Starling Restaurant and Bar in Ottawa

We hosted a holiday reception at Starling Ottawa for nearly 200 guests, and it was absolutely perfect! From the planning stages to the event night, the entire team was incredibly helpful and accommodating. The staff went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly, making the whole process so easy for us. The food and drinks were phenomenal, the atmosphere was vibrant and inviting, and our guests couldnt stop raving about the experience. Highly recommend Starling Ottawa for any event 10/10!

The steaks sauce, which is similar to salt and onion sauce, is very salty. It is recommended to ask them to reduce the salt. The portion is not big. It is a bit too much for 8. It is 30 yuan without tax. It is not a good review. The spicy cream sausage pasta is highly recommended. It is really spicy. After all, the sausage is slightly salty but it s not harmful, and the sauce is goat. You might have a better experience if you don t order the steak.

Recently, we hosted our staff holiday party at Starling. I cannot say enough good things about the experience we had. The servers were amazing. Our team loved their meals and wanted more! Special thanks to Kate who helped me organize the event and to Brett, the manager who checked in throughout the event and provided us with a great team to make sure the party went smoothly!

We had our After Hour party at Starling. The food was stellar, the staff was so helpful and kind, everything was perfect. I clearly recommended. We held our business 5 to 7 at the Starling. The food was excellent, the staff were so courteous and efficient, everything was perfect. I recommend without reservation.

Our department Christmas party at Starling was a great success, which was highlighted by excellent service, delicious food, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Starling provided the perfect setting for a festive and enjoyable holiday gathering.

We held a private holiday party on the 2nd floor and it was fantastic. The service was great. Their staff were wonderful to work with while we were planning. It was really affordable. The restaurant was very clean and set up perfectly. It was nicely decorated for our event. The food was great! Lots of choices and different options for all dietary restrictions. They had several halal, vegan, dairy free... Everyone raved about the great location and food. Music was playing, but not so loud that you couldnt hear people talking. Overall, it was a fantastic time. Dietary restrictions: Several Halal options, as well as dairy free and vegan options, egg free options. Very accommodating.

Joelle was amazing!! Had a great bday dinner for my friend . A great experience thanks to her :)

Nice and cozy atmosphere. However, the menu is a bit limited, and the prices are on the higher side.

Starling serves a fantastic breakfast/brunch! I highly recommend!

I spent a Tuesday autumn afternoon in the sun on the roof of this charming restaurant. The service was impeccable, the cocktails refined, and the food delectable! I will remember it for a long time! THANK YOU!

We had a great brunch here! The food was great! Our server Charlotte was top notch! We asked her about where to go in Ottawa and she spent the time to write a detailed list of her favorite places!

Mary went above & beyond & was incredibly engaging for my Wifes Bithday. Cheers 10 stars!

Good place to go to. Food is good Customer service is good. Food : 5/5

Great Rooftop terrasse, great place for drinks, with nice views.

Had been to the Starling before but this time booked a large group (32 people) with a set brunch menu. The space was perfect. On the second floor overlooking the market. Beautiful bar. Fantastic food. An incredible staff helping us out. It was a perfect way to end a season and so looking forward to going again!

I had a wonderful experience here with a group of friends for brunch on a Saturday morning. We all ordered different dishes and each of them were excellent. The $2 bottomless coffee is also a lovely (and very affordable!) feature. Service was excellent and the atmosphere was sophisticated and comfortable. Would recommend!

Very nice atmosphere and friendly service!

Had an enjoyable dinner here with friends. Server was friendly, food was good, overall a pretty good experience.

Fabulous food, fantastic service and really great atmosphere. Really enjoyed the music too. Such a great place to eat and enjoy with good friends. For us, best restaurant in Ottawa .bar none! Joelle was our server .she was fabulous !! Food : 5/5

This was such a beautiful spot. They have a main level, a basement for after hours and a rooftop patio! We went to the basement to try their osyters and it was a first time thing so the server was so kind, patient and helpful! The overall experience was amazing and although we only tried the osyters I suspect all the other food items would have been great as well. Drinks were good too.

Absolutely love this place!

Really enjoyed myself Last Friday evening.

Have a wonderful evening with the wife!

Great happy hour

It was a pretty good time

Great vibe, great service and delicious food! Went for breakfast right at 9am opening on a Saturday morning and everyone was warm and welcoming. Will be back again!

The menu says the burger uses fresh ground beef so I asked if they could make the burger medium rare and they confirmed they could. When the burger arrived they specifically said it was medium rare and I was very excited about that, but in the end when I bit into it was actually well done. Other than that the restaurant is very beautiful and the burger tasted good, but not as juicy as I was hoping for as it was not the way I wanted.

Best place I ve ever been and the waitress Char is the best !! Pure good heart

Gorgeous place with great food and fun staff! Dietary restrictions: Almost anything can be made Gluten Free Food : 5/5 |

Some of the best food I have had in a while!

Great for snacks.

This place is at a great location, with a cute interior. Nothing out of the ordinary, though. We had to send a plate back as it came to us filthy. Decent wine and decent food.

I wasn t expecting such a GREAT food! All I can say 10/10 , can t wait to come back

My wife and I went for our wedding anniversary and the service from server Mackenzie was top notch. Always checking up on us, providing suggestions, approachable and outgoing. The food was exquisite and atmosphere was stellar. Highly recommended.

We had dinner there yesterday. The cooking here is at a high level! I have rarely found it in Canada. Excellent in quality and taste. It was a great evening for us. Thank you!

Makayla S. was great! Loved her service!!!

