The Whalesbone Elgin Street

Dropped in to enjoy some fresh oysters and sat at the oyster bar. The service and staff knowledge were truly outstanding — honestly, some of the best I’ve experienced in years. The team was exceptionally attentive, making me feel genuinely pampered, all while maintaining a friendly, kind, and welcoming attitude. Kudos to them. Fresh Oysters I started with a dozen oysters and appreciated the excellent recommendations. They were fresh, full of flavor, and offered with a great selection of condiments, toppings, sauces, and garnishes. The freshly grated horseradish stood out with a bold, spicy bite — excellent. Bone Marrow While the presentation was lovely, with pomegranate seeds and greens, the portion was disappointing. At under 3 ounces for $35, the value felt quite steep for what is meant to be the main component of the dish. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this item based on portion and pricing. Seafood Chowder Absolutely delicious — rich, full of seafood, and bursting with flavor. Overall, a great place with incredible service and very strong seafood offerings. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fresh and cooked oysters and seafood.

Ohhhh Whalesbone, how we love you! Definitely a top favourite in Ottawa. The freshest seafood we can have, best oysters around and service is always impeccable! The pictures say it all. That pasta is so delicious. Highly recommend this place to all seafood lovers. We are huge fans of Rodney’s Oyster House in Toronto and this place is as amazing!

As someone (46 years old) who has traveled the world, most recently Alaska, Maine, Italy, New Mexico, New York, I would say this has to be the best meal that I have ever eaten! I started with the East Cape P.E.I & Fortune Bay oysters, paired with the Habanero Potato purée sauce and cleaned the shell with the bourbon. Next, I moved on to the seafood chowder which immediately made my taste buds tingle and could pick out the dill. Finally, I had the Australian flat iron steak cooked medium (which for once actually came out medium), paired with the mushrooms. I can’t say enough about this place and want to come back as soon as possible! Everyone was super nice and fast, never having to ask for anything. The guest to my left (Erin, a local) was so nice to chat with and showed me some great things to do in the area! Lastly, I met the owner and I had to express how awesome this place was, and the fact that he didn’t ask me to leave a review, was great as well!

This is a fantastic spot in downtown Ottawa! They serve incredibly fresh and flavorful oysters sourced from different Canadian coasts, including Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. Absolutely delicious. It’s a great place for a date or a casual night out with friends. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and there’s also a solid menu beyond just oysters. If you’re strolling along Elgin Street, this is definitely a place worth stopping by. Highly recommended!

Great restaurant with tremendous service, delicious food and the atmosphere of an old whaling boat. I loved it! All that was missing was some sea shanty music. Even for a person like myself that is not big on seafood there were still multiple options on the menu for me to eat. That said, the oysters were awesome! Multiple sauces given including a special element I won't spoil. Reservations are definitely needed in advance as it is a very popular place to go to.

Delicious food and attentive service at this beautiful seafood themed restaurant in downtown Ottawa. I was there with a group of five people in total and we had a lovely dining experience, including good wines and delicious food. Not an expensive, but definitely a great experience!

We celebrated New Year’s last night and had an amazing experience. The oysters were extremely fresh and delicious, the dry aged steak was incredible , and all of our dishes were delicious everyone was very happy and satisfied. Excellent service and a wonderful overall experience. Highly recommended! 🌟

Had a really lovely and cozy early dinner here. Tried the lobster roll (duh) and fingerling potato salad. Not huge into oysters so wasn’t sure if I was making a silly choice going here but the Food was delish! Vibe was good. Drinks were yummy. Service was perfect and the staff are great. Everyone else’s food looked amazing too. Will be back here soon.

This place was buzzing when we walked in about 7pm without a reservation, but we were warmly welcomed and they found us a table. We ordered some raw oysters to start which were super fresh and came with a range of condiments. For mains we had seafood chowder and the cod. Everything was perfectly cooked, nicely presented and super tasty. There was a good selection of wine, beer and cocktails. The server was fantastic, explained the menu, recommended wine options and regularly topped up our water whilst checking if everything was satisfactory or would we like another drink, etc. If I was a local I'd definitely be back.

