Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Ottawa

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems 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!

Belmont

4.8

4.8 (703)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Tapas / Small Plates

Downtown

About the restaurant

Old Ottawa South for Inventive tasty small plates, Great Cocktails, Beautiful All Natural Wines in a Cozy, Inviting atmosphere
Open since 2014, we are very excited to host you and your guests

Top review

Valerie

Dined 5 days ago

My boyfriend and I had the best meal and drinks that we’ve had in Ottawa here. The best was the beef tartare, and the Belmont’s signature pork belly open face bread/sandwich. Their own draft beer was good too.

Pure Kitchen - Elgin

4.8

4.8 (113)

CAN$30 and under

Vegetarian / Vegan

Downtown

About the restaurant

Vegan/Vegetarian Cuisine

Top review

Tim

Dined on Aug 29, 2024

Very clean and quick service for lunch for our party of 8. Food was excellent even for those of us who weren’t vegetarian. Our server was very helpful and friendly. Definitely would go back again.

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Experience

Weekend Brunch

Hunter's Public House

4.8

4.8 (263)

CAN$30 and under

Canadian

Gloucester

About the restaurant

Hunter's is a modern, suburban pub offering high-quality food and beverages, coupled with exceptional service. Unique elements in an inviting and social atmosphere create a sense of neighbourhood ‘place’. Creating Hunter's Public House was a long-time vision of Chef Charles MacInnis and Amy MacInnis. With young children, finding a kid-friendly place to eat out where they could also enjoy some amazing food with a great pint was tough. Hunter's Public House is just that! Hunter's food menu features a blend of classics and fresh creations, highlighted by locally sourced ingredients. Hunter's beverage menu features an Ottawa Valley exclusive draft beer line-up and extensive can/bottle selection. Hunter's also showcases craft sodas sure to delight the young and the young at heart. Next time you're in the neighborhood, drop in and say 'Hi'!

Top review

Heather

Dined 5 days ago

Never had a bad time. Always great good and great service

Retro Gusto

4.8

4.8 (447)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Italian

Little Italy

About the restaurant

Retrogusto is a pizzeria and bar that brings some much needed excitement to the north end of Preston street. We serve a Roman style pizza "Tonda", traditional roman fried snacks, salumi, cheeses and other small plates. Our food will be complimented by a small wine list that will be in constant rotation, strictly Italian classic cocktails, and beautiful amaro's from around Italy. The warm, cozy, dimly lit dining room with an open kitchen will be the perfect place to do the only thing that matters; eat good food, drink good wine and have a good time with friends.

Top review

Veronique

Dined 3 days ago

Great food, service, and relaxing chill vibe. Would recommend and will definitely go back.

Erling's Variety

4.7

4.7 (106)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Tapas / Small Plates

The Glebe

About the restaurant

We are a locally loved neighbourhood bistro just tucked away off Bank street in the Glebe. We serve updated versions of familiar classics in an unpretentious and homey atmosphere.
We feature small sharing plates that we serve tapas style. Our dishes are meant to be enjoyed leisurely and in good company. We offer a seasonal and ever changing menu, oysters, a curated wine selection, classic cocktails as well as happy hour specials Tuesday through Thursday. We are centrally located and blocks from TD place.

Top review

AlastairS

Dined on Aug 27, 2024

Superb dining experience Excellent and unique wines Exceptional service Best night out

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Experience

Weekday Happy Hour

Fratelli - Westboro

4.6

4.6 (953)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Sean

Dined 3 days ago

As usual, everything was wonderful. Th gnocchi is fantastic.

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Popular dish

Spaghetti

Lexington Smokehouse & Bar in Westboro

4.5

4.5 (923)

CAN$30 and under

Barbecue

Nepean

About the restaurant

Southern-Style kitchen and smokehouse offering hand-crafted cocktails, local beers and amazing wine.

Top review

Jamie

Dined 4 days ago

This was hands down the best meal I have ever had! The fork and knife chicken was outstanding!! Portions a well sized and the cocktails are delicious too!! Definitely worth checking out!

Joe's Italian Kitchen - Wellington

4.5

4.5 (24)

CAN$30 and under

Italian

Westboro

About the restaurant

Weaving old world traditions with new world creativity. Our goal is to bring you a diverse menu that not only preserves, but elevates hearty dishes that showcase the essence of Italian cuisine.

Top review

Sylvie

Dined 3 days ago

The food was outstanding and very good value. The service was very friendly. We will definitely return.

Luxe Bistro

4.4

4.4 (15)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Bistro

ByWard Market

About the restaurant

While maintaining an excellent reputation for food quality and service, Luxe offers a modern and fun focus on popular food trends. All while serving the best steak in Downtown Ottawa!
We are known for our signature Brunch, seafood and cocktails. Our groups can enjoy private dining areas, our vegetarian/ vegan friends are welcome to special menu items, and Happy Hour is a hit daily from 2-6pm... cheap drinks and oysters! Join us this summer on our Gorgeous patio space.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Aug 31, 2024

Decided to go to luxe last minute, on a spontaneous trip to Ottawa, as I live not to far over the border in New York. We were sat quickly as we had a reservation, our waiter Spencer was very kind and helpful. All the food was amazing and it was super hard to make a choice cause everything sounded wonderful! Would and will go again!

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Experience

Byward Vibes

The Cameron

4.4

4.4 (58)

CAN$30 and under

Canadian

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Cameron is the newest edition to the Ottawa Tennis & Lawn Bowling Club that was established in 1881. The Belmont, a tiny Old Ottawa South haunt known for its inventive plates and cocktails have partnered up with the OTLBC to turn the club’s second floor into The Cameron, a neighbourhood hangout with a cottage-chic vibe and a club-friendly menu. The tennis club has always pushed the motto of “your cottage in the city” so they ran with that theme, taking out the old-school banquet chairs and tables and replacing them with picnic tables and and long benches. Picture a big, friendly camp mess hall — but with better food!

Top review

Claire

Dined on Aug 28, 2024

Best Club sandwich I have ever had 👏 Our waitress Haley was fabulous ! Wonderful Times we had and hope to return soonest 🥰

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