Review Lapointe's Seafood Grill Cafe - Ottawa

Shares the same location with Sushi Fresh. Lapointe gets priority seating though, as we were not allowed to sit on the terrace when eating sushi only. The seats in the basement were quite comfortable and fresh, on a warm summer night, so we did not mind. Customer service was excellent and so were the sushi. I recommend. I would have given 5 stars had we been allowed to sit where we wanted.

One of the Best Calamari dishes I have tried in Ottawa. Tiger Shrimp pasta (substitute the chicken with extra shrimp) was exceptional in every bite. Not too heavy, very flavourful and creamy with a generous portion as well.

Clean place, the service was great and also the food was good too.

The calamari was just outstanding, lightly breaded and fried to perfection! We also had fish and chips, that was very tasty, as was the fish stew. The restaurant is downstairs, under a sushi place, and almost hidden, hard to find if you don’t know what you are looking for. The atmosphere is very warm an cozy. The service was friendly and timely. In our opinion, the food and drinks are very reasonably priced, given the high quality and comparing with other restaurants in the area.

This is one of my favorite fish restaurants. It has a nice atmosphere, is in a great downtown location, and has good service. Since it wasn't busy, they were able to accommodate a special request and the food was absolutely wonderful. I drool just thinking of my last meal here.

I'm not from Ottawa and was told the market has a good seafood place. Wow.. just wow this place is nothing short of amaze balls. I got the catch of the day (grilled trout) and it was cooked perfectly, seasoned PERFECTLY! And the most important, just the right amount! I'm not stuffed, just content with the portion and deliciousness . I cannot say enough great words about this place and was shocked to see a rating of only 3.6!! Definitely worth checking out , spoke to the waitress said they got a new head chef so maybe that's why it's improved?

We were an an evening party of 3, the decor is very informal, almost crab shack, but the service and food choices were great. We all enjoyed our different entrees and drink choices we made to accompany the meal. We will go back as the menu is so extensive and there were other fish we want to try. The desserts were varied and quantity for value very good.

My coworkers and I called on a Monday to make a reservation for 9 of us on Thursday. I had a pretty good discussion with a member of the staff and mentioned we would be in a bit of a time crunch so could we pre order. I was told to call when we were on the way so the meals wouldn't be sitting out waiting for us. I also inquired as to the gluten free fish and chips and dedicated fryers, and informed him that there would be one gluten free order being placed. On our way to the restaurant Thursday, 30 minutes before we arrived, we started calling to place our pre order. I made multiple attempts and never managed to speak to anyone in the restaurant. Upon arrival I immediately handed our complete orders to the waitress to be placed right away. We were the only customers in the restaurant until noon. This was at 1150. It took an additional 15 minutes to just place our drink orders, and it was 47 minutes before our food came out. We all ordered fish and chips, with the exception of one salad. The other tables who entered the restaurant after us, and ordered LONG after we did, had eaten their appetizers, main meals and paid their bills before our food arrived. I asked after 35 minutes whether it was coming soon and was told it would be a few more minutes. Nothing more, no reasoning as to why it was taking so long. The food did arrive, finally after 47 minutes, and it was delicious. One of the better versions of gluten free fish and chips I have tried. Upon paying when finished, I stepped outside while the rest of my colleagues paid their bills. It was only then that the waitress informed my colleagues that it was MY gluten free fish order that held up everyone else's food and my order was why it took 47 minutes for 8 orders of fish and chips. Its hard enough being a person with Celiac disease, knowing you are holding up others orders, or feeling like a pain when asking 100 questions so you don't get violently ill when eating out. But to have a server blatantly blame you when you leave for your coworkers/friends meals being delayed, and attempting to have them take their frustration out on me instead of the kitchen and wait staff is extremely poor business practice. Its really unfortunate. I can honestly say we will never visit this restaurant again, its very unfortunate. Being placed directly next to a gluten free bakery gives you the opportunity to serve the gluten free community well. You have wasted it, and burned what could be a good group of customers. The services was disgraceful, the wait time was completely unacceptable.

The food awesome and service was very personal and friendly. Having gluten issues the mix grill is the dish!!

Excellent service and amazing food. The clam chowder is to die for. Highly recommend! �

Excellent fish and ship! Personnels très gentils.

