Chez Lucien in Ottawa

One of my favorite burger spots. Always fresh and consistent. The meat is purchased locally and is custom ground.

Lots of problems with the service, more than an hour of waiting to receive a burger...

We had reservation for 12, to grab lunch, got there for 12:06 and ordered by 12:20, food did not come by the time I had to leave to head back to work at 1pm. Did not get to eat after waiting for an hour.

Chez Lucien is legendary for good reason. Great staff, excellent food, and always welcoming. Ottawa needs more small gems like this with distinct character and happy smiling people.

Hidden gem!

Its always a phenomenal experience at Chez Lu. Their fries are the best in the city, the staff are always friendly, the pub is cozy and the beer is cold.

The food is the real star of this location. It seemed like the kind of place to get standard pub fare and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of all the dishes we ordered, from the nachos, to escargot, to burgers. Wheelchair accessibility: Not a wheelchair accessible location. Washroom access requires going down one floor via stairs with handrails.

Honestly one of the BEST burgers ever had! Thanks to Jeff for the recommendations of things to do in Ottawa for the day. Would recommend! Food

From the moment you step through the red door, this place feels like a cozy hometown pub where you re not just here for the food, but for the sense of community. Despite its smaller size, the clever use of three levels provides plenty of seating while maintaining an intimate vibe. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and full of character. I ordered the pear and Brie burger, and wow, what a combination! The burger was juicy, flavorful, and perfectly complemented by the sweetness of the pear and the creamy Brie. I opted for a side salad instead of fries, but I couldn t resist stealing a fry (or two) from my partner s plate, and they were very crispy.While I m not much of a beer drinker, my partner raved about the stout and the Creative Arts lager. Service was a bit on the slower side however, it was a busy weekday afternoon with only two servers. they were friendly and attentive staff. This isn t a place for a quick bite; it s a spot to settle in, enjoy a drink, and savor a good conversation. Honestly, more meals should be like this. The wait gave us time to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy each other company.

Great Burgers

Gem! Ranks w the best burgers in the city.

Good atmosphere and very good cheesecake.

Excellent burgers, so-so pasta Quite long waiting times and prices in line

I always love going to Chez Lucien. Never a bad experience.

Great burgers, good atmosphere and good beer! A great place for an evening with friends.

Food was bland and over-priced.

Might be the best place in Ottawa

While Im accustomed to busy restaurants, i was super disappointed with our visit on Sunday November 24th 2024. I acknowledge it was busy. But forgetting items ordered. Busy apologies to other patrons for items ordered. Excuse after excuse with no satisfaction. Not our first time here. But ultimately will be our last time.

Jeff our server put this visit over the top. He was the only one there and he hit all the marks in care, service and in friendly charm. Plus the recommended food was fabulous especially the cheesecake.

This was my rookie inaugural visit to Chez Lucien. Ill admit it, I had never heard of this restaurant and Ive driven-by every weekday for 30 years. A real hidden treasure with a great atmosphere and even greater service with a smile. Im a ravin fan

Simply excellent

Thank you to Chelsie for making our day so awesome! Great service and great food. She was the best server ever!

Good food, very friendly staff, good crowd and atmosphere and good selection of local beer

Cozy restaurant, friendly staff, quick service. Were from out of town and went there because it was open on a Monday and had good reviews. We were not disappointed. It was almost full but service was still efficient, the portions are generous, price is fair and food is delicious! We were happy with our lunch.

Best duck confit I have ever eaten. It was a hard choice as the burger was highly recommended, but no regrets with my choice and will gladly eat here again next time in Ottawa.

I love this place. Food is tasty with fair price. Only thing is Duck confit is a bit salty. Please also try the IPA, really like it.

