TOP 10 BEST Restaurants in Ottawa - Updated November 2024

Restaurant E18hteen

87/100 (1475 ratings)

Restaurants

Canadian

Vegan Options

Gluten Free Options

Canadian

Vegetarian Friendly

Vegan Options

Gluten Free Options

Drinks

Dinner

After-hours

Fish

Halibut

Pork

Foie gras

Lobster

Lamb chops

Crème Brulée

Prawns

Pasta

Juice & Smoothies

Salad

Scallops

Surf And Turf

Duck

Octopus

Oyster

Risotto

Cheesecakes

Tuna

Creme Brulee

Salmon

Steak Tartare

Cakes

Crab Cake

Lamb

Cheesecake

Beef

Pesto

Cod

Sit down

Canadian

Reservations

Seating

Table Service

Serves Alcohol

Wine and Beer

Full Bar

Free Wifi

Accepts Credit Cards

Private Dining

Street Parking

Drinks

Dinner

After-hours

Fine Dining

"Amazing food and excellent service. From our cocktails and wine to our desserts, the food was to die for ad our waiter Sam was knowledgeable and..."

Megan Reiff

"I stumbled upon this restaurant while visiting Ottawa this past weekend. I was extremely impressed with the food, space and staff. I had the tasting..."

Shane Griffin

"This restaurant has always been a favourite and holds a special place in our hearts as its where we had our wedding reception in 2009. It is as great..."

Kathy Chase

"Service was amazing, the settle even better and the food, don't miss out. Amuse-bouche, oysters, fishes, steaks... DESSERTS. I had cheese plate and..."

Cynthia GLétourneau

"Beautiful restaurant, great staff and amazing food, the perfect place for our Christmas..."

Tommy Moreau

"My first time at this restaurant and dinner was perfect, the staff were wonderful and made you feel like family. I will be back for sure and will..."

Bev Nadeau

"Service impeccable. Saveurs et présentation des plats superbe. Nous avons opté pour le 5 services à l’aveugle avec accords des vins; à..."

Mathieu Allie

"It was a wonderful experience, and I welcome everyone that is in the market to stop in for some fine dining and great selection of..."

Dknight Bélanger

"The service was exceptional! Happy hour had a nice selection of appetizers, and the wine was..."

Jennifer Stannard

"Nice environment, good service, great food. I would recommend for any..."

Kortney Jensen

"Excellent food, good wine and great..."

Mac Campbell

"Easily one of the best meals we've enjoyed in a VERY, VERY long time. Exec Chef Gilles St Hilaire and I and our wives were truly spoiled in this..."

Jeffrey Post

"Me and my husband thats our favorite place to eat in byward market�. We love the ambience inside and the food was excellent�. Every time we go..."

Marissa Miranda Larocque

"Went last night for a friend's birthday. As always it didn't disappoint...food and service were excellent. Cassidy is a little sweetheart. Sorry we..."

Roxanne Emery

"We held our December 2016 wedding and dinner at Restaurant 18, and were blown away by the amazing quality and experience. The service was impeccable,..."

Crispin Butterfield

"Fantastic service, knowledgeable staff, food is unbelievable! Would recommend to anyone. The price is not cheap, but you won't be..."

Cthompson22

"Definitely a date night kinda place. They also have a nice bar area. The food is fabulous. Oysters (need I say more?), aracini, lamb, steak (done..."

Chunny

"Very pricey, fine dining experience at restaurant e18hteen. I've been here only twice - once 5 years ago for my 18th birthday and recently over the..."

Hoxjennifer

"Had a great meal at this restaurant last night with a group from work. The staff was very professional and friendly. The decor is very classy and the..."

Jo-Anne

"Unfortunately, it’s a common restaurant phenomenon on Valentine’s Day to find menus set, prices increased, quality lowered, and portions..."

Desmond Ip

"Excellent service, very professional . On the expensive side but worth it. Very good wine list. Place very clean.The food excellent,..."

