TOP 10 BEST Restaurants in Ottawa - Updated November 2024

Absinthe

83/100 (2796 ratings)

Restaurants

Gluten Free Options

International

Canadian

Vegan Options

International

Vegetarian Friendly

French

Canadian

European

French

Gluten Free Options

Vegan Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Lunch

Dinner

Salmon

Quail

Burger

Lemon tart

Hamburgers

Pork Cheeks

Cod

Crème Brulée

Lamb

Pesto

Beef

Fish

Pork

Poutine

Pasta

Escargot

Salad

Cheese fondue

Creme Brulee

Scallops

Focaccia

Duck

Hanger steak

Ceviche

Profiteroles

Chocolate mousse

Steak Frites

Steak Tartare

Tuna

Sit down

International

Canadian

French

Accepts American Express

Wheelchair Accessible

Street Parking

Serves Alcohol

Wine and Beer

Parking Available

Free off-street parking

Highchairs Available

Full Bar

Digital Payments

Free Wifi

Accepts Credit Cards

Reservations

Takeout

Accepts Mastercard

Seating

Accepts Visa

Table Service

Lunch

Dinner

Mid-range

"Food excellent! Hogan our server was the best 👍 His knowledge of the food & wine was outstanding and he was very professional and personable :)...."

Rhona Smith

"Dinner for 8 at Absinthe last night was so wonderfully memorable. Our server / sommelier, Patrick, was attentive, friendly, and caring. Food was..."

Melanie Chapman

"Great establishment. The atmosphere was nice, if a bit bland, but the music was nice. The staff was great, very attentive, pleasant and helpful. And..."

Meaghan Piccolo

"Excellent food, superior service, our server’s knowledge of food and drink..."

Sherry Stairs MacLeod

"Steak Frites & Beet Salad were awesome!! Out of 6 visits to Ottawa in 2016, this place was the best..."

Michael Champagne

"The service was attentive and friendly, the menu offered wonderful choices, the cocktails perfect, the charcuterie appetizer excellent in..."

Jan Schmidt

"We had a fantastic dinner here tonight to celebrate my husbands birthday. Food was wonderful and the staff were great! Thanks for a lovely evening..."

Lynn Brennan

"Une découverte ce soir et j’ai adoré mon expérience! Bouffe incroyable (le magret de canard était délicieux et le fondant au chocolat...un..."

Geneviève Pineault

"Valentines dinner was amazing. The bread is to die..."

Ryan Germundson

"Nice interior, good staff and excellent food. 3 course lunch meal was..."

Seunghee Lee

"My husband and I went for dinner last night, no reservation. Beef tartare was awesome, Beef Stroganoff the best, salad with the goat cheese was..."

Regan Van Dusen

"Seriously my favourite meal since Paris!! Come hungry, leave happy! Thanks to Pat and your team for the incredible meal and wonderful customer..."

Angie Lamirande

"Excellent de A à Z! J’ai adoré l’ambiance, la bouffe, les cocktails!..."

Joanie Dumais

"SPECTACULAR food and amazing value for $$ the table d'hôte option is unique and super well thought out. Service impeccable. Shout out to Hogan!..."

Laura Pichette

"Patrick continues to work his kitchen magic and produces the same great flavours on his takeout menu that we have come to rely on in these strange..."

Cheryl Coull

"Great restaurant! Food was above all expectations, service was excellent and atmosphere itself was very lively. I just want to emphasis again that..."

Olena Stevenson

"Friday night, my girlfriend and I went to Absinthe for dinner. We were not able to celebrate Valentines Day on the Thursday because of work but I..."

Chris Martella

"One of our favourite restaurants. The menu isn't extensive but covers all the key areas (vegetarian, beef, fish, pork, pasta...) and seems to..."

Andrew May

"Prepare to not be disappointed. We took out a couple here for their birthday, and oh boy was it a great time. The service was exceptional, our waiter..."

LydiaEatsOttawa

"We were extremely satisfied with everything from the greeting, the service, the food and the special birthday acknowledgement for my aunt. Everything..."

Tracy Rutherford

"Good not great place, that was just missing a few things to make it a top-notch experience. I definitely feel like this place has potential, so I'll..."

Michelle

"Great establishment. The atmosphere was nice, if a bit bland, but the music was nice. The staff was great, very attentive, pleasant and helpful. And..."

Meaghan Piccolo

"A totally wonderful experience! Charming and classy decore, the friendliest and most accommodating service and the food!! Most definitely the..."

