The Manx Pub

I dream about their vegan tofu curry brunch option- it’s so good (especially the button mushrooms in the scramble)! Huge portion, lots of variety, and it’s consistently fresh and tasty. I love getting their local jam for the toast too.

Was recommended to come here and so glad we did!! Lovely, cozy, friendly establishment and food was absolutely delicious!! One of the best pub meals we have ever had and a very decent price too!! Our new friend Stephen there was so warm, friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble, all in all a wonderful visit and highly recommend to visit, we didn't want to leave but look forward to visiting again on next trip to Ottawa!!😀

Hidden Gem on Elgin!! Fast, polite, professional service. Tasty food with generous portions. Cozy ambiance, with a nice little patio. Tried the following: - black bean dip — a bit spicy, but tasty - lamb curry wrap — delicious! The fries that came with the wrap were very tasty too. Waiter recommended the “Manx” beer and it was an easy beer to drink. Enjoyed it very much. No dessert on the menu, maybe you have to ask for it, but I’m not sure. Overall I loved this place and would highly recommend!

I had a wonderful experience at this charming little pub. The food was not only delicious but also very well priced, offering great value for the quality. Our server, Annie, was absolutely superb—friendly, attentive, and truly went out of her way to cater to our every need. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and full of friendly vibes, making it the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a meal. I’ll definitely be coming back! Highly recommend.

My new favourite place - fantastic food, great atmosphere, amazing staff. I will be back.

Visited Ottawa for the first time and was craving classic pub foods, basically great food paired with some great pints. This place delivered on that want. For drinks, they have some unique premium domestics for all types of beer, myself I usually order a cider and they have a great premium domestics in that selection. For grubs, ordered the soup of the day and the lamb curry wrap. Both were equally delicious. You definitely eat and drink your money’s worth. Moreover, the server/owners are great people with exceptional aura. They are personable, kind and funny. Would go again.

Great place to eat. Has the feel of a neighborhood bar/restaurant but has elevated food! Has a standard menu and daily specials!! Great service, friendly staff!! Definitely work trying.

Truly an Ottawa institution! I have been coming to the Manx for years. If you come for dinner, try the giant vegetarian tacos! If you come for breakfast, the vegan scramble doesn’t disappoint! But personally, I like coming for breakfast and having a cup of coffee with the scones. They are on a rotating schedule and are just so delicious! And amongst the many wonderful quirks of this place is the unmatched coffee mugs! Love them. Also before you come, make sure you know your male and female signs to use the washrooms

This place is a gem. We were only in town for the night and stopped for a couple of beers before heading out to the game. Fantastic pub with great beer and super friendly staff. Nice work guys. I shall return :-)

Over the years, I've fallen in love with The Manx, so time to do an update. Due to my brother's love of pubs and Guiness we end up here whenever he's in town. It is a wonderful place for a beer and a coze. On a cold wet winter night, this almost cave like spot is perfect. This past Friday we stepped in for dinner. We ordered off the concise menu. My choice was the Lamb Curry Wrap, lamb in a curry sauce, with roasted mushrooms, and melted cheddar in a wrap, and herbed sour cream. It was delicious and came with a salad (option for fries instead if you wish) which was a perfect compliment. There is also a Specials board so check that out too. They have a nice selection of beverages: beer, wine, mixed drinks. Something for everyone. One thing I always like here is the accoustics 'bubble'. Conversation is all around me, yet I can have a great conversation in my group and not hear what any other group is chatting about. Service by the way is top notch. Attentive when you need something but not hovering when you don't. That is, someone shows up when you need them.

This is an amazing local pub that I go for drinks with colleagues after work. It's a cozy place with work friendly and genuine staff. I usually have their wines and beers which are all at a reasonable price! The Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio are my fave. Next week I'll try their food menu-can't wait.

Wow, outstanding Buttersquash and apple soup Amazing wrap and club. Thank you Chef Matt for coming to chat with us.