Michel

"The food is good, the ambiance is nice but it's too expensive for what it is. This is a trendy place that's it. The service is very good. I don't..."

F

"Blind tasting and a great experience. My wife and I went for our first anniversary and got the blind tasting option with wine pairings. It was a well..."

Nathan B

"Fantastic. Beautiful restaurant right in the heart of the Market. My girlfriend and I came here for our one year anniversary and were not..."

Kboczar

"It was good but i think i expected too much for this restaurant. i would rather go some other places..."

Sophia

"I've been to Eighteen twice. The first time was one of the best dining experiences of my life, an the second was sub par. Eighteen has fantastic food..."

Pierce Roberts

"Great Atmosphere, though expensive. A gorgeous restaurant in the heart of Ottawa, situated in the Market near Sussex Drive. I visited this restaurant..."

SunnySideUp

"High class. Soooo expensive and sooooo good. The best lobster I've ever had in my life! Already out of the shelf with a very nice rosé garlic sauce...."

Pierrot

"Food was good, service was good, however the wine list leads me to believe they are ripping me off. I didn't recognize any of the wines so who knows..."

Mike

"Special Birthday Dinner Delivered. We had a special birthday dinner here last November. We had a great table by the fireplace. Awesome service and..."

One Of Ottawa's Real Foodies

"Fond Memories. I remember celebrating my 18th birthday there, not too long after the restaurant opened and it still remains one of my favorite..."

Mini Foodie

"World Class dining experience. We had a superb and flavorsome experience. The hospitality was warm and inviting, the service impeccable, the ambiance..."

Jess

"We had a friend coming from out of town who we hadn't seen in some time. We went for a late dinner at 18, our first visit. We were very glad we did...."

Madapples

"Mixed Feelings. I used to be a regular at Eighteen. At the time I worked downtown and it was a fantastic, quiet spot for a delicious,..."

Chanie

"Great food and service and beautiful decor, love the chandeliers in the wine room, love the staff and the oyster..."

Xtina

"Great for special occasions. This is where we like to bring people for special occasions. It's great for celebrating anniversaries, birthdays and the..."

Chezzer27

"Definitely the best restaurant in the market the food is..."

Casper

"This iconic Ottawa establishment unmasks the true definition of fine dining. One of the most attractive buildings in the city, inside and out, and a..."

Caroline Dumont

"I must have passed by E18teen countless times without noticing it. The understated signage outside, and the rather imposing, yet featureless..."

John Thompson

"A gorgeous restaurant in the heart of Ottawa, situated in the Market near Sussex Drive. I visited this restaurant with 3 other friends. The food..."

SunnySideUp

"The menu at Restaurant Eighteen is quite well-rounded in terms of meat and fish; sorry vegetarians, not much here for you. But when you crave a good..."

Anusha

"e18hteen has been one of my favourite restaurants. I loved the ambiance, and the location of the restaurant was perfect whenever we had visitors..."

Sylvia Pan

"Took my girlfriend to restaurant e18hteen for her birthday. Staff was very friendly extremely knowledgeable with what wines to pair with the food we..."

Pierre Lauzon

"Amazing food. I was really impressed with the steak. The steak itself is already juicy and well seasoned, but the sauce just elevates it to another..."

Wen

"Phenomenal fine dining experience - arguably one of the best in Ottawa!! these guys are the masters of their craft in every shape and form - the..."

Hao x

"The pre-dinner bread is great! Very fluffy! Like an orange sauce (orange something, white one, forget the name), the shrimp are very tender and very..."

Ella Ye

"Had a lovely dinner here with friends. The service was definitely great👍🏻 I loved my well done steak was perfectly cooked, along with the..."

Mags Zhou

"Wonderful experience. Food was fantastic. employees are amazing and super friendly. Atmosphere is great for an intimate experience for sure...."

