Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Ottawa

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Ottawa? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bar Lupulus

4.9

4.9 (1385)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Hintonburg

About the restaurant

Cozy Craft Beer and Natural Wine Bar with a Backyard Patio Oasis. Serving locally sourced & seasonally inspired comfort focused plates by Chef James Bratsberg. 22 rotating taps, Craft Cocktails & over 500 Natural wine cuvees available for dine in and takeout through our online bottle shop!

Top review

Wade

Dined 2 days ago

One of my favourite spots! Thanks again for great service and cocktails!

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4.9

4.9 (118)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Hintonburg

About the restaurant

Stofa is built on a passion for food, traditional and modern cooking methods, and creativity. We look to the ingredients to bridge the gap between time-honoured techniques and modern progression, producing a comfortable, inventive, and evocative dining experience.

Stofa's name represents a place of warmth and comfort where people can gather to eat, drink and be with friends. We proudly support local and sustainable products, and participate in the farm and food community, all while providing guests with vibrant and engaging food presented in an approachable yet innovative dining setting.

Located in the vibrant Wellington West area of Ottawa, Stofa offers a 3 or 5 course table d'hote menu which changes regularly. We offer patio dining (weather dependent) and have a private room available for large groups or professional meetings.

Top review

jennifer

Dined on Jan 5, 2025

Fabulous food and great value for the 5 course prefix menu. We left stuffed!

Aiāna Restaurant Collective

4.9

4.9 (501)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Canadian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Driven to provide a dining experience unlike any other, Aiāna's cuisine reflects a harmonious balance between classic cooking techniques and contemporary recipes. Whether a memorable meal; handcrafted cocktail or a glass of carefully curated wine, Aiana delivers distinctly Canadian cuisine and impeccable hospitality – all from the pulse of Ottawa’s bustling downtown.

Top review

Martina

Dined on Dec 18, 2024

Oustanding food and excellent personal service. We celebrated my husband's birthday and enjoyed every minute.

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Experience

A la Carte Reservation

Experience

Fruit de Mer

Stolen Goods Cocktail Bar

4.9

4.9 (260)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Turning words into action.
An unconventional cocktail bar born from the desire that ideas are meant to be changed.
Amorphous in nature.

For all changes to reservations please contact us through instagram, email or message through OpenTable. We do not have a phone line during business hours.

A gratuity of 20% will be included on all groups of 5+.

Top review

Kai

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

Creative drinks, excellent food and warm service in an intimate bar that can’t be found anywhere else in Ottawa.

Black Tartan Kitchen

4.9

4.9 (30)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Downtown

About the restaurant

From day one, we have wanted this little restaurant to be a space where anyone can feel comfortable & welcomed. Classic French cuisine is the root of this ethos - consistent, familiar and even nostalgic flavours from the tried & true feel good classics, yet slightly elevated with a touch of whimsy. Whether you are up for a curated culinary experience with our 4 & 7 Course tasting menus (Fri & Sat evenings), or prefer to choose your own adventure with our 3-course Table D’hote menu (Wed & Thurs evenings), or are in search of an upscale lunch à la carte menu (Thur - Sat); we have you covered! Our menus are composed entirely to showcase the best local products in Lanark County & the Ottawa Valley and are tailored monthly to best celebrate the tastes of the season. What’s more is that we tie it all together with the best small town, friendly, warm and courteous service around. Just like at a good friend’s house; we look forward to welcoming you to our kitchen! Ian Carswell (Chef/Owner)

Top review

Jason

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

It was our anniversary and I decided to surprise my wife with flowers. The staff agreed to let me drop them off early and then delivered them to our table during desert. I think they were more excited to do the delivery than I was. It went great!

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Experience

7-Course Tasting Menu ($144/person)

Experience

4-Course Tasting Menu ($96/person)

Experience

3-Course Table d'hôte Menu ($84/person)

Bar Ocelli

4.9

4.9 (24)

CAN$51 and over

Cocktail Bar

ByWard Market

About the restaurant

A sophisticated cocktail bar situated in the lively ByWard Market, offering a variety of cocktails crafted from global ingredients and recipes, along with delectable small bites, and a curated assortment of premium wines and spirits.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

Server was so knowledgeable and helpful. Menu was hefty but the server helped us determine what we would like and it was spot on. My group ended up trying almost every cocktail on the menu and none disappointed.

Perch

4.8

4.8 (200)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Little Italy

About the restaurant

Perch is an intimate fine dining restaurant focusing on Canadian ingredients, ethical and sustainable products.
Awarded as the 4th Best New Canadian Restaurant 2022 by Enroute, and #85 for Canada's Best Restaurants 2023. With the dining room facing into the wide open kitchen offering a nine course tasting menu and a bar focusing on unique cocktails and natural wines.

Nine Course tasting menu is $145 for food menu
Beverage Pairing is $100 per person (optional)
Non-Alcoholic Beverage Pairing is $85 per person (optional)

We release reservations 60 days in advance.

Please be sure to specify any dietary restrictions when making a reservation.

Please note that for reservations of 5 or more people, please call us at 613-515-0535 or email amanda@perchottawa.ca

Top review

Aaron

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

An excellent meal and excellent service. One of the most interesting tasting menus we have had in a while. The wine/cocktail pairing was exceptionally well done.

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Experience

Tasting Menu - 9 Course Meal

Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (633)

CAN$51 and over

Peruvian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine brings Chef Lizardo Becerra and his team's Peruvian food to the heart of Ottawa.

Enjoy a seasonal menu that features bold ingredients from Peru, Ocean Wise-recommended seafood and locally sourced meats. Fresh cocktails, curated wines, local beers and traditional Peruvian drinks complement the thrilling food menu.

Top review

Melissa

Dined 3 days ago

Beautiful restaurant, it was perfect for the special occasion we were celebrating. The food was incredible and gorgeous. Our server was fantastic and flawlessly accommodated a number of allergies at the table. I would go back tomorrow to try the few things our table did not end up ordering. Will absolutely be recommending to anyone looking for a special place for dinner/ drinks. A big Thank You to the entire team.

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Experience

Happy Hour

Atelier - Ottawa

4.7

4.7 (1737)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Downtown

About the restaurant

At Atelier, we solely offer an experiential & interactive 40 course tasting menu with pescatarian & vegetarian menus available for $250 per guest. We are not able to offer a vegan menu. Wine pairing options are available

Dining time is 4 hours

We do not accept menu modifications for aversions/dislikes, as this will compromise the integrity of the experience

Should you have any severe allergies, please highlight them in detail at time of booking, keeping in mind that we are not able to omit dairy, gluten, soy, nightshades, mushroom & allium as this impacts the overall experience. We will contact you for further clarification & to determine if we will be able to safely accommodate

Regarding mild allergies, our kitchen is not allergen-free & therefore we cannot guarantee zero cross-contamination

Please note that severe allergies may result in the outright omission of any one course from your experience

Top review

Stephen

Dined on Dec 22, 2024

The service is exceptional from the moment you walk in the door. The tasting menu is an incredible experience and the accompanying wine pairing was amazing. The descriptions and enthusiasm of the staff and sommelier make for a wonderful evening.

St. Elsewhere

4.7

4.7 (25)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Vegan

Little Italy

About the restaurant

Welcome to St. Elsewhere Wine Bar + Restaurant located in Chinatown. We offer a fun and innovative plant-based menu while also providing a refined and approachable take on our ever growing wine program. With unique flavors to pair and experience together, in a cozy and artistic environment, it’s an ideal spot for any occasion!

Top review

Michael

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious vegan food. Enjoyed everything about this place.

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