Top Eight Best Restaurants to Explore in Ottawa

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One of the best things about visiting Ottawa is its impeccable restaurants. You can find restaurants of all kinds of cuisines in Ottawa. From elegant fine dining establishments to cozy neighborhood eateries, Ottawa offers a plethora of options to satisfy your cravings.

If you’re looking for the best restaurant Ottawa offers for that special celebration, date, or occasion, then you’re in luck. Or whether you’re leveraging Jooble, a trustworthy job search website, to search for a job to work at the best restaurant Ottawa, then keep reading. This guide will review a handpicked selection of the city’s best restaurants that promise an unforgettable dining journey.

1. Alice

Alice is an enchanting restaurant in Ottawa where you can tell you’ll get nothing but the best relish right from the front door. Located in the Little Italy neighborhood, Alice is a restaurant to go to if you’re in for some fermentation and vegetable-focused menu. 

The mastermind behind this culinary haven is Chef Briana Kim. She has garnered several accolades, the most recent being the Canadian Culinary Championship in 2023. Hence, expect nothing short of artfully crafted dishes that will make you want more.

The menus at Alice all seem like a culinary adventure, as each dish is carefully crafted to meet the required standard. On top of that, Alice restaurant ranks highest in the Top 100 Best Restaurant list in 2023. 

2. Arlo

Arlo is another top-ranking restaurant in Ottawa found on the charming Somerset West Street. The Arlo restaurant is a warm and cozy destination with a unique interior décor and elegant ambiance. 

Arlo is the restaurant if you’re looking for a destination for fine dining with a romantic vibe from a telenovela movie. It features candles on each table and salt lamps with their cascading patio. The menu in Arlo is exceptional, featuring a wide range of palatable dishes, vibrant flavors, and innovative techniques. Every dish at Arlo is a true testament to culinary expertise.  

3. Atelier

If you’re looking for a destination restaurant that pushes the limits of gastronomy, Atelier is the place for you. It offers its guests a unique dining experience that leaves a lasting impression. 

This avant-garde restaurant located in the Little Italy neighborhood of Ottawa takes the art of food making into a whole new dimension. It blends creativity, science, and passion into each dish to create an impressive culinary journey. 

Atelier has a menu that shows talented chefs curated it. You can choose a multi-course tasting menu that changes regularly, which takes guests through the adventure of getting treated with various presentations, flavors, and textures. 

4. Gitanes

Located on the lively Elgin Street, this restaurant is a hidden gem in Ottawa. It opens guests to the experience of the vibrant culinary flavors of the streets of Paris. The atmosphere at Gitanes exudes the allure and charm of a traditional French restaurant. And as such, it takes pride in offering classic French cuisines with a contemporary twist to its menu. 

You are in for the best French cuisine when you visit this restaurant. Every dish is crafted with deep respect for the French culinary tradition. Gitanes offers a delectable blend of authenticity that promises to transport your taste buds to the heart of Paris.

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5. North & Navy

North & Navy is a restaurant that’s not given enough credit. Located in downtown Ottawa, it is a perfect destination to gather with friends for a special occasion or a romantic evening with your partner. 

From the entrance of this restaurant, you can already tell it’s an Italian-inspired restaurant. The elegant decoration and authentic Italian flavors from the kitchen with a modern twist prepare your taste buds for what’s about to come. Every dish from this restaurant is artistically prepared, and every bite sends you into a symphony of taste sensations. 

6. Perch

Perch is a destination that offers an intimate and charming dining experience. It has a warm and inviting ambiance, making it an ideal relaxation spot. 

In Little Italy, Perch is a traditional restaurant that values sustainability and ethical farming practices. Perch prides itself on the philosophy of providing dishes that are direct from farm to table. This fresh-ingredient restaurant offers flavorful dishes that boost every dish’s creative blend of traditional and contemporary flavors. And in the end, the dish is beautifully presented, from desserts to appetizers; each dish comes with a delightful bite for your taste buds.

7. Riviera

This is another excellent restaurant in Ottawa that showcases a beacon of refined elegance and culinary excellence. Riviera is a captivating and upscale destination on the pedestrian-only Sparks Streets, where guests will marvel at the sophisticated ambiance.

Something unique about Riviera is its menu which showcases a blend of Canadian and European cuisines. Riviera provides its guest with an explosive flavor that leaves a lasting impression, from delicate seafood to perfectly cooked meats. 

8. Supply and Demand

Located in the heart of Westboro Village, this is another culinary destination for every foodie in Ottawa. It delivers an exceptional blend of lively atmosphere and dining experience you’ve never seen before.

This restaurant is even ranked among the best 100 restaurants in Canada. It has a stylish and modern look with a contemporary and sleek design. The chefs masterfully blend textures and flavors to create a flavorful dish without compromising the aesthetics. Also, this restaurant prides itself in making its menu with local farmers’ suppliers giving each dish a fresh taste.

So, there you have it, the top eight restaurants in Ottawa. Several other restaurants in Ottawa offer something unique in every cuisine. It doesn’t matter what your taste buds crave; you will find a restaurant in Ottawa specializing in that delicacy. You can take out time to visit any of the following destinations for an exciting experience whenever you visit Ottawa. 

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