Best Restaurant In Ottawa

[John]

Haveli's is great for upscale Indian if you like it. I will second Stone Face Dolly's as well.

["Richard"]

There is a great resteraunt on terry fox before you get into stittsville. Left side, italian, looks like a house. Forgot what its called (I think its called cabatos)

There used to be a place on cumberland that was called naginas, not sure if it still there, it was the best indian resteraunt in town at the time (IMO)

[Shivas Irons]

Okay, here's the deal now - I just got a call from Beckta's and I can get in there Sat. night as well. I also have the reservation at Les Fougeres - which one to cancel?

["Richard"]

when in doubt go with whatever is more expensive.. that is why I picked the G2 over the driver I have right now... but then I guess if I went to the driver I have now after trying the G2 that means maybe you hsould go with the cheaper one... Or its like when I went from my PING MB wedges to the CG10s and after hitting them they are way better than the MB's ever were... in which case you should pick the more expensive place... I gues you can't apply the rules of golf to life... but if you could do what geoff would do... Keep both reservations and eat at both places

[Hank Hill]

L'oree du bois in Chelsea is a good choice. It's next to dunderosa golf.

[spackler]

Okay, here's the deal now - I just got a call from Beckta's and I can get in there Sat. night as well. I also have the reservation at Les Fougeres - which one to cancel?

If you're going to enjoy the wine list, maybe Beckta's so you can cab it to and fro? Pick Beckta's for the wine, les Fougeres for the food (although the food is also great at Beckta's and the wine list very nice at les Fougeres). Beckta's has a bit more cache and is trendy at the moment, but then les Fougeres is also a bit more laid back. Depends what kind of experience you're after. I prefer les Fougeres.

[moochie]

Check out Le Bacara at the Casino.

[viper]

Giovanni's Ristorante on Preston
http://www.giovannis-restaurant.com/

[beefstuf]

I am a very big fan of traditional french cuisine, that being said I do like the idea of supporting local farmers and using seasonal ingredients to cook. Beckta focuses a lot on seasonal ingredients and Mike Vardi has a long history of asian cuisine. The food is a real fusion of french / asian, but makes it extremely interesting to try. I would recomend Beckta once, and than Les Fougieres numerous times. I have been to beckta twice and was happy, but not blown away.

The only restaurant in Ottawa that has knocked my socks off was The Urban Pear on second avenue.

I was a waiter in some of Ottawa's most popular restaurants for quite a few years. I also read about food, and cook as my own hobby. My opinion has always been strng for The Urban Pear. I am a fan of Beckta, but not a huge fan.

Les Fogieres(SP) is an Ottawa landmark, and will be here for a long time, go there in the summer. You can sit outside and smell the fresh air.

Okay, here's the deal now - I just got a call from Beckta's and I can get in there Sat. night as well. I also have the reservation at Les Fougeres - which one to cancel?

[Sakuraba]

One of my favourites at both of these restaurants is the wine pairing with the table d'hote (If you are a wine fan, of course) I believe both (Beckta and Fougeres) offer it. I do know that the sommelier at the Fougeres is one of the best IN THE WORLD, she is well well known in Canadian circles. Its a real treat to eat a meal where each course has been professionally matched to an appropriate wine, much nicer than just ordering a bottle to go with everything.

[dbleber]

You dont put gravy on roast beef?

A little off topic here but,if anyone is ever in Montreal looking for breakfast,
go to Cosmos on the corner of Sherbrooke/Decarie
Once you go in,you might not even want to sit down.The place is a hole in the ground!
But!the food is awsome if your into the major arterry clogging breakfast!
Very famous place in Montreal.

If you want good ribs in Montreal, go to Bar B barns in old Montreal. The place is a dump but man......good ribs!

[LBH]

If you want good ribs in Montreal, go to Bar B barns in old Montreal. The place is a dump but man......good ribs!

Speaking of ribs, wasn't there a Bar B Barns in Orleans on St-Joseph once but then it closed??? Or was it another ribs restaurant?

