Chez Lionel - Kanata in Kanata

101 Kanata Ave. suite 100, Kanata, ON K2T 0C1, Canada

★★★★☆
(88 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant

About

Grand Opening of Chez Lionel in Kanata / October 4th Chez Lionel Brasserie Française is a warm and welcoming restaurant offering accessible gourmet cuisine. Our menu features classics such as steak bordelaise, foie gras, and seafood, as well as inspired creations. Our carefully curated wine list includes private import wines. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the service is both warm and professional. The restaurant will be located inside the Holiday Inn & Suites Ottawa Kanata and will offer a lunch menu, breakfast, weekend brunches, as well as catering services for hotel guests. The menus will be executed under the supervision of Chef Frédéric Dufort. We are very excited to meet you.

Website
chezlionel.ca
Address
101 Kanata Ave. suite 100, Kanata, ON K2T 0C1, Canada
Plus Code
836W+M4 Kanata, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
6:30 AM–10 PM
Tuesday
6:30 AM–10 PM
Wednesday
6:30 AM–10 PM
Thursday
6:30 AM–10 PM
Friday
6:30 AM–10 PM
Saturday
7 AM–10 PM
Sunday
7 AM–10 PM

Services

Service options
On-site services Takeaway Dine-in
Offerings
Alcohol Wine
Dining options
Brunch Dinner Dessert
Atmosphere
Casual
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards
Parking
Free parking lot Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.4
★★★★☆
88 reviews

Most Mentioned

atmosphere (9) the menu (9) wine (9) price (9) dinner (7) server (6) appetizer (5) birthday (5) choices (5) flat iron steak (3)
5 stars
63
4 stars
12
3 stars
5
2 stars
2
1 stars
6
★★★★★
December 2, 2024

Wonderful birthday dinner with friends at Chez Lionel. Most of us had the Icelandic cod which melted in your mouth. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and the attentive server who shared his recommendations for entrees and wine with us for our first visit. The atmosphere is really nice: laidback but still felt and tasted like fine dining but at reasonable prices. Wonderful dining experience!

★★★★★
December 2, 2024

At the time there was a lunch special. I started with the lyonnaise salad. The frisée lettuce was kinda hard to eat so it made the eating experience a little difficult and not as enjoyable as the flavours it had. (pancetta was amazing) The main is flat iron braised beef. The beef was pretty decent texture with great sauce. The brussel sprouts were cooked evenly, so I enjoyed them to an extent despite usually avoiding brussel sprouts. The service was the star of the show and really what we paid for. The server mentioned the aged tomahawk that we will be back to try another time.

★★★★
November 30, 2024

I had the chance to dine here a couple of times while staying at the Holiday Inn Kanata Hotel. For breakfast, the menu items were repetitive. It was basically a play of sausage, bacon, or eggs with toast, and potato. The best option for is the Eggs Benedict with bacon. The Cast Iron Omelette is pretty good too. Skip on the Classic platter. For Dinner, it was pretty good. However, the food portion is small for the price. I would have loved to try other dinner menu items but there were many other nearby restaurants offering something better. Overall, if you’re staying at the Hotel for a couple of days, it’s worth the try. The ambiance is quiet and nice. I’d recommend checking out the nearby bar and restaurants as well for more choices.

★★★★★
November 28, 2024

Finally, a Decent Restaurant in the Heart of Kanata! I had almost given up hope of finding a great restaurant in Kanata, but Chez Lionel completely changed my mind. Located conveniently in the Holiday Inn, with easy access to the highway and Kanata Centrum, Chez Lionel offers a chic, modern, and relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant features table dining and a bar area, and making an online reservation was quick and seamless. Their wine and spirits list is extensive—one of the largest I’ve seen (check out the photo I included!). The menu offers a solid range of options, blending traditional French fare with modern influences, and they even cater to vegetarians. The food was excellent—beautifully presented and served promptly. The staff were attentive and courteous, always keeping our water glasses full and offering to refill wine glasses. Their attention to detail really stood out. As for the price, it was surprisingly reasonable: $180 for two people, including a shared appetizer and dessert. I highly recommend Chez Lionel—it’s a much-needed gem in Kanata!

