating a large sandwich with a small chowder I was left hungry, which has never happened in my previous visits to Walesbone. The quality is still amazing, but I was disappointed with the amount of food I received for my $14. I will definitely go to Walesbone again and order the same thing just to see if the sandwich is in fact smaller than usual.

Pricey but fixes that seafood craving you've got. Had a girl's night out on a rainy weekday. I've bused past this place mutliple times and I was always curious of the name, upon stepping in, I was in awe of the beautiful, rustic decor of the place. Kinda felt like I went back in time a little bit. There was an old bicycle on the wall next to the door, a miniature skeleton of a whale hanging on the ceiling, and music was coming from a vinyl record player. I almost expected some old sea captain to welcome us in with a hearty laugh, hopping around with a wooden peg leg. <br/><br/>Had a glass of white wine (riesling) with a shared order of 6 raw oysters (with the bartender being very knowledgeable about the oysters) we got some from the virginia coast, P.E.I, and Nova Scotia, I believe. the sauces to go with on the side were delicious, some adventurous flavors. For the main course, we went all out, and split a Lobster Risotto. I was expecting some fairly decent pieces of lobsters in the dish, but we actually got an entire lobster! minus the head of course, the thick, fat lobster tail and two claws, still in their shell, but cooked well enough (and the tail cut in half because we were sharing) that the skin came right off. Risotto was so rich, I was definitely satisfied. <br/><br/>**NOTE** But don't go here if you AREN'T expecting to be dropping plenty of dollar bills. With two glasses of wine, 6 oysters, and one lobster risotto dish, the bill came up to about $90 not including tip. (if someone takes you here on a first date, you are one lucky guy/girl)

Way overpriced. Went for lunch. At $12, I expected the chowder to be a meal portion. It was not, not at all. Just a regular bowl, with about 3-4 clams, a small piece of fish and a fair amount of lovely purple potatoes. It was delicious BUT really not worth the money. I found prices for most other items were also way to high, even more so for lunch.

Nothing fishy about this place.... Had dinner here for the first time on a very hot summer day and was not disappointed! We were seated at the common table by the front window which was a great little spot, and although the restaurant was very busy (on a Tuesday!) we did not feel crowded at all. I started with a Kitchesippi natural blonde to help quench my thirst, followed by some very delicious oysters with a delightful selection of sauces and fixins', I then opted for the scallop ceviche and shared the thai mussels with a friend. Everything was amazing! Good presentation, great service, and best of all delicious food!

Unbelievably good oysters and a great experience with friendly staff and an old school vibe. A little pricey but that has not stopped me from going back time and time again. Would highly recommend this place on any day of the week, as the vibe rarely changes and the food delivers on all levels. Now I want oysters...

The food was wonderful. Beautiful tuna, soft flaky mackeral in an amazing broth. But what really made the meal extraordinary was the service. Attentive, funny, knowledgable. Great evening!

The food was amazing. Certainly got one of the best kitchens in Ottawa. However I was not expecting how small the locale was, was not a fan of sitting so close to other guests and hearing their conversations over my own. <br/><br/>Hope the business will expand and maintain its superb menu/chef!

Awesome seafood!! Very fresh and tasty food. Service was excellent as was the atmosphere. Perfect place for a date night. I loved the whalesbone and will definitely be back!

Amazing food at quite the price!. Their atmosphere is raw and the food is quite delicious but they are ridiculously overpriced with inadequate portions. The lobster risotto was well made but not for a tiny portion for ~$45. The trout for ~$30 was lacking and unimpressive, I was expecting much more. Surprisingly, the best dish was the steak for ~$30 which was indeed worth it. All in all, I recommend buying their seafood from their kent street fish supply and cooking at home. Good seafood doesn't require much fuss and tastes amazing on its own... the simpler the seasoning, the better the dish.

