Reviews Erling's Variety

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Alex Serre
+5
Beautiful space and friendly staff. The small plates were excellent and the kitchen was very accommodating with my friend's food intolerances. One thing to improve would be the variety of craft beer, of which there are only four at the moment. A few nice cans and bottles from Ontarian breweries would be appreciated by beer lovers like me.
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Shannon Victoria
+5
Finally checked out Erling's and had a great brunch for a very reasonable price! Delicious eggs benedict with house-smoked salmon on a house-made english muffin, with yummy blue potato hash browns and kale salad on the side. Great service: friendly and fast! No need to wait in a long line to get a table either - we'll be back for sure! :)
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Larissa Deacon
+5
We just had the most amazing evening at Erling's! Our 1 year old son joined us for dinner and the owner and staff truly went above and beyond to accommodate us and to make us feel right at home. Our server was so special and so amazing with our little guy. Thank you so much for a great night to remember! Sincerely, Parents that don't get out much!
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Kristen Hamilton
+5
Wow. New favourite place in Ottawa. I think we tried everything on the menu ~ oysters, frog's legs, scallops, seasonal vegetables, halibut, charcuterie... and then homemade coffee ice cream and s'mores dessert. The execution of the dishes was incredible. The distinct flavours and combinations of these flavours was mouthwatering...The chefs are genius.The service was fantastic. Loved the restaurant design with open kitchen and open bar. We are hoping to come back with the kids for Mother's Day Brunch and next date night, we may sit at the bar. Love this place!
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Steve Lyrette
+5
Best spot in town! Amazing friendly staff , great ppl!:-)
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Sarah Moreault
+5
Awesome atmosphere, the staff is very attentive, they know their menu and can offer suggestions... and the food! No words. Tasty, satisfying excellent!
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Derick Vezina
+5
Had an amazing New Year's eve dinner. Food and wine pairing was outstanding. My 5 year old son even had the oyster and liked it. Best overall meal experience. Thank you again.
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Andrew Van Beek
+5
Excellent food and drink. Perfect service with great suggestions. I was completely surprised by the whole experience.
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Matthew Caldwell
+5
Wonderful food and service, new favourite of mine!
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Stephanie LeBlanc
+5
Absolutely best charcuterie in ottawa! Great service, amazing atmosphere mind blowing food!
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Stéphanie Théorêt
+5
Incredible ! The service was amazing, the food was delicious and the vibe was perfect!
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Nat Alie
+5
Had a great lunch with a girlfriend. Cocktails were perfect, food was mouthwatering and service was spot on. I'll definitely be back, thank you.
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Arleigh Romyn
+5
Had dinner with friends here last night. Service was very good. Plates were delicious!
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Dino
+5
Amazing food and outstanding service make this a must try restaurant. Small plates that are perfect for sharing along with a great wine list.
26 days ago
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MF
+5
Great wine choices, great vibe, tasty dishes that aren’t too much. It’s a very cool place and would recommend.
11 months ago
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Lunny
+4
2019/08/01
For me, Erling’s Variety was an interesting find. Firstly, it is on a side street, so a walk-by diner probably wouldn’t notice it. Secondly, the decor and design is modern, with clean lines and a high ceiling, yet still has a bit of a retro feel to it. And lastly, is the simple yet varied menu that has something for most tastes.

My starter was the Brussels Sprouts under the Veggies menu, with crispy bacon, croutons, buttermilk anchovy ranch dressing and lots of finely shredded white cheddar. Lots of interesting saltiness.

My main dish was Scallops under the Land and Sea menu. Two large, plump scallops, nicely seared on both sides, just warm and almost buttery on the inside. The scallops were perched atop diced capocollo, apples and turnips, and creamed kale. Salty, sweet, tart, smooth, crunchy. Good.

