Occo Kitchen

I’ve eaten here on many occasions but it seems like the overall experience and attention to detail has gone down. Fries were bordering on cold and tacos were okay , warm definitely not hot…Shrimp taco was better than the steak. The appetizers were okay, mussels were okay but kind of bland. Overall, disappointed with the visit and won’t rush back here despite my wife loving their Cobb salad which she also said tasted a bit different. I wonder if they have a new chef.

Crowded and noisy but still able to talk across the table. Began with a serving of tepid water, then ordered a cheeseburger. The beef was lean but very dry and lacked taste. Maybe it contained fillers but I can’t be sure. I ordered the sweet potato fries. 1st order was plain fries, 2nd order was right but saturated in salt. The salt crunched between my teeth. By the time the 3rd order got there, I lost my appetite because I already ate some of my wife’s dinner. We did get one free dessert. It was not terrible but I could not give it a passing grade.

This was my first time at Occo Kitchen in Orleans, Ottawa. I went with my husband and my best friend that came to visit us from Montreal. We walked in and we were automatically impressed with the size of the place and the ambiance. We went for lunch, so there was a lot of natural light, with huge windows and high ceilings, very spacious. We ordered the delicious entrees, Cod Cakes, Cauliflower wings and if you like spicy, you need to try the Jalapeño egg rolls….amazing! All the entrees came with delicious homemade sauces. Our waitress “Emily” gave us a wonderful welcoming and made us feel like we were sitting in her private dining room. She was so friendly, always smiling and helpful with our choices. For lunch, we ordered the fish and beef tacos with sweet potatoes fries, salad, and the popular Blueberry Brie burger, everything was so flavourful. The prices are reasonable, and the service was impeccable. Thank you to the chef & the people in the kitchen and to our exceptionally friendly waitress “Emily”.

I enjoyed this dining experience! Occo is a lot larger than the front entrance lets on and provides a casual dining experience with quality food. The Brussels sprouts were absolutely delicious and I will 100% be returning for the Harvest Salad! Such a nice addition to Orleans and will definitely be returning with my partner!

This is my second time to Occo. I like their food but I noticed inconsistency in the fish and ships. Something changed from the first visit. This time it had no taste. Anw we also got the Calamari which was amazing, the macaroni and cheese was also good and the grilled chicken kids meal was very tasty.

The harvest salad was amazing, I should have had a full serving instead of a side. I didn’t eat the French onion soup as I found it too salty. Service was polite and venue is spacious and wasn’t busy at the time (Saturday around 1:30pm). Not a bad spot, but didn’t quite make the recommendation list.

The food and atmosphere were so good! Definitely recommend the Fish and Chips and the French Onion Soup! Would go back in the future.

Went for a birthday dinner. We got the Occo bowl, blueberry brie burger, peach burger, and cauliflower wings. The food was all delicious, especially the cauliflower wings. Service was friendly and quick. Atmosphere was great, excellent music playlist too! All around a positive experience.

Great food and friendly staff ! I love all the appetizers, especially the grilled cauliflower. The fish and chips is amazing , poutine ..

A great family friendly spot! Service is good. My favourite thing is the burger with the maple bacon. Delicious!

We went here after church last Sunday and had a lovely experience! Parking easy, we were seated right away, and the food and service were great!! The place was very open but we got seated in a booth and It was cozy. Our server was quick and lovely. She helped us make some awesome choices. Who knew putting cheeseburger in an eggroll would be so good, we definitely recommend them. I had some cod cakes and a side salad for the meal and It was perfect. The cod cakes have plenty of meat and flavor. The side salad was great as well. I had a choice of Cesar or heritage and the heritage was hearty for such a little side. We also had some churros for dessert but we ate them so quick I didn't get a photo! They were delightful and served with a caramel and a chocolate side. I would definitely recommend this for casual or even nice dining. Good for families.

September 29/2023: Dinner with Shawn & family. This was a very mediocre restaurant & meal. The place was very busy & the service reflected that fact. My meal was so..so..so mediocre. I had the East Coast Donair ($22.99) with a Caesar Salad. Small portions for the salad for sure. There was nothing wrong per se, it just didn't have much taste. And as I mentioned in a review 6+ years ago...portion size is just too small! This is NOT A do over for me.