Very cute place! Went for a birthday dinner and the baked rigatoni, bang bang shrimp and fries were delicious!! Would love to come back for brunch

Ive visited Starling twice and had excellent experiences both times. I appreciate how well they accommodate celiac and vegetarian diets, and how knowledgeable and caring their staff are. Staff really are the stars at Starling. They are absolute professionals who look after every detail with warmth and attention. Atmosphere is highly instagrammable, food is excellent, and service is truly outstanding.

Even if its a bit expensive, for Ottawa to have somewhere this nice it is a real treat.

We decided to enjoy Happy Hour at The Starling on a Sunday afternoon. The bar area was large with very comfortable bar stools. We were welcomed by the same bartender from our last visit. Taryn is pleasant, friendly, efficient and knows her drinks. We enjoyed our Happy Hour wine selection and the price. While the plate of fries we ordered to share was large they were overcooked....too dark, too crispy. Still feeling hungry we decided to share a mushroom pasta in a Rose sauce. Portion was large which was good for for sharing and was tasty but could have used more sauce. We will definitely return as the atmosphere is very pleasant in which to enjoy an afternoon glass of wine and snack...or dinner.

Went for weekend brunch with a small group of people and was disappointed. The food was bland, and portions were small for the price. The mimosa did not taste fresh. The single slice of avocado toast (with salmon & eggs) came on a plate with nothing else but a pinch of greens thrown on top. The avocado used for the toast was whipped, looked like pureed peas baby food, and tasted as bland as its presentation. It did not taste like avocado. The champagne fries (which were an add-on side item) came to the table cold. It had fries that were undercooked, and the below-room-temperature sauce/gravy made it a soggy, cold mess. The decor was fine, but its hard to justify eating cold, bland food at a place just for flashy wallpaper. Maybe the kitchen was just having a bad day, but you can get better brunch for less close by.

To be honest, this restaurant is so cute, the service is great but the food and the cocktails are just not the best. I really wanted to give it a chance, and this is now my second time trying it and it was not giving. If you want cute pictures, it s definitely nice but just don t expect the food and the cocktails to be amazing.

Restaurant picked at random. The view and atmosphere on the terrasse on the roof were fantastic! The meal was also fabulous, but what about the service. The waiter was generous with its time, but at the same time very efficient! Later we found out that we forgot/lost our phone there and the hostess was very helpful and generous in helping us found it. HIGHLY recommended!!

kinda pricey but it s worth it

Excellent food, with top notch service. The menu is higher in price than average restaurant in Ottawa, but average compared to the restaurants in the market. The bird theme inside is very welcoming. Food is excellent! Great selection of wine, but not enough selection in beers. The Atlantic Cod is epic!

Great ambiance, great decor, I just found the food to be only okay. I d recommend more training for the staff to be able to recommend wines and speak confidently on each of the wines the restaurant offers. Very kind staff, just lacking some knowledge.

It was a comfortable atmosphere, I had the avocado salmon on sour toast. And a strawberry margarita. It was fantastic. I will be back before I leave the city next week. KAITLIN provided excellent service. I loved it and I will be recommending this place for sure

Food is meh - like 1980 s chain restaurant. Service is meh - can tak time to be noticed. Atmosphere - nice to sit outside but still rather meh. Meh!

Last night, we were served an none fresh beef steak and canned mushrooms, so the food was very disappointing. I would suggest informing customers of low food supply instead of improvising....

Went on the rooftop for an appetizer and a drink. Frankly just a disappointing experience overall. Charcuterie board was so overprice and looked like it was from the Cotsco valuepack. The croustini were so tin that it collapsed as soon as you added something on top. Staff were just chatting at the bar (loud enough that we could hear their conversation) and didn t care about the customers on the patio. The waitress wasn t even the one to keep up the service with our table by the end. To finish this experience, plastic chair under the Ottawa sun and a playlist that was hectic at best.

We had our wedding cocktail reception at Starling on Saturday and it couldnt have gone better! We had the best night ever and all our guests have been talking about how great the venue, food and drinks were. Huge thank you to Rory who executed my vision perfectly and made this night happen for us. Rory was so responsive, organized and kind and made the planning easy and stress free. All the staff was so nice and helpful (shoutout to the bartenders!). We highly recommend Starling as an event venue, you will not regret it. Thank you again Rory and all :)

During my stay in Ottawa, I can confidently say Starling was the highlight of the trip. Aside from the glowing interior, following a rustic theme, the food is to die for! Whether dinner or brunch, Starling provides well portioned meals with the taste of luxury. In addition, the staff were kind furthering the experience. As a family of three travelling through Ottawa, this is the perfect place to grab a bite with a taste you ll never forget.

When my friend and I came here for brunch a few months ago, I loved it so much that I knew we had to have our post elopement celebration here. Rory has been so helpful and made the booking process so seamless. The day of the brunch, we were served by Meagan? I think that was her name. She was also incredible. She was the perfect amount of attentive and never too far if we needed anything. The food was delicious, the venue was gorgeous and the service was great. All of our guests couldnt stop raving about the brunch. We are so grateful.

Excellent restaurant. Delicious tailor-made cocktail. One of the best burgers ever eaten. Other excellent dishes. Friendly staff. Very pleasant terrace and view. THANKS !

Went for brunch and dinner. The vodka penne pasta was some of the newest vodka pasta I have ever had. The buttermilk pancakes were very soft and taste and came with the perfect amount of syrup.

