Benny's Bistro

Wow! This was some of the most original and delicious food I’ve had. The potato gratin was so flavourful… I wish i had ordered two! The coffee was also so delicious! The owner was a delightful gentleman, and you could tell he takes huge pride in this business. Bravo! Can’t wait to come back!

Absolutely lovely experience. Cool, clean atmosphere with. Quick and friendly service. My wife had the French toast and I had the potatoes gratin. Everything was downright delicious. Potatoes were reheated in the microwave but considering the flavor bomb that was the potatoes, I'm willing to look past that 😛 will definitely be back

It was a real joy to eat breakfast here! A delightful, warm, welcoming, clean place! The gentleman who served us and with whom we had a conversation is a very nice and kind person! Everything is superlative, congratulations, you are doing a great job! 💝💯👏👍

Benny’s Bistro is fantastic. The service is personal and excellent. The food is original and incredibly well thought out and tasty. Flavours are delicious!! If you are looking for something different, this is the place and you won’t want to go anywhere else. I had the Salmon Gravlax. To die for!

I enjoyed brunch here over the weekend. I had passed by so many times but hadn’t tried it yet! The restaurant itself is tucked within the bakery down a hallway. The atmosphere was so inviting. For a space with no windows, they’ve really been able to maximize it. The kitchen is open and very clean. They’ve got local art hanging in all the alcoves as well which added to the charm. I got to have the special that day which was the fried Cornish hen with a poached egg, cornbread, and cabbage salad. It was delightful paired with a very generous mimosa. The chef who created the menu, Scott, spoke to us about the dishes and even served us some of our items along with the other wonderful and prompt service staff. He was so kind and you can tell he is someone who takes immense pride in his work. My experience made me appreciate what was in front of me so much more. I will definitely be returning to try more. Definitely pop by the bakery and pick up some pastries and bread on your way out. This place is unlike anything I’ve tried in Ottawa - you must go!

Best dish I had in Ottawa. Period. I ordered the salmon gravlax, and it was phenomenal. The presentation? Flawless. The flavors? Perfectly balanced. The caper sauce was rich yet light, and those potatoes? Crispy enough to bring just the right amount of texture to the plate while still maintaining a luxurious creamy texture. Let’s talk about the olive tapenade for a second—it’s not just a side, it’s a statement. That stuff SLAPS, adding the perfect hit of salt and umami to every bite. Absolute BANGER of a dish from Benny’s.

We had breakfast here on our first day of vacation in Ottawa. The French Toast was outstanding as the cinnamon and apple jam went really well with the toast. The chef was friendly and welcoming. It’s just the perfect meal to begin your day with at Benny’s Bistro.

Since I discovered Benny in April last year, I have been here for more than 10 times. It’s a small restaurant hidden behind a French bakery, with only a limited menu, but every dish is exquisitely and lovely. In addition, I was moved by chef Scott and his wife for their dedication and pursuit of food.

I popped in at Benny's specifically for a bowl of their soup. Their soups are absolutely top notch and hit the spot when you're craving something comforting on a cold day. They do have a beautiful menu of delicious offerings but that day was a very specific meal of soup for me. Will definitely be back for their mushrooms! The service was fantastic, and fast and it's got quite a bit of seating back there as well. It doesn't look like it would from the outside but it's quite spacious back there

Great spot right in the market that is casual, what upscale French cuisine and bistro items. They have a nice bakery in the French for those who just want a baked goods or fresh bread. The food is nicely curated with french flare Only downside is they are a bit overcommitted to the theme of French cuisine. For example, no cola or pepsi products because that is "not French". The coffee doesnt have anything but cows milk because oat milk is "not french". Just something to be aware of

Great service, food and drink. A limited menu but quality food, salads and desserts. Located within and behind the bakery

A nice surprise for us Ottawa residents and out-of-town guests. A little hard to find, but worth it. We had the sandwich and salad or soup, and one person had the Gavlax. Superb taste and fresh ingredients. The menu is a limited.

Outstanding. The best omelette I've ever had. The ambiance is lovely as well. Great service.

Just had my breakfast at Benny's bistro and boy what a treat! The food was absolutely delicious, portions were great and the decor of the place was awesome. I had the French toast and it was the most delicious French toast I have ever tasted. Sweet, crunchy, tasty, fresh and good portion too. The staff was friendly and lovely, the food didn't take that long and it was a lovely place.