Best seafood in the Ottawa area.... This place is easily in the top 5 best dining experiences I have had in this city. Went this weekend as a kind of "belated" Valentine's Day dinner so went with the hopes of being impressed. Our meal far exceeded expectations. <br/><br/>We started with the sesame-covered tuna and some mussels that were prepared in a thai-inspired coconut sauce. Both were good but the latter was the clear standout. We both remarked later that we would have been satisfied with just eating two plates of the mussels, with how addictive the sauce was.<br/><br/>For the main courses I had the walleye with clams and ham served over peas and potatoes. My partner had the Steelhead Trout which had a very unique flavour due to the fennel seeds it was served with. Both were prepared immaculately, with crispy skin hiding a moist and delicate flesh. <br/><br/>We finished with having the churros and chocolate sauce, but upon the rave reviews by the couple seated next to us, we ordered the banana cream pie as well. Served in a glass bowl, it was more of a crumble than a pie, but it was superb. Fresh fruit served over layers of moist crumbs, rich cream, and amazing caramel sauce. <br/><br/>For those keeping count - yes, we ordered two appetizers and two desserts. I think the fact that I just guaranteed myself some extra treadmill time if I'm going to fit into my current clothes is testament to how wonderful we found the food.<br/><br/>As others have stated, the place is a rather small venue and was packed, so having reservations helped us immensely. While small, we didn't feel cramped, and while it was lively and loud, it wasn't annoyingly so and unlike some places the music was at a respectable level. <br/><br/>If I had one complaint, I feel like even considering how busy the place was, our main courses took a little too long to arrive. That said, the service was exceptional overall and I forgot about how much time had passed once I was eating.<br/><br/>If you enjoy fine dining in a somewhat casual atmosphere, I would put this as a mandatory stop for you.

Delicious!. This place is a 10 out of 10. If you're willing to spend money on a nice dinner out, do it here! They have fresh oysters ( our favourite), and they offer daily specials of many varieties. Any seafood lover will not be disappointed at whalesbone!

Mouth Watering. I took my Dad here for dinner and it was amazing!<br/><br/>I had the mackerel wrapped in bacon with a tomato/redpepper coulis. It was served with a non-creamy roasted scalloped-type potato and kale. It was the best dish I have ever had. My dad said his fish dish was also very tasty, he had grouper. We both shared the banana pudding dessert and it was yummy. I have wanted to try to make banana pudding ever since. I have a recipe saved already!<br/><br/>It is a tight restaurant, but they did their best with the seating arrangements. I love the open kitchen. The decor and atmosphere is very comforting. Sitting at the bar looks fun too! The bartender is very engaged with the people sitting at the bar. <br/><br/>I am also excited to try out the Elmdale Oyster House!

Attention Seafood lovers!!!!. Best seafood in town!!! hands down!!!

Overpriced and underwhelming. Went for lunch. Ordered the expensive ($25) lobster roll. For that price, I expected a good portion of well prepared and presented lobster. Received neither. The bread was soggy and very, very greasy, and the lobster consisted of one small claw and a few other small pieces, overcooked. Have eaten here before and loved the food, so perhaps they were having a bad day, but this was the wordy lobster roll I have ever had, out of many.

Absolutely the Best. This is the best restaurant I have experienced in Ottawa in 2013. Everything from the food, ambiance and service was outstanding. May make this my regular seafood spot. Do start with a selection of oysters.

Excellent east coast gourmet menu. The menu as delicious. I always take a dozen of oysters as an appetizer.<br/>I also adore the ambiance in there.<br/>The service is great and friendly as well.<br/>Really nothing to complain about imo!

Went here for lunch today. Delicious! The chowder and lobster roll were very good; made with simple and fresh ingredients. The service was great, very quick and friendly. It's small but has a fun and cozy atmosphere. I will definitely be back to try oysters and dinner!

AMAZEBALLS! everything wa.... AMAZEBALLS!<br/><br/>everything was delicious and perfect, from the service, the drinks to our food ... we ate like kings and were treated like royalty ... we had raw oysters, tuna sashimi, scallop civiche, thai mussels, halibut cheeks and lobster risotto ... what a perfect sunday night dinner with family and friends ... thanks so much chef radford and crew, you guys rock !!!

