1 Elgin Restaurant in Ottawa

Amazing I had the boeuf tartar and when I say delicious I mean it!

Great service. Food was good but didnt wow me Kid-friendliness: Crayons and high chair available Food : 4/5 |

An excellent overall experience. I would certainly recommend it to everyone. My server could have used A bit more training in serving table in a fine dining establishment. Menu changes throughout the year so website menu may not be updated promptly. Wine list is adequate heavy on Ontario wines. I like the mock cocktail offerings. We will certainly go back Vegetarian options: Two good options Dietary restrictions: They always ask which was very thoughtful

We celebrated our 22 years anniversary and my birthday The service by Justin was so professional and nice The food was amazing we had the salmon and the pork that was featured on the menu At the end they celebrated us with a candle and a creme brule Justin even inquired if we will attend a show at NAC so that he can manage time for us not to be late for the show Thank you 1 Elgin

Ordered the salmon dinner, on the plate, 4 wide piece of salmon way over cooked, a single Brussel sprout, a single green onion and an exceptionally small amount of rice. $57 including tax and tip. I guess there was about $4 in cost to the restaurant, a complete rip off. The others with me had similar experience. We ended up ordering a pizza after the dinner which was infinitely better (and we were all seniors with small/normal appetites). The location and service was great but avoid this place.

I ate with friends on Tuesday, October 1st. I ordered the pheasant, which sounded delicious. For the price of $42 I expected more than just one small pheasant leg whose outside was tough. Also, I was not informed by the staff that there were small bones throughout the meat. I almost swallowed one! I fail to understand why this food has been deemed worthy of such exorbitant prices. Food of this poor calibre should be priced instead somewhere in the $20s. Even at that, the quality of the pheasant leg was sub-standard.

While visiting Ottawa noticed this restaurant in google maps, interesting MENU, thought it would be a great experience. Food is ok , definitely overpriced, it takes fully advantage of its location but it doesn t deliver the quality that it charges for. The WORST was the waiter DEMANDING a tip, I was completely disappointed at the food and service, starter came together with Main, the waiter was not pleasant at all. Later after I decided not to tip she explained to me that in Canada you should always leave 20% or more as tip , I was shocked at the audacity, I would gladly tip if I was satisfied, she asked why I wouldn t tip her , I didn t answer because I was taught to respect others. The restaurant is extremely overpriced and the service is the worst I have ever had.

Attended on october 4 2024. Lovely ambiance on the patio. The waitress was very friendly and helpful, she helped me pick out a few menu items. suggested the mushroom on toast an pickerel it was delicious!

The patio was empty on a Tuesday summer night . Yet, the location is great and the food was very good

This restaurant is more for the more Epicurean inclined, so the food will be on the fancier (and pricier side). That said, the beetroot salad appetizer we ordered wasnt bad although the main dish of the steak was much nicer. The peach panna cotta had a very nice consistency and wasnt overly sweet. The service staff were very thoughtful and the outdoor seating was very pleasant especially with the canal views.

Good food, stylish service. Service a bit slow but there was a group.

We called three times and left messages during the 3 days, no return calls. Friday we called the website no return call We showed up at the restaurant to be informed that the restaurant had a private function Phew the manager blamed her employees The restaurant was empty there were people on the terrace only the famous private function However, a notification on the site and a message on the answering machine would have been appreciated Federal government property

I asked for the cauliflower dish and was literally that plus hard, no quinoa few vegetables .. disappointing and pricy for being literally a cauliflower. Staff was very nice tho

We Celebrated our anniversary here. Great views, food was delicious and our server Yvan was super friendly. We enjoyed sitting by the canal on a beautiful day. I really enjoyed the Hugo spritz.

I had a dinner yesterday with my wife. It is at one of the best areas in Ottawa but the food was extremely bad. We both waked up at night to go to the bathroom because of the diarrhea! Parking: not easy to know how to get there. we had to call the restaurant for help.

Super delicious food with flavors that seemed new to me. I was going as a family, we ordered to share the tartar and each one a different dish. Cauliflower, salad, gnudi and trout. All delicious and surprising. All full of art. Wheelchair accessibility: I didnt find it so accessible because there are stairs, however it could have been my perception that I didnt know the place.

1 Elgin in Ottawa is a true gem, offering an unbeatable combination of stunning views and incredible food. Situated on the scenic Rideau Canal, the ambiance is perfect for a relaxing meal. The menu features a delightful array of dishes, each beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. Whether youre enjoying a casual lunch or a romantic dinner, 1 Elgin promises an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of the city.

Beautiful view of the canal from the patio. Our lunch dishes were delicious.

We were looking for a nice outside dining experience with a view. 1 Elgin did not disappoint. The food was all very good but the corn chowder was exceptional. I love the concept of resident chefs so that the menu is varied with different influences. While the view and food were amazing, our waitress, Danica, was the icing on the cake as she truly made our experience unforgettable. Danica was personable, informative, and thoughtful. She provided helpful information which allowed us to make the best food selections and even took photos of us overlooking the Rideau canal! Thanks for the memories! - Alexis and Holly from Georgia

A fantastic place to go for dinner. Great location right on the canal. Food and service were both top notch and a nice wine list also.

Located inside the NAC, this classy restaurant offers traditional Canadian cuisine, excellent service, and peaceful canal-side dining.

The venison I ate for dinner this evening was so delicious and cooked to perfection. I also had a caesar salad which was so flavourful. Both dishes beautiful to look at and equally mouth watering. We had great service too! highly recommend this restaurant.

