Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Ottawa

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best overall restaurants 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!

Shinka Sushi Bar

4.9

4.9 (28)

CAN$51 and over

Sushi

Gloucester

About the restaurant

After too long Shinka Sushi Bar is finally back to a dine in service! Nestled in the heart of an industrial park come check out our hideaway.

Top review

Mariana

Dined 4 days ago

I celebrated my mom’s birthday here with my parents. The food was absolutely excellent. The tuna and salmon sashimi starter was outstanding. We also had some sashimi mains and a few rolls and the portions were good, taste was amazing, great value. Convenient that an 18% gratuity is included in the price so you just pay whatever the bill comes out to. Overall a fabulous experience. Highly recommend and will definitely be dining here or ordering from here again!

Aiāna Restaurant Collective

4.9

4.9 (498)

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 4 days ago

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

Experience

New Year's Eve at Aiāna

Giovanni's Ristorante

4.9

4.9 (557)

CAN$51 and over

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Giovanni�s Ristorante, which you can find in Ottawa, Ontario, is proud of its reputation for serving some of the finest Italian cuisine in the surrounding area. The staff insists upon only the finest ingredients like AAA steaks and seafood taken fresh from the sea. Guests will also enjoy the lovely d�cor, which is filled with gleaming crystal, in addition to the food at Giovanni�s Ristorante. One great way to start your meal at Giovanni�s Ristorante is with one of the excellent soups, such as the minestrone or the stracciatella. When you make it to the main meal, you might try one of the veal dishes. The veal marsala, with mushrooms and a wine sauce, is just one of many options.

Top review

IanVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great food, exceptional service and the plus of valet parking. Our only complaint was the noise level, probably due to a large table of pre-Christmas revellers.

Perch

4.9

4.9 (196)

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

Remington

Dined 3 days ago

This was one of the most special meals of my life. Some of the most unique food I’ve come across, the attentiveness of the staff is amazing, with the best drinks to tie it all off. I left here with so much inspiration to push myself further in this industry to hopefully work along side people like this in the future. I left here with amazing memory’s and a few recipes. Considering I don’t even like fish and I ate every bite with enthusiasm is a testament the quality the team pushes out. I recommend this to experience to everyone 11/10 thank you perch.

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Experience

Tasting Menu - 9 Course Meal

Experience

New Year's Eve 2024

Stolen Goods Cocktail Bar

4.9

4.9 (257)

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

Phil

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Hands down the best cocktail bar in Ottawa. Fantastic service, innovative and delicious cocktails, and excellent bites as well. Truly a gem that rivals Montreal cocktail bars.

Bar Ocelli

4.9

4.9 (22)

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

Karina

Dined 7 days ago

Exceptional attention to detail from seating, stemware to presentation of food, intimate ambience with very cool vibe. We started our evening deciding with which of their unique cocktails to try, it didn’t disappoint, followed by 3 of the appetizers - all were beautifully presented and delicious, their wine list offers sustainable wines. We will definitely be going back to see Karina and the talented team. Overall experience for this hidden gem on William Street is 10/10.

Pure Kitchen - Elgin

4.8

4.8 (120)

CAN$30 and under

Vegetarian / Vegan

Downtown

About the restaurant

Vegan/Vegetarian Cuisine

Top review

Bill

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Brunch was really great and filling. Love that they have quality Gluten-free substitutes .

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Experience

Weekend Brunch

Bar Lupulus

4.9

4.9 (1379)

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

Norah

Dined 1 day ago

Great cocktails & wine pairings with delicious food and outstanding service.

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Paper Tiger Noodle Bar

4.8

4.8 (89)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Fusion / Eclectic

The Glebe

About the restaurant

"Paper Tiger"
Someone or something that seems intimidating and all powerful, but in reality, is not. Don't judge a book by its cover.
In the heart of Old Ottawa South, Paper Tiger Noodle Bar is where fusion meets local. With a seasonal food and drink menu, you are guaranteed to find your new favourite dining experience.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

Service was excellent, very good recommendations were made by the server and the food was delicious. Each guest enjoyed their choices. Ramen had a lot of depth to the broth and I could have had the brussel sprouts as a main dish, they were excellent. Highly recommend this unassuming restaurant.

DreamLand Cafe

4.8

4.8 (492)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Italian

Little Italy

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Ottawa’s Little Italy, DreamLand Cafe offers incredible fresh pasta dishes, made with love and finesse.

Top review

Lisa

Dined 2 days ago

Food was delicious and the drinks from the bar were fabulous! I let the staff choose my food - it was delicious and excellent cocktail and wine pairing. The staff were great about coming around to ensure we were well taken care of

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