Review The Albion Rooms - Ottawa

My husband and I were overnight guests at your hotel, for our 50th Wedding Anniversary, a gift from our son and daughter and their families. The food was excellent. If I might add one comment, I have early onset Vascular Dementia and if I had not been with my husband I would have had trouble locating the dining room where we enjoyed a beautiful breakfast. So if I might, I was wondering if the signage, especially from the lobby toward the breakfast room might be enhanced. If there was a sign on the wall telling us the direction of the breakfast room, we did not see it. The bed was very comfortable, the duvet on the bed was perfect and the complimentary room snacks were greatly appreciated. We realize they were provided by our son and daughter however, they were an enjoyed bit of refreshment. Thanks You. We have your business card and will recommend your Hotel to anyone we encounter who is looking to visit and stay in Ottawa. The only drawback was the individual who chose \ to race his/her very load motorcycle or sports car up and down the street under our bedroom window at 3AM. I am afraid to say, if I had had a baseball bat with me I would have been down the elevator, out the hotel door, standing on the sidewalk the next time he passed and we would have gotten it! I'm Irish, nobody messes with the Irish! My husband is Dutch, with a much more subdued personality.

Hang out with colleagues and some drinks … we ordered a platter as snakes and it was more than delicious, good variety between cheese and meat, left everyone happy Drinks variety is good, and everyone can get something … Nicely decorated and clean Party of 8

ok... the service was great... charcuterie was fast coming out but probably made 6 hours ago judging by how dried out the pickled veg was. The wine was bearable at 14 per glass, did not finish the second one. the fish and chips were the highlight of the dinner since the fries were the best thing on the menu.The steak was fatty and salty, the second steak with no sauce was just as bad. We have stayed at this hotel before and dined at this restaurant as well and though.The 30 minute wait at the Keg wasn't worth it... Yes it would have been. Read this, the Keg isn't the greatest but at least the food is worth the wait. Unfortunately, i would skip this place if had the chance, for a restaurant with 4 stars and only a few items on the menu $180 bucks for two people. it was a bit less than expected. I would pass given the chance again.

Recently had an evening meal and a couple beers here while staying in the adjacent hotel. Staff was friendly and provided good service. The burger and the creme brule dessert were both delicious, and I will definitely eat here again. Recommended!

Had reservation 2 hours before a show, took 20 minutes to be looked as we watched new guests arrive and be served. In the end were still rushed to finish and ultimately missed the show.... Food was good but not worth the price especially given the poor service and lack of apology for ruining our night out.

My husband and I went here for dinner tonight. The food is pretty good, but service was on the slow side... Especially considering there was only one other table at the time. We started with the octopus small plate, which had a nice flavour to it. We both got the elk dishes, the loin and the burger. The burger was nothing extraordinary, but a solid burger. The loin was alright. We opted for two desserts, the pumpkin cake with espresso cream and choux pastry. The pumpkin was had the flavour profile of a pumpkin pie. I found the pumpkin seeds on top texturally off putting in contrast to the rest of the dessert. The choux was amazing. Would definitely recommend it.

Great place for very good food - creative cocktails and excellent wine list. The cocktails here are great, well thought through and even though they might be a bit different, that is exactly what makes them so good... The food here is exceptional - In a one week trip to Ottawa we went twice - only regret is not getting to dessert. The staff here are great friendly and still professional and the heritage space is our favourite - but the other spaces are still really really good - nice mix of old and new.

This is easily one of my favourite patios and restaurants in all of Ottawa. The space is gorgeous and located in a much quieter part of downtown Ottawa. The music they play is modern and relaxing. The server we had was an absolute gem, and made our experience so amazing. We ordered the charcuterie board, and we were taken aback by how delicious and diverse it was. The best part? All the found came from Canada. The prices are also very fair for the quality of the place. I will be here all summer.

I've heard about The Albion Rooms through the book: Ottawa Cooks. Made both recipes in the book. On January 27th, got to experience the restaurant, the real deal. Awsome in every way, great ambiance music, lovely decor, great service, and the best, the food ! I was able to try an out of this world bourbon drink. All and all, got to eat Rabbit, Duck (MariposaFarm) , Wild Boar (VKH) and their famous short rib !! Their thrice cooked french fries are super good ! Much recommended if you're downtown. Got to suggest, swing by Waller st. Brewery before for a flight, only two street corners away � Cheers !

Never heard if this little gem! Went for my daughter’s graduation dinner before the actual ceremony! We did advised the server because we were kind of pressed for time! The server made it easy and made us feel comfortable! Great selection of wine! Great food - from local farms and Ottawa gardens ie Mariposa farm etc. Great Charcuterie Board - very well served and presented! Main dishes were delightfully different! The atmosphere is very quint and airy - tables outside and living area tables and rooms for group reservations! Formal or informal eating outing! A definite go back for us! Thank you Albion Rooms!

Superb. Friendly staff, good atmosphere, tasty beer. Even better, the food. I had the Tuna and the Scotch Egg which were delicious and beautifully presented. Next night I had the Elk Carpaccio, absolute knock out dish.

Best charcuterie board in Ottawa: top quality meats and cheese, beautifully served at the perfect temperature. Nice variety of Ontarian craft beer. Excellent service: the server kindly took back a beer that was off without questioning my judgement. Will return.

Great place. Menu is local and amazing for both tbe food and the drinks. On top of that the service is amazing.

Hands down best Ceasar's I have ever had! Bartender was a legit mixologist....whipped up a custom concoction for my friend that included Tyhme infused vodka.....incredible.

The food is delicious, highest quality and well prepared. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and very efficient. A wonderful experience!

Going to the Albion Rooms was a last minute decision we don’t regret. Our server was wonderful, the atmosphere was relaxed even in the craziness of Winterlude ❄️. But our meals were so delicious. The Seafood book was seasoned perfectly and the elk burger was delicious and with the potato wedges it puts other restaurant burgers to shame. The locally sourced food and drinks are a plus as we like to support local producers.

Great atmosphere and not too loud. Nice to have a drink or a meal. Very romantic but the hotel lobby takes away from the vibe.

Had the Colonel By-nedict for brunch and it was one of the best eggs benedict I have had in a long time. My friends though their meals were delish too.

Food was great. Service was average. Place was slammed. Thinking another server or 2 would have helped. That said, will definately go back.

Jonathan the mixologist made me what he called a "slow hypnotic". Best drink I have ever had! The man's a magician with alcohol!

Thanks to Kim, the best waitress ever, we had a great anniversary!!! Loved everything about our visit here!!!

Love every visit! Service and food is always top drawer.

Absolutely one of my favourite restaurants in Ottawa! Delicious food, welcoming staff and a great atmosphere!