Magdalena Gelbert

"The trout in white wine sauce with a lime coriander spice was delightful. Perfectly cooked and presented. Loved the wine and the service was..."

Laura Henderson

"Ideal spot for a business dinner in Ottawa. The service was attentive, informative, and unique. Everyone enjoyed their meals, several of our..."

Renae

"Ate here on Saturday night as part of a very large group. The food was fantastic. I had the pork cheek main, and it was perfectly done..."

Kaia

"Absolutely delightful would be my description. The 3 course fondue was fantastic. The chef did tempura vegetables for the vegetarians in our group..."

Facebook User

"Our premiere visit to Absinthe included wonderful, sumptuous cuisine and attentive, polite service in a lovely, subdued atmosphere. Needless to say,..."

Kim Kalen

"I went for lunch yesterday with a friend and everything was superb;the food,the service and the welcoming atmosphere.The serving staff did not even..."

Sharon Mahdi

"Went to Absinthe yesterday afternoon for lunch with friends. Each of had something different to eat and all of us enjoyed our meal. I had a lamb..."

Pedro

"My wife and I went here for the first time on our anniversary. Cozy atmosphere, yet open and loud. If you are looking for a quiet place to eat, this..."

Foodie

"Great experience again. Knowledgable staff. Great wine and wonderful food. Wine pairing with the meal was definitely worth choosing the 3 courses..."

Pat Vandoremalen

"Great experience! We went to celebrate our son's engagement and are happy we chose this place. We were greeted with complementary champagne. Each..."

Daniel H

"Just love this place. Have been multiple times and will return again. The fresh bread is outstanding, the lemon thyme dressing on the salad is..."

Elizabeth MacLeod

"Stopped in for lunch and were told to try the steak and frites. The food was great and the portions were just right. Service was very good and..."

Robert Giroux

"Steak frites dish was enjoyable but it was definitely cooked more than medium rare. Service was fast, friendly and knowledgeable. My dining..."

MatrixRogue

"We were fortunate to dine at Absinthe this past weekend. It was one of the best meals we have had in a very long time. The tuna carpaccio and the..."

SHB

"I always go for the Cornerstone Burger at Absinthe and it never disappoints. It's $16 during lunch time and $24 (!!!) for dinner. You get a double..."

PickyFoodie

"Great atmosphere, fantastic salad, steak frites done to perfection. The server, Mike-professional, personable and attentive. We have been there a..."

Stephen McDermott

"Absinthe makes the heart grow fondue! :) That's why it was the perfect spot for our Valentine's Day dinner on Monday. Thanks for a fabulous yet..."

Geneviève Lépine

"We were a group of 4 people from Toronto. We drove to Ottawa for the Winterlude and took the opportunity to visit the restaurant. We were unaware..."

MICHEL MENEZES

"We went from Toronto to Ottawa on the weekend to skate on the Rideau canal and to eat meat fondue which is so hard to find in Toronto. So we searched..."

Mariana

"Had a superb dinner this past week, and opted for the three course table d'hote. The quality of the ingredients are nothing short of excellent, with..."

Justin Thiboutot

"Ho this is a wow restaurant the food was so good and tasty and I say very tasty from the porc to the steak and the famous burger/poutine. The..."

Michel

"Service bilingue de grande qualité. Menu inspirant, le contenu des assiettes à surpassé les attentes! Nous avions choisi l'option table d'hôte..."

Marie-Claude April

"My friend and I went for my birthday dinner and it was amazing. The service was great. The food was amazing. I liked that they had a 3 course option..."

Rose

"Nice evening and the food was good and beautifully presented. Quite a busy place but for some reason a bit on the loud side so not ideal for a tête..."

Zita.gervais

"My wife and i visited this place last night and this was a wonderful experience. The experience was excellent, the pres notation and the flavors were..."

Rafic.khalaf

"I have frequented this restaurant numerous times and for great reason! The food has always been stellar...from food to service! Regardless of..."

The Food Tease

"Yes the burger is incredible but be ready for a rich flavourful delight The service is always good and their mains are nice and well balanced...."

Costa

"One of the better restaurants in town, have always thought service was great and was amazingly delicious. Great for a special occasion or a date..."

CaptainPorkchop

"This was a very special day for our Senior Engineer Pat who was retiring the next day. We had a big crowd 50 people and it accommodated everyone..."

Diane Soucy

"My mom and I came here for dinner (both of our first times) on Mother's Day for dinner. the food was phenomenal, as was the service. we each had the..."

Erin

"Wow...what an evening. My wife and I went to Absinthe last night for our anniversary, and our first date night since our daughter was born. The first..."

