FRASER

Restaurant · New Edinburgh

FRASER

Restaurant · New Edinburgh

1

7 Springfield Rd, Ottawa, ON K1M 1C8, Canada

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Polished outfit for locally sourced, globally inspired dishes amid stone accents & communal tables.  

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7 Springfield Rd, Ottawa, ON K1M 1C8, Canada Get directions

fraserrestaurant.ca

$$$

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7 Springfield Rd, Ottawa, ON K1M 1C8, Canada Get directions

+1 613 749 1444
fraserrestaurant.ca

$$$

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Jul 11, 2025

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"The menu, the name, and even the decor may seem relatively unassuming, but the Fraser brothers (Ross and Simon) are loved in Ottawa. The seasonal food at their restaurant, located on the cusp of fancy Rockcliffe, feels like a microcosm of multicultural Canada: grounded in Ottawa, but with eyes turned to the world. Dinner dishes include Korean fried eggplant, chicken satay slaw, and crab ravioli." - Joel Balsam, Tim Forster, Eater Staff

The 24 Essential Restaurants in Ottawa
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Rhys Davis

Google
What an incredible place! You're stepping into an upscale, hip, urban gem with a unique focus on incredible flavor combinations in spectacular portion sizes. Definitely worthy of making the trip; the chill atmosphere and friendliness of the staff make this your new date night destination. We came tonight for our third wedding anniversary and their team made the night so special for us. We were quite touched. Thank you to Annie and the entire team for their efforts. ❤️

Kelly Robinson

Google
Just make a reservation here, brunch or dinner! Food is fantastic, service is amazing (speed and personality of staff) and you won’t regret it. We’ve been for both dinner and brunch and enjoyed our experiences at both, flavours are just on point. Highly recommend! Photos are from brunch!

Charlene Szeto

Google
Easily one of the best restaurants I have had in Ottawa!! The food was melt in your mouth delicious. Our highlights were the scallops and the roasted beets. The dishes were very unique and portion wise was large for a more upscale restaurant. My friend who doesn’t even enjoy vegetables or seafood said it was good… So that’s when you know it was a 11/10! Service was also wonderful and our waitress was very attentive!

Marie-Eve Giguère

Google
Dinner at the Fraser Cafe. • The atmosphere was buzzing. The restaurant was at capacity. The service was impeccable: friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. The cocktails were beautifully crafted and well balanced. The food was seasonal, fresh and as delicious as we remembered which made us wonder why we haven’t visited in a while?!? • The warm marinated olives olives were a perfect match with the cocktails. The oysters were fresh and the mignonette was delightful. The fresh bucatini pasta had the perfect chew and the sauce was meaty and beautifully balanced. The local mushrooms and duck ham was the surprise of the evening. This dish was packed with flavors. Unfortunately, the crispy cauliflower was our least favorite of the evening. Although colorful and crispy, the flavor fell short. We ended the evening on a sweet note with the delicious banana coconut trifle. • We will not wait as long to return, that’s a promise. Thank you to both the front/back of house for this wonderful evening.

Leonor Alvarado

Google
We had a casual dinner with friends last night and Fraser Cafe did what they do best: gave us incredibly delicious food in a warmth and cozy atmosphere-this is the epitome of a French Bistro, indulging us in Ottawa to feel in Europe for a little while 😊. Our food was simply delicious but I was particularly taken by the roasted beet salad with avocado crema. Every bite was a new, superb experience- absolutely delightful and delicious! Thank you guys for a lovely evening!

Hugh D

Google
Beautiful spot, nice ad cozy.. But the food.... f.a.bu.l.o.u.s. !! We went early evening on a Sunday which was quiet. But it quickly filled up creating a nice and vibrant atmosphere. This restaurant is a must if you are in Ottawa. The menu pleased each and everyone sitting at our table. They have a decent selection of local craft beer as well. You will have a great time and will want to go back again ! I sure will !

kux_s

Google
Excellent food and excellent service. The food was unpretentious and each item on my plate was a standout. Well-thought out menu, as the flavours were balanced, harmonious, and bursting with flavour. You can taste the care that went into the preparation. Absolutely delicious. The menu is seasonal but for reference I ordered the curried tempura cauliflower (appetizer), the black pepper cornish hen & potato gnocchi (entree), and the pistachio & sumac pavlova (dessert).

Kelly Beaudin

Google
I love this place, the food is amazing and the atmosphere is so calm and pleasant. We had a few drinks I had the salad and risotto - soo good! I will definitely be back!

Cheryl B.

Yelp
Food was amazing. Our server was personable and efficient, and kept the coffee coming. Ambiance was lovely with a mix of old brick and contemporary.

CJ B.