★★★★★
November 11, 2024

Kaylie was our server and she was fantastic, friendly and attentive. We had two mains and a glass of wine each. -The Ricotta Ravioli was our favourite dish, the flavour was rich seasoned perfectly. -The Braised Beef Cheek à la Bourguignonne was very tender and the potatoes were exceptionally creamy but, unfortunately it was tasteless. We have had this dish in different restaurants as well as in Paris and it was amazing. So this is one we would skip. There are other items we would go back to try, so with that I would recommend trying this place out.

★★★★★
October 19, 2024

The salad was well-prepared, and the burger’s sauce was excellent, though the bread could have been of higher quality. The fries were somewhat disappointing. On the positive side, the atmosphere and service were top-notch. This venue is a great addition to Kanata :)

★★★★★
October 10, 2024

We had the pleasure of dining at Chez Lionel restaurant on their opening weekend. From our first interaction being seated to our table, to the service, drinks and food, it was a five-star experience. We were educated about their extensive wine list (they have a sommelier on staff) and received thorough information about the meal we were served. Rob (with one 'b' 😄) was an excellent server. Chez Lionel is a welcome addition to the Kanata area. We will absolutely be back!

★★★★★
October 7, 2024

Chez Lionel exceeded my expectations! The food was fresh and offered options unlike any other restaurants around kanata. The price point is spot-on for the quality of the food and experience. The wines they offer are brand new to me since they only offer wines not found in any LCBO. The staff are super friendly, knowledgeable and observant but not intrusive. The atmosphere is a nice mix between a spot for dress-up special occasions or everyday casual get togethers. It's my new go-to spot!

★★★★★
December 21, 2024

Excellent

★★★★★
December 21, 2024

We enjoyed a wonderful cocktail and chacouterie board after work the week before Christmas. Service was wonderful and we will be back! Dietary restrictions: The kitchen easily accounted for a nut allergy - excellent!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 18, 2024

Very cool interior design and service was excellent. Our server was very attentive, answered all of our menu questions, and helped since one of our group is lactose intolerant. Cocktails were excellent, as was dessert. Almost everything we had to eat was top notch, except there was a lot of fat/gristle on the duck. Will definitely be back and eager to try the breakfast/lunch menus.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 17, 2024

Great atmosphere! Amazing food selection. Our group of 5 all loved their dishes: scallops, beef cheeks, ravioli, cod and steak! Welcome to Kanata !

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

Had breakfast here 2 days in a row, Britney was fantastic!! Amazing service and wonderful food!! Thanks Britney!!

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

Really nice place with a cool vibe and amazing food. Kid-friendliness: There was a kid screaming Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

Awesome service, food, ambience once again. My 3rd time at this amazing place since it opened.

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Great place, staff was so nice and food so great!

★★★★
December 8, 2024

Very good food, I really liked my dish. On the other hand, I found the service quite slow. Vegetarian options: Vegetarian options available Parking: Enough parking spaces, we had no problems at this level

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Great experience tonight at Chez Lionel. Food was fantastic. We loved our waiter Rob, he was super outgoing and fun, super knowledgeable about the menu and wine list too and excellent customer service. We just had a great time! Well be back.

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Awesome experience all around, food was excellent

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

First time at Chez Lionel and we were all pleasantly surprised. A group of 6 friends got together for lunch. It all started with the amazing customer service from our waiter, Adam. Adam was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. He also provided us suggestions. We had an allergy in the group so he was great at communicating that with the kitchen to ensure it was taken seriously. We all enjoyed our meals throroughly and will definitely be back! The ambiance was inviting as well! Dietary restrictions: one of our friends has a severe allergy and they were able to accommodate without any issues.

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

Me and my girlfriend just had our 2 year anniversary dinner here. My servers name was Rick and he provide the best service ever! The food was absolutely amazing, recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a nice dinner 10/10 all around.

