1 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 8S7, Canada
The Capital's social place for for drinks, dining, and other delights. Zoe’s is an aristocratic social space with a modern edge, infused with the soul of Lady Zoe Laurier, whose taste and cultivation lives on forever. Impeccable culinary delights, timeless tea service, and compelling new cocktail culture. This is a place to gather, gossip, and fall in love with the city all over again.
Went for high tea. Zoe's restaurant is in a great location. The selection of teas is broad. The finger food is tasteful but comes in small sizes. The atmosphere is the main attraction more than the food or tea. It's in the Fairmont which equates to paying for the experience ($85/person).
Wonderful service and amazing experience there. Worth the money for the atmosphere even if it wasn’t in the actual restaurant because of renovations. Looking forward to coming back for special occasions. The tea selection was plentiful, the server was attentive, helpful and kind. Scones were the perfect mix of crumbly and moist. They catered my dietary restriction without any fuss and I enjoyed the high tea thoroughly!!
Extraordinary treat for my family birthday celebration!! My family treated me to high tea for my birthday at Zoe located in the Chateau Laurier on the second floor, which is a temporary location during renovations. Josee, our server, impressed us by remembering not only all the delicious treats we enjoyed but also their ingredients. The staff was very friendly and efficient. The food was exceptional in taste and presentation. I can't wait to return to enjoy high tea again in the newly renovated restaurant. Thank you Josee for making my birthday celebration with my family extra special.
Wow! What an absolutely incredible experience. The food, the tea, the tiny hint of French music, and the divine and attentive service was just as I read. Truly an amazing afternoon out.
We had Afternoon Tea at Zoe's inside Chateau Laurier in Ottawa last week. The service was not very good (example: our food was served before our tea was served and the server never came back to ask if we needed more tea). Liked the variety in savouries and sweets. VERY disappointed in the lack of clotted cream for the scones. Generally food was okay but at $70 per person I expect real clotted cream and better service.
Went for afternoon tea. The place is amazingly bright and beautiful. Very welcoming atmosphere with incredibly attentive service. Got a tower with bites which includes scones, mini sandwiches, sweet treats. Paid around $200 for two. I should admit it’s not only about tea and treats but about socializing and having an experience.
My husband and I went out for dinner to celebrate his birthday. There was a great ambiance, but we found it to be overrated and overpriced. The quality of food and service was’t worth the price. We ordered two starters, two main dishes, one dessert, and four drinks, and the total bill came to $275, plus tax and tip. Despite being a high-end restaurant, the service was not up to the mark, and the pace was quite slow. The only dish we really enjoyed was the grilled Brussels starter. The rest of the food was average.
The tea ceremony is highly overrated. We attended Christmas tea with the children. Before booking, I saw the difference in price between the Regular Afternoon tea and the Christmas tea and was surprised that there was no hint of Christmas on the tables, except for the tree at the entrance. Two stars only because the staff at the entrance were polite and attentive, and the lobby was beautiful. There was no Christmas atmosphere at Christmas Eve. We were first for tea at 11am. At the same time, while we were waiting for snacks, we noticed a lot of garbage and crumbs from the previous day on the floor under the table, the table was already sticky, and there were dirty stains on the rim of a glass of ice water. The cutlery needed cleaning - the grooves in the patterns were clearly not cleaned and there were bent parts on one of the forks. The premises itself are clearly without an owner-administrator. The glass has noticeable sticky or greasy hand marks, the baseboard from the window on the floor is coming off and there is no one to put it in place. This is not at all the restaurant of the best hotel in the city. When the three-tier serving of appetizers arrived, the children's menu was a big loser. It is clear that it is almost half the price of an adult, but a jam sandwich between bread and a banal bacon sandwich is just ridiculous. The adult set had a third of a croissant, dry ham, tired appetizers. As they wrote in other comments, the cucumbers were no longer fresh, it all looked like it had been cooked the night before. For dessert, 4 types of sweets were served individually for adults and 3 for children. The children's were quite simple, like profiterole, shortbread and a simple sponge cake with coconut. Adults are unlikely to surprise anyone who has the slightest idea about cooking desserts and French pastries. Very very primitive. The tea was excellent. The tea party was designed for a maximum of 2 hours, while the waiter independently began to offer to finish, insisted on bringing boxes for leftover food and was clearly in a hurry. From the excessive courtesy at the beginning to the hasty farewell at the end - not very impressive. Total for 200 dollars for 1.20 hour you get an unkempt restaurant, food without sophistication, and strange behavior of the staff. I still don’t understand the difference between Christmas and regular tea, it’s no longer interesting to check. We are new cameramen, we have lived in Europe all our lives, and we were very surprised by such quality in the restaurant in the main hotel of the capital of Canada.
Cold - the soup and the service Not cold - the sparkling wine. It was a comedy of errors to be honest. Our server was slow and more focused on moving the furniture around to begin with. We finally ordered after being seated for 45 min. At min 20 we realized it was very cold so we asked to be moved. Turned out it wasnt our situation, the whole places heating was on the fritz. I was offered a blanket (after asking for my coat back) which I accepted but it never came. We ordered a sparkling wine which they didnt have, but it took them 20 min to figure that out and then bring an alternative. It was not chilled. By that point we had given up. I was thankful it was just my husband and I. Its not always easy to make the time but I had made the reso, and was really looking forward to it but it was all so disappointing we just ended up laughing. I would have been mortified if it was family or friends. The glasses had water marks on them, which is shocking for an establishment like this. One water glass had a chip - all glasses and cutlery should be checked before placing on the table. The entire place is beautifully renovated but it feels like the service and attention to detail falls flat. The chairs are awful - they weigh a ton and are not ideal for all patrons. Food was decent for the price but not a lot of options. I expected more.
Uneven food (some great, some not even mediocre); noisy (but where isnt); glacial service with unapologetic wait staff. Im a visitor to this town and hoping there are better places elsewhere.
Great place to end day with a cocktail- great selection and fantastic environment- love it
Terrible service. Took 20 minutes to get our drink order taken. Another 30 minutes for our drinks to arrive. Our order was nothing complicated. Just three glasses of wine and a beer. The place wasnt even super busy. Waitress seemed annoyed and told us to be patient when we politely asked what the delay was. Other staff we dealt with (waitress and manager) just seemed to kind of not care that they were working there/not friendly/apathetic. Other customers seemed similarly annoyed. We expected to be comped our drinks given the delay but they didnt seem to think waiting almost an hour was anything to apologize about. Decor is beautiful but wouldnt go back. We gave zero tip and left after one drink. This place needs to get it together.
The service is downright horrible. Probably the worst I ve seen in over 10 years anywhere around the globe. Took them 40 mins before someone came and took food orders. Drinks came out significantly late as well. English seemed to be a challenge for some staff. Food was good and ambiance was good.
High tea at Zoes was fabulous. Nicole was amazing, found a French menu for my mom, so many tea flavors. A wonderful experience. Dietary restrictions: They accommodated my nut allergy with no issues.
Ive been going to Zoes for about 5 years, almost always as a quiet business lunch or dinner. The menu has been changing, with portions getting smaller, and prices higher. Today my guest had Seared Tuna, while I had Pork Belly. Each plate was nicely decorated, the meat portions were and nicely cooked, but on the moderate side. However that was it, no vegetables or carbohydrates to speak of. My friend and I asked for some fries and agreed that we needed to find a different restaurant for next time.