Jy suis allé avec 2 de mes amis aujourdhui et nous avons beaucoup aimé. La cuisine est très bonne, bonne portion, bon prix. Les aliments sont frais et le personnel est accueillant. Lendroit est vraiment cozy. Cest sûr que jy retourne! Vegetarian options: Theres a tofu burger

Some of the best burgers in town. Friendly service and great atmosphere

A Quebec style pub with a great menu and good taps. A local institution with a lot of charm.

Great discovery. Locally recommended. Good food. Great prices. Service is friendly and efficient on a very busy night. Great atmosphere. Would recommend.

Very cozy spot! The food was excellent and comforting. I would go again!

After a long day, I stopped by this old favorite spot of mine, hoping for a bit of comfort and familiarity. Instead, I encountered a rude, impatient bartender who seemed to see me as an inconvenience rather than a customer. She stomped off upstairs, loudly grumbling about her coworker not coming in early to set up, and then returned to slam tables around in preparation for a party. After twenty minutes, I still hadn t even been offered a glass of water, so I left. To the surly bartender on duty tonight: the service industry is about, well, service. If treating customers with basic respect feels like a burden, it might be time to consider another line of work.

This is a good place to grab a meal and some drinks, plenty of choices for beers and spirits but some of the wine is hard to get down. It is an institution in Ottawa and a must visit place.

Best burger in town! Although the old buns were better.

Amazing unique go to spot

20 plus years of visiting this place and it never disappoints. Vegetarian options: Theyll sub in a veggie burger whenever you need it. Recommended dishes Beer, Frida and Diego Burger

Best burgers in the city

13 Nov 2024 - 9pm - Lowering my review to 1 star: Love coming to this neighbourhood gem - it s my local go-to after some late nights at work: my colleagues and I love the food, the staff, the vibe. Kitchen is open quite late, drinks are great. Today s visit was very disappointing - but is starting to reflect a trend in the past year. Service can still be efficient but mostly soulless. You truly feel you are either a one-timer or a regular. And even between regulars, there are the friends and the others. This evening was simply careless and inattentive. We came for a few drinks and maybe a dessert. Got to sit at the bar. Between the drama behind the bar and the complaining of colleagues or customers, it was quite uncomfortable to ask for another beverage - we felt we might be disturbing. The bartender also had numerous opportunities to offer other rounds or check on us but chose not to interact. Their entire energy and toxicity became so comical and quite a clash with our usual experience that we decided to not chance another glance of frustration and leave after only 1 beverage. These repeated disappointing experiences are breaking my heart as a local. Especially for the staff that do care (if there are any remaining). I m unsure if the owner is aware or if he has blinders on. And the lady with long lighter hair really needs to stop complaining so publicly behind the bar. Every. Single. Time. It s so unprofessional, unpleasant, unwelcoming at this point. Venting can help through service but go do it out of customers view. Chez Lucien, tu te sens plus bien

Food was meh, price matched the serving except the nachos which were a joke, service was good but forgot our orders. I dont think we will return.

Romantic spot! My girlfriend and I sat beside the jukebox and listened to tunes !

Great food, cozy vibes, friendly staff

Still the best burger in town!

Cozy bar with amazing atmosphere! Amazing burgers. Not too loud but still good Vibes. Also nice that owners are habs fans to catch a game. I will definitely be back!!

Great food and service. First time I came, the waiting was too long and honestly, I don t think it s worth it with the amount of nice places around for you to discover. So, we went away and decided to give a second try in the next day. My family and I dined in, and it was delicious. We had the seafood fettuccine, poutine, salad, and everything was perfect. I really recommend it, just wouldn t tell you to wait hours for it.

The meat is tender as can be. The mold and fries transported us across the Atlantic. Great welcome as well. We did not regret having waited 1 hour on Saturday evening before getting a table. Everyone in our group was unanimous it was worth the wait. Thanks to the Lucien team.

Very happy dinner, the service attitude is very good, like hamburgers, especially satisfied, the meat is super big, confit duck leg is too salty, the atmosphere is particularly good shop, go early, otherwise there will be a queue, recommend you to try a beer, especially good to drink

Best food I had in Ontario and filled with locals. Big recommendation!