Went to OCCO with my husband on Black Friday for lunch first time. Ambiance was good. They did not have too many veggie/ vegan options. We ordered the Buddha bowl and Cobb salad. The Cobb salad included chicken, bacon but I had asked for these items to be removed. The egg was also removed without letting m know but we were so hungry at that point we didn't say anything. Typically most restaurants would reduce the price considering I took away all the meat item but they did not so that was slightly disappointing. Had to wait for service as there was only 2 servers and they were very busy. Food was good but the portions were small for the price.

The portobello tempura mushroom taco is SO bomb! Fish taco is equally as good. Seafood chowder shared with hubby was amazing and seasoned perfectly with tons of seafood. I love their updated menu and how they have so many vegetarian offerings. There is literally something for everyone on the menu. Their taco offerings are pretty appealing too! Chicken shawarma taco....southern fried tofu taco and tuna poke taco to name a few. YUM! Service was friendly and quick. Only downside was being seated by the washrooms, where it's pretty high traffic as well. With two kids it worked out though and we had easy access for diaper changes and hand washing. We have actually visited this restaurant numerous times and never had the chance to dine on the other (lesser traffic side, in my opinion) throughout our visits. Maybe one day? lol. I'll definitely be back for some more tacos and chowder. Solid 4.5 stars for this visit.

Good food in Orleans! Actually I've hit a few good spots and Occo is among them. The chef clearly prioritizes combinations of flavors and some exotic treats (like donair egg rolls!) with a well thought out presentation. I've been a number of time and the food is always a hit. Try the Newfie cod cakes for a taste of maritime Canada and the fish and chips are outstanding! This review was inspired by the Lobster roll as well as the consistently delicious candied bacon. There have been a few minor issues, such as a long wait time, flat soda and an overworked, slightly confused server. All easily corrected and I keep going back, proving the adage that it's all about the food.

Hi. Second time going to the Orleans Occo Kitchen. The food is always nicely presented and tasty. First time - I ordered a large Seafood Chowder, & asked if I could get or buy a bun, cracker, anything to go with. Answer no. I could however order another side dish... Second visit, I liked the Chowder before so asked for it again, plus the Bruschetta (4 pieces on a plate). The handwritten menu looked like $11. but was carefully disguised as $19! I never would have paid almost $20. for 4 slices of toast with tomatoes, a sprinkle (and I mean, a small sprinkle) of feta?? anyway a simple small soup and 4 slices of pretty bread ended up costing almost $35.00. whoops, I did have a black coffee as well. No. I will not be returning or recommending. Overpriced and a little snooty. when I did give a tip, I was given a lecture on how the waitress would have to pay the kitchen, for my misdeed. Since when does that happen if a customer is dissatisfied? I have also heard many similar complaints. Hoping some attention is given, if only for the sake of the reputation it used to have. Other reviews included: This was a very mediocre restaurant & meal. The place was very busy & the service reflected that fact. My meal was so..so..so mediocre. I had the East Coast Donair ($22.99) with a Caesar Salad. Small portions for the salad for sure. There was nothing wrong per se, it just didn't have much taste. And as I mentioned-.portion size is just too small! This is NOT A do over for me. They used to be great. I have been a loyal customer for years, but unfortunately my last visit was disappointing compared to previous experiences. I hope that next time I get better service and food. The quality and attention to detail seems to have declined since before COVID. I was very sad about the whole recent experience - it just didn't meet the high standards that this restaurant has set in the past. I hope to see some improvement if I go again, to the levels of quality and service that originally made me a devoted regular customer.  The Cobb salad included chicken, bacon but I had asked for these items to be removed. The egg was also removed without letting m know but we were so hungry at that point we didn't say anything. Typically most restaurants would reduce the price considering I took away all the meat item but they did not so that was slightly disappointing. Had to wait for service as there was only 2 servers and they were very busy. Food was good but the portions were small for the price.

The food is always 5 starts here. No exception. My wife has celiac and they ever have some gluten free options for her. Win win.

Terrific burgers and tacos and very good side salads (and I'm not a salad guy). Love the candied bacon. Service is good. Restaurant is a bit on the cold side.