Service was friendly and fast.
Aug 20, 2019
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Patricia Ward
+5
My friends and I had lunch recently and we were all impressed with the whole dining experience. The ambiance and décor is warm and interesting. The menu choices were plentiful. We all ordered different dishes and we all enjoyed them. The chef is very creative and catered to our needs as one friend is Celiac. The wait staff was excellent. I would highly recommend this restaurant and have already made reservations for my next visit bringing new friends.
Jul 04, 2019
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Ljc57
+5
Have had lunch with small groups here twice now and can’t wait to go back for dinner. The menu is perfect, the chef is talented and caring, and the wait staff friendly and knowledgeable. The food is simply divine.
Apr 13, 2019
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Paul Davis
+5
Excellent menu, diverse but cohesive. Lots of vegetarian dishes, super creative, subtle, artful presentation. Meat dishes superbly prepared. The gnocchi, omg! Plates just right size for sharing- or not! Cool atmosphere, cozy but lively, kitchen in plain view. We were 4 and we shared 6 plates, plus 3 lovely desserts. The plates come out in order prepared. If you like to take your time and enjoy the conversation, it’s perfect. Nice friendly laid back service, and great value for the quality. . We live in the Glebe, but took us a while to discover the spot because it’s just off Bank.
Nov 23, 2017
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Caitlin Kealey
+5
Had a perfect meal here last night - outstanding hospitality combined with delicious food! Highly recommend - strong wine list, extremely knowledgeable server who also brought us a bunch of extra tastes of wine to see what we liked. Great experience. One of ottawa's best.
May 10, 2017
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Le Foodie Dog
+4
The food was good, I really like tapas type restaurants. The service was relatively quick considering the restaurant was full. I would go back, but it's not my go to restaurant
Oct 23, 2016
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Kate
+5
I had lunch with girlfriends at Erlings's Variety this week. We asked the sever to recommend dishes and everything he brought out was absolutely amazing - especially the warm kale salad and the scallops. The wine was delicious and the atmosphere was lovely - tucked right off Bank Street in the Glebe. We would definitely go back.
May 28, 2016
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Gary S
+4.5
Attentive wait staff. Delicious food from the kitchen. We were there on a Thursday night and thank goodness it was not packed because I can imagine this place getting loud. Someone had some dietary restrictions and the kitchen was more than accommodating. Awesome!
May 23, 2016
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Ashley
+5
My friends and I had been here once before and absolutely loved it, small plates for sharing and tasting is right up our alley. We decided to return again last night, but just one fact had changed, I am a fairly new vegan. I emailed the restaurant directly to see what menu items could easily be made vegan for me. They told me that while none of their current menu items were vegan they would be happy to come up with a few items for me! When I arrived at the restaurant, they presented me with a personalized printed menu (that’s right, with my name on it!) with four vegan options to choose from! I was floored. More than that, they seemed happy to do it. I was able to try their tempura battered veggies (yellow zucchini and oyster mushrooms) which were crispy, juicy and delicious, they came with a spicy mustard for dipping; and the entrée which was a coconut yam puree with lentils, mushrooms and greens, amazing! Our table also had fries to share which were crispy and perfectly salted. My tablemates ordered from the standard menu and were thrilled with their choices too, a beautifully presented build-your-own charcuterie board and a gnocchi pasta. I couldn’t believe they went above and beyond for me the way they did, I was expecting to order a salad without the cheese! I loved this place before I was vegan and now I love it even more. I will be returning the next chance I get!
Apr 22, 2016
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Maureen Faulkner
+5
Consistently delicious and interesting cuisine. I am delighted every time I dine here. Wait staff is exceptional and accommodating. You won't be disappointed. I LOVE this place!
Apr 14, 2016
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Manda
+5
Amazing food! You should be very proud of what you put out of your kitchen ! The price for two people for lunch was around $35.00. Which is fantastic cause some chain restaurants charge more than that! Good job!
Jan 10, 2016
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Mark
+4.5