Celebrated the 40th anniversary of our first date on the terrace which used to be one level up. What a great spot overlooking the canal and the old train station on a beautiful summer evening, so romantic. I d like to thank all the wonderful staff who were in on the surprise, with a special nod to our waitress Danica for all her special attention and recommendations. Started off with some perfect Caesars to people and boat watch. I had the corn jalapeño chowder (a must try, seriously the best I ve ever had) with the bavette steak while my wife had the beet salad and the trout, all perfectly seasoned and presented. Had a flourless chocolate cake on the house, thanks Danica!, which was absolutely delicious, with a couple of glasses of ice wine. If you order a latte, be sure to add an extra shot of espresso. Word of warning, if you re only going to the restaurant, be sure to park in P2 as we kind of got lost in the parking lot on P1 . Thanks again for a memorable evening. Highly recommended! Parking: Park in P2 for the restaurant Wheelchair accessibility: Unless there s a special entrance, there are stairs to access the restaurant.

Eglin Restaurant, nestled next to Ottawas scenic canal, offers a unique dining experience with creative dishes and locally-sourced ingredients. However, on two separate occasions, despite the restaurant being less than half full on weekends, I experienced significant delays with the kitchen taking over 30 minutes to bring out the main course. Despite this issue, the cozy yet elegant ambiance and attentive service make it a pleasant spot for dining, whether indoors or on the canal-side terrace. Eglin Restaurant remains a charming choice for those seeking a memorable culinary experience in Ottawa, with occasional considerations for kitchen pacing.

Our dinner was wonderful in all respects. Perfect, quiet atmosphere, delicious food and excellent service. I highly recommend! Yvan took care of us and exceeded all expectations. Parking: I recommend the NAC parking garage. We needed accessible parking which, on the P2 floor, was close to the restaurant. I would suggest better direction labeling from the parking to the restaurant but, once you know, it is easy and accessible.

So disappointing I have had fabulous meals here before. We came to celebrate two birthdays and chose this place because of the new chef using unusual ingredients like sunchoke etc. So we each had a glass of wine right on the patio next to the canal . then it started to rain and we asked to have the windows closed. Service seemed slow. It took quite a while and we got a bit wet. So we went inside the restaurant. I ordered the bavette steak medium rare with the local veggies! But my dish was quite unacceptable. The first bite of meat was one of tough gristle which i had to spit out. Then I tried a second ( in front of the server) in case it was just a small piece and the rest would be good. But it was also tough to chew. The veggies were also too crisp and barely edible. I do like crisp vegetables but not raw! . So I changed to the fish course which was lovely except for the vegetables which again were nearly raw. But I ate anyway . As it was my birthday they offered a dessert free. I chose the flourless chocolate cake which had a lovely intensely chocolate flavour but it was too dense for my taste. Disappointing also. The cherries with the cake were wonderful. More cherries would have helped with the texture?! Service overall was very courteous but surprisingly slow though there were only two tables occupied in the whole restaurant at 6:30 pm. My friends had similar reaction to the meal and the service. One final comment: finding the restaurant using the elevator was quite confusing . Yet from the lowest escalator level it is quite simple. It would be useful to make better signage. Parking: Restaurant hard to find from the parking lot. Signs are unclear.

I recently dined here and had a truly disappointing experience. After an unsatisfactory meal, I decided not to leave a tip. To my shock, the waiter confronted me and demanded a tip, insisting that s how he earns his living. This kind of behavior is unacceptable. Tipping should be at the customers discretion, based on the quality of service. Being pressured or guilt-tripped into tipping ruined my evening. I wont be returning to here and cannot recommend it to others. Customer choice and respect are clearly not priorities here.

We had a a bottle of wine and a mix of apps for dinner. Fun times

Amazing and excellent restaurant to take your significant other the meals were cooked to perfection and professional, service was excellent! This was the best place I ve been for real delicious food.

We had a lovely lunch. Loved the snapper crudo, it was very spicy. Excellent location.

Amazing service, location and drinks!

Best location on canal 2 c sunset reflecting on water. Loved being outdoors but covered. Food was well presented, good portions and flavourful Food

This has to have been my absolute worst food experience in my life. My boyfriend and I went for the Mother s Day brunch and the menus looked nice but the food was awful to say the least. I got the lamb and was asked what temperature i wanted it and i requested medium and it came out extremely dry which was not even the worst part. The peas and carrots were extremely under seasoned. My boyfriend got a breakfast burger and the only thing that was edible were the fries. The burger patty was so dry it was un consumable. Of which they messed up his order and the server never apologized. Honestly for the price of everything the service and the food was not worth it at all

Mothers day was terrible! Server mixed up orders ended up waiting one hour just to get a very dry burger and lamb. The server never even apologized. We paid $154 and we regret it. It was our 1st time at the place and possibly our last. The only thing nice was the ketchup!

Was a nice lunch. Nice staff. Didnt seem too busy that day but the food took quite some time to arrive. Then the ice cream seemed to take a while for the kids for dessert too. Nice by the canal. Had the prochetta sandwich with fries, tried the muscles (very nice creamy white wine sauce) and salad with maple vinegrette with pomegranate was nice. Burgers werent too popular with a couple of people from our party. Nice sorbet and coffee. Parking: NAC underground lot $12

Your 10 star service with our server Yvan!!! He was able to guide us in our choice of meals and side dishes! In addition to livening up the evening, we had more than courteous service with nice touches that will definitely make us come back!!! The food is delicious! A huge thank you to Yvan who brought a little zing to our romantic outing! The atmosphere is perfect for couples, meals with friends and office colleagues. The costs are reasonable with the experience we had. THANKS

Fabulous as always..I have been here over 3 times Yves was serving every single time..he is Fabulous, food was Fabulous..very thing was so good..cant think of anything to improve any more. Chocolate cake is so delicious too..