This is the second time dining at Starling restaurant and it was once again disappointing. The atmosphere and vibe is great however unfortunately the service was awful both times. The first time I dined here was for brunch and it took an extremely long time (1 hour) to get our meals including the children s meals even though we asked for them ahead of time. The server blamed the kitchen for the delay and we thought maybe it was just a one-off. Last night I joined a large group of 15 for dinner (reservations made a head of time). We arrived at 8 pm and sat for 20 minutes before a server acknowledged us and eventually took our drink order. It was at that time that the waitress pointed out that there is an automatic 20% tip because we are a larger party - kind of tacky but ok. I ordered an appetizer and meal right away once I realized the service was slow. My appetizer did not come out with the rest and it wasn t until the others were done that the waitress advised me that the kitchen was once again responsible for forgetting my appetizer- I personally don t like when servers blame the kitchen for everything. The appy came out after my entre and she did apologized for the delay at that time. I ordered the steak and frites and the steak was extremely fatty and I would say 1/3 was fat that was not even chewable. I asked for a box for my appetizer and my bill instead of opting for dessert. There was no mention of comp offer for the uneaten appetizer so instead of complaining of the tip I had to leave for the awful service and food, I decided I will just never eat here again.

My husband and I came in here a few days ago, just for cocktails and apps. He had an Aloha, and since it wasnt too busy, I ordered the Dealers Choice (the bartender comes up with something based on what you like). Both of us were impressed! I like tart citrus drinks, and the bartender really nailed it. It was really, REALLY good. We also had the octopus skewers and a round of oysters, and those were good, too. I would absolutely recommend this place for drinks and food.

Great staff!! White sangria was really good!!! Good prices for happy hour !!

We came for branch. We liked it so much, we came back for dinner. Everything was just perfect Food

The homemade pasta noodles are to DIE for!

Perfect summer evening on the rooftop patio. Food and drinks were great, Robin ensured we had an amazing night.

We were celebrating our anniversary and thought it would be special with the rooftop view of the fireworks but unfortunately it was fully booked and whoever answered the phone promised us that we can still see the fireworks from the patio so we reserved a table on the patio. Unfortunately, we could only see a little corner of the fireworks which is almost nothing. Risotto was served cold and tasteless, burger was very oily. Bang bang shrimp was ok. We didnt order any dessert as the food was disappointing enough. I was sad as I really liked the indoor atmosphere and I was hoping for another visit to try it but I think the food was not something to go back for

One of my favorite place in the Gatineau/Ottawa area !

The experience is excellent with the service from Robynne! Will come again! :)

Second time here and it was amazing. Service from Robynne was immaculate. Kind and very attentive. Steak and frites perfectly seasoned and medium rare steak spot on. Congratulations to the chef.

Robynne served us and she was great! Food was delicious. My Fiancée had the Vegan Butchers Cut and she was amazed with the flavours. (I snuck in a bite and I 100% agree) I had the Steak Frites (Main) cooked medium and it was exactly what I was craving. 10/10 would recommend. Well definitely be coming back! Vegetarian options: Vegan Butchers Cut.

Officially my favourite restaurant in Ottawa! The service was great and the food was absolutely delicious! My partner and I are vegetarian and everything we ordered was unique, fun, and flavorful. We also ordered 3 different cocktails and they were all unique and tasty. Also, the server regularly checked in on us and was friendly and supportive. Lastly, the interior design of the restaurant is very unique and beautiful.

Slowest service ever.

Incredible view, and the best vegan mushroom dish Ive ever had. Everything was beautifully plated and over the top delicious. Friendly staff, unique location and amazing patio.

Had an amazing experience. The service was great and the staff was knowledgeable about gluten. The reason why Ill be coming back is that there was a dedicated gluten-free fryer (which is rare), and many options I could choose from. It has been a while since Ive had the luxury of not being able to decide what I wanted to eat! Very satisfied with my experience. The service was excellent and the staff were knowledgeable about gluten in the menu. The reason I will return is because there was a separate gluten free fryer (which is rare) and plenty of options I could choose from. It s been a long time since I had the luxury of not being able to decide what I wanted to eat!

Waitress spilled water on our table 3 times. Too many times to spill water like that. Service was slow, didn t get to order the drinks we wanted. She also said something really cringey at the end saying I hope the water spilling doesn t affect the tip like what?? What a weird thing to say. The champagne fries are a thing of the past now, the fries were huge, stale, and dry. They used to be shoestring. Will NEVER go back. How embarrassing for them.

Update: The rooftop terrace is amazing. Its just so nice to eat there and have drinks. Hidden gem in the city. I had a white Sangria on their menu, its nothing amazing and then a mocktail base on pineapple and coconut it was more sour than sweet not what I had asked. But anyhow, for the view and the nice temperature its perfect. We only had drinks they know what they are talking about but OMG I had a vodka martini dirty buty olives were old and it tasted disgusting. I was wondering what was wrong with my drink and then realized my olives were all soft and wrinkled... Cant believe I drank that. #frustrated I took pictures of my friends drink not my martini.

After a great walk, we decided to stop at Starling Restaurant and Bar for a few drinks. The premium gin menu is excellent, and you can choose between two drink sizes: 10 oz or 20 oz, although the glass is the same size in both cases. A small complaint would be the lack of variety in non-alcoholic beers; The Pale Ale they offer for $8 is nothing remarkable, although thats the manufacturers fault rather than the bars. The place is very beautiful, with an elegant atmosphere that reflects the historic architecture of the building, which dates back to the early 20th century and was restored to retain its classic style while offering a modern and welcoming atmosphere. I was surprised to see that it is quite common to order trays of fresh oysters with a spicy touch, a delight! The staff is extremely friendly and attentive, and they constantly serve you glasses of water. In addition, the prices are very reasonable for being in the heart of Ottawa, in one of the most touristy areas of the city. Without a doubt, it is a place worth returning to!