Excellent place for a good dinner with friends

Classic pub, food was not the best although menu sounded great

Great restaurant we ate very good burgers The beer is super good I recommend 100%

We recently dined at Lucien and had a fantastic experience. The burger was juicy, the fries crispy, and the side salad fresh. The warm ambiance and attentive service made the meal even more enjoyable. I highly recommend Lucien for anyone seeking great food and service. I ll definitely be returning!

Almost too busy. Great burger

Great restaurant, very good homemade food with reasonable prices, top service, I highly recommend

Best burger in town. I Always have the Chez Lucien burger it s delicious with Brie and mushrooms, the fries are amazing, salad is a side to help with the guilt. The atmosphere is active local feeling, and fun, the restaurant is small and quaint. My go to place for sure. Vegetarian options: Great vegetarian chili

Good vibes! Good food! Would go again.

Perfect place for atmosphere and a nice evening. Nothing flashy, simple, friendly and relaxed.

Great atmosphere, delicious food (really good: mussels and fries), friendly staff, good prices.

Chez burger is great,staff friendly.

Very good classic North American meal in this restaurant that we thought was French for a while. Obviously, not a word of French! The taste is present, the quantities are generous, and the pecan pie is excellent. However, a monumental noise in this old building. It was almost difficult to hear each other because it was so noisy, even face to face.

Great food and service! Will come back!

Great spot for a tasty bite. All in house made terrific food

The food was delicious

I Loved the bourgeois burger !!

Came in around lunch for a burger during a bit of a rush. Burger tasted like leftovers from the night before

Having really nice dinner alone here, friendly staff and excellent service! The Duck confit and Seared scallops are very tasty. Highly recommend!

Excellent atmosphere with great staff. The food is also reasonably priced. You can not go wrong with the seafood fettuccini!

Very cozy bar, always packed and they have a delicious tofu burger that comes with salad AND fries!

A place with great atmosphere, service and food. It was small and packed but at the same time cozy. I suggest making reservations. I am sure I will go back to try other plates. Try it out. You won t be disappointed. Food

So, apparently chez is not frenc for cheese. So, do not order the chez burger. Chez is french for jacuzzi.

Maybe it s my individual experience, but my gosh was it bad. Sat down, waited a long time for anyone to show up to take our order. The appetizer was not bad, hence the one star. And then about half an hour later, our food came. My pork chop was dry beyond belief, it has grill marks on it but it was glistening like it was finished in liquid . The mashed potato was dry like it was poured out of a bag you get from a supermarket, and carrots were so tough and dry too. And most importantly, non of them had ANY salt on it. I went to talk to our server, and all she had for me were excuses I m pretty disappointed.

Service would be a little slow for some, but thats only because there are so many people there.... truly excellent...

Always love Chez Lucien, food never disappoints!

We went to dinner on Saturday August 24 after searching for restaurants on the Internet. What a great discovery! Our waitress greeted us with a big smile and her service throughout the meal was remarkable. We ordered the Frida and Diego burger, it was delicious! We recommend without hesitation.

Fantastic experience, food, service and great times!

Cozy, delicious, and friendly. Enjoy great food in a small but inviting space. Service is top-notch, but be prepared for some noise if youre near a large group. Highly recommended for a memorable meal.

Very alive ambience, nice place to eat. Burger was so good.

Came with the whole family, and it was an amazing experience! I had the Brie and Pear burger and it was delicious.

We went because of the reviews and it did not disappoint. 250g burgers. very delicious accompanied by potatoes and lettuce. The portions are generous. Good attention. Very good quality/price ratio. I recommend it %.

Its a small restaurant, we arrived around 5:30 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. we had to leave to make way for a second service.

