Juniper Restaurant

(Guest reviewer: Dale)

Well I just LOVE the new Juniper Restaurant.

I always liked Juniper, but then again I am a chick. They have always had excellent chick-food (you know, 8 million ingredients, pretty on the plate, lots of nice seafood, lovely fizzy fruity drinks). But in its new incarnation on Richmond Road in the old Subaru dealership, Juniper's has finally found its restaurant balls.

They have all the chick food, but they have EXCELLENT guy food as well. The menu states its point very clearly: BEEF, DUCK, SALMON . . . the main ingredient shouts out at you in an elegant way. So chicks, guys and anyone in between can find what they like and order it. The presentation and the taste is just heavenly.

The ambiance is very New York. The open concept is wonderful - airy, modern, makes you feel like you're on display and part of the very nouveau scene. Comfy seating, great lighting, great open bar area.

Service is top-notch at Juniper too. The waiters and waitresses are very attentive and friendly. The whole experience starts off with a tres amusant amuse-bouche: a nice surprise, and a hint of lovely taste combinations to come

The food is superb. So gals, bring your guys - they'll love it. And you will too.

http://www.juniperdining.ca/

Lunch
Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2p.m.

Dinner
Monday through Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 10p.m.
Small Plates & Bar open all week from 5p.m. to 11p.m.
(until midnight on week-ends)

The restaurant is casual fine dining.

245 Richmond Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 6W7
t. 613.728.0220 | f. 613.728.3993
Reservations are recommended.

The Keg Manor

Years ago we used to dine frequently at the Maplelawn Cafe on Richmond Road. We loved the ambiance, the wonderful old building, the relaxed atmosphere, and the owner, Peter Fallis was great. I guess there weren't enough of us regular visitors, so Peter ended up selling our fav restaurant to the Keg - a semi-ok chain restaurant generally suited for the tourist crowd.

Well we decided to stop by tonight on our way out to see the Bare Naked Ladies, and boy were we pleasantly surprised!

It being a cold winter evening, we asked for a table by the fireplace, a wish granted immediately. Our waitress, Korleen, was terrific, suggesting an excellent red wine for starters. We each ordered the Prime Rib Dinner which comes with Caesar salad and a choice of potato for $26. We generally like our beef rare, and thought the prime rib was medium rare, it was excellent - well prepared and tasty. The side vegetables were excellent, and the baked and mashed potatoes were very good as well. Nothing at all to complain about.

The restaurant has lots of nooks and crannies. You can easily find yourself a nice quiet place to eat, or a whole room to host an office party or lunch, though we recommend the nice area by the fire place, close to the entrance.

The washrooms are nice and clean and spacious by the back door.

The Keg Manor
529 Richmond Road
613-724-1242

Little India Cafe

This very small restaurant is a secret gem. You have to "understand" in order to appreciate this place. It has all of 8 or 10 tables, and it's often crowded beyond capacity. Service is not great, but that's not their specialty. You come here for the food, and it's great!

The food here is excellent and authentic Indian food. Everything on the menu is terrific. People come back again and again, just loving this place. Especially telling is the continuous lineup of people picking up takeout meals. Sure, there's only a few tables in this small restaurant, but they are feeding dozens of takeout meals for every meal served in-house! This may in fact be the best way to appreciate the Little India Cafe - use it for excellent Indian take-out!

Washrooms are small and cramped in the back. Nothing special, but not horrifying either.

Little India Cafe

66 Wylie Avenue
Ottawa, ON K2B 6M4

(613) 828-2696

littleindiacafe.com

Mediterranean Restaurant & Butchery

This small lunch counter is in a strip mall on Carling, near many high-tech firms. There are a few restaurants in this strip mall, but this one is consistently busy every day - even while the others are bare.

There's a small butcher counter at the back, an old style butcher where the meat is fresh and the service friendly.

Join the small line for lunch, and treat yourself to an excellent meal. There are lots of specials, including Shawarma, Kababs, and lots of plate lunches. Try anything, you won't go wrong.