Fantastic staff, delish food and amazing cocktails! If you haven't been to The Albion Rooms, you MUST visit soon! :)

2nd time there after a year and had the exact same thing cause it was so good - 72hr slow cooked brisket. It's definitely delicious but needs more sauce on the plate. The charcuterie plate was generous and tasty, decent beer selection, but limited cocktails on the menu and pricey. Our server/service was very slow but overall very good and will definitely go back!<br/>

Went this past Saturday night, incredible small plate restaurant. In fact we have had charcuterie at almost every small plate place in the city, and this was one of the best. They're so generous with the crisps and cheese. The Scotch Egg is a must try. The cocktails are expensive at $14, (rounds cost $28 obviously), but very tasty! The drink with House made Shrub (fruit liquor), Rye, lemon, and egg whites was our favorite. I admit the calamari was actually very bad, not sure what was going on. With so many great restaurants in this city its easy never to return somewhere...looking forward to going back to try everything else on the menu.

This lounge has the best Old Fashioned I've ever had in Ottawa. You can choose to sit on the cocktail bar side, or mosey over to the dining area that will remind you of a 1930s-esque lounge. With the high ceilings, dark walls, wood finishing, and round bench style tables, you'll feel as though you've taken a step back in time. The charcuterie board had interesting options of both cheeses and meats that (I've heard) are made/cured in house. I ordered the elk tartare, and although it could have used a bit more seasoning, had a fresh, clean taste. The mushrooms on toast were earthy and rich, but don't be fooled into spending an extra $7 on fois gras as it's only a few "shavings" that "are supposed to melt into the mushrooms" (as I was told by the server). I will definitely coming back here and sample more delicious bites and drinks. Note: Parking is tricky as it's inside the Novotel hotel.

The food was amazing. We shared a charcuterie plate which had a great variety of local food. The waiter took the time to explain everything and give his opinion on pairings he would suggest. After we shared the elk burger and it was one of the best burger ive had in a restaurant. Not only was the waiter great but the bar manager took the time to give us a sample of their new seasonal shrub. Would go again and again!

Great lounge for an evening drink! We didn't go into the restaurant itself, but the bar has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available that is good for relaxing with some friends.

My one complaint, and I found it incredibly frustrating, is trying to call to make reservations. The number on their page is not for the restaurant and the people at the desk for the hotel constantly transfer you to the wrong place to actually make the reservation. I was transferred incorrectly 3 times before finally giving up and making the reservation online. My recommendation would be for them to put a direct phone contact to avoid this. Very aggravating

Excellent food, probably the best I've had in Ottawa so far. I ordered the tuna and it was spot on. The only problem I had was with the tuna portion size as it was barely 50 grams. I wish they make their portion more reasonable, but other that was so happy with my food. The dish was presented perfectly and the tune was grilled nicely (although the menu said seared tuna).

This is the best Caesar in Ottawa! I know. I've done a Caesar-tour of the city's most highly reviewed Caesars. Just the right amount of everything to make it deliciously well balanced. Goes well with their charcuterie board. Delicious and classy. Would hope to return.

Seems to me there are hidden gems in Ottawa that are right in front of your eyes. The Novotel hotel has been located downtown for years, and makes for convenient commuting to and from the NAC, convention center, Rideau Center and many other landmarks of Ottawa. Which means, those who have stayed at Novotel may have walked by its own restaurant – the Albion Rooms. But between you and I, it has only been in recent months that I have heard the name being echoed among foodies. Perhaps its a coincidence, but it has only been mere months (maybe even weeks) since the Albion Rooms has seen new management; both front and back of house.

I work near Albion rooms and often head there after the day's over. They have excellent beer choices for a decent price and have the best charcuterie plate in the city. The burgers are massive and really delicious. It usually comes with parmesan hand cut fries! They also have a great scotch egg and excellent tartar options. The food is always fresh and top notch.

Albion Rooms is located right beside Rideau Center and has amazing food and cocktails. Must haves include the scotch egg or the cheese plates, you won't regret it.

I had heard great things about the Albion room so we planned a friend's birthday there for this past weekend - there were 13 of us in our party and we were seated on the top section of the restaurant - we were the only table on that level. The ambiance was lovely - but that's where the good part ends. We were seated a good 30 minutes before I went to the bar to ask if we were going to be served. Once I did that, our waitress appeared. She was young, but obviously inexperienced enough to handle a table of our size all alone. Our group ordered cocktails - which I may add were VERY pricey - up to $16 for one cocktail. Our group ordered our appetizers. I had the soup of the day which was very good (orange, coconut and ginger). A couple other appetizers that were ordered were the green salad and the kale salad. The kale salad was ok, but the green salad was extremely bland and looked like a pile of lettuce was just dropped on the table.<br/><br/>For my main, I ordered the Elk burger. Other items that were ordered on my side of the table were the Rigatoni, House Fettucine and the Cornish Hen. For a group of 13, there should have been more than one server bringing out our food. The food came out very slowly and we were not all served at once. My elk burger, the house fettucine, rigatoni and chicken were all cold...ICE COLD! The waitress offered to have the kitchen make us new meals. About 15-20 minutes later, our hot meals arrived. The elk burger was ok - just ok and the cornish hen was flavorful, but nothing special. Both pasta dishes were absolutely terrible. The rigatoni tasted like the sauce was made with BBQ sauce. I understand that it was in a smoked tomato sauce, but it really was unedible. The house fettucine had no flavor other the beets. There are so many wonderful ways to make pasta with fresh ingredients and with so much flavor - these were terrible - so terrible that they should probably be removed from the menu. <br/><br/>Overall, I would NOT recommend the Albion rooms for poor, uninspired dishes and mediocre service.  If someone gave me a free gift certificate for this restaurant, I would not use it.  It's that bad!

The BEST charcuterie in Ottawa by a million miles and the bespoke cocktails are always awesome and always changing - go there every time I'm in town.

The food was delicious even though a bit salty. We had the charcuterie board, soup, fish and chips, Arctic char and the pork. I would definitely go back.

The Albion Rooms (@TheAlbionRooms) is located inside Novotel Hotel, it's recommended by a quite a few friends and we manage to squeeze in Brunch there. They serve both Breakfast Buffet and a la carte Brunch as well but by the time we got there, it was too late for the buffet which ends at 11:00. From their website:

Amazing food, drinks, and service. For those who love a good Caesar, this place has a wicked one that is definitely worth trying. The menu is small, but thats not a bad thing. Full of variety and flavour with every option, highly recommend the Elk Burger.

The Albion Rooms continue to be a solid choice for a dinner out with cocktails. We loved the charcuterie offerings and everyone else at the table had a great time. Nice venue for a night out! They'll soon be opening a new and nicer dining area up some stairs from the main floor.