Real homey feel in this place right when you walk in. The service was great; they greeted us as soon as we walked in. It was a Sunday and the place was packed but then again it's a really small place in the basement so easy to miss We had the chicken and pulled pork wrap and they were both tasty. Would definitely come back

I was super excited to try this place out for brunch because it is on practically all of the "Best brunches in Ottawa" lists, and has a large proportion of positive reviews on Yelp/Tripadvisor/Zomato! I came on a Sunday, and thankfully did not have to wait as reviews usually mention a wait (we were 3 people). The restaurant is in the lower level of a building and is very cozy. I tried: - Eggs Benedict: I always get this at brunch places so I can form an opinion of their food! I wish they had smoked salmon eggs benedict here, but I had to settle for bacon (first world problems, haha). The bacon was cooked perfectly and was crisp, and the biscuits were very indulgent and buttery. I wish there was more hollandaise sauce, and it was quite light-tasting. The garlic mashed potatoes were delicious, although I wish they had a half/half option with homefries...dip your potatoes in their house made hot sauce which is chunky and very fresh! - The Soho: Your standard breakfast plate! The sausages that came with this were salted just right and really tasty. Bacon was on point. Toast was buttered. Beans were very light tasting though. And the garlic potatoes were great with the hot sauce! Eggs can be done to your preference, and they cook them properly. - Tea: Usually tea is fine at brunch places, but for some reason tasted really weak here. They used Higgins&Burke. I got the chai one, and I suspect the flavour was weak because the hot water was not boiling; when I drank the tea, it was warm, but not so hot you had to sip it. Hopefully they change this! - Coffee: free refills; strong and of good quality! They have little jars of cream at each table which is great, so I don't need to open a gazillion of the single-serve packets of cream (I eat a lot of cream with my coffee/tea, don't judge, it tastes delicious)! The server who showed us our spot and cleared our plates seemed quite grumpy. However, the server who refills the coffee and who brought us our food was very cheery and smiley, which I appreciated. It's cool that you can also have beer with your brunch should you wish, I saw others enjoying a drink. Overall, I probably won't be back for brunch again as I wasn't blown away, but I would return to try their other food offerings. I think it's worth paying a few dollars more to get brunch elsewhere (Edgar, Stoneface, Baker Street, etc).

Moved away from Ottawa a Few years ago but every time I visit home I must come to the Manx! I always order the same lunch and it never fails! The staff are always friendly, the food is always delicious and the atmosphere is always just right. It's an intimate spot so don't be shy as you will be probably siting close to your neighbours! Also, be prepared to stand waiting for a table during peak times.... this place is just that good!!!

Great atmosphere for casual beers. Located in the basement and is very cozy. They have a few board games. Always pretty busy. They have food as well and brunch on weekends. Service is good and friendly. The food was pretty good and tasteful. Their hot sauce is so good!!

Went for a weekend breakfast/brunch one day and came to the following conclusions: Food: 3/5 - On their recommendation, I order a veggie burrito (which was a specialty on their menu). The flavors were quite good but I found that the plate, including sides, was quite heavy on carbs. It was extremely filling but lacked a certain degree of satisfaction. Coffee was extra. I might come back for the regular menu but there's nothing spectacular to write home about my selection. Environment: 4/5 - There's definitely a "basement" sort of vibe to this place, but in a good way. It definitely feels like a kept secret. Service: 3/5 - Again, nothing spectacular but the service is quite adequate. The staff are friendly and try to attend to your requests. I did find that I had to flag them a few times even though I was sitting at the bar to get their attention.

Visited Ottawa for a weekend and was told by pretty much every person we talked to that Manx was a must stop for brunch. Located on Elgin, it's in a cozy basement pub. We waited a bit to get in (arrived 12 pm on a Sunday in October) but the turnover is pretty regular. Brunch menu is cheap. $10.50 for Eggs Benedict, which came on a delicious buttermilk biscuit and mashed potatoes -- highly recommended. Try the homemade hot sauce on the table! Huevos Rancheros were average, we wouldn't order that dish again. Coffee is $2.50 but lots of refills. The menu was basic, nothing special, but solid. Overall a great local pub. Would go back for a cheap, delicious, no-nonsense brunch in Ottawa!

Tucked away in an underground corner, this place is easy to miss when walking down Elgin. You can easily see a sign saying "The Manx Pub" but unless you take a look behind the street front, you might walk right by. Don't! This little place is an absolute gem. I met my sister and cousin here for a late brunch on a Sunday at 11 a.m. There was plenty of room is this dimly lit (nice for those who partied a little too hard the night before, ha!) pub, but still lots of patrons enjoying their late brunches. We got a great corner booth that gave all three of us plenty of room to spread out and hang. The tables are brilliant (and apparently very reminiscent of an old bar in Halifax, according to my cousin), all coppery and lovely and the atmosphere is very Cheers meets British pub meet Harry Potter. I just love it. Our server was a total doll and let us leisurely eat and drink for longer than we should have. She joined in on some of our conversations and was attentive without being overbearing. The food. Oh, the food. It was outstanding. We split the scones (which are savoury - chive deliciousness) that came with yummy homemade preserves between the three of us. I got a fried egg sandwich (on homemade bread) with avocado and a side salad. The sandwich was massive and I had to take half home. Come starving (or bring some home) - the portions are huge! I can't wait to come here for drinks and dinner. The atmosphere is cozy and wonderful, the food is superb and the staff are charming.