Very nice experience, the service is perfect. A special mention for Yvan our server. I recommend the pudding chômeur dessert.

We celebrated my daughter s birthday here and I have to say that the food, the staff and atmosphere were fantastic!

Been there many times the show nights are crazy they somehow do 200 people fine dining in an hour and a half. If you go for lunch the vibes are quieter sitting on the patio in the summer is a must. Charcuterie plate is amazing all made in house local products too. Right now the beet salad is the best I ve ever had. My mom love the house special on show nights and they always have a nice non alcoholic beverage. Vegetarian options: 50% of the time I get the vegetarian. Well thought out and delicious. Dietary restrictions: Always willing to help with any dietary restrictions. Parking: Parking is expensive but there is free parking along slater or surrounding areas. We always park there on a show night in the winter but they don t offer pay for parking in advance anymore which is a shame.

The internal parking corridors access to the restaurant in winter do not reflect the magical experience of this place. The food, service and attentive management was impeccable. I recommend the Boeuf Tartar which is the best I ever had in Canada. Although usually combined with a NAC show, I was concerned about feeling it would be rushed, our waitress managed a perfect timing to relax and enjoyed with my grown-up children. Its considered an expensive restaurant, but the experience that you get is of the level of the quality expected from the NAC. Highly recommended.

Dined on NYE before a show and waited 45 minutes between finishing our main course and having to ask for our dessert. Very disappointed to have paid $95 per person for a five-course table dhote and getting incredibly poor service. We also noticed multiple mistakes at all of the tables around us (wrong courses being brought, wrong food). Either expo was non-existent, our server was bad, or management wasnt organized for a busy service. Whatever the reason, it was an incredibly bad guest experience for us. The only shining light was the food: very good.

Food and cocktails were excellent! The service was a little slow but they were also packed when we were there. It s a great place to go before a show. I had the risotto and it was packed with flavours and would recommend.

I visit 1 Elgin Restaurant multiple times a year and most of the time, I enjoy the Resident Chefs events, which happen at least four times a year. Every event is wonderful and memorable from multiple aspects, such as fantastic, unbelievable food. The always interesting social experience, along with pairing wine, adds additional excitement and unleashes friendly conversation within the table. It is always pleasant to attend these events where new chefs consistently bring something new and unique from different places around the world. The local chefs continually improve their knowledge, learn new things, and add new tricks to surprise visitors. It is directly reflects quality of the restaurant at the main floor. The feelings and atmosphere are always elevated as customers dine within spacious rooms upstairs, amplifying the vibrancy of every event. I am glad that Ottawa has several remarkable restaurants, and this one is truly worth visiting to enjoy the memorable Resident Chefs events.

Quality doesnt pair with the prices.

Superb restaurant. Beautiful terrace. Delicious cocktails

Had lunch before the Come from Away show. Small menu but the pasta was wonderful. Service was good and the restaurant was nice. Looking forward to trying the canal side patio in the summer.

We dined a week ago, pre-theatre and found the whole experience very disappointing. Menu is VERY limited (only 4 of the 6 items were non-vegetarian). Not a fine dining experience except for the pricing which was not good value for what we received. Had the osso bucco which was very dry, tough and lukewarm - had obviously been prepared days in advance and then re-heated but only partially. (Plate was burning hot but food was barely warm.) Sides were disappointing and quite limited. Desserts were OK but very small servings for the price. Service was rushed and scattered (server had to return twice to ask what dessert we had ordered). We had to rush to get to our seats on time, even though we had arrived 2 and 1/2 hrs early. We would not return and would not recommend this restaurant to others, sadly. Previously, we regularly brought our international visitors here to enjoy the ambiance, food and setting. We experienced none of this on this visit and will go elsewhere in the future.

Wonderful atmosphere, fantastic service , and food was incredible. Had the parpadelle, every bite was bursting with interesting flavor, and then it was gone! Wheelchair accessibility: Very accommodating

Delicious meal, excellent staff, beautiful decor.

No fault of the restaurant but they had trouble with the heat system on a very cold blustery Saturday in February! It did change our ambience unfortunately.

Was excited to try this restaurant after hearing great things for years. Was disappointed, food was unexceptional, long waits at hostess stand, décor is outdated, and the prices are outrageous. I am not even sure there was alcohol in my drink. Limited selection of cocktails, and the wine list was ok. I am sure this is much nicer in the summer when the patio doors are open, however mid-February there was very little atmosphere. The pudding chomeur was delicious, but the chocolate cake was dry, and unflavourful. Our server hovered yet did not move with any expediency whatsoever, and was not mindful of touching the tops of glasses (were you drink from) and held cutlery by the end, NOT by the handle. I dont need to go back. Vegetarian options: There were falafel ($$$$) and fishcakes (deepfried). Wheelchair accessibility: There is an elevator to access the restaurant.

1Elgin was a disappointment and is not comparable to other fine dining options in Ottawa. I was told I d be better eating elsewhere due to a fish allergy after an hour of back and forth with the kitchen. Service and food fell far short, and I wouldn t recommend it. I ve sent an email to 1Elgin letting them know of our experience in more detail. As a minor aside, the decor is more akin to a cafeteria than a nice restaurant and despite all the renos, the washroom was left untouched from 1960 lol.

