The Whalesbone Bank Street in Ottawa

What a fun place this was ! we had a great time watching the oyster shucker ! Great food and drinks too Food : 5/5 |

Relaxing ambience and great food.

Went for $2 oysters on Tuesday. They have delicious toppings for their oysters. They also have a good selection of alcohol, limited options on non-alcoholic though.

Great experience, although not a steakhouse, their steak is absolutely amazing!

Fantastic atmosphere and even more delicious food! The salmon and stake were definitely a favorite but everything from the scallops to the tartare were mouth watering!

Great service and atmosphere with the most amazing food. It s definitely a fish and seafood destination you have to try.

We love this place! Fresh sea food and awesome service, cant wait to go back again. Food

Never disappoints! My go-to establishment for oysters. Relaxed atmosphere, knowledgeable and friendly staff, and the top-notch seafood.

fabulous food..my first oyster

Easily the best restaurant in Ottawa!

Went for a birthday celebration. Staff, cant say much more than simply amazing. Food was excellent and very fresh. Definitely will be a favourite place for us to go from now on.

Great intimate spot! Food was delicious, service was spot on, and a fun night out!

A warm and intimate dining experience. Engaging staff, excellent kitchen.

Magnificent! Great staff, amazing food, good music, what a great experience!

Really nice location, great service and friendly staff. The only negative comment is quality vs price. Its pretty expensive for what you are getting... Bone marrow at $32 ... It was just ok and quite overpriced, it also didnt taste as good because the oysters and the cheese hides the true bone marrow taste... The risotto was 50$ and it was still pretty watery the rice had not fully cooked and absorbed the broth, and there wasnt a big amount of lobster for that price... Still a nice place with nice drinks and a pretty nice wine list, I think the staff is great as well. I was just expecting better food for the price, maybe just rethinking the menu a bit and thats all they need?!

Whalebone is excellent. Jay is adorable.

One of the best meals Ive ever had. Staff was even better. Trust their recommendations.

Its a pretty expensive establishment, but the food Id delicious and it has good portions size.

Amazing!!

First time going and definitely not the last! Loved the atmosphere and how friendly the staff were. Food was also great! Food

Hard to imagine a better place for a wonderful night out.

Always an amazing experience, always amazing food, always impeccable service.

A hidden gem! Wonderful ambiance, the best seafood, and friendly staff.

Reputation not stolen! The place is very nice, with a good atmosphere and fast, friendly service. The prices were too high for me so I took the least expensive on the menu: the tuna poke bowl ($32 before tax and tip). Well it was absolutely delicious. Clearly the best poke bowl Ive eaten in my life. I hope one day I will have the means to test the rest of the card. Thank you

Super expensive. Oysters cost about $50 for a dozen plus tax and tips. Good service Im not sure if its worth the price. Food

The atmosphere is full!

What can you say that hasnt been said? The nicest staff in the best atmosphere for one of the best meals youll eat in all of Canada. Impeccably sourced, lovingly prepared, creative but unpretentious. I adore these folks. Theyre just good people being themselves and so they cant help but do everything right.

Delicious!

When you sit at the bar, youre eating and drinking an experience.

The OG of the Whalebone restaurants. Sat in the corner with my back to the wall enjoying oysters and scallops and a crisp NZ Sauv Blanc . Sit at the bar or make a reservation.. it is busy!!

It s intimate and the food and service is great!

Excellent evening with friends. A little pricey for the main meals.

Absolutely stunning dinner Happy to find this place on our trip.

Probably my favourite restaurant in ottawa. Best food, staff, and experience.

first time in ottawa and went here for dinner spectacular food complimented by amazing service. like seriously amazing staff. the bone marrow dish most def took me to flavour town. atmosphere and music selection was A1. overall, in love.

We had a great time. Great service and very tasty food. We wanted to try a few dishes and each dish was beautifully presented and flavourful. We would definitely return.

It is truly a culinary delight. The entire experience was fantastic. I left completely satisfied and delighted. Treat yourself and visit the Whalesbone for Ottawas best Oyster Bar

Always providing the best and hearty seafood in downtown Ottawa

First time at the Whalesbone last night. What a great experience! Great space, amazing seafood platter and THE best Caesar salad I have ever had. Staff were great. Especially wanted to thank our amazing server Angela who made it a really fun night for us, offered up delicious recommendations and made us feel super comfortable. We will be back!!!

This is an Ottawa gem. Small, cozy, spot with laid back staff that does not compromise service. We always experience excellent food from appetizers and desserts, with some of the best service weve experienced.

