Grand Holiday Feast: Best Christmas Dinners in Ottawa
Imagine this: a symphony of flavors so divine, it’s as if the food itself is playing a lovely medley of Christmas carols on your taste buds. After all, what’s the holiday season without good food?
After braving the winter cold and surviving the perilous journey (okay, maybe it was a leisurely stroll), we were able to come up with this concise list of the best places to dine this season.
Instead of elves, you have the staff here at The Best in Ottawa dedicated to ensuring you have access to the best of the best.
1. Cocotte Bistro
Website: https://cocottebistro.com
Address: 123 Metcalfe St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5L9, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-216-2912
Operating hours:
- Monday – 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 9:30 PM
- Tuesday to Friday – 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 10 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – 7:30 AM to 2 PM – 5 PM to 10 PM
Cocette Bistro is an upscale establishment, serving delectable French cuisine. The pasta provençal definitely took the spotlight, a southeastern France delicacy with a perfect balance of different flavors.
While their gorgeous array of mouthwatering plates is fascinating, the ambiance is equally noteworthy. It exudes a welcoming and cozy vibe with exquisite touches that make it sophisticated.
2. Zoe’s at Fairmont Chateau Laurier
Website: https://www.zoesottawa.com
Address: 1 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 8S7, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-241-1414
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11 AM to 11 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 11 AM to 12 AM
Zoe’s beckons to anyone looking to dine like royalty. If you like to make your holidays memorable with a luxurious experience, you might want to consider this charming establishment.
The mariposa duck breast certainly stood out among their variety of entrees because of how they skillfully intertwined a medley of textures in one satisfying dish.
By the way, they’re extremely famous for their cocktails, so be sure to try them while you’re here.
3. Cantina Gia
Website: https://cantinagia.com
Address: 749 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3V3, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-569-0464
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 11:30 AM to 10 PM
Cantina Gia transports their hungry patrons to enchanting Southern Italy with an inviting ambiance and authentic dishes. We find that this is a great atmosphere to share with your loved ones during the holiday.
The dish that you shouldn’t miss is the carbonara – the guanciale addition, though expected from the dish, still blew us away.
4. Fraser Café
Website: https://fraserrestaurant.ca
Address: 7 Springfield Rd, Ottawa, ON K1M 1C8, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-749-1444
Operating hours:
- Monday & Tuesday – closed
- Wednesday & Thursday – 11:30 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM
- Friday – 11:30 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 10 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 10 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM
Adventurous foodies would be enticed by Fraser Café’s eclectic array of delectable meals. We’re talking about tuna tataki, ricotta dumplings, and spaghetti alla nerano, which are all inspired by existing dishes from different parts of the globe.
Their open kitchen is a nice touch, especially for those who want to watch the action that happens behind the scenes. Don’t worry – you won’t watch anything similar to the nail-biter episodes of The Bear.
5. SEN Asian Cuisine
Website: https://www.senlansdowne.com
Address: 200 Marché Way Unit 103, Ottawa, ON K1S 5J3, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-232-0111
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday, & Sunday – 7 AM to 11 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 7 AM to 2 AM
SEN Asian Cuisine offers an exciting mix of different dishes including Thai, Japanese, and Vietnamese.
Their pad Thai reigns supreme, earning a top spot on our list of must-try. However, their peanut chicken comes a close second.
If you want something good for sharing, we recommend getting one of their small plates, especially the house-made dumplings, pork belly, and of course, the fresh shrimp rolls.
Website: https://northandnavy.com
Address: 226 Nepean St, Ottawa, ON K2P 0B8, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-232-6289
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 5 PM to 10 PM
- Sunday – closed
North & Navy is a charming spot, boasting an intimate dinner setting perfect for special occasions with your loved ones.
Their enticing menu is made up of appetizing North Italian meals with the mushroom quadri being the most popular one among our team. Not only does it taste impeccable, the presentation is also top-notch.
We always appreciate a kitchen’s attention to detail.