[dan_670_12]

taste of japan is a good resturant

[covanant]

Bar b barn is good,but you gotta go to the one downtown.
The one on the west end is o.k,but not like the original.
My opinion for ribs....i make the best ribs
Taste mine and you will bow to me.

[dbleber]

Bar b barn is good,but you gotta go to the one downtown.
The one on the west end is o.k,but not like the original.
My opinion for ribs....i make the best ribs
Taste mine and you will bow to me.

Sounds like an invite for a Bar B Q at Covanants pad?!

[covanant]

Sounds like an invite for a Bar B Q at Covanants pad?!

Are you willing to cook for 300+people?
Thats about how many of these that would show up
O.k heres my secret since im such a nice guy.

Take your rac's(not your clubs)and rub your favorite rib rub on both sides.
When i say rub,i mean put lots and lots on(to the point where you think you have put too much on)
I use Tony Chachera's creole rub(only avail at chilies in the market)
Then coat with Franks red hot lime sauce(about 3/4 of a bottle for 2 racs)
Place in a roasting pan with lid and pour in about an inch and a half of pinneapple
juice,add chopped garlic over the top,then sprinkle more rib rub over top.
Place in oven at 250 for 7 hours,yes 7 hours(this is the key)do not cheat!!!
It will become unbearable after about 4 hours,but you must remain strong!
Once done,place ribs on the grill and baste with Diann's or your fav bbq sauce.
Keep basting and turning untill tacky and goowey(about an hour on low)
Brake out the beers,and preppare to fight off your dog!
The neat thing about this recipe is the top ribs in the pan will have more kick
than the ones in the juice,you can catter to more folks.
Be extremely carefull,as the ribs fall apart very easy(use a spatula)
Have your wife do this while your out playing golf.
Enjoy

[Marmotte]

Spent 18 years of my life in restaurant ktichens, started at the age of 9 and payer my studies making sauces and cooking meals.
By far the best is le Baccarat inside the Lac Leamy Casino. Also in a class of its own is the St-Estèphe on St-Joseph Boulevard corner of Riel. when in Ottawa, I like Fiori's downtown.

[Golfpeasant]

Beckta is nice, but I've never enjoyed the stuffy atmosphere. Equivalents to Beckta I've been to are:

Tartuffe in Hull was excellent last time I went, very prime/proper, fantastic meals, great wine list (overpriced but good list).

Domus is very nice (market), fantastic meals, quaint atmosphere, but the menu is limited...

And I hear Juniper is nice, but I've never had dinner there, only brunch.

[Shivas Irons]

One of my favourites at both of these restaurants is the wine pairing with the table d'hote (If you are a wine fan, of course) I believe both (Beckta and Fougeres) offer it. I do know that the sommelier at the Fougeres is one of the best IN THE WORLD, she is well well known in Canadian circles. Its a real treat to eat a meal where each course has been professionally matched to an appropriate wine, much nicer than just ordering a bottle to go with everything.

What a great tip - thanks. I ended up going to Beckta & was just going to get a bottle of wine to go with dinner since it's an extra $35/person for the wine pairing. After reading your post I decided to go for the wine pairing and it was worth every penny. The food was very good, but it was the wine that really blew me away.
Glad I chose Beckta because I had never been there, but having said that, I probably won't go back anytime soon. Too many other good places to try!
Thanks Sakuraba.

[Bidou]

Cafe Paradiso on bank is a little awesome restaurant as well. Great food, relaxed atmosphere and fantastic entertainment to boot. Check it out.

http://www.cafeparadiso.ca

[Michael]

I agree with the Cafe Paradiso recommendation, been there a couple of times and the food and service have been top notch and not too expensive. The entertainment is usually good as well.

[Sakuraba]

What a great tip - thanks. I ended up going to Beckta & was just going to get a bottle of wine to go with dinner since it's an extra $35/person for the wine pairing. After reading your post I decided to go for the wine pairing and it was worth every penny. The food was very good, but it was the wine that really blew me away.
Glad I chose Beckta because I had never been there, but having said that, I probably won't go back anytime soon. Too many other good places to try!
Thanks Sakuraba.