Very good dinner and excellent service.

I really liked the service, I had a great experience

Mediocre service. Food was very salty. But at least the restaurant was nice.

This restaurant had a great atmosphere and the service was excellent. The food was good, but not exceptional. The prices were reasonable and the overall experience was enjoyable

We had impeccable service with a smile and a delicious meal.

Had a great Sunday evening dinner here recently. The food and the service was fantastic and it was nice to sit beside the canal and enjoy a summer evening.

Expensive limited menu for mediocre food. Convenient for patrons of the NAC, but poor accessibility for those who are mobility challenged. Many good restaurants nearby serving better value for money.

We make a habit to go to 1 Elgin on every ballet and Broadway night for the last 8 years. The service has diminished considerably, as the experienced servers are retiring and new servers are coming on board. The food the last three times, was mediocre at best, the dazzle and spectacle isnt there. As well the menu the last two times has left a lot to be desired in regards to variety for meat eaters. Not horrible, just less than what we have come to expect.

We had a ceviche to start with two drinks! We knew the food was going to be outstanding after that!! What a flavour!!! We had the pork belly and the crab cakes, and both were so good we could not even talk!!! We had to have dessert after that and chose the pudding one. This was by far the best restaurant we visited!! This is fine dining quality!!!

We hosted a small group for a baptism at 1 Elgin and we had a great experience. Linda was great to work with to adapt the menu options and coordinate everything leading up to the event. The day of the baptism staff (Pascal, Clara, and Diane, to name a few) offered a great service and the food was delicious. Thank you for making this special day smoother and more memorable.

Well it took longer than 1.5 hour to get a pasta

Food was excellent. We had salmon and lobster ravioli with salads. Service very good. Much quieter after 7:45 when many patrons attend the NAC show.

The restaurant is in a convenient location near Parliament Hill. The interior is classic, and they have reserved seating outside with a large patio that offers a great view along the Rideau Canal. The staff are professional and attentive, especially Brian the bartender, who provided great service. The food service was well-prepared and not rushed. They offer a short menu that is carefully thought out for freshness and seasonal ingredients. Bravo to the Chefs and kitchen staff

I had an amazing dining experience at this restaurant. The atmosphere was welcoming and cozy. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and truly Canadian. The servers were friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. I highly recommend the rabbit croquettes and the pork belly. The cocktails were also expertly crafted and added to the overall experience. The location is perfect for a pre-show dinner, and the patio offers a stunning view of the Rideau Canal. I will definitely be returning to this fine dining gem.

I had been warned dishes are spicy so we had salad (superb) and chickpea fritter as my mother cannot tolerate spice. The new patio is splendid!

$16 for a small bowl of French fries with a miniscule cup of aoli. Waited an hour and a half for the main course. They very clearly do not have enough wait staff and kitchen staff. This is the second time weve come and had the same experience. The food is good but overall quite a frustrating experience.

Disappointing. The dishes are very basic on the plate despite a nice description in the menu and a reasonable price. The quality is not there AT ALL. Passable shrimp with cold legs in canned tomato sauce. Unacceptable for the price! $15 for sorbet on the childrens menu for 3 scoops of ice cream... Plus my son spilled his mocktail before even drinking it. The waitress did not offer to replace it. Not even with the juice included in the childrens menu that we didnt take... The only positive point is the location.

We were at the 1Elgin restaurant two nights ago in honour of my husband s retirement. Unfortunately the entire experience was very disappointing. The only bright spot was the service. The servers were lovely and attentive. The entire fiasco began with the reservation. The person asked for an earlier reservation than 8 o clock but was told that you were fully booked. Only 8 was available. You failed to mention that the kitchen closes at 9 . This was a large group of 12 people . Maybe it would have been wiser to suggest to find another restaurant in town. The venue itself which is gifted with surroundings of natural beauty is ruined by the display of large tacky bouquets of artificial flowers. Awful. Then there was the food .there were 12 people . All various orders of the odd menu except for the ribs were below average. Bland, dry, even the lobster ravioli was terrible. The bread basket pathetic. Not to mention how expensive this menu happens to be. All the guests were tourists from overseas besides us. We were embarrassed for Ottawa that this is the best we have to offer in a location like the National Art center. Shame on you!

Beautiful patio, great food, terrific service.

Very nice view and design. Very professional staff and amazing food. I believe that my guest enjoyed and they had a very nice time there.

A great restaurant by the canal with nice view, service and food. The server knew it s my birthday and let me pick any one of the desserts for free. It s just so heart warming.

The menu had sufficient options and sounded great (on paper), and the server was very nice, but overall the food quality and portions fell short. I found it to be overpriced for what you got, and service was slow.

Our first experience at this restaurant and certainly not our last! It just fell into the top list. The dining experience, the service and the ambiance. The location is perfect! We had a concert at the NAC after the meal and the waitress took care to make sure we got the bill early to get to the show on time. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant! I cant wait to go back.

P neapple margar ta was great salad was fresh fr endly and hood serv ce

Great spot to grab a meal before or after a show at the NAC. Loved everything I ordered here; for starters we had the caesar salad, bread basket and truffle fries. Kept it simple for the mains and went with the burger. The location and atmosphere are superb and perfect for a calm, soothing night out.

Just fabulous!