The food and the ambiance deserve a 5/5. This restaurant has it all. Unique and fun decor, relaxed vibe and food that will leave you planning your next reservation.<br/><br/>I went for a birthday dinner. Our waiter was excellent in recommending dishes for us first timers. I decided on the classic fish and chips and I was not disappointed. For fish, the restaurant chose Lake Erie Pickerel and a lemon-thyme beer batter and paired it with Parmesan dusted fries.  Everything was served on a wooden board versus a traditional plate.

Food was very different but tasted fabulous! A lot of variety on the menu. Really good service but the one downer was that it was quite noisy as there seemed to be a lot of kids on the next table and they were running around as well. Not the restaurant's fault.

Brunch! Albion Rooms is doing weekend brunch now from 11:30. Perhaps because no one yet knows about this, there was very a relaxed atmosphere and our server was super attentive. <br/>In our group of 5, most couldn't resist ordering the benedict so I can't comment on a variety of dishes. The eggs were wrapped in prosciutto and accompanied by a green goddess hollandaise that was yummy. I had mine with gluten free bread that had a nice texture and neutral flavour. It came with new potatoes and mini individual ketchup bottles (which none of us used but we thought they were cute). The outlier who ordered a plate of eggs and sausage said her meal was scrumptious too. <br/>The mimosas were amazing (though not cheap) and the americano perfect.

Love hanging out here. The room is warm with couches and chairs of all variety. Had a cool glass of Riesling and some prosciutto charcuterie. Tried the sausage one too<br/>- very bold flavour and can be accommodated for gluten-free. Brenda Labelle

We were invited out to the Albion Rooms over the long weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday. We've heard great things about this place, and we sure weren't disappointed. We had reservations for a group of 20, and our friends who had organized the evening out had planned a prix fixe menu with the head chef. The special menu featured a selection of appetizers -- a salad, market soup, and roasted cauliflower; mains -- rigatoni with toasted pine nuts and sharp cheese, elk burger, and cornish hen on a bed of asparagus and greens; and also our choice of crème brûlée or elton mess. All this for $40 (excluding tax, gratuities, and drinks). <br/><br/>My gosh -- amazing flavours! I wish I had tried some of the unique mixed drinks they had on the menu, but opted for a pinot grigio. The portions are also quite large, I wasn't anywhere close to finishing everything on my plate. If you're looking for a delicious and hearty meal (in the way that you feel full without feeling heavy), this is definitely the place. I also loved how all the ingredients are locally sourced! You can really taste the freshness. <br/><br/>While the food was spectacular, our server really made the night. He was attentive, hilarious, and just so much fun to be around. You could tell he really went out of his way to ensure that it was a special night for the birthday girl and her guests. Probably the best service that we've received in a very long time. And for a table of 20 on a Saturday night? Didn't detect an ounce of stress on this guy. <br/><br/>Ambiance was fantastic and the decor was very inviting. Perfect for a date night or for a group of friends, as there were a variety of different seating arrangements. Next time we're here, we're going to try the charcuterie boards, oysters and mixed drinks for a nice date out. <br/><br/>The only thing I'd change would be my dessert choice. I wasn't a fan of the eton mess, as I was expecting way more fruit and much less whipped cream. But the onus of that one is on me, as I should've Googled what an eton mess was before ordering it!

Beautiful Restaurant and Great Food!. I went here with my boyfriend and we were immediately impressed with the look and feel of the restaurant.<br/><br/>I have never seen Scotch Eggs on a menu before and my father makes them as a treat at Christmas so I had to try it. It was excellent, I was ranting and raving over every bite. I also ordered the carrots which were also extremely tasty.<br/><br/>My boyfriend got the fish and chips and I tried a bite and it was very good too and he thoroughly enjoyed his meal. <br/><br/>Overall we had a great experience and will visit The Albion Rooms again!

A strange meal. We were in this hotel for an office lunch before Christmas: 19 of us. The menu was interesting - a main course only (choice of three items), with no starter or salad. When it came (slowly!) the food was good, even elegant, but far from generous. After being pressed the waiter brought some bread. A glass of wine was skimpy and grotesquely expensive ($12 for perhaps 2 oz. of Ontario wine). To my astonishment, there were no desserts to be had (!?). Coffee was brought, but was cold by the time milk and sugar appeared. This is a hotel restaurant. Clearly, the chef is good, but the service is slow and haphazard and the menu poorly thought out. The atmosphere is cold and uninviting. The Albion Rooms need to do a lot of work to compete in the Ottawa environment. I for one will not be returning.

Scotch eggs are a unique taste. Loved the chorizo that is around the eggs. Very interesting. <br/>Also had the strip loin. It was okay but I would recommend a different entree. <br/>The sockeye salmon was winning! The smokiness of the salmon was unreal!!! Loved it!!!

Great spot in ottawa!!. Just had my birthday party at the Albion rooms and it was GREAT!!! Super nice decor, great location downtown, food was amazing and our server Michael was excellent!!! Had a reservation for 30 people they had a secluded area in the back that fit the larger party. Would recommend to anyone.

One of my favorite places. I frequent a lot of high end restaurants in Ottawa, and this is definitely one the "old faithfuls". Amazing fish and chips, even better service, and one of the top 3 Cesars in town. Definitely the place to go for charcuterie...get the beet cured salmon, its just simply mind blowing.

Best Cesars EVER

Ask for server Mike, he's amazing!! Food was awesome, atmosphere awesome! Very cool interior, we loved the lighting on the bar. We had many items off the menu and they all were fabulous. Roaster cauliflower was to die for!! Definitely get a cheese board and ask for the best selection of cheeses.