The celeriac chestnut soup was exquisite in all ways. Hanan offered me skilled and thorough service. The atmosphere is bright and elegant; a welcome thing in the cold winters of Ottawa. They accommodate dietary restrictions with ease. The food I wanted was not listed as gluten free on their menu but they managed to make it in a way that was.
We loved our experience at Zoe s, the dishes are carefully prepared and delicious!! The lobster was amazing and I loved the cream macchiato
HORRENDOUS. I went today for Afternoon Tea and had a reservation that was booked for 1pm, was told to sit tight and wait for the table to be ready. Multiple people came in and were seated while I was waiting. After waiting for 30 minutes with no acknowledgment, I decided to ask a time estimate on when to expect a table. Staff was extremely rude! Like, why are you mad at me that you forgot about me? Or you re so short staffed and behind schedule? Either way, get it together. Also, Zoe s is currently closed for reservations so they are hosting the Afternoon Tea in a hallway. Definitely a let down. Do not expect quality service, or a grand experience here.
You can have tea but not in the restaurant. Always excellent, complemented by outstanding and warm service, worthy of the experience, thank you Nicole.
Nice romantic place in the historic Chateau Laurier!
Exceptional service by Dave! Will come back for sure
1. Very good location 2. A great choice while live in Fairmont, convience 3. The service is very good, but sometimes there is no one at the front desk (probably too busy) 4. I know many people give high ratings, but for me, food is So so and there is no surprise; 5. Since I stayed in Fairmont, I had my dinner and High Tea there. 6. High tea is very popular, I have no idea why. its better to make a reservation. Many people choose afternoon tea to celebrate their birthdays. There are many options for afternoon tea, and scone is very good, I would recommend it. but other desserts are average. Parking: Parking at fairmont
We had made a reservation to have a table during the tea and meal service. We thought we would be served on time. In the end, we had to wait 40 minutes before being able to get to our table! The excuse given being that we had reserved for 5 people and there were not many tables available in the restaurant that could accommodate that many people (?!). Its boring to say, but dont plan your service like that if you dont have the capacity to welcome customers? Or does not require a reservation?
Beware or your server and sharing towers! We had come in a Sunday in April of 2024 and were asked If our group wanted to share towers. We had come back in June of 2024 expecting that our group would share two towers and were told that that was not an option also on a Sunday. When we asked if we could share the towers to, our server told us that that was not an option that they dont do that at this establishment. One of the members in our party had said I just wont get one. Im not very hungry. Ill just drink some of the Prosecco that we had already ordered. Our server then told us no thats not an option you have to get your own meal and its already been put in. You have to get it now. Our server was making a scene and pressuring us into the meals, not asking is what we wanted at all. You dont have an option. Our server made us feel very uncomfortable and was being very loud and causing a scene. She came back one time after we received our towers to give us an extra glass so that we could share our tea. We didnt see her again until the end of the meal when our time was almost up and when she brought our bills she made an utterance that during the week they allow you to share a tower and they would be happy to do that in the future but not on the weekends. The last time that we had come we were offered to share towers on a Sunday and again less than 2 months later also on a sunday. We came back because we really enjoyed our experience the first time. I do not think that we would come back. Which is very unfortunate because when we are coming to visit family its a nice thing to do with our group of girls. It really left a sour taste in our mouth.
Food presentation was poor. The portion of duck was terrible and didnt lend itself to a positive plating, and the sauce looked to be lazily thrown around in a bad attempt to be artistic. Blood from the steak was streaking across the plate upon arrival at the table which to me indicates that the steak wasnt allowed to rest after cooking, and the arrangement of veg was uninspired. Flavours were generally quite bland, especially for the mains and the cocktails. Except for the French onion soup, which was oversalted. We attended an early dinner seating (5:30) and yet both the oyster and bison options were already unavailable, which, in addition to being annoying, indicates poor kitchen management. Service was nothing special. The low point was when our mains arrived before we were even finished our entrees. The server may benefit from re-upping on training as this inherently also affected the enjoyment of the dishes, our dining experience, etc.
Place with a cozy atmosphere and friendly staff, we had a good evening
Delightful would be the right way to say satisfaction after evening event and meal there. Would go again and food is not pub junk expensive food like their friends across the street, it s quite nice and a good kitchen is running back there.
Afternoon tea is a special experience at the Chateau Laurier.
Stayed at the fairmount in ottawa where this place is located inside of. Ordered a signature drink called the statesman..great presentation and super tastey drink. We had about 6 of these during our 4 nite stay. Recommend any one try that likes a bit of whiskey
Staff to patron ratio too low. Server very limited under these scenario. One would expect exceptional service for these prices. Food great but service
Zoes was incredibly accommodating of my special request over Mothers day weekend. They helped me orchestrate a surprise for my fiancé on probably their busiest weekend, and then served us a delightful high tea. We had an excellent spot tucked away by the bonsaïs by the window. After the surprise was revealed (whose details I made sure to include in my online reservation), the staff continued to be kind and attentive. Zoes continues to be a treat!
I had to give the service two stars because the waitress made us sit right next to the cleaning products. We had a reservation.. and she was pretty rude. Their cleaning tray was literally next to my face. Unacceptable and so unbelievable. I had higher expectations for Chateau Laurier. We had another waitress coming to us she was the sweetest she made sure we were comfortable.
Fabulous service, great spot for desserts and drinks. Again the service was impeccable.
Zoe at Chateau Laurier in Ottawa is known for its classy ambiance, delicious food, and top-notch service, making it a great spot for a special meal. Situated in the historic Chateau Laurier, the atmosphere is elegant yet welcoming, creating the perfect setting for a memorable dining experience. When you walk in, youll notice the beautiful decor and the friendly staff ready to assist you. The menu offers a fantastic variety of dishes, from savory steaks to fresh seafood and tasty vegetarian options, ensuring theres something for everyone to enjoy. Our server surprised me with a delightful birthday cake. Its a lovely way to add an extra touch of celebration to your dining experience and make the occasion truly special. Overall, Zoe at Chateau Laurier is a wonderful choice for those seeking a combination of great food, a pleasant ambiance, and a touch of celebration for special occasions like birthdays.
We went for Afternoon Tea for my moms 81st birthday. Loved the space at Zoes for tea - comfy sofa we sat at for our table of 6, large windows letting in a great deal of sunlight and the overall upscale atmosphere being in a chateau! Food was nicely prepared. Personally wanted more savoury than sweet. The grand selection of 20 types of teas was a nice surprise. We had Josie as our server and she was great even brought out an extra dessert plate for my mom in celebration of her birthday! The only reason I rated it a 4 out of 5 is the parking at the Chateau Laurier - there is now none!!! We pulled up with our 4 elderly parents and their friends and not a spot in sight. Found out later they only do valet now at $60 a pop!!! As a result I probably will not be going back there anytime soon. Service is important and with a no parking situation that has turned me off this hotel completely. Vegetarian options: My sister is a vegetarian and I a percatarian. They did a separate tea for each of us. Much appreciated. Parking: None on site or near by. Minimum 15 minute walk.
We went for afternoon tea and had a lovely experience. The venue is beautiful, the tea selection is vast and diverse, and the food was great. Honestly though, the service was what made the experience a perfect 5/5. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive, and took care of us. The only notable pain point, in my opinion, is the price. We paid $400 for 4 people, which is certainly steep for tea and light bites, but the experience is worth it for a special occasion.