Love this cozy restaurant and cannot wait until it opens again. In the meantime... Order takeout from their Elgin location or take home items from Kent location! Their chowder is the best chowder Ive ever had.. Creamy and full of seafood and delicious dill. The caesar salad is a divine side with the mussels. I could go on... Their seafood rolls, dry aged steak, calamari...Ive yet to have anything I didnt enjoy.

Whalesbone has some of the best seafood burgers in Ottawa. You can count on them to always be fresh.

Whalesbone is one of my all time favourite restaurants in Ottawa. The seafood is fresh and tasty, and the chefs are so talented. The staff is super friendly in a cool casual way. I used to have massive Whalesbone cravings during my first pregnancy. I hope they bring back the weekend brunches one day!

A great spot to dine out for a more expensive seafood experience! If you are looking for a classy spot, this is it!

Very good food.

Great food in a tiny space

Best place for oysters! Love the ambiance and feel of this small location. The record collection just adds to the overall experience!

Excellent food and friendly service.

Oysters are simply excellent. Great service and a must in Ottawa.

I would give 6 stars if I could. The food here is so carefully crafted - every element on the plate is delicious. The service is excellent as well - the servers worked really hard but didnt rush us at all. One of our go-to places.

So cozy and the food is always superb

Friendly service. The oysters are coming from different regions of Canada! My mother and I really enjoy in this lunch! Thanks to servers and lovely oysters.

Go here all the time when in Ottawa. If youre a seafood or oyster junkie then you just cant go wrong here: cozy ambience and fun atmosphere keep me coming back year after year!

Very friendly. The food was fantastic and the price was suiting.

Authentic people, fresh and sustainably sourced oysters, and expertly crafted dishes. This place is a masterpiece!

Fantastic seafood

Amazing service, food, and maritime vibes. One of my new local faves. 5 stars!

Love the freshness of the ingredients. The menu is always delicious and creative. Love this spot!

Good place to go to for special occasions or if you just want to treat yourself :) oysters are amazing

One word: WOW. One of the best meals Ive ever had in my life. We ordered a total of 52 oysters and they were DELICIOUS -- perfectly shucked, great sides. We also ordered the truffle fries (GREAT), poki bowl (YUM), ceasar salad (GOOD), and the chocolate mousse (TO DIE FOR). Come for the oysters stay for the chocolate mousse!

Terribly rude service from the wait staff. Came at 2 PM and they were out of avocados for the poke bowl. Mask rule was enforced preferentially. Wait staff will treat you poorly if you are an ethnic minority.

Best oysters in the city, great food all around. The space is classic and cozy, and Barnes is the absolute man!

Exceptionally rude service. Very little care for customers. Go anywhere else.

Pretty good, but not worth the price. Id go elsewhere...even for seafood.

I could not put 10, it s why I just put 5! Excellent service, nice experience of discovering the Oysters World. Thanks a lot!

A Dive with Great Food. Had one of my best all time meals here. They know thier fish. I highly recomend it. :Leave your Gun and Pants at the door. You wont need them. Cant wait to go back. Hopefully before JTs trial :)

Great service and easy classics.

We just finished a museum visit and started walking around the area looking for a place to eat. Did a quick search for seafood restaurants nearby on Google Maps. Nearest was Whalesbone merely a few hundred meters away, and it had great reviews. So we began our journey. The instant we walked in the door, my godchild and I knew we were going to enjoy our decision. The charm of the restaurant was in its decor, the staff and the best part, besides the wonderful food, was the nostalgic feeling I got once I saw the bartender putting on music. He was using an actual record player and we listened to great vinyl albums from the 70s and 80s. We both enjoyed our choices, Mariana had the Atlantic salmon and I enjoyed the Shellfish Risotto. They made adjustments to my meal to comply with my food intolerances without hesitation. Probably should mention that, one needed to have a reservation because of limited seating. Without knowing this, they still served us. They asked a couple of clients to give up a little space at the bar and we all shared it and it made for good conversation. Top notch service and staff, with great food. What more do you want from a restaurant?

Intimate with good food.

We were three people today Friday afternoon. A top-notch service and staff, with great food and friendly staff. A relatively small place that might not look attractive from the outside but great atmosphere inside.

Always close to perfect.

Had the best fish and chips for lunch ever !!! (On bank street )

Ate fish and chips here and they were simply amazing. The rest of my group also loved their food. The menu is small but interesting enough. Our waiter was a really funny and nice guy.

Fantastic food and fantastic service. Had the 12 different oysters yummy love it

Best place to go for Oysters in Ottawa. Excellent variety and knowledgable staff.

Heard about this place from friends, had to try it! The atmosphere is amazing - friendy and cozy! The staff are over the top! The are friendly, knowledgable and accommodating. The seafood is best that I ve had since the east coast. Who knew there were so many varieties of oysters. Jamie and Jarrod made the experience one to remember.

