Review Wilfrid's - Ottawa

We had a small gathering on Boxing Day. The 10 of us were split into two tables of 4 and 6 side by side. Very comfortable and roomy. Our tables were on the upper level and far away from other tables. We were all having the Discovery Menu. The parents had wine pairing, and the grownup children ordered cocktails. Every course was excellent. We were very impressed with the Turkey! It was the best Turkey I have ever had! Very very tender and flavourful. The wine pairing was excellent too. The service was impeccable. They didn’t have the buffet because of the pandemic. However this Set Menu was perfect for gathering. I highly recommend it!

Came here for a brunch on a Sunday, and the experience and food was amazing! A friend had mentioned that they used to do an all you can eat brunch, which would’ve been amazing to try, however this was just as good! We were seated quickly (with a reservation) and was explained how the menu worked. We got everything on the menu, and they brought it out course by course. Something to note, you are offered one drink per person however if you want a different drink after (like coffee or tea) you’re charged extra and we weren’t told about this beforehand. It was a very unique experience and I would do it again for a special occasion! Highly recommend coming on an empty stomach to make the most of the food!

I enjoy Wilfred’s. The food is excellent. We really enjoy the meat offerings and are looking forward to their continued offerings as they now have an in-house butcher shop. I will say that our service has been very hit and miss. I understand the restaurant has gone through a lot over Covid, and that they likely need to work out kinks (we were actually told as much). I took this into consideration with my review and did not deduct more. I am hoping for improved and more consistent service during future visits, as the menu offerings have been excellent each time.

Wonderful Brunch! We definitely recommend it! the food was very tasty, great selection, big portions, amazing service and a beautiful atmosphere. Great place to celebrate an anniversary, birthday or any special occasion, or to just treat yourself.

I’ve been at this place for Brunch and it has been amazing , (before covid) and food was amazing , so many varieties… I went today and the buffet looks so sad , not too many items like before , presentation was awful. It was just a SAD buffet. And then the bill $88 for 2 … I won’t come back , I can have better food at Cora. So sorry guys very disappointed.

Mother’ day brunch at Wilfred’s was very underwhelming, especially at $95/pp. the staff were kind but overall the meal was very mediocre. For the price, it was not good. Nothing was hot; not the coffee, not the egg dishes; the seafood tower we ordered, came after 45 mins and we had finished our meal. (Hope someone else received it). The washrooms were not dirty, but they hadn’t been attended to. Overall it was a real disappointment. We won’t come back, nor recommend. I never post reviews.

It has been a tradition in my family to go to Wilfrid’s weekend brunch for my birthday every year. We hadn’t gone for the past two years because of Covid, so we were really looking forward to our brunch this past weekend. The experience was stressful because we arrived half an hour late because of the highway closure. We called them in advance to notify them, and they said it would be no problem. Our reservation was for 1:30 PM, and we arrived close to 2 PM. Once we got there, we were told the Buffet closes at 2 PM and it’s better if we go to Zoe’s instead. Their website shows the weekend brunch at Wilfrid’s closes at 3 PM. Also, when I was booking online, they had reservation timeslots for 1:30 PM and 1:45 PM, which doesn’t make sense if the Buffet is supposed to close at 2 PM. How would someone eat a Buffet in 15 minutes if they have a 1:45 PM reservation? The staff finally told us that they’ll let us in but we won’t be able to grab buffet food, we can only order from the menu. Once we sat down, they said they’ll leave the buffet open for us for the full experience. They told us we had to order from the menu right at that time because the kitchen was closing. We quickly ordered some items from the menu, but we never received everything we ordered. Towards the end, when we wanted more coffee, they told us there’s none available but offered to make a latte. We felt quite rushed and stressed during the time. It wasn’t comfortable and welcoming. It definitely wasn’t the usual Fairmont customer service that I’m used to. I’m not sure if I’ll be going back next year. We were disappointed.

Great outdoor patio at this restaurant. The food is delicious but as most higher priced restaurants, portions are small. Drinks are well made but also a bit pricey. You are paying for a nice restaurant and location.

The Wilfrid is a beautiful restaurant. We got seated near the windows where the sun was shinning and warming us up on a cold November day. It was a busy Sunday afternoon for the restaurant. The waiting staff was professional and apologetic for the unusual delays. Some mistakes were made in our order but promptly addressed. But I believe the biggest disappointment was the food. It was overall underwhelming. Nothing bad but nothing to rave about. It left us with the feeling that we could of done a better job ourselves.

Ordered the prime rib. The food was delicious. Staff was friendly but slow. The restaurant was hard to find within the hotel. The cutlery and glass I had were dirty. When I'm spending this much on a meal, I expect perfection in every aspect of the visit.

