The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Ottawa has once again graced Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list with six entries. It's three less than in 2023, and in my opinion, far too many amazing Ottawa restaurants were left off the list this year, but that's not what I'm here to discuss.
If you haven't seen the full list yet, here's how Canada's 100 Best Restaurants ranked the city's top eateries. In Ottawa specifically, it was Riviera that took the top spot (actual ranking 28), followed by Atelier in second (actual ranking 43), Arlo third (actual ranking 71), and Supply and Demand in fourth (actual ranking 75). North & Navy took the fifth spot (actual ranking 95), closely followed by Buvette Daphnee in sixth (actual ranking 97).
The six Ottawa restaurants chosen this year are all deserving in their own right, but are they ranked correctly? This question is pretty subjective and, lucky for me, that means my opinion is just as valid as the fine people at Canada's 100 Best!
So, here's how I would re-rank the order in which each restaurant appeared on the 2024 list — and why.
Atelier
Cuisine: Modernist Canadian
Address: 540 Rochester St, Ottawa, ON
Atelier is Ottawa's only consistent look into the world of molecular gastronomy. The innovation and creativity poured into their menu is enough in it's own right to rank them highly on Canada's Best 100 Restaurants list, but a few things set them apart and should put them top among the six featured Ottawa restaurants — in my book anyway.
First, Atelier offers a 40 — yes, 40 — course tasting menu. To ask any restaurant to be consistent every night with a regular menu is a daunting task, but a 40 course menu of conscientious, innovative bites done every night at such a high level is something worth writing home about.
In addition to what goes on in the kitchen, Atelier offers a once-in-a-lifetime dining room experience. From refined cocktails and one of the most knowledgeable sommeliers in the city in Bernard Lemoyne, to a friendly and incredibly informative staff, the experience at Atelier is A1 — and this puts it firmly at the top of my list.
Arlo
Cuisine: Comfort food and natural wine
Address: 340 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON
Arlo is well deserving of every "best of" list they land on, and there are two things that set them apart and therefore shoot them right up to second on my list.
The first is that they have cemented themselves as the wine experts in Ottawa. If you walk through the Somerset Street doors to enjoy a meal at Arlo, you can be certain that every single person on the floor that night is going to be able to guide you in the right direction when it comes to wine. Many of their employees are WSET certified (a sommelier certification), and the ones who aren't might as well be.
The second thing that really sets Arlo apart for me is just how kind everyone who works there is. There's something to be said about a restaurant experience being made by those who are taking care of you for the evening, and from the ownership down, everyone in that building genuinely cares about your dining experience. You are a guest in their home and you will be treated like it!
Of course to be on this list, you need to have good food, but that alone isn't enough for the average diner. At Arlo, they're doing the extra things right.
Riviera
Cuisine: Canadian
Address: 62 Sparks St., Ottawa, ON
Canada's Best 100 Restaurants list's first choice for Ottawa restaurants is my third, but that's not a dig at Riv. Instead, it's more a matter of what you value, and where that value ranks for you (or me) as the diner.
For me, Riviera does a lot of things right, and they definitely land at the top of my list when it comes to aesthetic (Riviera has one of the most gorgeous dining rooms and bars in Ottawa, and maybe even in the country). Riviera also benefits from having arguably the most legendary bartender in the city's history in Steven Flood. Everything that man touches turns to hospitality gold and one could make an argument for Riviera's top spot from his influence alone.
But Riviera is a creature of consistency — whereas I love risk. I'd rather see a big swing and a miss than know exactly what to expect every time I walk into a restaurant.
Riv serves delicious food in an amazing atmosphere, with some of the best cocktails in the city, and these are really solid reasons to put it on Canada's Best 100 list. But, with Atelier's innovation, and the way Arlo provides a new-level experience, Riviera lands a bronze medal for me.
North & Navy, Supply and Demand
Cuisine: Northern Italian
Address: North & Navy, 226 Nepean St, Ottawa, ON
Cuisine: Mixed, sustainable
Address: Supply and Demand, 1335 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON
North & Navy and Supply and Demand; These two feel more like a four-A and four-B for me, rather than four and five. I went back and forth on these two restaurants for some time, and had many conversations about their place on the top-100 list over a beer or two.
Both restaurants put out amazing food. Both are creative and show the personality of their chefs in every plate they serve. At both restaurants you can enjoy a selection of wine or cocktails to wet your whistle that pair well with the curated menu. But, there is one thing that separates the two restaurants consistently among every diner I spoke to, including those from both inside and outside of the industry.
The team at North & Navy are next-level when it comes to taking care of their guests. Kind, warm, accommodating, knowledgeable — they are everything you'd expect from a front of house team supporting what their back of house team is doing. This is the kind of staff you buy a post-shift beer for!
At North & Navy (and their sister restaurant, Cantina Gia) you can always expect to have a good time from the moment you walk in the door.
Buvette Daphnee
Cuisine: Quebec wine bar
Address: 11 William St, Ottawa, ON
Buvette Daphnee is the latest project by Chef Dominique Dufour. I fully anticipate it shooting up both mine and Canada's 100 Best list, but the truth is, it's only been open for about six months!
Credit where credit is due, to land a spot on that coveted list so close to its inception, not to mention being ranked number eight on Canada's 100 Best New Restaurants list, is a truly impressive feat.
Buvette Daphnee is a leading force in revitalizing the left-for-dead Byward Market. From their natural wine selection to their unique take on Quebec flavours, Chef Dom and the team at Daphnee are primed to be a regular name on Canada's 100 Best list, and I'm certain their seat will continue to move closer to the top, too.
Ultimately, these lists are subjective. If it we're up to me we'd have 15 Ottawa restaurants or more occupying the list (not to mention how shocking it is that places like Stolen Goods and Bar Ocelli were left off the Canada's Best 100 bars list!).
So take it upon yourself! Go eat at these restaurants, and build your own ranking of Ottawa's best. This city is in its prime... maybe we should even have a 100 best of our own?
This article has been updated since it was originally published in May 2024.