Yelp
We had the seared radicchio, roasted beets, focaccia, schnitzel and scallops. The radicchio featured an agridolche sauce that was unusual and tasty. The beets' avocado crèma was a little too much and overwhelmed the dish. The scallops were lively and quite tasty. The schnitzel was delicious but somewhat overwhelmed by a very good caponata and several other extraneous sauces and sour cream. The plum cardamom sorbet which finished the meal was bland.

Bee C.

Yelp
First time at Fraser for brunch and it did NOT disappoint. This is really one of the best restaurants in Ottawa in my opinion , anytime I have gone here the food and service is fantastic. It's really well thought out dishes but completely un pretentious. It is on the pricier side but on par with other restaurants of this calibre and a perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy a night out with friends/family. Loved the selection on the brunch menu and definitely need to go back to try the rest!

Vincent S.

Yelp
I think there is rarely 5/5 restaurants but I think this is one of them in the Ottawa area that has really interesting food at a reasonable price point given the luxurious food and dining experience Appetizers were all really delicious. I had the scallop ceviche, which was the most interesting ceviche I've ever had because it was a warm platter, and I was thinking of it as a cold salad, sort of dish. Was a clear favourite of the night, but you may not enjoy it if you're looking for a fresh sort of citrus vibe. There are also East Coast oysters, which are simple and delicious. For the main food items, my dining party got the duck breast with potato gnocchi. The gnocchi was extremely chewy and delicious. The duck was cooked to perfection and was well worth of $46 for the generous amount of meat. The drink menu is a little bit limited, but has a great selection of cocktails, wine, beer. The service is quite good so if you want to order some thing off menu, feel free to ask your server for more information. I found all the desserts to be a little bit lacklustre for $16 and that is the only item on the menu that I think I would skip. In terms of the restaurant, there's a little bit of limited seating, and the tables are together so if you want something a little bit darker, and intimate to be romantic with your partner or date that is the only thing that you may not get at the spot. It is easier to get a spot on a weeknight, but on the weekend expect it to be difficult to get a table

Gladys C.

Yelp
Been waiting to try this place out and we finally did! We made a reservation for a group of 6 on Sunday as Saturday dinner was pretty booked up. The restaurant is small, so I would recommend reserving in advance. To start, we ordered the beef tartare which was a little on the salty side but delicious. They served this with a generous serving of homemade chips. We also got the beets, which was paired with avocado and almonds. It was good, but not too special in my opinion. For my main, I ordered the green pasta. This was served with a mushroom sauce at the bottom, and topped with ricotta, mushrooms, and almonds. I found the combination to be tasty, but because they don't mix in the sauce at the bottom, some bites were definitely sort of dry. The pasta was okay but sort of plain. I also tried the King Salmon which was served with an asparagus Kiev. That dish was delicious, and the fish was perfectly cooked! Service was very friendly! I enjoyed my dinner and I would love to come back and try the brunch!

Daniel B.

Yelp
A delightful restaurant. Casual but sophisticated. Interesting takes on classic recipes. Simple but fun wine list with an assortment of bottles you don't see everyday. A washroom with the most interesting storytime mural about eggs. A slightly bitter salad.

Laura W.

Yelp
We haven't been to Fraser Cafe in a long time so we decided to go back for a Valentine's Day dinner. We ordered the crispy tofu and cucumber salad appetizer. The tofu had a crispy breading which is not what I expected and the sauce was good, the cucumber and kimchi salad was light and fresh tasting. Overall the appetizer was $19 and pricey for a piece of tofu and salad. The atmosphere is dark and romantic, in the past I found it could be really loud but this time (possibly because of limited seating for dining in) we found the volume didn't bother us. The service was great, we liked that our server took the time to go through the menu explaining more in detail what the dishes were like. We got the chicken cordon bleu and the duck confit dishes for our mains. The cordon bleu was crispy on the outside and the chicken was still juicy. The bordelaise sauce was so delicious and complimented the dish perfectly. The chicken was on a bed of zucchini, asparagus and carrot and I loved it. The duck confit was so amazingly crispy and I liked the red pepper reduction. There were also green olives stuffed with feta covered in smoked paprika. This plate had some really nice Egyptian flavours. We had a nice dinner out and would recommend Fraser cafe for dinner if you want to try something new. We reserved online ahead of time, it was very easy and painless. There is street parking nearby.

Kishan M.

Yelp
This place is a gem. The food is amazing and the service is awesome. Everyone in the restaurant is really nice and accommodating. Best place our family ate in Canada. Can't recommend this place enough. If you are In Ottawa, you should definitely try it.

Fred C.

Yelp
everything is more than great my favourite in ottawa the owners are in the store and are great Chefs and Managers

Angela A.

Yelp
Wanted to visit this place for the longest time and so happy I finally did . If you are planning on eating inside, I definitely recommend making a reservation as everytime I pass by is always full. I visited their patio, this one you do not need a reservation as its first come first served. However the menu from their patio is not the same as inside, so just be aware of that . I found that everyone was so friendly, from the moment we stepped in . Food was delicious, and very fresh . Their patio menu is small but everything we tried was delicious, unique and worth the money .