Omg delicious. Have the tuna tartar for areal special tasting adventure. Menus are seasonal. Great seafood/raw bar.

Great staff, great seafood... what else matters?. I had a great experience! being australian, there are not many places i can resort to when yearning a great piece of fish. don't ask yourself whether you should postpone a visit to this great cozy spot you hear of in passing convo - it is great! the staff is friendly and whitty (something you can't even pay for these days)! it's been a while since i've seen delectable raspberry points on the menu (for the curious, a delectable east coast oyster from PEI: http://www.raspberrypoint.com/) also, not many swanky hot spots on bank street in ottawa and so, you would be silly to miss it! do yourself a favour and check it out! :-)

Expect to wait but great food!

Clam Chowder and Steelhead Trout absolutely fabulous.

Different. Things have been slightly different since Chef Charlotte Langley left Walesbone a year and a half ago. It was among my favourite restaurants in Ottawa but I noticed a little change in the food quality last time I went in March 2013. They are still rocking the oysters but the main dishes and service are lacking something. Don't get me wrong, I still love Walesbone and the food is still good but not as excellent as it was in 2011 and earlier years.

Oysters. Great restaurant! You will likely need a reservation for dinner. Oyster trays are great. They make a good caesar. Keep up the good work Whalesbone!

I went in for lunch with my uncle and we sat at the bar, really craving lobster rolls. they unfortunately had run out, but we settled for chowder & mussels & we were super impressed. the staff was great, and down to earth & for this ill definitely be back.

Awesome staff, awesome atmosphere, awesome food. What else can I say? If you are an oyster/seafood aficionado and you live in Ottawa or are visiting don't MISS this place!!

I went there with my girlfriend for Valentine's day for the first time. The menu was a fixed price of $69 a head which was very reasonable considering the cost of their menu. The food was very good and we left very full and happy. The best part about this place is the staff. They made the meal so much more enjoyable. It took awhile for our appetizer to come out and even though we insisted we were in no rush they comped 4 drinks for us. I would definitely recommend this place to friends because even though its a little pricey it's nice to treat yourself every now and again.

Hi guys Just went there o.... Hi guys<br/><br/>Just went there on a very stormy snowy day and the place was pack!! The experience i had there with girlfriend was amazing. The food was out of this world and the waiter where great!! Definetly going back!!! I recommend this very cozy but great place to anyone

Stick with the Oysters. The lobster was only half a small lobster, stale, and of course overpriced

Love/Hate. I've gone to Whalesbone a few times and my meal always starts off great, and disappoints me at the end. They have THE BEST oysters in Ottawa without a doubt, and some great apps, but when it comes to the main dishes, I'm always a little disappointed. Next time I go I think ill just stick to oysters and beer.

Very Good. Went with my partner. We had oysters and the scallop tartar, the sauce on the scallops was awesome but it kinda overpowered the scallops themselves! I had muscles for dinner and they were AMAZING. Really interesting combination with the lime and the peanuts and coconut milk. I would order it again for sure! My partner had the lobster and it was good but not excellent. <br/><br/>I will go back again soon! Service was excellent with nice wine and beer choices!

By far my favorite restaurant in Ottawa

Not Garbage. Listed as 'fine dining' by urbanspoon. Food is good but nowhere near fine dining (and that isn't a bad thing).

Great overall. Coming back soon.. Time and money well spent. <br/>Fine experience for oysters<br/>High quality food, service, ambience and music...<br/>Lovely!

Best Restaurant in Ottawa. Whalesbone gets my vote for best restaurant in Ottawa. What they care about is the food and it shows. It's very small so you'll want a reservation and the service isn't fine dining by any means but the food on its own is enough to make it awesome, the food is that good.