Wow! This was an indulgent brunch! Beautifully orchestrated dishes by the chef. Bravo! We came on a whim and ordered the potato gratin, the salmon graveaux (?), and the French toast, coffees. This was elegant comfort food at its best. We also realized that we had come to the restaurant many years ago with friend. My husband did say they took a while but I think it's because the food was perfection. The chef was working over a hot stove. The sauces in particular were incredible.

After reading some great reviews of this place, I had to come try! It was a little difficult finding the place since it's a little hidden (behind the bakery part) and since I'm not from the area. The food itself was very good, though the portions were a little small for the price. You're looking at about $19 on average for a meal. I got their sandwich special, which contained warm Brie cheese, pears, and proscuitto with a side of green salad. The sandwich itself was very, very oily. Not sure if this is because of the cheese, or if they butter/oil their toast when they grill it. I will say the toast and taste itself was very, very good though. The salad on the side was kind of sad. I couldn't taste the dressing very much and it was just a mouthful of flavourless greens. My boyfriend got the salmon gravlax and while it was very tasty, the portion size was smaller than expected, especially compared to my sandwich. It was about half the size of the sandwich, and it didn't come with a side... And considering it was $5 more than the sandwich, we weren't very happy. Service was very good. We were on a time crunch and the food came out very orderly. The waitress refilled our waters regularly and was very attentive. It got busy after 12pm (we arrived around 11:30am), but service never fell!

It's been over a year since I've been here and I could really use an order...correction, a double order of the double smoked bacon and fingerling potatoes! I've only ever had brunch here and I really enjoy it. Coffee is good and staff are really friendly. I'm going to have to make my way down there in the near future for some take out.

The food was all right, but the service was a bit... mind-boggling. But let's start from the beginning: The Vibe: Modern, casual, clean, homey... the dining area and kitchen are all in one room, in the back of a bakery. It kind of made me feel like a group of friends were serving dinner out their kitchen, and I was dining in their living room-turned-restaurant. It is colorful and well-lit, though there is no natural lighting. The food is served on white plates, but overall the feel is casual. The Food: Very interesting brunch items and generally good execution and quality of ingredients. The portions do not look huge, but the food is actually quite filling. I had the Yukon potato gratin with pork loin and poached eggs. It was $16, and the hollandaise sauce was $2 extra. It was definitely solid potato gratin, and the hollandaise sauce and eggs were nicely done, but strangely, there was no sign of the maple-cured pork loin... I basically paid $18 for 2 eggs and a small stack of potato slices. Adding in some orange juice and watered-down coffee, plus tax and tip, I ended up spending a bit over $30 for mostly carbs. The Service: I arrived a bit after noon and knew I'd have to wait. There was no quoted time, but there were about 6 ppl in front of me. It ended up being 50mins and I waited patiently in line while charging my phone. It looked like I would get seated about 10 mins after the couple in front of me, but for some reason, the girl at the counter showed the 2 ladies behind me to their table first, adding 10 more mins to my wait time. There were 4 friendly-mannered staff members: 2 in the kitchen and 2 manning the dining room. They all seemed to be hustling, but in a way that someone might hustle if they had never worked at a restaurant before or never learned how to multi-task, as many empty tables were left unclean for extended time, contributing to longer waits, and when customers were sat or got their food, silverware and condiments were also missing for extended time. This was odd to me because the restaurant is not that large. In my case, when I was finally seated, I was eventually given bread, butter, and coffee, but without cream for the coffee (after my server said she will be right back with some), nor utensils to spread the butter on the bread. I looked around at other tables - also missing utensils - then at the servers standing at the front of the restaurant, talking amongst themselves. It took about 10 mins to finally catch their attention (as I didn't want to be weird and walk up to them to ask for the missing items, which had been requested before). Overall: The menu is definitely creative and part of it is well-executed. When I told my server I had a hard time choosing an item because everything looked amazing, she said "Oh - yeah, we know." That statement might not have been as off-putting if the service wasn't quite so abysmal.

This restaurant is undergoing renovations and is currently closed. I'll definitely give it a try when they reopen!