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

A very pleasant evening celebrating my husband s birthday. Complimentary Prosecco and delicious food. Our server was a little wet behind the ears, but everyone has to start somewhere and she eager to learn :)

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

Amazing first experience at Chez Lionel tonight. The staff went above and beyond for us. Quick, friendly service, and our food was great! I will be back

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 24, 2024

Great new addition to Kanata! Located right in the holiday Inn. Beautiful decor, food was fantastic and delicious. We had the butternut squash gnocchi, flat steak, beef tartar, and scallops and no complaints at all. Beautiful presentation and delicious. Not overly priced, and friendly, attentive staff. Will definitely be going back and recommending to friends.

★★★★★
November 24, 2024

Great food, great wine recommended by your somnellier. Overall 5 star experience.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Beautiful decor, excellent service. Food and drinks too notch. Will be back.

★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

We went for brunch. The food was interesting but mediocre. Not only that we got somebody elses food that was ordered and rejected and brought for us and we were told that. By the time we got the food it was lukewarm and the eggs were stodgy. The atmosphere was lovely. There was no salt and pepper or condiments like jam etc. And we had to wait a long time until we got salt and pepper. It was just okay.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Had the tomahawk steak and the service and food was excellent. Highly recommend checking it out.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Great service , great food . Definitely worth the visit .

★★★★
November 22, 2024

The place is very nice, kind of loud though. Bar was understaffed, just getting the drinks took 30 min. Food was great and very well presented. Server took out desert from the bill to compensate the delay on drinks, that was a nice gesture. In brief is worth to try.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Wow, an exceptional culinary experience! As soon as we arrived, we were greeted with a warm smile and impeccable service. The dishes were a real delight, prepared with fresh and tasty ingredients. Each bite was a journey of flavors, perfectly balanced. The fries are super good and well cooked!! The atmosphere of the restaurant is both elegant and friendly, which makes the meal even more enjoyable. We fell in love with Roberto our server, wow great service and so endearing!! A big thank you to the whole team for this memorable moment. We will come back without hesitation

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

My wife and I had lunch there and it was amazing. The service was very good. We were promptly and nicely greeted. The server knew the menu very well and made good recommendations. The lunch portion was of a decent size and wow, great tasting. I had the flat iron beef, and my wife had a pan seared salmon. We will definitely be back. We want to try so many of the dinner menu items.

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Overall a really good experience, food was good excellent service the only downside was a noisy environment , restaurant setup seemed so that its hard to get away from noisy group due to the open space nature of the restaurant.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

What a wonderful experience! The atmosphere is amazing, and the food is excellent! Really, really excellent! We were well looked after on our second visit, which we enjoyed just as much as our first, if not more. We were delighted with the personalized service from manager Léa, and our server Emmy. The rest of the staff are lovely, (hosts, bar, wait staff) and do not hesitate to engage, to make your experience unique. Chef and Kitchen are careful about dietary restrictions, and will make most all dishes available for celiac diners. We plan to return as often as we can. Bravo les amis!! Dietary restrictions: Chef and kitchen are attentive to dietary needs. Celiacs are well looked after!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Great decor. Convenient free parking. Excellent meal and very attentive service. Don t let the fact it is located on the main floor of a hotel turn you off. Wheelchair accessibility: Ground floor of Holiday Inn and Suites.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

We went last evening to celebrate 20 years together. The restaurant is beautiful. The atmosphere was outstanding. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Our visit was an all around pleasant experience. Food was excellent and the service was friendly. Will definitely go back

★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

I wanted to try this new restaurant in town. Took a gf of mine for her birthday dinner. Atmosphere, decor, greeting was exceptional. My gf s ordered the seafood risotto, it was good, although my butternut squash gnocchi looked pretty, but had NO taste whatsoever! I was disappointed. Apple, crème brûlée desserts were good, coffee and latte as well. Service was on and off. Started off good but then, waited for service waited a little for drink order to arrive, had to ask other servers around for bread at the beginning and a to go box for dinner leftover and a dessert menu at the end I ever wrote in my reservation that it was my gf birthday. I had to remind the server possibly add a sparkler as someone in the room has it served with their dessert. The dessert ended up being complimentary which was appreciated. At the end, my experience was just ok.