ARRRRguably the best restaurant in Ottawa. Went here with my wife for our anniversary. <br/><br/>She had the clam-mussel-oyster appetizer and the lobster, I had the tuna appetizer and the swordfish. Loved the atmosphere at this place, it was loud but alive and full of energy. <br/><br/>My wife's eyes kept getting wider with each bite of the appetizer, and was pretty much rapt throughout her entree. I didn't need to ask her if she liked it! <br/><br/>My own appetizer was excellent, but the tuna was so good that the accompaniments almost got in the way, in particular the (admittedly very well done and tasty) sesame cream sauce drizzled and smeared in gobs across the well-presented plate. Best used sparingly so as not to mask the flavour of the excellent tuna, but included in large amounts, so a bit of a puzzle there. <br/><br/>The swordfish was presented in 5mm-thick slices displaying the fresh raw center with a perfect, delicate sear, and came with spiced roasted chickpeas in a gorgeous sauce and I can honestly say was the best fish I have ever had. <br/><br/>The churros with chocolate for dessert was a perfect, light yet intense capper. I don't know if the flavour of the chocolate or the mouthfeel of the crisp-gooey churro was better, but together they were delicious. <br/><br/>First time coming here, and we will be back..

Delish Oysters. Very cool place and I dig the oysters.

High end, cramped, delicious. Whalesbone is barely bigger than the lobby of most restaurants. This very tiny, cramped, loud, and friendly restaurant seats maybe 10-12 at tables and another 10 or so at the two bars. I went alone and had to muscle in between two others at the bar. If you're sensitive to close quarters, you'll have a problem here, but personally I thought it gave the whole place a local, friendly, atmosphere.<br/><br/>I started with four assorted oysters; the night I went they were stocking from four different bays in PEI, although I think they stock west-coast oysters some nights. The oysters were fresh (you get that really nice sea-water brine), tasty, and fun to slurp. They were served on ice with the traditional lemon slices and grated horseradish and a variety of sauces. Oysters were 3 bucks a pop, give or take.<br/><br/>I followed up with a grilled Walleye entrée served on a bed of couscous and veggies. The couscous was delicious and the walleye was very well cooked with a delicious crust. I licked the plate clean. About $30.<br/><br/>Bartenders and shuckers were friendly and talkative and service was great and attentive.

Best seafood in the city. This place has the best seafood in the city! The oysters are always fresh. They change up their menu quite frequently and the food is always mind-blowing. Sure it is really expensive (plates ranging from $35+) but worth it for the mouthwatering creations. Lunch recommendation: lobster mac and cheese. Dinner recommendation: Lobster risotto or the swordfish. Nom nom nom! Reservations are required even on a weekday evening.

Really Good, Slow service & Expensive.. I dont even remember what I ordered! but it was really good! The service is a tad slow! but the food covers the slow service! High costs! but its not big deal!

Ur food is good<br/><br/><br/>-----09 Aug, 2012-----<br/><br/>Very Good. Very good food

Great Food, So-So Atmosphere. In general, the seafood sucks in Ottawa (please, this isn't the Maritimes) but the guys at Whalesbone serve fish of superior quality that is always creatively prepared. Additionally the servers are knowledgable and professional (not the usual drifty student types that you tend to get in the Market). The wine list is pretty good and you can get most by the bottle, glass or caraffe. <br/><br/>The restaurant itself is small, noisy and usually crowded. It's not the greatest ambiance - it would be nice to see the team move to a bigger, more elegant place.

Thumbs up. The BEST spot is to sit in front of the chief, it's a small place but LOVE the environment. Seafoods were GREAT and cooked to your taste, service was awesome the server really watched you for your needs.

Not a great lunch. We were really excited about having lunch here. We had heard a lot of great things. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that we caught them on a bad day because our lunch was not good. The tuna was OK, but for $20 I would expect more. The fish and chips (at $18) were a total disappointment. There is actually very little fish involved and the fish that was served was very overdone, to the point where the batter was so hard that I could barely cut through it. Similar results for the fries. Like I said, we might try them again to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it won't be for a while. There are lots of other places we'll try first.