Carefully made small plates, each infused with a harmony of truly complementary flavours. Very nice that not all plates arrived at the same time (in fact, we were advised of this upon ordering), allowing all three in our party to enjoy unique tastes of each of the 8 dishes we ordered without concern for other dishes getting cold. Fettuccine stood out (particularly because my son does not like mushrooms but could not get enough of this blend of pasta, gorgonzola and mushrooms). As always, when I experience great service I have to mention it, as it adds to the food and the atmosphere: our waitress was, without a fault, as caring as any professional should be and made our sojourn extra special, like a meal amongst family.
Dec 07, 2015
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David Chartrand
+4.5
My wife and I went on a THU night and had a great time. We arrived a little early and sat at the bar and started the evening with the best margarita I can remember. The ambiance was great: unique décor, good lighting and fabulous tunes. My wife had the steak and I ordered the pickerel; a beet salad and of course, fries rounded out the small plates offerings for out meal. They did not have a zinfandel on the shelf but the waitress made a great suggestion of a similar west coast red and it all worked perfectly. Every item was fresh and uniquely flavoured. We'll be back!Thanks Liam!
Nov 12, 2015
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Linoustic
+5
EVERY BITE IS A SbLIME CULINARY EXPERIENCE AT ERLING'S VARIETY! I TRULY ENJOYED ALL OF THE DISHES WE TRIED! TRYTHE CRISPY SQUID! WE CAN NOT WAIT TI RETURN. THE CHEF CAME TO OUR TABLE. WE ORDERED EXCLUSIVE WiNE!!
Oct 02, 2015
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Pouchpotato
+3.5
I went to Erling's for brunch, and while the food and service was quite good the portion sizes were very small. The interior is lovely and open. I would still like to come back for dinner, but maybe have a snack beforehand.
Sep 11, 2015
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CaptainPorkchop
+4.5
Good, could be great. The biggest problem was how large the plates were and the fact they all came at once. There were four of us and we ordered about 8 sharing plates. We felt rushed as the food was getting cold and felt like like gluttons because of all of the plates. Any tapas style restaurant usually staggers the serving of dishes, even if it isn't tapas style. It was just weird. Food was good...definitely 10 ten better restaurants in ottawa
May 27, 2015
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ML
+4.5
Agree that it's about time that a really good restaurant opened in the Glebe! Everything we had was well prepared and delicious, including the cocktail. The service was attentive without being overbearing. I could quibble with the smallish selection of wines by the glass, but I really enjoyed the experience- we sat at the bar. I should add that we'd been once before on a Friday night and it was really noisy- this time was early on a Tuesday, and it was fine.
Apr 29, 2015
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Meez
+4.5
Luv!. Went to Erlings a while back but have not had the chance to comment. From the time I stepped into the restaurant, I fell in love. The open kitchen and decor provided a wonderful ambience. The service and food was great. my only negative comment were some of the plates were a little pricier compared to the ingredients and size. Overall a great experience!
Apr 14, 2015
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Kimby
+4.5
Love it! The food is delicious! My boyfriend and i dropped in for lunxh one day. I had the smoked porkchop and my boyfriend had the steak. We tried each others food and both agreed on how perfect both meals were. Dessert was phenomenal! You have to try their version of a beaver tail! On our bill there was a coupon for 25% off at funky furniture on Gladstone, which was great because we just boight a house and needed some stuff! I can't say enoigh awesomeness about Erlings!
Feb 13, 2015
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RM86
+4.5
Lovely brunch! The food is wonderful, service is great. Can't wait to go back to try their evening menu.
Jan 19, 2015
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Cookingwithkelly
+4.5
Good food, good service. A new place to enjoy in the Glebe. Enjoyed our lunch, although I suggest making a reservation in advance! We've been turned away in past because it's not a very big space. But it's worth the visit!
Oct 20, 2014
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Kace Of The Munchies
+4.5
Love, love LOVE this place. I've been three times and the quality is stellar every single time. Even the simplest things on the menu have extraordinary/layered flavours. Love this place!
Oct 13, 2014
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Comelon
+4.5
Every Nook and Cranny. This place just captivated me from the get-go! They had a simple menu, I was there for late night Friday drinks with friends. Didn't check out their full menu, but did grab a plate of fries and aioli... amazing! Their tequila cocktail was delicious, wish I could remember what it was called. Great beer selection.