Great food! Awesome service. Affordable menu

Andrew please go see my new comment on the Orleans location page.

Had dinner on June 4, 2017.  My friend and I ordered fish and chips -  Ordered that the fish be grilled and not fried.  The fish was horrible.  It looked as if we were served only the skin that was stripped of the "meat" or "filet" and also contained some bones.  2 very small pieces of skin without the filet which incidentally was slightly burnt.  The chips were very greasy and the coffee so strong that it was undrinkable (we were credited the coffee).<br/><br/>Service was prompt and waitress polite.  <br/>Will never go back and will definitely tell all my acquaintances to avoid that restaurant at all cost.

Took 10 min to get our drinks, 40 min to get our food. Not sure why it took so long when there were only 3 tables filled in the ENTIRE restaurant. All of our main dishes were exceptionally modest portions.

Haven't dined here in years. Came with a large group on Family Day weekend. Service was super friendly and efficient. Those in our group that ordered the chowder thought it was very well done. The squash soup was on the bland side. The moules et frites (mussels and fries) were delicious!! They need to keep the coconut red curry flavour on their regular menu. Fries were fresh with housemade aioli sauce. Also loved the crispy coated sesame salmon with a creamy orange sauce. The kids portion of fish and chips were as big as the adult size. Will visit again. This location far superior than Orleans location.

Lunch. I have had meals at Lapointe's over the past 20 years or so. Yesterday, I went to the Byward Market location. As I avoid wheat, the waiter recommended the japanese batter on the fish. What he avoided telling me is that it would cost me an extra $2.00. I was surprised when I got my bill and when I asked him why, he explained that it is a ''special'' batter that has to be prepared, apparently, separately. I also have a problem with paying $5.00 for a small cup of cappuccino. I can get a bigger cup at Starbucks for less and it is of far better quality. Lapointe has just lost a customer.

Je n'ai pas aimé l'accueil. Le restaurant affiche ses heures d'ouverture jusqu'à 22 h. Nous nous sommes présentés le jeudi 18 septembre à 21 h 13 et les portes étaient verrouillées. Nous avons vu 3 personnes en sortir. C'est de la fausse représentation. Un restaurant ne peu pas refusé des clients 45 minutes avant la fermeture annoncée.<br/>Jacques

Very disappointed with the food and service here! The waiter forgot about us for the majority of the meal and our food came out cold. We ordered the seafood bake for two, whatever you do don't waste your money on this! It's barely enough food for one person, you're better off buying your own lobster entree instead of sharing one for 50 bucks.

Thank you. Thanks to you, I will never ever crave fish and chips again. Have you ever been to New England? Chowder shouldn't taste like that. When I returned my food because I couldn't bear to eat another bite, we received a 3$ discount, How generous. Bravo, chef and owner who apparently rarely make an appearance at their Byward Market location. Only good thing today was the waitress, lovely young lady.

Very happy. Great seafood. Enjoyed the tuna steak sliders, new England clam chowder, and fish and chips. Reasonably priced and hearty portions. Finally a decent meal in Byward Market

Don't be afraid of the basement !. My Dad and I decide to try this place for the heck of it. We we're a bit put off by the fact that the seafood/grill part of the restaurant was downstairs. However, the food was awesome ! My dad had the Asian Squid Salad and I had the Tiger Shrimp Pasta; both we're really good and we shared each others plates. It's a bit pricey, but for food that good, we didn't mind at all !

Terrible food/service. This is my first complaint about a restaurant ever! I am easy going and enjoy all foods - casual to fine - but my experience at Lapointe last night was horrible from start to end and it should be known.<br/><br/>There was no service whatsoever. We waited over 15 minutes before drink orders were taken. The hostess brought me a steak knife (at my request) as our waitress was no where to be found and we also settled up with the hostess!!? <br/><br/>The seared scallop appetizer was abismal. 3 tiny scallops and the preparation was sub par. I was encouraged to order the chefs special - seared tuna - which was served seared and cold inside!! The accompanying veggies were hardly warm and marinated tomatoes were cold as if just taken from the fridge and dropped on the plate! <br/><br/>When you order the chefs special any good establishment will inform you as to what you are eating! A second server just dropped our plates off and left!!!