Ronlyen1971

"Super Friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at Absinthe. The food was fantastic as well as the service. Our waiter was very attentive and had a..."

Carol_cameron53

"I was there last night for dinner and the food is amazing. Will definitely be going..."

Nadine Arbuthnot

"Let them feed you and take your money. This place has been a favourite of mine for a few years now. They never disappoint. Two of us went there this..."

Ottary

"Absinthe Review. Had a brilliant meal at Absinthe. The serving staff were great. The atmosphere was fun. The food was loaded with flavour. A great..."

Walkerk

"Really Superb!. A real gem in the city. Loved the food, the staff, and the warm atmosphere. The dining experience was such a treat. Try the Duck, you..."

Kim.marin

"My husband and I went to Absinthe for the first time and for my birthday... and we were SO pleased that we did! The staff was so kind - they treated..."

Tamarpalandjian

"Warm Dark Chocolate Fondant. Delicious and great Canadian..."

Heather Badenoch

"Damn That Poutine Is Good!. I have been here twice with the intention of going back again. The first time I went the waiter was a bit rude, but the..."

Lindsaymae90

"Fabulous Dinner!. The Duck was to die for! Many layers of flavours!! The escargot appetizer, with tarragon cream sauce was amazing!Great..."

Leesa

"Absinthe. Impressive absinthe cocktails served very professionally, the best absinthe-inspired drinks I have ever seen. The food quality was average..."

Tallfoodie7

"Great service and food. A group of us visited Absinthe for a friend's birthday, and we couldn't have asked for a better evening. Food was fantastic,..."

Cookingwithkelly

"Delightful Everything. Absinthe continues to amaze. Food and service are second to none in Ottawa. I have not had a bad experience yet, in fact it..."

Mintycindy

"THE BEST!. Absinthe, I cannot say enough good things about this place! The servers (we had Partick tonight) also highly recommend Nosh (sorry if I..."

Krys Fonseca

"Wonderful meal, and terrific mid-week date night. The service was impeccable - knowledgable, attentive, pleasant but not cloying. My husband had the..."

Ottawa Foodie

"Great food! Had the frog legs which were delicious and a good size app, but had the duck and was a small portion. It was tasty but was expecting..."

Anton Ego

"Wow!. Tonight was our second visit to Absinthe and it reiterated our first terrific experience. The cocktails were interesting and delicious. And..."

Jen

"Oh mon dieu.....YES. I could only 'like' this resto, what a shame. I Adore this resto. When you save up that discretionary spending money, put it in..."

Dancergrl25

"Excellent food, creative menu, great wine and beer, friendly service and wry nice relaxed..."

Grinch

"Amazing burger...cold steak?. I ate here for the second time this past week. Rarely will I order the same meal twice in a restaurant where I have not..."

Sarah

"Great first experience. Went to Absinthe last night and it was a very good experience. I did the three course meal. Escargot, soup and then the..."

RW

"Excellent steak and frites. My husband and I were practically fighting over it. We also enjoyed duck the ways. The atmosphere was lovely and the..."

Leightrain

"Soo délicieux, j'étais bourré. J'ai adoré le Magret du..."

Jean Gabin

"Love it!. The food is soooo good! Service was amazing. Only complaint is the lighting is a bit..."

Mary

"VIP Treatment!. My family celebrated my father's 65th birthday at Absinthe tonight and we were all thrilled with the service and the food. When I..."

Karen

"I have heard good things about Absinthe for a long time and the reputation was well deserved! We started with Salmon and tuna tartare, and I must..."

CanadianCEO

"Went here to celebrate my partners birthday and it was SO LOVELY! Service staff were so friendly, and our server, Mitchell, was really great. Our..."

Rebecca Pierce

"The many years this restaurant has been around is a testimony to just how good it is. During our visit, we saw that for ourselves. Food was spot on..."

Ahmad Lutfi

"My fiancee and I had an absolutely amazing experience while celebrating my fiancees birthday at Absinthe. From the immaculate food, to the wonderful..."

Kamron Saghian

"What an amazing experience for both food and service for our first time here! This place does not disappoint. Emily, our server, from the beginning..."

Paige Arding

"A nice, relaxed and calm atmosphere. Don't see a lot of place with it's own planters where the kitchen staff come and pick up their greens from. The..."