Fabulous food! Great energy but it s small size can make it a crowded dining experience

Amazing experience!

Excellent food! Wonderful atmosphere!

Some of the best seafood Ive ever had! Great service and beer selection.

Great food. Great service

Amazing. So happy I found this place! Awesome staff, knowledgeable and friendly. Food was fresh and well prepared. I would highly recommend!

Cool

We went to the original Whalesbone restaurant on Bank street. Always great service and food. OMG, I love oysters. Cmon down and try a plate, or two. The Bank street location is smaller, but has great decor, atmosphere. Am I in Newfoundland?? Maybe. Thanks for great food. Loved the salmon. Yummy.

I love this small and intimate space. Even more so in the summer when they open the big window facing the street. The staff is friendly and the service is fast. The food is delicious. I love the fish and chips, as well as the sauce that comes with it. It s a must try.

Cozy place to sit up at the bar, have a glass of wine and enjoy a dozen oysters while being excellently attended to by the waitstaff. Its quite small so reservations are almost always a must, even during the week. Be sure to check out their dry ages steak!

This place in ottawa Is so good. Is an small place but the food Is good and the employees are very proffesional.

Great food and wonderful service

Fabulous find! Friendly service, knowledgeable staff. Oysters are fresh and tasty. Food is delicious and presented beautifully. Great vibe! Love the vinyl records playing! Small but mighty!

Had dinner here on June 23, 2019. The service was great, warm and welcoming and friendly. The food was great. We shared a bunch of appetizers for our meal. My only dislike was the somewhat loud rap music that the staff was playing.

Seafood lovers this place is a must visit

Love love love the cozy, laid back atmosphere here and the staff is uber accomadating and personable. Cant say enough about the exceptional food. From fresh oysters to scallops and tuna all served fresh and accompanied by the most delish in house sauces.

The Oysters are so fresh. Drinks are good and perfect.

Great seafood experience. Delicious food, good down to earth service, and I love the vinyl background music.

Small but roomy. Great seafood menu. Reasonable prices for this part of town

The place is nice and small with low lights, friendly staff and an open kitchen. Located in the area, for me, not central a steak of salmon, although well cooked, with some vegetables and two spoonfuls of quinoa 33 CAD is not exactly cheap (but Canadian prices are high)

Great place for a date night and the best seafood!

Had an amazing dinner! We sat at the bar and had the best service from the two bartenders! Big shout out to Venessa! You were awesome, and well be back to see you again soon!

Great food and amazing service. Vanessa was exceptional and wonderful and really made it special

Great East coast inspired spot with friendly and personal touches. Had oysters, Digby scallop ceviche and the porketta. All fresh and delicious.

AMAZING chowder!

Awesome service and excellent food with great selection of adult beverages! Cozy setting is what I love.

Great food! Beautiful design!

Despite friendly service and a great atmosphere, this was one of the most disappointing meals I have ever had. The starter oysters were full of broken shell pieces. The mains that follwed were simply not good at all in any way from unpleasant flavours, to overcooking, to poor presentation. Even at half the prices charged this meal would not be value for money. Ottawa has many excellent higher-end restaurants that are less expensive than this over-priced venue. I am very happy to pay a high price for a fabulous dining experience, but this didnt even come close. It seems this venue is well-rated for its cool vibe and atmosphere. However, if you want great food dont bother with Bank street Whalesbone. Have a beer and cut your losses.

Fantastic appetizers and entree. Highly recommend.

So good, so fresh, good service.