Fish and Chips are AWESOME. Went to see what all the hype was about when it came to fish and chips at La Pointe and wow was not disappointed. Very friendly super cute waitress named Jackie with a beautiful smile served me and my co-worker. Fish batter was nice and crisp and french fries were freshly cut and crispy and coleslaw was equally delicious. I will for sure be going back for the fish and chips and to see Jackie’s beautiful smile ;)

Best fish a chips in ottawa!!. Simply the best. big chunks of white meat and tasty crispy batter all around. Good fries 2.

Don't be scared off by the basement location. Lapointe in the market is the premier seafood restaurant in downtown Ottawa. Casual walk-ins might be turned off by the "basement" location under a seemingly unfussy sushi counter, but don't be. The sushi on the main floor (SushiFresh) is the #1 freshest sushi in Ottawa, even the Ambassador of Japan visits here when his chef is unavailable, and Lapointe, below, is equally high calibre. <br/>Decor is casual Atlantic nautical style but the menu, seasonal and changed often, is appetizing and offers a great selection of the freshest ingredients. From fried oysters to old fashioned New England clam chowder, 24lb lobsters to sesame salmon steaks. There is something for everyone. <br/>Lapointe offers more appetizer selection than the Fish Market across the street, the only real competitor in the market for seafood, but Lapointe offers less non-seafood items for those picky diners. If you come here for drinks and aps, this is the right place. If you are a seafood lover, I don't recommend dragging non-seafoodies with you as they will be stuck with salads. <br/>Fantastic seafood fare. Will definitely visit again. And again.

Group of 8. Business dinner with a group of 8. Had a range of dishes from the fish and chips, to the special (halibut), to mine of the scallops. Everyone felt the food was really good. The batter on the fish and chips was pretty light and the Scot and Englishman both appreciated the fish. The halibut was done very well and the sides got comments on the interesting taste of the cherry tomatoes. My scallops were fantastic. They had a slight dusting of cinnamon and were perfectly cooked. Overall everyone loved the spot and we all would go again.

Very Happy. An evening out for my wife and myself. We ordered some sushi as an appetizer. It is prepared upstairs on the main floor. Lapointe itself is in the basement. Despite having no natural light through windows it does not have a basement feel.<br/><br/>The sushi was outstanding. We have ordered a spicy tuna roll, a spicy salmon role and smelt roe. Everything was fresh and delicious.<br/><br/>My wife had the cod F&C and I had the haddock F&C. Both were outstanding. My wife had ordered hers with the greek salad option.<br/><br/>Service was excellent and relaxing. Best meal I have had in several months.<br/><br/>I thought the price/quality value was excellent.

Amazing. Today i ordered a fine herbs pan crusted cod (fish n chips)<br/>it was the MOST delicious

50'th B'Day Canada trip. Low key basement restaurant in Byward Mkt. Sceptical of good reviews. My partner and I ordered the scallops with cajun spice off their lunch special menu. Great service and the best scallops I've ever had! Spent two weeks in Ontario and Quebec on a food-centric vacation and this meal was an outstanding highlight.

Critic. I was disappointed when I went to Lapointe restaurant on Sunday at 18h15. I always order the sesame salmon but i specifically asked no rice no potatoes well i got fresh green beans and fresh zuchini and a scoop of ratatouille which certainly did not fit on the plate. Fresh veggies would have been perfect for me. I left the ratatouille on the plate because it did not beling there at all. I only got one tbsp of the leek sauce ...cheapooooo... I wished they had kept their Bailey's cheesecake what a loss!! I heard now that the chef does his own deserts..It is not his specialty trust me...He should bring back that Baileys cheesecake. That Baileys cheesecake is 10 out of 10. They also removed the blackened shrimp plate with the chiken too...what a loss!!!

Delicious. Friend and I went in last week. We enjoyed it. <br/><br/>Hey 'Terible': You're eating in the 'market'! Everything starts off expensive and moves up from there. If you want cheap, hop on the bus and eat in the burbs.<br/><br/>Our service was properly metered - the food was fine - nice and crispy batter on my tilapia and equally good on my partner's haddock. the fries were awesome. the rolls were average. <br/><br/>and for those commenting on 'the basement' well, you didn't have to venture down there! They're there because they can and do, do it well..<br/><br/>take the plunge...visit them and relax as you enjoy a quiet and unrushed meal

Terible. Sunday 11 Dec 11 I stopped by for lunch and the server recommended the chef specialty which was the lobster poutine. I'm from Gaspe and we don't eat the dry tips of the lobster claw that taste like rotten cheese, so imagine the shock when I saw the $12.00 poutine with only that on top. He also cut a cheap cheese in little 1/2in scare and judging by the melting, this wasn't a fresh cheese. Very expensive ($7.50 for a beer) and terrible food!