Hot seafood platter, oysters, steak tartare & truffles fries & chocolate mousse cake The seafood platter was great if you wanna try multiple items, and was more than enough food for two. My favourite were the bacon wrapped scallop and crab cakes.

Service & Ambiance: When trying to figure out a dinner spot in Ottawa, The Whalesbone kept coming up! Many people recommended it and we had to give it a try. We were able to snag a last minute reservation, and so glad we did! When we walked in, we were seated promptly. I'm not quite sure as to the overall aesthetic decor theme of this place, but it was definitely interesting. Maggie was our waitress and she was such a delight. She knew that menu and knew what recommendations to make. We were happy with each and every recommendation she had! 5/5 Drinks: Margarita: I'm honestly not sure why I thought it would be a good idea to order a margarita in Canada... They are not really known for them... But this one was a solid 4/5. I was not a personal fan of the tequila choice, but it was otherwise not too heavy and refreshing. Old Fashioned: 5/5. A delightful old fashioned. Ginger & Cherry Mocktail: 5/5. This was perfect to end the evening. It was light and refreshing which helped the meal settle easily. Food: W.B.O.H. Beef Tartare: DELICIOUS. I love beef/steak tartare and always order it if it's on the menu. This, so far, has landed in my top-5 best beef/steak tartare's I have ever had. The flavors were incredibly bold, but I could taste everything, even the slightest hint of lemon. And the chips that came with it? YUM. The BEST homemade chips with the perfect amount of crunch. 5/5 Lobster Pasta: This dish immediately caught my eye. Lobster and pasta are two of my favorite things, it was a no-brainer. I always get nervous about pasta dishes like this because they tend to be very rich and heavy. That was not the case here at all! It ended up pairing very well with the ribeye. 5/5 14oz Ribeye: It was perfectly cooked on the inside and perfectly crispy on the outside. With just the right amount of salt. Delicious. It also was not very fatty either. 5/5

Great restaurant and great service I enjoyed how convenient and fast everything was. The food was amazing, I look forward to celebrating my birthday there next month

This was the second time we visited Whalesbone on Elgin and unfortunately we got similar results. First thing we noticed was how incredibly loud the music was - like concert loud where you can't have a conversation... a real bummer when you go out for dinner. The place was packed, like totally full so service was slow but our server was lovely and took good care of us. Overall, the food was mediocre. My seafood chowder wasn't terrible but it wasn't hot - it had obviously been sitting out for a while before service. My wife ordered off the "secret menu" which was cool but the dish lacked flavour and she felt that it needed a sauce or something to bring it together. I tried my daughter's chicken - the sauce was good, the chicken was well cooked but the skin was completely soggy. It was like chewing on a rubber band. Really off-putting. When their mains cost $46 and a salad is $22, I am expecting to be blown away. We certainly were not. The value for money just isn't there. The only redeeming thing about this place was our server. She took really good care of us, she was friendly, our orders were spot on, but not even she could save this night. We will not be returning anytime soon. Way too many awesome places in town to visit instead.

Popped in here for lunch and whalesbone did not disappoint. We had the lobster roll (stuffed to the brim), poke bowl and oysters.

Came to the Whalesbone craving some fresh quality seafood, and left very satisfied. Service was quick and friendly, and I really enjoyed the rustic atmosphere here at the Whalesbone. For appetizers, we had the Calamari (hard to go to a seafood place and not order the Calamari!) as well as the Truffle Fries. Both were delicious, kind of hard to go wrong with these two! For the mains we ordered the Lobster Pasta and the Scallops and Pork Belly. The Lobster Pasta was beautifully decadent and rich, one of the best pastas I've ever had for sure. There were generous portions of real lobster throughout. I really enjoyed the contrast of texture they added with the sort of breadcrumbs they sprinkle on the top - adds a nice crunch! The Whalesbone does this dish right. The Scallops and Pork Belly were great as well! Scallops were perfectly browned while still glistening in the inside, and the Pork Belly would fall apart almost before you even looked at it. The Spiced Cauliflower also added the perfect amount of nuttiness to the dish. My only complaint is that it is on the more tart side with all the apple and mostarda. I would've preferred more cauliflower and less apple, as there is quite a lot of it. Overall, I'd definitely come back, maybe even order some of their fresh oysters next time. If you are looking to have some beautiful seafood in Ottawa, check out the Whalesbone!

