Fauna

Went here for a friend’s birthday dinner and had a great time! The Fauna Burger and Iberian Pork were both super tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The service was pleasant overall, and while we didn’t see our server too often, everything we needed was taken care of. We also brought in a cake for the occasion, and just a quick heads-up for anyone planning the same, there’s a $5 per person fee for outside cakes. All in all, a really nice spot for a special night out!

The best steak I've ever had. I know it comes with a high price tag but what else can you expect? I don't know where they got it from or how they cooked it. All I know is I want it again. The tuna was good but I did much prefer the crab cake. The atmosphere and ambiance is spot-on and the staff were very friendly. If you have any Amex benefits, this is the place to spend them.

I went to fauna twice during a weeklong trip to Ottawa from Maine. I went to the restaurant in November 2019 and really enjoyed it and needed to go back. I absolutely loved it and tried various dishes. The staff were incredible—they were very relatable, friendly and easy to talk to. You could tell they really enjoyed working there and I’ll definitely go back again! Felix worked on the second night I was there and his customer service was impeccable just as the other team members were the week before. If you have the time, go to this restaurant—it won’t disappoint.

The sliced bison was delicious. The sage pasta was good but could have used a protein option. The maple pound cake was a good mix of maple and foie gras and ice cream. The Sage Daiquiri and Botanicals in Spring were amazing. Excellent service from our waitress. Efficient, friendly, and attentive. Cab+cab by the glass worked well too.

I wanted to share my wonderful experience with Fauna. I work in the restaurant industry, and I'm able to recognize how hard an establishment works to make the guest experience absolutely perfect. Fauna fell no short of that. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by the what I can assume to be a manager, he was smiley and sat me immediately after confirming my reservation. I was then greeted by the talented and welcoming Sydney. From then on, she expertly guided me through the various and impressive wine selections. It was my birthday dinner and they brought over several tasters until I found the perfect glass of white wine. After looking over their seasonal and rotating menu, I decided on their: soft shell crab dish, fish cakes, and their truffle cacio e Pepe. Sydney got that in for me right away and in no time I was brought the first dish. Their soft shell crab was crunchy, crispy and flavourful. It had a crunchy and fresh daikon slaw. It was paired with a fish egg mayo that had such a lovely texture with the soft shell crab. The plate was practically clean. Brought out next was Thai fish cakes. The curried lobster bisque was so spicy but in such a thoughtful way. It wasn't offensive but paired nicely with the texture of the fish cakes and the subtlety of the creme fraiche. I was starting to get full after two "appetizer" plates but I couldn't say no to their cassarecce pasta. It came out and looked like it came out of a Michelin star restaurant. They did not skimp on the black truffle. You could tell the pasta was fresh. The heaviness of the Louis d'or was honestly so satisfying. I would come back just for this pasta alone. It was fulfilling and delicious. At this point I couldn't bear to think of dessert, though I really wanted to. Which means I'll have to come back for a second visit. The chefs and creative team in the kitchen know exactly what they are doing. I have heard from MANY people in the restaurant industry that Fauna is by far the best restaurant in Ottawa, for Canadian and fine dining cuisine. I was not disappointed and am proud to say I wholeheartedly agree. They were utilizing local and seasonal ingredients throughout the meal. Not only was the food fantastic but the entire ambiance of the restaurant speaks for why Fauna deserves #1. The male bartender (didn't grab his name) and Sydney made me constantly feel special and like a welcome guest in the restaurant, even on a slower Sunday evening. The personalized attention in my conversations with them both were top notch. I cannot speak enough about how truly amazing this meal was. For a first time diner, but a forever fan now, Fauna you deserve accolades beyond belief. Thank you, for the best meal, in the city that fun forgot (but it wasn't forgotten at Fauna). I spent roughly $110+ on the whole check but I would highly suggest coming with another person as I was indulgent, the two first plates could easily be shareables.

One of the best restaurants in the city of Ottawa. Mike took such good care of us! The staff are all attentive and truly care about the experience each customer has. Forgot to take pics of everything but you must try the caviar (with duck egg and crème fraiche) and the dry aged ribeye. Oh and the pasta is unreal! If you enjoy wine, they will make you love it even more!! A must do in Ottawa.

Wonderful Valentine’s dinner experiences. The set V menu is well designed and the dishes are well presented. The wine pairings go along with the dishes. Service is superb. The atmosphere is cozy and chill. Highly recommended.

Wow! My boyfriend and I decided to treat ourselves, so we went to Fauna on Sunday, April 13th. The venue presents the perfect ambiance to accompany what we expected would be a good meal, and we were not mistaken. We ordered a bottle of wine and a bison carpaccio to start the meal. Sydney was our server, and she was very knowledgeable about both the food and beverage choices on the menu, while remaining exceptionally personable. The wine was, as Sydney described it, fruity but dry. The bison was, as my boyfriend described it, "one of the best bites of food I have ever had." Not only was it plated beautifully, but it was incredibly flavourful and fresh. For the main, we got the wagyu striploin for 2. They cook it to a medium rare, which was perfect for our taste (usually I get mine a bit more rare, but it's the chef's method of preparing this particular meal and it was well-suited to the dish), and the vegetables were also a surprising standout! Even for 2, we barely were able to finish it with the generous portion, but we managed! For dessert, we had the maple pound cake with duck foie gras, and cherry cheesecake ice cream. I'm not usually one to get dessert, but the flavours meshed so perfectly. We will definitely be back to Fauna! This was certainly a case of "you get what you pay for." It's not a cheap meal, but the quality made it well worth our while.