My #1 date spot in Ottawa - although you'll pay for it! The drinks are beautiful, the food is delicious and well presented, portions aren't the biggest, but at least you won't be bloated on your date. It's just expensive enough that it won't be a regular spot for me. For this hidden gem they don't rely much on foot traffic, so if you want a good table for you and that special someone get a reservation!

Very nice view. But that is all. $25 for a beer and a margarita. 25mins to get it delivered to the table. Only 12 people in the place and 3 staff. 3 other tables served after us and drinks delivered before us. The server delivered the beer unopened in a can and it was shaken up. When asked if this was normal (having to get up twice and inquire as to whether drinks were coming) they said they had a problem with wasps at the bar so they tried to fix that and they couldn't so they had to make drinks downstairs... No apologies. Do not recommend.

Great great spot for a get together or just to enjoy the ambience. We were on the rooftop and it was lovely. Hubby and I felt super fashionable . Classy place— not just because we were there— or maybe despite us being there lol. I’ve knocked off a star because we ordered the chips and guacamole 🥑 and it was delicious but … not nearly enough chips for the guacamole!! Chips were home made, though, what a treat. Sorry no photo as we scarfed them down before we thought to take a photo 🫢

Would have been 2 stars if it wasn't for the good service and the food was very good. The ambiance/decor is pretty cool with some nice beats, young crowd < 30. My biggest issue with the place is that it is pricey for what you get. They charge $14-19 for small plates. Drinks are also expensive ($15-18 for a cocktail, and uh $11 for a tallboy??). 3 plates and you might be ok later. Also no tipping option other than the ones indicated, I was going to tip with cash as I always do and she said the terminals don't offer an option. That was aggravating. Not cash friendly at all. All menus are online so it leads to a lot of phone checking throughout the night which is really distracting and poor etiquette (cheap for not reprinting menus). Will I be back? Maybe on the patio this summer for one drink but definitely not for a $130 night out.

110% my favourite new spot. Staff are very welcoming and provide great hospitality- you can really tell they care about their customers and put lots of effort into the food and drinks. I had the “poison ivy” cocktail and it came in a glass case filled with smoke and the drink itself was garnished beautifully (and tasted great) I hadn’t seen anything like it before. Like I said, it’s definitely my favourite new spot and I cant wait to try more on the menu. If you’re looking for great ambiance, great food and drinks, go to Atari Garden!!

A very bad service, the staff don't even look at you.

Atari has a cool vibe. Geared towards those under 30 based on the music they play. Best part is their second floor balcony. Nothing special in terms of views but there's a nice breeze, patio heaters if you get a little chilly, and a mix of high tables and lounge seats including some with a fire table. The service is okay. Washrooms are small when the place is busy. Lots of interesting drinks which is what we went for. On the higher end price wise with some of the better ones on their level 2 and 3 list yet still underwhelming. They still taste like drinks we can mix at home. At these prices I'd want that little bit extra that makes me wonder what are they doing and in what portions are they mixing things to make it so good. We didn't get that and so were disappointed and underwhelmed with their drinks.

Was looking forward to enjoying the roof patio, but to our surprise, from the second we walked in, this place lacks cleanliness. The handrail going upstairs was so dirty with hand marks, I don't think it's ever been wiped. Next, once we sit on a table, we get greeted by waitress that comes less than 2 feet in front of your face and not wearing a mask. Probably the only place yesterday in the market that I noticed the staff weren't wearing mask and the place lacked cleanliness, and zero social distancing from the waitress coming to our table to the point where we just left within a few minutes of sitting down.

I've been here on two separate occasions, both times awful and slow service. Staff aren't wearing masks and were very close to and hugging some customers coming in, putting themselves and patrons at risk. We wanted to have a nice view and drink, but would never come back here after our second bad experience.

Trying to be posh, but it was just really dark, with music that was way too loud. If it wants to keep with the nightclub vibe it's trying to produce then axe the mediocre, overpriced food from the menu and just stick with drinks.

Amazing patio, great burger but for the price having to pay extra to included a side of fries was a nuisance. The truffle fries that we added on were very good but only tasted of the parmesan that covered the fries, no taste of truffle. The fried chicken was bland, but the "glaze" that comes with it was amazing! The drinks list is long and varied, a little something for almost everyone. Staff super friendly and helpful.

Horrible service. The worst I ever saw

If you are looking good service, you won't find it here - I recommend you spend your money elsewhere and avoid the disappointment.