Food was great, not your normal combinations which makes the food interesting, but also tastes great. The service was also good, very nice staff.

They used to be great. I have been a loyal customer for years, but unfortunately my last visit was disappointing compared to previous experiences. I hope that next time I get better service and food. The quality and attention to detail seems to have declined since before COVID. I was very sad about the whole recent experience - it just didn't meet the high standards that this restaurant has set in the past. I will continue to support them, but hope to see some improvement on my next visit to the high levels of quality and service that originally made me a devoted regular customer.

Things were good, but not amazing. Very average and that's ok too. Big place and can seat a lot.

We love this place! This is one of our go to places when we have visitors from out of town. The best plate they have and a fan fav is their beer battered fried fish. We usually taste the local beer of the Ottawa area. On this day, the place was packed. This restaurant used to be probably a Beni Hanna Hibachi because there are two over head grills. Open for lunches and now groups even for business. Great menu at affordable pricing. Plenty of parking as it is part of a large strip mall in Orleans. $$$

Excellent great selection fantastic service our families go to restaurant. Community minded and involved my favourite fish and chips

Pricey but always delicious!! Definitely worth a try. I usually get the burger and fries.

Everything is made in house... such a fantastic alternative to the standard frozen pub food!!! The burgers, tacos and salads are even better with Mark's candied bacon!!!

COVID-19 has put a crimp in our being able to go back to this awesome restaurant. We had originally heard about this place from a friend so since they raced about it we decided to try it for ourselves. We were not disappointed the food is great and the service awesome. We never have to ask for drink refills as they bring them before you have to even ask! Service us above normal and the food very tasty. The only issue is that many other people know about this place and sometimes there is a line-up waiting to go in.. just that says a lot! Can't wait to go back.

Occo used to have a Take-out only location on St Joseph that had the most amazing fish tacos. Went to Occo restaurant tonight. What a disappointment. Tacos were not even close to being same quality and taste. Restaurant was freezing and there was a error with the order as well. Won't be going back.

My husband and I decided to dine at Occo's Kitchen last week. The service was very slow although the server was doing her best. The water we requested had a funny smell. We thought it smelled like detergent residue. We mentioned this to the server and she did not show any concern. My husband ordered the Hamre burger with the heirloom salad. A few hours later he was throwing up his dinner. This was our first time at this restaurant following the pandemic. It was a big disappointment.

This is my second time coming to OCCO's kitchen. It's been delicious both times. I got the Locco burger with a hot chocolate (I know lol. Hot chocolate is weird). The burger comes with a side dish. I chose herb fries with their own homemade ketchup. It was delicious. I recommend the Locco. The hot chocolate was very well done. This was not the Carnations stuff. You can tell it was homemade. It came with chocolate sprinkles and whip cream. I am a hot chocolate lover and I had to try OCCO's hot chocolate. It was worth it for me.

I finally tried out the restaurant location on a weekend evening and it was packed! I had to wait about 5 mins for a table, but they have comfy leather couches. Interiors are really clean and comfortable. I tried the locco burger my friend had, and i got a poutine, and prefer the captain smash burger I had before. This burger was quite plain and the patty wasn't that tasty; my friend was disappointed but I assured them the other burgers with more toppings were much better. As for my poutine, it was a really large portion for $11! The fries were tasty, the gravy wasn't too salty, and there enough curds. The crispy bits on top were delicious! I really enjoyed it, but wish there was slightly more gravy. Service was polite and not chatty, and a bit slow, but there were lots of people. Next time I'd get their other burgers for sure, and maybe some tacos!

Went to OCCO after a while expecting an amazing dinner and it was not what we expected .. fries came instead of a meal and salad order and my 20 oz beer was a bit shy when I order a 16oz can and filled the same glass.. my chicken curry was a bit shy of veggies and chicken but filled with rice for the $23 price , if you enjoyed rice . Favour was below par and not a wow factor as previously experienced ..service was below par as I felt that the server was over busy and spoke very quickly as well as when I advised her of the 4 oz shortage she didn't care nor modified the bill; so I adjusted the tip ! Will not return !