And, for atmosphere, you'll probably enjoy the continuous world cup soccer match replays on the TV!

The washrooms are at the back, nothing special, but not too bad.

Mediterranean Restaurant & Butchery

4055 Carling Avenue
Kanata, ON K2K 2A4

(613) 599-9610

Melrose Grocery Store & Helen's Kitchen

You won't find this restaurant listed any where, but it's home to one of the hardest working Lebanese Chefs in the city. Helen's family owns and operates this small corner grocery store which features a small kitchen at the back where Helen fashions authentic Lebanese dishes, with a special every day. The food here is excellent, always fresh and well prepared. Even the simple salads are terrific! Ask Helen what's fresh, and you're sure to get a treat.

Helen has added a few tables to the space in the last year, so you can sit down while you eat. Soak up the family atmosphere as Dad putters about, and the daughter manages the cash.

There's a humble washroom for the family that customers can use if necessary. The place isn't as clean as you'd hope, but the food and friendly service more than make up for it.

Melrose Grocery Store & Helen's Kitchen
1082 Wellington Street West
Ottawa, ON K1Y 2Y5

(613) 728-2566

Metropolitain Brasserie Restaurant

This fine restaurant in the lower level at the corner of Sussex and Rideau St. is one of our favorite Ottawa restaurants. The atmosphere is fairly authentic French brasserie with lots of cafe tables and tile mosaic floors.

The restaurant is also famous for it's long elegant bar, the focal point of the main dining area.

But, to the food. I've had the Steak Frites here numerous times, and it's always been excellent. Also, they have a nice beet root salad for starters. We've also tried the excellent seafood dinners and oysters and been very happy. We've eaten here with friends and family, and everyone's always had a great meal.

Recommended.

The washrooms are very nice, spacious and clean - and very cool in design. Nice big stainless steel sink, and old style fixtures.

Metropolitain Brasserie Restaurant
700 Sussex Avenue
613-562-1160
http://www.metropolitainbrasserie.com/

Wilfrid's

I'm not usually partial to restaurants in hotels, but for Wilfrid's I make an exception. This is one of the grand old restaurants of Ottawa, located in one of Ottawa's grand old ladies, the Chateau Laurier Hotel.

At Wilfrid's you're pampered by the fine service, and overwhelmed by the fine food. It's old-world goodness, the kind of restaurant you read about in magazines and see in old movies. You wouldn't be surprised to see Fred Astair walk by with Ginger, or Ole Blue Eye's sitting at the next table over. In fact, Wilfrid's is a favorite of the parliamentary set, so keep a sharp lookout for MP's and Senators.

The food is great - though it tries overly hard to be "Canadian." There's lots of Alberta beef, Quebec Venison, and Maple sauces. The food is very nicely displayed - Wilfrid's goes for the "vertical" with their food - you're meal will often be 6 or 8 inches high! Deserts are excellent as well.

The washrooms are excellent. Clean and spacious and very old-world elegant.

Wilfrid's at Fairmont Chateau Laurier
1 Rideau St.
613-241-1414

Colonnade Pizza & Restaurant

This is without a doubt, the finest pizza restaurant in Ottawa. The crust is perfect, lots of cheese, excellent toppings, and fast service. THIS family owned restaurant is the place to go for pizza if you're downtown.

In addition to pizza, the restaurant serves excellent salads and Italian food.

The bathrooms are not up to par, however. They are down a dreary hallway behind the restaurant, and are old, cramped and dirty.


They don't deliver, but if you look closely, there's a steady stream of people coming in to pick up pizzas to go.

The restaurant is divided into two sections: a deli style space at the front and a dining room at the rear. They each feature the same menu.

The owners also own two more restaurants, one in the west end, and another down south on Bank Street. This reviewer has not tried either of these sister establishments.

Colonnade Pizza & Restaurant
280 Metcalfe Street at Gilmour
613-237-3179
www.colonnadepizza.com