Nice restaurant but nothing more, quality of dishes good.

Wonderful food, and a great atmosphere. Cocktails were great as well!

Chicken Sandwich is fire, service was great. I would come here again just for the chicken sandwich.

It was a beautiful day for the patio which offered endless people watching as the street had vendor tents set up and an abundance of people from all over the world. The service here was incredible, kind, and attentive. The food presentation was impressive and absolutely delicious. My compliments to the chef and the staff as you started our day off perfectly!

It was a beautiful experience, their kale salad was delicious, entirely different from what I am used to.

Vegetarian options: Its excellent

We were seated on rooftop and didnt have good service, waitress didnt seem to care, we left and didnt bother staying Train your staff! Service

Wife loved it because of the birdcages. It was nice and quiet having our breakfast. very nice and clean and Service was fine

Love the Happy Hour!

We really like it here! The Apothecary basement speakeasy is always a good time. Otherwise, the bar atmosphere on the main is as chill as a birds nest.

Cute place. Good service and food. Would recommend and would go back :) nice drinks too! Starters were delicious (although the med platter I think would be better warmed) and the steak frites as well as the tenderloin for mains were great too. Will be back to try brunch too!

I went there for a graduation brunch and it was good, our server was definitely helpful and was so kind when i asked if i can charge my phone and she said yes!!

I recently had a date at Starling, and I must say, it was beautiful. While the price may lean towards the higher end, the service I encountered was truly exceptional. Our waiter seemed to anticipate our every need, appearing just when required and disappearing when we were engaged in conversation. Her impeccable timing never interrupted our enjoyment of the evening. The drinks menu was just lovely, and as a young adult accustomed to more budget-friendly cocktails, I was blown away by the quality and craftsmanship of the beverages. Each sip was a delight, complemented by the elegant presentation. Coupled with the art deco ambiance, the entire setting felt straight out of a classic film. Surprisingly, the total bill didnt break the bank as much as I had anticipated. Considering the overall experience, I found it to be a reasonable investment, especially for a special date night. I highly recommend Starling Restaurant to anyone seeking a sophisticated dining experience with impeccable service and exquisite drinks.

Very bad experience!! We reserved tables for 25 people! We have barely started eating and the waiter gives us the bills saying we already have to leave because they have another reservation at our table. 2 hours to celebrate a Birthday!!!!

To be honest the food was okay the frite was way too done and I couldn t even eat it.

My advice to anyone looking for an enjoyable dining experience: move on. The golden palm for bad service! Starling, STARNUL I would like to express my deep dissatisfaction following my recent experience. Not only was one member of the group relegated to eating on a bench without a table but the servers behavior was unacceptable. His arrogance and lack of consideration for his situation was shocking. Worse still, the manager was completely indifferent to his discomfort, offering no solution. This disastrous experience convinced me to never set foot in this establishment again. As for the quality of the food... in short, that didnt make up for the poor service received. I hope that those in charge will see this comment in order to reiterate to the staff who were present on the evening of Saturday April 27, 2024 the importance of treating customers well. Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning (Bill Gates)

Fyi, If I had an option to give 0 stars I would. Yesterday, I had a birthday gathering at this restaurant. I believe we reserved for 25 ppl, and we only had 2 hours for our reservation, when we arrived, my friend was assigned to a sit, without a table, she had to put her plat on her lap, we requested someone to bring a table, 3 time to 3 different waiter, we were ignore once by one of the waiter, they refuse to provide a sit because we were late to our reservation, however there at least n hour left to the 2-hour reservation. The food was disgusting and the waiter was incredibly rude, no one tried to resolve the issue, we eventually asked to speak to a manager, and he said he didn t have enough table but he can bring her a chair so she could put her meal, after speaking to the manager they charge us 20% for the tip after being rush out the door, we took accountability to the fact we were late but we are paying customer and when we eat at restaurant are paying for the experience which was a nightmare.

We had a bad experience at this restaurant with the management and waiters all unpleasant. We had a reservation for 25 people for a birthday party and when we arrived there werent enough tables for me to put my plate down and eat. I had to put the plate on my legs to eat and everyone in the section looked at me. We asked 3 times for an extra table so that everyone could be comfortable. Each time, we were told that we had come late, so we werent entitled to an extra table. So if Im late, is it fair for me to have a hot plate on my legs to eat in a restaurant and not sit comfortably? Do I have to hurt my back to eat? We asked to see the manager. The manager spoke to us in a condescending tone and suggested if I wanted to have a chair to eat. Wooow, a chair? Ive never seen anything like that. He could have at least suggested to seat at the bar. But nothing else ! The manager didnt apologize for the situation and gave us 1 hour to eat because he needed the section for another group. Yes, were late, but is it normal to give us machines to pay for food thats just been dropped off? It was a birthday party and they refused to give us the cake because they needed the table. We had to insist several times before getting the cake. They give it to us back without cutting it because they dont have the time to do it ( another reservation ). So since youre forcing us to pay a 20% tip for a large group, you cant even open the cake box? The waiters started clearing away while people ate and gave us boxes. We expressed our frustration and all they could do was tell us we had to leave as they needed the table. So, Because were late we deserve lousy treatment and to be made to feel like we have no business being there? BRAVO Starling!!!! I really dont recommend the restaurant !!! ( we received burned food for several people and we had a very bad service). If you are late the manager will propose you a chair to eat on it and make your guest feel that they have to go asap. An horrible birthday!

