The best restaurants Ottawa

This is the place to go to enjoy the most delicious and generous tacos. The menu also includes other small selections at low prices such as the guacamole and chips or the green salad with papaya. The place is often crowded, and the atmosphere is friendly, though quite noisy on weekends, even more so when the bars close and the place fills up with festive souls. Try one of the many tequilas offered on the slate. Another branch in the Byward Market area (Clarence Street, open from noon, 3pm on Mondays).

The concept? For a fixed price, you will be able to try a variety of dishes inspired by Canadian cuisine, using fresh local products. For a little more, you'll also be treated to a wine tasting chosen to match the flavors of each dish. Allow about four hours for this true culinary workshop, which lives up to its name. The restaurant is frequently ranked as one of the best restaurants in Ottawa, and indeed in Canada. Needless to say, reservations are a must at this culinary temple.

A contemporary cuisine that revisits South Asian-inspired dishes, this results in strikingly tasty shrimp dumplings, a refreshing papaya salad and a must-try braised beef. At lunchtime, businessmen and ambassadors (the American embassy is just a stone's throw away) frequent this bright establishment; in the evening, the place is taken over by groups and the atmosphere becomes noisier. In short, not the ideal address for a romantic dinner, but if you like good food, the choice is difficult.

Ranked as one of enRoute's 2022 Best New Canadian Restaurants finalists, Perch is in a league of its own. Not only is it a high-flying dining experience without the attitude that usually goes with it, but it also relies on ethical and sustainable practices to showcase Canada's tasty gourmet products and avoid food waste. The open kitchen allows you to see Chef Justin Champagne and his brigade at work. A great experience!

This is the very first food hall in the Canadian capital. There are six local restaurants that will appeal to all tastes: Mexican street food, Southeast Asian cuisine, vegetarian dishes, gourmet burgers, thin-crust pizzas... the choice is yours! Note that the place opens at 8am on weekdays for coffee and breakfast (try the famous Bar Robo sandwiches). As for the Q Bar, renowned for its house cocktails and craft beers, it's the place to be for an aperitif or a digestif.

It is in an old bank that Riviera has installed its penates. The room is beautifully decorated in a neoclassical style with a very well preserved cachet. In this superb decor, the kitchen team prepares what is called "nouvelle cuisine canadienne". Just like the name of the establishment, which is inspired by the French Riviera, the dishes also make reference to the Mediterranean basin. The raw sea bass with its caviar, oysters and seafood tower is a dream come true, as is the tasty homemade fresh pasta. Nice cocktail menu.

Chef Briana Kim opened her vegetable and vegetarian-focused restaurant in a house on a quiet street in Little Italy. She is the former owner of Café My House in the Hintonburg neighborhood and also represented the capital at the Canadian Culinary Championships in 2018. In her small restaurant (about 20 seats), you can see jars containing various fermentations that are used in the composition of her menus. To accompany everything, natural wines and non-alcoholic house beverages are offered.

With four gourmet locations in Ottawa, oyster and seafood lovers are in for a treat. While oysters are the star of the show (on special for $2 CAN each on Sundays all evening), they don't have to overshadow the rest of the menu, including generous platters of hot and cold seafood and dry-aged steaks. Also worth mentioning are the selection of wines by the glass, cocktails (try the barrel-aged Negroni or the Oyster House Caesar) and craft beers, including the Oyster Stout.

First of all, what a beautiful place: beautiful stone walls, a huge fireplace, the tables with their white tablecloths and a small bouquet of flowers placed on each one, the artworks, the subdued light... It's chic and classic. The chef and his brigade prepare a high-class cuisine that includes oysters, foie gras, lobster and AAA Angus Reserve beef. For a treat, the tasting menu is a must, varying according to the seasons and the arrivals. It goes without saying that the accompanying wine list is a pure gem.

Little brother of the Fraser Cafe (located in New Edinburgh), The Rowan plays the neighborhood gastro-pub card. Small and large dishes to share, world flavors and veggie options on the slate, with something for everyone. On weekends, the place is very popular for its gourmet lunch/brunch. We recommend the smoked trout, the frittata with green onions and goat cheese, or the Breakfast BLT sandwich with fried egg, cheese and mayo. There is also a nice selection of cocktails, not to mention the local craft beers.

Housed in the heart of the chic, award-winning Fairmont Château Laurier, this restaurant is renowned for its fascinating culinary creations. The chef and his team are famous for the excellence of the regional products used in the preparation of their tasty dishes. To enjoy it at lower prices, go there at lunchtime. The beautiful dining room offers a wonderful view of Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal. An experience that is certainly worth the detour and good value for money for a 5-star hotel restaurant.