I absolutely loved this place... Our server was extremely nice, and the food was really good I recommend the Chez Lucien burger and the cheese cake for dessert. Food

Best hamburger I have ever had, we even ate our side salad because the dressing was so delicious. Reservations are highly recommended if youre in a group of 4 or more. The place is small and busy but well worth it. Food

An institution! Worth the detour. Very good burgers. Fast and courteous service. Until next time

As usual, the burger « Chez Lucien » is the best in town (Ottawa). The house Mayo for the salad remains the best sauce for their « Julienne » unique fries this time slightly more thick It turns out burgers are not the only kings and queens the scallops with just an extra order of fries is a winner. Happy it is freezing history in an easily accessible spot in the market (just use the paying parking lot in front). Peace out

This is our 5th time in Ottawa and we just found out about this bistro. We were very impressed! Strongly suggest making reservations, we were on a list but our wait time was only 20 minutes. Its worth the wait. Were going back for lunch. Food

Got the Diego burger, pretty good and decently cooked. Our server was running around serving the whole place it seemed like yet was kind to us, which is hard to do. Definitely busy place but was a nice last minute snag for lunch!

Loved the meal, very good and fast service, bar atmosphere so you cant hear yourself talking...

I dont know anyone who isnt down to go here for a few drinks and/or dinner. Its accessible, not crazy busy, and feels like an institution. This is usually the first place I suggest going in the market!

The food was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Escargots and NY steak must try. Very very very good!

We had dinner last night, the place is cool, correct service. We ordered nachos to snack on, they are delicious and then a frida and a bourgeois good burgers (they come with potatoes and salad). I suppose it is typical in Canada that they make a lot of meat because in all the places we have been they make it the same (the meat stays dry). But they are still very good. If you are in the area I recommend it.

I came here for a quick pint and a bite to eat after work. The service was good and quick and I really enjoyed the French Bistro inspiration for the restaurant. It even looked like a French Bistro from the outside which added to the ambiance. I did find the food to be a little bit on the lackluster side but I still plan on coming back to try something other than the burger.

Jeff at Chez Lucien is simply outstanding! From the moment we walked in, his warm and welcoming personality set the tone for an unforgettable dining experience. He went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect, from personalized menu recommendations to top-notch service throughout the evening. Jeffs attention to detail and genuine care for his guests made us feel truly special. If youre looking for great food and even better service, Jeff is the person to ask for. Cant wait to come back! Highly recommend!

Absolutely love this place, good is delicious ,staff is so friendly, atmosphere is amazing.

Crowded make a reservation

Great place to have craft beer with friends. The food, atmosphere, and service are always inviting.

Great very good! Good atmosphere! Impeccable service one word: perfect!

Great food! Love the portions, atmosphere and great service

Burger was perfect

This place is easily 10/10. The food is unbelievably delicious, like holy guacamole its takes your taste buds on a roller coaster. They are priced well, great interior and great service. If I could live here I would. I will never be a skinny man and Im perfectly okay with that.

Cute little brunch spot in downtown Ottawa close to By Ward Market

Great local joint. Awesome beers and deco. Great burgers.

The setting is very nice. Very nice home.

This place is awesome! The food is amazing - we had the Chez Lucien burger and the steak fettuccini and they were both AMAZING. Service is friendly and prompt, and the space is so cool. Theres a free jukebox too so you can dine with your choice of music :)

Lovely place. Juke box that takes you back in time. Excellent beers and delicious meat. Even if you dont book it is put on the list and with the fast service after a short time (the time for a beer) you are seated.

Came back for the second time in our 3 day weekend trip to Ottawa. We had the scallops based on recommendations and they were delicious. Followed by the Chez Lucien Burger without mushrooms (personal preference). Wow, just wow! Best tasting burger, exceptional fries, fresh and crisp salad with the tastiest salad dressing I ve ever had in my life. The service was amazing. The staff were attentive and personable even though they were very busy. I implore you to check it out next time you re exploring Byward Market area.