November 22, 2024

My husband and I were very excited for the new Chez Lionel opening in Kanata, so we decided to try it for a date night, made a reservation ahead and went there last night. We were seated right away, and then for half an hour, absolutely no service. Not even water. Eventually we asked one of the hostesses that was walking around if we are going to be able to order anytime soon, but she didn t have an answer and had to go check. Our server spent a lot of time at the table next to us, and even took one of the guys to see the wine collection, while we were just sitting there for half an hour, waiting for any kind of attention. At the half-hour mark we decided to leave. What was even more annoying, was their absolutely non-apologetic attitude. The hostess told us on the way out: well, you had to wait because we are busy. Well, maybe don t overbook your place and make sure everyone can get at least half-decent service? Wanted to like it, but it was extremely disappointing!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

We had a great experience having brunch at Chez Lionel this weekend! The staff were so friendly and attentive and the food was very tasty and hot. My one suggestion would be to include something fresh (e.g. greens or fruit) with the indulgent brunch dishes even if you had to increase the plates in price as the pricing was very reasonable too! Will Be back for sure :)

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

We definitely go back for dinner. The brunch was super nice.

★★
November 22, 2024

The place is nice for pictures. But the food is not the best at all. You can go eat somewhere else and go there for a drink take nice pictures

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Great food, excellent wine list. Very friendly service. 100% will return. Kid-friendliness: Great kids menu Food : 5/5 |

★★
November 22, 2024

Well it is hard to rate: we had dinner and breakfast next morning If you are looking for high end French food with no substitutes then it was amazing If you are a regular person that just wanted some food at the hotel that are staying then it was not so amazing- few choices, no substitute of anything, no we do not have any tomatoes , calling for bill in am but the server did bills for 3 other tables that came after us before she addressed us and we were in a hurry

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Fantastic and attentive service with a fun server who made our evening out extra enjoyable. The new restaurant is well decorated and has great ambience and our appetizers, main course and dessert were great. Bonus points because they have great mocktails!

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Ambience, atmosphere and drinks were great. Beef brisket was superb. Thanks. Food : 3/5

★★★
November 22, 2024

This location could seriously use a floor manager to manage the floor staff and service. Food is good but would be scored higher if arrive hot on heated plates. Cutlery was taken away with the appetizer plates but not replaced. The fries ordered never arrived with one of the meals. Beers took way too long to arrive from the bar. Our server seemed very over whelmed saying it was really busy not so at 5;30 pm. Supervision would improve the rating.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

The food was so yummy. The atmosphere and the decoration are very comfortable and elegant. The prices are very reasonable I will back again for sure Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

We dined at Lionels last week for the first time and it will not be the last! The atmosphere is so nice, its a great space with the right lighting. The service was perfect! Ellie (not sure about the spelling) was assigned to our table and she was delightful. She advised us on our wine choice and offered some tasters. The price/quality balance is just right. We had the beef cheek and it was delicious, especially with the truffle celeriac purée. The cheeks could have been a little warmer but it did not take anything from the great taste and texture. We will be back soon to try the rest of the menu! Parking: The parking places are reserved for customers.

November 22, 2024

Recently dined at this restaurant. It was a beautiful venue. The decor was gorgeous. However in a nutshell the service and meal were the worst ever encountered. The pasta was hard no not el dente and was completely stuck together. Would be nice to see some French Bistro favs like Onion Soup, French dip with real frites maybe a daily crepe or quiche????

★★★★
November 22, 2024

We were a group of 9, and the numbers changed before the final evening. I was coordinating the event and really appreciated that they always answered the phone and were very helpful. The restaurant has a great ambiance, so don t get put off that it s located in a hotel. We all found the food delicious. The service was very good. Because of the size of our group they add 15%, though that isn t shown on our individual bills. They did communicate this as they take the credit card but some of us felt that the service was worth more than 15%. We had a mix of prix fixe and a La carte orders, the restaurant was busy but the staff handled it well.