7. Play Food & Wine
Website: https://playfood.ca
Address: 1 York St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5S7, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-667-9207
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday, & Sunday – closed
- Thursday to Saturday – 5 PM to 10 PM
Play is an interesting establishment that focuses on small plates. Though they call it that, it actually comes in generous portions good enough to share with the rest of the table.
Among the exciting array of choices, we were extremely delighted by the smoked pork ribs and ramp gnocchi.
Here’s a tip: each plate comes with drink recommendations, so don’t miss out on these delightful pairings!
8. JOEY Rideau
Website: https://joeyrestaurants.com/location/joey-rideau
Address: 50 Rideau St #106, Ottawa, ON K1N 9J7, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-680-5639
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday, Sunday – 11 AM to 12 AM
- Friday & Saturday – 11 AM to 1 AM
JOEY is a local chain with multiple stores scattered across the country. If you find yourself in Downtown Ottawa, this exciting spot with an enticing ambiance is surely a must-try.
Their butter chicken is definitely one of the most popular choices among many satisfied customers – including us! It’s an exciting and filling dish that comes with tofu, basmati rice, papadum, and naan.
An advantage to dining here this season is that you also don’t have to worry about the holiday rush while you’re here. The spacious setting ensures that it never feels too crowded.
9. Supply and Demand
Website: https://www.supplyanddemandfoods.ca
Address: 1335 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3B7, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-680-2949
Operating hours:
- Monday – 5 PM to 10 PM
- Tuesday to Sunday – closed
Supply and Demand is a sophisticated venue that serves plenty of creative dishes to explore. That said, the bucatini alla gricia effortlessly took the limelight with its perfect balance of saltiness and spiciness from the black pepper.
They also have a raw bar to satisfy your oyster craving.
10. The Shore Club
Website: https://theshoreclub.ca/ottawa/
Address: 11 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9H4, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-569-5050
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 11:30 AM to 12 AM
- Saturday & Sunday – 3 PM to 12 AM
Located in the Westin Ottawa, The Shore Club is a prime establishment that specializes in luxury and gourmet. It’s an unbeatable location for those in search of a grandiose holiday experience.
Be sure to try at least one of their signature dishes, though it wouldn’t hurt to try two or three. Among the flavorful choices, the steak & lobster and bigeye tuna are the standout choices.
11. El Camino
Website: https://eatelcamino.com
Address: 380 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1M9, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-422-2800
Operating hours:
- Monday – closed
- Tuesday to Sunday – 5:30 PM to 12 AM
In the mood for some hearty, Mexican classics during the holidays? El Camino has seats available and it has your name on it!
Most of their menu choices are made up of tacos and we’re not complaining. We can’t think of an adjective that perfectly describes their beef taco, but the word ‘heavenly’ might just be sufficient.
While it’s obvious that they specialize in the famous Mexican dish, the churros with salted caramel shouldn’t be overlooked.
12. Le Poisson Bleu
Website: https://www.lepoissonbleu.net
Address: 610 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 5K4, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-656-1638
Operating hours:
- Monday & Tuesday – closed
- Wednesday & Thursday – 5 PM to 10 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 5 PM to 2 AM
Le Poisson Bleu is a lovely restaurant with an intimate feel, offering a delightful menu that focuses on fish.
Their swordfish carbonara is a unique dish with no flavors that are too overpowering. It’s a guaranteed must-try, especially if you want to try a unique spin on the classic dish.
Even though they don’t offer a lot of variety, you can still see that their menu is well-curated because there’s not a dish we’ve tried that we didn’t like.
13. Gezellig
Website: https://gezelligdining.ca
Address: 337 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K2A 0E7, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-680-9086
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday – closed
- Thursday – 11:30 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM
- Friday – 11:30 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 10 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 10 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM
True to its Dutch name, Gezellig provides a lovely ambiance perfect for people coming in large groups. Their interior looks like it was plucked straight out of someone’s stylish home, making it intimate and cozy.
This inviting experience extends to their appetizing menu with the braised beef short rib being the crowd favorite. Order it with a glass of Syrahvisante for the best experience.