3 Michelin star-worthy Ottawa restaurants that deserve a spot in the Guide

Perch

Price: 💸💸💸💸

Address: 300 Preston St. #1, Ottawa, ON

Why It Deserves A Michelin Star: Perch focuses on using Canadian wild ingredients from small local farms. Chef and owner Justin Champagne-Lagarde focuses on taking the unsung hero and making it beautiful, taking the unfamiliar and using it in place of the familiar, and above all, taking sustainability as close to zero waste as possible. In my opinion, Champagne-Lagarde and his team at Perch prove that sustainability is possible in a fine-dining environment, through unique techniques and innovative choices of ingredients. His commitment to following this path alone deserves a Michelin star, but let's explore how Perch meets the Guide's criteria.

Perch's commitment to using quality products is second to none. Champagne-Lagarde and his team spend more time sourcing local, unique ingredients than they do in the kitchen (which is saying something)! Perch even sources its olive oil from the only Canadian distributor available. If that doesn't show a commitment to quality, I don't know what does.

Perch checks the next box as well. Champagne-Lagarde has a mastery of flavour and cooking techniques. He expresses his desire to push the boundaries with flavour and technique to create dishes that change our perception of what does and doesn't work in a dish. He pushes dishes to "an unbalanced point" to find what's new and great and aims to take the depth of his dishes to a new level. This is a big risk, but when a risk pays off, it's because of evident mastery.

Champagne-Lagarde's desire to create new, sustainable, conscious and innovative dishes is evident in everything from his choice of ingredients to his composition to how he uses his scraps — which he gives to his bar team so they can further innovate. His personality is noticeable in every decision made at Perch.

At $145 per head for a nine-course tasting menu and $100 per head to add beverage pairings, it's pricey but worth it. A meal like this is a form of art or entertainment and would cost double or even triple the price in any other major city.

Champagne-Lagarde may push the envelope further than most, but you'd be hard-pressed to experience a bad meal at Perch. I'd safely bet that 100 tries out of 100 would be winners, as his consistency is unmatched.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with restaurant assistance

Perch website

Atelier

Price: 💸💸💸💸

Address: 540 Rochester St., Ottawa, ON

Why It Deserves A Michelin Star: Atelier is Ottawa's home for molecular gastronomy. From edible puzzle pieces to tasty balloons, this 40 (yes, 40) -course tasting menu turns reality on its head and pushes the boundaries of what we think food can be.

When working with molecular gastronomy, you have to use the best of the best ingredients. I believe Atelier has "using quality ingredients" covered, but what about the techniques involved?

Remember when I said 40 courses of turning reality on its head? That's the mastery of flavour and cooking techniques covered, but how can you find the chef's personality when merging food and science?

Chef and owner Marc Lepine has dedicated his life to recreating what a dining experience can be. The personal touch it takes to execute such an extensive and innovative menu shines through with every bite over the four-hour experience, which probably means it costs a fortune, right?

Well, sort of. In addition to charging $250 per head for dinner, Atelier provides drink pairing options: $175 for the complete wine pairing, $125 for the half wine pairing, $300 for Bespoke wine, $150 for the cocktail pairing, and $125 for the non-alcoholic pairing. Value is subjective, but 40 courses are not. The cost may be high, but the value hits the mark for me. It is 40 courses, after all.

Consistency is key to success when you have to produce 40 perfect dishes. Atelier has been open for 16 years, longer than most restaurants could ever hope for. They're doing something right, and it's how they stay consistent in their quality.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Kathā

Price: 💸💸💸💸

Address: 225 Preston St., Unit 3, Ottawa, ON

Why It Deserves A Michelin Star: Kathā is the most affordable option on this list, but that doesn't make it any less worthy. In much of Canada, Indian cuisine is associated heavily with takeout food, but this multi-course tasting menu proves that elevation is a matter of mindset, technique, care and — in this case — storytelling.

This chef's table-style Indian tasting menu takes sourcing seriously, featuring dishes from all four major points of India. The quality shines through in each dish, taking dishes traditionally not considered restaurant-worthy and making them special. I think the quality is evident when you eat their food, but is it masterful?

Kathā runs as a kitchen by committee, pulling understanding and techniques from multiple backgrounds to create the best experience possible. Familiar Indian flavours are presented in innovative and elevated ways that are designed to surprise the diner, demonstrating a new level of Indian-inspired cookery. Each chef plays a unique role in telling the story of the meal, and each chapter is executed flawlessly. The technique is bang-on.

The true essence of Kathā lies in the personality of the chef, which is beautifully reflected in the cuisine. Each dish is not just a plate of food, but a story from one of the chefs. Whether it's about their past, their family life, their professional career or myriad other inspirations, this form of chef's-table dining creates an immersive experience that adds a unique context to the meal. So, how much does this storytime dinner cost, and more importantly, is it worth it?

At $130 per head for eight courses and an extra $70 for wine pairings, Kathā exceeds the value for money expectation, but does such a low cost come at the price of consistency?

Absolutely not. Kathā is consistent without being repetitive. Its menu rotates regularly — every two months or so — and with each visit, you're impressed from the moment you walk in the door to the moment you leave. The level of service, quality and care is like no other. I've been twice and enjoyed two separate menus, and I was blown away in different ways each time.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Vegan tasting menu available.

Kathā website