Richard Domino

The Whalesbone Oyster House

86/100 (1847 ratings)

Restaurants

Seafood

Canadian

Seafood

Gluten Free Options

Canadian

Gluten Free Options

After-hours

Dinner

Lunch

Chowder

Beef

Fish & Chips

Lobster

Lobster Roll

Pasta

Tapas

Salad

Tacos

Clam Chowder

Cod

Swordfish

Scallops

Octopus

Clams

Duck

Ceviche

Oyster

Risotto

Mussels

Lamb

Tuna

Fish & chips

Pesto

Fish

Salmon

Pork

Shrimp

Sit down

Seafood

Canadian

Reservations

Seating

Table Service

Serves Alcohol

Full Bar

Accepts Credit Cards

Dinner

Lunch

After-hours

Fine Dining

"Whalesbone (on Bank) has been my favourite restaurant for years. It comes at a price but you can always expect perfectly executed fresh and..."

MissVan

"Love Whalesbone Oysters - probably the best you can get in the city. The Bank Street location is, however, cramped, and they only do reservations for..."

Hoxjennifer

"Staff are friendly and helpful. Oysters were a mix of local and more exotic choices (I.e. New Zealand). Mussels with coconut milk broth were..."

Jon Kerber

"What can I say that already hasn't been said? This is one of Ottawa's best restaurants not only when it comes to seafood, but when it comes to a..."

Tracey Lynne Shadwell

"I came here for my birthday and I definitely would do it again. Everything is so fresh in this restaurant. The oysters were very clean and fresh and..."

LydiaEatsOttawa

"Their Bank St. location is small, warm and cozy. It does get very crowded on a Friday night so be sure to make a reservation. They have a small but..."

Hang T

"The new location is great, everything is wonderfully laid out and it is very enjoyable. The food was prepared to perfection and everyone enjoyed..."

Shivangi Mehra

"Hands down the best restaurant we have ever been to. Cool casual pub like feel. The best high end food you will find anywhere. The staff is friendly..."

Alecia Tucker

"We sat at the bar as it was a busy Sunday evening we decided to visit. This place is pretty small so many I would recommend having a reservation. The..."

Lauren Jane M

"This place is quite amazing! The oysters are fresh and delicious, and I would recommend this place for any seafood lover. The waiter was..."

Sebra

"The Whales Bone was a great spot for lunch if you wanted to eat a bit cheaper at a really nice place. The environment was cozy and very quirky. We..."

Kira Aislinn

"Whalesbone has been at the top of my list for years, but I only just got around to eating there a few weeks ago. It's a small, cozy environment,..."

Lauren

"One of Ottawa's more popular restaurant - and for good reason. Inspiring meals and an excellent selection of seafood. Naturally, one of the things..."

TheFoodFella

"I brought my parents here for Father's Day. They have travelled all over Europe and they said that they have never eaten food of this quality...."

Lilian Barrera

"Quality seafood, pub environment - like the East Coast. The food and service is exceptional, no doubt. However, the place is a bit overrated. The..."

Paul Whyte

"Earthy and fun with great food. Down home feel and the food rocks. Always love eating..."

Gramcaje

"Pricey but fixes that seafood craving you've got. Had a girl's night out on a rainy weekday. I've bused past this place mutliple times and I was..."

Wesley Nguyen

"Nothing fishy about this place.... Had dinner here for the first time on a very hot summer day and was not disappointed! We were seated at the common..."

Coppertop

"Unbelievably good oysters and a great experience with friendly staff and an old school vibe. A little pricey but that has not stopped me from going..."

Brandon Lloyd

"The food was wonderful. Beautiful tuna, soft flaky mackeral in an amazing broth. But what really made the meal extraordinary was the service...."

Amacfarl

"Awesome seafood!! Very fresh and tasty food. Service was excellent as was the atmosphere. Perfect place for a date night. I loved the whalesbone and..."

Foodienicole

"Amazing food at quite the price!. Their atmosphere is raw and the food is quite delicious but they are ridiculously overpriced with inadequate..."

FoodAficionado

"Best seafood in the Ottawa area.... This place is easily in the top 5 best dining experiences I have had in this city. Went this weekend as a kind of..."