I had high expectations and this place exceeded them. I loved the mussels, the seafood chowder. I wasn't a massive fan of the lobster roll, but it was pretty good. I loved the grapefruit drink. The service was fantastic and its a great space. I lucked in by coming in at a less busy time so I found it easy breazy. I would definitely come back

Service fine, but the fish 'n chips were just awful. Small piece of fish, hard overcooked batter, fries tiny and drenched with salt. Given the price, around $30 each, it was appalling value for money. One of us had the green salad and it was mostly kale -- I'd still be chewing had I tried to finish it. It was also quite chilly and they refused to raise the temperature above 20C.

I went for dinner for our first time in Ottawa, and the service was very good. The beer was delicious. We ordered a starter of breaded calamari, which was quite average and a bit greasy for my taste--I think they didn't drain them properly because you could taste the oil. Then we had some shrimp, which were very good (they were raw and plain). However, my husband ordered a steak, and the portion was very disappointing. It cost around $49, and there were fewer than four bites. I find it overpriced. I visited the restaurant for the first time, but I definitely wouldn't return.

First time visiting Whalesbone on Elgin St in Ottawa. We ordered the hot seafood platte. It has steam white wine mussels, Argentinian shrimp, bacon wrap scallop, fish cake, and one lobster roll! The food quality is not bad, but the sauce is a bit too salty! I wonder if I will drink lots of water tonight. Overall it is recommended everyone to try the platter.

Popped in for a drink, and was greeted by the friendliest bartenders- educated by the most passionate oyster guy- great atmosphere- all around excellent service and experience. This place stands out!

We were in Ottawa for one night before heading to Toronto. We decided on The Whalesbone (originally wanted to go to their Bank Street location but temporarily closed) to try some of their seafood. Food and service was good! We were seated right away at their bar tables. Removed a star because we found a medal or coal wire (probably from a scrubbing brush) in our calamari. Good thing we spotted it before eating it in our food. We ordered: Lobster bucatini Chinook salmon Flash fried calamari

Delicious and fresh seafood, phenomenal service, but the price is not cheap. Happy hour is a great value, but hesitant to come here otherwise. The raw seafood platter was great, but you get double the quantity of seafood from Pelican... highlight of the meal were the oysters and the various housemade sauces provided.

We ventured over to Ottawa to try one of their staple seafood spots @thewhalesboneonelgin. With a fun, laid back atmosphere we weren't disappointed!! They have great selections of seafood and meats. We ordered a mix of classics and new dishes. Highlights include, the scallop aguachile which was bursting with citrus flavours and the Waygu burger that was cooked to perfection. The service is quick and very attentive which complimented our experience. We can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu!

Our experience at the Whalesbone was top notch! 10/10++ Sat at the bar and all servers/bar staff were very friendly and attentive! Food was incredible- raw oysters were fresh and the sauces were fantastic! We also had the best calamari we've ever had here!!! Steak and seafood done to perfection!! Would recommend a 100 times over- you will not be disappointed!