The hotel is lovely but the restaurant service was lacking and everything looked old and weathered for the prices they are charging.
The lack of options in the menu was really disappointing. The service and atmosphere was nice though. We ordered bone marrow, French onion soup and Bison Steak. We liked the bone marrow but position size could be bigger for the bone marrow.
If you are lucky enough to get Nicole as your server for high tea, you couldn t be in better hands. A certified tea sommelier, she recommended delicious teas that beautifully paired with the food. The teas were extraordinarily flavorful and complex, and the food was varied and delightful. I have been to many high teas, and I appreciated the fact that this one has a slightly higher ratio of savory items. Nicole was extremely knowledgeable about both the teas and the food and shared stories of how the teas were crafted. The atmosphere was lovely: a bright, open, elegant, and quiet space with huge floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto the street. It was my favorite high tea experience to date and well worth the price. P.S. There is a full bar and a children s menu as well.
The majestic settings of the old CP hotels have become the overpriced and illusory smoke and mirrors that Fairmont uses to great effect and is on full display here. This is fast food in a gothic revival mausoleum. The missives are too numerous to mention but a faint Lysol smell would not have been out of place. Howard Johnsons ghost would immediately lock the doors to this joint and start over.
We went there for afternoon tea. Above all, I would like to emphasize the excellent quality of the service: the staff were friendly, always attentive, taking the time to explain and describe what was served to us, and always with a smile. I would add that the decor is very charming: the dining room, with its decor combining neoclassical and art deco, gives the impression of traveling back in time, somewhere in the first half of the 20th century, in the company of notables. .. Before or after the meal, you can also take a short stroll around the ground floor of the very elegant Château Laurier and trace its history to the rhythm of the photos that furnish its walls. The experience, therefore, is quite pleasant. On the other hand, it must be admitted that, on the food side, the offer does not live up to expectations for such a place and for the price. The choice of tea was certainly very interesting (although we would have liked to know if certain varieties were fair trade or organically grown) and very varied. But the appetizers that accompanied the tea werent the most stunning. Everything was very good, but not exceptional, and therefore a little below expectations. Scones (best part of the offer), sandwiches, pastries, everything is done according to tradition, but lacks a little personality. Vegetarian options: Afternoon tea consists of a fixed menu, but can be adapted to suit individual dietary restrictions. The vegetarian version is quite respectable.
The place was great and very welcoming environment. Was so romantic and fancy. Very wide area and super charming staff. WE had the beef tartare which was super delicious. Then we got the beet stained salmon and Mariposa Duck confit with veggies. They re both very delicious and overwhelmingly tasty. Never had something like this before. Veggies in the side with sauces were wow yummy. I really enjoyed their food. I will for sure come back again. They offer valet parking as well which was very convenient and helpful in the midst busy downtown and paid about 25 for 3-4 hours. I highly recommend it.
I went in on my own to have a coffee and dessert. At the front desk I had the impression that, because I was alone, it would be an inconvenience for them to give me a table. I placed my order and the coffee arrived but my dessert took awhile. Then it was a challenge to flag down my server so I could pay my bill. All in all, I think I prefer other Accor establishments.
Always a winner
Honestly the price wasnt really worth the portion or taste. The server was nice but the wait for the food was very long, not really worth what we got. The atmosphere is nice, the hotel is stunning and worth a good walk to explore, youll be waiting a while anyways so enjoy what the place has and take some pics!
The steak was good
I visited for afternoon tea on my birthday, and was very underwhelmed by the atmosphere, service, and food, especially at that price point. I had high expectations, but it felt cheap and a little gimmicky, the server was very sweet but her recommendations were scripted and could tell she didn t have a genuine interest in, or knowledge of the teas. Trying the different selections was something I was really looking forward to, and she did let us have more than one pot which was nice! They served a small complimentary birthday dessert, but I don t think I d return here for a celebration, but might be good for a meet up with a large group.
The glasses of wine are so dirty. We returned 2 already and they keep bringing dirty glasses for the fancy wine. The appetizers are so disapointing i didnt even both with a main dish. Im sorry. We wanted to enjoy this so bad but its all round just plain and not up to par with fairmont quality.
Great food, and the architecture is something beautiful to enjoy. We had a lovely meal.
I had the rib and it was amazing. Fell apart so tender. Ot much in any side dish with it so had to order fries. This place is pricey.
We went for high tea. It is expensive but you know I m reservation what to expect. We did have to wait for our reso which was fine just be aware
We went yesterday for Afternoon Tea.Bad, very bad experience. Just to of as, driving more 2 hours from Montreal, reservations I made 2 weeks before. Our reservations was at 1.15pm, we come 10 mnt before, wait with other people in line another 10 mnt to just present our self. And we wait another 30 mnt just to get our table. Stuff say its a many people and we have to wait!!!Finally they invited us to restoran inside, and we get our orders after another 30 mnt.Very low service. Very very.Also not service as 5stars hotel...Poor.Food is over priced and nothing special. Also I order salad.My total price was 170$. You guys need to learn how to give best service and good service. Very disappointed.
We went today at 2 pm. Three strikes for us won t be returning. The service has gone downhill. We had to ask for my daughter s hot chocolate and we did not receive the ordered Prosecco although it was on the bill. The waitress said I wish you would have reminded me . At $80 a head, I should not have to remind anyone of anything. Sandwiches have been sitting too long. Chairs are in desperate need of cleaning and replacement. I ve had afternoon tea in many cities and this is truly lacking. Quite disappointing. Two stars is just for the ambiance but tbh, save your money and go elsewhere.
Took my granddaughter for lunch at Zoes and was very disappointed with the overall experience. The service was extremely slow, and the food was only fair at best and left a lot to be desired -especially for the price. The ambiance was nice yet somewhat shabby and in need of updating. There are much better places for lunch in Ottawa.
The food here is just okay, considering the price of it. Its a nice place and it makes me feel kind of fancy. The menu changes often. I went mid December most recently and the menu this time was uninspiring. The mocktails are pricey, but they are delicious. The desserts are also pricey but also delicious. The mains and apps are meh.
Had a great night tonight! Food was fantastic and our server Caly made it so much better, she was so personable and funny, totally made the experience 100%
My wife and I dined at Zoe s on valentines 2023 and had a less than great experience. But after emailing management, we were grisly invited back for a free dinner (so kudos for that) This second experience was spot on from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. This was largely due to our server Caly, who from the get go was attentive, engaging and knowledge Caly really made our second experience a great one and truly made us feel comfortable and serviced with impeccable service.. Thank you to the management for the second oppurtunity to dine at Zoe s. The food was incredible and the service was top notch (Caly) We really had a great date night Thank you very much. Greg
My Grand Daughter and I attended High Tea at the Chateau Laurier on Dec 28th. This was a Christmas present that we were so excited to attend. The atmosphere was far from spectacular, no table cloths on the table. Tea was served in flat bottom mugs with saucers (expected tea cups), had to ask for butter for our scones. We made the best of it just being dressed up. Dont spend the money or the time. Total disappointment.
Very nice experience in this lovely bar in the Fairmont hotel, we went there for the tea ceremony in the afternoon. The service was very polite, the only downside was being in a table close to the window which was pretty chilly. There is a good diversity of tea and theres definitely a lot of food coming with it, sweet and salty. I think that spending around 105 CAD (taxes and tips included) is too much but the afternoon was very pleasant.