Victor L.

Yelp
Came here at the recommendation of my friend. Unfortunately I don't think the food met my expectations, mainly because the bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin was ruined by the bacon being too burnt (see photo). The charred black-edged bacon did not help the taste of the steak at all and was kind of unappetizing. The crispy potatoes and tomato jam out-shined the steak to be honest. The dessert was a berry panna cotta which was quite good, light and refreshing. The service was also excellent. I will give Fraser one more try though.

Mariko M.

Yelp
Came here for brunch before driving back to Toronto. It gets busy on the weekend so calling ahead to reserve a table is a good idea. There are a couple of parking spots here, but not to worry as there is a lot of street parking. The menu has something for every palette. You have a good view of the cooks making your food as the kitchen is open concept. The Food - I had the cheeseburger (comes with fries and a salad), which was okay. For $17, the portion was quite large. The burger itself was nothing to write home about; the same goes to the fries and salad. My mother had the Okonomiyaki; again, it was okay. I commend the kitchen for adding this Japanese Street food on their menu. The Service - It was quite slow. I'm not sure if our server was new to the role. For brunch, this place does the trick. I'll be in Ottawa more often now so I might be back. Good for: brunch

Alice C.

Yelp
Excellent food, but had to sit at the bar when I called for same day reservation. Delicious and innovative!

Cathee T.

Yelp
If you know, you know. If you don't know, well, cat's out of the bag -- Fraser Café is a must when in Ottawa. We were introduced by a local and diehard fan of this unassuming, bustling bistro. On our first visit, we ordered: - Duck liver mousse: This appetizer is EVERYTHING. It is simply perfect. Love at first bite. A staple despite the rotating menu. - Pasta with Andouille sausage - Beef striploin with oxtail pate brisee - Meatballs and crispy polenta We left with full bellies and full hearts. Because we were obsessed, though, we returned within the week before heading back to Toronto. On our second visit, we ordered: - Duck liver mousse: Because obviously. We truthfully considered purchasing this stuff in bulk. - Beef tartare: Excellent, best I've ever had. Huge portion, too! - Tempura cauliflower curry - Roast chicken and pork belly for two: Actually this could feed 3 or 4 if you ordered as many apps as we did... So good. The roasted peach complimented the meat perfectly. - Corn cake and strawberries - Roasted peach custard tart: With super rich, super dark chocolate sorbet In a nutshell, I can't recommend Fraser Café enough, and I can't wait to be back!

Andie E.

Yelp
Always a pleasure to eat here! Was given a gift certificate for the Fraser Café and we decided to book in on a snowy evening. Lucky to have gotten a parking spot (they have their own parking lot directly behind the restaurant) it's very small and compact. We were seated and had an awesome view of the kitchen at work. We had starters, he had the Shrimp and Celeriac Salad with white anchovy confit and it also came with tomatoes and croutons. Very tasty and I had the Fois Gras Torchon that came with little toasts. Normally it comes with a honey type of glaze on it, I asked for it on the side and that was not a problem at all. I was delicious! Super creamy and flavourful. Next along with the starters we enjoyed some Raspberry Point Oysters served with their house made mingionette. We decided to have one of their specials for the main, the Roast Chicken and Pork Belly for two. It came with an awesome side dish of fried Brussels sprouts and roasted carrots. Delicious and amazing service. Can't wait to go again!

Mimi J.

Yelp
I finally had the chance to try this restaurant on a Friday evening after work. I went with Yasmine who was working on a piece for CBC Radio Canada on the food industry in Ottawa/Gatineau. Neither she nor I had tried this restaurant before, so it was the perfect choice! A few of my friends had already tried it, and reviews were mixed, which is why I hadn't rushed to try it already. We arrived at about 6:00PM, and the restaurant opens for dinner at 5:30PM. By the time it was around 7:00PM, the restaurant was packed, which is a good sign! Service is polite and attentive; we chose to be seated at a high table, and it was actually the only table in the restaurant that had a view of the open kitchen, so we could see the dishes being plated; very entertaining! The atmosphere was very cozy, dimly lit, and with just the right amount of volume. Next time, I'll sit at the bar as it seemed quite lively! We were given the dinner menu, and set to decide which dishes to choose. We tried: - We both chose the: Rainbow trout (squash puree, bacon marmalade, pressed hash, walnut crumb); the server recommended this dish as his favourite! The fish was super crispy, and was a good portion. It came with a nice mix of vegetables, and the thick puree was absolutely delicious, and put everything together really well. It lended a salty but rich flavour to the entire dish. The walnut crumb served as presentation; what would of made the dish better is perhaps more crunchy elements, as most of it was soft/crispy. - Flourless chocolate cake (white chocolate mint mousse/fleur de lait ice cream/cashews): this dish came with 3 rich pieces of chocolate cake, which was like a brownie in texture, and not too unique. However, I really enjoyed the honey coated cashews as they were super crunchy and went well with the mint mousse! The ice cream tasted very light, and perhaps could be swapped with something more fruity to balance out the richness of the dish. - Blood orange tart (pistachio crumb/whipped cream/cardamom ice: I much preferred this dessert over the brownie-esque chocolate cake, as it was rich but also fruity; the perfect balance! The cardamom ice cream was SUPER strong, which is how I like it. I wish I could of eaten a whole bowl of just the cardamom ice cream! Anything pistachio is delicious, and this was no exception; it complemented the orange and cardamom perfectly! Service was really professional, and the waiter was bilingual. When I asked which dessert was the most photogenic, he wasn't surprised and calmly pointed out the flourless chocolate cake. I actually thought the blood orange tart was prettier, so I put a picture of that on my Instagram! (magic.mimi) Although we didn't try that many dishes, the dishes that kept coming out of the kitchen looked amazing! At one point, all the dishes and looked unique; perhaps it was part of an anniversary dinner or a special set menu? We weren't sure. But they all looked incredible, and the inticing smells wafting towards us kept making us want to order more food! Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and comfort of the entire dining experience. I'm planning on coming back for brunch, and maybe lunch as well if I'm able to during a weekday! It's also a super cozy atmosphere which would be perfect for a date or night out with the girls!

