Vain in Versailles Bistro in Ottawa

Great food and experience. The stew and wines were delicious!

Excellent Gluten Free (celiac safe) food! Went for brunch and it did not desapoint! The owner is celiac, staff is very knowledgeable!

Amazing all around!

My experience at VIV was OK! It was not bad but it also didnt blow me away either. There was no one single thing that was a problem, but more a number of small things that contributed to making the experience what it was for me. For example, upon arrival, the restaurant was pretty cold - eventually the heating seemed to kick in and it became more comfortable but it was quite chilly for the first half of the evening. The space is quite cute and funky in its decor but the table lights are a cold white light, which gave a strange and cold feel to the space. The writing in the menu was super tiny and difficult to read (saying this as someone who doesnt have vision problems). Service was inexperienced and awkward at times but friendly. The food was enjoyable (the gnocchis were tasty and the sauce next to the duck confit was delicious). Its great to have this gluten-free option in the city and it has so many things going for it - I think little changes would go a long way to making this a 4-5 star experience.

The food was tasty overall, but the portion sizes are very small for the high prices, and I personally feel the quality was not good enough to justify that. The waitresses were kind, but I found the service to be too much at times. As this is a French-inspired bistro, I feel they could benefit from applying certain principles of French service: less is more, dont interrupt diners (to ask how the food is) when theyre clearly engaged in conversation, and wait until everyone at the table has finished eating before removing any plates. I sometimes felt as though our waitress was watching/listening to us, to see if we might need anything. Some diners might find that attentive, but it made me uncomfortable in this restaurant. I will say that they didnt try to rush us out at ten oclock, when the restaurant was closing, and I very much appreciated that.

The reviews for this place are fantastic, but my experience was lesser. Arrived to the smell of stale smoke, very unpleasant on a fresh fall day. The menu lacking - what brunch place has no eggs?! Portions small and expensive for what it was. I ordered granola bowl, which was basically a 30$ peach crisp. And when I left, I went around the corner to Farinella for a slice of pizza.

I have left countless messages for the manager over the last 3 weeks and not once have my calls been returned. This was regarding a poor experience I had

A great place for anyone who has Celiac Disease, amazing gluten free menu and outstanding food and service. Yes it s a bit pricey but it was such a pleasure to simply be able to order without having to worry can this be modified to be gluten free or any cross contamination. The service was excellent and the food was some of the best we have ever had. Definitely coming back. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free

This amazing & wonderful restaurant is such a great addition to the gluten free community. My daughter & I are both celiac & both felt very taken care of & completely satisfied. The food was 5 star, the service was 5 star, the ambiance 5 star & the drinks 5 star of course. If I could give 10 stars I would. You will not be disappointed. We will definitely be back! Dietary restrictions: Gluten intolerant

Had a great dinner this weekend. I am Celiac and my husband has no food allergies. We had the duck and the seafood plate, as well as the recommended starters. The food was very good and the menu was fun. The dessert was delicious. Our server went above and beyond all evening. Definitely adding to our list

This was a lovely experience and it is such a pleasure to be able to order anything on the menu as someone who is celiac

Cute! My challenge was that we saw an ad for it on TikTok, but neither of us could find it when we tried to google gluten free restaurant Ottawa. They need to optimize their website to work on findabilty with keywords. Im also curious about why they call one of their items Seitan Gnocchi when seitan is gluten? And Gnocchi is potato? These mushroom things were tasty, although the little brown dots of sauce on them made us think of tiny poops :P

Had high hope for this, but food was horrible and service very lack luster. Too bad because it looked so promising, not sure where all the different reviews giving this place 5 stars came from.

Love, love, love this special place.

Dietary restrictions: Gourmet gluten free at it s finest Food

Birthday dinner for a buddy was perfect. Thoroughly enjoyed

I had high hopes for vain in Versailles but it really fell short. From the second we got there, it was stiflingly hot. A fan running near us had a temperature screen that said it was 29C, and while the fan was on, it wasnt making a difference at all. Service was mediocre, the waitress kept trying to push bottles of wine/drinks on us but it was way too hot to drink, and forgot to order the appetizer someone in our group ordered. I had the Seiten gnocchi, which was on the main section of the menu but really should have been an appetizer. It was ok but only because of the sauce - and way too expensive for what you get. There were 5 of us eating there, and no one enjoyed anything they ordered. The waitress also added tip to the bill without telling us, and most of us ended up adding a tip on top of that (thats on us for not noticing, but I feel like the waitress should have mentioned it) by accident. We were all still starving after we left so we went to another restaurant down the street and had a real meal. Overall, the experience was disappointing and left a sour taste in my mouth. Wont be going back.

Wonderful evening, everything on the menu was cooked fresh,100% gluten free and mouth watering. The service was outstanding. Quite a gem of a discovery in Ottawa, well be back.