You know, I almost didn't go down. It was a beautiful evening and the idea of descending into a subterranean pub seemed a little sad. But I'm so glad I made the dive. From the outside, you'd think it's closed. Sure, there's a hanging sign, but the basement size windows are impossible to see into unless you're already down the stairs. But trust that it's open. It's a pub, afterall. When you open the door you'll be overwhelmed with a lively bunker full of beer and pub eats, jovial bar patrons, and efficient staff. Take a seat, grab a beer, or a cider from their decent sized draught list or bottled and tuck into some eats. I settled into a cod burger and spinach salad. The pineapple salsa, tartar sauce and fried onions made this into the best meal I've had in Ottawa to date! With all of these reviews referencing brunch, I do believe I'll be coming back!

I came here for brunch with some friends, and it's definitely a unique place to eat in Ottawa. The service and staff are very friendly and helpful. I've been told the lunch and dinner menus ar quite unique, but didn't feel that way about the brunch menu. The food was solid nevertheless, but it was a basic brunch (poached eggs, beans, toast and potatoes). I would definitely come here again, because the atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly, and it's like enjoying a meal in a hobbit hole.

Don't judge a book ... the place is a little basement dive. But I've Never had a bad dish here. Be patient - quality takes time. You can tell each dish is crafted with care by the chef. I've had burgers, sandwiches, salads and some great appys - everything is on point. Highly recommend.

It took me awhile to finally get to this place as a lot of people recommended it to me and I wasn't disappointed. They have my favourite brunch menu in Ottawa and I go back often for brunch. I've had dinner here once or twice as well but I much prefer their brunch menu. The also have a decent size scotch menu. The place is very small and there is usually a line up during brunch and dinner. You may feel crammed in here so if you don't like that kind of situation you may not like dining here but if you have no problem with this then it's definitely worth the wait!

When searching online for a place on Elgin for a decent, but not budget-busting birthday lunch, I came across The Manx. With a pub atmosphere and more creative menu than its competitors, it seemed right up my alley. After a slightly soggy walk down Elgin in the late October rain, my wife and I tucked into their small, basement entrance. The room isn't huge, but you can probably seat around 60 at a mix of tables, high tops and the bar. It's not nearly old enough to be an actual dive bar, but they're going for that feel. I really liked the nook to the left of the bar; it has a couple small tables nestled in between the banquette along the wall and the wooden divider separating it and the bar, and the piece de resistance: a window to the bar so you could have your drinks served to you right from the bar. It's all the convenience of sitting at the bar, but with more comfortable seating and better privacy. Although it was mid-afternoon on a rainy weekday, there were still several other people there, mostly of the commonly mentioned hipster-ilk, and middle aged folk who wouldn't look out of place teaching obscure fields in university arts departments. Despite my love of judging books by their covers, it was nice to have people around, as no one likes to be the only people at a restaurant. Our friendly waiter saw to us quickly, grabbing our drink orders. It may have been my first full meal of the day, but being my birthday I had to snag a beer, and settled on The Manx 20 ale. There's several appetizers and mains on the lunch menu - enough for a robust amount of selection, but not so much that it's a slog to read through and makes you question the freshness of their food. We were pretty hungry, but were going to be having a relatively early dinner, so a light appetizer was in line and we went with the vegetarian spring rolls. For my entree I chose the club sandwich, getting half salad and half fries on the side for only $0.75 more than just fries. The spring rolls consisted of two bisected rolls on a bed of julienned veggies and a cup of sauce on the side for dipping. Filled with glass noodles and more julienned veggies, the filling was fairly bland and definitely required the sauce. Slightly sweet, with just a bit of heat and a light touch of cilantro, it was just what the rolls needed, and I appreciated that the cup was large enough that dipping wasn't a difficult task. The wrappers on the rolls were fantastic - super flaky and not soggy on the inside at all. When our mains arrived, my plate was a sight to behold - piled high with the sandwich, salad, and large potato wedges, the plate barely contained it all. As it was, I had to start off with the sandwich so that my salad would be more manageable afterward. With lightly buttered and toasted bread, moist roasted chicken breast and generous slices of peameal bacon, this club had it going on. The hefty potato wedges were all several inches long, and despite my wariness of wedges due to almost always being soggy, these were winners. Crisp until the last one, these slices of potatoey love were what all wedges should be. The side salad was piled high with mixed greens, and julienned carrots and beets. This all got a light touch of vinaigrette, making for a refreshing balance to the rest of my hearty plate. With great service, quality food and large portions, The Manx will hopefully be around for years to come, so that it can earn its dive bar cred.