Fruity! This Rib Eye is truly delicious! The strong flavor of ripe, meat is very full and juicy, no fat, only full of flavor. 14oz are not enough to eat wow Another piece of ripe sirloin, probably cut thinner 8oz, so medium rare is not raw enough, I feel that the aroma of the slightly worse, but the overall is still very good. I ordered a dozen oysters as an appetizer three different kinds, with various sauces (although I still love the traditional vinaigrette with fresh horseradish) and other stores are slightly different is that there is also a small bottle of wisky in the sauce, after eating the oysters, and then pouring a little bit of whisky into the empty shells, to kill bacteria Also ordered the hot seafood platter, a huge plate with lobster sandwiches, boiled mussels (boiled in a fusion style, with seaweed it was quite tasty), buttered prawns, crab cakes, and two skewers of scalloped bacon. Except for the crab cakes, which were mediocre, the flavor and freshness was on-line! The cheesecake and chocolate mousse cake for dessert were a bit of a calorie burst, but it was worth contributing the calories to the food. I didn't know what to eat when I used to visit Ottawa, but now I finally found a good restaurant with good food and great service! I'm so happy ! Make sure to book a table in advance! There are more seats in his bar, so if you're more active, you can chat with the bartenders, they love to socialize with the guests.

I was so excited to try Whalebone. The menu looks so good. When we got there the restaurant had a casual feel to it. The bread rolls was stale. The scallop Civiche was a bit tasteless with coconut milk. The lobster bucatini noodles not like your regular bucatini noodles but it wasn't bad. We also had oysters and it was tiny. Not sure if I would return for the price.

My favorite place to eat in the city by a LANDSLIDE. This spot is great for seafood, with $2 oyster specials on some days. The miso glazed cod was well flavored and was asian-inspired while remaining authentic (was surprised). The scallops and pork belly was a HUGE portion and really well flavored. The truffle fries that were $16 were the biggest plate of fries I have ever eaten and made it hard to eat anything else because they were so tasty. The drinks are +++ strong, so do not worry about having watered down drinks if you are with a guy who likes his drinks made like a double every time. The restaurant has a casual vibe that is more like a dive bar than expected with exceptional food. Great place for a special date night with a guy who doesn't like to be too dressed up or make a fuss about dinner dates.

Great restaurant, friendly and efficient service, wonderful food. Had the scallops & pork belly and oysters. Would highly recommend.

I haven't Yelped since March due to covid and lack of motivation but this one deserve a standing ovation! Came to Ottawa this weekend for a birthday giveaway and this restaurant was on so many must lists. We had the tuna tataki, wagyu burger, lobster bucatini and two desserts (cheesecake and chocolate mousse). I'll just come out and say that everything was a 10/10 (or 5/5 lol). The tuna tataki was so well balanced with the tuna, fresh herbs, cheese (not ever powering at all but balances well with its creaminess), grapefruit and hot chilis. Each bite is a party in your mouth no doubt. Then, the wagyu burger was just delicious. Nothing falling out or dripping out. It stayed in its form the entire time and tasted perfect. The meat patty was so well charred and seasoned, it did not need anything else. The cheddar and caramelized onions added the perfect touches of creamy and sweet. The truffle fries are a must. Very well executed. The lobster bucatini was such a pleasant surprise! I am hard to impress with pastas but this one was so well seasoned with perfect layers of flavor. The tomato sauce was smoky and savory with some added kale and peas. With that you have some HUGE pieces of buttery lobster and whole leaves of basil. I had more sauce and lobster than noodles so the price is very worth it. The chocolate mousse is a MUST!!! Perfect combo of mousse and crunchy bits. The mousse literally vanishes in your mouth and is not overly sweet. The crunchy bits are delicious, huge chunks of hazelnut goodness. It's like if Ferrero Rocher and Skor had a baby. Ugh divine. as for the cheesecake, it was delicious too of course. I love the fact that they had a layer of jellified raspberry coulis on top of the cheesecake. Perfect balance of flavors in every single bite. All in all an excellent birthday meal. I highly recommend this place. A must.

Fantastic service and amazing food! This restaurant was the most memorable during our trip to Ottawa. Highly recommend!

This place is busy! Just stopped in a for a drink. Everyone and everything seemed so rushed. The staff were on point though, but they kept offering us food, even giving us cutlery, but we just came for a drink. Would like to try the food when it's not so busy.