It's so well decorated, and the food looks incredible. I'm going to have to go back and try a full meal there. I was impressed :)
Jul 27, 2014
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Alli
+4.5
Some friends and I went to Erling's after an intense game of mini putt one evening last week, and I was highly impressed. The menu is fresh, unique, and inspired, even beginning with the cocktails. I started with their house Caesar. I was intrigued because it had red wine in it, which surprised me and worked wonderfully with the clamato.

My friends and I literally ordered every dish on the menu. I love it when restaurants keep their menus small, because then you know each dish is constructed with care. Everything on the table was devoured within minutes, and we even ordered second rounds of some of our favourites. The pancetta mac and cheese, for example. Holy moly. No words.

At this point we basically had no other option but to stay for dessert. We indulged again and the chef made a beautiful platter of all the dessert offerings for us. If they are offering the peanut butter chocolate torte when you visit, I beg you, do not pass it up.

Erling's knows what's up when it comes to food and hospitality. All the staff were so friendly and prompt with their service. Water was always full without asking, dishes were ways cleared promptly to make way for our next round. The decor is perfect. You feel like you are in your trendy friend's living room for a social get together. I love the open kitchen.

You can tell they take pride in what they do, and they should.
Jul 26, 2014
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YPG-YOW
+4.5
Great experience I brought.... Great experience
I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday last month. We didn't reserve in advance so ended up at the bar, which was a pretty fun place to sit as there is an open kitchen. Service was fast and friendly but laid back in a good way. We loved every dish we tried. A favourite was the house salad and the duck and ribs were both done to perfection. I found the prices to be quite reasonable, especially for this quality of food in Ottawa. I'm looking forward to going back and hope to try the brunch soon.
Jul 14, 2014
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That Girl
+4.5
Yuuuummmmy without the pretention. GREAT, flavorful food, warm staff and lovely setting.

