Restaurants in Ottawa

The kitchen at Wonton Mama teems with ingredients that range from hoisin sauce to lemongrass from such lands as China, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Diners perched on sleek white banquettes can sample tempura-shrimp sushi rolls, chicken-fried rice flavoured with Thai basil, and vermicelli noodle soup with spicy scallops and shrimp. Drinks such as sangria and Sapporo complement each dish.

Piccolino translates from Italian as "very little one." In this case, piccolino refers to the quaint vintage villa that houses the rustic Il Piccolino Ristorante. Grape vines wind around the sun-drenched patio framed by trellises that leads to an interior of stucco-textured walls offsetting leather chairs and paisley-print tablecloths. This homespun, Old-World ambiance reinforces a menu of made-to-order Italian comfort food. Chefs stuff manicotti with ricotta and blanket gnocchi in gorgonzola cream sauce. They also adorn pizzas with ingredients such as tiger shrimp, italian sausage, and chili-marinated eggplant for a take on Italian that is both familiar and surprising.

Through the steam rising off slabs of all-you-can-eat garlic home loaf, families all across Canada sit down to feast on East Side Marios's heaping plates of classic Italian fare. The chain's chefs ladle spicy arrabbiata, rich alfredo, and meaty bolognese sauces across foundations of toothsome De Cecco pasta, which they import from Italy to ensure each entree has an authentic jet-lagged flavour. They also slide cheesy baked pastas and hand-pressed pizzas into ovens, toast up loaded sandwiches, and dress crisp salads in their signature dressing.

East Side Marios strives to make every meal a pleasant, relaxing experience. It helps eliminate potential ordering jitters by designating vegetarian and spicy items on the menu for diners with dietary restrictions, and taps into guests' joy reserves with a selection of signature cocktails, spiked lemonades, and ice-cream shakes.

Since 1999, the culinary team at Biagio's Italian Kitchen has strived to stay true to its founding "al momento" cooking philosophy by prepping each authentic dish on its menu to order. Angus steaks and veal dishes in delicate sauces float out of the chef’s quarters alongside pastas saturated in a choice of three sauces and packed with grilled chicken, shrimp, or spicy sausage.

A half wall weaves through the main dining room, just like the larger one that divides Italy’s vegetarians and carnivores, splitting feasting quarters between a larger area filled with tables and booths and semi-private section that accommodates up to 40 guests. The savvy Biagio's Italian Kitchen staffers assist patrons in planning and catering business or social events within its private dining rooms, banquet room, front room, or outdoor patio.

Instead hefting flatware-laden platters, servers at Ekko de Brasil emerge from the kitchen with skewers of flame-kissed meats straight from the kitchen's grill tops. They slice these succulent cuts, which include bacon-wrapped chicken breast, top sirloin, and leg of lamb, directly onto diners plates, continuing until the guests either signal them to stop by flipping a color-coded coaster or stump them with a riddle. A veggie-filled salad bar of hot and cold sides incorporates as many fresh, seasonal ingredients as possible. The spacious dining room brightens up its dark-wood ambience with cherry-red curtains along the windows and lively Brazilian dance performances on Friday and Saturday evenings. Bartenders also help to keep morale high by uncorking Brazilian-vinted wines and mixing cocktails with cachaça, the favoured spirit of Brazil.

In the early 1900s, a small dairy farm occupied the land where the award-winning cabaret-restaurant Ferme Rouge now stands—but the mooing of cows has long since given way to the vibrato of singers and the smooth notes of saxophonist Jason Scott. Today the lively tunes of Las Vegas–style musical revues pay homage to the likes of Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley, and performers such as Boom Desjardins and Marie-Chantal Toupin have taken the stage for stunning solo performances. Before or while watching the troubadours, guests feast on à la carte entrees ranging from filet mignon and new york strip steak to lobster and Atlantic salmon. These dishes balance on the arms of waiters who double as performers in the shows, which often boast a cast of 20 on Saturday. Diners can also serve themselves at a buffet that tempts tongues with more than 25 varieties of seafood, taking a bit of everything instead of consulting their magic 8 ball to decide on just one entree.

Rivalling the seafood buffet and stage for guests’ attention, a 1/2-scale replica of Columbus’s Santa Maria docks beneath the chandeliers of the cabaret’s maroon-walled and wood-panelled dining room. Commissioned from Seville to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s journey, the ship sprawls into the second floor and attic and is functional enough to sail across Poseidon’s bathtub if given the chance.