Review Erling's Variety - Ottawa

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

Love the open concept, great ambience & service. Delicious wine selection as well!

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!

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.

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! :)

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!

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!

Amazing food, great, comfortable restaurant. Our waitress, Melissa, was amazing. Their wine list was very interesting, with very original grapes and regions you don't see very often. Great staff, I highly recommend it for a date night, or night with friends. Great open kitchen, would love to sit at the at and watch the kitchen staff next time. Go to Erling's!

Had an amazing dinner last night. Sat at the bar... The service was top notch. Great wine suggestions. Highlights were the gnocchi and beet salad as well as an over the top dessert.... A truly spectacular take on the beaver tail! Will be back again and will tell everyone we know how stellar this place really is!

Best spot in town! Amazing friendly staff , great ppl!:-)

Awesome atmosphere, the staff is very attentive, they know their menu and can offer suggestions... and the food! No words. Tasty, satisfying excellent!

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.

Excellent food and drink. Perfect service with great suggestions. I was completely surprised by the whole experience.

Wonderful food and service, new favourite of mine!

Absolutely best charcuterie in ottawa! Great service, amazing atmosphere mind blowing food!

Incredible ! The service was amazing, the food was delicious and the vibe was perfect!

Truly remarkable food! The decor and staff are perfectly complimented by a refreshing blend of tastes and aromas.

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.

Had dinner with friends here last night. Service was very good. Plates were delicious!

Amazing food and outstanding service make this a must try restaurant. Small plates that are perfect for sharing along with a great wine list.

Great wine choices, great vibe, tasty dishes that aren’t too much. It’s a very cool place and would recommend. <br/>

2019/08/01<br/>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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>Service was friendly and fast.

My friends and I had lunch recently and we were all impressed with the whole dining experience. The ambiance and d&eacute;cor 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!!

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.

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

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.

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!

Not Impressed. The ambiance is lovely and the service was fine. The food, though, was a disappointment. My friend and I had dinner at Erling's recently for the first time. She had the pickerel, a serving so small it was laughable; I had a root vegetable salad which featured carrots way too "al-dente". And $15 for a 5-ounce glass of Hardy red wine? We won't be back.

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!

I should start by saying my expectations may have been unrealistically high as my first experience with Erling's was unreal. This time, not so much. I was sad to see they removed some of my favorites from the dinner menu, such is life in "the biz" however their replacements were not nearly as appetizing. After reading the menu I immediately contemplated putting on my coat and leaving. It was a struggle to order three dishes when we had to cap it at 6 last time. The wine menu was blah as well. We chose some of the safer bets. The oysters took an eternity to arrive... with the strangest mignonettes. My advice would be to prime the guests since the menu description is vague. The waitress was seemingly offended by our request for something spicy and didn't return to bring us our next dish: their famous fries, but this time the aioli was under seasoned, thick and buttery. Tasted like a weird pizza dipping sauce. The pork chop was really good. Waitress made some snide excuse for a check in. She was knowledgeable but lacked people skills and not inclined to help a young couple in a sea of well established looking 50 somethings with their new Porches parked outside. Overall not impressed, really disappointed that something I loved has taken a turn for the worse.

Lovely brunch! The food is wonderful, service is great. Can't wait to go back to try their evening menu.

An hour and a half wait for eggs?<br/>Unacceptably long wait at this restaurant. After an hour of waiting for 2 meals, was told our order was never entered. Still waiting to eat another half hour later. Staff offered to waive the bill and brought drinks, but still no food. Will not return.

Overpriced and underwhelming. Don't think too much more is needed than that. High-priced food that is not particularly flavorful.

Fantastic!. Had dinner last night at Erling's Variety and it was perfect. The food was amazing, I couldn't get enough; the staff were attentive, friendly and knowledgeable and the atmosphere was more than inviting. The DJ after dinner was so much fun, people were dancing and really enjoying themselves. All in all, it was a great night. I will be back and will recommend the spot to everyone. Go to Erling's Variety, you won't regret it!

Really nice place!. Erling's is a really nice place, wich i would call a modern Bistro with Canadian/French food and Spanish service style (Tapas).<br/>The food is really good. We had Black Cod, Tempura Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Beet Salat and the Charcuterie/Cheese Plate. As i'm a cook/chef myself, everything was made really well with good to very good taste. The restaurant is an open concept. You can watch the chefs preparing your food, wich i find is really entertaining. The atmosphere is very lively, like in a real French Bistro. I read that people find it too loud by times. Yes, it is not your personal romantic candle light dinner place...<br/>Service was friendly! No complaints! Wine/ Beer selection is good (remember: it is not a 3 michelin star restaurant). The food comes as it is prepared. My system ( for small plates) is to order several times..first two items...eat..another two items...etc.<br/>At the moment i'm trying to find things i could say bad about the restaurant..for me the evening was really nice and we had a really fun time...so there is nothing bad i could tell you! Sorry!<br/>Erling's..Keep up the good work..we will be back soon!

