Great food and great service! We were well taken care of and we have an amazing meal. My only sads is the beer prices. Working in the beer industry - I couldn’t make myself pay 10$ for a 355ml can of beer.

Went in Oct 2022. People recommended the meatballs, they were just okay. The octopus was nice, but I thought it would be grilled. So my bad for missed expectations. The dessert was definitely great. Server was super nice! Their bathroom is clean!

We had a wonderful time here after making an online reservation (super easy system). The service was phenomenal, and thank you to Emily who made our time enjoyable. She was very attentive and friendly, and made our birthday celebration extra special. The food was delicious and filling. It was suggested that the best way to dine here is by sharing plates, which we did. The mushroom dish was divine, and the overall vibe was cozy. Would love to check out the other menu items sometime!

OMG!!!! Too bad we don't have 6 stars :) this place is insane. Friend and I set at the chef table which is a small table facing the kitchen. It was pleasure to see how the staff is working. Very clean and quick. Every dish we ordered was made in the best way and was executed perfectly. The lamb, the chicken and the duck breast were delicious. Thank God I don't live in Ottawa, otherwise I would be there every day 😏

Great service, great food. Every time I visit the menu is new, the food original, and delicious! Compliments to the chef for always offering a surprising and enjoyable culinary experience. Great place for a special night out.

SQUIDLICIOUS!!! i had the octopus plate and I can’t remember having a better flavorful meal. Every bite was better than the last. I made myself slow down to truly enjoy my plate. It was a good portion and was cooked to perfection. This was my first time there, we went with 2 other couples and everyone loved the food. We had great service and would highly recommend it if you are a real foodie. Well done Town!

Really enjoyed our food here on our first visit. A variety of interesting dishes that made it much more appealing than a classic Italian restaurant. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the octopus and pork belly Thai curry dish, def recommend. They also had Croatian wine available by the glass, cheers 🥂

Town is a solid Elgin Street gem. It's a tiny spot that's always packed. They have the best meatballs in town. I'm often having their tartare and their fresh pasta dish. Never disappointed! The photo is the gnocchi with meat sauce.

Delicious plates for sharing with a menu divided in small and large plates. We shared as appetizers the eggplant and whipped burrata. The whipped burrata comes on homemade bread with sweet beetroots which sweetness tends to overpower the delicate burrata. The eggplant was good with creamy sauce. We then ordered the meatballs as the strongly recommended dish from the waitress; filled with ricotta and laying on polenta, it elevates the meatball. The real star plate of the dinner were the caramelle pasta: aldente fresh pasta wrapped as candies (caramelle) with green peas, pecorino, and green zucchinis. Plates vary in price ($15-30 approximately). Expect over $100 for a couple for a culinary adventure with rich ingredients. The only downside of our visit: we had purposely reserve the chef's table and were instead seated by door with patrons waiting gathering around our table. Unfortunate.

I work in this office building and I come to Iconic on average at least once a week for breakfast, lunch, or just a coffee and a snack. The service is always wonderful and friendly and the food is great. I've found that the owner and the staff are always so friendly and helpful. They have lunch specials that are different every day and the staple sandwiches and salads that are always available to choose from. It's great being able to get that kind of fresh variety from a local business! You can order to go or to stay. The prices are very reasonable, especially considering portions, quality, and the small business factor.

A great meal and a place to get things done....and actually talk to someone without having to yell...which other coffee haunts are known for.

The owner is so nice! Stopped in here with my BF for lunch and the food was fresh. I ordered an omlette one day and it was perfectly made to order through the Ritual App. Keep it up! A great stop during a work day :)!

Jovial and caring staff and service. If you enjoy healthy food, this is definitely a place to go.

Had dinner here just before the pandemic started, was one of the best meals I have ever had. Highly recommend, amazing food, beautiful space and friendly staff. You need to eat here!

