Reviews of Riviera Ottawa (Restaurant)

Barbara Havrot

I was told that the Riviera makes the best burger in town. Was it expensive? Yes. Was it worth it? Definitely! The “grapefruits of wrath” cocktail was also a wonderful drink.

Koke

From the person that welcomes you to the restaurant, to the waiters, to the chefs, to the bar staff - absolutely wonderful people with the perfect balance of formal and informal conversation! The food is other worldly - absolutely incredible and inspired! We especially loved the raw foods (beef tartar, tuna tartar) and the burrata was amazing as well as the lobster pasta (albeit a very small portion) and the desserts lovely but missing a chocolate option. For me personally, by far the best part were the negronis - an amazing range and the negroni Master was so friendly and welcoming and even made a specific Serrano chilli infused one just for my birthday! I cannot recommend Riviera highly enough - especially for a special occasion! Having been to so many Michelin star restaurants all over Europe, this is up there with the best of them, mainly due to the service! Thank you for looking after us and making my birthday special! (One tiny item to note, the lights above the bar and chef's pass need a bit of a clean ;-) )

K BUI

Great atmosphere with very friendly staff. My husband and I had reservations for 8:30pm and we had arrived 30 minutes early; expecting to have to wait, but they were happy to accommodate and seated us immediately even with how busy they were (as always there). I think the prices are fair according to portion and quality of their dishes. Why I didn't rate it 5 stars is because the chowder came out lukewarm, the lobster lasagnetti pasta was under cooked and very salty this time; which was a little disappointing. I've had these dishes here before and have never been disappointed in the past. Overall, I will return and hopefully next time it will be just as good or even better.

Jordan Sinclair

The outdoor setup feels quite upscale. Great service and food per usual. I had the lobster spaghetti and my friend had the cod, both went really well with the Chenin Blanc in the photo.

Lucky Kard

Absolutely fantastic service! A repeat customer but went for a special occasion and was not disappointed, knowing it was a celebration the service was above and beyond! Everything on the menu is delicious but the tuna crudo is a favourite of mine as is the lobster pasta. Knowledgeable staff and always very attentive. Will definitely keep coming back! Cheers!

Jean-Samuel Gauthier-Boudrias

We ordered the half sea food tower and it was amazing. Everything was perfectly cooked. The staff was really great. A perfect date night!

Anneke Cundasawmy

Exquisitely unique atmosphere, Attentive staff genuinely wanting you to have a truly superb dining experience, Phenomenal dishes prepared to perfection and artistically presented in true fine dining style. Need I say more? A must: mushrooms on toast; tuna tartare; steak and frites; Fogo island cod Will definitely be returning.

Alesia Kaz

This is one of the best places for cocktails in Ottawa. They have an extensive menu of drinks, excellent service and super nice atmosphere. I keep going back and enjoy seeing and ordering something new each time.

Clarence Chung

A few stories high soaring ceilings and well spaced out tables, classy n elegant deco, mood lighting, fabulous food, friendly and attentive staff and nice cooktails. We had 4 people and we were all leaving very happy.

Jennica Fudge

Absolutely fabulous restaurant. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and staff are all spectacular. The Mushroom Toast is an absolute must-try. We'd visited before covid and loved it, and recently visited since indoor dining re-opened, and I think the way they incorporated Covid safety into their service has been flawless. We felt safe and well-spaced, all the staff were really kind and mindful while offering top-tier service. Cannot recommend Riviera enough!

Erick L

Delicious food! Can get busy at times, loved the fish dish and great cocktails

Daniel Campbell

What a splendid place. Service was phenomenal, dinner delicious, and aesthetic incredibly appeasing. Go here if you can - reservations are tight for weekends

Dhruv Laroia

A must visit in Ottawa. My wife and I had one evening in Ottawa and found this gem on Sparks Street on a rainy night. Were fortunate enough to find a table outdoors walking in. (reservation is highly recommended btw, tables were soon full). And we enjoyed ever minute. The service was impeccable and the host was great. Everything we ate was superb! We had the lobster spaghetti and mushrooms and toast. Towards the later part of our meal, we were shifted to a table inside and that enhanced our experience (if that was even possible). The interiors are beautiful and the atmosphere indoors was really lively! Riviera was the highlight of our short Ottawa stopover.