We dined this past Friday night prior to a show. The food was very good. Our orders were taken promptly and our starters came out quickly. We then had almost a 45 minute wait for our mains to arrive. We then were rushed to eat so we could make the curtain call for the show. When we finished our meal we had literally 10 minutes before the show started and we had to ask more than 5 times for our bill. (the restaurant was now nearly empty but we could not locate our server anywhere). Eventually we got our bill and the Interac machine was troublesome. The poor service really ruined our dining experience. I am not sure we will return. Jim

Beautiful layout and really cool atmosphere on the Patio. Even with the overcast it was a pleasant lunch by the water. Dishes were nicely presented and the charcuterie board was amazing.

Very nice restaurant and the table had a really amazing view. Delicious food. So nice staff. I highly recommend it.

Fantastic steak, burger, salad, fries, soup, patio view and atmosphere. Waiter Yvan was fantastic!!! He was very friendly and great open conversation with us visiting from US. Prices were higher than other places, but well worth it.

I love my experience at this restaurant!! We came for brunch on a Sunday at 11:30am, the day after the Canada Day celebrations, and was surprised there were no waits and many tables available. We got a table in the patio with nice views next to the canal. The highlight was the food. We ordered a couple of appetizers to share and they were well presented, and tasty, just perfect for a Sunday light lunch!

Very nice restaurant, the food was delicious the setting was great. Our table was on the patio across from the Rideau canal. Overall, it was a great experience. I will definitely go back again.

Its a nice spot for a fine drink, just not to dine for me. This restaurant is quite beautiful, overlooking the historic Rideau Canal with plenty of rain cover should there be any showers. The service was excellent, very much expected at such an establishment. This place would be a great choice if going for drinks ($$$) with colleagues, friends, or clients. That said, I was there for lunch. I ordered the chicken salad and didnt think it was great (you could blame me as well, I know it isnt the sexiest order in the world). The chicken was cooked, but it was very dry. I left thinking that I could confidently beat their chef in a chicken salad Iron Chef-type competition, and thats not really a thought that should come to mind when I think of going out to eat a salad for that price. There might be better menu items. Though, I noticed that the fried chicken sandwich only has one bun to force the knife and fork to come out? I get its fine dining but come on, its a fried chicken sandwich. Two buns please! Beer was cold.

Great time in a great place before an amazing opera. Good place to start the evening.

We chose to sit on the patio for dinner. While nice to see the boats go by, theres little ambience created by the restaurant by way of music or service. The service was a bit scattered and very informal for such a supposedly upscale restaurant. Servers were audibly giving orders on the side by our table which was distracting though our server was warm and professional though clearly slammed and couldnt spend much time with us. As for the food, it was good but not amazing when youre dropping almost $250 with tip for 3 people. My partner ordered the burger which was good but weve had better at 3 star restaurants for less than $20 and this one was almost $30. My daughter ordered the steak and it was excellent though for $52 a plate, the basket of bread should have been free but instead they charged $5 for a couple of pieces of bread and some tasteless crackers. The whipped butter was a nice touch though. I ordered the ricotta pasta and while a decent portion, this was the biggest let down as it was quite flavorless and I had to salt it a fair bit. You really dont expect bland food for $26. The wine pairing was good but the coffee wasnt hot so we abandoned it and the dessert menu was boring so we all passed. This place gives the illusion of posh but the food and service just arent there yet. Its clearly more about the location and the convenience of pre-show dining and for tourists who want to dine along the canal so long as they dont mind dropping a couple hundred on just ok food. Id say best head to Riviera or Beckta or Cantina Gia for an excellent meal and then go for a walk down the canal afterwards.

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options available as well as one vegetarian dish Food

The food is excellent

Id give them a 4.5 star if this was an option. Two reasons not to give a 5 star. On the dinner reservation I made online, I had put a note that we were there to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. This was not acknowledged at the restaurant or mentioned at all by the host or server. Also, my drink was sitting with only a sip left for the later half of my meal. After I finally took the last sip, it took another 10 minutes for the server to get me another. I had the fish, it was delicious. My wife had a burger, which tasted bland and dry.

Consider the charcuterie as a main course.

A favorite ... always over the top ... Magnifique ...

Extremely difficult to reach here if you follow Google maps for walking and specially when you take the entrance from the arts centre.

The food here is almost art. Lots of attention paid to presentation. Timing between courses was perfect. Everything was prepared perfectly. Servers were professional and friendly.

I was there for a quick drink after walking around the area. Such a nice place with great location and view. Service was great and quick. I spent good time there. Thank you.

Good experience, good food.

Went here for lunch with my husband, having driven past it previously and seeing a live band and a packed patio. Lunch (without drinks) was just over 100 dollars. The atmosphere is nice, overlooking the canal and seeing boats ready themselves for the locks. The food was presented nicely but lacked any flavour what so ever and came cold. I had a 44 dollar halibut that was a massive disappointment . Husbands pizza came caked with flour on the bottom of it, and covered in grease as the pizza was not at all true to a Margherita pizza (besides having basil on it).

Very nice evening. Food was fantastic and the music at the end was just perfect. Will have to do that again

This place is fantastic. The menu is big. And the food tastes amazing and the service is fantastic. Im definitely going to go back there. and we are next to the Rideau Canal. And its wonderful. Thank you for your response and I will definitely recommend it to my friends.

Amazing night. Service and Atmosphere simply excellent!