Citizen and Town are my favourite restaurants in Ottawa! Every time my partner and I go our meals are beyond delicious and we have the best time. You can always count on this team to deliver delicious food, cocktails and amazing service EVERY. SINGLE. VISIT.

seriously some of the best food in Ottawa. We ordered 5 or 6 plates to share and they were all to die for. Would recommend the falafel (the snap peas that come with it are really good) and the meatballs!

we had such a wonderful time here. The service was efficient, detail oriented + very kind. We finished the night and bought a bottle to-go. The food was so tasty, and you can tell how much effort goes into preparing it. (Stuffed salmon in house pasta, octopus) 😍

One of the few restaurants open late on Elgin and we absolutely loved it. Service was exceptional and the food was far beyond our expectations -- we had the tuna, salmon gazpacho and the 1/2 chicken. We will definitely be back next time we're in Ottawa.

Per usual, the cuisine here is flawless. Undoubtedly one of Ottawa's best restaurants. Consistently delivering exceptional service. A preferred spot of mine to revisit! I appreciate the wall art. Though I find myself more drawn to the atmosphere and vibe on the citizen side. Both still incredibly enjoyable!

Incredible food, extremely accommodating, fast service. The food is 5 star but it isn’t stupid expensive. The service was amazing, they were very polite and quick. Highly recommend coming here for a date or even just a nice dinner with friends!

Food was absolutely fantastic. I didn’t know what to expect when ordering the tomato salad, but it was unbelievably rich, creamy and fresh and we practically licked the plate clean. The meatballs, which we were told have been on the menu for a very long time, were mouth watering and just perfection. There’s also an amazing selection of beers.

Probably the best food I've had in Ottawa. The menu seems to change frequently, but I got the agnolotti, which was rich and complexly flavoured. 100% recommended. Portions were maybe slightly small, but the pricing was definitely worth it. It was great food.

Excellent restaurant. Deserves more attention among the Ottawa restaurant scene. We had first tried the food here as part of a takeout service during COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and the food was great. This time we were in the restaurant. Our server, Emily, was excellent - friendly, knowledgeable and checked-in throughout our meal the right amount of times. We ordered 5 dishes + dessert. Honestly, each was amazing. We ordered the olives, smoked white fish dip, tuna tataki, soft-shell crab po-boy and the handmade agnolotti. For dessert we ate the Basque cheesecake and the Creme-Caramel with cherries - both delicious. Highly recommend this place - it was a wonderful experience. Thanks again to Emily and her team.

Got the takeout dinner for two from Town - everything was superb. So many Ottawa restaurants have been doing a great job with takeout dinners during the pandemic, and I have to say that this one was among the best Ive had over the past year. Will definitely be back. Thanks Town crew.

Excellent staff, nice menu variety that changes frequently and creative cocktails.

Their dinner for two was so much better than I expected, the flavours and textures were amazing! I never knew I could love pudding for dessert, but town elevated the most everyday dinner combinations into an experience not to be forgotten.

Our favourite restaurant ever. Our go-to for indulgence. Always a must for special occasions. We trust all their choices, always impressed and appreciated.

If you want some delicious and well-crafted comfort food, this is your place to go! The restaurant’s ambiance is very relaxed and cozy. You honestly can’t go wrong in choosing to eat at Town.

It is a tiny restaurant, tables are very close to each other but the food was amazing!!! I loved the halibut and my husband was amazed by lamb ragu. Service was very friendly. We will be back for sure!!!

Delicious food, great wine and cocktail selection, and excellent service. The ambiance is also amazing. This place is a can't miss!

Had a fantastic meal here with a friend from out of town. I had a lamb ragout pasta that was incredible! Good wines, helpful staff, and great appetizers (but I forgot what we had now). Great food!

The best fine dining experience I have had in my life! The food is exceptional. If they are offering a stuffed pasta choice when you attend, chose it! I have been there twice, and I would drive from Montreal to dine at this place again. Treat yourself out.

How many ways do I love Town/Citizen ?!?!? Let me count the ways ... best cocktails, wine by the glass, and ALL the food. I could order everything off the menu. One of my first COVID takeout choices and my last patio visit for this weird season. I don't even have photos to share because we fobbled everything up before i had a chance to snap pics. Merci Town :)

Amazing takeout with lots of options for everyone in a group

Amazing food.