Jordan Harding

loved everything. can't wait to go back.

Judy-Lynn Philogene

Though this place is luxe I dont find my order to be filling at all for the price. The food tastes great and the servers are respectful. They should have more options for the dessert, all 3 didnt seem all too pleasing to me and having 1 or 2 more options to choose from would have been great. I want to say the dishes dont seem accommodating to dairy free people. Maybe the chef can whip something up but I'm not sure if it will be as good to the palette or worth the price as it's dairy counter part. Overall, nice place to bring someone. Be warned its pricey. I say 100 for a full meal per person.

Qiot Riot

Second review. Flavours are still mostly balanced but some dishes were just a bit too salty this time around. Not over-powering but just a little too much. We shared a number of starters between four people. The tuna tartare did not impress, was rather bland. The 6 oysters were excellent, I would recommend the PEI oysters over the New Brunswich oysters, meatier, sweeter and excellent with the various sauces. The seafood chowder was thinner than expected but the flavour of the tarragon came through. The crab legs on toast was meaty but also lacked depth of flavour. The sea urchin pasta was different but the duck ham was the star of the meal. Service was as always stupendous. "Balanced", in one word describes Riviera. All flavours shine through, not one masks the others. High ceilings allow for easy conversation. Service was impeccable. Thanks Kate. Pictures do not do justice. Portion size was perfect. Highly recommended.

Ana Lissansky

I’ve tried so many dishes here, never dissappoints. Excellent venue with high ceilings and friendly staff. I always recommend this place to people visiting from out of town.

tai chang

I would say the food here is 4 * and service 2 * because our server Derek was not as attentive to my particular table than I would expect in this calibre of restaurant (although he seemed to be with other tables - perhaps my lack of dressy attire). I found the other servers provided better service to us, so thank you to them. Pasta cooked to perfection and so was the lobster. All dishes had beautiful flavour. My medium-rare steak was a little tough for my liking, but others enjoyed it.

Charles Brewer

Everything we ate was so tasty! The service was amazing ... the only thing is you can probably skip coat check because apparently they charge you.

Michael Guan

The service was great, the food is awesome, creative and yet harmonious. The Spot Prawns were awesome!!! The colors of the dishes are pretty cool. If there was one thing that I had to point out, was the seasoning was on the sweeter side, which I got a little tired of after having the whole course of meal. I think the ambient was good, loved the lights hanging from the ceiling, the kitchen gave the whole restaurant a modern look! But we found the tables were a bit small. I’d definitely go back for the spot prawns and the beef tartar, they’d make a great company with some drinks from the bar ;)

Q P

Had an amazing time on a Friday night. We were stopping by Ottawa for the weekend but didn't make a reservation, but we arrived at around 5:30 and got seated at the chef's pass. Best seat in the house!! Mark was amazing, he's super attentive but still gave us so much space! Everything was delicious and it was so fun watching everything being prepared. Everything ran like clockwork. Would definitely recommend this place and go back next time we are in town!

Elizabeth Farafonov

My number one choice for some time now for "special celebration meals" - cannot wait to return! Have been dreaming of your menu.

Shiv Ruparell

Amazing cocktails and innovative food. It’s fun to sit at the bar and watch the sous-chefs prep the food too.

Angel CKY

Classy. Romantic. Delicious! The next time you’re looking for a spot to have a romantic dinner, enjoy R&B music, high ceilings, comfortable seating, and delicious food… Riviera is a must-visit! As soon as I stepped in, I fell in love with the ambience. Service was prompt, courteous, and we were well looked after during our dining visit. I would definitely recommend this place & will absolutely come back again very soon for another date night!

Immanuel Lanzaderas

Amazing ambiance! Ottawa has been waiting for a restaurant of this quality for a long time! Very classy but casual at the same time! Great cocktail list!