A good restaurant should never serve spawning oysters. Took a trip downtown to the Albion Rooms last night for my birthday meal with Granny. All the makings of a good restaurant in that nouveau hipster way. Local ingredients? check. Unique take on cocktails? check. Charcuterie and cheese? check. While this is considered a hotspot, there were only 10 or so other patrons during our visit, so we pretty much had this lobby bar to ourselves. Our server was a bit too casual for my liking, but I could tell he was trying his best, so we took it easy on him : ) He did take good care of us in the end. Now for the food. We started with 2 cocktails: a Manhattan for Granny, and their take on a Caesar for me. While the Manhattan was 'different', in her words, she liked it nonetheless, so score one for the house there. My Caesar was an ambitious affair to say the least -- they call it the Marcus Brutus. According to them it has pickle juice, hot sauce and spiced syrup, combined with a dash of red wine, dill infused Vodka and Walter Caesar (mix I'm assuming). Garnished with Seed to Sausage capicollo, chorizo and salami. Well sir. The pile of meat as a garnish was certainly appreciated, and lovely, but the dry cucumber part threw me off (I know, I know, it's a garnish. But if you're going to play up the garnish, do it right). Now on a hot day I can gulp a Caesar down, but this one gave me pause. Two reasons, one of taste, the other of practicality. The honey they used to try desperately to adhere the house made rimmer had dripped all down the sides of the glass and I had to go wash my sticky hand off... this is not the wipe on a napkin kind of sticky we're talking about here. Still undeterred, I finished that sucker. Not bad, but for $14 I won't be doing that again. For dinner I ordered 6 well-priced oysters, purported to be St Simons from Whalesbone, and their salad. Granny ordered the fish and chips. I must say that the fish and chips was delicious. Again from the menu, it was Lake Erie Pickerel in Lemon-Thyme Beer Batter, with Smoked Oyster-Horseradish Tartar and Thrice-cooked Chips with Parmesan. The fish was perfectly crisp, and the batter delightfully thyme infused. The tartar was decadent... a little goes a long way, but great flavour! The fries were delicious, but soaked in grease, so neither of us could handle more than a few. All in all a good experience, Granny was stuffed and satisfied, and that's what counts! Bread was fresh and accompanied by some whipped butter, maybe with a tad of lemon/thyme mix thrown in. Delish. <br/>I realize at this point that I am starting to sound like a complainer, so if you don't want to read any further, just know this. The oysters were off. They weren't St Simons (they were a pacific type), and they were obviously spawning. YUCK. The kitchen readily took them back, I'll give them that, but damned if I wasn't so hungry I threw one in my mouth right off the bat... anyways, all to say that if you've got oysters on the menu, please pay attention people! The old adage of not eating oysters in the summer no longer applies as we can source them from cold water all year long. A shame as I was really looking forward to them. Again here let me reiterate how kind our server was. He took them back without the least fuss, though he looked confused so must not be an oyster fan. My salad was lovely. Romaine hearts crunchy, cheese and almond slivers plentiful, nice touch with the slivered beets and herbed goat cheese. Exactly what I expected from the menu description and refreshing to boot!<br/>All-in-all mixed feelings. Will probably return with the better half to share a few plates, maybe on the patio some fine summer evening. I think they are onto a good thing here, and it sure as heck isn't your 90's hotel lobby bar, but the cocktail was overthought and a sticky mess, and they need to brush up on their oysters. Pricing a tad high in my opinion, compared to similar offerings at other hot spots. $70 for two, but then I really didn't have a main. Underwhelmed, but I'll give it another shot.

Excellent flovours. I recently dined here and was immediately surprised by the lack of option on the menu however, after the first bite of the cauliflower app I understood that the menu is concentrated because the dishes that are served are mastered and consistently delicious. Those who I ate with ordered the Elk burger and the wedge salad which was a flavourful and complex dish that tantalized my palate as I stole bites of their main. I ordered the Kedgeree which I can honestly say fell short of alright. I would not recommend it at all, however, I still gave this restaurant a thumbs-up because the other components of the restaurant were delightful.

Fun time. A group of us stopped in the restaurant for an after dinner drink. We ordered the cheese plate and wine. The Canadian cheese was very tasty with the Crostini. Michael, our waiter was funny and very friendly. We were laughing all the time. Great restaurant.

What a disapointment. I don't even know where to begin....Our visit to The Albion Rooms was a disaster. I had never heard of this restaurant before, but went onto Urban Spoon and read the great reviews, and thought it would be the perfect place for my Mom's 70th birthday party. I booked three weeks prior to the occasion, and even went in to meet with the coordinator to ensure everything would run smoothly. Service up until that date (May 26, 2014) was professional and polite. From what I could see there were two waitresses (not friendly at all) for the whole restaurant that evening, even though they new we had reservations for a party of over 30 people. Our reservation was for 5:30, and the first thing I, and everyone else noticed was how warm it was (probably around 30). Only to find out the air conditioner was broken, which I am somewhat ok with, because these things do happen, but the thought, could someone not have purchase a few fans for circulation. I think that would have helped tremendously. I noticed that there were a few water jugs and glasses on a table behind me, and thought, I guess we serve ourselves?? I did end up serving myself and everyone else several times. Within 1/2 hour those water jugs were more than warm, and we were drinking warm water. We had children at the party, and their orders were taken first (6:30). Eventually our orders were taken (7:00), and by that point the children had been served their meals. We finally got our first and only order of bread by then as well. Yep, we waited 1 1/2 hours for bread. By this point most of the guest had consumed three or more drinks, and not even so much as bread to eat. The children were eating their dessert, and adults had not received their appetizers yet, and by around 8:00 we had all eaten. Then came the dessert. We had brought a cake, and they asked me if I would like to serve it myself or pay a cake cutting fee ( you would think after the disaster of an evening that they would throw the cutting fee out the window, but nope!). I thought the safest thing to do was serve it myself. I stood up to thank all our guest for attending, and also apologized for the horrible service they had to experience, and that I was also sorry that they had not even been offered coffee or tea with their dessert. About 5 minutes later we were asked by one of the waitresses if we would like coffee or tea. It was a little late for that. The food and atmosphere was amazing, but unfortunately not enough to over compensate for the service and how unorganized it was. I was so disappointed....

Surprise res. The food are amazing. i didnt expect it would raste so good.expecially mushrooms and brocolli nice. but the server was so busy and really slow. folks and knives will never changed for each courses.table is always messy.hire more ppl plzzz..and envirment is excellant food is amazing..

Star waiter and fav fries. Called in to ask if we needed to reserve a table on Easter Monday. Nope, they thought they would be fine. We got there a bit earlier than usual dinner hours. There was one staff at the bar, and one waiter attending the tables of both of the rooms. As we proceeded our meal, the rooms started to get filled, and our waiter - too bad we didn't get his name - what a STAR! He was just as calm, cool, bloody charismatic as how he was when we just arrived, and most importantly efficient. Jay was reminded by him of some Puerto Rican actor, maybe a combination of two of different background/style, but just couldn't figure out, and thought he might actually just be an actor/performer who also waits table part-time - which didn't matter, the point is, he is, ioho, an example of the right kind of personality to hire for chic/hip places like this.<br/>So much for the comment of our "Luis Guzmán". Their food? Delightful presentation. Beside the dried fruit introduced as "nibblers" (by our waiter) on the Charcuterie board which didn't quite blend in well with other elements, we enjoyed every other dish. Favorite was the homecut fires that came with elk burger (patty a tad dry) - perfectly fried and seasoned. Dee usual preferred thin cut than thick cut fries, but this won him over. If Jay had to create a list of her fav fries, this would rank second.<br/>In our interaction with "Luis", that they were expecting to expand. We will be watching out for any new change on their menu.