Dined here on May 12 and July 20, small boutique restaurant, attentive service, innovative dishes, very tasty well curated. Well worth the experience.

Very expensive for nothing, and limited menu.

Amazing atmosphere food was fabulous 10 out of 10 recommended servers were nothing but lovely great experience overall met to all my needs

Hands down one of the best restaurants I ve ever been to! The food was amazing, beautifully plated and delicate while still being a generous portion. Cannot recommend it more! They also had a ton of gluten free options and even an non-alcoholic Aperol Spritz. This is now my new favourite restaurant :) Our waiteress was also absolutely lovely. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free, alcohol free, allergy conscious

Everything was superbe! Food is great, the price is more than fair for the quality and service is awesome! Also like the ambiance! Second time here, not our last!

What a wonderful discovery. The decor was whimsical, from the wallpaper to the menus tucked into books. The service was attentive. The cocktails were on point and the food was delicious. If you like eclectic early 20th century dish ware, this is also the place for you. We really enjoyed our experience start to finish. Highly recommend.

A more charming environment, I cant think of. Fantastic cocktails, delicious dishes and wonderful service. Check, check, check. Vegetarian options: Several interesting choices. Dietary restrictions: Many GF options to choose.

Everything is perfection here. The owner is so kind and warm. I love it here and highly recommend it!

Really enjoyed this little spot on Preston St, we had dinner on a Saturday. The standouts were the gnocchi which was perfect and the fried smelts. The wine list was a little small but well curated. No complaints. Standout was the service, the staff was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable, I highly recommend this spot.

Went here for Valentine s a month back expecting the regular menu. Booked ahead of time and was unaware that they would be serving an overpriced, much smaller menu until I was there (too late to go elsewhere on a busy night). Food was downright bad, paid 160$ for two people no alcohol, beef in the main was like jerky, and it took 1.5 hours to get the whole thing over with (which is odd, as most of the stuff seemed pre-cooked and ready to run to tables; it was mostly cold when it came out). Me and the gf had a good laugh and agreed never to go back. I have no idea what part of my meal could possibly have justified what I paid. Oh well.

This place is awesome! Visited with a group, and everyone loved it. The food was delicious, the staff were great, and the atmosphere was delightful. They were also super accomodating about my gluten allergy. Highly recommend.

When you dine here, the staff goes out of their way to make sure you have an unforgettable experience! We tend to dine out often and I am always delighted to come across places that take pride in curating an inventive and exciting menu (especially when they have a few gluten-free and vegan options).

Delicious

I paid $45 before tip for a tiny cocktail (which I am convinced had zero alcohol in it) and a tiny shrimp pastry. The pastry was good but not $20 good. They charge $9 for bread. I am very happy to pay top dollar for great food, but this was pricey for very mediocre food in stingy portions.

The food and service is superb. Love how they have mocktails, vegan and gluten-free desserts. Very inclusive.

Went here for lunch - menu was different from dinner menu on website. I ordered a main which was essentially an appetizer tray. I don t mind paying $39 for a small portion if the quality is good, but the pastry was stale and the sauces had very little flavour. Redeeming features were that the service was quite friendly and the interior is nicely decorated. Wheelchair accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible

Visited Vain in Versailles Bistro for the first time and I really enjoyed my dining experience there. The interior decor was beautiful, bright and inviting. The food was very delicious - I really enjoyed my brisket dish and the potato gnocchi. Can t wait to try more stuff!

Loved my experience at VIV!! Hind went above and beyond with her welcoming hospitality. The vibe is so cute and Parisian. Highly recommend the Fromage! Wow! Was blown away. And their cocktails were superb the mixologist even came over to ensure we were happy with our drinks! This is a must try!

When you spend over $300+ on dinner you have certain expectations not only for the food, but the experience. The little things add up. #1 The restaurant was freezing. Not asking for much here, but I don t want to shiver while I eat. To start, we ordered the homemade bread & butter. The butter was frozen. It would ve been nice to be able to spread it. Right? We ordered the appetizer special which was smoked salmon. When you think of smoked salmon, I don t think fully cooked. Fine. All good, I like hot smoked. Great. Unfortunately I didn t notice the smoke all. It was served with cream cheese which was also frozen. It was actually tasty. Next we had the jewelry box (4 little savory pastries). They were good, but the pastry seemed a bit stale. Getting them out of the box was also challenging. Then we had 2 mains: Daube (brisket stew) and gnocchi/shrimp. Both mains were sub-par. Maybe we caught them too early on a Friday, I don t know, but I wouldn t go back again. I m leaving out a bunch of other comments because there s no point in crapping over these guys running a restaurant tough, but we were very disappointed overall.