Really cute little bistro located behind a bakery. Their menu is small which is good in my opinion. I got the eggs Benedict which was so taste and really good. The portion sizes are small but the food is so delicious that each bite is heaven. And the rich ingredients make the meal filling! My friend got the tuna which she loved. I tried some as well and it was really good! Their food is really tasteful and they have very good brunch. It is on the expensive side but it's honestly worth it. The service is great. Seating is limited but it wasn't overly busy the day I went. They also have a nice variety of cocktails and coffee. I would most definitely return here and I'm really glad I went.

Lot of reviewers mention and suggest this place for brunch. Well, I came here for the tuna, but the menu changes last week. They took out the tuna and replace it with the trout. Big disappointment immediately. We had the salmon and the French toast. The toast is very puffy with the apple syrup. It is very nice, but nothing give me a wow factor.

I tried the Gratin (pork) and the Salmon. Both really good. Flavourful. Yummy! They have a small menu and specialize in them. Definitely going back to try other things on the menu. Go there before 11am on Sunday to avoid a huge lineup. ;)

Good good and good service. I am board with the selections for their brunch...the same thing for a few years now. I think I had everything on the cart. They need to mix it up, but for the first time going there you will not be disappointed. Went back after a year and the menu is still from 2011 it is consistently good but you know the menu so no surprises there.

I used to love French toasts when I was a kid. I forgot where I tasted them for the very first time in my life. Somehow as I grew older, none of th French toasts I tried would resemble that taste I loved back then. Benny's French toasts went even beyond the taste I used to love. I am so happy I ordered them! I was going to order sandwiches like everyone else, which looked beautiful by the way on everyone else's table. I am still very glad that I was able to love French toasts once again. Super long line all the time, so be sure to get there early. The space is tiny, but it's worth the wait!

The bacon is a must try!!! Its very thickly cut into cubes and soooooo soooo yummy. We ordered the breakfast, the omelette, and potato hash with bacon. I am still thinking about it and will definitely return

One of the food highlights of our trip to Ottawa. We got there right after it opened and we got it right away. About 11 though, it was full so get hear before 11 if you can. I had the Yukon Gold Potato Gratin and my hub had the Savoury Buckwheat Crepe. Both is these dishes were so delicious that we were hmmmm-ing all through our meal. Highly recommend both dishes. The hollandaise sauce on the Yukon dish was probably one of the best I've tasted with a big lemon taste! You definitely gotta eat here! The coffee was OK but the coffee latte was pretty good.

This was an incredible find all thanks to Yelp! Since I knew we'd be spending several hours in Ottawa I took advantage of the VIA wifi and looked for a good lunch destination. I think it's great that this place is tucked behind the bakery and located on the outer edge of Byward Market. Once inside you're met with a warm welcome and the decor itself is adorable. Don't get deceived by the small menu as each item is excellent! Everything is fresh and of quality. I had the house gravlax with potato salad and sunny side egg and the plate was beautiful! Not only was it visually pleasing it was exquisite to the palate. The flavors are rich and bold and I loved the play on textures and harmony of flavors. The price point is reasonable and this was one of my top 3 dining experiences on my recent trip. I would definitely recommend this place and gladly go back again.

Delicious cozy spot hidden in the back of the bakery, make sure to make a reservation as I waited over 30 minutes in line! Food was creative and delicious, but portions were somewhat small. My salmon gravlax was very good, but the tuna dish's flavors were an odd mix, and the tomato broth at the bottom took away from the dish as a whole. Overall still a solid brunch choice, if you choose the right dishes!

Amazing little place, can't say anything bad except they should have a patio (but you can't really make that magically appear). This is the first time I've ever been there, visiting Ottawa for the long weekend. I haven't exactly lurked all around the city, but from my brunch tastebuds developed in Toronto, this place comes pretty clutch. Once you walk through the door, the smell of the bakery hits you before you see all the bread. It's carb heaven. CONFIT ALBACORE TUNA (19) - A bit more on the pricey side but every little thing in that dish was amazing. Poached egg, chorizo, and albacore tuna? I can't even tell you how good it is because a waterfall will just form from my mouth. We also got an omelet of the day (17) which included prosciutto and we'll you can't go wrong with an omelet and prosciutto. The service is pretty bomb. As soon as you're seated, water and delicious freshly baked bread arrive at your table.