Title: Disappointing Dining Experience at Sparling Restaurant My recent visit to Sparling Restaurant in downtown Ottawa left much to be desired. The pasta dish I ordered was shockingly bland, lacking any discernible flavor profile. The shrimp accompanying it were equally disappointing, lacking any seasoning whatsoever. After just one bite, I found myself unable to stomach another spoonful. Overall, the lack of taste and poor execution of the dishes made for a thoroughly unsatisfactory dining experience. Thank you to the waitress for being kind and understanding.

Excellent customer service, they go above and beyond your expectations I couldn t hope for better !!

Recently had a dinner with wife and our friends. The staff are polite and helpful. Brought me another plate with desired food because previous one was ordered by my mistake. It was good experience and nice service. Food

Charcuterie board is horribly overpriced for tiny portions of cured meats purchased from Costco value packs. Better locations and atmosphere anywhere else in the market.

We enjoyed our dining experience at starling! I had their delicious and hearty paccheri ragu (featuring beef& lamb shank ragu) and end on a sweet note with chai spiced flan topped with shaved cheese. I personally appreciate the generous portion size and the spacious ambiance created by the windows.

Was quite disappointed with the visit after hearing very good things about this place. Was excited to sit on the rooftop, drinks were so good, food was not the best, service was not the greatest as we felt almost rushed out after the bill was brought out to us without even asking, and our order of food wasn t brought out. I understand customer service struggle, but server was not very friendly not even a check up on our table but on everyone else. Not even a goodnight afterwards.

Robynne w was wonderful! Top notch service. Excellent attention. Great humour.

5/5 good food, good service and good atmosphere. An experience to repeat and I highly recommend this restaurant-bar if you visit Ottawa and particularly Marché by

Ashley was our server and she s very professional. Robin, the manager is very friendly and always makes sure that you re enjoying your time at Statling. We always go there for brunch in weekends.They have live music on sundays. Staff are very kind, professional and friendly. The foods taste great and have quality. I recommend Starling Breaky, Eggs Benedict and French toast!

10/10 experience. Food,service, atmosphere...everything was perfect. We had the bang bnag shrimp, chicken ballontine, lions mean steak, sticky toffee pudding and to drink I had the field fare. Not one miss in our opinion. Well be back to try it all!

I m a big fan of their cocktails. Our waitress was very kind and helpful and the food I ordered tastes amazing.

Ty is the best

Great service and great food!

Our server Ty was amazing! He was funny and gave great service. Our food was excellent as well, I highly recommend the fried chicken sandwich.

Drinks by Ty 10 stars! Best service!!

The champagne french fries were fantastic. This has an amazing atmospherical of kitsch. Staff was friendly and attentive. Like the fact that it didnt have an overcomplicated menu the meals that they did have were excellent

This place continues to impress! It has been a while since I enjoyed this restaurant, and it was amazing the first time. Years after, I had the opportunity to come back, which Im greatfull for. The ambiance is only surpassed by the great service and excellent food. I havent really spent much time on the main level, but the upstairs is fantastic and can also be booked for private events.

Everything was wonderful, and Robynne was such a great server!

What a find! The ambiance & decor are fun and the food is fantastic. My husband has worked in the food industry and he was pretty impressed by the novel flavours. We had the ceviche, shrimp pappardelle, risotto & burger. Cocktails had some interesting flavours as well (we tried the Bird Watcher), and the deserts, spectacular! Had the flan and, I believe, the semifreddo. Service was amazing - friendly and attentive. Definitely want to come back on our next trip to Ottawa!

Starling has an absolutely wonderful atmosphere! Drinks are always top tier and the menu has lots of variety, however I wish there were more vegetarian options! It s a wonderful spot in the market for a first date or to catch up with good friends.

Had one of the best burgers I have ever had -- great service, amazing food, excited to return!

We were here for Sunday brunch and as we were sitting waiting for our food and listening to what I thought was the radio, I realized that it was a very talented young lady singing and playing the guitar just in the next room. It definitely enhanced the experience. I never got the girls name, but she definitely needs a shout-out for her talent.

We won a gift certificate here at a Charity Auction in the Autumn, and did not realize it had an expiry date! (Usually GCs are not allowed to have an expiry date, but clearly we should have looked before we bid on it!) It was purchased in October and expired 2 months later. Unfortunately when we arrived today. the server checked and said there was nothing that could be done. My wife was so disappointed that we didnt stay to eat. I was annoyed that we spent $75 on a gift certificate that expired so quickly. Its too bad it couldnt have been honoured today.

Came for happy hour on a Saturday around 5. Deals were really great with nice sangria and snacks! I ordered risotto which was tasty but a bit oily which I didn t love. Service was quick to get our drinks and food but slow to get the cheque at the end. Ambience and decor inside are super nice - I would come back to try other cocktails and dishes!

Mackenzie was super helpful in assisting us with choosing halal options. Even though the burgers from the actual menu wasn t halal but he discussed with chef and offered us chicken burgers with different kind of chicken which was halal. It was so much tasty with yummy caramelized onions mushroom n peppers.

We had the best experience hosting our wedding upstairs of the Starling Restaurant. We live out of province so had to do the majority of the planning virtually, which worked out really well. Rory and her team were super professional, organized, and made sure the day flowed smoothly. As a bride I really felt like everything was being taken care of, and could really enjoy and be in the moment with the guests. The food was delicious and everything they prepared had 10/10 reviews from our guests. Cant wait to pop in next time we are in Ottawa!

