The best French cuisine restaurants Ontario

A must see on the map of Ottawa's trendy restaurants, with a beautiful room open to the kitchen where the cooks are busy. The decoration, rather refined, is adorned with mirrors of all sizes, beautiful leather benches and wooden furniture. Simple and effective! We recommend without hesitation the oyster platter, the beef tartar or the tasty homemade fresh pasta every day (classes are even given to learn how to make pasta). Definitely a place to be discovered outside the tourist areas.

The restaurant ONE relies on the deserved reputation of its chef and offers a cuisine whose quality and refinement are in line with its price: high. The atmosphere follows the trend of the moment in this upscale neighborhood, with a decoration that is both design and warm. All the trends in cuisine are represented, in a high-end version. If you can afford it, we recommend the steaks, including the famous 40-ounce (2.5-pound) Tomahawk, as well as tasty side dishes such as caviar, oysters and pan-fried foie gras.

If your culinary experience encompasses much more than the content of the plate, if you need to excite other senses than taste and smell, then you will need to reconsider your sense of priorities. Because behind this unattractive building is one of the best French restaurants in the city. The kitchen is very refined and courteous service. A classic address in Ottawa.

Bloomfield Public House is the kind of facility we'd all want in our neighbourhood. Installed in the former village bank (the door of the vault is still there), it is presented under two distinct entities: on one side a café with its large garage door opening onto the terrace, and on the other the restaurant with its industrial-chic look. The Prince Edward region is the featured culinary region, with local dishes that vary with the seasons and arrivals, not to mention the delicious products from the artisanal smokehouse.

The brainchild of Stephen Beckta, who is also at the helm of Beckta Dining & Wine and Gezellig, Play Food & Wine offers a slate of small dishes with a penchant for cheeses and charcuterie. The inspiration in the kitchen is undeniably European, but everything is concocted with very Canadian products, whenever possible. To accompany these little delights, a very extensive wine list completes the experience (a nice selection of wines by the glass), and for each dish, a wine is suggested for the pairing.

Jamie Hodges and Amber Thom are behind this gourmet address opening in 2019. Formerly owners of the Juniper Cafe, they sold it to create their own eatery, established in the historic center of the city. With its beautiful Mid-Century style decor, it offers small and large bistro dishes, all concocted with seasonal foods from about 20 local farmers and producers. The wine list and cocktail list are worth a visit. Bonus: a wine store to take away, open the same days from noon to 6 pm.

Clearly one of the best restaurants in town, Hunter & Co. is a gourmet experience based on sharing. The chef and his brigade concoct all sorts of succulent dishes inspired by local products and flavors of the world. Oysters, charcuterie, roasted marrow bones, grilled cheese (the best in the world, it seems), braised beef cheek, duck dumplings and other delights are on the slate (possibility of a blind menu, chosen by the chef). The list of alcoholic beverages is worth mentioning, especially for the house cocktails.

Established in 2019 just a stone's throw from Parliament, Aiana is a high-flying address under the leadership of chef Raghav Chaudhary. And this is not his first try, as he has worked in renowned restaurants in San Francisco and Europe. Here, he draws inspiration from Nordic, European and West Coast cuisines, all with a distinctly Canadian twist in a "farm-to-table" spirit. For those who can afford it, the 10-course menu is a must, and it's worth the extra cost for the wine pairing.

The famous diners are these small unpretentious restaurants that can be found all over North America. We love them for their comfort food. Mira Mira has understood this, while updating the formula with a slate that, for lunch and dinner, oscillates between great classics (roast chicken, steak and eggs, hot chicken, etc.) and bistro dishes (yellowfin tuna, tagliatelle with mushrooms, etc.). However, the way everything is prepared stands out, the creativity is there. Also check out the weekend brunch menu, one of the best in town.

Perched on the ^38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, this high-flying restaurant is the first and only North American address of Michelin-starred chefs Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino. This fine Italian cuisine restaurant was awarded a Michelin star for the first ever edition in Toronto in 2022. Needless to say, the experience here is impeccable and decidedly gourmet, not to mention a breathtaking view of the city skyline , harbour and Lake Ontario. If you want to treat yourself, this is the place to come!

Opened by the team behind The Wren, a gourmet address next door, The Wood Owl is more of a wine bar, supported by a cuisine that perfectly matches the wines offered. You can enjoy a pan-fried entrecote with romesco sauce and salsa verde of charred shallots accompanied by pommes allumettes and a good glass of Malbec. That said, the menu does not only offer French-inspired dishes, but also Spanish, Korean and South American. Mention should also be made of the home-made charcuterie.

Welcome to the table of renowned chef David Adjey, in his new location in Little Portugal. As the name suggests, French cuisine is in the spotlight here, including bistro classics such as oysters, beef tartar, snails with cream and Armagnac, a cheese and charcuterie board, bouillabaisse marseillaise and the famous steak and French fries. The desserts are in the same line, going from the crème brûlée to the tarte Tatin. In short, you will not be disoriented, all in an atmosphere that smells good home.

Nestled in a lovely house in Wellington Village, Stofa is the gourmet address of Chef Jason Sawision, who has worked at such high-profile restaurants as Atelier (Ottawa) and Canoe (Toronto), and won gold at the Canadian Culinary Championships in 2012 and 2016. Here, he offers a constantly changing five-course menu that draws from a variety of culinary traditions. Canadian products are in the spotlight, especially game, with ingredients from all over the world sprinkled in.

Paris Paris holds its reputation as a wine bar. As soon as you step in, you can't miss the displays of bottles prominently placed behind the bar. That said, to accompany your glass of wine, you need some specialties to nibble on. Not surprisingly, there is a nice selection of cheeses (many imported from Europe) and homemade charcuterie. Oysters are also on the menu, as well as beef tartar, dry-aged beef sirloin and lobster spaghetti. To be discovered!

This restaurant at the Prince of Wales Hotel serves fine French-influenced cuisine. The chef creates his cuisine based on the availability and freshness of local produce, with a menu that varies with the seasons. The Victorian style dining room will immerse you in a royal atmosphere where you will enjoy delectable dishes and let yourself be served like a king for a moment. Tea service is available upon reservation daily from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, as well as on certain evenings during Candlelight Tea.

Opened by the team behind the now-defunct Brothers Food & Wine, 20 Victoria offers a gastronomic experience in an intimate setting of about 20 seats. Chef Julie Hyde is at the helm of the kitchen, highlighting regional products from Ontario and the rest of the country, which vary according to season and arrival, with a clear preference for fish and seafood. The open kitchen allows you to see the team at work, all in a chic but no-frills setting. Reservations are required.

Toronto's renowned chef Lorenzo Loseto serves up a cuisine of unprecedented richness. The dishes are delicate and the food literally melts in your mouth. The explosion of flavours reaches its peak with the five, seven or ten course gourmet menu (vegetarian versions also available), which can be enhanced with a wine pairing for an experience that lives up to the reputation of the establishment. We have no hesitation in recommending this restaurant for a truly memorable dining experience.

The chef and his team prepare exceptional cuisine. The menu offers a limited choice, but the dishes on the menu are all succulent. The wine list offers the best wines of the region. An ice wine will perfectly accompany your dessert. For our part, we were tempted by the foie gras as a starter, as well as the Atlantic black cod and the AAA beef filet as main courses. The experience was memorable, we still have fond memories of it!