A delicious brunch place and it's worth the wait. Come early and sit down before 10:30 on a weekend. They don't start cooking but you can order coffee. Food is quite good and they take care of their presentation. I ordered their Ahi Tuna and the taste was good. Their poach egg was perfect!

Hidden in the back of a bakery, this place had delicious breakfast, good coffee, and great service. I enjoyed the experience and would come back again.

I was recommended this place from my brother who is a local of Ottawa and, judging by the Yelp reviews, I thought this was going to be a sure win. When we got there, the place was jammed pack with patrons, and although we were passed numerous times by wait-staff, not one person acknowledged our arrival. We stood around awkwardly for a while, watching the guys in the kitchen create some delicious looking food until we were able to grab a servers attention and ask her, "What's the deal." They take no reservations and it's a first come first serve basis, if you leave the line, then you lose your spot, they don't take names and don't want to. As for the food, I thought I was ordering something really special, pork belly something over hash browns with some sauce (hard to remember now). Presentation and speed of the kitchen was great; however, the food was very very bland. What I found really weird about this place was that there is loads of room for more tables near the front of the restaurant. I don't think they have that extra space there for a reason, it's like they just ran out of tables, and never bothered to buy anymore.

It's a 4.6. This rating is for the food only. In terms of food, this place would earn a Michelin star if the Michelin Guide were to rate restaurants in Canada. The brunch here is reminiscent of Longman and Eagle in Chicago (a 1 Michelin star restaurant) The two items we ordered were amazing! Probably the best brunch we've ever had. We had: -YUKON GOLD POTATO GRATIN ($15) Rating: 5/5 Two Soft poached eggs on top of maple cured pork loin and a potato grain base. The ingredients were go so well together with the flaky gratin. Simply heaven. -BENNY'S SALMON GRAVLAX ($17) Rating: 4.5/5 A Sunnyside egg on top of caper and fingerling potato salad with olive tapenade on the side. All kinds of texture and flavours! -Comes with bread and butter Service is slow(15-20 minutes to order, 30 minutes for food on weekends). They only have 3 staff working there. But food makes up for it. IMO, this is a must go restaurant for brunch if you are in Ottawa.

We dropped in for brunch on a friend's recommendation and we weren't disappointed. Had the two egg plate with thick cut smoked bacon fingerling potato hash and a light, refreshing beer & arugula salad, and the wild mushroom omelette (held the gruyere) with salad and multigrain toast. Nothing short of amazing. Breakfast is easily my favourite meal and this is a place I could visit over and over again. Service was fabulous, relaxed ambiance. My hubby asked for his eggs poached and what he got definitely wasn't poached but he said it was delicious anyway. We couldn't find the place at first because the sign said The French Baker, but then we saw the sandwich board. Didn't realize the bistro was tucked behind the bakery. Highly recommended!!

The concierge at our hotel recommended this restaurant to us as we were unfamiliar with Ottawa being our first time there. The restaurant was a bit of a chore to find as it is somewhat hidden behind a bakery. But am I glad we were able to find it. Yes there was a wait, but it was entertaining watching the staff cook and move about in an open floor plan. It felt like a home kitchen, and watching their preparation was like watching an artist at work. The staff was very pleasant and attentive. But the breakfast I had was definitively the best breakfast I have ever had in my life! I had the Yukon Gold Potato Gratin. Fantastic! The flavors, the presentation, and even though on the small side serving wise, the fresh bread made it a dining experience to be remembered. A definite gem hidden in the very busy Byward Market area. You won't be disappointed!

It was just okay. The crepe my friend got taste like my puppy... they have good food, just not my kind of food. My sausage had a black keep string. I hope it was just a string.

Food is hit and miss here, but service, price and ambiance are good. I've been a few times and really enjoyed the mushroom dish, the benedict not so much. My barometer for breakfast spots is very dependent on frequency of coffee top-ups. They do not disappoint here. Don't expect that for the water though, so you get to leave nice and wired. Service is slow to the point you want to ask where your meal is... and then it comes. Thankfully bread, coffee, (and conversation?) are there to distract. Would come back but only because other options are lacking. (Pro Tip check out The Courtyard two blocks away). Lastly, it can get crowded here. I recommend getting there early or about 45 minutes after opening when the initial rush is paying the bill.