Atmosphere is contemporary, historical and very well done. <br/><br/>My Mint Julep came as authentic as it gets. <br/><br/>Try the house cured pancetta bacon if available in the charcuterie selection.<br/><br/>As good as gastropubbing gets!

Pleasant surprise!. Please, please please do not let the fact that this is a "hotel" restaurant fool you. I almost did, and was so impressed upon leaving that I'd urge anyone to go.<br/><br/>The design is quaint and unique. They have their meat slicer in a clear yet enclosed area so you can see the chefs slicing fresh prosciutto, amongst other treats.<br/><br/>We were celebrating a special occasion here, and left happy. We started with a charcuterie platter, which in theory is very simple; I found the Albion Rooms really incorporated small elements (like creme fraiche) to work in its favour. I had the beet pasta, which was surprisingly delicious. You could taste how fresh & bright it was. My partner had the cornish hen, which he raved about.<br/><br/>I also had one of their delicious ceasars, which featured pickle-infused vodka. Seriously, who thinks of this kind of stuff...<br/><br/>On top of it, service was great. Our server gave just the right amount of attention; he'd give suggestions when we asked, and leaved us alone otherwise.

More than excellent for a Hotel restaurant! The food and the atmosphere are great!!

We visited the Albion Room for a first time last night. Overall we were enjoyed the decor, atmosphere, and a decent selection of drinks. However, service was poor and very amateur. Here is a a brief synopsis of our experience....We arrived just before 21:40 and were asked whether we had a reservation. We didn't which made no difference since the restaurant wasn't particularly busy. After being seated we ordered drinks and asked to see the food menu. Waiter told us that we wouldn't be able to order food because the kitchen was closing at 22:00. To put it in perspective, we were denied dinner because the kitchen was closing in 20 minutes. I thought this was strange but we let it go and ordered few plates of charcutere instead. However, dissapointement kicked in once we realised that tables around us were still being served dinner at 22:40 (an hour after we were told it wad too late to order). We took our time enjoying the charcutere but were constantly inerupted by the waitress which would approach our table and abruptly ask "are you done and reach for the food plank which clearly still had food on it?" There was no politeness, professionalism, nor likability in service we received last night.

Favourite Spot. This is our favourite spot in Ottawa (so far)! The service is consistently good, they always have interesting beer to choose from, the food is delicious and the atmosphere is comfortable and unique.

Great ambiance - vinegary food. Let's start with the good - of which there is a lot. The ambiance in the Albion Rooms is lovely - perfect for a date or a night out with friends. The cocktails were delicious and the service was nice and generally good with one slight exception. <br/><br/>The big problem was the food. We decided to order a bunch of appetizers - the cauliflower (really the highlight of the meal), mushrooms on toast (good but nothing special), scotch eggs (vinegary), rillette (vinegary), ceviche (vinegary and inedible)....you may be noticing a theme here...overall the food was just way to vinegary. This leads me to the only problem with the service - they brought all the food at once just as we finished our cocktails. The warm things got cold as we waited for our wine and it would have been nice if they'd asked if we wanted things brought out one at a time or in batches. That being said, they took away the ceviche without question and were certainly quite nice. <br/><br/>All in all - I'd recommend as a place for a drink with friends or on a date and maybe a snack.

Amazing experience!. I visited the Albion rooms on Friday night for the first time with a group of girlfriends. We have a girls night out about once a month and we decided to try out a new place last week. Suffice it to say that this will definitely be one of our regular spots! We came in with open minds, and our experience surpassed all our expectations by far! The first thing I noticed was the great atmosphere- relaxed and laidback, but still had a fine dining feel. The service was phenomenal! Our server Nevan was friendly, knowledgable and very courteous. He kept us entertained all night! He answered all our questions and offered helpful recommendations- I loved the pink fuzz and the Sussex Drive cocktail. As for the food, we could not have been more pleased. We all shared some charcuterie and the roasted cauliflower, which was amazing! I also really enjoyed the kedgeree, and the butter tart which we shared for dessert. Overall this was really just an amazing experience. Service, atmosphere and food were all 10/10. I will recommend this place to my friends and will definitely be back soon for another wonderful night!

A gem. I really liked this restaurant. The atmosphere is fun and filled with eclectic and rustic findings. The service was great and the food was delicious. The roasted cauliflower and chips (wedge fries) are a must-try. A great place for a first date, a girls night or even just lounging with friends after work. I would definitely go back. :)

My girlfriends and i heard about this place and we were super excited to try this on our next 'girls' night out. The instant we walked into the restaurant, we were treated like gold. We were greeted by a very friendly and professional lady named Jackie. She instantly knew that we were out for the night and sat us at a comfortable table where we would not be disturbed. It was perfect for our ladies night. Nevin was our server that night. He was friendly, courteous and his humour made our night. He made sure our drinks were full and upsold us on every opportunity. We were very impressed by the service and would go back without hesitation. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and the food is amazing. Would definitely recommend it!

We were really looking forward to trying this relative new comer.... However all four of us were extremely disappointed. The service was atrocious and the food sub par, bordering on inedible (except for the charcuterie which was quite good). We will never go back.

Amazing dinning experience!. It is with great pleasure that I write an exceptional review for Albion Rooms. I had a large group booking (16) for a bachelorette dinner. Jackie (manager) did everything she could to accommodate our group and definitely when above and beyond with table setup, music, a personalized menu, décor, drinks, etc. The food and drinks were delicious - there was something for everyone on the menu. Our server (Michael) was amazing! He was full of energy and kept us laughing all night. Weeks later, we are still talking about our dinner experience there – thank you for making it so memorable!

- Disappointed about the service - <br/>This was the second time I went to The Albion Rooms and this time, unfortunately, I was really disappointed about the service. We were a large group and the waiter was really slow to get us some drinks, even after our glasses had been empty for a while. Two of us had ordered gluten free crackers to go with our cheese plate but we were served the gluten ones. At the end if was a hassle to get our bills, we had to repeat to the waiter what we had ordered so he could prepare the bills and it took a very long time to get them. The atmosphere was great and the food was not so bad so I will give it another try, hoping that it won't leave me as frustrated as this last time.

Really? Great service???. Okay, been to this spot on a few occasions and quite like the space.... I have enjoyed the fish and chips and the burger and a few of the appetizers... overall the food is pretty good and I would recommend this place based on the food alone.<br/>However, the service is a joke!! Nothing I hate more than seeing/hearing the servers gathered behind the bar talking about the customers... I like to sit at the bar and have my dinner, but I don't need to see the staff standing around doing nothing but gossiping and discussing their work schedules for the week... maybe this place needs a service manager who could tell that they have too much staff on and send some of them home.....