First time, won't be the last time. I was surprised by how small the restaurant is, very close quarters between tables and from table to bar. Great music coming from the turntable on the bar. Very friendly attentive service. I started with the Rockefeller appetizer, would sat there all night eating nothing but those, perhaps another time. I had the trout with fiddleheads, very good, trout was cooked to perfection. My wife had the lobster, nice big portion the edmame and barley rissotto worked very nice with the lobster. I'd like to go back again just for an evening of oysters and wine.

Great experience!. Went here this past Saturday night, boyfriend and I shared a dozen oysters, some tuna tartare and a half bottle of Riesling. We had the chef choose the oysters for us and all 3 kinds were equally good. Great atmosphere and while it certainly wasn't a cheap meal, we had no complaints! (well, except for the George Michael album peeking out from their LP collection!)

The best. If you like oysters, seafood, local food and great wait staff, whalesbone is for you. The restaurant itself is in an awkward location and on a cold January evening, but once inside the windows dome up and you feel at a friends home. The presentations were polished which showcased the chef's artistic background and of course culinary knowledge.<br/>The oyster selection is amazing, try the Beausoleil my new found favourite <br/>I will return for sure !

Best dining experience in a long time!. A friend brought me to Whalesbone for a belated birthday treat.<br/><br/>As expected, the service was just as fantastic as the food. We shared oysters, an amazingly delicious tuna appetizer and a flank steak main. The quality of the food exceeded expectations. I truly find it difficult to find words to describe how wonderful the tuna appetizer was.<br/><br/>Whalesbone provided for an amazing evening. Cravings for the feel of the place, the music, food and service will definitely bring me back again soon.

Best Restaurant for Fresh Oysters in the City!!. I can't say enough good things about this place! I have been back to eat many times and every time I leave wanting to go back. Best oyster selection and wine. I ordered the set meal the last time I was in and it was amazing. Staff are very friendly and the atmosphere is great. Make sure you make reservations. Try it- well worth the money!

Wow Sums it Up!. As a not Ottawa-savvy out-of towner in the core on business travel, a farther walk down Bank Street led me to a great, small spot with excellent food and cool music.<br/><br/>Tasty Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and B.C. oysters, with 12-year-old Dalwhinnie amongst the accompaniments, were followed by a fantastic ceviche of thinly sliced acidy scallops with dill, chives, and tiny chunks of mango over cucumber slices and creme fraiche.<br/><br/>The steelhead trout was delicious seasoned tender flesh with super-crispy skin, with home-cut frites in jus also with a slather of home-made mayo on the edge of the plate. Romaine leaves held just the right amount of bitter but so tasty dressing as the perfect counter-point.<br/><br/>Such tasty food with great service and vibe about the place guarantee a return visit any time back in town.

A great, intimate spot for delicious food and a warm atmosphere. Fantastic oysters with all the garnishes plus a beer selection not often seen at a high end restaurant.

Freshest otsters in town! Can't wait to go try shucker's special again!

I've been to Whalesbone three time, twice for dinner and once for bruch. The dinners are good, although not all the dishes I liked, but some does stands out, such as their tuna tartar, an pork belly. However I was very disappointed by the brunch offering. We had fish and chips, which is fairly average in terms of flavor. The chips are nice, chunky and crispy. But the dipping tartar sauce was too sweet. The tuna and corn waffle is a play of the south classic chicken and waffle, but it's quite a disaster. The tuna are deep fried so it lose most of the juiciness and it's sweet. The corn waffle is sweet, but there's not enough sauce to go with it that the entire dish is very dry. There was some kind of foam on the plate, but it has no taste so Infont think It's necessary. Given the price thy charge for these fishes, I hope they will put more effort into the brunch menu.