A cute place with a kind waitress plus delicious salmon gravlax. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay, and it was not bad at all. There are definitely more dishes I want to try next time :)

Mmmmmmmm excellent breakfast here last Thursday. Try the eggs B, they were 6/5 and the reason I'll return. I wish it was a bit bigger but it had a nice ambience. They could have a better beer selection.

SO GOOD and SO GREAT for the price. i had this stack of smoked salmon with greens, baby potatoes, and a fried egg, and they were very generous with the smoked salmon. the flavour was very well-balanced and VERY well-presented. after all, we eat with our eyes. i would definitely come back here and try the rest of the menu.

I can't believe we waited almost 15 minutes to get seated especially when there were free tables. Why? There's only one person serving food, taking orders, making coffee, and everything else. I mean considering it's not the cheapest place how hard it is to hire additional staff! If I wasn't too tired and wasn't raining outside I would have probably walked away. I don't regret staying since the food was really good. Portions are not big, but prices are okay. Food is simple, yet delicious. I got their special of the day(if that's what they call it)? They also serve deserts from the bakery in the front. Anyways, I don't think anyone will regret eating there if not for the long wait. I'd go again but only if I had extra time. Overall: 4 for their food, 2 for waiting for nothing, 3 for service in general.

Very nice brunch. Had the gravlax with egg and black olive tappenade. Service takes a while but worth the wait in terms of quality preparation. There is the bakery in the front with wonderful items. You have to walk through it on the way in and out. Very ingenious for sales on their part.

Real food! I was looking for a brunch place near byward market. After review a few restaurants, I decide to try this one. I second doubted myself when I walked in. It is a small restaurant with front shop and real basic setup. I sit down and order organic forest mushrooms. It took a while to get ready, but it was a hit! The original taste of the mushrooms enhanced by the spices that linger around my tongue. It was cooked with art and passion of food. The flavour and origin material combined so perfectly that deserves a true five star!

Benny's bistro is tucked away actually inside of a french bakery. I swear you wouldn't know where it was if they didn't have a small popup sign outside of the store (that has their wiener dog mascot on it). A fair warning about this place is that it is constantly busy, so get your reservations in. The place probably has about 10-15 two person tables so it doesn't really hold a giant crowd. Personally I sat outside and waited for over an hour... So my bad, I came here looking for bunch but apparently they only sever brunch on weekends... No!!!! Oh well expect review number two tomorrow morning. I ordered a mimosa along with a tuna loin with poached egg and chorizo sausage. I actually kinda assumed it would turn out to be something in the lines of an eggs benedict. The mimosa... Fantastic! Perfect balance, and they use real orange juice. Pulp haters beware... You know who you are. I can tell you now that a super plus about having a bakery/restaurant is that your bread will always be the bomb. Fresh bread is awesome. Other restaurants take note... Add a bakery. So the tuna... NOT an eggs benedict. My best description of what it most closely resembles is a "salad", kinda. It was 3 perfectly seared tuna loins topped with a poached egg, hollandaise sauce, fried chorizo sausage onto of a bed of missed greens and grated veggies. Even though I was expecting something else, this dish was amazing. Seriously really good. Tuna was super fresh (a must with ahi tuna) and worked really well with the egg and smokey aiole. My only gripe with the dish is that there was a tad too much sauce at the bottom, which washed away the egg yolk and hollandaise at times. All in all I had a very good experience here. Alas I can't say that this place made the best eggs Benedict ever list but no ones perfect right ;-).

I went there on a Thursday morning for breakfast. Their breakfast menu did not have all the things I was looking forward to, they were part of the lunch menu or brunch menu. We did not have to wait to be seated, but we waited a while for the food which I am okay with, but even for the beverages they took their time. I'll start with the good: -Potatoes with bacon were a little greasy but nonetheless delicious! -Apple french toast were not what I was expecting (baguette bread), but that's not a bad thing, they were really good!! Now the things I did not like: -Poached eggs were stiff and fully cooked inside which was very disappointing, might as well had boiled eggs.. and also one of them look very wrinkly, as if I had done it myself. I think that deserved a do-over from the cook. -We ordered extra croissant because the menu did not say the meals came with bread. The croissants were not warm. I would return to try the brunch menu.

Hidden gem. Recommended to us tourists by our AirBNB owners. We were blown away. Smaller portions but the flavors are incredible. Had the mushroom and potato dumplings and the ham crepe. Both sound basic but were anything but. High quality. Sweet service. Don't miss this special spot.