Just saw this. Another good place (but I haven't been in 2 years is Domus (mentionned above) and I completely forgot about Baccarat in the Casino de Lac Leamy. I gotta keep myself out of these places to fund my golf addiction.
The funny thing about fine restaurants is that they change staff (including head & executive chef) pretty regularly, and subsequently a review that is glowing may not reflect whats at that place right now. I guess thats why restaurant critics get to keep their jobs.

[powerlefty]

If you are not averse to wearing a jacket and spending a bunch, I'll suggest Signatures, it's the restaurant attached to the Cordon Blue Cooking school.

For less formal dining, I will second the recommendations for Le Jardin, although it's been a while since I was there last.

Other recommendations:
Vittoria Trattoria in the market.
Les Fougeres in Chelsea.

I have to agree here - SIGNATURES is amazing. But expensive. I've not been to all the restaurants mentioned here, but have probably been to at least half of them and SIGNATURES surpasses all those (including Hy's, the Brookstreet, Empire Grille, The Urban Pear)

[GarthM]

Since the weather was completely crappy today (yes I realize you all played at le Sorcier, but I got wet enough earlier this week that both pairs of shoes are still wet...) I tried covanant's rib recepie since I had all day...



WOW. That is the way to do ribs.



Nuff said.

Thanks man.

Are you willing to cook for 300+people?
Thats about how many of these that would show up
O.k heres my secret since im such a nice guy.

Take your rac's(not your clubs)and rub your favorite rib rub on both sides.
When i say rub,i mean put lots and lots on(to the point where you think you have put too much on)
I use Tony Chachera's creole rub(only avail at chilies in the market)
Then coat with Franks red hot lime sauce(about 3/4 of a bottle for 2 racs)
Place in a roasting pan with lid and pour in about an inch and a half of pinneapple
juice,add chopped garlic over the top,then sprinkle more rib rub over top.
Place in oven at 250 for 7 hours,yes 7 hours(this is the key)do not cheat!!!
It will become unbearable after about 4 hours,but you must remain strong!
Once done,place ribs on the grill and baste with Diann's or your fav bbq sauce.
Keep basting and turning untill tacky and goowey(about an hour on low)
Brake out the beers,and preppare to fight off your dog!
The neat thing about this recipe is the top ribs in the pan will have more kick
than the ones in the juice,you can catter to more folks.
Be extremely carefull,as the ribs fall apart very easy(use a spatula)
Have your wife do this while your out playing golf.
Enjoy

[sharkshooter]

Since the weather was completely crappy today (yes I realize you all played at le Sorcier, but I got wet enough earlier this week that both pairs of shoes are still wet...) I tried covanant's rib recepie since I had all day...
...

WOW. That is the way to do ribs.
...

Nuff said.

Thanks man.

Did you wait the whole 8 hours before you broke out the beer, or did you cheat?

[covanant]

You are very welcome!Now there are two of us that make the best ribs in Ottawa!
Did you have to use a spatula on the grill?
Did you make a pig of yourself?

[GarthM]

Did you wait the whole 8 hours before you broke out the beer, or did you cheat?

Cheat? That would be an understatement.

[GarthM]

You are very welcome!Now there are two of us that make the best ribs in Ottawa!
Did you have to use a spatula on the grill?
Did you make a pig of yourself?

Luckily I have several pairs of 14" tongs that can easily pick up a half rack of ribs at a time. ( I had to cut them in half to fit in the pan I used for roasting)

Thanks again! Can't wait to try with other rubs, as all I had was some Mtl chicken spice kicking around.

[covanant]

Oh man! You must try Tony Chachera"s creole rub!

[sharkhark]

Cora's. Glad they have one in kingston too.
Order that mixed everything egg thing. Sausage, peppers, baloni, cheese,onions,ham, bacon tomatoes etc etc etc etc.
ummm, yummy!