Probably the best place i've ever ate at. I've been recomending it to all my friends (and they don't live in ottawa). It uped my standards in my quest for amazing foods. Honestly, a must try, and the menu has good variety.

Phenomenal. I just couldn’t get enough of the Brussel sprouts and the squash agnolotti. Service was so helpful and respectful. Thanks for an amazing dinner! Sorry I got so caught up wolfing down all the yumminess I forgot to take pics!

Very nice restaurant, good quality and friendly staff. We had spaghetti, meatballs and the ice cream cake. Everything was very good

Amazing food and service on their great patio

First off, it took about 20 minutes for someone to take our drink order, and there were maybe 10 or 15 people in the whole restaurant. We ordered the dinner for two and foccacia bread. It took about 30 minutes for that to arrive. When it did, we were thoroughly disappointed that we just paid so much for such bad-tasting food. Sure, it's different, but that doesn't mean it's good. The foccacia bread just tasted like toasted bread with garlic powder on it, and the dinner for two was basically finger sandwiches, a small bowl of almonds and some deli meat. For $50+. I could've eaten literally anywhere else and gotten much tastier food and bigger portions with faster service.

Had the delivery due to restrictions on gatherings - food was incredible, the Green Goddess dressing is creamy and rich and the lettuce was fresh The duck with miso pasta was delicious - really well paired and the garnish was perfect Cannot wait to visit once things reopen! Highly recommend ordering in for a special night!

100% Awesome. Great food, atmosphere and staff.

Food was delicious. As a vegetarian options are limited. They have one potato dish and it tasted awesome.

The food excellent as usual, the service left a lot to be desired. Servers altough did they physical job decently well, cared little in about the client's overall experience. Servers were way too dry and straight to the point. Totally felt like a number, and simply a table being processed, right to the end. No customer real customer experience. If this was a Swiss chalet that's what I would expect, however the 175$ bill tells me otherwise. I will not be back to Town.

Absolutely amazing dining experience!

This restaurant was on my list for a while, finally got the chance to go. I had the lamb shank and wife had the gnocchi. Overall impression was underwhelming. The food lacked any distinct flavouring and was on the bland side. Also, the portions were not very generous, especially considering the price point. I did leave hungry, but was mainly due to me not finishing the dish as the risotto texture was not to my liking. I probably will not go back and am not likely to recommend. Unfortunately our waiter wasn't too interested in our satisfaction either which is why I bumped them down to 2 stars; otherwise would have been a three. It was also overly hyped, even though a few people warned us of the bland falvours. Overall takeaway is that there are much better restaurants to visit in the area and in the city. The atmosphere was cozy though, a bit cramped, but the decor is well done.

Wonderful dining experience. The warm olives and whipped burrata were delicious starters. Meatballs were the best I’ve ever had.

Try the meatballs! Really nice spot.

Had dinner at Town last night. I was glad they take reservations for Friday nights (I hate when restaurants don’t take reservations during the busiest times). The ambiance is great and although it is a crowded, tiny place, while we were seated I didn’t feel crowded. The food and service is exceptional. The menu is original and a great deal of skills goes into the food preparation. I had the lamb gnocchi for supper. It was the perfect plate size and the flavour was incredible. I then shared the pavlova for dessert and again, it was incredible. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and always come at just the right times. They also all seems to be dressed in the urban rustic/cool/chic that seemed to match the ambiance. I would recommend this place and I will be going to Town again.

Go here!! Sit at the bar, chat with the bartender, try their suggestions. This is one of my favourite places and I am always pleasantly surprised by their take on Italian-style dishes.

Food was fantastic!

Great food. Amazing drinks.

I have been there a few more times since my last review and must say they have a wide selection of comfort food like the philly steak sandwiches and chipotle chicken sandwiches that is really good. I would to try their peanut butter and jelly ice cream sandwich for dessert and see if that is awesome I have just been too full after eating the main course though .

Great service, excellent food as always.

Amazing food!

Great food with good service. Ordered the duck breast as the main. Was delicious. Thank you.

Lovely dining experience.

Great food, atmosphere & service!