Kevincardoza

"Delicious!. This place is a 10 out of 10. If you're willing to spend money on a nice dinner out, do it here! They have fresh oysters ( our..."

JD

"Attention Seafood lovers!!!!. Best seafood in town!!! hands..."

HungryCat

"Absolutely the Best. This is the best restaurant I have experienced in Ottawa in 2013. Everything from the food, ambiance and service was..."

Facebook User

"Excellent east coast gourmet menu. The menu as delicious. I always take a dozen of oysters as an appetizer.I also adore the ambiance in..."

Annichou

"Went here for lunch today. Delicious! The chowder and lobster roll were very good; made with simple and fresh ingredients. The service was great,..."

BrittneyY

"AMAZEBALLS! everything wa.... AMAZEBALLS!everything was delicious and perfect, from the service, the drinks to our food ... we ate like..."

Laurie Gail

"Omg delicious. Have the tuna tartar for areal special tasting adventure. Menus are seasonal. Great seafood/raw..."

Leightrain

"Expect to wait but great..."

Didier

"Clam Chowder and Steelhead Trout absolutely..."

Carol McMullin Patton

"Different. Things have been slightly different since Chef Charlotte Langley left Walesbone a year and a half ago. It was among my favourite..."

Yuki Tenshi

"Oysters. Great restaurant! You will likely need a reservation for dinner. Oyster trays are great. They make a good caesar. Keep up the good work..."

Kelly

"I went in for lunch with my uncle and we sat at the bar, really craving lobster rolls. they unfortunately had run out, but we settled for chowder &..."

Coco

"Awesome staff, awesome atmosphere, awesome food. What else can I say? If you are an oyster/seafood aficionado and you live in Ottawa or are visiting..."

Alex

"I went there with my girlfriend for Valentine's day for the first time. The menu was a fixed price of $69 a head which was very reasonable..."

Jon W

"By far my favorite restaurant in..."

Frédéric Audet

"Not Garbage. Listed as 'fine dining' by urbanspoon. Food is good but nowhere near fine dining (and that isn't a bad..."

Hooligandy

"Great overall. Coming back soon.. Time and money well spent. Fine experience for oystersHigh quality food, service, ambience and..."

McYago

"Best Restaurant in Ottawa. Whalesbone gets my vote for best restaurant in Ottawa. What they care about is the food and it shows. It's very small so..."

LovesToEat

"ARRRRguably the best restaurant in Ottawa. Went here with my wife for our anniversary. She had the clam-mussel-oyster appetizer and the..."

Tony

"High end, cramped, delicious. Whalesbone is barely bigger than the lobby of most restaurants. This very tiny, cramped, loud, and friendly restaurant..."

William Seward

"Best seafood in the city. This place has the best seafood in the city! The oysters are always fresh. They change up their menu quite frequently and..."

ChazzFresh

"Really Good, Slow service & Expensive.. I dont even remember what I ordered! but it was really good! The service is a tad slow! but the food covers..."

FoodArt

"Thumbs up. The BEST spot is to sit in front of the chief, it's a small place but LOVE the environment. Seafoods were GREAT and cooked to your taste,..."

Simmy Wu

"First time, won't be the last time. I was surprised by how small the restaurant is, very close quarters between tables and from table to bar. Great..."

George

"Great experience!. Went here this past Saturday night, boyfriend and I shared a dozen oysters, some tuna tartare and a half bottle of Riesling. We..."

JennyB

"The best. If you like oysters, seafood, local food and great wait staff, whalesbone is for you. The restaurant itself is in an awkward location and..."

Karine

"Best dining experience in a long time!. A friend brought me to Whalesbone for a belated birthday treat.As expected, the service was just as..."

NickyG

"Best Restaurant for Fresh Oysters in the City!!. I can't say enough good things about this place! I have been back to eat many times and every time I..."

Hucey

"Wow Sums it Up!. As a not Ottawa-savvy out-of towner in the core on business travel, a farther walk down Bank Street led me to a great, small spot..."