SitziM

Metropolitain Brasserie

76/100 (2538 ratings)

Restaurants

Bar

French

European

Canadian

Bar

French

Canadian

Vegetarian Friendly

Gluten Free Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Gluten Free Options

Lunch

Breakfast

After-hours

Brunch

Dinner

Crab

Steak Tartare

Scallops

Sandwiches

Crepes

Cod

Duck

Fish & chips

Burger

Bouillabaisse

Halibut

Coq au Vin

French Fries

Oyster

Eggs Benedict

Poutine

Calamari

Cakes

Toasts

Mussels

Shrimp

Lamb

Omelette

Profiteroles

Beef

Bruschette

Steak Frites

Pesto

Tuna

Fish

Escargot

Calamares

Lobster

Duck Confit

Salmon

Pancakes

Confit

Steak Sandwich

Pasta

Croque Monsieur

Fish & Chips

Salad

Ceviche

Seafood Platters

Mac and cheese

Sit down

Canadian

Bar

French

European

Seating

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Serves Alcohol

Highchairs Available

Full Bar

Accepts Credit Cards

Outdoor Seating

Private Dining

Reservations

Live Music

Breakfast

Dinner

Lunch

Brunch

After-hours

Mid-range

"Jonathan was amazing!! Our food was to die for! An amazing experience. The cheese and meat plate was..."

Anna Magdalena Hess

"Love Metro. Consistently great. Always. The patio experience is second to none. The kind of place you can spend for..."

Steven Bowser

"Always wonderful. My husband threw a surprise birthday dinner for me last night. As always the cocktails, wine and food were excellent. And the..."

Shelley O'Brien

"Food was simply amazing and staff was very nice to us. A place I recommend and I will go back for..."

Ferdinando Colavita

"Two nights in a row enjoyed delicious desserts & drinks with the family. Fantastic atmosphere, great service & desserts with drinks! We'll..."

Joanna Klein

"Excellent service, beau menu et nourriture excellente. Belle ambiance. Nous avons essayé plusieurs restaurant à Ottawa et celui là est devenu un..."

Nadia Roy

"One of the best filet mignon I have ever had, perfect. Delightfully fresh stacked tomato salad, sweet sorbet. Staff are always professional,..."

Dawn Bailey

"Best Cobb Salad ever! Never disappointed - service, menu selections and food is always amazing! Great location as..."

Gaveen Cadotte

"Un de mes restos favoris pour son ambiance bistro français élégant, sa nourriture, son superbe bar et ses employés syper gentils et..."

Céline Magnan

"Great food Great restaurant Great service. Will be back..."

Edie Holt

"We held a reception for 90 people, and the food, service and setting are excellent. It's our third year hosting this annual event, and I'm booking..."

Lisa Haley

"Always happy here. Hit them up for Hill Hour from 4-6 and get a great deal on oysters and shrimp. Awesome moules & frites, and the decadent double..."

Grashnak

"Beautiful patio and delicious food. I had the goat cheese salad and it was honestly spectacular! Even though it was most definitely not a salad. It..."

MrsFoodie

"Best place for mussels et frites. The seafood is fresh and well priced. Many things on the menu are good. Service is attentive. Go on a Friday during..."

Mountaingirl

"Moules et frites! Nice decor and good wine selection as well. Good rose choices. My frites were quite tasty and the mussels were very good with many..."

Costa

"Service was excellent. Atmosphere was very cozy. Music was a nice level. The food was phenomenal. Best oysters I have ever had!!! We had the lobster..."

Amanda Morari

"An all time favorite in Ottawa. It definitely transports you directly to Paris. Their food is delicious, portions and prices are good. The ambiance..."

MOI

"Went for lunch. Oysters, tuna tartare, salad & wine. Fantastic. Oysters were fresh, well presented, tartare was spicy and tasty. Service good. ..."

Hungry

"Great atmosphere and professional service. While a bit pricey, I Ioved the Beef Tartare and we thoroughly enjoyed the Cote de Boeuf for 2. Nice..."

Knut M.

"Good food and service. Have been to the patio 3 times this summer. Food is good, had the duck pouting twice and just a drink and appetizers the third..."

ED

"Metro is a piece of Paris in Ottawa. Their menu is really authentic, great service and beautiful atmosphere! They are famous for their raw bar, but..."

Sofia Santiso

"Ordered an asparagus and poached egg brunch dish. A touch small, but very delicious. Had a champagne cocktail, can't remember the name of it but it..."

Ott Snacker

"Well, it’s been a hectic week, but in a good way. Work is trucking along well, our landscaper has started in our backyard on my rockgarden (so..."

Styledomination

"Joined my girlfriends last night for Hill Hour on the patio at Metropolitain. The patio was bustling, yet had a warm and inviting energy. Our..."