Nice restaurant Delicious and fresh food and Cynthia was really good I will for sure come back again

A great place for celebrating a birthday! The interior and decor is super cute. You can reserve their bird cage booths which are really nice. Drinks were pretty and food was amazing! We got the risotto, shrimp pasta and ceviche. The risotto portion is small but it was very flavourful. Our server was great and was very accommodating. Def worth a try! :)

This was a solid experience. The server was delightful, food (only got appetizers) and drinks came out on time and tasted great and the ambiance was top tier.

We enjoyed our dining experience at Starling! It s a lovely setting, cocktails were on point, and the food was very good. I took a chance on the lion s mane steak and it was very good. And simply massive! I couldn t even finish it. The service was excellent too.

Great breakfast the potatoe pancakes were amazing and Tye was an amazing server

Ty was good.

Great place for brunch! Lovely interior and staff were attentive and friendly. We were served by Ty, who did a good job of making sure we had everything we needed without interrupting the group. Would recommend :)

The food was amazing, the cocktails were good, and the service is great - Joelle was very attentive and on the spot all the time, with good suggestions and a beautiful smile

I was here for a work event and Rory and Meg were fantastic! They went over and beyond and our group loved everything.

Staff was not very friendly at first, but the staff manager or whoever came to our table was very understanding and proactive. She was awesome! Although their breakfast menu is very limiting, the food was delicious! I recommend the pancakes and hope to see more from them :)

UPDATE** (January 22nd 2024): owner reached out to give gift card due to poor service and uncooked salmon a couple of days after this review. Unfortunately, they have not kept their promise and no gift card was ever sent. They had asked to change my review when they initially reached out with a gift card offer. See below for full honest review of December 2023 visit. Great ambiance and mesmerizing decor! Gluten free and vegetarian options vastly available! Unfortunately, there were some big disappointments that can t override some good aspects of this spot. We had some drinks (the snowbird and the bird watcher) which were very good. The oysters were great but took a very long time to arrive. We arrived at the restaurant at 20h15, ordered within 15-20 min but received our appetizer (oysters) about 45 min later. Yes, it was busy but most tables were getting cleared at this point or receiving desserts. We only received our entrees at 22h My partner ordered the SALMON PICCATA and the salmon was raw. I ordered the PAN SEARED LION S MANE STEAK which was over seasoned with salt, cold and had cold broccolini. Our waiter was apologetic and polite. We paid for our first drinks, received a discount on our oysters and were not charged for our wine glasses and entrees, which was fair. I would not recommend this place in the end qs there are better places to have a great dinner and drinks in the market.

Lovely restaurant in the market. We sat on the rooftop patio and enjoyed the green goddess salad with grilled chicken and burger with fries. Definitely recommend!

Starling is on my top list for Ottawa. Such a great place with great food, amazing drinks, and friendly service! I recommend eating upstairs and then heading downstairs for drinks after.

Great place! Went for brunch today and got the French toasts. Everything was fast and the food was great ! Cool ambiance and great staff ! Vegetarian options: They have vegetarian options

Its such a lovely restaurant. We went for Sunday brunch and the atmosphere for so calming and looking around the decor is lovely. It just gave us a happy feeling being there. The service was extremely efficient. Everyone was so friendly. Food was great too!

This restaurant offers such a beautiful experience. Perfect for a girls night out. It might be wroth asking for a table closer to the bar when making a reservation. We were sitting by the door and it was quite cold. The pasta I ordered was a little harder than al dente but tasted good. Our server was so great. Very patient and knowledgeable. If there was a question she wasnt sure of the answer, she made sure to find out for us. The reason for the 4 stars rather than 5 is how expensive everything costs. We went downstairs and 2 drinks and a mocktail after dinner and it ended up costing $70 which is kinda crazy! I would go back but only for special occasions.

EXCELLENT COCKTAILS. great atmosphere, good food. The cocktails are pricy but really well done. Only had the burger and fries, but it was really good. Portion sizes are good, you ll leave full but don t expect chain restaurant sized meals. You re paying for quality, not quantity. Sophisticated, intimate, calm atmosphere. It s trendy without loud music, and even with a full dining room, you can still have a conversation without straining.

Way overpriced food. Horrible service. Waited an hour to receive our food when people seated 45 mins after us had their food in 5 mins. When the food did come it was awful. Never going to this place again

We were excited to try out the new seafood spot. Did not disappoint. Food was good and staff were accommodating. Interested in going back for brunch, jazz nights and comedy days. Update: went again for brunch. So many things I wanted to try, but I went with the potato rosti, a little light on flavour, but still a good dish.

Everything was delicious. Really enjoyed dessert. The mix of chocolate, hazelnuts and strawberry balsamic with ice cream was surprisingly delicious. Forgot the name but have a picture with a couple of bites out of it. We started with oysters (mignonette was delicious topper) and yellowfish ceviche. Poached salmon -pictured- and beef tenderloin as mains and both were delicious. A placebo drink to go with it...Abigail. yummy and refreshing -pictured

Great atmosphere and great cocktails. The food was ok.

THE GOOD: The food is excellent. The 4 dishes we had were excellent. The atmosphere was pleasant, and the place was well arranged. Beautiful decorations. THE LEAST GOOD: The problem is the service. I understood that the hostess was replacing a waitress at short notice... But for $100 and more per person, I would have expected more logic. Here are the irritants related to the service received. 1.- 20 seconds after finishing my shrimp starter which was absolutely fabulous, my main course was served to me. Same thing for my girlfriend. A strip steak with fries. I thought I would enjoy a casual evening, but it was more like an evening with fast food service. 2.- I only had a knife without teeth, like a butter knife. I had to ask for a steak knife to eat my steak.. 3.- I asked for rare steak and I received it almost medium. 4.- No bread, no mayo to accompany, although I dont hold it against them on this point. There were also expectations for each request. Steak for $55... But it was excellent, except for the cooking. Impeccable service is imperative to having a successful dining experience. If the hostess would not have replaced the waitress, I would have given it a 2 instead of a 3. I will think about it the next time I return to Ottawa. Maybe I wont return to this restaurant.