Oysters are awesome, service is great. One of my favourite spots in the city

This was actually the most disappointing meal Ive had in Ottawa. My girlfriend and I looked forward to this meal on the basis that friends both in the industry and out have spoken so highly of it, and yet... After being seated for 30 seconds, a couple who came in just after us were shouted at by the bartender asking if they had a reservation or were a walk-in. It was kind of loud in the restaurant with the music and other conversations going but this was yelling to the point that it drew the attention of the whole restaurant and literally ended conversations people were having around us. If you need to yell like that , maybe turn the music down or urge them over to the bar to discuss seating them, either way complete unnecessary to shout like that. This yelling reoccurred with new patrons coming in throughout the 1 hour and a half experience as well as a very loud conversation with patrons at the bar. Briefly before getting into food , Id like to say the 1 star goes to our waitress (medium length brown hair, bunch of tattoos on her arms) who was attentive without being overbearing. Her service was pretty good and definitely demonstrated a stark contrast of professionalism compared to her peer behind the bar. The other problem with the atmosphere was the fact the small establishment was like being in a sauna. Theres no air conditioning or it was broken but the 2 wimpy fans werent enough to keep the environment comfortable. An hour in we were more then ready to get out of there. Id like to say the experience improved with the food but sadly, it got considerably worse. My girlfriend ordered a negroni (was mediocre) while I as the driver stuck with water. Bread was brought to the table (also mediocre). After perusing the menu we decided on sharing 3 appetizers between us , going with the Scallop Ceviche, a foie gras, and the sea-cuterie board. Scallop Ceviche: solid dish, easily the best dish we had, credit where its due. Foie gras : The spread itself was fairly bland and was struck by heaps of salt that we could only deduce was from the butter on the bread on which the spread sat. It was too salty to finish. The final dish was the sea-cuterie board which we didnt end up finishing after a few unimpressive bites of the smelts. The reason for not finishing the dish however was not that it was bad, but just at this point after sitting in the heat for an hour and a half my girlfriend was feeling sick and had a headache so we decided to take the dish to go , which brings me to the nail in the coffin. that pile of filth in the picture Ive attached thanks to our good buddy from earlier the bartender who was nearby cleaning off tables. When we asked if we could get the board to go , he politely said yeah no problem . He came back a few minutes later telling us he doubled up on the containers so it didnt leak which was strange to me, so i looked in and sure enough the guy had carelessly cleared the board into a container as if clearing into a garbage bin and brought it to us thinking nothing of it. Brutal. A 40$ dish utterly ruined. After that embarrassing meal and more than 100$ later the waitress tells me that the foie gras is taken off the bill. I was too angry to double check in the tunnel vision of getting out of there if she actually took it off but at 95$ before tip for 2 appetizers and a drink (118$ is what the bill came out to after a 20% tip) something doesnt add up and im pretty sure a mistake was made. An honest mistake on the waitresses part im sure who may have been unaware of how dissatisfied we actually were(my girlfriend nor I are interested in making a scene) but one I could have forgiven if it werent for the $40 dollar slop I paid for on top of a sub par dish. Honestly can say I wont be back and after the embarrassment of ruining my girlfriends birthday, Im even willing to write this review. Your website boasts this as an experience to not be missed. I Vehemently beg to differ. Plenty of restaurants in Ottawa blow you out of the water, pun Intended. September 2019

The Whalesbone on Bank Street is probably the best restaurant in Ottawa! Fabulous atmosphere, great staff, and of course, excellent food.

Unreal. Food was so amazing and quite inventive. Service was perfect. A bit different from big bone but equally awesome.

Everything we tried here was delicious and thoughtfully prepared. The service was attentive without being intrusive. Cant miss items for.me would be the foie gras torchon, the lobster gratine, and the chocolate mousse. You wont be disappointed!

This place is amazing, the staff is polite and friendly and the food is just great. If you are looking for a great spot for great food this is the place.

Service and food was fantastic. The mussels are a must try!

The lunch menu is very reasonable and has a phenomenal burger (if youre not looking for seafood)

So so good. Seafood pros. Bank street location is amazing. Great cocktails and wine selection!

Best oysters Ive ever had

Amazing food!! Great service

Food was delicious and the service was great. Had an amazing evening

A high price, BUT a good quality food and the friendliest people. They also place the meal so beautiful. It was a great time.

The best seafood restaurant in Ottawa. Staff are so friendly and helpful. Oysters are so fresh and good, the mains are amazing and even dessert is perfect.

I absolutely LOVE this restaurant. Whenever I visit Ottawa I make a point of visiting. The staff is super friendly and were very accommodating to my toddler. The menu is not particularly kid-friendly but only if you have a picky eater. That being said, my daughter really loves fish so we were all happy. The oysters are AMAZING, in fact you walk in the door and get a strong smell of oysters which in my opinion is heaven! I had the salmon miso dish and it was as good as what youd expect from any notable chef -- it was a feast of flavours.

Food, service and experience are always amazing. This is our go to restaurant for any special event.

The happy hour deal for 18 oysters and 2 pints is a great way to start a weekend. Great service, great oysters, literally no complaints.

(un)Believable food, service and atmosphere!! The dark beer is to dies for. Had oysters and their ceviche scallops. Their homemade sauces with the oysters is a thing of beauty. Im usually a lemon only guy but tried their sauces. The only complaint is price. That cant really be helped.

Tried the miso salmon, mussels and oysters .. everything was absolutely delicious! Service was outstanding! Amazing vibe :)

Best seafood in town

Best mussels in town

Simply amazing, from service to mains, to the very cold beer. Incredible. I had the clam chowder with bacon and dill. Drueling as I type this with the delish Miso Salmon. Highly recommend...5 stars are not enough.

Awesome place! Good food and great choice of oysters. Nice and cozy atmosphere.