I've been coming here since 2001 and don't see any reason to stop. They've always had St Ambrose Apricot Wheat on tap, which I highly recommend.

The food is good for sure but everything is too slow. There were free tables but we still had to wait for a long while to be seated because it was like no one cares. The service is also slow but it's understandable, it was crowded. It's also a very loud place. Omg, everyone was like screaming. I like the food. I recommend the food but idk the rest.

Ah, The Manx. This downstairs, hole-in-the-wall type college pub is famous for its kick-ass burger specials. Typically crammed with gregarious uOttawa students, it can be a bit difficult to find a table and tends to occasionally be a bit on the loud side (imagine inebriated college students all attempting to talk over top of each other in a small space). But, despite this, I do love this spot. I'm a maritimer, and it's a pub. Natural fit. The burger special featured on the chalkboard changes every few days, so it's always a surprise, and it's the *only* burger option available (burgers are not on the reg menu). The last time I was there, I tried the cowboy burger, which was fun: baked beans, bacon, cheddar and burger. Your mouth's watering now, isn't it? It was VERY good. Fries are gigantic. You can choose fries, salad or soup as a side, or you can get half/half of fries + salad. I would recommend only a half order of fries, as you will likely never finish a whole order. Tip: wine choices leave a lot to be desired. Stick to the brews. Great staff, too, so expect excellent service!

Very cool spot, just had a couple of beers Saturday afternoon but the brunch looked amazing. Nice selection on tap.

Ottawa has a monotonously awful pub scene. The Cock and Horse, the Cock and Comb, the Cock and Bridle, Lieutenant's Pub, and other stuff. All done up in a real shitty veneer of Celtic kitsch. I hate going out in Ottawa. The Manx is the exception. My girlfriend and I live just down the corner. We discovered our excellent apartment on tipsy stroll back from the Manx. I don't want to overly romanticize the Manx at all, but it is inextricably linked to this occasion, so it's always going to be a little more special than anywhere else. I love the staff, and they love us. We have quickly become something approaching regulars, and they know how to start us off right away (couple-a shots of dark rum). There is one guy, maybe the manager, who could have been a roadie for the Sadies or Byrds. The rest of the staff is equally cool. The food is excellent for pub food, and is probably not even deserving of that moniker. It feels more like a bistro or really good cafe. The menu is small, and stacked with manageable favourites made with fresh ingredients. Standard items, such as burgers, are given an almost weekly reinvigoration. The Kimchi burger is superb. After 10 or 11 pm, the menu switches over to snacks; potato wedges, and that sort of thing. That can be a bit of a problem if you are coming home from something, and want to get a bite. The price for a pint or glass of wine is about average for the city, but the shots are cheap. Very cheap. If you want a cocktail, the bartender is willing to cater to just about anything. I had a hot toddy made for me once. Yes, the Manx is small, but that adds to its charm. There are no televisions, although the staff has joked that they might get a small BW television to run old baseball games on. The decor is worn, but loved. Day or evening, your voice only needs to compete with the voices of others, for the Manx is a place for conversation. Some nights there is live entertainment, but I've never stuck around. I like that the Manx is a place for people to talk. I know that even after I have left Ottawa, I will remember the Manx. There are very few places like it wherever you go, and Ottawa is lucky to have this little place. Thankfully, lots of people agree with me. The place is always packed.

I like The Manx, I do. The food is good - no doubt about it. They have a nice list of beers on-tap - absolutely. But that's where the fascination ends for me. The atmosphere is not all that different from a decent pub, (although they have more board games). The menu is delicious, but they don't serve traditional pub fair. Want a burger? Well, you better be craving a salmon burger or black bean burger. There isn't a regular ole burg on the menu. On weekends, getting into The Manx (or any decent brunch place on Elgin), isn't easy. Personally, I would go there if the line is small. I wouldn't wait in line to get in, though. It's a good place to eat/drink depending on your mood. I just don't belong to the Manx religious order like many others.

Based on some pretty great Yelp reviews a friend and I stopped in for a late Saturday morning breakfast. I guess word has gotten around about the good food and reasonable price of this pint-sized pub because it was pretty busy--while the two of us didn't have to wait too long for a table, larger parties did have to wait a bit. The servers were great--quick, on top of things and not pushy (as sometimes happens when there are people waiting). The menu is pretty well balanced--vegetarian options, breakfasts for really hungry people, lighter fare as well. I enjoyed a fabulous fried egg sandwich--fresh vegetables including avocado, yum! My friend enjoyed the original breakfast--he was pretty happy about being able to choose pea-meal bacon. We both agreed that the bread was fabulous--made really great toast and supported all the awesome yummies on my sandwich. Everything was really well flavoured and well made. Nice relaxed atmosphere with solid food and reasonable prices--would definitely eat here again.