Suyeon Lee

Great food, wonderful experience, a bit noisy Lobster pasta was fantastique Real jem in Ottawa

Marco Marone

Whoever said Ottawa isn’t worth while as never visited Riviera. From the décor to the desserts, Riviera will make your taste buds Insta famous. The Burger & Fries is a must; and don’t get it twister the pasta is fire as well. In addition, the service is immaculate, the waitresses truly made it a memorable night. Thank you Riviera for making Ottawa great again.

Amanda Edwards

Beautiful ambiance and amazing cocktails and food. Had the lobster spaghetti and burrata, both bursting with flavour. Their Purple Rain cocktail was one of the best I’ve ever tried. Saw the GM on the floor the whole time we were there, helping out; very classy. Will definitely be back.

Andy Ng

A very memorable weekday lunch experience! Set in a former bank building (look out for the vault located in the back), the double height ceiling space coupled with the Art Deco aesthetics evokes a time from the past. The food is solid, though somewhat overseasoned in my opinion, and is surprisingly not expensive given the location and architectural flair. Interested to come back again to try out the dinner menu and experience the night ambiance.

Razan Dalloul

this place was so delicious!!! 10/10, everyone was so friendly and the food was worth every penny! i give this a chef’s kiss! if you have a chance to go, do it!! the cocktails, food, and dessert were amazing.

Alex B

Have visited a few times while in Ottawa for work and just went back the other night now that we’ve moved to the city. Fantastic food as always; with special mentions for the mushrooms on toast and the beef tartare! Had a wonderful waitress ( forget her name) who, after finding out we’d just moved to the city, came back with a hand written list of a dozen of her favourite restaurants in the NCR for us to try - thanks!

Miles Quick

This place is alright, I would definitely say it's a cocktail bar first and a restaurant second. I wanted to give 3 stars but Connor at the bar made me one of the best cocktails I've ever had so I adjusted accordingly. Would give 3.5 if I could, don't think it deserves 4.6 though (googles average). I ordered the Halibut which was good. However for the price I would've expected more out of the dish. It's probably a 6 to 8 oz cut with like three potatoes, couple flakes of brussel sprouts, a few peas, and a TON of sauce... Ended up getting more food down the street afterwards as I was still hungry I would come back, however I would only get cocktails and maybe an appetizer to share with a friend or SO. For a dinner experience, expect to buy multiple dishes and pay north of 200.

Taylor Veran

Best dining experience I have had in a while in ottawa since mati! I will def be here again!! Everything from the raw menu to the dessert was 10/10 and everything was such great balance in taste ! Everything was so good I already want more ! The server was also fantastic very friendly and answered all my questions :) can’t wait to dine here again !!! It’ll be in my dreams

Jim M

Business travel on Valentine's Day resulted in 6 guys with our wives & girlfriends in other locales. It was apparent all the couples & groups around us were enjoying their Valentine dinner. As did we. Upon entry, to departure, and all points in between, service was attentive, timely, and always with a smile....on a very busy night. Food was deliciously prepared as ordered across the board. What a great place to enjoy a nice dinner in the city.

Danielle Amiel

Truly a delectable treat. Travelling solo, and came across this place as the #1 restaurant near my hotel. Luckily they had room for 1 at the chef’s bar - highly recommended experience. If you’re more than one, however, likely best to make reservations. Watching chefs and mixologists do their magic is always a favorite for me - and the crew at Riviera we’re impeccable and incredibly satisfying to watch. Each dish was carefully and skillfully created, and the anticipation of watching my own dishes being created was palpable. Fresh PEI and NB oysters to start, with a robust mignonette, and a Femme Fatale negroni; followed by mushrooms on toast - a true delight - paired with the Corp rosé; and finally the lamb shank with a glass of Douro valley red. The ambience was exactly right for a Friday evening dinner slot, and the aesthetic of an old bank building (complete with bankers’ lamps and manager’s office) was an elegant juxtaposition to the fires of the kitchen. **Special commendation for excellent service**

Aaron Oxley

Meal type

Vics Mom

Amazing flavours, service and atmosphere! Well worth the 30-40 minute wait for bar seating on a Saturday evening.