4.5 stars I find oyster specials usually end up being malnourished Malpeques that are improperly shucked (so that they don't actually come off the shell easily, resulting in awkwardness). But Whalesbone's $2/shuck Sunday special had a rather plump and juicy oyster that came off perfectly. It seems like a small detail, but seeing them care about the small things is what made us want to order more food. One of the unique 'sauces' offered here for oysters is whiskey. You can add a couple drops along with the mignonette sauce and it is a surprisingly good mix of brine, acid, and an undertone of that distinct sweet and woodsy whiskey aroma. Fried Calamari - Very tasty with a surprisingly tender texture (no rubberiness) Fish & Chips - the fries and coleslaw were excellent. It was two generous chunks of fish with a great tasting batter. I'm not complaining about it as it was good, it's more just wondering at what point there's diminishing returns for fish & chips and how good it can be. Miso Caramel Banana Tart - the umami from the miso and the sweetness of the caramel are bound together by the creaminess of perfectly ripe banana, and the flaky, buttery crust acts as a great vehicle for all the flavours. Service - these servers knew how to have a good time, could crack a joke, were super friendly and knew how to help us have fun with our dining experience. Definitely recommend going on Sundays. Will definitely be back to try some of their other items (like the mussels!)

This place is really good, we got the seafood plater and it was amazing. This is also coming from someone who doesn't like to eat too much raw fish dishes. Their mule cocktail was really good. I highly recommend this place.

Okay, but I've been to way better. First off, no West coast oysters at 5:30PM. I went here specifically for them, because East coast are everywhere. I am a Pescatarian and there was meat in pretty much everything. So I had some oysters and beer, and left to go somewhere else. It gets 3 stars because their oyster sauces were really good.

This was a planned outing as it was picked up by locals who frequent this spot. They chose this for an early Sunday dinner and made reservation ahead (recommended as they can get quite busy plus Sunday has 2$ oysters promo) The beer selection is a bit limited but they do have a few neutral offerings to be safe. Wine list was good from what I saw. We decided to with the oysters special and ordered a couple of dozens for starters. For the main I chose the lobster and shrimp roll and and dining companions (DC) ordered the salmon. The oysters were a pleasant mix from PEI that day and they come with a lot of condiments, including a whiskey! Despite being a scorching day (week during my visit) the oysters all tasted and smelled fresh from the sea so kudos for keeping a great supply line. The lobster and shrimp roll though off menu was OK. The emphasis being more on shrimp than lobster. Decent for a filler and is part of the platter from what I was told. DC enjoyed their salmon. This is a good place to enjoy oysters in Ottawa

The burger is so smoky you feel like your chewing in a piece of charcoal. It is a little bit dry though, maybe a little more rare would have made it perfect

Love this place for oysters! $1.50 shuck on Sundays from 3-10pm, such a great deal - only at Elgin location! Also loved the great assortment of sauces that come with the oysters. I liked their hot sauce the best, and it goes really well with the lemon and horseradish. Will have to come back next time to try out the full happy hour menu from 3-6pm.

Good was delicious. Service was good, not great. But the food was really good. Oh. And they have Blantons..

Had a great time dining on the heated back patio. Service is excellent! And the food was delicious. I recommend the mussels, lobster & shrimp roll, and wagyu burger - was enough to share between two people. Definitely worth the visit.

The oysters are fresh! Lobster bucatini is my favorite! The beef and the vegetables I don't like. Not value of the price.

Before any further restrictions due the never ending COVID, it was time for a nice meal, and to show our support to local restaurants. It was the first time since COVID hit than I was back to the Whalesbone. And I wasn't disappointed believe me! The first dish, which was steamed Green Gable mussels cooked with Thai inspiration, set the tone for the evening, and the bar. It was the winning dish as entree. The fried calamari, also on the menu, was less impressive. The following dishes were as spectacular as these extraordinary mussels. The scallops and pork belly with a mixture of delicious vegetables was an unusual dish but with the right combination of savours, without tasting too fatty. My friend's dish, a tuna poke bowl, was no less sublime. The dessert, a lemon tart with fresh berries, was less satisfying. If you want to finish your meal with a dessert, you may want choosing another one. The list of wines is a bit thin but it does have a good sample of wines sold by the glass. The service is fine, but not exceptional.