Had great service first a few months ago and was excited to revisit last night. The waiter was condescending, rude, unprofessional, he mocked me cause he couldn't hear my order correctly while the music is blasting way too loud. Constructive idea : If you're too old to hear an order then maybe it's time to change career.

I met my family and family friends here last weekend. I enjoyed the food. We were told the fish there was very good and it seemed to be true. Personally I ordered two tacos and a cup of their seafood chowder. The tacos do come individually, with nothing on the side. So I guess these are the more expensive items on the menu. They are not very big but tasty and very unique. I expected the crispy fish taco to have more flavor. The fish was cooked well, crispy on the outside and soft inside, but really didn't have any taste despite the beer batter. This stood out to me in terms of texture more then flavour. Our friend asked if it came with tartar sauce inside. It did not and neither did his fish burger, which he thought should be corrected. The other taco was the braised pork belly. The meat was small but tasty. My sister ordered the Pork Shoulder taco and it was really packed with meat. So again, unique but I won't rush back for the taco's. I found two tacos not enough food so I also ordered a cup of the "Frog Town Seafood Chower". This was excellent, good flavor and very thick texture. Large chucks of seafood and the little toasted bread stick included with it was a nice touch. It made for good dipping. I would order this again. The cup and pot were almost the same size, so get a cup and add it to your meal as a starter. Atmosphere was fine, the place has a modern minimalist domestic feel. Palette of fairly neutral colors accented with wood and light colored stone cladding around the bar, which contrasted with the dark seating. Lots of bench style seats and some high stool type chairs around two two open grills. The back corner had a couple of large blank walls painted in a single color with just a single beer ad. I think they could use some better artwork on the walls. Only one TV over the bar which was nice to not have that distraction. It was a very loud restaurant. We really had to speak up to talk between the noise of other patrons and the music. Washrooms seemed clean and maybe wheel chair accessible. Probably manageable but still a tight squeeze. In architectural practice we have a saying that a good washroom is a sign of a well designed building. Washrooms are harder then you think with all the building code requirements. We had a dedicated waiter and service was fast, friendly and thorough. My sister thought he was good looking too. The gym was paying off for this guy. Price I think was not horrible. The menu ranges with appetizers being expensive as usual. Six of us ate our fill for $150 or about $30 each. This included a couple of beers, glass of wine, Pepsi and my ice tea. Not the worst I think in terms of value, but the larger plates are probably your better bang for your buck. They take reservations only for groups of 10 or more. Otherwise first come first serve. We waited about 15 minutes on a Saturday night for a group of 7 people. On the whole, I'd go back.

As an Ontario expat who now calls Halifax home, we've become accustomed to restaurants that serve great quality food made with fresh local ingredients, and atmospheres with character. This was our first visit to OCCO, and it felt like a little piece of home. Everything we ordered looked and smelled incredible, and everyone insisted on trying a bit of everything. The service was perfect. The server was fantastic. Knowledgable, friendly, and fast. He was able to share some great info about the restaurant and he made some great recommendations that turned out wonderfully for our meal. This will become a regular stop for us every time we visit Ottawa!

I had dinner here with my mom and we both really enjoyed it. Both food and service were very good. I just found my salad a little on the small side. I had the Cobb Salad (full order $15 - you can also get a half order for less). It had mixed greens, 1 slice of avocado, a boiled egg cut in two, chicken, candied bacon and Boursin cheese. The salad was delicious. The chicken was so flavourful and tender. It almost tasted like pulled chicken, that's how tender it was. The candied bacon added a nice crunch to the salad, and also some sweetness. The egg wasn't completed hard boiled, which was nice because the yolk had a slightly creamy texture. I feel the salad could have been bigger, even just adding more lettuce and more than 1 slice of avocado would have been nice. My mom got the Locco Burger ($14). You get to choose a side and my mom got "herbed fries." I love going out to eat with my mom, for many reasons, but one of them is that she always let's me sample her food, hehe. The burger was delicious. The beef patty was juicy and well seasoned. The bun was fresh and slightly dense (which I like for a burger). The toppings were mixed greens, thinly sliced tomatoes and razor-thin slices of pickles (I have no idea how they sliced the pickles so thin, but I liked it). The fries were crispy and lightly seasoned. My complaint with the fries is that we got so many little pieces; very few actual long french fries. However, my mom loves the tiny pieces as she says they are crispier. So I guess it's all a matter of preference, and the fries were my mom's fries, so I'm glad she enjoyed them. They make their own ketchup and it was interesting. The ketchup is not smooth, it has the texture of canned tomato sauce. I tasted an unusual spice for ketchup in it, maybe cumin or coriander. It was good, just a bit unusual. I didn't taste the coleslaw because I generally don't like coleslaw, but my mom said it was OK, a bit on the sweet side. Our server was Marilyne (at least that's what it said on the receipt). She was very friendly and checked in on us appropriately. I like how they give you a glass bottle filled with water at your table, so you don't have to ask for refills on your water. The restaurant is big and modern looking. There were some tables with what looked like a grill and a sink (!) on them. I think they are relics from the restaurant that was at this location previously (Yummy Yummy Teppanyaki). They look a little out of place now though. The restaurant is in the same plaza as The Shoe Company and Starbucks. It's across the parking lot from Winners and Homesense. There is ample free parking.