Went for Valentines day dinner. Soup was the best part of the meal- which I enjoyed. The rest of the dinner was dry and bland. (I could pick my potatoes up like a sugar cookie- but not as tasty.) The main was supposed to be gnocchi with beef? It tasted like dry crackers with little pieces of jerk scattered across the plate. This was really disappointing and I cannot stop thinking about how bad it was. I will not be going here again. Overall it felt like a Valentine s Day money grab. POSITIVE: Staff were great and good wine selection.

I was naively optimistic about this joint. Unfortunately, the menu was not as expected. That was ok, however the service was so slow that the menu barely mattered. No coordination among staff, dismal portions, and audacious prices.

The food is absolutely incredible everytime that I come to enjoy with my friends and family. I also love how kind the staff is and the overall experience is always very pleasant. Highly recommend especially if you want to enjoy a nice date night or girls night out!

Highly recommend

Ive been to Vain in Versailles a few times now and each time its a wonderful experience. The food is so delicious and the drinks are fun and unique! I love the decor! Its colorful and playful yet moody and sophisticated! I would highly recommend this restaurant for a date night, girls night out or any celebration.

The whole experience was fantastic. From the waiting staff who were very knowledgeable, kind and accommodating to the amazing food. We had a great time in great company. The restaurant is very cozy and welcoming and the atmosphere is topped by great food. The table d hôte menu was very well put together and we enjoyed all items as we had a group of 5. Thank you to the team for a great time

creative food and cocktails and wonderful atmosphere and service!

Delicious food and easy to accomodate gluten-free needs. Cute place with lots of charm! Mocktail menu was great. Highly recommend! Well stocked bar and wine list too. Food

Fantastic food. Best meal in a long time. Perfectly crafted creative dishes, lovely ambiance in this place.

We ordered the fried oyster mushrooms, duck and pizza and everything was good. Loving it all :D

Excellent food and service! We had the Oyster Mushrooms, Beef Stew and Duck Confit. Everything was well prepared and tasty. I would like to see a better French wine list at this French inspired restaurant.

The house is absolutely gorgeous! Food is delicate and flavourful with a lot of personality. There are plenty of excellent drink choices and mocktails too.

Highly recommended for those looking to enjoy beautifully crafted dishes that taste delicious! The staff are very welcoming and the space is divine!

Gorgeous bistro! The menu is small, but everything I had was delightful. We tried the bread & butter and the pleurotes frites as our appetizers. My party particularly enjoyed the duck - very tasty, excellent presentation. For cocktails, really enjoyed La Vie en Rose & the Chocolat Terry Negroni. Don t skip dessert! The Paris-Brest - pastry with pistachio cream was delicious. Thanks for an awesome birthday VIV!

Great gem on Preston! The food was delicious (i recommend the Paris Brest), and the service impeccable. Will have to return Food : 5/5

Definitely had an amazing experience, excellent service, atmosphere and food quality. Our food was tasty, well cooked with texture and balance. would definitely go again. Food

My partner and I celebrated our ten-year anniversary here this past weekend and had a wonderful evening. The flavors and textures of both our meals were great, and the cheese board had a lovely assortment of soft and hard cheeses paired with two jams, toasted nuts, and pomegranate. The cocktail I had was delicious, and the owner was nice enough to send an aperitif to our table and chat with us for a few minutes when she heard we were celebrating a milestone. Affordably priced with an inviting interior (love the wallpaper!) - we will definitely be back!

This beautiful surprise of a restaurant was explained to me as affordable luxury. It is so much more! The decor is so stunning that you emediately know the place is special. The cocktails are creative, refreshing and delicious. And the French inspired food will get you excited from the moment it it served. Elegantly plated, layers and layers of flavours and textures. The green goodness aioli on the Tarte Flambé haunts my dreams. GF and Vegan items on the menu are stars rather than an afterthought; the menu is a beautiful balance of tastes, diets, and fun! This is a go to place to bring someone you want to make feel special, or just to do it for yourself! I have been 3 times since their opening and cant wait to bring more friends. Vegetarian options: The menu includes gourmet vegan options and they can also make some dishes vegan. So good!

Amazing food and great decore. Owner personally came and talked to us about where the food was sourced from. Wish the lighting was a little dimmer for night time but still a good vibe.

I came here for my birthday dinner and it was such a wonderful experience. The food was delicious, with deep flavours and high quality. I tried the tarte flambée and the duck confit and wow, amazing. The mocktail was also yummy! The paris-brest was a hazelnut apricot one and it was so delectable and rich. I cant wait to come back and try more things as the menu is constantly changing! The service was phenomenal and they really made me feel special on my birthday. Also all the meat is halal so that was a huge plus for me!

Delectable dishes with superior presentation. Wonderfully attentive service too. We will return!