FesterM71

"A great, intimate spot for delicious food and a warm atmosphere. Fantastic oysters with all the garnishes plus a beer selection not often seen at a..."

Tristan Bragaglia-murdock

"Freshest otsters in town! Can't wait to go try shucker's special..."

Alex Kwon

"I've been to Whalesbone three time, twice for dinner and once for bruch. The dinners are good, although not all the dishes I liked, but some does..."

Mimu

"Wonderful atmosphere, knock out oysters and good appetizers - finished with the most disappointing mains we have ever had in a restaurant of this..."

Bridget C

"A group of friends & I went on friday night, had the walleye, oysters & more. Always a great time at Whalesbone, lets have another shot of Sailer..."

Tailgate Ottawa

"Great Food- Unbeatable atmosphere. From the old gritty jazz vinyl playing overhead to the superbly dirty kitsch adorning the walls, Whalesbone just..."

Carly Milne

"Consistently good. Always can count on a good meal. The staff are fun and it's funky with the old LPs they spin. In all, a great..."

Dalbhat

"Fabulous. Love the Whalesbone Oyster House. The variety of oysters is awesome. I went with a girl friend- we sat at the bar, had some oysters and..."

McLuganette

"Get ready to have a good time and some great food, this place is on the expensive side but it's worth every penny and the staff earns it. The only..."

Neill

"The best oysters ever! The foie gras was perfectly seared and the frites a blend of crunch and fluffy potato. The service was outstanding and..."

Nala's Girl

"Wow..nicely done !. Across the board ,Whalesbone deserves high praise.Friendly and attentive service..two seats at the Chef's bar gets one a..."

Alan

"Amazing. This has to be one of my favorite dining experiences in the Capital. It deserves every star in this review. Me and girlfriend went there in..."

Arbitrarily.yours

"Impeccable. Every last bite was amazing. I practically licked my plate. All my dining companions felt the same..."

Liz

"Best seafood in Ottawa. Service and food are truly fantastic. This is a..."

Fooody

"Great food, great ambiance, awesome oyesters.. Very good place for a nice dinner, very cozy, good service and friendly staff. Even better if you just..."

Roll_dabonz

"Went last night for the 4 or 5 time ... wonderful as always. The scallops were good, the cheese plate was divine, and the people make me want to stay..."

J.

"Playful and innovative. Expensive and crowded yes, but the atmosphere is fun-loving and the food is playful and terrific. The most innovative..."

Rhamburgers

"Fantastic food and service. I ate here as a solo diner back in April. I sat at the bar thinking that I was going to be ignored... but the guys were..."

Bunnychow

"This place is amazing. The food and the ambiance is awesome. It's my favorite restaurant in Ottawa. Reservation is the best but you can sit at the..."

Simon Gagne

"Small and HOT! (but very good). Best fish place in Ottawa,..."

David

"We had a great evening here. One of the best assortments of oysters I’ve ever had. Ate at the bar and had a great conversation with the staff...."

Mike Salter

"This is my ultimate place to go for oysters! Always fresh and soooo delicious. They have so much sauce to choose from for your oysters! I always eat..."

Angel Le (hiAngelBytes)

"Good location, fun atmosphere, and delicious food. The staff are also knowledgeable about their offerings and drinks. This is one of the go to places..."

Purazar Bhadha

"Great food and friendly staff. Loved the apps we ordered and the main course. Flavors are well balanced. Seafood is definitely good here. Went on a..."

Saeed Torbati

"We went to the original Whalesbone restaurant on Bank street. Always great service and food. OMG, I love oysters. C'mon down and try a plate, or two...."

Larry Taylor

"We just finished a museum visit and started walking around the area looking for a place to eat. Did a quick search for seafood restaurants nearby on..."

Giuseppe Lepore

"Friendly, personable, attentive staff made this high end restaurant accessible to tourists. If you know nothing about oysters, but enjoy seafood fine..."

Roxy S

"The Best trout dish I have Ever had! Staff was incredible! Dishes were beyond Fantastic, just an absolutely Amazing experience. I was told Whalesbone..."

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