Jithu R.

Yelp
This cute little café is tucked in New Edinburgh. The atmosphere is casual and the food is upscale. I went there last week to have dinner after a long day. I ordered a beer, the chickpea salad, and the tuna with soba noodles. The food was delicious, the service was great, and everything was perfect! The worst part...I forgot my wallet! The folks at the café were soooo wonderful and patient that they let me walk to my place, grab my wallet, and come back to pay. In my panic, I sprinted to my place and back because I was mortified. They were so nice that they put the beer on the house. This kind of kindness and service really blew me away! What a great place!

Saul G.

Yelp
Another Eater recommendation - this time a good steer. Best meal we had in Ottawa. The lot was a bit dodgy, we parked down the street. I thought tables were packed a bit closer than at Supply and Demand, the other recommendation we tried. Wines by the glass worked well. We began with the strawberry/halloumi salad and the crispy beef short rib. Both were excellent, although I thought the crispy beef short rib was a small portion for the price, a lot of the sticks turned out to be fried pickles. I think there is no question that first time visitors should have the roasted chicken for two. On the night we were there the chef decided to substitute pork shanks (braised/off the bone) for pork belly. The chicken was perfectly roasted, moist, crisp skin, savory. The pork shanks were tender. The substitution was probably a good thing because the sides were the creamy ramp farfalle and the tempura cauliflower, both packing tons of fat, calories and yes flavor. There was a third item on the board that I could not quite place - sort of a slaw. This is truly a great meal and something of a bargain at the price. After that dish, dessert was impossible. And here's the dilemma - if you have the chicken you really don't need a starter - but the chicken does require a long wait. Probably best to share a starter, so you might have shot at dessert.

Jeffrey M.

Yelp
Fabulous restaurant. Great menu and service. Location off Beechwood is convenient for locals and visitors. Highly recommend this fabulous experience.

David G.

Yelp
This is a good place to come if you are not in a hurry and are hungry. The food came out in courses and none of it disappointed: From the fresh oysters to the meatballs and polenta to the apple donuts, everything was great. Hours after being seated, we left satisfied.

Tina R.

Yelp
Incredible! The food was out of the world. We had the roasted chicken for two, which I recommend. Be really hungry however. The chef chooses your sides so it is a surprise! She heard that we never had poutine and she made it! Also, I must say, Ross the bartender knew every crazy drink on the book and was amazing. He even told us where to visit in Ottawa. No not miss this place. Call for a reservation!

christian C.

Yelp
A great experience from the moment we walked in and were asked how we were doing. Even though we were 10 minutes early, we were able to be seated at a great table in the front window, which was quiet and provided a view to street life. When we started with a request for wine, the waiter suggested trying it first to be sure we would like it. It is so nice for staff to want you to enjoy your meal rather than simply try to have you run up a large tab and/or rush you out. The Rioja and Rhone were tasty and we wound up getting a bottle of the Rioja. The waiter was very supportive of helping determine menu items and options that were gluten-free. For example, they provided papadam-like crackers/bread with a yogurt sauce instead of bread. They were peppery and addictive. Started with some PEI oysters, which were sweet and delicious. Loved that they came with shaved horseradish, which was a fantastic compliment to the oysters. Could have made a meal of these. The waiter suggested the short ribs, which weren't even on the menu. They were served over mashed potatoes with roasted root vegetables that were glazed with a slight sweetness. Expertly prepared and great combination. The duck entree was fantastic, with a medley of flavors and textures that was wonderfully memorable. It included the sharp tang of rapini softened with a light curry cream sauce studded with almonds and sprinkled with crispy fried onions. The duck was of excellent quality and expertly prepared. I would come back for this dish alone. The service throughout was terrific - timely when needed, friendly, informative and helpful. So far, the best restaurant experience of 2018.