Nice Rustic Bar vibes. Had their eggs Benedict with their special sauce. It was nice. Very good for price. Food

Cool restaurant with super friendly service.

Had a great time there. Bartender is really talented and nice. Makes killer cocktails that are not even on the menu. Definitely the highlight of our experience!

First time going again after 10 years and still an amazing experience. Service was a little slow because it was a full house and they just had one server on but she still did a great job! The burgers here are amazing, fries are crispy and salad was nice and fresh with amazing dressing. One of the best spots downtown!

I came to check out the burgers as recommended by someone very disappointed the meat is not seasoned and tase was actually a bit bad I sensed the meat it self is actually bad

Very nice foof. Very big Portions of food and the staff kind And Michel also so sweet and kind

Very friendly, quick meal before a ballgame.

Small restaurant, nice atmosphere

We re a family of five, with three children (9,12,14). We loved it here. Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Food

The food was delicious. The portions were generous. The service was exceptional.

Wonderful and warm welcome in French which is quite nice especially after a tiring day.

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. The food was so good. Ordered the Chez Lucien burger and the Croque Monsieur. Prices were better than other restaurants around the Byward Market. Portions were very generous and service was great. Will go again any time I am in the area.

Went here last Saturday night with my son his girlfriend and her momma. It was very good. Had a nice time. Long wait thou on a sat night son tried for reservations but they would not take as they already had 5 resos

i had the liver and my friends had the burger... very yummy!!! also very good beer... the service was on point and the ambience was perfect

The food was so good. We have tried their burger and chicken sandwich. Their service needs to be improved as waiting for getting out order was too long and only one person was working on orders of entire tables.

Excellent burgers and good atmosphere for an outing for two!

Really delicious burgers - best for us in a while. Homemade, big and juicy. Fantastic service. Highly recommend AND they have Guinness on tap!

Excellent.

This was the best restaurant during our trip and would highly recommend. We ordered the escargot, a slice of pecan pie and a half bottle of wine. The pecan pie was a highlight! We originally ordered 1 slice of pie and ordered a 2nd one right after we had finished it. It wasnt overwhelmingly sweet and didnt stick to your teeth. My partner would have gladly eaten a whole pie in 1 sitting.

It s located in a beautiful quaint street but that s about the only good thing about this place. It seemed like a popular place but our food was just okay and the service was very slow.. one of us got the wrong order first, and then they just seemed to forget about the rest of us! It was too expensive for the quality of food and service. The tortellini was too doughy.. and the duck was also quite average. The tiger prawn spaghetti was the only decent thing. Would not recommend.

Delicious ! Poutine is sooooooo good ! I ve have no words ! Eddy R. Food : 5/5 |

Excellent restaurant. Delicious food huge portions. Steak was a point Moules et frites very well prepared poutine maybe the best i tasted.will definitely be back

We stopped in on a whim a week ago and really loved the ambience and service in this place, we got the chicken burger, escargot and beet Salad and it was all delicious.

Probably my favorite restaurant in Ottawa.

Food Was good. Delayed service due to Canada Day, Probably better during normal days. Staff was very hostile, amazing attitude towards customers. Highly recommended

Good food, burgers and Pasta

Always so delicious, never disappoints. Been coming here for years and still love it. Everyone I talk to whos been also loves this place, and everyone I introduce to Chez Lucien loves it too!

The food was superb! And the service was amazing, even though it was a packed house. We were a group of 11 people, and we got seated in a private area with 2 booths that were right in front of the kitchen. Perhaps that is what allowed our server to check up on us so often. Lol

Yummy and nice laid back atmosphere.

Very friendly welcome despite our somewhat noisy children. Caesar salads, Burger and croque monsieur at the top! My wife liked her scallop salad too. This place has charm. We come back regularly.

The bartender, JEFF was a HOOT, just a fun place with great food, my new favorite Canadian bar

Took about 30 or 40 min to get the food on our table, but it was worth it.