The food was phenomenal, the staff were so friendly and kind. The whole experience was awesome. We felt like princesses eating in a castle. Prices were also reasonable.
The food were prepared very nicely. The sea bass and ribs were delicious. The server was very attentive to our needs. It was a busy night but we re able to get a very nice table. Kid-friendliness: Kids had nut allergy and it was taken care of. They loved the hamburger sliders.
nice but nothing to brag about, the French Onion Soup was superb.
Accommodating of dietary restrictions. I got the vegan high tea. Pricey but nice location and staff. Food was filling and pretty good.
Good ambiance , overprice a little , vibe ok but cold ish kinda vibe ... almost no music , lights are high , ok
The drinks and food are always great. Its such a lovely spot. It used to be we would come here to treat ourselves, and be made to feel special with the great service we would receive. Last night changed that. The server treated us like we were inconveniencing her with our mere presence, the whole time. She unceremoniously plunked down my cocktail - the 23 dollar one that comes in a cedar filled box - on the table, in front of someone else. They usually make a show of opening it up for you, which again makes it all the more special. None of this occurred. And this person has apparently been working there for a long long time so would know the procedure. First world problems I know but when you save up for such events its quite disheartening. I would return but would avoid this persons section for sure.
The food wasnt the best but the tea and decor was very good. I recommend getting the maple cream tea.
The food was decent tasting overall, but everything was incredibly overpriced for the type/quality of food we got. The drinks were mediocre and they were missing many of the typical drinks other places would have. We asked for bread multiple times, and even though it never arrived, they had the audacity to charge it. What really made the experience very sour was the waitress. We dont know the back story, but whoever the girl serving us tonight was, we did not deserve your attitude and neglect. Immediately gave us a hard no whenever a question was asked, refused to simply give us a bigger spoon, she had to give us a lecture on how we can use the little spoons provided to serve the bowl of soup. You also did not have to roll your eyes and give us so much attitude. You made us feel terrified to ask for assistance/help and so we decided to leave after the appetizers.
Went for drinks and small bites after work. It took over 20 minutes to get a glass of wine. Ordered truffle fries that were cold, soggy and had zero truffle flavour (for $16). Waiter never came back to check on us and I wanted another wine but did not have the opportunity to order as the waiter never came by. Had to physically go get him to get the bill after an hour. Over priced, disgusting food and had service. Go anywhere else.
Poor serving staff.
A high-end restaurant to try when youre in Ottawa, if you can afford it. As a starter, I had fermented carrots, radishes, spiced carrot puree, spiced roasted pistachios, apple balsamic pearls, watercress and vinaigrette. As a main meal it is pan-fried striped bass (fish), spicy squash, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, coriander oil. All this with a glass of Canadian white wine Henri of Pelham, Riesling.
We took my mother for high tea this past summer. Enjoyed getting out tho thought costly for what you get. But cant think of better historical venue in Ottawa so thus the price and the reason most people likely go. Miss the former high arm chairs tho and unsure why decided to cut live jazz/piano music. Would bring some life back to the somewhat underutilized venue.
Amazing food. Great service. Super kid friendly.
Today was my 66th birthday! What a lovely way to spend my birthday, sitting in Zoes with a beautiful salmon on pumpernickel and a cocktail.. There is a great deal to be said about those old fashioned, gentler things if life. Thank-you for making my birthday extra special!! Maureen Flynn RN
High tea experience was excellent, a must to mark any special events or just to spent a couple of hours with friends / family. Fancy teas and finger food. Bery good.
Reservation was Friday at 11:30am, they were able to accommodate our request for a window seat. Nicole our server was extremely helpful, professional and friendly. Yea service was excellent. Although it doesn t appear to be a lot of food for the price it s extremely filling (and I can eat a lot normally). The ambiance was beautiful and relaxed and felt like a special event. Would definitely return. 2 hour seating is plenty to enjoy and savour it all!
Beautiful spot for high tea any day of the week. I would recommend getting a reservation. There is a set menu, but staff will ask if you have dietary restrictions before hand. The vegetarian menu is the same quality as the set menu, showing they put thought into curating something for everyone. If you have a more rare or complicated restriction I would suggest calling ahead to ensure they can accommodate. The staff, especially our server Josée, was so friendly and joyful. The food was delicious and beautiful, and so was the scenery. There is also a kid friendly set menu.
Went for high tea. Its a wonderful old hotel setting, and the glass house is bright and cheerful even in winter. The vintage silverware (60s CP cream and sugar containers!) was a nice touch. However, the tables were too small (could barely fit our food on it) and were too close together which made it hard to maintain privacy.
Very nice evening dinner with long time Friends! Exceptionnel service by Taylor! Excellent food and wine! Food
The food was so delicious and kudo to the gentelman that served us
The place is beautiful. Staff is very professional and nice. We took the high tea option and enjoyed every bit of it. I went a second time for dinner. I am not impressed by the food as much as I am impressed by the service and the beauty of that place and its vibe! Dont get me wrong the food is still great. I just expected a bit more. But will go a third time for sure. Totally underrated in Ottawa.
We stopped in for a late night cocktail,so I cant review the food. The cocktail menu was fabulous and we all enjoyed the amazing atmosphere and wonderful service.
Everything was awesome.
Feb 2023 Came back with my boyfriend for tea time this morning just before noon. Once again they accommodated my vegan lifestyle with a delectable selection. The portion sizes are deceptively filling! They look small and elegant but were enough to satiate both myself and my burly athlete partner. August 2022 Went here with my sister and two of her friends as part of a bridal shower / Bachelorette day for my sister. One of the 3-tier platters is vegan (the one with two triangular scones, they also provided a vegan cream for my scones too) and the other two 3-tier platters were regular (only one of the regular ones is picture). It was a wonderful experience and the staff are superb. First mimosa Ive ever had! And then the second mimosa Ive ever had lol. The tea was fantastic. I cant wait to return another time.
Valentine s Day fixed menu was amazing. Every course was delicious and the portion were big. Highly recommend. Dietary restrictions: Accommodate for dietary restrictions
Amazing 5 course valentine dinner huge portions and great food everything was so delicious great atmosphere and service so happy we came here tonight!
Amazing place and great service We went for high tea afternoon, food was good. The only thing is the parking we couldnt park at the hotel unless we have a room booked. Arrive early to find a parking.
My partner and I went for the Valentines day tasting menu and we left with mixed feelings. The menu was amazing, each course was unique and delicious - everything was packed with flavor and well presented. Unfortunately thats where the positive experience ends - while our server was great and trying to bail the sinking ship, the service itself was doomed. We didnt get seated until 45 minutes past out reseveration, and then had to wait another 40 for our first course. It was a very slow service, with 30 - 50 minutes between each course. Hopefully in the future the service will improve as the food would be worth the visit again.
Best Valentine dinner EVER! Amazing food, great atmosphere and spectacular service! the 5 course dinner was wonderful and the portions were huge! everything was so tasty. Is it too early to reserve for next Valentine day? thank you to everyone at Zoes for making this an evening to remember!
very nice decor, good service, good food, pricey but you know you should expect that
High Tea
I am really disappointed with the staff, especially the old lady, there is unfair treatment, we are a visible minority and it affected me. She didnt calculate or ask us if we liked it or ate well, racism is intolerable For the food I enjoyed it. it seems like she doesnt like serving people of color, something inappropriate Her name is Tracey I am really disappointed with the staff, especially the old lady, there is unfair treatment, we are a visible minority and that affected me. She did not calculate us or ask if we had liked or had eaten well, racism is intolerable looks like she doesnt like serving people of color inappropriate thing, Her name is Tracey. For the food I liked it.