Jaz K.

Yelp
Great service. Called last minute and they found us a high top table. Very friendly and accommodating service. Apps: Foie Gras: not seared which my wife wasn't crazy about but I thought the accompanying bread and accompaniments were very tasty. Stuffed quail - no surprises there - tasty, good sauce, no complaints Entrees: scallops: delicious, healthy portion, very flavourful. Rib steak cut: surprisingly good! Thick cut, very flavourful as a medium rare and great accompaniments! Would absolutely suggest. Not sure if dry or wet aged but notwithstanding that still a great entree. Pro Tip: they have a vanilla old fashioned which is a great drink. Tried one (then two....) and was quite pleased! Take home: good service, friendly staff, flavour 4/5 and solid presentation.

Justin W.

Yelp
Excellent location for a nice date. Food is top notch and service is great! Everyone who works there is obviously passionate about delivering a high quality culinary experience. We ordered the pork loin and rainbow trout which were cooked to perfection. It was quite a reasonable price for a fine dining restaurant. Servers also made sure we were satisfied with every aspect of our meal. Will definitely go again!

Felix W.

Yelp
There are few restaurants in Ottawa that are as good as Fraser Cafe. From exceptional service to very well thought out and put together dishes, this restaurant is the complete package. On my most recent visit to Fraser Cafe, my partner and I had another fantastic meal. All of the apps sounded very tasty, and we could not settle on just one so we ordered the Tuna Fritters and Sea Scallops, and the Pork Dumplings. The dumplings were delicious, very well put together, but the star was definitely of the tuna and scallop dish. Perfectly cooked scallops and some tasty tuna fritters. What a great way to start our meal. For mains, she had the arctic char and I had the duck (sidenote: the original dish was a pork loin, but the waiter said that they were serving duck instead tonight, at no extra charge). The char was cooked beautifully, with crisp skin and flaky meat. The duck I had was also cooked very well, as was the accompanying couscous. I'm not usually a fan of couscous but I really enjoyed the portion they served. We both enjoyed our meals very much. Even though we were full, we peeked at the dessert menu and settled on a strawberry meringue dish. It came beautifully presented, and was more of a deconstructed meringue and was absolutely delicious. Their menu changes constantly to reflect what's in season and most fresh, and be sure to make reservations as they get quite busy. Definitely one of Ottawa's finest.

Jana D.

Yelp
Well, this place was certainly a surprising delight to me! We got to this neighbourhood around 5:15pm - too early for our planned 7:00pm evening get together, so decided to try out this unassuming little restaurant beforehand, especially as it was recommended by one of our colleagues who would be in attendance at our later event. This restaurant doesn't have a lot of curb appeal - meaning that looking at it from outside while still standing in the street, you wouldn't know how big or inviting this place is, or how much you are going to crave to come back! And I definitely want to go back! For what it's worth, the number 1 OC transpo bus has a stop right outside the door. Easy access, and free parking on this rather busy street. So far so great! Then we went in... Let me start by explaining that we actually got to the restaurant too early - at 5:15 when they open for dinner at 5:30. However, this was explained to us, and we told them we had to meet up with other people somewhere else closeby at 7:00, and seated us right away while the chef finalized the menu. Service was pleasant and friendly. Do not go tot his restaurant if you are in too much of a hurry! And don't look for burgers and other conventional fast foods here. DO come here when you want to take your time, enjoy the company of friends along with fabulous food - which is prepared in an open kitchen especially for you! The waitress took her time to explain a few things about the menu. For instance, they have 2 "cook's choice" specials - one is "whatever" and the other is vegetarian. Both of us could have ordered the same special but still received a different dish; there's a reason it's the cook's choice! For this particular visit, the soup of the day was cream of mushroom. Given that we had to leave early-ish, she explained that we should probably not order the chicken for 2, given our time constraints, as it would take too long for the chef to prepare it for us and still guarantee that we could leave on time. I appreciate this kind of attention! In the end, I ordered the mushroom soup and one of the salads in the appetizer section of the menu, and my husband ordered the vegetarian Chef's choice. It was all fabulous! So pretty on the plate and appetizing, and delicious! I have to agree with "Claude R" who reviewed this restaurant before us, and suggested the chef's special. Don't be shy or scared to order it - it was wonderful! And the mushroom soup was to die for - what a difference "from scratch" makes! The restaurant filled up very quickly, and by the time we left, it was hopping! And it was an eclectic mix of people of various ages, including children. And all the while, the waitress was quite attentive without being overbearing, refilling our water glasses without having to be asked to do so, and asking how our food was. A very pleasant experience, all in all, and I look forward to going back. Highly recommend a visit to everyone. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of the 5 stars it would get otherwise, is that there was that smell a gas stove emits when you're cooking with it (NOT a gas leak as much as spent gas), which permeated the restaurant when we walked in. I didn't notice this as much as the place filled up. Maybe the exhaust system isn't strong enough? Not sure what that's all about... One quick note to clarify that this restaurant is connected to "40" next door - which also looks very intriguing, but don't get confused; they're every different. I would like to try that one too; when I have time to spend in the east end!!