Natalia Kurtycz

Great outdoor dining, great food and lovely service..one of our Ottawa favorites (but book well ahead)

Rylan Hempell

A nice atmosphere with very high ceilings from what used to be a bank I believe. The food and service was excellent. Recommended!

Michelle Lee

A great experience at this gorgeous former bank. The cocktail menu was inventive and varied. The food was incredible, with a special mention to the Tuna crudo, the pressed Lamb shoulder and the Chocolate nemesis - such depths of flavourful!the service was impeccable. I removed one star as I was not impressed by the underwhelming Tagliatelle with braised hen, very plain and average in my opinion.

carlos

Love this place! An old bank converted into one of the coolest restaurants in town. The food and cocktails are outrageously good!

santiago villegas

Had a wonderful xmas dinner with my govt colleagues last Wednesday - huge thanks to General Manager Can for making it such special evening. I had requested a nice table to impress my Director General and Can surprised us with the semi-private room at the entrance to restaurant! It was a wonderful gesture of customer service, especially b/c my boss was running late, Can was able to secure our table for the entire night so we wouldn't have to rush through the 2 hour service. Lobster spaghetti and the persimmon burrata were delicious, as were the negroni cocktails! Beautiful space, and excellent service as always - I dropped a napkin and immediately a new one was brought on a silve tray. Covid 19 protocols were in place, we felt very safe. Looking forward to returning in the new year! Thank you again Can!

Chris Coveny

Came recommended by a local. High ceilings, great food and friendly attentive service (not to mention amazing drinks) made this a place I'd like to revisit when I'm back in Ottawa.

Meghana Suchak

Stumbled upon this gem as we weren’t able to get a table at any other place. The service was amazing. The drinks were superb! I was pleasantly surprised they had vegetarian options. Overall we really got lucky! Would definitely try it again for special occasions. ♥️

Pascal Routhier

Service

Stephanie Power

Ottawa's most spectacular restaurant. Love their selection of negronis. Best place to have Mediterranean food in the city.

Morgan Berson

Riviera is fun and trendy! A great place to meet for after work drinks or a date! The food is divine.

Nicolette Cheng

I ordered the striploin steak frites with bordelaise sauce, and my bf ordered the Fogo Island cod with dill sauce. Personally I liked his dish more because the cod was just so thick and the quality tasted very fresh as well. The steak frites were good too but considering the price point, I felt the quality of the steak could be better in terms of tenderness, meat flavour and it was a bit overcooked for my preference (ordered medium rare, got medium instead). Nonetheless, the frites were really great, I think it's likely fried in animal fat and that combined with fried sage, the flavours worked together to make the frites really aromatic! The bordelaise sauce was delicious as well, I ended up just soaking my frites in it instead of the sauce provided sometimes

Edward Lee

Came here for lunch and it was quite nice, the food was delicious, however I knocked off a star for the price points. $14 for Classic French Onion Soup or $20 for a hamburger and fries during lunch time is pricing you'd expect for a dinner service and not lunch.

Lana H

Atmosphere, food and service are one of the best in Ottawa. On the expensive side, however and bar could be better at this price point (was lacking basic ingredients for old-fashioned)

