Must eat in Ottawa

[MaxieGourmet]

My husband and I are going to be in Ottawa in late March for one night. He went to Beckta soon after it opened and really liked it.Where MUST we eat?

[yazter]

I think 18's new chef is the best in town: http://www.restaurant18.com/

...and I also like Domus and the Black Cat: http://www.blackcatcafe.ca/

[moggiemac]

I agree with Domus but would like to throw in Benny's Bistro as a suggestion. It's in the back of the French Baker.

[prospect]

Domus is fantastic. 87 murray street in the byward market.

[insideman]

whalesbone oyster house

[fun3Xdaily]

Had a great lunch the other day at Benitz Bistro, and am looking forward to trying them at dinner. www.benitzbistro.com

[JamieK]

I'd say, along with Beckta, that Domus is a must try -
http://www.domuscafe.ca/

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Domus
85 Murray St, Ottawa, ON K1N5M5, CA

Beckta
226 Nepean St, Ottawa, ON K2P0B8, CA

[foodcricket]

Please try the Gastropub!! Delicious!!

http://www.thewellingtongastropub.com...

I went there to visit a friend of mine who is a complete food snob and this didn't disappoint! THe menu changes everyday so I cant guarantee what I had will be there but everyone was happy with their dishe and the service is amazing!

[CuriousCat]

Hungry Planet! It's not actually in Ottawa, it's about a 1 hr drive west, in Perth (which may well be the prettiest town in Ontario). The vibe is casual and slightly ecclectic, and the very delicious portions are generous. My faves are the lamb burger and the ham & brie foccacia (the bread is amazing), but really, nothing I've had there was bad. I hear their fries are also incredible, but you can only get them if they're featuring Fish & Chips that day (specials change daily).

If you're driving that way anyway, would be a great spot to stop by for lunch. (Hours are finicky though.) I cannot be in the Ottawa area without stopping by that restaurant at least once.

http://www.thehungryplanet.com/

[cynalan]

How can you compare Beckta to Hungry Planet? From the photo on their website HP looks like a cafeteria. Talk about opposite ends of the sprectrum. My god, even looks like plastic table cloths.

[CuriousCat]

Sorry, I didn't realize the OP meant they wanted someplace comparable in price/ambiance to Beckta, I thought she just meant they had already eaten there, so don't bother recommending it. I in no way intended to compare the 2.

And for the record, the tablecloths are cloth, but it is open-kitchen, so cafeteria description is not far off. The food quality definitely is not cafeteria-like. I should think that by my description of "casual and slightly ecclectic" and menu items like Fish & Chips, it'd be clear that this is no "fine dining" spot.

For higher end near Perth, the Fall River Pub is nice, even if the server speaks really (strangely) slowly. They focus on local ingredients, and I assure you all the table linens are actual linens.

[ceebee1]

I've been to Fall River and it is nice. However, it's a long way to go from Ottawa for something similar you could at L'Ange on Sparks Street. Both have slow service.

[Mr. Millygirl]

Maxie, you MUST eat at "Les Fougeres". Just minutes outside Ottawa in Chelsea, Quebec. Geat food, very romantic.