Tried some dessert and drinks at the bar. It s kinda combined with the Reading Library. Nice chill environment with gorgeous indoor plants.
New spot for Friday night! highly recommend for a good night out in Ottawa. They have a wide range of cocktails and mocktails. Our family has a tradition of ordering the seasonal mules. The food is delicious I had lamb pasta. Absolutely, a must try if they still offer the dish.
Amazing restaurant. Went for the High Tea service. Chantal was a Wonderful server for our table. We had a great time.
A small group of us attended high tea at Zoes. The atmosphere was wonderful, it was a lovely sunny day and the large windows, lovely seating arrangement and general vibe was fantastic! We had some dietary restrictions that were all accommodated and our server was great. The food - meh. I tried everything and other than a mushroom sandwich served on a croissant that was good, nothing struck me as really being worth eating... The desserts tasted of cheap sugar versus anything particularly fancy. One was probably the worst dessert Ive ever tasted - none of us ate it (a cardamon cake that was a highly unnatural shade of deep pink). Overall, I would say skip high tea and maybe try a different meal time to enjoy the atmosphere. Vegetarian options: Able to accommodate Dietary restrictions: Able to accommodate
Its more beautiful than good. For the price, I would have expected something tastier. It was more well presented than good. For the price, I would have expected something more tasty.
Food is very sub-standard for the price. If you just want an impressive environment and ambiance, and don t care about the food, then it s a good place
What a place! The historic Chateau Laurier Dine or drink where Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers and Presidents have enjoyed Canadian hospitality. Epic place. Well worth a visit Food : 5/5
WOW! WOW! and Wow! Everyone there was exceptional, delicious. From fine cuisine to its peak! You will discover improbable dishes, flavors and desserts, but with a perfection that borders on the surreal. Kid-friendliness: Menu, high chair and drawings.
We had the Afternoon Tea here and it was a very joyous way to celebrate out anniversary. Delicious, great atmosphere and our server Dave was outstanding.
Great food, service and historic location. Beautiful building. Worth the extra price tag
Deliciously creative cocktails and great food in a more refined setting.
Loved the fried chicken sandwich for lunch. Great service.
High tea! Superb.
Beautiful room, warm and cheerful service. Outstanding cocktails, and a bar menu which offers a reasonable (although not extensive) selection of appetizers and mains. The cheese plate was unusually good, and beautifully presented.
We have done dozens of afternoon teas all over Ontario and for the price this was very disappointing. At a $75 per person price tag (most expensive weve done) I would have expected more. Not even a tablecloth on the table. Tea selection was minimal. The food wasnt fresh. The scones were the worst weve ever had....small, dry, and overcooked. No clotted cream. The jam was the best part. Cannot recommend this afternoon tea experience.
We had the best high tea experience here! The food was delicious and the decorations were absolutely stunning. What really made the experience stand out, though, was the impeccable service provided by our server Jeremy. He was attentive, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to make sure we had an enjoyable dining experience. Would definitely come back again in the future!
A nice place to enjoy high tea with a decent view of Wellington.
Service is good. Bar is good. They serve famous Statemens Whiskey cocktail. Everything is plated well, served well. Some things are hit and miss. I will frank and honest on a culinary basis you are paying for location. High Tea items were delicious. My Tuna main was great and very good, the Tuna starter was plated well and flavours worked but it seemed like I paid $40 for a can of Tuna. Again Creme Brule and Cheesecake were phenomenal, the ice cream was good but not worth the price. This means you will need to navigate the menu. I probably would not order the burger there, down the street you find a better burger for example. They were helpful with modifications and dietary restrictions. I had dinner one evening, drinks and deserts the other evening, High Tea on Sunday. For High Tea you should make reservations well in advance as it brings people in who arent staying at the hotel. You may want reservation for dinner just in case there are events going on. High Tea was a great great experience, 2 hour seating limit, they were accommodating with dietary restrictions. Kids option. Great Teas. Service was great and you will not find this experience often. Vegetarian options: Some options available. Dietary restrictions: They will accommodate. Parking: Valet only, or you will have to park elsewhere in a paid lot not attached to the hotel and walk a bit. Kid-friendliness: They have a kids menu. Wheelchair accessibility: Make reservations and let them know so they have a table for you on main level.
Always a great place for a meal and great discussions.
Poor customer service i d k if all other waitresses were as rude as ours. Me and my friend with my service dog were welcomed by the front line but the waitress she was a bit older and healthy she came and literally threw the menus on table. My dog barked a couple times as he is in training the management came to us and said if he barks again we have to LEAVE. My dog didn t bark again but the waitress wjo never again to take our orders complained about my dog barking again. The management came to us and asked us to leave, the other table there was a couple who literally barged in to say the dog did not bark again. We just left willingly because there was enough disrespectful behaviour from the whole staff. Thanks to the other table couple for standing for us. The whole situation was very stressful for me and my dog, I haven t dined in another place since my brain injury i am probably never going to this Joes It was an horrible experience on the day of new years eve! We literally had ordered uber eats that night for us never going to dine in again.
Went for high tea, Took 20 min just to be seated even though we had a reservation, another 20 before we even had our tea. Food was average. When you arrive they tell you it s a total of 2 hours, but it took 40 minutes from reservation time till we even had a sip. Cannot say at $73 per person I got service to go with it. I would not recommend.
Matthew was excellent!
I love this place. Staff is exceptionally kind and always remember us. We love to go for drinks, afternoon tea, or a late meal after work. The newest menu change is lovely and very well-curated. The atmosphere itself is a lovely blend of modernity and historic architecture.
Like before you really cant say anything bad about this place everything was great.
Went for afternoon tea with my wife. Fantastic service by Josee. Great attention to details, and full product presentation was top notch. Ended up getting an additional cake piece for my wifes bday.
Relaxing place for an after dinner drink or dessert within the splendor of an old world hotel.
Came here for my birthday dinner, everything was delicious, the menu was small, which made it feel more like quality items instead of quantity. The steak was absolutely delicious, one of the best I ve had in a while. We ordered the Octopus Carpaccio and the Crab Tian, both were light and refreshing appetizers. My boyfriend got the yellowfin tuna, portion was a little small but overall everything was great. This was definitely an experience and is a nice treat for special occasions. I will definitely be back!
Great ambiance and amazing experience
I went for the high tea and it was really good. There is a large tea selection and I was really happy that they can substitute some food if you have food intolerance/not liking something
The bouillabaisse was great choice . It had great flavour and the portions was good
Food good, decor.... just hideous. Zoes is part of Chateau Laurier a truly grand hotel of the Canadian Railways built in 1912. The hotel has maintained its period decor to a large extent. Except for Zoes. Its in featureless pale grey in an attempt to bland it out. Decor that ruins a magnificent room. June 2023 update; hotel still same, Zoes decor still hideous.
Simply delicious
I was expecting something more fancy for the price!