Great atmosphere, awesome food. We were a small group of 3 looking for a little snack, but not a full meal.We got the cauliflower and Brussels sprout dish. The cauliflower dish is amazing, especially with the homemade mayo. And we were surprisingly filled with sharing these two dishes. Price was extremely reasonable given the quality of the food.<br/><br/>The decor is upscale with a hipster-vibe (our water was served in mason jars). <br/><br/>I will be back to show people this restaurant.

Great Food and Lovely Service. Service: Great, Flaboyant Male Server. He always made sure we had what we needed and was great entertainment. :)<br/><br/>Food: Excellent. My boyfriend said the Elk Burger was the best burger he has ever had. We shared the yummy Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta and Feta. I like when brussel sprouts are mushy, but I know I am one in a million; they were still very good. I had the Striped Bass Ceviche and it was good, I loved the little sweet potato cubes that accompanied it; I want to go back and try a different type of ceviche, with scallops! I LOVED the Scotch Egg, one of the best foods I have ever eaten!<br/><br/>Atmosphere: GREAT! I love the decor. <br/><br/>I would highly recommend this to all of my friends and family and I will definitely be back!

Great food, wonderful service. Just had dinner here for the first time tonight. We were a large group with a reservation, and the service was efficient, skilled and able to handle such a big group, split between two tables - and they were so kind and friendly! Michael (our server) was a joy. <br/><br/>The food was fantastic. I had the duck meatballs, with pork belly lardons, kale and noodles --to die for. The menu was interesting and diverse, so it was hard to make a choice. The cocktails were also wonderful and creative. Looking forward to going back to try more of the menu.<br/><br/>I would highly suggest a visit for the cocktails alone, but definitely worth a dinner there, for sure! 10/10!

Great place. My friends and I visit here regularly, and we always leave happy. They have the best fish n` chips that I have found in Ottawa, and probably the best caesar as well (what they call the `Marcus Brutus`). I would fully endorse this place to anyone wanting good food, for a good price.

Good food, not my style of service. I was at the AR for dinner with two friends for the first time. I enjoyed the food and decor,however did not like the service. I felt like I was at the restaurant equivalent of Guess - the waiter was selling the food too hard and the service quickly deteriorated from attentive to overtly pushy. In the end of the night I had to ask for my bill to be corrected twice - I did not get 'I'm sorry, my mistake', instead, the waiter sighed and did not even try to hide that he was annoyed with my request. <br/>I am hesitant about going back to this restaurant.

Amazing atmosphere and friendly service!

Came here to celebrate my birthday and the experience was all in all tremendous. The food was fantastic: from the simplicity of the Brussel sprouts, to the richness of the fois gras, to the decadence of the butter tart. The cocktails were fabulous (Autumn leaves and Rideau Ruin) but most of all, the service was perfect. Our server, Michael, was friendly, attentive and genuinely interested in making our dinner special. I highly recommend eating here, and if you do, go and stay awhile! The vibe, cool atmosphere, and friendly staff make that easy!

Drinks and Apps. I had a friend visiting from Regina and we decided to check out the Albion Rooms adjacent to the lobby of the Novotel. We sat at the bar and thoroughly enjoyed the company of the bar staff (one of whom had just cycled from Vancouver to Ottawa). They have a great selection of craft brews on tap and my colleague was impressed with their wine list. We sampled the oysters and charcuterie and both were excellent. I will look forward to returning for a full meal.

Great ambiance, bad food. It's a nice concept for a hotel restaurant, and the service was good, but I was really disappointed with the food - from start to finish. Soup was tasteless and watery. I ordered a fish and chips...the fish itself wasn't bad, but the fries were overcooked, and the dressing was terrible. As for dessert, I had a kind of brownie that was ok, but it was made of three chocolate layers that didn't go together so well. <br/><br/>Since there are so many great comments here, I can only assume that I fell on a bad night. However, I wouldn't consider trying it again.

So very good.. The food is fresh and delicious, the atmosphere funky and cool. Everything from the deep fried blue cheese stuffed olives to the rosemary infused cocktails were so great. A must dine! :)

Amazing ambiance and service. The lounge is one of the best I have seen in Ottawa. Modern and sleek without the pretentiousness found in such places. The floor manager (I'm assuming) welcomed us the minute we walked in. Our server Jacky was utterly impressive. She told us a bit about the place since it was our first time and about their specials. We only had drinks so can't comment on the food but from the look on the table beside us it was presented very well and looked yummy. <br/>Definitely worth a visit as there isn't anything like it in Ottawa.

Thoroughly impressed. Spent our evening here as a group of 10 for a friend's birthday. <br/>-the staff was attentive, friendly, and genuinely added to our experience that night. <br/>-the ambiance was cozy, and as the restaurant is actually quite large and as we were at one of the many tables in the seating area in the back, I at no point felt as though I was in a hotel lobby. <br/>-the cocktails were well crafted (both aesthetically pleasing and delicious - the house made caesar rimmer on the marcus brutus was the best i've had!)<br/>-the food was outstanding, especially considering the pricepoint. no one was disappointed with their meal. there was abundant crostini to match the ample portions of delicious charcuterie (dressed up with smoked macadamia nuts, homemade pickled veg, grain mustard, and dried cherries) the cornish hen was flavourful and moist, and three of us were smitten with their elk burgers. <br/><br/>overall, we left the restaurant happy, full of delicious food and drinks, and eager to return.

Great vibe, great food, great service. I don't always think that the best food is why I go back to a restaurant. Ambiance and service are equally important. The Albion Rooms covers those bases. Jacquie looked after us and had many good suggestions and advice on cocktails, wine list and our table was ready for us an hour before our reservation, so they put us right there in the window and we sat and drank and ate for more than 2 hours. Awesome venue for big parties or celebratory drinks as well. Thought the stools were weird, but in the end were fine. lighting is neat too. We had the cauliflower (best thing there) and the scotch eggs (little too salty, but totally good) and the charcuterie with the foie and cheese and terrine. alllllll good. Will go back for more.

The service at this restaurant is absolutely appalling. My friend and I sat for 15 minutes before anybody even came to the table. When we finally flagged somebody down, she came over and said "oh, nobody has seen you yet?" Other customers in the restaurant even noticed and commented on our lack of service. Finally this young girl who had ZERO knowledge of the food and drink menu attempted to take our order. Then, 10 minutes after that... Michael decided to come and finally introduce himself as our waiter. He never apologized and repeated our order to us that this other girl had already taken. He only visited our table one other time after that with the debit machine for us to pay the bill. Food was decent though. Too bad the service sucks. I won't be back to this obviously hotel lobby-esque restaurant.