Karl Azrak

I had really high expectations and was very excited to visit Riviera. Decided to finally come with my girlfriend, and we were initially very impressed with the setting for the restaurant, and I liked the bar that filled up the majority of the space in the restaurant. The high ceiling was also very nice, although we both agreed that some more paintings, or some higher placed objects would be nice to fill up the space. Nonetheless, the energy and almost New York vibe that we felt in Riviera was nice. We opted to split a beef tartare as an appetizer, as well as two cocktails. Both drinks were well made, and our server was great throughout the night. The tartare was a standout, with fresh tasting beef that was well cut, and topped generously with parmesan. The mouthfuls were umami heavy, and paired well with accompanying fried potato chips. For our mains, we got the lobster spaghetti and a sort of duck in game meat sausage that was strongly recommended. Upon arrival, the spaghetti dish looked great, the duck sausage not so great. This was true for the taste as well. The spaghetti was velvety and equal parts creamy, with rich chunks of lobster that provided delicious mouthfuls. On the other hand, the duck sausage of sorts was tough, and overcooked and felt like an outright weird combination. After being asked our thoughts by our server and sharing our dislike, it was excluded off our final bill. Overall, Riviera definitely satisfies when looking for a high end dinner in Ottawa. The setting, and the quality of the tartare and spaghetti was very high, but we were very let down by the duck sausage and ultimately I could not justify giving the restaurant 5 stars.

Irina Zharova

We celebrated our small wedding in this restaurant. Our experience was excellent from the beginning to the end. The staff was incredibly professional and courteous, they offered us various perks for our occasion. The service was stellar, and the food delicious. I couldn't have wished for anything better! 5+ for the restaurant and its staff!

Benny Chen

Decided last minute to book a reservation in a beautiful Sunday night. The decor was really cool since the establishment used to be a bank. My girlfriend and I had a drink each followed by a main. Our mains were the duck breast and the steak and frites. Both were spectacular and tasted amazing. Our server was very attentive but not in an intrusive kind of way. Overall, out date was very pleasant and left with a great impression of this fine establishmebt.!

premo nition

Went here for dinner. The place was elegant and the dinner service was exceptional with amazing food. We ordered the steak, chicken and some seafood. One of the best tasting steaks in Ottawa. Definitely recommend this place for your special night!

李通达

Food was delicious as expected, and they added creative touches which made this a great culinary experience. Bar tender is exceptional, they have a drink for every person's preference and are creative and delicious! This restaurant is not cheap, but if you are looking to treat yourself it will not disappoint you! Favourite dish: the scallop risotto (I don't usually even like scallops but this had me wanting to order more!) Serving Sizes: perfect! not big enough to make you over-eat, but large enough to feel satisfied and to leave space for an appetizer and/or desert

Rayson Ho

Always enjoyable experience at Riviera. Awesome food, servers are always educated in drinks pairing. Great idea for white wine with the scallops chowder. After lamb shank, we finished the night with a great white porter.

Jaron Andre

Great food and service. The atmosphere is also fantastic. Enjoyed several starters come cocktails and short ribs that were delicious ????. Cannot wait to return.

Jon-Anthony Lui

Had a great time. One of the best dine-in experiences. Sit at the counter and watch the professionals in action. Brought our own wine and the server provided recommendations to pair with our food. She was attentive and anticipated our next move. Classic example of excellent service. The food was top notch. Everything we ordered was amazing. The chef/owner was hospitable and friendly. We are coming back to Ottawa just to eat here again.

Paul Bastow

Dinner

Kimia Moshiri

Such a great atmosphere. Definitely a five star restaurant but they didn’t have a lot of food variety. The service was great. We visited during COVID and they were following all the protocols. It was the first restaurant that I saw they were using new gloves for each table. The restaurant was formerly a bank which made it very unique. Keep up the good work!

Kurt Reed

Very good experience! Love the simplistic decor and the selection of food we had was top notch. Great service from the entire staff. As for people commenting about the price, it's about time ottawa had some good establishments. I'll gladly pay a little more for atmosphere, service, and good food!

Kazzy Khazaal

Best restaurant in Ottawa. Pricey but portions are actually generous unlike those other annoying "high class" places that serve you bite size portions. Incredible vibe, feels like you're in Europe. Service is impeccable. This will be your favorite restaurant in Ottawa without a doubt. Skip the lobster spaghetti, not the greatest. But everything else is insanely delicious. Sit at the bar!!

michiiimich

The food was good. Especially loved the beef tongue (so tender) in maple syrup and lobster spaghetti (perfectly al dente and the lobster tastes really fresh). Classics like burrata and tomatoes as well as the tuna crudo with puffed quinoa were good. Their drinks were very good, the old fashioned and femme fatale negroni was on a other level. It's a shame they use a lot premixes though, I would have appreciate seeing the crafting of my high-end cocktails instead of the pouring of a premix bottle into a glass and stirring (was sitting at the bar). Unfortunately too, I was given my invoice as soon as I said no to dessert and my wife and I didn't even finish our second drinks (there wasn't any line up, it was 10 minutes before their closing time). The staff is super courteous but it ended on a weird note because of that (it was our first year anniversary but it was still a good night). I still recommend this restaurant if you pass by Ottawa centre town.