Starling always delivers on great food and drinks! A few of my favourite bites from my last visit are 1. The fries and champagne - an elevated version of poutine with a generous amount of cheese 2. The chicken ballotine - with potatoes so crispy and delicious I am still thinking about them weeks later 3. A spiced flan topped with manchego cheese - so many restaurants offer the same handful of desserts and I loved seeing something so creative and tasty on the dessert menu!

Incredible restaurant. Every time I have gone here theyve gone above and beyond to serve me, and anyone I was with. The food is incredibly appetizing looking, as well as tasting. Having an appetizer, main course, and dessert is not out of the realm of possibility while also not breaking the bank in terms of price. Without a doubt the best restaurant Ive been to in ages, highly recommend if youre just visiting, or if youre an Ottawa resident looking for something to do in the downtown.

Very nice place here, loved there brunch menu mmmmm

Great service, love the bird decor, cool cocktails. One came in a smoke tube so that was an experience! Food was pricey and small quantities.

Came here for a drag brunch, the vibe was great! Our waitress was very nice and kept our water glasses full! The food was decent, I got the burger, it came with fries and those were pretty good! The burger had a lot going on but is lacking some flavour for the price point. Go to Bite burger house if you re looking for a burger in the market! All in all, a really nice interior, the drinks looked fun and decor was great, go check it out if you re looking for a nice atmosphere

Waitress forgot one of our orders and made them wait half a hour while we all ate infront of them. Food was undercooked and waitress server chick whatever was rude.

Affordable price and good taste

Good food, nice service and in my opinion just a perfectly comfy ambiente. Just a nice place to eat or just drink some kind of drink (there are extraordinarily many of those). Would very much recommend and if u are not convinced just go there yourself! Food

Drinks on the street level terrace. Second server was much more pleasant than the first one who approached our table.

Great breakfast/brunch place in the always trendy Market area in Ottawa.

Our group of 4 people were passing through Ottawa and decided to stop at the ByWard Market. We went to see the menu displayed at the door and we were greeted by a charming young man who was quite colorful and super friendly. His attitude was decisive in our decision to eat at this restaurant. Once there, we were served by the charming Elizabeth, who treated us more than with dignity. Very friendly and attentive, we didnt miss anything. She even practiced her French since some of us didnt speak much English. Very nice attention and mark of respect. We ate burgers and salads and everything was very good, hot and in plentiful quantity. The wine was excellent. We will return there when we are passing through again. Thanks to the whole team.

Robynne was a good server, attentive and positive, food was really tasty with a good wine and the atmosphere is why you come here in the first place.

Rooftop has great atmosphere, especially towards sunset. The burger patty was really tasty and good, despite looking a bit small when it was served. The service was great, the staff were friendly and accommodating.

Weve tried this place for brunch. We decided to sit outside. It was a sunny day. Our waitress was lovely. Both of our plates had enough food to feed a third person. We are happy to have found this gem, a brunch restaurant in the ByWard market.

Beautiful view of the market by

Had a night catchups and the burger was savory!

Spectacular food and service. The flan with banana and tequila and the chocolate mouse were amazing!

Excellent restaurant, banana flan and excellent chocolate mouse.

I love this place! Live music during Sunday brunch which is just lovely and the food is really good

Good Breakfast and seating. Quite a full portion. And the patio was nice.

I love the green goddess and niçoise salad.

Enjoyed a Thursday lunch here with a friend before an extra long summer weekend. We were served by two friendly servers, who recommended their favorite dishes when asked. I enjoyed the eggs benedict and my friend devoured their chicken sandwich. It wasnt too busy, the food and drinks were delicious and service excellent. We loved the decor and atmosphere as well. We are planning our next visit! Would reccomend.

When we got our bill at the end of the night, which we are always fine to spend a lot on dinner when we go out, we were shocked. My husband ordered a pasta dish that was about $33 (steep and not homemade) but the kicker was he added shrimp for $9 and it was like the equivalent to one shrimp cut up into 20 pieces. I don t believe it s ok to charge so much and offer bare minimum. Really disappointing and we felt gauged and quite sad we had to spend so much for something so little. The decor of this place is really nice inside. The employees were very friendly and the service was quite fast! Kudos to the people working there. Because of the experience with the pasta/shrimp dish, it was really disappointing for us.

I will be honest and say the food I ordered was amazing. However, the service was horrible. We were not told that the upstairs patio doesn t do happy hour so we had to get seated upstairs and come down again which made us feel awkward and out of place. Second of all, it took us 40 mins to walk into the place and get our orders taken. It was so horrible. They re definitely understaffed and it s obvious. Also, a lot of the waiters/waitresses don t know what s right and what s wrong so they go in the back and ask someone. It looks stupid. We re from Toronto, and you guys should take some waitressing classes from our workers. Also, me and my husband finished eating and we re just sitting here on our phones waiting for them to ask us for food he dessert or the bill. I m writing this review as I m sitting here waiting. If I come back to Ottawa, definitely not dining here ever again. Could really improve the entire experience. However, food was pretty good. If I had to rate it solely on food, I would give it a 8/10.