Wonderful atmosphere, knock out oysters and good appetizers - finished with the most disappointing mains we have ever had in a restaurant of this calibre. I have honestly had better seafood at Red Lobster. Everything in my paella was tough and rubbery. My boyfriend's trout was cooked nicely but otherwise unremarkable. We felt like we could have done better at home. We would go back for oysters and appetizers but definitely, definitely skip the mains. I would recommend the same for anyone interested in going.

A group of friends & I went on friday night, had the walleye, oysters & more. Always a great time at Whalesbone, lets have another shot of Sailer Jerry Rum... dangerous... but so good...

Perfectly adequate. Noisy, crowded, offbeat. There was an energy that you can get from a popular, trendy destination. We left thinking it was "ok" and we'd return if we were with people that wanted to eat there but we wouldn't be the one's to suggest it.

I was extremely disappointed with Whalesbone. Really rather angry actually, because despite having a really great time and enjoying the atmosphere, I walked away underwhelmed, feeling like I just got really ripped off, and wishing I could go back, undo, and go to Chez Lucien instead. I mean, it's not like it was bad, but for those kind of prices, your tastebuds should be wowed by every bite. Here, the most potent flavour was salt and nothing else rose above bland mediocrity. The oysters were great, as was the calamari, but it was not life-changing. I wish I had just stopped there, because avoid a main would have been a good plan. I had the trout, and all I can say is that the eggplant parmigiano shouldn't be the best thing on your plate when you're paying those prices for the fish. Two of my friends had lobster, which was a tiny portion and badly overcooked, that came with a jar of what was essentially Kraft dinner. Add to that the criminally overpriced desserts, none of which were bad, but none of which were that wonderful, followed by getting slammed with a huge bill, I would not go back there again. <br/><br/>I am not a stranger to paying lots for amazing food, but when you pay that much for a meal, I have the expectation that one should a) be totally expecting it, b) be indifferent towards price because the food you just ate rocked your world, c) eager to tell everyone you know how much they have to go there because it was phenomenal, and d) walk away feeling at peace thinking "that was totally worth every penny." In this case for me, not so much. WhalesBOOne.

Great Food- Unbeatable atmosphere. From the old gritty jazz vinyl playing overhead to the superbly dirty kitsch adorning the walls, Whalesbone just oozes originality, <br/>And its menu mirrors the achieved atmosphere.<br/><br/>I've been to Whalesbone a handful of times and every time I went I left with a new appreciation for some obscure cut of meat, a fancy new ingredient or the basic potato we all know and love. With a refined menu of only about 5 mains they somehow are able to appeal to most tastes, even vegetarians! <br/><br/>I would go more often but it is a bit expensive, worth it, but expensive. But how can you blame them when even the bread and butter served before your meal could keep you coming back?

Great food, but a little noisy. Went out with the family (4 - wife and daughters (20, 20 trs old)), and off the appetizers and entrees where A++. <br/>.<br/>But it was noisy and make some conversations difficult, with wife fashioning some ear plugs to cut the din (did not help they added music to compete with people talking) (music is great for ambiance, but it just made it louder).

Consistently good. Always can count on a good meal. The staff are fun and it's funky with the old LPs they spin. In all, a great place.

Delicious. You should try their crisped salmon, it's different and good. Great Oyster service, but pricey.

Fabulous. Love the Whalesbone Oyster House. The variety of oysters is awesome. I went with a girl friend- we sat at the bar, had some oysters and then dinner. Nice to sit and listen to the records being played - and have amazing food. The fish is sustainably caught - a big plus (you know where it is from!!) I'd go back in a heartbeat!

Get ready to have a good time and some great food, this place is on the expensive side but it's worth every penny and the staff earns it. The only thing I would say is the portions are a tad small depending on how much you eat but still a great place !

The best oysters ever! The foie gras was perfectly seared and the frites a blend of crunch and fluffy potato. The service was outstanding and understanding. Do not miss this one!