Service by Tracy horrible. She has no manners. You ask for bread, she refuses. You ask for a plate (to share appetizer), she refuses and tell you to use your side plate. Pour water in your glass with putting her arm in your face. Knock the glasses on the table when bringing them. Speaks in French with « tu » all the time. Service terribly long! Unbelievable. As regards the food, probably the worst pasta plate I ever had. My husband had mussels that were dry!!! Does not worth the price at all. A waste. Go to a pub in the market and you will eat much better.
Nous avons été tellement déçu. Serveuse (Tracey) avec des manières grossières, aucune classe et qui volontairement nous faisait attendre longuement entre les plats pour probablement faire couler plus de vin. Tous les plats étaient mauvais. Moules sèches, pâtes immangeables (faut le faire) et service impoli. Sincèrement, ne gaspillez pas votre argent à cet endroit. Pianiste bon.
Absolutely loved our meal. The drinks and dessert were to die for. Id go back in a heartbeat!
Great place with city views. Reservation is highly recommended, you can do it online.
Had the cioppino for lunch and it was delicious (but not cheap).
Relaxing atmosphere and great service!
I loved this place. The service is impeccable. The kitchen is very good. To return.
Excellent food, however, service is slow. Great atmosphere and the food is great - very expensive, but great.
Perhaps the best high tea place I have been to. Initially I did feel awkward coming here by myself but my waitress (Chantal) helped me feel comfortable with the environment, guided me through their teas, and was very friendly and informative. It was pricey (but that s the case for all high tea experiences), but speaking for myself, I would recommend this place for anyone who enjoys high tea. Hope to visit again!
My daughter and I came fornthe Afternoon tea. Great expérience. The sandwiches and pastries and of course the scones were delicious. You can choose your tea from an extensive list. Delicious. We will return.
My mother and I went for afternoon tea at Zoe s and our server Dave was absolutely amazing. A gorgeous place with the best service imaginable. I couldn t decide between two teas so Dave went out of his way to bring both throughout the meal!
I loved my experience here! The service was very nice and proper. There were bilingual waiters which was nice because I m French, and they even asked about allergies. I usually have to make sure myself, but they were fully aware that people can have allergies and made sure everything I ate was safe for me. The desserts were a bit disappointing to be honest, but everything else was absolutely delicious! I would definitely come again!
The food does not mach the atmosphere. Food is not special enough. Beautiful looking restaurant. Food
Afternoon High Tea was one of the highlights of our weekend. Vegetarian options: We selected both the Vegetarian Afternoon High Tea and the Savory option. We were not disappointed. The food was superb and service exquisite. Would go again. A real treat
High tea at Zoe s is a special treat. They have a huge selection of teas to pick from, but I recommend the maple cream, a flavor you aren t going to find everywhere. Although the menu is set they do make adjustments for allergies and taste preferences. The highlight of my tea was the blueberry scone with mascarpone and jam, as well as the crab salad on a croissant. Of course I finished with a very nice French 75. In the same day, I went back for a late little supper. I enjoyed the beef tartare and tried a local Canadian gin. I also tried their photo friendly smoked whiskey cocktail. The food was great. The service was very friendly. And the room is lovely both day and night. My only complaint was the speed of the drinks. We had to wait quite a while for those, but otherwise it was flawless. Kid-friendliness: They have a special kids version of high tea if you want to take your little one.
Our group chose Zoe s for a ladies outing and weekday afternoon tea - so glad we did! The dining room is gorgeous with soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers and tall windows. Everyone was so pleasant, from the doorman to the friendly waitstaff. The tea menu is worth mentioning as it contains actual samples of the teas in little windows. They do offer substitutions for food allergies and sensitivities as well as a gluten free and vegan tea (reserve in advance). The tea itself is delightful - scones were fluffy and tender, served up with strawberry jam and mascarpone cream toppings. The savory selection included a mini roast beef sandwich, crab salad on croissant (substituted with hummus and quinoa on toast point for a shellfish allergy), mushroom and truffle puff pastry and traditional cucumber and smoked salmon. The sweets ranged from a pistachio macaron to mini chocolate and Earl Grey tea gâteau. The sizes are deceptive - it doesn t look like a lot of food but we were stuffed by the end of the meal - two of us had to take to-go boxes because they couldn t finish. Between the delicious food, excellent service and elegant atmosphere this is a treat well worth the money - 5 stars all around. Definitely make reservations and request a window seat.
Going to Zoes for afternoon tea is an expensive treat. While there are less expensive decent places in Ottawa to have afternoon tea, you wont find anything of this quality and decadence. If you appreciate the finer things, this is a must. Parking: There isnt much info about the valet parking and where one goes and what the price is.
Went for afternoon tea and absolutely loved it! Food was great, service was lovely, and venue is beautiful. I was so impressed by the servers cultural awareness with respect to eating halal, allergens, and just general food restrictions. Thank you! The only thing I would prefer to be different was that it was a bit too warm there when we went. Also the maple cream tea is amazing! Cant wait to go back!
Weve had the high tea and the experience was both delicious and pleasant. The staff and kitchen were very accommodating with the allergies of my partner and I. Solid cocktails, impeccable presentation. Staff is experienced but never blasé or bored. A truly special afternoon. Dietary restrictions: Extremely accommodating with Gluten and nut allergies
Excellent place to unwind after a long day or half-day with an afternoon tea or just some quick bites. The truffle fries are amazing!
Wonderful experience! Enjoyed the afternoon tea, creamy earl grey was delish! Very filling assortment! Great service!
Food was really hit and miss. Of the four mains we ordered, the Tuna was very good, the moules frites were awful, the boullabaise was okay and the pasta dish - well, the pasta dish was only 25% consumed. The cheese plate and the charcuterie board were very good. The service was a bit lacking. We had a very pleasant waiter who must have been running double ot triple duty, because we rarely saw her. Definitely felt at multiple times that our table was an afterthought. Ambiance was nice.
Came here for afternoon tea. Experience was delightful! Attentive service, beautiful setting, and delicious food and tea. The scones were particularly good - wish they were sold for takeaway. Hope to come back again for another special occasion.
Expensive but a beautiful spot! Split something
This is what relaxation means. This is what Western culture is all about. This is what luxury means.
Went for Afternoon Tea. Beautiful atmosphere, great service and the tea was delicious
Amazing!! Everything was 10/10. Will definitely be returning.
Went for our anniversary, great food and service. Will absolutely be back next year! Only downside is its pricey, but what isnt these days...
The afternoon tea service was incredible. Wide selection of teas to choose from, the food was perfect, and my dietary restrictions were carefully attended to. Garrick, our host, was a phenomenal conversationalist and brought out birthday desserts as we were celebrating my mother and sister. Highly recommended!
I treated my mom to the afternoon tea for her birthday. We had such a lovely time. Food, service and atmosphere were all outstanding. Garrick was our server and he was very personable, adding to our great experience. I would most definitely recommend trying the afternoon tea.
Awesome place. Good service, delicious food.
Very nice tea room.
Honestly over rated and over priced. Nothing super negative to say but the food was just not outstanding or fantastic and for that price it should be. The portion sizes were also tiny, I was starving after my meal. Comparable to something you d get at Keg but less food, just overall wasn t super impressed. There were also a few spelling mistakes on the menu which was kind of embarrassing considering how high end this place is suppose to be.