My new fav!!
Jun 23, 2014
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Stonebridge_Foodie
+4.5
Great spot!. Went to Erling's Variety tonight on a friend's recommendation. What a great spot. As soon as you walk in you are met with a funky, trendy open concept space that is nicely decorated. The cooking area is open to the restaurant. You feel like you are at a friend's place and they are cooking for you. The servers are friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Now, onto the food. A small plates concept with enough variety to satisfy the foodie in you. My friend and I shared wild mushrooms with goat cheese (to die for), scallops in a shrimp bisque and mango salsa (perfectly cooked), crab cakes (delicious!), frites (hot and nicely seasoned) and the filet (medium rare and full of flavour). Our server asked if we wanted dessert and we first were going to pass, when the table beside us raved about the cheesecake. We then decided to listen to the choices which were, dulce de leche cheesecake, light and dark chocolate tart and a creme brûlée. We settled on the cheesecake and were not at all disappointed. Sweet, light tasting with a wonderful crust; it was the perfect ending to a great meal. With a bottle of wine, 5 dishes, dessert and a coffee and a cappuccino, the bill approx $130. Well worth it. Give Erling's a try, you won't be disappointed.
May 02, 2014
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Adam Auer
+4.5
Tons of promise. Stunning atmosphere. Finally a restaurant in the Glebe that brings some Montreal / New York ambiance. Well done! The food is quite good, if not particularly innovative. Somewhat reliant on butter, salt and demi glace to flavour just about every dish on the menu, but the results are tasty and well cooked/presented. I expect more experimentation and refinement with time. The portion size to cost ratio is out of whack, meaning if you want to get full here be prepared to pay, but this is pretty typical of the Ottawa scene - it's expensive relative to other cities. Also disappointing is the wine list, at least half of which are generic "vintage essentials" like liberty school cabernet. If I am going to pay a 3x mark-up on a bottle of wine, it should at least be something that someone has spent some time sourcing and pairing with the cuisine. That said, the pinot was pretty good. Lastly, service - it's friendly but somewhat lacking in refinement ... little things like wine service rituals, pacing etc. Hopefully this will get tweaked over time. This is the longest review I've ever written and only because I am really excited about what Erling's Variety might bring to the Glebe ... hopefully the start of a trend.
Apr 15, 2014
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Pamfromottawa
+4.5
Best New Restaurant in town!. Wow, we were in last night for dinner....cod was sooooo good! Wine list is a little small but well priced and nice. This is my favourite new hang-out, can't wait to try the weekend late night menu.
Apr 07, 2014
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Brenda
+4.5
Great food!. I've been to Earling's a few times and will keep coming back for the same reasons: excellent food, great service, and the overall feeling of the place.
Let's start with the food: this is what impressed me the most! Every single plate I ever ordered (brunch, lunch or dinner) was simply excuisite. Ingredients are fresh and combined together masterfully. It's really a thing of beauty to see the chefs in action! I love that plates are affordable and yet in very satisfying portions. You can share and sample every delicious plate which really is a fun and unique dining experience.
I read over a review here that mentions bad service....NO idea where that is coming from because that is my next favorite thing about this place: the super friendly service. Staff is fast and efficient and we have always felt well taken care of when at Earling's. There's a certain charm and just good feeling to the place.
This brings me to the decor: just like the food, elegant yet not overly complicated. When you read some of the history behind how some items were put together, it really helps explain that indescribable fuzzy good feeling you get when you dine at Earling's.
But seriously: THE FOOD IS AMAZING! I reeeeally hope this restaurant sticks around it's one of my favorites for sure!!
Apr 07, 2014
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David.etkin
+4.5
Wonderful dinner at Earls/Erlings. My wife and I travel for business and find ourselves in Ottawa every few weeks. We discovered Erlings through friends in February when we had a really special brunch. Decided to return for dinner with another couple over the weekend and it didn't disappoint. What a great idea - small plates that are well paced and can be shared with friends. A nice way to dine. Dinner was terrific .... delicious food, wonderful atmosphere and friendly (if not the speediest) service. We loved every dish - especially the scallops and the beet salad. Unique concept - it works. We'll be back next month. Hope they get the name sorted out. Great little restaurant!
Apr 06, 2014
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Kaylee Vainola
+4.5
Thank you for taking the time to write your review. Everyone needs to be kept on their toes. We pride ourselves on our excellent service and I am so sorry your experience at Erling's Variety didn't live up to your expectations. If you would be willing to give us another chance we would love to make this up to you. Please contact me personally if you have the time, Liam Vainola.
Earlsvariety@gmail.com
Apr 06, 2014
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Alan
+4.5
More than a Neighbourhood Hangout. We have done brunch four times and lunch once. Always a pleasure. Service has been wonderful especially when we have had our 18 month old granddaughter. The food is creative and flavourful. A worthwhile destination.
Mar 08, 2014
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Mcclanboys
+4.5
Saturday Brunch. We've been twice now for the brunch. What a beautiful decor and love that there is a bar to sit at ( although the barstools leave a whole lot to be desired).

What a fantastic open concept kitchen. Very inviting. Chit-chatting with the cooks was a delight.

Everything was made to order, hollandaise prepared fresh etc.

We sampled two types of Eggs Benedict and they were both to die for. One was mushroom, the other a spicy chutney concoction....truly delish!

Steak and Eggs....well, let's just say you are never going to find steak and eggs like that at any other little restaurant. Amazing! Huge, beautiful piece of steak cooked to a perfect medium rare. The smashed potatoes and the french fries, all perfectly cooked.