Came here for a late night bite after the hockey game. I have to say, it's one of the best seafood places I've been to in Ottawa! It's amazing! Their food is fresh and the oysters are bigger an meatier. You definitely get value for your dollar! The only reason I can't give it a 5 star is their clam chowder. You can't really taste the clams as there's barely 1 clam dipped in the soupe all alone lol. The potatoes in the soupe are hard and still have the skin on it. Whether it's a thing or not, I feel as if it was a little lazy on their part and could have made their signature dish taste better. The soupe was a real bummer no rich velvety & creamy texture like a real clam chowder. Moving on, the service was fantastic! They are really attentive and care about your requests. Everything was served in a well timely matter. They are real friendly and cater to all your requests. In addition, they are super patient as they don't kick you out at closing time. They close at midnight, however we were there till about 12:40-12:45 finishing our amazing meals! The roasted cauliflower and the tuna poké are a must to try!! Delicious and really great Overall great experience and will definitely be back.

I am SO sad they no longer have the stellar seared tuna Nicoise salad, but this time I was in it for the bone marrow. I came here with some coworkers after work and ordered a Caesar, which comes with a fresh oyster, as well as split a dozen fresh oysters. We had four different kinds, though I can't remember which. All I know is that one of the condiments is straight up whiskey. We all loved the oysters, though the star of the show for me was the roasted bone marrow. It was garnished with raw and pickled onions, mushrooms, coarse sea salt, and parsley, plus some toast to spead the bone marrow on. Afterward, I asked our server if they did bone marrow luges, and the answer was an exciting YES! When you're done eating all of the bone marrow, they come with a shot of whiskey, which is poured down the bone into your mouth. I know, I know. It sounds gross and weird but it is awesome. The leftover fatty deliciousness of the bone marrow mixes with the whiskey for a unique shot you've never had before. Give it a shot! ;)

Very excited to try this place. Everyone we asked during our visit recommended it...... in all honesty not super sure why.... Immediately the host and server had approximately 0 warmth or personality... which might not have been that much of an issue, had the rest of the experience made up for it. for the level of service received the menu is over priced, the restaurant could certainly benefit from training the exemplifies the caliber of service expected with this price range. We stopped in for a quick drink and some oysters which were great, the accompaniments were different and paired very nicely. It's a shame they took so long to reach the table..... considering the nature of the dish (raw). Overall probs would not return but not mad at the experience. (Also bathrooms were super poorly lit.... Borderline scary)

We're both huge seafood fans and had Whalesbone on our list for awhile now, so we figured we'd check it out after skating on the canal. This location was very busy on a Friday night (around 9 pm) - we were lucky enough to get two seats at the bar. I'd say it's really hard to have a conversation cause the music was so loud, but the ambiance was nice. You can see them shucking the oysters! Now on to a more important topic, the food. The food wasn't bad overall, but not sure if it was worth the money! The bread was the highlight. Only criticism, if you're serving it with butter please.. please have the butter at room temperature. I don't like spreading cold butter on my bread. We ordered: 1/2 lb of Poached Shrimp w/ Cocktail Sauce, Garlic Caper Mayo, Lemon ($21) - pretty tasty, loved the sauces! You really can't mess this dish up :S Octopus A La Plancha w/ Chorizo, Tomato Ragout, Fingerlings, Burnt Honey, Smoked Paprika ($30) - When this came to the table, I embarrassingly asked the waiter if it was octopus because it didn't look like it. As we cut into the octopus, we still weren't sure if it was the actual thing because the outside was stringy. I thought they wrapped it with some type of meat? We were just silent as we chewed a piece of it... still wondering if we were eating octopus. It was like a meat eraser? I wouldn't order this one, but I know how much time goes into preparing this dish... it was unfortunate. Roasted Bone Marrow w/ Sea Salt, Parsley, Pickles (Onions, Carrots), Toast ($16) I've definitely had better tasting bone marrow. This one was under seasoned and not roasted long enough for the marrow to flavourful. I think it may have been a tad undercooked. I couldn't spread it on my toast! The pickled vegetables were a good balance to the butteriness of the marrow. Overall I'd just come for the oysters and hope the food gets a little better!