A Truly Remarkable Experience. My husband and I came to Erlings for an anniversary dinner and unknowingly arrived right as the kitchen was about to close. The staff were so warm and welcome, not concerned with our late arrival at all. They quickly proved themselves to be knowledgable and patient. (They even sent us an amuse Bouche to say thank you for coming! Which was certainly a pleasant surprise. We thought this to be very professional..) <br/><br/>We had three incredible courses of food; I had to wrestle with myself to not continuously re- order items! Every dish was incredibly layered and well balanced. The mushrooms were rich and savoury. The scallops were perfectly seared with varying textures throughout the rest of the dish to add depth.. The brussel sprouts were one of the best vegetable dishes I have ever had. <br/>The short ribs literally melted. <br/><br/>Servers were on the ball, contributed to excellent pairings with our meal and gave us the right amount of presence that allowed us to still very much enjoy our anniversary. We were really impressed with their fluidity with wine recommendations, everything was paired well. <br/><br/>Overall, this was one of the best dining experiences I have had in Ottawa in a very long time. We frequent an extensive list of dynamic restaurants in the city and I was truly, incredibly pleased leaving. I highly recommend Erlings, stay all night and try everything on the menu!

Crappy food/crappy attitude. Dinner out should be stress free. At Erling's it is not! We live in a world of growing intolerances and food allergies are high on many lists. At Erling's the chef ("reheater" is perhaps a better choice given the texture of some of the presentations) insists that a $2.00 fee be charged on exchanging one potato side (containing horseradish to which my wife is allergic) for another one... and on a bill totalling almost $300 to boot. Maybe when business is slower (I for 4 will never be back) and he/she is unemployed reheater can take comfort in some congealed aioli on his fries.<br/>And shoving us out the door with wine glasses half full is only one of several other complaints.<br/>I am not impressed at all.<br/>Michael

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!

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!

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.<br/><br/>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 :)

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.<br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>You can tell they take pride in what they do, and they should.

Great experience I brought.... Great experience <br/>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.

Yuuuummmmy without the pretention. GREAT, flavorful food, warm staff and lovely setting. <br/><br/>My new fav!!

A finger(nail) of Scotch for $14? - but tasty food. We liked the atmosphere and the food was very tasty. BUT. In all my 20 years of adult life dining out in fine establishments here in Ottawa and on 4 continents, in 30 countries, from New York to Hong Kong and from Paris to Sydney, I have never, ever been served such a sad, tiny drink. You know how people talk about a finger of scotch as a measure? Well, this was a fingernail. No exaggeration. I'm not a big drinker - in fact I only ever have a drink when I'm out. But this was barely enough to taste. <br/><br/>I'd have ordered a second one, but at $14 a pop... <br/><br/>Hey Erling and friends, don't be so laughably stingy. It leaves a bad aftertaste to what was otherwise a tasty night out.

Good, but not great. I would definitely say that this restaurant is definitely a slight notch above average. But definitely several notches below the well-known top dogs in the city. The food was below average to very good. The prices were definitely, however, very high. <br/>Beef tenderloin: tasty but not amazing. And with a lack of anything on the side with it the dish looked underwhelming and felt very overpriced. Yes, I understand tenderloin is expensive. But I would rather see a slightly cheaper cut on the plate with a side of some frites or a little salad or something. <br/>Duck breast: cooked well although I found the dish lacked balance, too many sweet notes. <br/>Scallops: very good - a well composed plate. <br/>Beet salad: good, but a little unoriginal. <br/>Crab cakes: very good and fairly priced. <br/>Prawns: very disappointing. Overcooked and tough. Sauce was nice but not enough to save the dish. Also, the prawns were one of the smaller count shrimps. Would have liked to see some bigger shrimps on the plate to get that wow factor. <br/>Frites: good but definitely way overpriced. At $7, even for a decent portion is a huge amount for potato. Likewise for the scalloped potato which I wanted to order but couldn't justify paying $10 for what would basically be considered a side dish.<br/>Wine list was kind of blah to be honest. But not terrible by any means. There should be more interesting selections on the menu but maybe that's something that comes with time.<br/>Service was teetering between average and below average. Not a lot of table touches from our server. We waited too long, it felt, for drinks. And the pace felt generally slow - many times it felt like we waited for food. The restaurant itself is small but handsomely appointed. Service overall felt more like order taking than service that provides part of the experience. Open concept kitchen is great, always love seeing the work that goes in to making each dish. <br/>Overall, I'd like to see more interesting elements incorporated in to dishes if the chef wants to stay with classical compositions and pairings. Service could definitely stand to improve. And the pricing either needs to be justified with the plates or reduced.