Great little date night spot. It's a sharing type restaurant where you order 4-5 plates and share. We got a variety of stuff. The Brussels sprouts and the smash burger were our favorite. The service was VERY VERY good. Will definitely be back.

DISASTROUS SERVICE I recently visited this restaurant with high hopes for a satisfying dining experience, but I must say that my expectations were not met. From the moment we arrived until the time we left, the service and overall treatment we received left much to be desired. To start, the waiting time for our food was absolutely unacceptable. We patiently waited for what felt like an eternity, only to be left feeling ignored and frustrated. It seemed as though our order was forgotten or given a lower priority compared to other customers. This lack of promptness showed a disregard for our time and left a sour taste in our mouths. The behavior of the manager was also highly disappointing. Instead of offering a genuine apology for the delay, the manager's apologies came across as insincere and sarcastic. It felt as though they were making fun of us and belittling our legitimate concerns. This kind of unprofessionalism is simply unacceptable and reflects poorly on the restaurant as a whole. What made matters worse was the apparent racism we experienced during our visit. As the only brown people in the establishment, we couldn't help but feel that we were treated differently. The lack of attention and the dismissive attitude from the staff reinforced this uncomfortable sentiment. Discrimination has no place in any establishment, and it is disheartening to encounter it in a supposedly inclusive environment. Adding to the frustration was the fact that a simple request for a sauce went unnoticed. We made it clear to our server that we needed a specific sauce to accompany our meal, but it never arrived. It's disappointing when even the most basic customer requests are overlooked or disregarded. Overall, my experience was marred by long wait times, sarcastic apologies from the manager, a sense of racism, and failure to fulfill a simple request. I left feeling utterly dissatisfied and disrespected as a customer. I hope the management takes these criticisms seriously and works to improve or close that restaurant. On top of that I was obliged to give tips. WORST RESTAURANT in town.

I’ve only ever been here for drinks, but I came for food once and I realized it was absolutely delicious, and very decently priced. We came for lunch, and even though it was a rainy day without a lot of customers, the service was fast and the servers were very friendly.

My wife and I went here while celebrating our honeymoon, it was an awesome time. Great food, exceptional friendly service and the creative drinks were above expectations. Would definitely recommend this spot.

Ambiance: great roof top located in the heart of downtown. The music is nice and the ambiance is lovely. Food: What a disappointment. Ended up getting the burger and the patty was so dry that the gravy that accompanies could not even salvage it. Will definitely think twice before ordering that again

Food was good but portion size was out of line with the price. Very small portions for a high price but what really clinched it for me, and the reason why I will never go back, is the the mandatory tipping policy. The service was well beneath par , with the server not even being able to explain what was on the menu, and here you are demanding a tip. If it’s mandatory, it’s not a tip so just up your price on all meals by 20% and refuse tips. This increasing level of greed from the service industry is extreme and we have reached the tipping point (no pun intended).

Happy vibes all around thanks to our amazing server Molly. Honestly if you aren't sitting at her table you are missing out! Good drinks and great patio but our server was really the cherry on top of the cake💕 thank you again for making our first patio in forever so fun✨

They accepted a 7:30pm reservation when they close at 8pm (unbeknownst to us) which is earlier than they usually close I guess. The greeter was lovely but our waiter was absolutely rude! From the moment I sat down she was rushing us and being very rude/pushy towards us. Didn’t explain the menu, didn’t ask if it was our first time just absolutely poor service on her part. We ended up leaving and will not be back! They have a cute patio and nice aesthetics that’s about it.

The food was mediocre. My girlfriend had the hamburger which was pretty good but my chicken parmesan was rather disappointing. The chicken didn't taste like it was of very good quality, and the pasta was very undercooked. As far as alcohol goes this is very much a cocktail bar, beer and wine selection was very limited. Service was good but that's to be expected when we are one of two occupied tables in the restaurant. It was 8:00pm on a Friday night and no one else came in while we were there. The place is not wheelchair accessible at all. The entrances are tight and the (very clean) bathrooms are located on the second floor via a long tight staircase.

Concept & branding on point! Staff super welcoming and took time to explain every single time item and drink on the menu. All of them were impeccable at their job, always got water and felt very welcomed. Highly recommend for vibe and delicious tapas.

The first floor is now called “Atari Garden”, a pretty garden themed cocktail lounge with small bites. We tried several of their drinks which were all visually stunning. I had a drink suggested by my server that I sadly didn’t love. However the nachos were delicious + easy to eat (came in 6 large chips with the usual toppings).

TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND!!!! From the moment we walked in, there was no proper welcoming or warm atmosphere. The server seemed disinterested and confused, which set the tone for the rest of the evening. One of the major letdowns was the incredibly slow service. We waited for nearly an hour to receive our food, which is unacceptable by any standard. During this time, we had to repeatedly request a sauce to accompany our dish, but despite asking more than 2 times, it never arrived. This lack of attention to detail was disappointing, to say the least. When we brought up our concerns to the floor manager, expecting some form of resolution, we were met with indifference. The manager acknowledged the poor service but failed to offer any solution or make amends. It was disheartening to see a complete lack of customer care and an unwillingness to rectify the situation. To make matters worse, we were surprised to learn that tipping was supposedly mandatory, as per their rules and regulations. We did not agree with this policy, but felt coerced into leaving a tip. It's unfortunate that an establishment would resort to such tactics, further souring our experience. Overall, I strongly advise against dining at Atari Garden. The lack of hospitality, slow service, inattentiveness to customer requests, and the indifference displayed by the management make it an establishment I cannot recommend to anyone. There are far better options available that prioritize customer satisfaction and offer a more enjoyable dining experience.

Food taste pretty bad and they don't follow covid rules.

I am a tourist from Montreal. And was recommended by someone to come here for lunch .. I enjoyed the food . The bartender was awesome . He played great music on the rooftop . Keeping the ambiance very nice .. what I do not appreciate is the girl waitresses gossiping about me and if I paid my bill or not .. yes I did and I also tipped the person who was serving me . After this experience I'm not sure I will be coming back . I seen the bartender in the street and he told me this . The girls were talking about me and he knows he was paid .. very not appreciated. HIRE BETTER STAFF .

No process! Everything is random unfortunately.

Do yourself a favor and visit this lovely restaurant right in the byword market. The service is unmatched. The staff truly cares about your experience. The food is absolutely amazing – everything I tasted melted in my mouth especially the home made pistachio ice cream! They have many different cocktails and the one I tried was the peach blossom and all I can say is WOW, beautiful and TASTY. The environment is absolutely beautiful and very different. Much needed in this city for sure ! I will definitely be back for more. Highly recommend!

Overpriced

Was perusing places in the market and Atari stood out, the eclectic atmosphere, good music and fun crowd. Me and my husband of ten years were surprised to have not seen this place sooner. We arrived and the food and drinks were to die for.. Jessica, our server was super fun, experienced and knowledgable.. we asked her a bunch of questions regarding the menu and she recommended many drinks and accommodated us to our content.. Will def be returning!

Great atmosphere, food was fantastic, very enjoyable

A bit underwhelming but can always improve

Food was fantastic, atmosphere was great. The waitress was amazing. With that said, this was not the experience I was expecting. Based on the previous reviews, their website and pictures I found online, I was expecting a video game themed cocktail bar with some bar foods available. I found their menu on their website and decided it would be a good place for my wife and I to go. When we got there, it was a high-end tapas and cocktail bar. The name appears to have changed from "Atari" to "Atari Garden" and it is themed around a garden now instead of video games. We spent around $100 for 4 plates of food, which turned out to be a light dinner for the two of us. The price isn't actually that bad considering the quality of the food we received, but it was unexpected based on the previous version of the restaurant and the menu they have posted online. I took a few pictures of their current menu, since their website hasn't been updated yet. Unfortunately, the food menu came out pretty blurry. When looking at the menu, you should consider that each person will need 2 or 3 dishes for a full meal. Overall a great experience, even if a bit unexpected.

This is a great bar to go to and staff are very friendly

cool place, good cocktails,and nice vibe

Came out to have dinner and wanted to try something new. Stopped at this restaurant and immediately saw the decor and ambiance and it looked amazing! The waiter was absolutely amazing and the hostess at the front was amazing as well! The food quality is beyond tasty and the drinks are equally as good ! I would definitely be back again with a larger group of people to enjoy some apps and drinks!

Cannot go there, It is a bar, I cannot take drugs in there. But still, I can go there and see what is there in this theme and they are like: Space Invaders, Mega Man, Super Mario and e.t.c.

The rooftop patio at Atari has one of the best views in the market. We had the corner high top table and you could see the street, the buildings and Parliament in the distance. There were tables further in with firepits that looked really nice too. The cocktails were tasty and the food was pretty good. You could get similar food for cheaper elsewhere but it wasn't outrageous and it was worth it for the view.