This is definitely going to be a regular weekend stop for us and we are looking forward to the late night menu coming next week. We will definitely stop in with friends to check it out.

Thanks for bringing talent and passion to the Glebe.
Jan 23, 2014
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Jen
+4.5
When I'm traveling in a cool city and see this type of restaurant (beautiful, bright, edgy, delicious, not too expensive) I always wish for something like it in Ottawa. Well here it is! I cannot say enough nice things about my lunch there yesterday. I had the pasta, my companion had the pickerel--both were fantastic. The service was fast and friendly and they were all equipped for my toddler (but without the vibe-killing "family restaurant" ambiance).
Jan 10, 2014
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Catsinthebelfry
+4.5
We'll be back!. We had an excellent lunch at Earl's Variety. The dishes were delicious, presentation was very appealing, service was friendly and efficient. Soup came piping hot -not lukewarm like at some places. Salad did not have too much dressing, thank goodness, and was impeccably garnished with hazelnuts, bacon, freshly grated cheese. Stewed chicken legs were a fancy version of a super tasty comfort food that your grandma would make, with stock made from scratch. Yum. I hope they can keep producing tasty food here, because we want to come back and become regulars! It will be our new neighborhood hangout!

We went back a few days ago, for brunch this time. It was packed. Thank goodness we'd reserved our table. We loved it as much. They have a short menu of delicious items. We enjoyed all our dishes but can't wait to go back and have one particular item again: eggs benny with wild mushrooms. Divine!
Dec 30, 2013
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Muttiabroad
+4.5
Excellent service, fabulous food. Well priced, well prepared food. Two dined, one steak, one fish and both were beautifully presented. Wonderful food. Give it a try, it's a great addition to the area.
Dec 24, 2013
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Adrienne
+4.5
Nice work boys! So delicious! Can't wait to be back over the holidays! Yuuuuuummm!!!
Dec 08, 2013
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Pramita Ch
+5
Service - excellent. Our server saw us catching up, and graciously let us ask for the bill instead of hurrying us out. Ambiance - beautiful! intimate, casual elegance. Food - we shared 4 plates and I felt like it was enough but my friend would have liked a little bread. Olives, cheese, fennel salad, and the mushroom/artichoke dip (this was a flatbread with mushroom/artichoke dip on top, not for actual dipping but it was the best dish by far). Drinks - drink menu is a little small, but we found something we liked.
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Richard Wieler
+4
It's a great space for a restaurant, big window and a very cool vibe. It's got an open kitchen and you can sit at the counter to check out the action. The menu is small plates, tapas style. The food is well put together. They have nice if short list of cocktails, wines and beers.
5
Tim Lee
+5
Tried here for the first time this week and the food was amazing. Menu is so interesting and the portions are very fair for shareable plates. Service was also excellent. Will be back for sure!
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Janelle Cyr
+5
Delicious food, great service, good for a date night (small plates to share), wine by glass was excellent. Very accommodating and aware for allergies, let them know ahead of time. We'll be returning.
5
Rocky Singh
+5
Best brunch ever. Chicken waffle was simply amazing, sweet & spicy sauce covering the perfect fried chicken over waffle, never had anything like this before. The kitchen is 'real' open concept kitchen, every dish prepared right in front of you. This place gives you a feeling of being at your own kitchen, surrounded by huge family.
5
Jana Glick
+5
My husband and I went for dinner and it had such a charming ambience to begin with, The owner was extremely friendly and helpful. The food variety was fun and enjoyable. We ordered different dishes from the menu and even went back on a Sunday for their brunch which delicious as well! It’s a must to try whenever you’re in the glebe!
5
Dani Gibbons
+5
Love the open concept, great ambience & service. Delicious wine selection as well!
5
Dahn Jeong
+5
We went for a Sunday brunch and both our dishes were great. Fried chicken was crispy yet moist and the poached eggs were very well executed. Hollandaise was tasty as well. Latte was just ordinary though. Great service!
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