Delightful! We arrived early, right at opening time. ( Recommend a reservation especially Friday and Saturday) we were greeted right away, they took our coats which is a nice touch and we were seated at a nice table. Service was fast and attentive. Food was fast and hot and delicious. Not your plain old cooking. I had an old fashioned (ok, fine, I had two) and it was very nice. Nothing over the top just a well made drink. I was a little disappointed by the desert menu but my waist is thanking me. We are lots at dinner. Will certainly be back.

I love Town Restaurant! I recommend their tapas. If you need to eat downtown this is the place to go. The restaurant is small and cozy and the service is wonderful. The service is amazing. Town restaurant generously donates to many of the charities I volunteer for.

A group of friends traveled to Ottawa over Labor Day weekend. Found Town online before we went, it was also on our hotel's website. It was the day we got into town, had checked out ByWard Market first, then some drinks in the Village. Had made a 7:30 reservation not knowing how competitive dinner is in the area. Left the bar and headed south. Started to get concerned since there was a ton on construction but we found the place. Was only about 1/2 full when we got there but did completely fill up during dinner, so I was glad to made the res. Since we'd had a few drinks prior, stuck with wine with dinner. I had the duck, another friend fish, another the meat balls (signature dish). Finished it off with the carrot cake and coffee. Everything was very good. Not sure when we'll be back in Ottawa again but would definitely recommend this place to travelers and locals as well.

Went with my lady friend and sis. Showed up 15mins early for the rsv but they made it work. Mispronounced Matron and the waiter didn’t even make me feel like a dummy. That was nice. Food was nicer. Be sure to ask for a demonstration of the installation by the bar.

The food is amazing. The soup and sandwich combo is my go to. Very reasonably priced and always delicious. The owner is very friendly, and clearly passionate about his business. Will definitely miss this place when I move. Cannot recommend enough!

Wonderful food and amazing customer service. The owner is multilingual and super friendly! Will definitely be back!

Tasty cheap food. And the guy who served me was very friendly :) Thanks for the salad! It hit the spot.

Go here. My Montreal smoked meat panini was amazing and a great value.

Very kind and welcoming attitude is reflected in the quality of the food. Thank you.

Do you like real fresh and delicious food, prepared daily? Then try Iconic out for lunch or for their excellent breakfast. Warm staff, amazing food every time I've went; never been disappointed. Highly recommended.

This is the best breakfast place downtown Ottawa. Enjoyed the last two mornings and both days fabulous. Coffee is pure quality. Service like a 5 star and food very reasonably priced and quality. Great variety to enjoy. Highly recommend

The service is exceptional, always delivered with kindness and speed. They make fabulous brownies and sandwiches. Their lunch specials always sound amazing (and sell out quickly so I've yet to try one). They make a fantastic espresso. The food is always fresh, tasty and inexpensive. It's refreshing to have such a lovely independent coffee shop / restaurant amidst all the chains of downtown Ottawa. They do great catering and Robert is a compassionate and kind owner, very much invested in his business. There are few places like this and my day is always nicer when I get to stop in.

I did a ritual take out and I’m very happy with the samosas! It’s so flavourful and has a spicy kick to it. I had both the veggie and beef, and definitely preferred the veggie more. I’d go back for sure because the cafe looked very clean and bright.

Fast service; Reasonable price ; clean eating areas Ritual accepted

Food is great. I would recommend a bit more care with the wonder cleaning on the food display as chemicals can get through the cracks between the glass and when opening the case from the front to clean the inside of the glass, spraying from a distance could lead to some of the windex mist getting onto the food. Also, handling the apples after working with windex without first washing hands may not be ideal for the person who is going to purchase and eat it.

Good prices, friendly service, and delicious food! One of my go to breakfast places on my way to work.

A nice little cafe, clean and very reasonably priced for a downtown cafe. Try it...

Made fresh Daily! Great for breakfast , lunch or dinner! Quality ingredients and friendly staff!

Awesome friendly service and great quality food at a fair price. Highly recommend.