Perfect dinner spot for a night out or staying nearby. The food was perfect and with ideal portions, the bar is capable of making traditional cocktails exceptionally, and the space is large and open but allows for a private feel thanks to interesting and intentional feel of the dining area. The menu is modern and offers a variety of options, including those that can accommodate a vegetarian diet, but remains concise, non-overwhelming, and has a clear focus. Service is worth mentioning as well, as it was fast, well timed, and informative. Would recommend stopping by anytime if you want anything from a private drink to a group dinner.
We had been going for afternoon tea for my granddaughter birthday.. always very friendly and helpful the staff .
The good was amazing , we had a wonderful evening, and Taylor was our server , she was simply delightful, sweet and professional, made our evening and our first experience at Zoe s memorable. From M and E
Great setting. Great service. Great food. The servers were very friendly and efficient. The food was spot on. My wife wanted something light and enjoy the tomato soup. I went for the smoked trout salad, which was delicious. Only comment is that I asked for Japanese Sencha tea and was served a jasmine scented green tea, which was good, but quite sure it wasnt Japense Sencha.
Highly recommend the afternoon tea.
We recently celebrated my birthday here for a change from our usual places. Our overall experience was pretty good, although I was expecting way better quality in food for a place like this. I ordered the beef tartare. Unfortunately the beef was overly tossed in the aioli that it overwhelmed the flavor of the beef. Tartare is such a Wonderfull dish because of its unique raw beef flavor, unfortunately this was nothing like that. Saucy beef tartare? Nope. My second course was the steak frit. I ordered it rare and it was cooked perfect! That was the only good thing about the dish. The steak was not seasoned properly and needed both salt and pepper. The carrots were undercooked, beyond Al dente. Was it cooked by Algonquin students at the international? The aioli was tasty but very minimal was given. There was 2 oz of mayonnaise and 2 oz of ketchup given. A restaurant like this should have given more of the homemade aioli than plain mayonnaise. The fries reminded me of chip truck fries. Very underwhelming for a fine dining restaurant. The meal gave me mediocre keg vibes. The dessert The crème brûlée with deconstructed Black Forest cake awful combination! Those pallets don t work what so ever. Don t over do a classic dish by trying to add things to it, especially cake on-top of crème brûlée. And the crème brûlée, use real vanilla beans. It makes all the difference in the dish. The chocolate mouse dessert Awful. Mouse is a simple dessert, and fluffy in texture. This tasted like it was full of gelatin. It was thick and gel like texture. Overall: The place looks nice, chairs are definitely not the comfiest, but I m not an interior designer, just a chef Food, I don t think we will be returning. I think the place creates an atmosphere where I was expecting more. There was a lack in perfectionism where needed, even on the simplest parts of the meal. Service was good, server knowledgeable.
Great place for a cocktail and food. Sit at the bar and have a great experience with bartender Alexis. A+ service
After 5 mths of anticipation waiting to go for a belated birthday celebration, and hearing so many good things, we left disappointed. We went for the afternoon tea. They were almost 25 minutes late seating us for our reservation and the service that followed was also very underwhelming. After a long wait for the food (which was for the most part fairly good) , it finally came before our tea order which took over 45 minutes. After that we received few check-ins from staff and then proceeded to wait forever for our bill. While it is likely supposed to be a leisurely afternoon tea experience, it was a bit too slow for us. Not sure we would go back.
We went here for afternoon tea and it was lovely! It was a bit pricey, but it was worth it as a once in a lifetime thing, especially great to do in Ottawa as a tourist. Great tea flavors and the service were beyond amazing Vegetarian options: I could make it a vegetarian afternoon tea.
We had a special night to celebrate and we chose Zoes. It was perfect. From the service to the delectable food, everything was fabulous and elegant. We thoroughly enjoyed the live music playing in the background.
We had drinks there, they were not cheap. I wouldnt go back again, it was alright. Not my vibe I guess.
One of the worst chefs in Ottawa works here. Ordered the 3 course chef choice. That was a disaster. The waiter gave me a list. Then reality was something else. Soup from a can. Risotto that tasted like soup and old stale creams brûlée. Very sad reality. Never again in this restaurant
Went for a special group dinner. The food was exceptional (high-end, with high-end prices). There are vegetarian options, but a small mocktail will set you back $18! The space is beautiful and feels like youve stepped back in time. It lost one star for me as the server wasnt overly friendly, and we were squeezed against a server station, facing computer screens and a big black curtain, which wasnt the nicest view for a special occasion :-( Vegetarian options: They are available, selection of appetizers also make a good meal.
Nice lounge with very friendly service and good food. Lovely big windows to look out onto the street if you can grab a seat beside them
Ive come here many times, with friends, family and my partner. I love taking the people I love here because the service is just unmatched! The food not only tastes amazing but the presentation is absolutely gorgeous! Ill never stop recommending coming here! Food
So made a reservation at Zoes for my husbands 65th birthday we love the chateau Laurier but now that Wilfred s restaurant isn t open for dinner we had to go to Zoe s. We will NEVER go there again. The service was fine atmosphere fine but the food less than what we expected my husband ordered a Caesar salad they used arugula not romaine the bread was great as was my soup. Main course steak frites for both us stone cold and the fat was so bad that I choked and couldn t finish my meal Oh and the wine while what I selected an Italian tasted like it was watered down. All in all not a great experience especially for a milestone birthday. Only compensation was the no charge for my husbands salad. Needless to say not impressed It is basically a cocktail bar FYI can t park there if going to that restaurant had to park at the Rideau Centre
Disappointing. Ive visited several Fairmonts in Canada and had high expectations of this one due continued mentions in travel blogs etc. Unfortunately it did not live up to the advanced press. I was quite underwhelmed by the quality of food, service and atmosphere. Felt as if they hadnt tried. (I didnt visit the Elf Pub however. I was there too early but from photos on instagram my impression is of a highly touristed and overrated venue. When I saw the lines going outside before it even opened on a Sunday afternoon I felt justified in my decision to skip that. Perhaps this is where they expend their Xmas budget at the expense of the rest of the hotel?).
Do not go. From waiting at the front hostess stand for 10 minutes without being seen to being sat at a table that wasn t ours then had to get up to get our own menus. Sticky toffee pudding was served cold and the chocolate mousse had a rather odd gelatin consistency. And don t forget the manager who just stood around.
Extremely overrated and underwhelming. We thought that the restaurant in the historic Chateau Laurier would be something we could gush about to our friends and family but instead it was just ok food with the slowest service weve ever experienced and a hefty price tag. I ordered the duck breast which was quite good, but when I factor in the fact that it was $48 I feel like it didnt quite live up to expectations. My dining partner ordered the steak and frites which for $56 was extremely mediocre. The drinks were good but very small (and mine was 90% ice). I did end up really enjoying the dessert I ordered which was a praline mousse. In total we were there for almost 3 hours with extremely long periods between each of the standard steps one would expect when dining out. 10+ mins before our server greeted us to take drink orders, 20 mins after taking drink orders for our drinks to arrive, 20 mins after that to take food orders, 40 mins after that for our food to arrive, but the worst part was when someone came by trying to clear our plates but we were still eating and then they didnt come back until 30 minutes later after we had been staring at our dirty dishes the whole time. The cherry on top was when we had to go into the closet to fetch our own coats because the people running the coat check forgot to give us a ticket and didnt know which ones were ours. At first I thought they didnt use tickets because they used an internal ticketing system based on table number but in hindsight that was far too optimistic. Save yourself the disappointment and go somewhere that will better value your time and actually justify the prices they charge.