A cozy little basement restaurant-pub with veggie options (you must try the tofu tacos)! Service is usually pretty good around here. A few times I have had to get out of my seat to flag someone down. It's a small little spot and usually very packed, so it's a great spot for drinks, but perhaps not a sit down dinner where you'd like some conversation. As well, on a number of nights there has been live music which makes it near impossible to have a conversation- it's a small spot, and they use an amp. The breakfast here is fantastic, and a great option if you've had a late night the evening before. It's a great spot for dinner a drinks too, though dinner and breakfast can be a busy time to visit. Lunch, even a late lunch is probably more low-key. If you're a hipster, this is for sure your spot! And if you're a vegetarian, you'll be likely to enjoy it here as well. The only downside to the Manx is the small space and loud noise, though I guess this is just preference. Overall, I would recommend The Manx, and I will be back again.

The Manx is tied with Chez Lucien for my favourite bar in Ottawa. It's totally worth the long walk down Elgin. The place is very "basement of a castle" in its feeling, but it has great craft beers on tap and a tasty, imaginative menu with everything from your standard pub fare to cod burgers to the only good gazpacho I had in the city all summer. The servers are always pleasant or even funny and knowledgable about their bar and food menus. In the summer it's a shame to go somewhere without a patio but in the fall and winter it's great to just hide away from the world. This place isn't good for a crowd, sadly, as it's fairly small. But for a group of four or more it's a solid choice for lunch, drinks, dinner or (apparently! - thanks Yelp!) brunch.

Came to have breakfast at lunch at The Manx by a friend's recommendation. It is a crowded place that seems to always have a lineup but the food is quite good. If you are looking for a place to stretch your legs, this is not the spot for you. If you are looking to be crowded in a pub enjoying good food then look no further.

There's a problem. I live close too to The Manx. Year after year, this place delivers awesome food. They have a great beer and whiskey menu, and the service is beyond personal. It's like the Cheers of centretown. I love this place, and don't have much more to say than that. The only tragedy is that some weekly paper wrote about this place a few years ago, and it is now nearly impossible to get a seat during peak hours. The menu is full of options for carnivores and veggies alike. The atmosphere is fantastic, whether you want to share some laughs with friends or drip tears into some scotch. It suits everything. I love you, Manx and Manx people. Never change. Ugh. Now I want a chick pea burger.

This is one of my favourite restaurants in Ottawa. It has delicious and often creative food, huge meal portions, amicable staff, overwhelming desserts, a great beer and scotch selection and tofu tacos to die for. The main course prices range from $10-$15. For those wanting a distraction from their dining partner, they can play the many board games the establishment provides. The Manx has live performances on Sunday and Monday. It also displays work from local artists and photographers and hosts an art show to kick off each new exhibit about once a month. However, due to this restaurant's popularity and small size, customers have to wait for a seat more often than in most Ottawa restaurants. This can usually be averted by avoiding peak meal times. The Manx doesn't take reservations. And I'm not the only one who loves this restaurant. The Manx is hard pressed not to find itself the winner of at least one category in the poll driven Ottawa XPress' "Best of Ottawa" list. In 2007, it won Best Appetizers/Tapas, Best Brunch, Best Cozy Nook, Best Bar Staff and Best Pub. They also received an honourable mention for Best Burger.

Best eggs benny in the city, hands down. Just the right amount of lemony hollandaise, perfectly poached eggs, english muffin tres buttery. And the garlic-y mashed potatoes that come with it!! Aaaaaaah. People say the other breakfast things are good too, but who the hell knows, I'm here for the eggs benedict! The veggie burger is also awesome. Service can be somewhat ambivalent, in that hipstery kind of way, hence only 4 stars.

I had debated going here for Saturday night drinks because of the reviews and it's selection of beers. Ultimately I chose not to go here and it was a great choice because it ended up being my Sunday brunch spot. What a great choice. Everything tha thas been said about this place in the night applies during the day. It was 10:30am when we got there and the place was rammed with a lineup out the door. I was committed to trying this place out so I waited about 20 mins for a table. Glad I did. My wife had the breakfast burrito and I had the omellette special which consisted of spinach, broccoli, and leeks. I can't say enough about the food. It was delicious. My wifes burrito came with a salad that had thinly cut beets, turnip and bean sprouts. A very detailed salad that was unexpected. With my omellette came some sort of garlic mashed potatoes. They were extremely tasty. The omellete was bursting with toppings and was awesome. The portions were more than enough and were priced at a reasonable 8-10 dollars. If I had to pick on some things to improve I would suggest their coffee, but I'm not going to say it's terrible. I would recommend this place time and time again for breakfast but by looking at the lineups at this place I would think everybody already knows this place rocks. Just don't be claustrophobic.