Coy W.

Yelp
We had a reservation at Fraser Cafe recently and I was excited to check it out for the first time ever. I'll start by saying our service...was a little sketchy the whole day. The place was kind of busy but not really if you know what I mean? Huevos Rancheros on the menu? SOLD! It's one of my top 5 breakfasts with eggs and they didn't have any home made bacon to try so its automatic for me. The Huevos Rancheros arrived and son I am disappoint. The meal was plated nice but it looked like 2 eggs on a thick slice of toast in the middle, salad on the right side, refried beans in the top left corner and salsa in the bottom left corner. There was also a very small piece of feta cheese that was right beside the beans. The meal was alright, nothing really wrong with it but nothing stood out and honestly I was disappointed that the meal came separated. I'd compare it with getting a fully cooked pizza with my melted cheese and cooked toppings on the side. Sure it's a pizza and I could put it together but I would have wished it cooked together when it was piping hot to melt those awesome flavours together. Also toast? Really? I might have missed that on the menu but I've had places bring toast with an order of huevos in the past. I heard great things about the donuts so our table ordered a donut to split. It was good but I think it was good because it was fresh and the toppings were pretty delicious. I'm really curious now who makes the best donut in town. I might come back at sometime to check out the dinner service but that will be a long ways out before I come back as there are a few places that I have to end up trying first.

Absolute B.

Yelp
What a really nice fun spot. When you walk through the doors you get to see the kitchen on stage. This focal point is surrounded by a cool, relaxed atmosphere. We were sat promptly and water was delivered. Service seemed a little bit too relaxed at first but I think it was actually just a non stiff version of attentive. We were offered drinks but just grabbed a sparkling water and ordered our apps and mains We then waited...and waited...and waited. It was over 50 minutes for our starters. Had I not had such great company I would have spoken up...but then my wife did inquire...I guess I'm not the great company she is. Our server said he was well aware and offered his appologies. The apps arrived shortly thereafter. My wife had the beetroot salad which she enjoyed and I had the mackerel BLT-simply amazing. Our mains arrived in a more timely manner. My wife had the pork and ribs. She enjoyed but did not swoon over it. I had the chef's main of the day. It was a surprise, ordered blind. I had absolutely no idea what would be coming on my plate. It was lamb steak sliced and served over green beans, fingerling potatoes, and an awesome curry. I'm not a huge fan of Indian food, and frankly lamb is not my go-to meat...but this was so good...to the point that I wiped the bowl clean of the curry sauce with the remaining slice of soft delicious bread served at each table Desserts were offered but we had had our fill...our server grabbed our cheque and apologized again for the serious delay in the food delivery. He then let us know that both our apps and drinks had been removed from the bill and we were only being charged for our mains. He said our delay was not typical and hoped we would be back. Impressive as we did not complain, nor were upset. A class move that shows the pride in the restaurant and desire to please the customer. We will definitely be back and I know that I'll be having the steak and fries...the tables to both sides of us had it and it looked beyond good!

Nicole B.

Yelp
I love this restaurant for several reasons. First for it's proximity to my house! I haven't had such find dining so near before--and it is nice to have a restaurant in a neighbourhood-type area. The Fraser Cafe uses seasonal and fresh ingredients in it's dishes-hence the slogan "a seasonal kitchen". I went here for brunch-my favorite meal. My friend, who is a sommelier, ordered us kir and champagne, which is the kir poured into the flute of champagne and proved to be delicious. It was just the right time for a drink, in the early afternoon on a Sunday. I ordered the Eggs Benedict of course, since it is hard for me to order anything else when this is available on the menu! The sauce was great, homemade (it always surprises me how many supposedly good restaurants use hollandaise sauce mixes!). The potatoes that came as a side were delicious and green salad was just the thing to top it off. My friend and I were both full by the end, but agreed to split dessert-we had the homemade donuts. The order was huge! Even between the two of us we couldn't finish! They came with a delicious creme anglaise and coulis. The coffee was also good.

Danica L.

Yelp
One of my go to places for brunch, a local restaurant with great service and vibe. Most importantly, they always serve quality and tasty food! This time I had the poached egg on eggplant ragout and roasted potatos, also served with a salad and sourdough toast for $16. Try their freshly made donuts if you still have room in your tummy, they are delicious!

Steve M.