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

The welcome and the environment were pleasant. We were seated quickly and attended to for water, drinks and info on the menu. Noise travels significantly in this venue so it did get loud as the restaurant filled up. We had a bottle of wine which, like all their wines are not available widely. That being said, I was able to source the bottle we selected. We paid $73. Retail value is about $30. I generally dislike paying more than double the retail in a restaurant but the wine was very good. The main dishes were of excellent quality. Fresh ingredients, well seasoned and prepared, piping hot. If the appies had been of the same calibre, I would have rated the food 5 stars. Appies were iceberg lettuce (bad name) which is a take on Caesar salad made with iceberg instead of romaine and fried prosciutto instead of bacon. It was ok but not outstanding. Also had calamari. The garnish was tasty and fresh but the calamari itself was a bit heavy and tasted from frozen rather than fresh. Dessert was a raspberry, white chocolate creme brulee. Fabulous. Prices were very reasonable for the food received. Forgot to mention... Mains were a pasta, steak, and cod. Steak was cooked perfectly, cod was fresh and pasta was excellent.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Great new restaurant in Kanata. Chez Lionel does not disappoint. The food and service was first rate. I had the Duck confit ricotta ravioli. Try it. Youll be glad you did.

November 22, 2024

Worst service ever

November 22, 2024

The servants were so rude.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Chez Lionel is a great spot in the Holiday Inn Kanata. I have been twice and each time the service was great and the atmosphere welcoming. The menu has a good variety and our food was great. I will be back.

★★★
November 22, 2024

We were so excited to try this food after seeing pictures and reading the menu online. But the food did not deliver and server very green. Who ever crafted this beautiful menu would be very sad to see the execution. We tried 4 appetizers, 2 cocktails and 2 mains (would have tried dessert but they never brought the tea I ordered). First and last time for me with so many restaurants near by that have reputable food and knowledgeable servers.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Had a great experience here this week. My duck was cooked perfectly. The charcuterie was presented beautifully and the burger was delicious! The atmosphere was also lovely. Will be back for sure.

November 22, 2024

The food and atmosphere was amazing until one of the servers (not even our server) was disrespectful to us.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Excellent soiree! Food very good, service outstanding. Rob (Roberto) is an excellent host, very proud of this restaurant. Chez Lionel is certainly one of the best in town now.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Excellent customer service, will definitely be going back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Having just returned from a month in France (Nice & Aix-en-Province), Chez Lionel is French cuisine at its pinnacle of excellence. Our table had nearly half the menu and it is our intention to sample the entire menu in the near future. The selection of wine is a breath of fresh air bringing new and exciting names and brands normally unavailable through local liquor stores. Chez Lionel is definitely a beacon and jewel in Ottawas cuisinary crown!

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

What a great night. Great food, Eddie was our waiter, he was awesome. Ambience was fantastic. What a wonderful transition from the older restaurant that was there. The choices of the food menu are wonderful, the wine menu is nearly endless. I think there is a new player in the restaurant industry in Kanata !

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Excellent experience, especially considering that Chez Lionel had opened only 3 days previous! The waitstaff was engaging and informative, the food was unique and very good. Will definitely return!

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

The renovations look amazing, the staff was super friendly (our server was quite the character, super funny), the food was delicious!

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Service was amazing, overall was a great date night spot. Feels luxurious but didn t break the bank!

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

It was perfect. The food was extremely good and our server Rob was so nice. Will definitely come back for the food and for Rob of course

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

We had an amazing time for my friend birthday. Rob took care of us and his service and suggestions for food and drinks were amazing. We had a great time and the Food was delicious especially the Flat iron steak and the duck breast à l orange ! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

I wish the owners all the very best! I came here with my family to celebrate my birthday, and we had amazing service and delicious food. Shout-out to our waiter Robb!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

We absolutely loved Chez Lionel in Kanata. A bit more upscale than what Kanata has on offer. The food was on point good brasserie style, the service was over and above what we expected. Overall, great all the way. I say welcome to Ottawa Chez Lionel, we needed you!

★★★★
October 22, 2024

Amazing food, drinks, and great service. Nice having another higher end restaurant option in Kanata.