Great food but LONG wait. We asked if we could t some coffee and teas and sit at the front but they don't let you and you have to just stand. It's just a little frustrating, especially because it's a small place so it takes time for tables to turn over (and the pastries and the front looked so good). I also noticed that people sat for a LONG time at the tables even when the line was long, I totally get that people want to enjoy their brunch but it would have been nice if people could have been a little quicker when they noticed people waiting. I might just be used to Toronto where there is a quicker turn over. I thought the waiters could have done a better job bringing the bills to help with the line. The food made up for it though, the French toast was sweet and lovely (although not the stuffed French toast that was advertised on their website). The real winner was the mushroom dish my friends ordered, really rich and lovely. Felt veryyyy meaty, especially for a vegetarian dish.

Maybe it's because I'm used to being frustrated by the long waits and expensive parking for brunches in Toronto, but I could not have been happier to come to Benny's on a Sunday to being seated right away and free street parking just outside. It's definitely a hole in the wall, no frills sort of brunch but food quality and service was splendid. Will definitely be back next time I'm visiting Ottawa.

I ordered the tuna loin(19$) and a mimosa. The dish had 3 pieces of perfectly seared tuna loins, a few chorizo balls coated with panko, a poached egg on top, and mixed greens salad (hidden under the egg). The whole dish was sitting in some sauce (forgot what it was although I remember reading the words "smoked tomato"). What a wonderful surprise! It was so tasty and very well balanced. No complaints here. The mimosa (8$) was great too, and service was pleasant and efficient! Their homemade bread was very fresh, I would've eaten more if I wasn't already full!

Went to Ottawa for tulip festival and got a chance to try this amazing brunch restaurant. Everything my girl and I tried was very tasty, creative and full of surprises. I had the first one on menu (pork with potato and eggs), and my girlfriend ordered the crepe something (couldn't remember the name). I liked the crepe one better personally (lots of ham), but both were pretty good. Really wanted to tried the smoked salmon, but didn't have time to go a second time during the trip. I'll definitely go there again if I revisit Ottawa.

Great small find downtown in the market. Limited but awesome menu. May have to wait it get in as not a lot of seats. One of the best breakfast places in Ottawa.

Really wanted to like this place given that I knew the previous owner before he sold the business to his staff moved to the south of France. But, as hard as I tried it was a horrible experience. Here's why: - we were told a 20 min wait, which turned into an hour - there were empty tables, but the waitresses were very lazy and took there sweet time - we were seated without any menus or bread, which everyone else received - I noticed the waitresses preparing bread for customers after using their hands to wipe down dirty tables and clear off dirty plates. Gross! - the only way we received service after being seated was to flag our waitress down each time 2 hours in, I sit at our table writing this as our food has yet to arrive and we have yet to be acknowledged without having to flag down our waitress each time. The only plus was the kitchen staff that worked tirelessly, only to have the experience destroyed by poor service from their incompetent wait staff.

Went here on a whim based on Yelp reviews. Service was slow , prices are reasonable. Its nicer than the average brunch spot. Food was delicious. They could spend some money on the aesthetics, its simple, maybe add some nicer chairs or tables . Menus are placards on the table that you all have to share. I wont be rushing back but because the food was good, I recommend. No mimosas before 11am boohoo

Amazing! Got the potato cube with eggs and cheese and pork. Every ingredient was absolutely delicious. Looks can be deceiving, as the seemingly small portion was very filling. Definitely coming back to try some of their other creations!

All I can say is DEee-LICIOUS!!! I ordered the tuna ($19) and it tasted fantastic. The smoked tomato water is not acidic, it's like a light broth. The chorizo balls was full of flavour. The fennel salad was tasty, but it could have been more plentiful. The service was great. The servers came by with bread and butter as soon as our bread plate was empty.

Is it possible that lunch is even better than breakfast? Wicked good gravlax with fingerling potatoes, greens, and a runny fried egg. If only Benny's had a window... although you can see through the front window of the bakery if you get table near the front and turn your head just right.

Excellent spot for brunch! 7 of us had a great brunch along with croissants and Mimosas. French toast, buckwheat crepes and the portobello mushroom dish. All worth trying and savouring! Great staff too!