Food & service were exceptional. I've been to Erling's 4 times now as I live and work in the neighborhood. Every time, I've been very impressed with the food, the service and the ambiance. A few highlights:<br/><br/>- Amazing service: I went with a friend who was on a special diet where she couldn't eat, among other things, meat, dairy, sugar, soya, gluten and salt. Naturally there wasn't a lot on the menu that fit all of these restrictions. We asked the waiter for a suggestion; he went to the chef and brought him right to our table where my friend then explained her restrictions and the chef himself offered to make a special salmon dish that she could eat. I call that going above and beyond my expectations.<br/><br/>- The food was irresistible each time I went. the tuna takaki was lightly seared on the outside and fresh and salty on the inside, almost like sushi. It was so good, I had to order a second helping. The fries were delectable; I don't know why they were so good, but I would consider going there just to eat fries (and I'm not even really a fries fan). The cheese plate was a perfect late night snack, and split between two people you still get a good amount of cheese and munchies for only $15. The brunch was so well-prepared. I had the California Benny; the poached eggs were so soft and perfectly cooked ( I wish I could do that at home). The guacamole was made with perfectly ripe avocadoes and the lime hollandaise sauce was a really cool twist on the normal. I think it was the best eggs benedict I've ever had.<br/><br/>- All around good vibes. The colour palette of the place is very carefully chosen; the light wood tables and countertop make for a calm and soothing atmosphere. I love the open concept kitchen and the bar counter is gorgeous. The staff are all young, enthusiastic and seem to have a natural way with people. I felt welcomed there and I want to go back as soon as I can!

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.

Delicious food; poor service. Having heard really great things about Erling's, I headed over with a friend the other night for dinner. After verifying what items were gluten free, due to an allergy, we ordered 3 plates to share. What we ordered, however, was not exactly what we got. The first plate brought over was a salad, something we did not order, so we sent it back with a reminder of what we did order (root veggies; mushrooms; duck). The mushrooms arrived shortly after we sent the first dish back. A very tasty dish, they were served with crustinis (a gluten-free no-no for my friend, but something I happily chowed down on.) The duck followed suit and was delicious. Lastly, our third dish arrived: green beans. Again, not what we ordered, but having felt bad for already sending one item back, we agreed that the beans looked appetizing, so did not say anything. Perhaps servers should be required to write down guest orders?<br/><br/>Overall, the food makes it worth a visit, but the service leaves something to be desired.

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.

My first time in this week and the place looks like it belongs either in Toronto or Montreal. Tried a bit of everything with a friend of mine, and although the items on the menu seemed basic, the taste and flavours of each dish left us wanting more. We sat at thé bar with a direct view of the open concept kitchen . It was like dinner and a show! Thé staff worked together as if they have been doing it for years. Overall extremely impressed!! Ps. I recommend the pimm's cup and a seat at the bar!!!

Magnifique!. I have been to Erling's for lunch and dinner. Both experiences were very pleasurable. Lunch regular plates are filling and very tasty. For dinner, what an exciting experience to sit at the counter and watch the brigade at work meticulously preparing beautiful and delicious small plates. I enjoyed talking with the chef and watching the team prepare dish after dish with care. With a friend we tried 5 small plates and had plenty to satisfy our appetite. I was excited to watch and have already chosen what I will order next time. It is not cheap, food is well priced for the quality and the exquisite choices. You truly get good value for your money and your taste buds. Food , décor, service and atmosphere were great, so without hesitation I recommend Erling's for those that appreciate good food in an original setting. I look forward to trying their brunch.

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.

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. <br/>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.<br/>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.<br/>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.<br/>But seriously: THE FOOD IS AMAZING! I reeeeally hope this restaurant sticks around it's one of my favorites for sure!!