Came here for dinner last night. Nice vibe. Seems like both a cool spot to come with your friends but also doubles as a family restaurant because the food is good and the service is quick. We sat down and our server showed up promptly. She was no-nonsense but took the time to explain to us what the 5+ seasonal beers were. I ordered the Beau's seasonal which was supposed to be a spruce-tip American style IPA but a framboise beer showed up. I didn't complain because it was actually quite tasty, whatever it was. (*My partner ordered the "same" beer later and it was definitely different) The atmosphere is reminiscent of your parent's basement that has been converted to a bar. It's quite dark and there is also a lot of dark wood. It could use a little opening up. We showed up at 6:30pm and the place filled up quickly after that. People were waiting in the doorway with beers in their hands. I have never seen that before but I think that's a good way to run a business! Keeps everyone happy. We ordered the pulled pork wrap with fries and the appetizer crab cakes to share. Both were extremely delicious. The pulled pork wrap was juicy and had pickles and pickled onions in it. It also came with a zesty tomato-based sauce to add to it. The "fries" we mojo style which isn't my favorite but they were well executed. The crab cake "appetizer" was almost meal sized. It was 2 large crab cakes that were fluffy and full of crab on a bed of chickpea, fennel, cucumber salad. There was also a side dip of tzatziki-type sauce. This was an excellent plate. We entered the bar starving but by the end of sharing this appetizer and main we were stuffed. To recap: Staff - Quick. Maybe too quick because I got the wrong beer. Atmosphere - Dark/cramped but you get used to it. Food - Good sized portions and well-balanced flavors. I hear the brunch is also great. I'll be going back to check that out!

Friendly and accommodating service, delicious food and fun atmosphere! An old neighbourhood haunt of mine, I absolutely love The Manx. It is located in the basement of a brick building on Elgin Street. From first glance, one might pass this place by, but I recommend checking it out. It truly is a gem. When I think of pub food, I think nachos, beer, wings (which are all well and good) but when you go to this pub their food is far superior "pub" food that I wouldn't even put it in the pub food category. They make fresh potato wedges as their fries, the black bean dip is highly addictive, their white bean dip is served with hot pita bread that is mouth watering, they always have fresh and unique menu options that is forever changing on their "specials" board and they also have a variety of beers on tap. A great spot for a gathering of friends to meet up and grab a pint or have a seat at the one of the high tops on a date. This is the type of place that envelopes you, it's beyond cozy and is always packed.

My boyfriend and I were curious about this place since we've read such great things about it on yelp. We were NOT disappointed. I'm shocked at the quality of food that can come out of pubs! My boyfriend had the Kale with the pureed vegetables and melt in your mouth grilled salmon. His dish was really well rounded with salty, sweet and savoury elements. My dish was the cod burger with salad. I wasn't expecting the cod to be compact and deep fried, but it was pretty good. The burger comes with a soft sweet egg bun and the cod was topped off with pineapple which really brought a lot of flavour into the burger. It's small and cozy, and the place had a really nice vibe to it. Will definitely come back here again!!

Good as it gets for Brunch!! Love the menu, both meat and vegetarian options. Very reasonable price (ie. most dishes around $10 and great serving size). Best of all the food is actually really good. Well flavoured (hello braised mushrooms!) but not overly greasy. Coffee was also solid.

The place is decent, with solid food from the kitchen, as always. But the nazi woman that greets and directs traffic needs to calm the hell down. She is almost always curt, if not outright rude. I suggest she get replaced, as she is not a credit to the establishment. I don't care how efficient she is at playing the game of Tetris that is seating people at this microscopic pub. I have been going there since at least 2002, and never used to have to deal with such bullshit back then, and yes it was just as busy. This nazi is the reason I can only give the place three stars at the moment.

Amazing brunch!! Went there for brunch with a few friends from out of town and not having been here before - I wasn't expecting much (thought it would be standard pub grub) Boy was I wrong- I got the eggs Benedict which was hearty and hit the spot. Everyone else got different brunch items and it all was equally delicious. There was nothing left on anyone's plate. The price was right and the food was good and filling. The only qualm I would mention is having to wait for a table takes a while but well worth it if you want a hearty brunch (no diet food).

