Three of the four hobbits, minus Billy Boyd, dropped by Citizen on Gilmour Street Friday evening.
Lucia Gallardo, a server at Citizen and Town, told Narcity she was surprised when all three actors walked in around 8:30 p.m.
Citizen staff posing with Dom Monaghan, Elijah Wood and Sean Astin in OttawaCourtesy of Citizen
"They asked me for recommendations on dishes, and they got a bunch of yummy food," Gallardo said, before listing off menu items like the house focaccia, the carpaccio, and the kohlrabi salad.
"Then for the mains, they had meatballs, which is the thing that Town and Citizen are known for, right? And Dominic doesn't eat red meat typically, but he had a meatball anyway," Gallardo said. "I asked him if it was worth it, and he said, 'Yes.'"
And if you’ve ever wondered what Middle-Earth’s saviour likes to drink when he's off the job, you may finally have your answer. According to Gallardo, Elijah Wood is a fan of Negronis.
"So there you have it," she said laughing. "The stars are just like us."
The three actors stuck around to take photos with staff and Gallardo said she recommended they check out Le Poisson Bleu on Somerset Street West next if they had time.
Sean Astin, Elijah Wood and Dominic Monaghan posing for a photo at CitizenCourtesy of Citizen
Alexander Bimm, the chef and owner of Le Poisson Bleu, was practically giddy with anticipation when he saw a reservation booking come in for Elijah Wood on Saturday, September 7.
"It took me a millisecond to realize what was happening, but that millisecond felt pretty long, you know?" Bimm told Narcity. "I was very excited."
Bimm said all four stars were exceptionally kind, taking photos with staff, signing cards and even rhyming off memorable quotes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy — after finishing up a pretty hefty meal.
"My God, they had everything," Bimm said laughing. "They ate and drank like a couple of hobbits. They live true to the story."
Bimm said the actors started with some oysters and then tried their seafood charcuterie plate (think swordfish prosciutto and sturgeon mortadella), trout merguez sausage served with locally foraged mushrooms (Bimm's personal favourite), as well as the grilled seabass, lobster risotto, duck confit and "a lot more fish and seafood."
Dominic Monaghan posted a photo of the group on social media with the caption, "Like seeing a unicorn. FOUR hobbits walk into a restaurant. Thank you Le Poisson Bleu."
So it looks like both Citizen and Le Poisson Bleu have earned the hobbit seal of approval.
Billy Boyd wearing a Hudson's Bay hat and scarf. Madeline Forsyth | Narcity