1 Elgin (and Le Café before that) has been up and down over the years, depending on who the chef is at any given time. I used to be a regular, but I rarely go anymore, because at those prices I want the meal to be great every time. My last meal there was a pleasant surprise. Every dish was exceptionally good. I asked my server who the chef was, and learned that it is now Siobhan Detkavich, who will only be there for three months. Lets hope the restaurant will keep her on permanently!

Well that was something else! We took part in the Chefs Table 2023 event and it was great. As an introduction to 1 Elgin this was the best. Superb service in a fabulous setting right next to the Rideau Canal. The meal was so good starting with bread and bannock which was followed by a bison and beet dish, that was followed by the most tasty Pacific halibut. Lastly dessert was a yummy lemon ricotta cheese cake. Chefs Siobhan Detkavich and Kenton Leier are wizards in the kitchen! Entertainment was provided by The Retrogrades who had the crowd very much engaged with their 80s awesomeness.

Nice scenery but I dont like it

The food is good and the view from patio is amazing BUT its way too overpriced for both food and drinks are astronomically priced. For this reason I gave it 3 stars.

I don t give 5 stars easily, but this was one of the best restaurants of Ottawa. If not the best. We had 3 starters, 4 cocktails and 2 mains, for approximately $200. Every single dish was fantastic. I will come back as often as I can to try other dishes.

Excellent place to dine at. Fast, top-notch service. This is arguably the best place to dine in Ottawa. Highly recommended!

Vegetarian options: Excellent service excellent food! Food

Was expenting better food. Took a lot of time to received the food,...like very long. The equipment for the terasse is there but they dont adjust the temperature. The view is interesting but I was disappointed by the food, the temperature and the wait time

Danica was our server and she was amazing and polite. She was so sweet when I mixed up a drink order and gave us informative advice so that we had delicious appetizers, an amazing dinner and dessert. We are definitely coming back and requesting Danica. We weren t rushed and had lots of time before the show. The ambiance was perfect. Parking: Under the NAC. Next to restaurants and the theatres.

The chefs here put the Art in National Arts Center!

Nice restaurant and the steak was great but the vegetation option (only one on the menu) was not great :(

I will visit again good taste &budget freindly

Great food, impeccable service. Beautiful terrace overlooking the canal in the summer. Food

Excellent place to dine in. Amazing food with a great view. Highly recommended!

Went with family. Decor was unassuming but neat and servers were efficient and friendly. Food was tasty. Will come back.

Had a fantastic meal before a show. The mushroom toast, gnocchi, tofu bowl, and creme brulee were all fresh, flavourful, and filling. The cocktails we had were well balanced and festive for the time of year. Our server was very attentive while still giving us space to enjoy our meal. I would definitely recommend stopping in even if you arent going to a show. Looking forward to returning.

Had lovely dinner Xmas night 2021 ... Well organized and presented Table dHote ... Delicious food and a pleasant atmosphere topped with great service!! The Chef visiting tables was a nice touch !! We will be back!

Enjoyed a wonderful dinner at 1 Elgin. We were greeted with the friendliest staff and our server was great, very professional and knowledgable. We started off with the cured seafood platter, the mustards and preserves paired very well with the selection of seafood presented. For the mains we enjoyed the hazelnut-crusted Ling cod and the sweet potato gnocchi. The cod was beyond delicious, very buttery. The flavor was accentuated by the hazelnut crust. A surprising yet rich combination. The creamy gnocchi was delectable and very flavorful. We indulged in the creme brulee which was perfectly created, the sweetness not too overpowering. A note to make though is if you are planning on attending a show at the NAC after, to make early reservations as it gets very busy and you might have to rush at the end of your meal to make it to the show.

Food is super good Service is out of the charts.

We went for Easter Brunch today and we were very underwhelmed. Menu was full of typos, and service was average. For a holiday menu that we paid a higher price for the food seemed premade- felt like we were eating reheated or premade things, not fresh to order. My mother in law got prime rib that came out so cold the butter on it didn t melt, I got a seafood crepe and the quality was just not there... we won t be going back again.

Enjoyed the meal. The staff is friendly and the service was nice too. We went there for our anniversary dinner, and so the dessert was made complimentary <3 <3

My dinner , pasta bolognese was fine but not exceptional. My server forgot my wine selection and had to be asked a 2nd time , not ideal though I understand the staffing challenges that restaurants face these days . All in all just ok .

Yvan was very friendly and accommodating while serving. The whole service was good. Food was delicious and filling. Very great ambiance beside the lake. Definite to go place. Had a great evening

Excellent food...beautiful decor...affable waiter

Bad service, insolent waiter

Beautiful location for some excellent fine dining. Not inexpensive but the door service and view from the patio make it a great spot to eat.

Fabulous patio

Fantastic views and menu

Convenient location if staying near Parliament Hill. Classic interior but reserve seating outside-- a large patio for a great view along the Rideau Canal. The staff are professional and attentive. Special shout-out to the bartender, Brian. Great service. The food service is well prepared and not rushed. A short menu carefully thought out for freshness and seasonal ingredients. Bravo to the Chefs and kitchen staff.

Absolutely terrible!! Food was tasteless and felt like we were at a cheap catering venue. The drinks, appetizers and mains all tasted terrible. To top it off...our waiter input a 15% tip which was a bit over $30 on top of our bill. My boyfriend just paid it and mentioned it after saying I think the waiter tipped himself. I was furious at him for paying and upon asking the waiter upon his return (odd that he left us the machine to pay...waiters usually stay with you until you tap or remove your card). He was so flustered looking at the machine as if he could refund it magically. Hope he enjoyed his 30 bucks! TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE - The worst food and drink Ive ever tasted!