Everything perfect. A spectacular chicken with Dijon sauce. Many French cuisine dishes. Very good service in a pub-style venue.

Great place! The food was great

A number of years since Ive last was there. The food and service was just as good as ever. If for no other reason you go there just go for the fries. A word of warning I was there on a Wednesday night and the place eventually was packed and people were waiting for tables! 12-07-24 went ~1900hrs a Friday. & not as busy as I thought it would be. It did definitely pick up later on and was as busy as I remember it. The food and service was as good as ever, but one thing I did notice but this applies to pretty much every bar restaurant Pub in town and their prices were considered rhigher. Love that they still have that old jukebox and that you can pick the music you want without having to pay for it.

its the first time with my parent in summer ottawa. really enjoyable experience with delicious but affordable food nice and kind service. and really popular in local. definitely recommend it

Its allright

Was looking forward to dining here given the broad french menu and great reviews! We must have come at a busy time as there was only one server for the entire busy restaurant, and as such it was quite slow to be seated, order, and receive our food, however the server was doing their best The duck confit was quite dry and hard to eat, although the vegetables were done well. The steak was overcooked but still good.

Perfect pub food, very friendly service, and lively atmosphere already at 6pm. Loved it, highly recommended.

I like everything about this place, and I think it has the best burger in Ottawa!!

Great food and atmosphere

Delicious food! Good atmosphere!

Came here based on the amazing reviews. Food was ok but the service and atmosphere was fantastic. Absolutely great place to come for a drink and bite with friends. Enjoy.

The food is awesome, the service is awesome and the people are awesome

I had a burger from this place. It was absolutely delicious along with the fries, The crowd/locos were very friendly. I do recommend going. It is A Ottawa niche unique bar

I got bar taxed? Is this legal? Got the seafood fettuccine was pretty good. Only issue was that the mussel shell was broken in my pasta. So I ended up biting on mussel shell shards kinda annoying. Food was alright. Food

Really nice place, the food is really good. We waited almost an hour to get some seats but the waiters were all attentive and cool with us. The ambiance is nice, maybe a bit noisy but not enough to be really disturb.

This place was buzzing, my server took care of 40 tables and was incredible, efficient, talented! Food is much better than average and priced below the average spots. There is a reason it s been around for so long. Vegetarian options: Plenty of options. They accommodate your requests Parking: Park on the street and enjoy a walk through the market area

Always an excellent burger. Love the pub atmosphere

Such dissonance between their rating and the experience we had. The waitress forgot we ordered a first course to get something fast for the kids. I ordered the Frida and Diego burger with a bacon topping. My burger was dry as the desert, with a single tiny slice of jalapeño and if there was any Monterey Jack Cheese (as there should have been ) then it was so dried up that you could not see or taste it. And no bacon. I noted this to the waitress and she got me a side of bacon (which 70% of it was also quite burnt). My daughter asked for a plain burger with ketchup. I had to remind the waitress twice to get the ketchup. There were some other annoying issues, but I already spent too much time detailing the problems, so will leave it as is. To be fair - they gave me one of the beers on the house in the end, and my boy enjoyed his pasta.

cute little house, food was alright but not deserve to walk more than 5 mins to come here as a tourist. So many good restaurants around , don t have to be this one. Beef liver was a little bit bloody and the duck is too dry. Service is just ok, they could definitely hire more to cover the guests and provide better services. I would say the price is reasonable but maybe not coming back and wouldn t recommend to others.

Great evening, with excellent meat. Thank you....... Carine and Greg from Alsace

Great spot with excellent food. Service was fast and our server was charming.

Really really good! Typical bar food, but super tasty! Highly recommended. Steak 10/10

Best fries in Ottawa.

Had a great dinner. Such a hole in the wall, you probably wouldn t realize it was there unless you stumbled into it by accident. Burger was excellent.