The Manx is the best restaruant/pub ever. The food is amazing, the beers and selection are diverse and not , the people who work here are so friendly, service is efficient. I can't recommend this place enough! There are vegan/vegetarian options and all the food seems like it is high quality and it is creatively presented. Portions are good. the atmosphere is very laid-back and friendly. I lived in Ottawa for about 5 years and i try to visit the Manx whenever i go back to visit. the people who work there are awesome, and will sit down and ask you how you're doing, etc. i Still feel bad about the time my bank account had run out and i had to leave them a bunch of change, even pennies.... sorry guys! Oh and, they have Saturday and Sunday brunch! delicious!

Short and sweet. What can you say about this place?!? Brunch on a Sunday or dinner and beers on a Thursday night, it never disappoints. The food is always great, fresh, and tasty. Its the perfect place to go on a rainy, fall evening. Cozy, busy yet not loud. Staff is always in a good mood. What's not to like ?!?!

I went here for my birthday dinner after hearing a ton of recommendations. Which was kind of silly, seeing as I had no idea what to expect. You can't make reservations here, and the guy told me to keep my party under 6 people or we'd have trouble with the seating. I took 6 people and still had trouble with the seating. It didn't take us long to be seated, but our party was mixed in with a couple of middle aged women talking about home decorating. That was so awkward. They were almost done thankfully so we got the table to ourselves after that... For a bit. After about 20 minutes we were asked to move to accommodate a couple, so we were cramped in a corner bumping elbows trying to talk quietly and eat. After about 10 minutes we were asked to move yet again, but this time we had to move tables around too. We were were totally boxed in to a corner and trying to get out was a complete disaster.The service was also pretty bad, we had a mix of 3 waitresses and none of them were polite and had one that didn't know what the specials were, another waitress had to come around and take my order after flagging her. I feel like you're supposed to know your specials as a waitress. I'll comment on the food now. So many of the dishes sounded tempting, and I think you can make just about everything on the menu vegetarian. I got a pasta dish with spicy eggplant, peppers, and pancetta in a rose sauce. It was REALLY good. It was really salty and I got thirsty fast but it was creamy, rich, and just a bit spicy from the eggplant. The peppers balanced the dish out, it wasn't overly rich because of them. I found the pancetta a bit chewy, maybe I don't like it too much in pasta but it at least added a really nice touch to the sauce. One of my pet peeves when eating pasta is that sometimes places will say the dish includes for example, shrimp and olives or something... And they'll add like 3 shrimp and 4 olives. Not at the Manx, there was a lot of the pancetta, eggplant and peppers at the bottom when I was done. I also ordered a Beau's. They have a pretty limited selection of beer, it's sufficient though. They were out of a few types I think. If you were looking for something like Pub Italia's Beer Bible this isn't your place. If you're looking for a pub with above average food (thats an understatement), this is your place. I had to dock 2 stars for the inconvenient seating and poor service. The food is a 5/5.

The atmosphere and decor was lovely, and it felt like we'd taken a step into an old british pub. After waiting for a bit, we were placed in a corner which was cozy and seated 4 comfortably, despite me letting them know we were going to be 7. I was told that once the ladies at the table next to us were done, we could add their table to our layout. This would've been fine, if they had been close to being done their breakfast. They, in fact, hadn't even received their order yet. In a way, I was feeling thankful we had a group that hadn't been exactly on time. For about 10-15 minutes, our entire group crowded around two cafe style tables. With the ladies not looking like they were going to be done soon, we looked at each other trying to figure out how exactly this was going to work. The service was kinda slow, and that's a good thing in this case. By the time we got our drink orders, the ladies vacated the table and we were once again able to breath, and move without being squished. Breakfast itself was good, despite me finding a rather large piece of eggshell in my Eggs Bennedict. The best part, by far, was the "home fries" a.k.a. lumpy mashed potatoes. It would've all been made better had we been able to get a few coffee refills, and when we asked, I felt like I was inconveniencing them... not exactly how I like to feel when being served at a restaurant. Others at the table seemed satisfied with their breakfast, but no one was ravished by their meal. It's a place that was worth going to, but whether or not I'll be back has yet to be decided. I don't think I'd go out of my way to return. To be fair, the restaurant was really busy, though I would imagine they would be used to serving a full house on a saturday morning in downtown Ottawa.