Entering the château feels like a fairy tale for real. I love cozy spots with this magical vibe, and theyre not easy to come by in Ottawa!
I went here October 6, 2022, for high tea at 11:30 a.m. Parking is outrageously expensive at the hotel, so I parked at the National Arts Centre, but it was an ugly parking garage, and about 3 blocks away - not where you want to go when all dressed up. At Zoes on the enclosed porch where the high tea is served, it was a little warm with the sun coming in on me, but I lowered the blind a bit, so it was ok. There were many empty tables, and so no wait. The scones were not hard like most I have had in my life, but were soft. The jam was good on them. The sandwiches were more tasty than I expected. The desert plate items were basic. The tea was tasty. The main non-positive was that our waiter, Garrick, talked at one point for maybe 20 minutes with the people at the next table, all about his kids, grandkids, and finances, e.g. the pension he expects. I thought he knew the people. I finally called him over for more water, and asked him to please end the conversation, and the woman he had been talking to looked at me and smiled and nodded that she, too, has been annoyed by him. She was from Vancouver, so he did not know them. The Vancouver woman was back to see her dad who was on his deathbed, and took her mother out for this treat at a difficult time. It was rude of the waiter, Garrick, to not let people have their own private time, and instead to insert himself as the center of their attention. The main floor of Zoes is maybe is more elegant than the porch area. Overall was fun, but they should have: a) a special parking rate for people going to high tea, and b) more professional waiters.
Love Zoe s! Have been here for the high tea and on other occasions just for cake and tea. Elegant yet cozy environment especially in the evenings. Underrated spot in my opinion. Nice meet up spot with friends - I always come to get chocolate cake and jasmine tea .
I joined a friend for a pot of tea at Zoës this afternoon and while we enjoyed our physical surroundings, our experience was not otherwise quite what you would expect at a lounge attached to a four-star hotel. The tea came in basic metal teapots, one of which had a visible dent in it and the other a broken finial on the lid, making it impossibly hot to touch. The tea strainers likewise were battered out of shape to the extent that it took both of us to finally manoeuver mine out of the pot. We had to ask for a plate on which to place the strainers I cant imagine where they were expecting us to put them? Straight onto the table? In spite of an order of black tea, we were not asked whether wed like milk or lemon slices or sugar with it. Nor were we given tea spoons or napkins. In the end we joked that we were glad we had at least been given cups so we didnt have to drink the tea out of the spouts of the pots themselves. Having taken tea at the London Ritz and many other higher-end tea lounges in hotels, I have never come across a place where you are not offered such basics as tea spoons, napkins, milk, sugar, etc.
Amazing food and service!! We had our wedding dinner at Zoe s and everyone loved it. Thank you!!
I very much enjoyed my meal at Zoes, which consisted of a beef tartare and the pulpo nicoise salad. They were so good that a slightly mediocre dessert (a Kalamansi Meringue Pie) did not affect my overall opinion. The service was great; the wait for my food was a little long but I suspect this was due to the extra attention paid to making the food, so it wasnt a concern. Would go here again anytime!
The good: we arrived about 15 min early and didnt have to wait too long to be accommodated. They took my cost, exhibition we nice. We were sat at a table for two which felt a bit small, the high tea tray wouldve taken all the space, they were accommodating. Interior very nice though could use a bit of touching up - our table had various scratches on it, didnt feel very classy. The mediocre: the sandwiches we had felt very mediocre to me- the bread tasted kind of chewy and difficult to bite into, perhaps it was a bit stale, however the ingredients and combination of ingredients in the sandwiches was nice. The scones and desserts were nice too, my favorite was the pumpkin one. Oh they served us whipped cream which started to lose its form and Im not sure that really goes well with scones, I think butter wouldve been better. It is very pricey as others have said. Ive gone to Chateau Laurier for prom and a wedding and this was a sub-par experience to other events. I have done high tea at a small cafe in town and that was me bang for your buck. Will I return? Perhaps, if the menu changes or they start to use fresh bread.
We went for High Tea on the weekend and it was out first time at Zoe s. We had an exceptional time and experience. The amazing, & kind, & friendly service made our meal there so special and fun. My friend is gluten free and was very impressed with the gluten free dishes for the high tea. This place is so beautiful. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free
The design of the restaurant is top notch But when I asked the waitress for a drink recommendation, it wasnt good and when asked to change that they say no even when it fast full, I had to order another drink and pay for both. The food is very taste less, you can go to the milestone across the street, youll spend less money and the food will be much better. The only thing that is worth to eat there is the tartar. Never again.
The vibe is so stunning and lovely! Lots of chic ladies were chatting there. It s an excellent place to go with friends! They have a wide range of tea options, and my favourite is still the classic Earl grey! The tea was really fragrant! Compared to the dessert tower, teas are more impressive!
Excellent food. And the Statesman cocktail was very delish. Very smooth. Didnt expect that. Very happy with the meal. Service was ok but was hard to get her attention to pay the bill.
A superb place with very helpful employees. The starters are excellent. However, the main dishes are ok but with nice plates.
5 stars all the way; food, service, atmosphere. Service was very kind and attentive and tea/food were great. It is expensive, so definitely a special occasion experience, but worth it. Kid-friendliness: They have hot chocolate and herbal tea options for kids, as well as a kid themed tea tower. They were so kind and welcoming to our two under 10.
At Zoes yesterday (3 adults and a toddler): Excellent service from Yasmin. She was attentive and friendly.
Ive been going to Zoe s for years and have always enjoyed their High-Tea experience. However, we decided to go for a drink late last friday and it was a totally different experience. We were seated in a somewhat isolated area, which made it difficult to be seen. It took our waiter quite some time to give us water and take our drink order. We ordered the creme brulée, which took 20 mins to arrive (considering it is most likely premade, it is very odd) and for the first time, it was overcooked. Then, when we asked for our bill, the waiter delivered it and disappeared. We waited 10 mins before getting up and having to ask another waitress to go get our waiter. I would definitely come back (for the high-tea) but for a 5 star high end hotel, you d expect the service to be much better.
Great service and ambience. We had the High tea, and everything was perfect.
Had high tea at Zoes and it was extremely disappointing. The sandwiches and pastries seemed like they had been made the day before and kept in a fridge before serving. The cream was whipped, not clotted, and the scones were awful. Given the high-end cost, the food should have been a lot better. For $100 each, it would have been more satisfying to go somewhere else and have lunch. Never again.
Ambiance is luxury. Bright lights, windows, high ceilings. Service just meh. Food is very sub-standard for the price. If you just want an impressive environment and ambiance, and don t care about the food, then it s a good place for drinks maybe? We had the onion soup, oysters and the mushrooms. Paid over $200 for that and mimosa and wine. If you want a crazy amazing food experience, the Brig Pub is to die for food and reasonable prices with lovely atmosphere.
We have been coming for Holiday High Tea for years as a family. We had tea again today and Josee was our server. She was so friendly and polite. She accommodated all of our requests and made my daughters feel so very special. We had such an enjoyable experience and highly recommend the high tea here. We will be asking for Josee next year as she was truly what made this year the best year yet!
Holiday high tea is da bomb! But its definitely way too expensive esp considering what you get. $76 per person on weekdays & $79 on weekends. 2 scones, 5 canapés, 5 mini desserts & cream & jam plus tea of course. $50 would be a better price.