We loved from A to Z, the charcuterie platter, the main dishes and the desserts. The succulent lime and turmeric tart. Well done

Boujee. Chic. Overall a good place to dine to celebrate. Ordered their steak and it was cooked to perfection.

The slowly flowing Reed River sparkles with sparkling waves under the waving of wild geese that flutter their wings and play in the water from time to time; the endless flow of bicycles on the other side is accompanied by the joyful songs and laughter of youth, creating a scene of summer leisure. The aroma of chopped basil, the slight sweetness of the cold water shrimp, and the chewy texture of the bacon cubes left a lingering aroma on the teeth and cheeks of the pasta. Accompanied by butter and onion sauce, the slightly salty wild boar meat loses its woody taste. The shredded cabbage wrapped in lettuce is stirred with the corn and hazelnut sauce. When you put it in your mouth, you cant help but wonder whether the meal is beautiful or the scenery is beautiful. ? Still all beautiful!

Always a lovely time, always great service, always great food.

Beautiful views from the balcony! Good stAff, affordable meals. Only negative is the limited choices of food.

Food: Good Service: Great Environment: The best, by the canal Quite expensive but worth it Food : 5/5 |

Dietary restrictions: Not many option

This place is overrated!! The food was bad and the service was terrible!!! I guess the only way to get a good table and decent service is if you are white Will never go back again!!!

The food was SO GOOD!! I had the strip loin steak and my husband had the prime rib. Our server Jean was very attentive to my food allergies and to the time needed to make the show. Highly recommend this restaurant. Enjoy!

Absolutely beautiful ambiance & service was amazing. She was wonderfully honest and thorough in her explanation of each dish and wine that we were curious about. The only complaint I have is that the food should be seasoned more, it lacked some depth and flavour unfortunately.

Very nice place to have a drink and eat.

The food was delicious. Kudos to the Chef. Our waitress was extremely pleasant and helpful. Altogether a lovely evening. Vegetarian options: There was one Veg dish. Parking: Lots of parking underground. $12.00 after 4.00 pm. Wheelchair accessibility: Ramps

Popped in to get something light to cool off. Ice cream wasnt originally on the menu but the chef said hed make it work! Delicious rich and flavourful! The pesentation of food and service were amazing as well! We enjoyed it!

Attended The Chefs Table with a party of 4. The location next to the Rideau Canal is very nice. Excellent live music. The food presentation was very good but the taste was not outstanding. Service was subpar. Several instances of dropped glasses, cutlery, plate covers. Water was not refilled frequently enough. Very little attention from the staff. One plate had obviously been jostled as gravy was spilling over the plate rim. A scotch rocks was served in a glass filled 3/4 full of ice. No specialty coffees (espresso, cappuccino) available. At a price of $670 including a bottle of wine and the scotch, l didnt feel we got the value we deserved.

Great experience, great staff, great food. I ordered the striploin and it was cooked perfectly to my liking. Meat was very tender. The butter compote on the steak was deadly good! I liked the potato that came with it, but didnt think the puree under it was necessary. Something more acidic or crunchy would have been great as well. Vegetarian options: Limited options available, but at least they are available.

It s a great experience. Atmosphere is chill and cool. The food is amazing and servers are also really friendly. Definitely fine dining. It can be expensive but worth it.

Superb menu. Amazing flavours. Fantastic service,

Nice, clean. A little pricey for the quality of food. Good customer service.

Went to Chefs Table event! It was a remarkable experience! Everything was spot on

Not bad. Very good cuisine. Friendly staff. Best done at midday to enjoy the view of the canal

Absolutely incredible. The taste and quality of a much fancier restaurant. Some truly Canadian flavours and indigenous inspiration. We had some truly incredible Jenni Lessard (resident chef) creations, including the Rabbit croquettes.

I don t normally leave restaurant reviews unless the experience was significant and exceeded my expectations. In this case, we came here for dinner yesterday to celebrate a special occasion. Yvan our server was thoughtful, kind and considerate, went above and beyond and was honest about the menu and his recommendations. Without making this post too long, I just want to share that this experience was awesome. For anyone who is adventurous and loves game meat, or eats a strict animal-based or carnivore diet, and also enjoys great tasting food that is presented beautifully, thoughtfully with the flavours and combinations, this is the place for you. We will definitely be coming back her for future occasions. For reference, we ordered the bison meatballs, field to shield, grass fed strip loin and the braised short ribs. Absolutely delicious and nutritious food. Thank you again for a great experience.

Prime rib was absolutely delicious, but as someone with an anaphylactic allergy, I didn t feel the safest eating there. It felt like my concerns about making sure my food and drink were safe weren t being taken particularly seriously.

Food and service was great

Two of us ate at this location for dinner on October 23rd. Service was friendly and courteous. Food delicious and nicely presented. Our one complaint and is a recurring deficiency is the coffee. It is consistently served lukewarm/ or room temperature. McDonalds policy is coffee to be brewed between 80-90C...whereas Tim Hortons brews between 90-96C... room temperature /lukewarm is 20-30C. On Oct 23 we ordered specialty coffees which were served at room temperature. This is unacceptable. They have been told before..still no corrective steps.

My family and I dined here just before a Broadway performance. The staff was overwhelmed, the food came late and was cold. The carrots were so uncooked that they were basically raw. The gnocchi dish, which I thought would be filling, came with just ten pieces on the plate and was a huge waste of money. Then, my stepmother got very sick from the food about midway through the performance - she had the chicken cesar salad, and likely got sick from the chicken being left out for so long. I dont think we will ever eat here again, especially on a performance night.