I've been here a number of times and keep bringing visitors to the city here. It's terrific. Food / Drinks: The breakfast (recommend the banana bread french toast) and dinner (recommend the lamb curry wrap) are phenominal. Somersby and some good beers on tap. The wedge fries are very good, don't be put off by the dark color. Wait times / Service: The restaurant is small and cozy, sort of half-underground vs street level. Expect a little wait if you come around peak breakfast/dinner times. Food sometimes takes a while. There is often only 1 or 2 people working so sometimes difficult to track down your waiter because they are working hard. Prices: Reasonable. And the food is so good you wouldn't mind paying a bit extra. Other thoughts: Definite hipster feel and clientele. Weird art on the walls that may or may not be for sale. Would recommend spending your money on the food and not the art. Waiting can be a bit awkward because there are seats right by the door; you'll just be standing behind someone who is eating. No televisions.

I ate there yesterday: it was the best meal I have had in ages. Something like pork loin over macaroni and cheese... AMAZING. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. The appetizers are not much to write home about, but I have the sense that the mains are well worth the 15-20 price, if the pork loin is any indication.

came to the manx for brunch based on a recommendation from a friend who lives in ottawa. we were excited for it too because our friend had a really small kitchen so it was our first complete morning meal for the weekend. first, this place is a PUB. underground, very little light, kinda old and dingy. i can see how it could be a great place to get a pint on the weekend but not the best place for a sunday morning brunch. i ordered eggs benedict. the holandise sauce wasn't QUITE right....i think it needed a little more salt. but other than that it was fine. nothing memorable. just fine. my friends ordered french toast and a classic breakfast...again they thought it was FINE but nothing special. i can see how this place would be popular with vegetarians though because they have many good vegetarian options. but i'm a meatatarian and it just didn't cut it for me.

The vibe: Little basement pub with artwork on the walls and cute vintage mugs. The food: I've only ever eaten here for brunch, but it sure is tasty. My only qualm is that they service garlic mashed potatoes rather than home fries, and I'm very very privy to home fries, but heck...that's hardly a qualm is it? My go to meal: Huevos Rancheros. Eggs and guac and salsa and hot sauce! Secret: They have homemade hot sauce! And it's oh so good!

We went to this place (for brunch) on the recommendation of the person whose house we were staying. At first blush, it looked like some dive bar that had been overrun by a mob of hipsters. Which it actually kind of is but anyway... the menu also looked a bit "meh" and I was totally expecting a ho-hum meal to come out of the kitchen. I was happy to be proven wrong. The food was great and this is coming from someone who generally has a low opinion of breakfast food. My husband got the goat cheese something or another and I got a simple breakfast platter. The "hash browns" were actually more like mashed potatoes (and much better than hash browns I have to admit... and btw maybe that is a Canadian thing?) Service was good and we made it in before the rush as the queue snaked its way up the stairs as we left.

Went here on a first date. Very nice for a first date as it is intimate. You will be sitting close to each other but that is not a bad thing! The food is great, the service was solid. Was noisy but again goes back to the venue size. Try the burger!

I was in my hotel room, procrastinating getting breakfast, and at that point of hungry where you think you might be sick. Based on the good reviews on Yelp and Urbanspoon, I decided to catch a cab and go to The Manx. I arrived a little after 2:00pm. The place was still busy from the brunch rush, but as I came on the tail end, a table had just opened up, and I didn't have to wait. I was alone, and they stuck me in a cozy little corner in a booth. It was absolutely perfect (I hate being seated in the middle of a room when I'm flying solo). I sat down with my book, had a few cups of coffee, and ordered the eggs benedict. The waitress was nice and quick to take my order. There wound up being a mix up in the kitchen, and my order wound up not being ready when it should have been, but they caught the mistake without me having to ask where my food was, and they were all very apologetic. It wasn't really a big deal for me - I wasn't in a rush and I was enjoying my coffee. When my food did arrive it was delicious, the vibe was good, and the price was really fair. I would definitely go back.

My girlfriend and I decided to have lunch here during a visit to Ottawa after reading up on the reviews. As advertised - the entrance looks a little sketchy as you're walking down stairs into a basement, but when we got in, we were delighted to see a cozy little establishment packed with a variety of groups of people. The Manx is a pretty small place, and our only gripe is that it was a little dark, and that the seats and tables were quite small (a little uncomfortable for us). We ordered the Oyster Mushroom Omelette burrito (special of the day) and the Curried Tofu. The burrito was delcious. The curried tofu was quite a large portion - but not tasty enough for us to attempt to finish it. The food was good, but the service was lacking. It took them a long time to get back to us with the bill (though it was quite busy when we went for brunch). Not a must-visit, but definitely a place to consider for lunch!

Great food but kind of cramped space (especially when it is full) -Excellent burgers; interesting menu (not just typical pub food)