5 Ottawa seafood restaurants that'll make you feel like you're dining on the coast
These spots will make you forget we're in Ontario.
Just a few of the dishes on offer at some of the best seafood restaurants in Ottawa.
Ottawa isn't exactly known for its fish per se, but that hasn't stopped a few outliers from popping up in the city and giving us amazing seafood experiences.
Between dry-aged fish, seafood towers and oyster happy hours — from special-occasion restaurants to hole-in-the-wall fish markets — this city can be a seafood lover's dream if you know where to look!
Luckily for you, I've taken on the task of trying a bunch of spots around the city in search of the best seafood in Ottawa.
As a fish lover myself, I knew I had to share these five spots I can count on to make me forget I'm in landlocked Ontario. We may not be surrounded by ocean like our coastal Canadian friends, but that doesn't mean we don't deserve amazing seafood.
The care taken in choosing quality products is evident in every restaurant listed here, which of course makes all the difference. So worry not, Ottawa newcomer from the East Coast! You can still get your fix right here in the capital city.
Grab your rubber boots — we're going fishin'.
Le Poisson Bleu
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Modern Seafood
Address: 610 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: There is no Ottawa seafood list worth its salt that doesn't have Le Poisson Bleu on it. What Chef Alex Bimm manages to create in that kitchen is absolutely mind-blowingly good.
His practice of dry-aging fish to create things like tuna bacon, swordfish prosciutto and trout sausage makes for one of the most unique and creative dining experiences in the city.
Bimm does what he wants. There are no rules; it's all about delicious food. From comfort food like poutine with maple tuna bacon and fish gravy, to high-end bites like East Coast oysters topped with uni, apricot vinegar and high-quality olive oil, to shareable plates like his piri piri fish and on-the-bone fish and chips — if Bimm believes it's possible, he will make it happen.
When paired with the stunning wine list and carefully curated cocktail menu, LPB offers one of the best dining experiences in the city — seafood or otherwise.
Pelican Seafood Market & Grill
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Seafood
Address: 1500 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Pelican is an Ottawa classic. With the fish market on one side and their restaurant space on the other, Pelican is a seafood lover's dream where you can enjoy incredibly fresh and reasonably priced dishes with no frills.
This is a classic case of "Here is this amazing product prepared simply and expertly so you can enjoy it to the fullest extent." Pelican is serving up their dishes in every way you can imagine. Oysters on the half shell, tartares, seafood towers, pastas, bowls, mains and even poutines. What's more, during their incredible "Centurion" happy hour, you and your crew can enjoy ONE HUNDRED OYSTERS for just $185.
Pelican has been doing it right for many years; it's about time you check them out.
The Whalesbone
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Seafood
Address: 231 Elgin St. & 430 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Whether it's at the original Bank Street location or the very popular Elgin Street one, Whalesbone has become synonymous amongst Ottawans with a high-end seafood experience.
Where Le Poisson Bleu is new and innovative and Pelican is classic, Whalesbone falls somewhere in the middle, taking classic seafood concepts and imparting new flavours and techniques that make for a delicious dining experience.
The Whalesbone is also known for being incredibly accommodating. Do you have a partner who doesn't love seafood? They have something for them. How about a friend who's vegan? They've got them covered too! You can bring even the pickiest of eaters along with you. No matter the situation, you'll get your seafood fix, and everyone will leave happy and full.
Elmdale Oyster House & Tavern
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Tavern-Style Seafood
Address: 1084 Wellington St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Here we have another Whalesbone Group restaurant, but one that does things a little differently.
The Elmdale Tavern is a longstanding staple in Wellington West. Unlike its sister restaurants, the Elmdale provides a super casual old-school tavern-like feel while still serving up high-quality ocean dishes.
As the name suggests, you can't go to the Elmdale without indulging in some oysters! Their array of mignonettes is complete with unique flavours, classic pairings and even some Jameson Irish whiskey to clean out the shell with.
This is the perfect spot to grab a beer with some friends and enjoy some high-quality food in a casual atmosphere.
I could talk about the Elmdale forever but I'll leave you with the most important highlight of this Ottawa classic — the staff.
They're kind, knowledgeable and, most importantly, fun. These are the kind of people you want to have a post-shift beer with. Go on, go make some new friends at the Elmdale.
Mati
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Modern Mediterranean
Address: 428 Preston St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Mati refers to itself as a "crudo and charcoal grill, modern Mediterranean restaurant." Unlike the other places on this list, they don't solely focus on seafood, but they still execute it darn well. They even offer seafood during Sunday brunch!
The atmosphere in Mati is beautiful. It's clean and modern, and it feels like the ideal spot for a high-end first date, anniversary, or celebration dinner. In fact, Mati is where my partner and I had one of our first dinner dates.
Cue the seafood tower! One layer of hot dishes plus one layer of cold dishes equals two layers of heaven. An impressive spread that includes perfectly seared scallops, expertly shucked raw oysters and much more, and which left us surprisingly full.
When paired with a bottle of wine or a round of cocktails, it's easy to see why Mati has become an ideal choice for seafood among Ottawans... It hits all the marks.
Aesthetic, quality of food and drink, talented bar staff and, although expensive — evident value.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
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