A beautiful place with a view of the Rideau Canal. Courteous and professional service. A unique menu that varies occasionally, succulent dishes prepared with local and Canadian foods, and presented in a very appetizing way. An elaborate wine list. Always great discoveries to try.

Difficult to find, but it is a good place once you are there :-)

We were disappointed with the seating. We went in November and through picutres we still thought we will be seated outside since the windows close. but the outside seating was closed and inside we couldnt get any view of the canal. Food was good though. rich in flavors and nicely presented. Food

The food was good but the waitress was overwhelmed. The bus boy was attentive. The manager was condensending when it was suggested that the waitess needed help. For the price it was not fine dining.

A word of caution for folks attending dinner before the show. A bit of a stretch to call this fine dining. The food was excellent, but this restaurant is clearly short staffed, and arguably, poorly managed. The night the show we attended, there was clearly an issue with staffing. Tried calling ahead before arriving, the 1 person at the front was completely slammed and unable to answer the call over the 15 minutes of attempts, and waiting on hold for 10 mins once answered. Our drink order took 30 minutes to arrive after we were seated. We barely saw our server, she was slammed. We enjoyed our water and bread for a while. Then the $15 cocktail received was okay at best. The food was good, but the service overall detracted from the experience. We arrived with 2 hours+ time for a show, but were rushed because of the slow service. There easily could have been another server and bartender working that evening. Obviously a staffing shortage on a predictably busy evening. I wouldnt come here for dinner before a show. Youd be much better off going to a near by restaurant first, and then walking over to the NAC for the show. Until management figures their stuff out at least. Not an ideal date night location. Not a fine dining experience either, and not because of the food.

We had a very bad experience. We made a reservation 2 days in advance before the show. When we came, the waiter was rushing us to take the order. Very unpleasant experience overall. Dont recommend.

It has become a family tradition to dine at 1 Elgin prior to all NAC performances. The food is always top notch. The wait staff are attentive and courteous.

It was our first time and definitely the last one at this restaurant.The service was terrible. We made a reservation a few days before coming. The server was rushing us to make the order, which was very rude and unprofessional. I wasnt familiar with the menu and he didnt give us a minute to review it. The meals are overpriced and you dont get, what you are paying for. Total waste and dissapointment. I wish I would have left immidiately, but stayed cause didnt want to dissapoint my daughter. Very bad experience overall. I dont recommend it to anyone.

Magnificent

Tucked inside the National Art Centre and overlooking the Rideau Canal is this hidden Ottawa gem!! 1 Elgin, formerly known as Le Cafe feels like a slice of Europe in downtown Ottawa. The covered patio is a peaceful, hidden spot right on the water. The chef showcases the fresh flavours, focussing on local seasonal ingredients with a dash of contemporary and the food quality is always consistent and beautiful presented. Lovely spot right by the canal in the heart of the city!!

I was there for the chefs table event and we had a very nice evening, the service, the view of the canal, the atmosphere and the quality of the food! A great discovery and I plan to return there during my next visit to Ottawa

Had a great Sunday evening dinner here recently. The food and the service was fantastic and it was nice to sit beside the canal and enjoy a summer evening. Only tip. You need to book WAY ahead if you want a seat when there is a show at the NAC.

Beautiful location on the canal. Very attentive service and good food at reasonable prices. What else do you want?

Had the most incredible experience here!! The ambiance of being by the water and the volume of the restaurant was absolutely amazing. Our server was very kind making us feel completely at home and even got the bartender to make us some Espresso Martinis!! The mushroom toast was to die for and the mains had a very generous amount of seafood with delightful flavours! A must if you re anywhere near Ottawa for a romantic night out we will for sure be coming back!

Superb fine cuisine. It was such a pleasure to enjoy a meal beautifully presented, delicious. The restaurant is beside the Rideau Canal, lovely view. Thanks for impeccable service.

Great food. Wow

Servings were generous and food is delicious but when the bill came they billed us the venison which was priced higher than the bison that we ordered. So all I can say is keep an eye out and dont believe it when they say that the venison and the bison costs the same.

Loved the view and the quality. Michael and Alice gave us the best customer service. Highly recommended

Great view... heated covered Patio and awsome food!

From the moment you are greeted to the last sip of coffee...it was one of the best culinary experiences...dining on the patio is a must, with beautiful views along the canal. The menu which is one of the most creative assortment of local items and amazing combinations was an adventure at every step..pine needle infused ice cream...is a perfect example and shouldnt be overlooked...and with all that creativity...the menu changes on a regular basis. This place is a gem of the capital and should be a shining star to all who visit.

We have the glazed ham for two. It was awesome.

Still very good. The squash soup was sublime, the tartare delicate and the dessert delicious. The mushroom starter is succulent although the portion is a little too big. Impeccable service and a good selection of wines.

Had some difficulties finding our way in from the underground parking as doors were locked throughout (which, really, the restaurant ought to validate for diners.) Once in, we enjoyed our well prepared and satisfying meals sweet potato gnocchi; sirloin on bed of creamy mashed potatoes; and a nice piece of (bit thin on the) hazelnut encrusted cod. Restaurant was quite empty due to COVID cancellation of shows and awkward access with locked entrances Service was friendly and attentive, though a note to perhaps pay more attention to not reach across your diners please, especially during times of COVID.