Atelier - 12 course tasting menu! I believe it's Ottawa's only tasting menu restaurant. Into molecular gastronomy. The food is suuuperb with great and down to earth service. Totally do the wine pairing! The sommelier is great. I love this place... (Oh, and make sure you grab there address before you go. ;)
Domus - Modern cuisine, into local & seasonal fare. Definitely don't miss out on their desserts! (and just recently the chef/owner John Taylor opened a new restaurant: Taylor’s Genuine Food & Wine Bar. Have yet to check it out though)
Wellington Gastropub - Small seasonal menu that changes almost daily, great atmosphere, friendly service, and yummy ice cream.
Murray Street - Charcuterie restaurant serving mostly local cheeses and meats, with small plates. Great sharing restaurant.
Whalesbone - Yummy oysters! Actually, they have 2 locations: a cozy little restaurant for dinner, and a supply store which is open to public Thurs-Sat to purchase your own seafood as well as a "brown bag" lunch. They are Ottawa's supplier of sustainably caught seafood.
El Meson - Spanish-Portuguese traditional cuisine. Best: paelle, but the rest is great too.
Beckta - This restaurant raised the bar for Ottawa fine dining. The original chef is now elsewhere (Black cat), but has still nice food. Not a fan of the somerlier's wine pairing though, but it could have been just an off day...
Zen Kitchen: And if you feel like something different, this place has been doing quite well. A fully vegan restaurant with an a-la-cart menu(not buffet!). Good, but I would stick to going at peek times like Friday/Saturday dinner.
Do you like poutine? Here are 2 places that have, I think, the best:
S & G Fries - Thick cut fresh made fries with plenty of curds. They call their small a "mini", but is more than enough for one!
Pataterie Hulloise - (in Hull) They do something to their fries that make them addictive... thinner cut, but oh so good. (Recommendation: sometimes they overdo the gravy, so I usually ask for it on the side and pour it on myself.)
Les Fougere - (in Chelsea) If you are will to drive for a bit, there is a very excellent place that I call the Chez Pannise of Ottawa. Lovely, fresh honest cooking.
Baked yumminess:
True Loaf! - Ottawa's best artisinal bread. Must try their "seed bread" and "decadent buns"! (Yes Art-is-in bread is great too, but True Loaf just makes me drool more...) You can go to their shop (open 7AM-1PM) or pick it up at locations that carry their bread, like Thyme & Again.
Flour Shoppe - If you are into cup cakes. :P
Oh, and if you have a need for cheese:
Serious Cheese - Best of local and international cheeses. And you can sample anything before you buy! (and they have True Loaf bread) (Serious Cheese recently moved to the west end)
And if you are into tea:
Nectar Fine Teas - This place I just had to mention because it's one of my favourite places(I am a bit of a tea nerd). This place specializes in loose leaf tea, and the down to earth owner Suzanne is more than happy to answer any of your questions. She might not have as high a selection of teas as some other tea shops in Ottawa, but she focuses on quality and freshness which far outdoes the rest of them. Plus you can sit down for a pot of tea if you like. ^_^
Also been hearing good things about:
Fraser Cafe
Black Cat
Cafe Venuto
Navarra
(written and compiled by my sister )