Wow..nicely done !. Across the board ,Whalesbone deserves high praise.<br/>Friendly and attentive service..two seats at the Chef's bar gets one a learning experience and friendly chatter.<br/>The oysters are wonderful..My favorite is PEI silver.<br/>Mackeral is not near the top of my fish preferences but the combination of tastes on this plate are superb.<br/>And do share the donoughts.<br/>The wine list has plenty of options and is priced fairly.

Amazing. This has to be one of my favorite dining experiences in the Capital. It deserves every star in this review. Me and girlfriend went there in early December, on a Thursday night.<br/><br/>Firstly, it literally is a hole in the wall. It might sit 20 people, tops. Secondly, we're talking about an all-sustainable fish and seafood menu. This, for me, justified the price, which happens to be most of the reviewers' biggest gripe. Granted, I wouldn't eat there everyday, but I'd be willing to pay every penny to go again every now and then.<br/><br/>For eats, had some oysters for starters, a fantastic bottle of white (which I forget the name), swordfish and scallops for entrée, followed by the trout and halibut dishes. Plates are relatively small, and loaded with flavours that seem contradictory at first. This is what they get right: a few ingredients per plate, and they let them sing.<br/><br/>The atmosphere is relaxed, the music is loud and the selection rather eclectic, the people are extra friendly. We were graciously given a sampler plate of cheeses for dessert, a very nice -- and tasty! -- gesture.<br/><br/>Total cost was 230$.

Impeccable. Every last bite was amazing. I practically licked my plate. All my dining companions felt the same way!!

Best seafood in Ottawa. Service and food are truly fantastic. This is a winner.

I took my dad ,who's a maritimer, there for his birthday. It's small and cozy with a friendly and knowledgable staff. The food was perfectly prepared with an amazing taste profile but as my dad said the portions either small or overpriced, however you want to call it.

Expensive. Good food, good service but expensive. I went there solo. Had shuckers special (18 oysters $45) one draft beer ($4.50, one glass of wine $10.00) and Qualicum Beach scallops as the main dish (3 scallops (no price on menu). Total was over $102.00. In my opinion, not worth the hefty price.

Great food, great ambiance, awesome oyesters.. Very good place for a nice dinner, very cozy, good service and friendly staff. Even better if you just go to the bar, order a couple of beers or white wine and a dozen oysters. Great music always playing. Can´t wait to go again.

Went last night for the 4 or 5 time ... wonderful as always. The scallops were good, the cheese plate was divine, and the people make me want to stay all night long (thanks Lionel Richie). And try the Sandbanks Baco Noir ... yum!

Playful and innovative. Expensive and crowded yes, but the atmosphere is fun-loving and the food is playful and terrific. The most innovative restaurant in Ottawa in my opinion. These folks are doing great things. Check out their brown bag lunches at their fish supply house on Kent too (near the bus station).

Fantastic food and service. I ate here as a solo diner back in April. I sat at the bar thinking that I was going to be ignored... but the guys were super friendly, gave me tips on places to check out around town, and chatted a bit in between orders. Great music and and even better food. <br/><br/>I started with 6 assorted east coast oysters on the half shell and then had the foie gras as my main. The foie gras is listed as a small plate on the menu, but it is very filling and satisfying. Really tasty! And the oysters were so good, I finished off with two more as dessert. 8 oysters, foie gras, and a drink + tax & tip were about $55<br/><br/>Every city that I travel to, I make it a point to hit up an oyster bar. Other places may be cheaper with their "low tide" specials, but they make me want to knock back the okay food and drinks as quick as possible to end the awkwardness of eating alone. <br/>So far the Whalesbone has won hands down in terms of service and food quality.

This place is amazing. The food and the ambiance is awesome. It's my favorite restaurant in Ottawa. Reservation is the best but you can sit at the bar without booking, which I prefer. The staff is wonderful. Jennifer, the waitress, knows how to entertain us. Two thumbs up!!!!!!!

Small and HOT! (but very good). Best fish place in Ottawa, absolutely.