William Dietz

Bar seating was full when we got in so the lovely staff seated us at a table to wait. We started with cocktails from their signature negroni menu and a couple light bites to start. Once we finished, bar seating right in front of the kitchen opened up (our favorite spot in any restaurant). We chose a few options we saw coming out of the kitchen and had them paced out with a wine pairing per dish. The prices may seem high at first but when we saw the portions, it made sense. This is not your typical high-end, overpriced tapas menu. We shared several dishes and the waitress really took note of our preferences when it came to the pairings, bringing out several wonderful Canadian wines. The quality of the food and preparation was all spot on. The menu was not quite so daring or inventive but had something to satisfy every palate. We couldn't have enjoyed ourselves more. Shout out to the 'wine wives' for making us feel so at home! The little gift of macaroons at the end of the meal was such a nice surprise! Highly recommended!

Brittany Provost

My work hosted our annual holiday party Riviera. I was blown away by the staff's efficiency and organization. They truly went above & beyond to ensure we were satisfied with our experience. The portions were smaller than what I had anticipated, but the quality of the food was fantastic - worth it in the end. The drinks were perfect. The historic building was stunning and the perfect backdrop for our 1920s inspired party. Looking forward to going back as a treat. :)

Reachill Franche

Delicious food, great location and accommodating staff! Was very satisfied with the services???? it was Stephanie and Ruth assisted as today and provided very good service????

Amanda Long

Great hand crafted, flavorful cocktails. A bit of a higher price point and some drinks were quite small, however, some unique and interesting concoctions we all thoroughly enjoyed. They have some nice late night eats as well. Friendly service also!!

Christina Tsuei

Amazing food, and service! Love the atmosphere!

Thanh Ha

This place is spendy but worth it. Food was good and our server was very attentive. The atmosphere was nice and the open kitchen is fun to watch.

Richard Kiefl

Great food, fabulous staff. My only problem was the noises within the restaurant.

Andrew Phenix

Excellent service and great dishes. One of the best in Ottawa. Wonderful for that fancy evening out with your significant other, or just a casual dinner.

Mathieu Provost

Cozy, warm safe patio. Respecting all COVID regulations. Great food and drinks with friendly service! Thanks!!

Federica Cecchini

We had an awesome time at Riviera Ottawa. The wait staff were very attentive and accommodating. The food was very nice and well presented. During this time of Covid-19 social distancing, the tables were spaced well apart and on the patio, there were propane heaters.

Paul Ambrose Lythgo

This was the only nice dinner I had out in Ottawa and it didn’t disappoint. The host was extremely attentive to my travel itinerary, and the food was great. I was hoping to have the elk bolognese, which was on the online version of their menu, but it wasn’t on the current menu so I had the spinach ravioli instead, which was phenomenal! The Martinez cocktail was a great riff on a Manhattan. The Purple Rain cocktail was a bit bland for my tastes, but pretty.

corazane hang

I went there with my girlfriends during COVID. The staff were very careful and it felt very safe. The wait staff were so friendly and knowledgeable. I started with the mushroom toast which was heavenly. It was served on a thick piece of toasted brioche and smothered with their porcini and truffle sauce. There were so many mushrooms and the egg was perfectly cooked. The cavatelli was good - a bit chewy and the sauce was nice but not overwhelmingly delicious. I would try a different main next time. We shared the s'mores pie at the end which was outstanding - beautiful cinnamon crust, served with a chilled/frozen chocolate mouse and burnt marshmallows with fudge sauce. It was YUMMY! Will definitely be returning.