I loved Whalebone. To be fair it was so cold out, that I probably would have been happy anywhere after the four block walk from the hotel. But . . . Whalebone was the perfect mixture for my taste of good food and drink, welcoming staff, and a cozy venue on a cold freaking night. My friend and I ordered local craft beers whose names I can no longer recall. For the appetizer we had 'sweet-stem' cauliflower aka 'caulini,' which was terrific. The mains were barley risotto and black cod. Both were great. Here's another reason that may have won me over: the crowd was mainly but not exclusively people in their 40s. (The cute couple at the next table who were busy falling in love were in theIr 20s.) I guess that says more about me than Whalebone, but it sure made for a lovely ambience.

It is just ok. At this price point I had higher expectations. Whoever recommended the place on Eater should go back and pay $100 per person to eat at Chipotle tables and chairs. I was annoyed that kitchen could not accommodate with adding grilled onions to a $30 burger. Seriously?! Just lazy, I am sure they have onions...

Be ware - terribly rude service! ! I have booked a table for my son's birthday. Called two times to get a table, got a confirmation the second time...a person from the restaurant called confirming the reservation. When we got there (on time) we were greeted by a host who was rude, saying that they are fully booked and we don't have a reservation. Even though I showed him a call history with their phone number calling my number. No apology, not even slightest regret shown. They just left us standing on a street trying to figure out where to go for the birthday dinner. Ruined our evening! I would never come back!

Read up on what's good to eat in Ottawa and whalesbone was on the list! Made it out there to try their oysters mainly and I am so happy I did because they were delicious haha I'm skipping ahead here let me tell you about the restaurant first - it was a pretty big restaurant and it was pretty easy to make a reso here. It had a maritime vibe to the place which reminded me of Halifax. There were pictures of fish on the walls and there was cozy lighting and music. Every table gets a bunch of bread and butter which was great to start with. I also tried two of the oysters from PEI (chefs choice for the night) and it comes with a huge variety of sauces including mango chili pepper which was my fav! The oyster was super fresh and I would highly recommend it. For main I had the blackened cod and a half side of roasted vegetables. It was quite pricy at $35 for the main plus half side. However, the fish was so fresh that it melted in my mouth and I actually really enjoyed the vegetables too! The kale was my fav amongst all the vegetables and it provided a bit of crunch to the cod! Would highly recommend this spot - super great food and service too!

Lots of servers. Manager visits each table. Cute waitress to serve and senior waitress to check on you. Great oyster special. Interesting menu. Lots of space. Patio could use a renovation.

Service was great, they helped accomodate us coming in close to closing. We actually came 2x on our trip.

Very enjoyable.. Ask for the specials, you can't go wrong. If the oysters look good, get them. You can't beat oysters in the NE.

I had a craving for fresh oysters, and this is the best place in Ottawa for high-quality ones, aside from Supply and Demand for their Sunday oyster special! ;) I got some sea angel oysters (the only west coast ones they had that day) and they were absolutely on point! Fresh, sweet, slightly salty, and tender. Delicious! I also tried: - The salmon sashimi: quite light tasting but presented beautifully! I found the portion quite small for the price. - Bone marrow: this went really well with the toasted garlic bread that came with it, although other review photos looked like there were 2 pieces, and there was only 1, so I was disappointed. But it was hearty, and quite light tasting too; there could be stronger seasonings! I sat at the bar (I like to watch the oysters being shucked), and it was a lovely experience! I probably stayed for a couple of hours just chatting. The environment is dim and cozy, and it's always super busy. Perfect for a date as there is stuff to watch (oyster shucking), and others can't hear your conversation! Their music choices are spot on as well!

I'll get right to the point: the seafood here is unbelievable. We had oysters brought from four different areas, octopus, and shrimp. Everything was absolutely amazing. The appetizers and wine were top notch as well. They age their steak on site (you can see it aging downstairs), but I was underwhelmed by the steak itself. Stick to seafood and you will have a great dining experience.