I went there for the first time today. I ordered the combo meal with a panini and 2 salads. I got the smoked meat panini and macaroni salad and bean salad. I must say the panini was absolutely excellent. The bread was flavourful and the pickles and saurkraut and mustard were the perfect touch. Also not too much of anything. I really enjoyed the bean salad as well, with the vinegar flavour, very yummy. I was not a fan of the macaroni salad, however it seems to be your typical mac salad that you'd get at any grocery store so there was nothing wrong with it, I think I just had higher expectations. Overall, a wonderful, friendly and well-priced venue for my lunch. Thank you for a delightful experience!

The owner is right there managing the business and serving his customers. Such a breath of fresh air to get that kind of personal service. The Grande Breakfast is the best breakfast deal downtown for 5.99 +tax.

Had a wonderful experience at this newly discovered café. Owner as so friendly, went out of his way to greet us, thank us for coming and offered us a latte. The food was delicious. Definitely a new hot spot for my lunches!

Super clean, super fresh, and super friendly!

Philly cheese steak paninni was delicious.

Friendly service. The bagelwich was delicious and the Americano was great.

The perfect lunch spot. Friendly, great quick and healthy food. Reasonable prices. Love this spot.

Just had a great experience at this place! Food was great, service was prompt and courteous. I had a ham and Swiss panini, it was nicely seasoned and we’ll proportioned. My colleagues all enjoyed their sandwiches and salads. The owner noticed that it was our first time and came by to introduce himself and check if all went well. This was a nice touch and was very unexpected for a cafe. I would definitely come back.

Wonderful service with a healthy and delicious variety.

Always friendly staff and the smells are wonderful.

We left behind our camera case after our breakfast on July 1st, 2018 the hottest day of the history probably ;) We were heading to the Parliament Hill and a staff from this Cafe came after us more than one block and handed it over to us. What an exceptional service they offered even after we left the Cafe. Their food was very good too!

Fantastic food for a great price! The cafe is always spotless and the food is always fresh. The staff are friendly and efficient and the owner is very personable. Try it to go or in-house and you won't be disappointed.

Excellent service!

Incredibly impressed with the 5+ quality of the food; husband and wife team with a great product... the price was beyond reasonable... I'd recommend this spot to anyone who wants healthy food at a great price. 5 star service as well btw!!!!

The owners are fantastic people, espressos are great and food is excellent! Highly recommend.

Clean, good food, salads, friendly people.

Friendly & efficient staff, owner really takes care of his customers. Very modern & clean environment with a variety of delicious food options, healthy too. My favorite place to grab samosas in town!

Better than tims

Place looks dope, would totally want to live in this crazy iconic looking little chow-mow.

Not very iconic

Fantastic food and staff..highly recommand it.

Good food and friendly service. I like menu, yet found that it was a bit limited. Nonetheless, the food is great. The music in the background gives off a contemporary-hip vibe. I had an app and shared a few mains. The app was tasty. The main was good, but there was something that didn't fit with the pairing, but was rather placed on the plate to make it look fuller. The quality of the some of the cheeses are questionable... Overall, the food is good, and I am happy I came here to have dinner.

Great food and presentation. The staff is very friendly& helpful. Will definitely be returning!

Great selection at their bottle shop. Couldn't ask for more.

Went here for our 2nd wedding anniversary. A very delicious widespread of food! We were not disappointed. Amazing customer service, cute drinks, and yummy food. What more could we ask for?! One of our favourites was their unique dinner for two, fried chicken pizza! Very filling, and not greasy! We will definitely be back!

My husband and I had an excellent dinner, the food and service were both impeccable. Our server Del was super knowledgable, friendly and attentive. The dishes were thoughtfully created and every bite was delicious! Highly recommend!

Takeout dinner for 2 last Saturday was delicious. The finishing touches were made to the main dish when I arrived to pick up the food, so it was still lovely and hot by the time we arrived home. Generous servings. Would definitely takeout again

Delicious food and great service! We were served by Max who was so kind, helpful and attentive. Every dish was delicious and we would definitely come back again.

I almost never go out to Italian restaurants because Italian food is so easy to prepare at home, but this place is an exception. One of Ottawa's best dining experiences.

Town is a forever favourite. They offer amazing food without any of the pretense - amazing friendly service, great vibes, and you’ll always bump into someone you know there! There’s a reason Town & Citizen are so beloved by locals & visitors alike.