Wow... A good indication of how much I enjoyed the food is when I'm still at the table writing a review. I enjoyed the candied cheeseburger and Caesar salad. The burger was amazing!! Yes the bacon is candied on the burger and the salad. I will DEFINITELY be returning!

It's a good burger . To me it tastes the same as Wendy's burgers. Only difference is candy bacon . It's a very over priced burger imo . Fish tacos on the other hand are fire !! 3 stars for the tacos !!

After another visit I still love OCCO Kitchen Innes. I went in early on a Saturday and the place wasn't very busy. The waitress was super attentive and made sure everything was good and it was good. My friend and I both had the Hamre burger and no complaints at al. I love their fries and homemade ketchup also. I wish I could have visited when they had a guest chef cooking infront of guests using the teppanyaki tables - I think that is a fantastic use for the tables and really glad they kept them! I definitely recommend trying anything with candied bacon on it! It is SO good!

The service is HORRIBLE it took them an hour to just take our order and the time it took for us to get our food was even worse. The waitress was also very rude. The ustensiles are all different as if we're in a thrift store.I wouldn't come back here again.

I love this place. Been here only twice but the poutine is the BEST I ever had! Definitely going here again whenever I get the chance.

Excellent patio -and we only have a patio now. Great food. The pastries at the end were undercooked, but everything else was perfect. Ill be going back many more times.

Been coming here since it first opened, I usually get the tacos. I came just this week for the first time in a while the restaurant was really busy but service was great and not slow which was nice. The food quality, mainly flavour has gone down though but prices have gone up. The fish tacos are some of my favourite tacos, bigger than most places and the tacos used to be so flavourful but the taste was significantly less satisfying this time around.

Come for Breakfast & Stay for dinner. Second time here. Won't be a third. Waited 20 minutes to order and now coming up on an hour for food to arrive... still waiting. Update-- food arrived 1 hour later. Eggs Benedict with ZERO hollandaise sauce... because they 'ran out'. Oh yeah--- ran out of coffee... and I quote "because we only have one coffee maker" When the bill came I bit my tongue but REALLY wanted to say 'sorry, I ran out of money' 2.5 hours of sh!tty, cold food and terrible service for 35$ Stopping at McDonald's for their all day breakfast. Not worth the money or the frustration. Shame really. So disappointed.

Best food ever. Makes me feel like I'm back home in the east coast when I can enjoy their amazing fries dressing and gravy. The seasoning they use is authentic and delicious. Love the atmosphere Service is always great and you can tell they are super happy about using such great ingredients

Unfortunately, my experience wasn't that great when I went with co-workers for lunch. What I ordered (two individual tacos and a slider burger) did not taste that great. I remember the pork belly taco tasting particularly off and not liking the fish taco. Also, for what I had, I found it particularly expensive ($23 after tax and tip) for a lunch which left me still hungry as the quantities were quite small. To be fair, my co-workers seemed to enjoy their meals more than I did but the price vs. quantity of food and (for me at least) the taste would keep me from going back.