This past Saturday evening, our party enjoyed Ottawa's finest seafood and Oysters at the Whalesbone's Elgin street location. A well-regarded institution for lovers of all things fresh and saltwater, the Whalesbone has met with resounding success amongst Ottawa diners, and offers a few locations with similar menus. Come to the Whalesbone with a willingness to be innovative and an extra notch on your belt. The Elgin street location is spacious and enjoys a comfortable ambiance. Paneled in dark wood, the Whalesbone does indeed feature a 20-foot long whale painted on the main lounge wall. The whale looks angry - probably because he knows the Krill he's eating isn't as good as the menu items. We started with a dozen Oysters and several in-house sauces. A bit of the ocean in each one - fresh and well presented. We then proceeded to fresh mussels in broth, fiddleheads with asparagus, steelhead trout, cracked lobster, garden salads, fried cauliflower, and poached shrimp. Each dish was cooked with attention to detail; and nothing was overcooked - a common failing in many cle that will of the Capital's seafood restaurants. I would highly recommend the 'cracked' lobster, mussels, and trout dishes. The mussels and lobster exemplify the Whalesbone's mastery of sauces. Our biggest challenge was moderating our bread intake - their home made sourdough loaf is a perfect sauce delivery vehicle! Two of our diners were not huge seafood fans, and walked away as converts. Well done, Whalesbone!

The place is very casual and nice for a good evening dinner. They do have fresh oyster and a good selection. Taste is fresh. We also had the lobster and it was also very good. Price is up there a bit but if you want to fork out for a bit, this is the place to get it. I went to the bar for dinner because it had a shorter wait time. Overall, pretty good dinner.

So let me start off by saying, I am an AVID fan of The Whalesbone on Bank. My partner and I go there regularly for special occasions, I mean... Oysters and Churros, how can you go wrong! So it pains me to say that I'm pretty bummed by the food experience I had at the new one on Elgin recently. As atmospheres go I have to say I loved the new location. It was bustling, energetic, the staff were very helpful and the décor was detailed, low-key and inviting-down to the paved oyster shells you walk on as you enter. We made a reservation and went there for dinner to celebrate my partner's birthday. As usual, the oysters were top shelf. All the amazing and tasty condiments we know and love. So fresh, so delicious. I was so relieved, even over joyed, to find out that my favourite dish at the other location is now so much easier to get at this new huge venue with lots of reservation space. For our mains my three guests and I decided to order a mix of things and share to get a real feel for the food and what the new menu had to offer. We ordered the Ceasar Salad, the Beef Carpaccio and the Shrimp. The Ceasar salad was a very promising start -it lived up to the Whalesbone expectation. The dressing was subtle and delicious. It was topped with an abundance of delicious sour dough croutons (that I think are fried chunk of the amazing bread you get to eat before your meal), parmesan cheese and bacon chunks -I mean CHUNKS! After finishing that my guests and I were primed for some fresh, sweet and salty shrimps that were a beautiful color and packed with flavour. Unfortunately this dish fell short. What came out instead was cold, lightly pink shrimp closely resembling that which comes with every shrimp cocktail ring at extended family barbecues, and various other less than wonderfully catered family gatherings. I have to say that at $21/ serving this really put a damper on the rest of the evening. The rest of the meal really was pretty good. The Carpaccio was perfectly sliced, tender and delicious. I was let down to find out Churro's aren't served at this location, but the warm cookie with delicious vanilla ice cream, and dulce de leche did the trick at satisfying my sweet tooth. Overall the experience at the new location was good. I think that if we didn't have such high expectations of the shrimp created by our seafood experiences at both Elmdale and the Whalesbone on Bank, then I would have been extremely happy with the meal. Even though it was a let-down I'm not giving up on this location. The lunch still looks bomb and the fish that we saw being delivered to other tables looked so tender and flavourful. I'll be trying again soon I'm sure.