I have eaten here twice and most of the food is really really great. It could have been a one off but the mussels were either over cooked or just stringy. Pasta is absolutely delicious. Service is great! Thanks Robyn!

This is a very high end bar/restaurant, ambiance is great and there is plenty of choices for food and drinks. They do offer a happy hour foot drinks and food, not a lot of choice but decent price

Had a nice birthday dinner at Starling. The food was really good. I loved the Slate fish cooked to perfection on a bed of herbaceous risotto. Ate every bite my husband enjoyed porkchops also cooked well. Cocktails were yum too. Servers are attentive and friendly. Good place for a date-night and cocktails! Vegetarian options: Vegetarian options available, also some very interesting salads as well.

Its one of my favorite dining spots in Ottawa. Great service and great food. Vegetarian options: Not a lot of vegetarian option but their impossible burger is tasty! Food : 5/5 |

We went here for my sister in laws birthday. I made the reservation online and asked them if they could do a little birthday dessert or something as restaurants usually do for the birthday girl. Upon arrival, I remind them of this. The birthday dessert never comes. I ordered the rotini which was plain pasta with some veggies and no seasoning or sauce. They were out of one of their appetizers. They were out of one of their desserts, and its already a pretty small menu. We arrived at 6 pm so I was extremely surprised that they already ran out of two things on their menu. The waitress came by maybe twice. We were sat there with our finished plates for a long time. And it was not busy at all. Quite empty actually so I dont know what the waitress was doing. The ONLY thing I liked about this place was that the actual restaurant was pretty cute. Really disappointed at the service and the food, Im not going back.

The food was quite good but I think the server had too many tables and there was a lot of activity happening around the tables.

The atmosphere and service were really cool

Excellent, good food, good service, nice atmosphere, comfortable.

Delicious place for brunch!

On the spur of a whim, went for Sunday brunch/lunch and it couldnt have been more enjoyable - lovely vibe/setting, awesome food (LOVED the shakshuka), and service thats prompt and attentive without being overbearing. Equally lovely was the musical accompaniment - a jazz artist with a voice like honey that elevated the room so nicely. Thanks for an unexpected and delightful experience. Will be back.

Definitely would go back

Dropped by Starling for a drink Friday night and will be avoiding the place moving forward. The service was nonexistent. After being seated, it took 30 minutes to finally be noticed by a waiter and get to order, and then another extended wait for two drinks to come in. There were the whole of three other tables on the patio so it wasnt that it was overly busy in the section. The only time the staff were reasonably quick was when we asked for the bill. In an area with many a cocktail bar, there is no good reason to give this place your business.

Best Chicken Sandwich!

Outstanding food, my only issue was the noise level... So loud!

Its a pretty overrated cafe. Wont go again. Had brunch last weekend. Salmon egg Benedict was so salty. Food didn t even looked that appealing. Pancakes were so small not fluffy at all. Can make better at home. Took my Fiancé there who was visiting me from another city. Really got embarrassed by suggesting this place. Wont go again for sure. Maybe it has good bar but for brunch, a big No.

For a drink or a meal, this place is made for that in the city center.

Excellent cocktails. I had the scarlet tanager. The food (dinner plates) are really good, but not what I was expecting for the price. I also went during happy hour, and it was excellent! I ll definitely go back. I wish the happy hour menu had more variety, but there are appetizers that are also reasonably priced if you re looking for drinks and apps. I would go back for cocktails and appetizers for sure!

Perfect, Everything is atmosphere, Perfect music volume. Excellent cuisine from bread to dessert . Its divine.

Delicious brunch! Bring back the pancakes Food

A first time and unplanned drop in for dinner turned into an unexpected pleasure. Our server introduced herself to us once we were seated us and immediately made us feel very welcome. Her service throughout our dinner was timely and always with a smile. Our food was nothing less than excellent. It is to be experienced. Highly recommended.

Very rude to group charging 20% tip manditory for groups of 8 and above which is fine for our group Very rude to our group when we questioned why the other group who we had not sit with and do not really know had to pay the same 20% for our group as there was 2 groups from the same trip going to two different tables they made the group of 4 pay from the other table pay the 20% because we knew them Very rude and told the 20% tip rules after receiving food s Mean managers Good food

I had a fantastic dining experience at this bar/restaurant! The ambiance is inviting, and the staff is friendly and attentive. The menu offers a delicious variety, and the food exceeded my expectations. Whether youre looking for a cozy evening or a lively gathering, this place is a great choice. Highly recommend!

Very cozy and pleasant place to eat. The food was very good, but we had to send most dishes in our group back because it was cold. Staff was good but could come back to ask if we needed drinks. But, beautiful place and well worth a visit.

We ate at the Starling during our recent holiday in Canada. We re from Italy, so we appreciate that some of the customs might be different, but at this place, we couldn t quite believe it. Our brunch was reasonably ok, but my granddaughter s meal came with raw onions that we had specifically asked them to leave out. At payment time, my wife started the process of paying with card and added a $10 tip. Before she had completed the transaction, the waitress who was watching the numbers being entered into the card machine asked if the service had been unsatisfactory, because the normal tip should be 20% or 25%. My wife looked up in amazement and said that the whole brunch had been satisfactory but nothing special. My son mentioned they had made a mistake about the onions and the waitress said that that was very VERY strange, and asked how it was that there were no onions left on my granddaughter s plate. I said it was because I had eaten them. On one hand, the whole experience was a bit of a bad joke, but it certainly spoiled our day. Strongly recommend you don t visit this place.

Nice place and good good food