Always delicious and great service! Love the Italian sodas they offer for non-drinkers, with homemade syrups! All the food dishes are unique and delicious. Donuts for takeaway during the pandemic were epic, and I can’t wait to return for brunch at Citizen once the bring it back!

Service was friendly and super helpful. Love it when servers know the dishes well and can explain and make recommendations based on your preferences ☺️ the squid and octopus dish was amazing! Soooooo tender and flavourful. Portions were surprisingly big. Glad we didn’t order anymore. I’m always tempted to try everything! Had a fun and delicious time here and would recommend this place for sure!

My wife and I were lucky enough to stumble upon this excellent dining experience. Service was great and the spicy bucatini was to die for!! When we come back I’ll probably order one to take home with me. Tried orange wine for the first time and really enjoyed it!! Thank you guys so much.

First time at the restaurant but I had heard fantastic things. I ordered a beef tartare and it was hands down one of the best I’ve ever had. I keep dreaming of it lol. The only thing I would recommend is replacing the soda crackers it comes with for a baguette bread or something similar but I can’t wait to go back and try other options. The cocktail I tried was also good but I expected more complexity for the cost ($18).

Service: Excellent - very attentive, courteous, and insightful in regards to what we may like at the restaurant. Ambience: Great dim, mood lighting Food: Excellent. Left feeling quite satisfied, but not necessarily full. We shared a number of items amongst our group: - Focaccia: very good, and is served with great whipped brown butter - Meatballs: very good, but also a small portion for what you pay for - Beef tartare tartine: excellent, esp. the fact that it’s served on a toasted brioche - Pork chop milanese: Explained to us as essentially the Italian version of a Schnitzel. It’s thin but quite large, and also tasted amazing. Drinks: The cocktails are obviously great but are on the higher end ($19). All in all, certainly glad I went because the food and service were excellent, but I’d say it is, of course, on the pricier side.

Arrive at late night without reservations. Still managed to get a table. Food was really nice. The beef tartare is spot on. Nicely seasoned and full of flavour. For the eggplant, surprisingly good with a Asia flavour. Overall good portion and value for money!

Absolutely delicious and the very best service. Highly recommend. Also love their very unique wine and beer selection. Plus their cocktails are amazing.

Food was impressive tho feature as a wine restaurant. Fried egg plant and beef tartare were both beyond expectation, recommended.

First of all, if you want to have a nice celebration /anniversary dinner, I do not recommend this place. It is very casual and loud. Tables are too close to each other. I can't tell you how many times servers and other customers bumped my back. Also, the service can be very slow, especially if there is a big group before you, which was the case last night. I found it very mediocre and overpriced in terms of food and drinks. Bouillabaisse was so disappointing since the scallops and shrimps were so small, and the flavor was off. The only impressive food was eggplant and ricotta stuffed agnolotti for me. It was flavourful and delicious.

solid service, tasty food, super beer list (mainly cans I think but it is huuuge), ciders too, and a mix of small and bigger plates to suit whatever you're going for. tall window was open and we were able to sit right next to it (and enjoy the dogs coming by and visiting a little water dish outside on the sidewalk!)

Nice restaurant with a great vibe. The service was excellent and the staff were very friendly. The drinks menu is extensive, and the food menu had a great selection. I had a handmade ravioli-like dish. It was the best pasta I have had in my life. I still talk about it.

This restaurant was a really nice dining experience. The food was fantastic, well plated and full of flavor. Service was on point and our server was enthusiastic to help recommend us drinks and appetizers. The ambience was great for the evening however it may have been a bit too dim for some individuals (needing to use a flashlight on their phones to read the menu). Overall, great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Will be coming back in the future, definitely.

Amazing experience all around. The food is filling without being heavy and is absolutely delicious. I had the pleasure of trying various vegetarian items on the menu and they were all exceptionally good, especially while paired with red wine which was bold and flavourful. The music was quiet enough so to not disrupt guests conversations while providing the perfect ambiance. (I especially loved that the music playing was songs from the 70’s/80’s/90’s). This place is cozy and welcoming, highly recommend checking it out!