Had dinner at Fauna last night. Had a bit of a trip up when our online reservations were made for 4 but came into the restaurant for 2. Doug and the other front of house staff deftly took care of this even though the place was completely packed. Once we sat down, we essentially ordered everything on the menu. Sablefish. The steak. The tuna crudo. The pork belly. The duck. Turkey Wing. Endive salad. Arancini. The carpaccio. The food was really really excellent. Perfectly prepared, flavorful, and wonderfully seasoned and plated. Our server Emily was also excellent and did a good job of taking care of us for the whole 3 and a half hours. This place is a gem and has a top 10 spot for me as one of Ottawa's best restaurants. Excellent.
I found this place the Canadas100Best website and I reached out to book an evening with a personalized menu with wine pairing. Not only did I get quick replies from two of their staff, they were extremely accommodating and went over and above to prepare unique dishes that tantalize the senses. The service was delightful and the food was exquisite. Fauna sets the bar really high for Ottawa and I really have to thank them for teaching my pallet a thing or two.
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Having been to Fauna twice now I can see why it's considered one of Canada's top 100 restaurants. While the menu is small, each item is clearly well thought out. During our last trip we ordered the tomato salad, soft shell crab, suckling pork and we shared the duck for two. The sauce for the tomato salad was perfect, and the tomato's were incredibly fresh and juicy. It was my first time eating soft shell crab and I was not disappointed. The duck was crispy and done to perfection.
For dessert we split the cheese plate and the chai tiramisu, once again, both were perfect. If you are going to Fauna expecting to get big portions and dry lean meat, I would suggest heading somewhere else. This time we had the duck but last visit we ordered the dry aged steak, and while they were both very rich, I wouldn't consider them "greasy" or "salty" in the slightest.
Service was some of the best we've had! It's clear that staff are very knowledgable about their menu and our server made some great wine recommendations. Our water glasses were never empty which we all really appreciated. On our first visit my dad got a real kick out of their on-site sommelier, Fauna is now easily one of his favourite restaurants when he visits Ottawa.
Very interesting "people watching" night spent on the Fauna patio. Absolutely loved the Oysters, wish they would do an Oyster special once a week :). Next was the Beetroot Tartare, it was great and we didn't miss the meat at all! The Elk carpaccio was so pretty, and just as tasty. The only thing that was lacking was not being served by Kenzie from Bar Laurel, she's a gem!
Came here for dinner with a friend last night, and got their fried sunchokes, and their Humboldt Squid.
The atmosphere was great, the servers and staff were all very friendly. The service was good, but felt slow, but it just meant more time to properly enjoy the food & company which is intentional.
The sunchokes were cooked perfectly, with the right balance of flavours and ingredients.
The Humboldt Squid was excellent. The texture was not chewy as is often the case when overcooked, it was quite tender and perfectly fried. The edamame puree paired well with it, but the complexity of the Kaffir Chili oil really came through and was a unique flavour combination that left me wanting more.
Overall, Everything was excellent, and I will definitely be returning in the future.
The atmosphere was very rustic and lovely with all the light installations. The host was very polite and welcoming, which was nice. The food was amazing for sure! I had the fried octopus with the slaw and the presentation wasn't great, but the flavours were exceptional! Loved the slaw a lot. Also tried the greens plate, which was very healthy and tasty. I then had the bison bavette, and the sides were delicious! The cod fish was great like the other dishes! Honestly, I was impressed. The dessert wasn't the best I've had though, but the overall dishes I had made up for the entire experience. Definitely recommend to everyone to try Fauna!
Had a great dinner at the bar as the resto was full. Enjoyed picking just the right wine thanks to knowledgeable staff ! The place was busy and inviting. I liked the decor and everything. I'm going back. This is a gem!
A delightful foodie treasure with attentive and knowledgeable wait staff.
Enjoyed dinner after work here with a couple of dinner companions. Had the tapas-style table d'hôte with wine-pairings. Was an excellent choice, especially the duck, which was done to perfection.
Ambiance vaguely reminiscent of gastown or Grenville Isl.
Well worth planning an evening with good friends in the capable hands of Jon Svazas, Fauna's Chef-Owner.
I was so pleased with my experience at Fauna this evening! The ambience was trendy and cozy with a vibe that felt unique at the same time. I was a bit disappointed with their cocktail and wine selection since I am not a gin fan and there were only a handful of reds to choose from, but I ordered a cognac cocktail and absolutely loved it! I followed this with a glass of red, which I found to be a bit steep at $14 for 5oz. Nevertheless, the three courses that I had really wowed me! The food combinations were intriguing and different without being crazy or trying too hard, and melt in your mouth amazing. I can't wait to come back! I have definitely added Fauna to my list of favourite Ottawa restaurants alongside Taylor's and Beckta.