Styledomination

"They have a very good raw bar selection (e.g., tartare, oysters, ceviches) as well as a very good selection of wines that are also sold by the glass..."

InRegina2

"This faux French bistro is a reliable place for both food and drink, as well as spotting cabinet ministers. Hill Hour (happy hour) offers PEI oysters..."

Brenda Labelle

"I have it been here a few times and like it simply because of the $1 Oysters during Hill Hour. I have had their mussels and fries which also taste..."

Omnomnom

"After reading all the reviews I was hoping for the best, and the best is what we got. Service was great and food was very good. It is true that we..."

Picky Shrew

"Two out of Three. I have been here three times in the last two years. Twice I was here for supper. The first it was a special occasion and we had a..."

Iluka

"Good salads. The beet salad is incredible and I love their poutine. I haven't been here for an actual meal but from what I have had it's very..."

Julia.no.1

"Nice for lunch. I have only been here for lunch. I think they have an efficient operation, and the food is good. My club sandwich today was very..."

Bob998

"Cold oysters and shrimp are fantastic and a bargain at a dollar..."

JamesB

"This is a decent place to eat with a solid core menu and great ambience. Patio is lovely. Service varies (recwntlyt it was slow). Good wine list -..."

Foodie13

"Not bad, but didn't feel Parisien. Had a meal there last week, service was very good, atmosphere a bit loud for my liking. The food itself, soup was..."

Mr Number

"Hill Hour is great: Monday through Friday, from 4-7, $1 oysters. Cocktails have been disappointing, stick with beer or the wine..."

Elle.in.OTT

"The lobster thermidore was out of this world! Lovely atmosphere as..."

Emily Lonie

"Food is beautiful and delicious. Only caveat; don't go in a hurry. The service is friendly but not a fast..."

Riley M

"Stuffed french toast good!. French toast with gruyere cheese, ham and berry compote. Excellent. Not cheap but worth it. Someone else had the..."

Herb

"Good. Its a good place to eat or snack after work like on Fridays. I like their happy hours menu from 5-7 pm, oysters, mussels and shrimps, etc. Some..."

Chrisonthego

"Great food. I went here in summer 2010 for my wedding anniversary and had a wonderful time. I had already tried out the spaghetti bolognese and..."

Lemontang

"Great patio. Good food, We sat on the patio and enjoyed watching all the activity go by...."

William Skorupinski

"Great brunch!. Went for brunch! I really recommend the portabello sandwich. It's huge! and it comes with fries/salad or soup. I asked for half fries..."

Chantal Sarkisian

"Truly good.. The Metropolitain brasserie is one of the top tables in Ottawa. It was in last year's New York times things to do if you spend 24 hours..."

LA

"...an Americanized Brasserie from Paris, has tons of seating inside and out, small groups or large. Beautiful wooden furniture with leather..."

Anusha

"The potatoes still had their skins, adding some crisp to the dish. Nice surprise, the sauerkraut came covered with little french cornichons, adding..."

The Waffle

"The veal was not bad, the meat very tender, as expected, although it was almost overcooked - almost. The breading was light on Parmesan cheese, but..."

The Waffle

"On a recent trip I dined with a large group at the Metropolitain Brasserie , adjacent to Parliament in the Canadian capitol of Ottawa. We started by..."

Kindageeky

"This is a great restaurant to bring business associates or friends from out of town. It's smack dab in the middle of Château Laurier and the market...."

Rachelle

"This was a good restaurant to try out. It is not a place we'd likely go a second time because there was nothing that really made it stand out but it..."

Eric Cameron (Throne of Games)

"First of all, if you’re a seafood fan, you have to try their oysters! The sauces and horseradish that they come with are an absolute cherry on top...."

Lydia L

"This place has an amazing morning breakfast, the staff was number 1 and the food was perfectly presented. If you are Im Ottawa this is a must place..."

Christian S

"Fabulous, amazing variety. Had dinner with colleagues, everyone enjoyed the experience. The options on the menu we’re surprising and..."

GP Martoccia

"It has a perfect location: In the heart of Bayward Market and close to Rideau Canal and Parliament. It has both nice indoor sittings and patio. Well,..."

Alaleh - FoodyTO

"Delicious food and great location too! Chantal is the one who assisted me today and make me happy just by her smile and vibe. I hope they could also..."

Reachill Franche

"My entree (fillet mignon) was cooked to perfection and the garlic potatoes were delicious. If you like sweet cocktails order a "Mon Cheri" and you'll..."

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