Yelp
Reliably good. I work in Ottawa often and try to make it to Fraser Cafe every chance I get. Always good service, always great food. Fine Canadiana dining, edgy, responsible, appropriately priced for the quality.

Brian B.

Yelp
Hands down the best restaurant in Ottawa! Service is great and food is even better. We had a couple of appetizers, main course and dessert. Everything was absolutely amazing. Great flavour and perfect portions. From the time you walk in the service is outstanding. Thessaly our waitress did a great job at communicating the dishes. Overall more impressed on our second visit here. Will continue to return to try more of the menu

Christianne C.

Yelp
Love this restaurant! The food is absolutely delicious and service is always good. Last time my husband and I went here we had the steak and oysters. I wanted to lick my plate is was so good. Prices are on par with other restaurants, but the quality and thought behind every ingredient on the plate is amazing. If it wasn't on the other side of town from where I live I would be here often. I highly recommend this restaurant and can't wait to be back!

Peter P.

Yelp
I had to go to Here for a work function and it was one of the best meals I had in Ottawa. I know I might get some heat for writing this, but I hate reading reviews before going to eat somewhere new. A) I want to give the place a fair shot B) i don't care what a foodie writes. If I like it, I like it :) Moving on, I'm glad I didn't know anything about this place. We ate at table 40, reserved for private functions and the decor is warehouse meets rustic. Very cool looking The meal. Unreal. Started off with a mushroom soup. Rich and delicious. Now my man was a burger. It might be one of the BEST burgers I've ever had. Juicy, not too busy with ingredients. Seriously perfect. For dessert, I had the apple fritters with raspberry coulis. Heavenly. I have nothing bad to say about this place. I'm pumped to take my wife here on a date night and see how the rest of the menu is. Ottawa is stepping up their restaurant game folks

Liz Y.

Yelp
Awesome place with the nicest staff, delish food and great atmosphere !!!loved it!!! Worth checking out!

Daniela S.

Yelp
Good spot for having a nice lunch! They serve good wines by glass, beers, great cafes... Adorable place, with nice deco and food!

Paul M.

Yelp
We had heard about this upscale foodie from friends.It's a really nice find, across Ottawa downtown - 10 min by car. Secluded in a residential area near a Metro grocery store. The ambiance was nice which is a cross of a modern look and artisans decor. We ordered Agnolotti, which is like a ravioli with beets covered with cheese sauce and sprinkled with chilantro and cauliflower. We ordered braised short rib and BC Rockfish for our main meal choices .The good-Everything was great, we took the recommendations of our waiter who was well versed with the meal ingredients. He also recommend the red wine to go along with our meals. Parking is easy to get ... on the street. The Bad: its pricey but definitely worth it. The desserts looked ordinary so we didn't order any. The Ugly: just a bit crampy. It can't hold many large groups. The same management owns another restaurant, Table 40, right next door to do the large gigs. They aren't open for lunch. Just for dinners. Tip: if it's your first time ask your waiter...For the coffee gurus, get a better non alcoholic coffee at Second Cup a few feet away rather than at the restaurant, more choice. Affordability you pay top dollar for quality $$$-$$$$

Richard M.

Yelp
Came here for brunch and was not disappointed. Lots of good looking options on the menu, although no Chef's Special like at dinner, and we eventually settled on Hot Smoked Trout and Okonomiyaki as our two choices. Portion sizes were both generous, each dish was well constructed and we were both satiated at the end of the meal. Always enjoy, will be back.

Maria S.

Yelp
We had a wonderful meal for lunch; the signature trout, the burger and the Vegetarian Bowl (not its actual name but close enough. They were all large enough meals in themselves without anything else. The service was great! We asked to have a corner table because two of us are hard of hearing and we were easily accommodated. One of us was vegetarian and really enjoyed the Vegetarian Bowl, except found the smoked tofu a little overwhelming and would have preferred plain or lightly spiced tofu. There was convenient parking behind the restaurant.

Spike D.

Yelp
Decor is nice and they make a very credible martini. Food is mostly excellent but the jam-packed tables make the place too darned noisy. Neighbours with voices like Foghorn Leghorn on either side of us made it impossible for my friend and I to hear each other, even seated 24 inches apart. We sat mutely, drinking, until the din subsided. I guess this is an efficient way to get drunk, but didn't contribute to a pleasant evening for either of us. Using a combination of sign language and passed notes we agreed that the fresh oysters were excellent. The tuna appetizer was good but the fried jalapeno poppers on the side were pretty rugged since they peppers were mostly raw and still very hot. The ling cod in green curry sauce was terrific - a five star entree. The chef's pick, vegetarian option was good but not great. It was basically an arancini salad with cherry tomatoes and goat cheese. Arancini are very tasty italian rice and cheese croquettes. Lovely as an appetizer but a little tedious as a main dish. My partner had dessert - of course I tried a bite. It was the coconut butter tart with ice cream. The tart was nice, good crust, but the coconut should have been crisped or caramelized and sprinkled on top. Instead it soaked up syrup inside the tart and became hard and chewy. Lots of people ordering the fresh donuts with chocolate and other dipping sauces. Service was great - both the server and the water bearer were fun and attentive. We were there on a Friday. I bet on a quiet Tuesday I would have given the place 4 stars.