I brought a close friend of mine here to celebrate their first job after graduating. It was really nice, although I think next time we will sit inside. The patio is a bit cramped but that's just dealing with the limited space on Bank Street.
I ordered the pork chop which was probably the best I've had. I rarely order pork because it can be done so poorly so often, but this time it was very flavourful, presented nicely, and very juicy. My friend got the fish which was also fantastic.
The server was very friendly, and would send someone else to the table to help us if she got too busy with the larger groups. Everyone who we interacted with was great to talk to without being too chatty.
Their menu seems to rotate often, but even though it was different from the one shown here it was still equally small and a little bit on the expensive side. I got to try a few of the dishes with friends: soft shell crab, lamb, quail, and crispy duck for two in this order of preference. The crab was amazing and crispy, but still soft and meaty on the inside. The lamb was incredibly tender and juicy with an interesting mix of greens below. The quail came in a good size and was also seasoned well. However despite the good portion size the crispy duck was a total letdown; not only was it not at all crispy, but the entire dish was far too salty even down to the accompanying vegetables and awkward pairing of Korean bibimbap rice. It also wasn't super busy but the service was on the slower side, although the patio ambiance was nice on a warm Saturday evening. Overall it was a pleasant experience for an impromptu dinner party.
Great staff, friendly service, and beautiful ambience. Exposed brick walls, large windows overlooking the street...what more could you ask for. Oh, and the food is fantastic. The quail is no small portion and it was made exceptionally well. The soft shell crab was terrific.
My wife and I were excited to go to Fauna, and very comfortable while there. On a warm sunny summer Friday evening, we had a window seat, watching all of the pedestrians stroll by, while enjoying our appetizers, main course, and dessert. The portions are a good size, so don't over order. We recommend starting with the half-dozen oysters ($22), followed by the quail dish ($42) and burger dish ($39), wrapping it up with the creme brulee ($12). I'm a big fan of dealers choice - I got the Old Fashioned - and I chose premium selection alcohol ($21) over regular ($18). The real test.. would we go again? absolutely yes. Our next visit will include the 80-day dry-aged rib eye (for 2 people). Highly recommended.
An absolutely superb experience.
I took a business associate from out of town here as he is a bit of a foody. Places like this are what is making Ottawa a special place for food.
We started with cocktails, that were fantastic and expertly made. I don't remember the last time I enjoyed a margarita like that.
We then moved on to starters where we shared the oysters which were very fresh, the accompanying sauces were great.
Following that we had the duck wings. This was my first time having duck wings and I've been thinking about them for the days after.
Our main was the dry aged rib eye for 2, what incredible value. Probably the most tender steak I've ever enjoyed. The mushrooms that topped the steak were simply stupidly good.
All in all, fantastic value and quality - I will be back as often as possible. Service was impeccable. I would have gladly spent double for this level of food. Congrats to the chef and mixologist, they both smashed it.
What a great experience we had at Fauna. Our server was very attentive. The food was very flavourful. We had a ribeye for two. Steak was perfectly cooked, with fried squash and polenta. Crème brûlée is a must try, it was the best one I’ve ever had! Would be definitely be back.
Nice little spot for an intimate/romantic meal, the music is a tad on the loud side though. The restaurant has great ambiance and all of the staff are very friendly (one of the waiters has a 90s era Gavin Rossdale thing going on...points for that!). You definitely have to go with the mindset that you will be paying quite a bit for your meal though and the wine list is, to me anyway, very pricey. The bison tartare was great and extremely fresh but I expected something more flavourful from the elk sirloin. My potatoes weren't cooked through so it might have affected my take on the dish (I didn't let the staff know because I hate being that person, I imagine they would have taken care of it no problem). The flavour combinations for the cornish hen however were great! Tarte tatin for dessert...do it! That ice cream was sooo good!!
Food was great and service was friendly and fast. 🙂 My partner and I enjoyed a nice night out and each dish was very tasty.
We will definitely go back, personally loved the elk steak, and have heard good things about the aged beef.
Price wise, we had an app each and a main each and split a desert plus 3 drinks total and the bill was ~$240.
***Oysters & venison tartar in pic
Exceptional food and exceptional service. Came here to celebrate a personal milestone and the restaurant definitely delivered to make the occasion special. On the pricier side, but quality of food and atmosphere justify the price. Highly recommend.
Dishes are unique and very tasty in this place. Flavors are blended beautifully. You can never go wrong with food here. The duck dish is a must try!! The ambience and vibes are cool and nice. Dim lights, hanging lamps, and red bricks.. it’s a nice place to hang out with friends or a date. The only downside about this place is the drinks list and options they serve are pretty limited.
Pure class all around! Our server was next level, food was incredible, drinks were delish! Highly recommended! Quite possibly the best dinning experience we've ever had. Next time we're in Ottawa we'll making more than one stop here! Thanks for a great evening fauna!
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