Excellent. I find it difficult when people sit behind their keyboards with so much to say but do not address any of their issues with the restaurant at the time of service. You can not sit here and bash a place publicly without giving them chance to recover themselves first. I have been to Erling's 3 times. The first visit was excellent from beginning to end. The food is priced correctly, their open kitchen allows you to see their cleanliness and service practices, the food is presented well and the flavours left us wanting to come back for more. In the second visit we had a slight hiccup with one of the dishes, the sauce on the tuna was not the way that we had remembered in the first visit. This was disappointing since we had been craving it all day. It was a beurre blanc with a bit too much beurre. We spoke up and the server dealt with this issue immediately. The chef had remade the sauce and gave us an extra 2 pieces of tuna, this was the sauce we had returned for! They recognized and recovered. If quality control was an issue I would not return but I have since been back a 3rd time for the lunch menu and had a phenomenal experience once again. I see a lot of potential in this restaurant. Good vibe, great food in a great location.

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!

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.<br/>Earlsvariety@gmail.com

Ok food, Poor Service - Skip Earl as there are better options. We ate at Earls or Erling’s last night and were disappointed with the dinner, but more from the service than the quality of food. My friend and I walked through the Glebe to eat at Earls because we heard about their legal issues on the radio rather than stop at the staple Bank Street restaurants. When we arrived, it was partially packed and we spoke with the head waiter to see the vegetarian options on the menu and were informed that one side was completely vegetarian so we waited to be seated. This took a bit of time as there was a severe lack of coordination on the front of house staff as all the servers thought we were being handled by the other. Finally the head waiter told us a table was clearing up and we could wait at the bar and so we waited. This lasted over 10 minutes and the table did not vacate so we were finally given menus and once again ignored. After 20 minutes from entering Earls, a waitress came by and asked if we wanted drinks and declined so she disappeared again. When we finally ordered 30 minutes after arriving, I picked the duck from the meat side and beet salad from the veggie side; my friend picked the butternut soup, and wild mushroom from the vegetarian side. We had to order all these dishes as Earls is small plates only ($12-14 each), and even with two dishes and dessert each we left hungry. <br/><br/>The wild mushrooms were a mistake as the mushroom were drenched in Demi - a meat stock made from veal bones, the worst thing you could possibly feed a vegetarian. My friend was informed too late as we had finished our meal when the waitress quickly came over to informed us that the sauce was meat based then proceed to make several questionable jokes which left my friend very uncomfortable.<br/><br/>We had the chocolate tart which was nice but very small once again and I lived in Europe last year so I am familiar with non-American size portions. We paid, tipped, and left but won’t be returning or recommending it as there are many better options for fine dining in Ottawa. I’ll quote the previous comment: “If you're looking for an excellent meal or good value, you won't find either at Erling's.

Overpriced and not great. I went with a few girlfriends for dinner. Beautiful decor and layout. We ordered 9 dishes to share (it's a small plates menu), an only 2 of those 9 were great or excellent. The rest were good or just ok. When I'm paying $12-$14/small plate (and believe me, they are SMALL), I expect most of them to be great. Moreover, the staff weren't very friendly. If you're looking for an excellent meal or good value, you won't find either at Erling's.

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.

Earl's Variety is an excellent little restaurant. The open kitchen and kitchenside bar provide a great view for anyone who enjoys the chef's table experience. <br/><br/>The quality of the food is excellent. On my first visit I ate the steak and eggs, which is a choice cut of top sirloin, seared, basted, and baked. I was so impressed that I ordered a second meal, the benedict with jalapeno relish. It was truly creative and impressive. <br/><br/>Chef Jason Breault has outdone himself. Earl's variety is a must-visit for Glebe and Centretown denziens.

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).<br/><br/>What a fantastic open concept kitchen. Very inviting. Chit-chatting with the cooks was a delight.<br/><br/>Everything was made to order, hollandaise prepared fresh etc.<br/><br/>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! <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>Thanks for bringing talent and passion to the Glebe.

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).

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!<br/><br/>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!

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.

Can't bother to come to our table within 15 minutes of sitting down? A big fail even if you're a new restaurant trying to get the kinks out. Servers attended the tables around us more than once. Way to make guests feel completely ignored. <br/>A server managed to find out the supplier of eggs for the table next to us, but couldn't ask us if we wanted to order anything... even just drinks.

Wow!. My wife and I dropped in and found the staff to be so helpful and friendly and the soup wonderful. The pickerel was cooked perfectly. We will return soon!

Nice work boys! So delicious! Can't wait to be back over the holidays! Yuuuuuummm!!!

Yum. Nice atmosphere,clean and bright.The soup was amazing.<br/>Friendly service and great location. The glebe needed a place like this.