We had wonderful beef brisket, the fries were to die for. The desserts are wonderful a must try Vegetarian options: They have vegan Dietary restrictions: The have gluten-free

What a gem of a place could be a future Michelin star! Food was gourmet (& halal) at a decent price. Attentive to detail with something for everyone, even designer mocktails! Our party ordered the duck, chicken and fish. Every dish was unique and our friends visiting from out of town were in heaven. We also ordered one of every dessert and were not disappointed! The pastry chef s creations were out-of-this-world, and the server was super knowledgeable about the cuisine. Music was a tad loud otherwise everything else was perfect. Love that they are young entrepreneurs and change up the menu, can t wait to try it again. Thanks for a wonderful evening!

Yummers on the duck confit

Went in ona whim with a party of six. Beautiful space, comfy chairs, and wonderful cocktails. We had the pleasure to meet one of the owners, and she is an absolute dream! Will definitely be returning.

Listen! My partner and I love discovering new places to eat in our neighborhood. This is a secret treasure! The service was phenomenal, the ambiance is warm and beautiful and a little weird which we loved! AND THE FOOD was amazing !! and while it is french classic in a way it is also surprising and different and so interesting! The Aligot visited me in my dream last night and we are still obsessed with the black garlic/salted caramel ice cream!! And even if I know that the chef is ready to switch it for something else, we do believe you should start selling tubs of it .. (please..) Thank you for the great night to all the passionate team! (And yes the violet cream and jam cake were delicious ;) )

Wow. This is the only word that comes to mind to describe this restaurant. This cute, cutting-edge bistro is THE gem of Little Italy. From the colourful interior to the amazing French playlist, the vibe is immaculate. The food. The food is creative and unlike anything I have ever tried. The wine, cocktails, and desserts were out of this world. Hind, the owner, is amazing and took great care of us during our dinner. You cannot miss this place in Ottawa.

Had an exquisite time with my friends last night in this new neighbourhood gem. Food on point, the Poulet Paillard a fried chicken plate was juicy and cooked to perfection. The King oyster mushroom appetizer was filling and tasty, great vinaigrette pairing. Amazing wine pairings, recommended by the lovely owner. Finished our meal with the Paris Brest, which is a must. Dietary restrictions: Lots of gluten free options on the menu

Warm, friendly service, exciting menu and great cocktails.

Great food, tasty drinks, amazing service! We really enjoyed our dinner here :)

Cozy atmosphere with unique menu options and stellar service. I highly recommend it.

Great food, very welcoming staff. Highly recommended!

The culinary art is evident in every dish. The cocktails were incredible. The service was outstanding. The server who I think was part owner was very friendly. You can tell the passion and intention behind the menu, service, ambiance.

My boyfriend and I just went there for a date night and had a wonderful experience. The food was just incredible, no other way to describe it. We ordered the mille feuille, tartar, and duck and only wish we had ordered more.. service was above and beyond, very kind and knowledgable about products. Strongly recommend this place to anyone.

Visited last night with friends and had a wonderful time! This bistro has an amazing selection of French cuisine and the staff are charming and welcoming. I had the mille feuille sarriette and duck. Cooked perfectly. A great little spot for a night out on Preston Street.

No good

Was a great experience! The staff was so kind. The drinks were very well prepared. The food was tasty. But, yes, expect French size portions, which means its a place to try at least 2 dishes. I love that the menu comes inside a classic book. I highly recommend it. We were treated very kindly ;)

We were two couples and each of the six dishes we ordered between us were delicious. The staff was friendly and the space is gorgeous, we will definitely be back!

Beautiful atmosphere, elegant dining, and amazing staff. Delicious vegetarian options. Many non alcoholic options as well. Highly recommend VIV :) Vegetarian options: I personally loved the mushroom tartar. Dietary restrictions: I have a dairy allergy, and my friend has a nut allergy. We were both alive after dinner, so yay..... they listened!

No alcohol in the cocktails, honestly. The Perrier bottle being presented in a plastic bag with some fluffy type of plant remnants that went flying everywhere and could have easily gotten into the food was off-putting and tacky. The menu was stapled together shoddily and hard to flip through. The food was no bueno. Service was great, but why wouldn t it be when we were the only people there in the entire restaurant on a Saturday night, now I know why. Basically, just, no. Just say no.

Good menu Delicious food

I went here with a friend for her 50th birthday. I wish I had taken photos of the food as it was all utterly delicious. We decided not to get a dessert but they made a small dessert and brought it out with a candle anyway. So thoughtful! The menu is a bit confusing as to the size of the dishes, but we shared a few and it was perfect. A perfect place to spend an evening with some girlfriends.

Price was higher than was on the menu, saying menu was not up to date. Otherwise good service