With the Covid19 virus closing all restaurants on St Patrick's Day, we ordered take out from Occo Kitchen. The fish and chips were perfectly prepared. The batter was crunchy but not greasy and the fish inside flaky. The portions were huge and we all had leftovers. We all love their herbed fries which are clearly 'real' potatoes and nit frozen. We have one vegan in our family who ordered the falafel wrap (modified to suit her needs) and it was also delicious, I recommend the heirloom salad because it's so fresh and tasty and we all were able to share the half portion. Forgot to take pics but suffice to say I highly recommend it and love supporting local restaurants.

Was looking for a non chain restaurant and found occo on Yelp. Was so tasty and service was friendly ... I can't wait to go back! Dont think just go!

UPDATED; Things are changing at occo and not for the better. As I expected they raised their prices. It's very clear the cooks are different because the food quality has changed. Potatoes used to be the smoothest ; now lumpy and not well seasoned. Buns are falling apart . Wait staff seem unhappy and are constantly changing. I expect the cooks are too because they pay them horribly low wages. Portion sizes are becoming smaller too ( mash potatoes) It's still good food, just not great anymore. It's been a while since a restaurant has impressed me. But I LOVED this place! Table for two ; Friday night. 6pm. Estimated wait 45 minutes. We were sat in 10 minutes :) yay ! Our drinks arrived fast and our food, yep burgers, arrived INSANELY fast ..5minutes! Delicious candied bacon, soft home made bun , home made patty , fresh! Fries were also great! Had the Churros for dessert- comes with 3 dipping sauces ! Also awesome ! Great vibe , interior ambience was great not too loud not too quiet. WHAT A GEM

When I want to eat a sexy burger, I go to OCCO. Hands down the best burger in town. I've tried their poutine too and it's pretty good. I tried their tacos once and they were ok, nothing special. But if you want a solid burger, then don't bother going anywhere else.

This place has a hold on me the burgers yumm throwback to east coast fare. Their take on corn dogs and sweet potatoe tacos. Yummmm

Very nice spot. (Orleans). A bit loud as there are high ceilings. Staff very pleasant and fast. I salut them as they opened a patio in the parking lot and had to dodge cars to bring you the food. Excellent martinis! Wish they would bring their salmon pops, grandkids love those.

The salad was amazing and you can order a side of caramelized mushrooms and onions! I'm drooling just thinking about it! Will be back!

We are so glad that we chose Occo Kitchen for a gals supper night out! Great food and even better service. My sliders (one beef & one chicken) were delicious....possibly the best beef burger I've ever had (and I'm a foodie)! Others in our group had cod fish & it was also a hit...flaky, tasty & not overdone. But what also made our evening special was our waiter Sean G. He has to be one of the best servers I've experienced..over the top accommodating! Thanks Sean... We will be back.

Came to this place with a friend and was surprised by the lack of options for me. I'm a vegetarian and the only option I had was a tiny plate of stir fried bell peppers and onions that had no flavour and were wayyyy too greasy. Not to mention the wait staff was not helpful and instead were judging my meal choice with a condescending tone. Didn't know being a vegetarian was so odd. Not the best first impression.

Five of us tried this place for the first time. We all had burgers except for one who had the vegetable and cheese linguini. Unfortunately none of us burger folk liked that the patties were quite charred (see picture). We all thought the burgers were nothing special. Also, note that the ravioli in the linguini was a bit spicy and the menu said nothing about spices. All in all, we heard good things about this place but we were disappointed. If I get a chance I'd like to try the tacos, but I won't have a burger again. My favourite places for burgers are still Local at Lansdowne and the Chelsea pub in Chelsea.

We went for brunch on Sunday only to discover they do not have a breakfast menu anymore! Such a disappointment. Some customers left when the couldn't order breakfast. We decided to stay. I had the fish tacos, which were delicious. They are $6.95 each and our server recommended that most people order two, with a small serving of fries ($4.95). The service was pretty good considering there was only one server for a while.

Great place to go if you feel like emptying your bank account for the smallest portion sizes imaginable. It just got charged 19.10 for 2 tiny tacos and a small fry with a teaspoon of their boring ketchup. Apparently they just raised their prices 2 days ago. I already found them quite pricey to begin with but now I definitely won't be going back.