John B.

Yelp
Fraser Cafe is a nice spot. It's overrated. One of the alleged selling points is the chef's choice menus. Staff portrays this option as the product of a burst of on-the-spot creative energy. It's not. It's a series of rotating specials that, for whatever reason, the restaurant chooses not to describe as such. The first point, then, is that you might be disappointed when you're served exactly the same meal you had four weeks ago. The second point is that you might start wondering how slavishly "seasonal" the place is. Duck with winter greens and a rhubarb compote is multi-seasonal. But no ingredient really screams out mid-July. For what it's worth, I have few complaints on the taste and presentation of this particular dish. It's OK. The food was pretty good. The location is nice. The staff are friendly and pretty attentive.

Rachel N.

Yelp
We had brunch at Fraser Cafe for a birthday and it was a really great experience and delicious food! The server was very attentive, refilling our water and offering more coffee and hot water for my tea. The food was all great and it didn't take too long to come. Our table ordered the smoked trout, cheeseburger, breakfast sandwich, scrambled eggs and huevos rancheros. Really good sized portions, worth the price. Everything was delicious and they even brought out a big plate of the doughnuts and bites of the flourless chocolate cake as a little birthday surprise. It was such a nice touch since they brought enough for each person to try some, much nicer than sharing one piece of cake like most restaurants do for a birthday treat. I'd really like to go back and try dinner sometime since the brunch was really good. I would also recommend making a reservation as the place was pretty full on Sunday.

Claude R.

Yelp
Get the Chef's Special! Excellent food, great service and good wine. The weekend brunch is also excellent. Only downfall is it can get a bit loud.

Tommy D.

Yelp
Good food! Setting was nice and intimate. Service was friendly. Overall 4/5. Would recommend for a nice dinner but I won't be a regular as it is rather pricey.

Dan I.

Yelp
I've eaten here twice and both times the food has been great but the service has been terrible. The last time I was there, my girlfriend and I sat at our table for 15 min before even being acknowledged by our server. Only then did we get some water. Once we had our drink orders that took another 15 min before we got those as well. Both times the service has been painfully slow and the restaurant has been either close to empty or half full! Doesn't leave a good impression even if the food is good.

Kaylee D.

Yelp
This is a really awesome little place in my home away from home. Some of my more adventurous friends had the surprise meals that the chef makes for you and they were blown away. Given my dietary restrictions, I honestly couldn't have much of what was on the menu, but they were SO accommodating to my somewhat unique needs. I ended up having duck here for the first time, and it's never been made as well since! There was also a really hilarious incident with my drink that I won't get into, besides to say that they were extremely professional and brought us dessert to make up for it. I will definitely be back here- I can't wait to see what they whip up next!!

Jayson S.

Yelp
In town for meetings, and needed to find a nice restaurant to prep for the next day. Fraser Cafe lived up to the reviews, as it was a lovely, casual but elegant place. Great service and a wonderful and eclectic menu. Arancini and the octopus and the pork loin were the highlights of the meal. And do not miss the apple donuts for dessert!

Andrea Z.

Yelp
We came here during our honeymoon. Our waiter was amazing- started us off with complementary champagne. We ordered two fantastic appetizers. We had the ceviche and scallops. The appetizers were definitely the highlight of the meal. I had the pasta with meatballs and my husband got the pork. The pasta was good but very heavy and had a lot of different flavors going on ..smokey,savory, sweet. It was a "couple of bites good." My husband got the pork and thought it was great. For drinks I got the gimlet - which was just ok. It tasted like soda water and vodka. Just kind of meh. My husband got the vanilla bourbon which was awesome and tasted like a creamsicle. Overall it was solid.

Faloola F.

Yelp
The food at this restaurant was to die for, 5 stars. I went for dinner with a friend and both of us were blown away at how delicious everything was. Fresh, seasoned and cooked to perfection. Probably one of the best restaurant dinners I have ever had since I moving to Ottawa 12 years ago. If you like quiet and/or spacious restaurants, this place is not for you. The atmosphere is quaint, charming, hub bubby, with small tables close together. The kitchen is right behind the bar so you can see and smell everything. We went on a Wednesday night and the place was very busy with lots of people and conversation around. Perfect for a night out with a friend. I will be going back and very soon. Delish!

Eric B.

Yelp
Excellent food (although small selection) - you won't be disappointed by your meal! I loved the soup, and the brownie dessert. The scallops were quite good (but not the best I've ever tasted). The restaurant is small and casual, so reserve early. Recommended!