Brunch on a Sunday. Sure price is a bit high, which to me means they should add some kind of little perk like why not a bit of bubbly? But otherwise great. Omelette station is famous because of the superior skill of the maker. Jam and roast beef great as is the salmon. Some prepared meals are mediocre and some dishes get cool quickly but really the food is great and the location superb.

Lunch with Friend Oct 29 2015  Food was Ok Friend Had Salad I had a Club Sandwich with Salad ,Despite the fact there was 2 waiters and only about 6 tables occupied The service was shockingly poor!  I asked the waiter about 5 times for water and eventually got some despite the jug of water being nearby on A window ledge The waiter also brought our bill way too early we were there for a girls long lunch chat and some wine He never asked if we wanted coffee tea or another glass of wine just brought the bill as if Its two o'clock go home now. Nice place to sit and chat not worth the price or the Parking as the Service is Poor and the food just Ok

We enjoyed our buffet, food was good, great selection. Service was good but I did not appreciate basically being rushed through the end of our breakfast because brunch was starting. I expected better from a place like this.

Dinner on July 1st 2013- buffet. All you can eat for $60 a person. Food was bland. No flavour. No variety. Overpriced. But then again, it IS at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. Service was friendly. Great assortment of desserts.

Once a year in the summer, I pay Wilfrid's a visit for breakfast. I love visiting the Fairmont Chateau Laurier on occasion as it has a rich and storied history as being the place for both world leaders and the rich and famous to stay while in Ottawa.<br/><br/>We don't have any notable pancake houses here so I decided to make Wilfrid's my personal pancake house. $15 is a reasonable price and the dish is beautifully plated. You get real maple syrup, fresh bananas and whipped cream with them and it's filling. The price for the pancakes is cheaper here than it is in Toronto.<br/><br/>I plan another visit this year for breakfast but I also plan to make a second visit to try lunch. Dinner is way too much and unnecessary in my case as a local.<br/><br/>Good service the few times I've gone and very clean, though you would expect a more glamorous looking place in the Grand Old Hotel. Still, a worthy visit on a nice summer day.

We had a good time. This is the second time we have been here. We both had the beef tenderloin with oka root veg and whipped potatoes with a great bottle of wine. Service was alittle slow, took about 25 mins to order. Our food waa great, however my steak look like it was smaller than a hockey puck, but delicious. I preordered choc dipped strawberries when I made the reservations. The waitress tried to get me to order desert, but I asked about my preorder and she was going to check on it ... felt like she pushed to buy a dessert then get stawberries to increase bill. The only HUGE downfall of this place it was 17.00 dollars to park when I was told its validated ... by two employees and I went to have it done and was informed they do not ... I would have parked somewhere else ..for two people its 220 dollars with 17 dollars parking ... also went to Zoe's lounge for some more wine 2 glasses 40 bucks ... I just wish it was free parking as some of their packages for staying the night include it for a cheaper price than dinner.

Okay so service is awful I agree. We waited around forever for any service coffee/ tea, to place order, and get our food. However i have been here twice and when in ottawa will go back again. The Ottawa valley benedict is the best eggs benedict i have ever had and i will wait patiently for it every time no matter how much the service sucks.

Phenomenal food & stellar service; a "must attend!"

Above mediocre food. Overpriced. Stuffy service and staff does not make you feel at home. Old decor. Most patrons are 70+ years old. A real snoosfest. I had the winterbites table d'hôte with soup (okay), braised beef (extra dry) and dessert (came late). My wife had the scallop appetizer (excellent) and the prime rib (thin and bland). The experience was underwhelming. We were compensated with a coffee for the dry meat, but the dessert came so late we ended up ordering another one. Too bad. It's a gorgeous place with lots of potential but it is obviously resting on its laurels catering to fuddy duddy geezers.

Exquisite service, great food and wines. Consistently has the best service in the city. Knowledgable, friendly, and very polished.<br/>Fine menu which changes frequently. Can make a very good meal from soup (always superb) and an appetizer or two. Lots of local ingredients. Very good wine list with an emphasis on Canadian wines. Remarkable lunch buffet. It's a treat to dine in this exquisite heritage building. The vista from Wilfrid's windows - the East Block, the Peace Tower, Confederation Square and the Langevin Block - is great. The view from the summer terrace is one of the best-kept secrets in Ottawa - wow!<br/>Why more Ottawa natives don't patronize Wilfrid's is a mystery to me. Yes, the prices are in the $$$$ range, but in comparison to restaurants in the same price range, you'll rarely have such a fine experience as you will at Wilfrid's.

Local, fresh, prepared with deserved detail!

Trying to describe the buffet in terms that will do it justice is like trying to carry water in a colander. We’ve all been to buffets and if you have been following this blog for a while, you will know that I am not generally a fan. It takes a lot of skil