Beautiful atmosphere on the rooftop patio! Unfortunately, the kitchen was closed when we arrived for our 10:45pm reservation (Saturday). Overall, our drinks were delicious and the presentation was stunning. They were however a bit pricey so be prepared to spend more than the usual for drinks in Ottawa.

Good place to go with a group! The service was great, the drinks and food were also very good. They were able to accommodate making some dishes dairy free for me, and my other dietary restrictions and I still very much enjoyed the food, ambience, and overall experience.

Decent place, obviously not the best first time since we are having a pandemic but still not terrible. They managed to keep it light and breezy on the patio with sweet staff and a good selection of drinks. Bar rail, to top shelf etc. Good for chilling with friends or having a lax birthday.

Giving This place a 5 star based on drinks-Because they were amazing and creative. There were four of us that went out to drink and we all enjoyed picking and trying drinks from the Menu. It had such a cool vibe and would recommend this place if you want to bar hope along the way!!!

This place is in a great location. The drinks were fantastic and the appys were scrumptious. The service was slow but servers were sweet.

Always read horrible reviews when you see them- most are true and sincere. Just experienced my worst service ever in this city I love so much. You will think the lady up front will be at least sober, given the times we are in, but instead gave me horrible treatment. My advice-stay away from this place.

Wonderful time! Everything was definatly pricey, but I know that's not in anyone's control. My only thoughts are that if you have the name Atari then you should probably have actual video games. Or something more than just beverage names

Nice décor doesn't make up for overpriced bland food and understaffed rude waiters. Pro tip: Check your bill before you pay, the waiters tip themselves.

I love this bar. I’ve been coming occasionally since 2015 even now I’m living in Montreal I still miss it!

Fun decor and nice patio, drink prices are a little steep for the size of the cocktails.

Awesome vibe.

(Translated by Google) I ADVISE AGAINST!! Horrible experience! My partner and I even from out of town came to the Atari for a nice evening. Unfortunately your customer service was HORRID! We waited 2 hours at the entrance, without a hello, without a look from your team. I understand the challenge of managing an establishment in the current situation. However, treating those customers who have come to spend money at your restaurant like cattle is deplorable. I couldn't wait to come here, taste your menu which was very good. But the disgusting behavior of your team will never make me come back again and I would not recommend your establishment. Please ask yourself questions about your management technique. Thank you (Original) JE DÉCONSEILLE!! Expérience horrible! Mon conjoint et moi même venant de l'extérieur de la ville sommes venus au Atari pour passer une bonne soirée. Malheureusement, votre service client était HORRIBLE! Nous avons attendu 2h à l'entrée, sans un bonjour, sans un regard de la part de votre équipe. Je comprends le défi qu'est de gérer un établissement dans la situation actuelle. Cependant, traiter ses clients qui sont venus dépenser de l'argent dans votre restaurant comme du bétail est déplorable. J'avais hâte de venir ici, goûter à votre menu qui était très bon. Mais le comportement dégoûtant de votre équipe ne me fera plus jamais revenir et je ne recommanderais pas votre établissement. Svp, posez-vous des questions sur votre technique de gestion. Merci

Expensive but worthy! Very good!

Food is good and drinks are mediocre.

This is a fantastic cocktail bar, the drinks are amazing and that’s what matters in a place this—I only wish we had something like this in Vancouver!

(Translated by Google) The meal was delicious because the price of the glasses were expensive (Original) Le repas était délicieux parcontre le prix des verres étaient cher

Good view on top. Interesting cocktails. On the more expensive side tho. 9 $ fries for example and it's not very big.

Great little cozy bar and restaurant, but I was only there for drinks so can't vouch for the food. I wish they had more video games!

This place is so cool, the floor has retro video game characters and the menu has references as well. The food is great and the drinks are even better. Definitely would go again.

(Translated by Google) Very good tartares and very good drinks. Friendly and courteous servers We recommend ! (Original) Tres bon tartares et tres bon drinks. Serveurs gentils et courtois Nous recommandons !

Friendly servers and creative yummy cocktails. Fun for a birthday!

Love the menu on the walls!

Service was really slow. Food is overpriced. Server didn’t tell us that she charged a service fee on the bill so i left her extra tip without noticing. Overall bad experience.

Good spot. Great terrace. Chatty waitress. All the good characteristics of a great place to drink.

Was great their meals and service. A big competition when it comes the restaurant business in ottawa

Lol this place

Great place to hangout on a weekend!. Cozy nook upstairs with lamp warmers. Cocktails we’re on point.

Good drinks, but I had to wait more than one hour for a mac n cheese... Do not go eat there unless you have a lot of free time...