Set the Bar for Originality & Quality. I tend not to go out to restaurants since most dishes can be replicated at home and are far cheaper to make. If I can make a dish, and I am no cook by any means, I tend to pass on going to that restaurant. However, I read a review about the Albion Rooms in the news paper, raving about its dishes and serving staff (sorry chefs) and was eager to look up the menu online.<br/><br/>I was astounded by how innovative the dishes were and knew that they were far out of my capabilities. The following weekend, a girlfriend and I had a reservation for two.<br/><br/>The loftiness of the decor is stunning with large glass windows and a beautifully crafted bar. The lounge area was well-lit and very comfortable. My waitress promptly greeted us and was well-verse in both the food and beverage selections.<br/><br/>The meal was fantastic, the service was astounding, the experience unprecedented. I'll be back soon!

Worst Service EVER!. I've never felt more compelled to write a negative review until my experience at Albion Rooms. I went to dinner with my girlfriend and her parents, who are visiting from out of town. We made a reservation online at 5:30pm to have dinner at 8:00pm. They confirmed the reservation. No problem, right? Wrong.<br/>We show up at 8:00 as planned. The host greets us and informs us a table is not ready yet, and in the meantime, he invites us to take a seat in the lounge area for a drink before dinner, which sounds fine. However, once seated, the time it took for our drink orders to be taken, let alone brought to us, was over a half hour. After 50 minutes of waiting, the waitress then informs us that a table is STILL not ready. By that time, we're fed up and my girlfriend's mom reminds her how long we've been waiting. The waitress had the nerve to say that it was because we made the reservation too late. Basically, not only did we get terrible service, but she blamed us for it as well. After handing us the bill, she took her sweet time to pick it up. At that point, I personally would've walked out without paying. It seems they didn't care to be paid, yet my girlfriends parents we're too nice to simply walk away, and chose to leave cash in the book instead. They hadn't even offered anything complimentary nor did they have the courtesy to remove an item from the bill. I'd strongly recommend to stay away from Albion Rooms.

Fish of the fish and chips. Best fish I have ever had, 2 pieces, moist, definitely enough to share. Delicious homemade tartar. Didn't think much of the thrice baked chips, they were just ok, dry. Think I will have to go back today for some more fish!

A really cool spot. My wife & i chose to try this place because of the Citizen review, and it was great. Our waiter sounded like he knew his stuff, so we let him guide us through the night. <br/><br/>Maple smoked nuts were a nice way to start, especially with a pint. The roasted cauliflower dish was very good, as was the scotch egg (way too much aoili though - weird criticism, i know). We then tried the rillete, foie gras, a soft cheese i can't remember the name of, and although we stuffed ourselves silly, it was well worth it<br/><br/>Hotel restaurants usually disappoint, but this one is an exception. Best of luck to them.

Dinner. Went for dinner with a bunch of friends.... Delicious! Great atmosphere and ambiance. Will definitely be back.

Great ambiance, great charcuterie, good local selections. Wonderful service from Michael who working the entire dining room! Best of all was when he sang happy bday with his wonderful tenor voice. Will definitely go back.

A recent stay in Ottawa led us to the Albion Rooms for a dining experience that we will be raving about for years to come. <br/><br/>When we discovered on arrival that the restaurant was attached to the Novotel we were somewhat concerned. This restaurant, however, is no ordinary hotel restaurant. The decor is fresh and modern, the waitstaff are friendly and personable without being overbearing and the food was to die for. As an Australian I was keen to sample the best of Canadian fare and boy did the Albion rooms deliver. The menu featured everything from wild boar and local fish to elk burgers and sustainably sourced oysters. <br/><br/>The cocktails were interesting and delicious and the wine (recommended by our waiter) was the perfect accompaniment to the selection of local cheeses and cured meats. <br/><br/>I can't recommend the Albion rooms highly enough. Don't let the attached hotel fool you, this place is well worth a visit.

Quite the find in the hotel lobby!. Staying at the Novotel Ottawa for a few days on business, I ended up initially disappointed when I realized I had only just under an hour to find a place to have dinner after a day's meetings and before a teleconference. I was resigned to eating in the hotel restaurant -- usually, this is a mediocre affair.<br/><br/>The Albion Room blew me away! I consider myself a bit of a "foodie" (not in the "I-Instagram-food-pictures" way, in the normal way where I'm not afraid to spend money or try new things) and this. Place. Is. Amazing. I told the waitress I wanted to try a bunch of the "bar bites," and she obliged, putting all of my selections onto a wooden board. <br/><br/>Roasted corn on the cob with cumin carrot feta butter. Verjus and herb marinated cheese curds. Beet pickled quail eggs. Speck wrapped dates stuffed with grey owl goat cheese. I also ordered a prosciutto charcuterie board, from their cured meats... it was great, but I regret not trying the wild boar! Their meats are served with delicious house-made mustard, crostini, and pickled vegetables. Even the cocktail I chose was unique - with thyme-infused gin.<br/><br/>An added plus - the service was as great as the food. Not too sure why there were 2 waitresses (joined at the hip, serving every table together... one in training maybe?) -- but they both did a great job and were personable, a great quality in a hotel restaurant when you're dining alone. However, if I lived in Ottawa, this restaurant would become a fixture for me, hotel lobby or no.<br/><br/>Confession: I went back the next day for lunch and had beet-infused fettuccine with goat cheese, pesto, pine nuts, and creme fraiche. When will I ever get the chance to have pink fettucine noodles again?! Next time I am in Ottawa, definitely.

Best caesar around. Great decor and atmosphere. Very friendly and attentive staff.

We had a great experience at the Albion rooms. Sea scallop ceviche and rhubarb crumble were amazing! We tried 6 items from the pick 3 for $21 and found the rabbit, wild boar and salmon to be the best. Definitely recommend this restaurant for great food at a great price.