Great quality. Lapointe's is far far superior to the much larger Fish Market across the street.

In a shared space, located in basement.... Okay, I'll look pass that. But one cannot look pass the horrendous so-called "service". Let's begin with th buns. It came out of the freezer, sat on the counter for 15 minutes then made its way towards the table. Well it was still frozen so they probably should have kept it on the counter for longer and probably should have NEVER brought it to me since it wasn't fresh anyways. Ordered a bowl of Manhattan clam chowder and was served a cold new England clam chowder. That was sent back because it was cold and the completely wrong thing. Cream base and tomatoe base.... Am I the only one who knows the difference? Because the kitchen didn't seem to know the difference. The fish and chips were great tho. Definately worth a try if you don't care for atmosphere or customer service. Maybe they should just do a take out place instead of a actual dining restaurant.

Good sushi! Very tasty. Good variety. Good service. Good price. You won't be disappointed.

Very good I always get my family fish & chips from there, I tried there pasta....therebis something wrong about it.

Fresh seafood and good cooking. Basement setting is comfortable and is well ventilated. Friendly service. Amazing fish and chips. Portion is not big but sufficient. Wine list is limited though.

Ate the fish and chips at the Byward Market location last summer: it was excellent.<br/>Ate the same dish at the Orleans location Thurs. night of the Easter weekend: the pickerel fish and chips smelled of sewer. I took a bite and spat it back on the plate. The fish tasted like the smell!! <br/>They did exchange it for a new plate of cod fish and chips.<br/>The fish was good though a tad overcooked, but the batter was terribly greasy and the chips too.<br/>I don't know if the Orleans location is a franchise or if they are the same owners as at the lowertown location,<br/>but if all their dishes are of the quality of their fish and chips, they will give Lapointe's restaurants a bad reputation, and it would be a shame because the downstairs restaurant on the Market serves some of the best fish meals in town. Hope the owners read this review and DO something about it before the word gets out.

Love it! Very fresh, consistent, great service and family friendly

Tiny portions. Our waiter was borderline rude and uncaring. Dim basement restaurant with no personality. Overpriced. We will never go back.

Unfortunately, we didn't snap a photo before digging into our delicious Haddock Fish and Chips  ($13.50) at Byward Market's Lapointe Seafood Grill . However, we still feel inclined to talk about this particular restaurant because while the fish and chips were excellent, this was the worst customer service we've experienced in years. Subtly foreshadowed by their reluctance to seat us as a slightly larger group, the waitress greeted us by saying nothing and slamming down our glasses of water on the table. As a friend asked about the special, said waitress rolled her eyes before answering any questions, again with reluctance. After a meal of general terrible service, we finally received our bills with the gratuity included (smart move on her part) and since we all had cash, the waitress short-changed everyone and essentially tipped herself extra excusing herself saying, "there are no nickels or dimes in the waitressing world."

Homemade tartar sauce? Um yes please! Move aside ketchup! (well, not really cuz I still eat my fries with ketchup). This tartar sauce is DIVINE. All other pre-packaged, jarred and commercially made tartar sauces can go to hell. This stuff is awesome and I’m embarassed to admit it but my dining partner and I had to get a refill. It was THAT GOOD.

I enjoyed a nice selection of Appetizers whilst enjoying the sights and sounds of the evening market out on the open-air patio. The Salmon Pate I had was not very good but the rest of the dishes were excellent and the service was both friendly and efficient.

What I love about this place is that it is so simple and does well in what it sets out to do. You go to Lapointe's for seafood, and you get tasty seafood.

....My dish looked quite good and the portion, sizeable. The Tuna was of good quality. It was cooked medium-rare but sadly was served medium-cold. The fish and I deserved better. That said, the flavour profile was interesting. The coulis was thick, but the Roasted Red Pepper flavour was complimenting the seared fish well. The roquette was fresh, and you would get a variety of textures along with it Silky mushrooms, juicy tomatoes, crispy shallots and cappers.