Simply Sublime. This is a fabulous new restaurant with a perfect central location. I have been on a number of occasions before attending a show at the Arts Court (right next door) or NAC (down the street) every time the service has be great and the food and drink, sublime. <br/><br/>Sampling a handcrafted cocktail is a must at this restaurant. Their bar staff expertly mixes drinks to create the perfect balance. When it comes to presentation and attention to detail these guys have it down, whether it’s the sprig of thyme to accent their Rideau Ruin or simplistic presentation of their negroni – when you ask these guys to make you a drink you can trust it’s going to be good!<br/><br/>As for the fair, I must say I’m a sucker for a sharing plate so I love the sharability of this gastropubs menu. You can’t go wrong with anything on their charcuterie and cheese plates that feature local cheeses and meats. The servers are knowledgeable about the food and the suppliers – I was even given the name of the farm the boar came from when I inquired! If seafood is more your thing you can’t go wrong with the oysters. They serve Whalesbone oysters that are sustainably harvested and absolutely delicious. Their menu is everything a menu should be short, simple and in season. Whether it’s the spirits or the food the menu changes based on what’s available and fresh.<br/><br/>But this place not only pleases your taste buds it is a treat for all your senses. The décor is best described as rustic elegant and their outdoor patio is spot on. Set back from the busy city streets and lined with box planters filled with herbs it is like a entering a courtyard oasis; the perfect place to catch up with family and friends over a few drinks. On my most recent visit they even had a jazz band playing in celebration of Ottawa’s Jazz Festival.<br/><br/>I could speak novels to this restaurant but don’t take my word for it, decide for yourself over a negroni and some charcuterie!<br/><br/>Salut

Really excellent!. My fiance and I wanted to try something new and heard about the Albion through Urban Spoon. Great pick! We went during the Ottawa Jazz festival and were treated to a jazz trio over dinner. My fiance ordered the radish/arugula salad and scallops; I ordered the radish/arugula salad and the deer ribs with house slaw and fries. Genuinely excellent ... all of it! I don't ever write reviews, but both my fiance and I really want to see this place succeed. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

A superior hotel restaurant. Novotel doesn't strike me as a hotel that would have a superior restaurant, much less a restaurant that offers unusual dishes. But The Albion Rooms is just such a restaurant.<br/>We've eaten there several times. It's particularly convenient if you're going to a performance at Arts Court or ***NOTE TO OTTAWA FRINGE AUDIENCES*** at any of the Ottawa Fringe venues.<br/>For a start, very nice ambiance, especially in the bar and the outdoor patio. (the large herb garden is a very good portent of a serious kitchen!).<br/>The mains and the appetizer/small plates are very good, and several of the dishes are remarkably fine. They also incorporate seasonal local ingredients (currently fiddleheads, ramps and asparagus) into some of the dishes, and their cheese selections are mostly Canadian.<br/>The small plates are not to be missed. Outstanding offerings include an exquisite oeuf en gelee (the yolk nice and runny when you slice into this little jewel), the foie gras, and the rabbit/pistachio rillete (yum!). 3 small plates at $21 are a steal! Alone or perhaps with a soup or salad they make a satisfying meal. Another marvellous dish is the green salad with beluga lentils, pepitas and goat cheese. With soup or a small plate or a cheese, you'd have a fine meal, too.<br/>The prices are reasonable, and the service is friendly, though sometimes a tad sloppy.<br/>The bar makes some very fancy cocktails (it's fun to watch them concoct these potions!). Ordinarily I don't even look at the cocktail menu, but I think the next time I'm there I'm going to indulge.<br/><br/>June 27 update: <br/>Yesterday my husband and I stopped in at the charming bar in The Albion Rooms for a cocktail. Wonderful! We suggest you have the Spicebox Sour or the Rideau Ruin. Sit at the bar to watch them prepared - it's great theatre!

Really delectable experience!. Just had a great dining experience at the new Albion Rooms at the Novotel. We really liked the feel of the place with its contemporary but comfortable decor. The guy reading a book while enjoying a cocktail next to the fireplace looked like he could have been sitting at home. The service was very attentive without being obtrusive (thank you Cleo). The food was delicious, comforting with some nice twists. We both loved the roasted cauliflower appetizer. It could have been boring but the saffron mayo, pine nuts and raisins jazzed it up. The low cal nature of that dish gave us permission to have the superb plate of local cheeses after the mains. We had the chicken leg confit with my favourite veg kale done very nicely with white beans, turnip and maple glaze. The Lake Erie pickerel was served with plenty of beautifully done vegetables and aioli. The presentation was lovely and both were hot when they arrived at the table. We had to make ourselves slow down and savour each bite. Although we had the cheese plate I can never pass up a creme Brule and this buckwheat honey and lemon version topped with blackberries did not disappoint. The wine and beer menu was quite extensive. The cocktail list looked adventurous. We will try some next time. Oh yes there will definitely be a next time! A truly delicious meal!

Using local fresh ingredients is a high priority, and it really shows in the food. I first ate at The Albion Rooms for a friends birthday back in February 2014 and I can’t stop jonsing to go back! It’s the perfect place to meet up for drinks after work and share a plate or two or five. In the beverage department, they have a wonderful assortment of flavoured bitters and have some of the best bartenders in the city. The bar itself is gorgeous. Every Thursday they tap a new cask of local brewed beer. When we were there around May 15th, it was Old Kentucky by Turtle Island Brewing Company . It was their Dark Honey Brown with bourbon and  Really Horrible Enterprises ‘ Brandy and Maple soaked vanilla beans. Light bubbles with a smooth sweet after taste. Delicious! {where can I get more??} Each drink is beautifully crafted and tastes am

One of the hottest culinary spots in Ottawa right now is without question Novotel’s The Albion Rooms. Both the restaurant atmosphere and menu is rustic, yet contemporary with its seasonal ingredients and accent on powerful flavours. The minimal selection of appetizers, entrées and charcuterie allow Albion Chefs to focus on elevating the quality, presentation and overall taste of the food. Having read a well convincing review about TAR’s roasted cauliflower in the Ottawa Citizen, I decided to try it along side a beautiful plate of selected charcuterie (salty proscuitto, smoked salmon, chorizo sausage with rich sauvagine cheese and crostinis). The cauliflower, which I initially pegged as a gutsy choice to make the star of a restaurant dish, was pleasently warm, soft, creamy and packed with unexpected flavour. Pine nuts and croutons add a necessary crunch to the dish, while raisins add a delightful sweetness. Top it off with a creamy saffron mayo and you won’t want to share it :). Make su

...been on the hunt for the best one in Ottawa, and I think I have finally found it at The Albion Rooms. They call it the "Marcus Brutus" and it is good stuff!

The decor is terrific (make sure to ask to be in the back part, not the front where you can see the hotel lobby), the cocktail list is original, and the menu was creative. We had chacuterie and then I had the fish and chips, which were the bomb. I highly recommend it!

Ricky's tart is irresistibly delicious. Piping hot almond frangipane and roasted plum tart topped with a spoonful of vanilla ice cream...

Opened at Novotel Ottawa Hotel in April 2013, The Albion Rooms serves up rustic yet contemporary, farm-to-table Canadian cuisine. According to the restaurant's website, chef Stephen La Salle of The Albion Rooms calls his food “Contemporary Country Canadian...

His scotch egg enrobes a chicken egg in house-made chorizo, serving the crusted treat on a bed of arugula with paprika aioli.