Mei Ling Chen

Came here on recommendations from friends and I was not disappointed. The service was excellent and the staff had very good suggestions on what to try. I ordered the duck as the main and it was delicious. The grilled octopus was good too.

Candace Battig

I had a fabulous time here. We celebrated a friends engagement here and reserved the semi private dining room. It was spectacular. The perfect place to celebrate a special occasion!

Michael Hurley

Decided to try and have only a drink here. Waiter was amazing at recommending a drink which I actually didn't like. He very graciously took it back and gave me another option which was amazing. Fantastic service. Up Cork.

Jason Gobeo

Absolutely delicious food! We tried the mushrooms on toast, tagliatelle and duck. All dishes were beautifully seasoned and presented beautifully! The cocktails were creatively curated and tasty. We were slightly disappointed with the service. While Our server was pleasant, we felt she was distracted and busy though the restaurant didn’t seem busy.

NM

Outstanding service, amazing drinks, fantastic food, and great covid protocols put in place. Felt safe and had the best dinner ever. Highly highly recommend!!!

Alona Bazlova

It was our second time at Riviera for dinner and we enjoyed our experience. The service is always very attentive and pleasant. We shared the mozzarella di buffalo appetizer, which was outstanding and I would highly recommend it. The tuna crudo as well as the palenta were very delicious. I find that the appetizers are better than the mains. We had steak, lobster ravioli, and lamb. The lamb was a little dry and didn’t match the price point. The drink menu is extensive, would love to sit by the bar and see the guys cook next time I visit.

Sebastian Saint

Riviera is a fantastic restaurant. I love the look of the restaurant and all of the decor, and I really like the shirts that the servers wear. All of the food at had was delicious, and we really enjoyed their cocktails as well. I will definitely be coming back next time I'm in Ottawa!

Samantha Bradshaw

Really nice food and atmosphere. There cocktail list is amazing too. I had the steak frites, but the seafood options looked really delicious too. Definitely worth the price tag!

Ixchel Medina Hernandez

Excellent! Everything was delicious. Even the Burger and fries took us by surprise, so good!

Shawn Villeneuve

Unique dishes. love the building and the setting of this place. we celebrate all of the occasions here

Andy L

I came to this restaurant for dinner recently. The high ceiling was nice and the atmosphere felt like it was a very nice place for a business meal. One of the staff also went out of his way and brought me a cup for an unfinished coffee that I brought in. In terms of food, I had the Striploin Steak Frites with Bordelaise sauce. The steak was a very nice cut of striploin with a good thickness. It was cooked to a nice medium rare and the crust was flavourful with a tint of char. The sauce complimented the food. The fries were skinny, crunchy, and fresh with a nice salty and sage/rosemary flavour. The fries were a bit surprising together as they were skinny enough that the middle wasn't too overwhelming after but not too oily either (Double fried, long stringy that tasted quite nice with the sauce).

leParigo

One of my favorite restaurant in Ottawa! We went there to celebrate our wedding anniversary and it was perfect. The place is so beautiful, in a former bank. The service is also great and the food... Just excellent! Thanks again for you great work! We will come back as soon as we can with more people!

Anton Sheberstov

Loved the experience and food. Decor is beautiful, with extremely high ceilings. Appetizers were superb! We asked portions to be shared and, to our surprise, each portion almost looked like a full dish. We were almost about to ask whether they brought individual dishes instead of splitting one. Seafood chowder was delicious , scallop crudo too, with quite a bit cavior on it. Loved the halibut and the sauce it was served in. Lamb was good too although my partner argued that it was too dry. Outstanding place overall. Highly recommend

fla1124

Great building and friendly staff. Old fashion, Tuna tartare and the seafood chowder were delicious. Was a bit disappointed with the cod dish, it tasted a bit bland and overcooked.. The steak frites were good but not amazing.

Cedric G

The lamb looked like everything thrown together and the sides not fully cooked. The tuna tartare was just ok from a taste perspective. Staff were friendly and ambiance on sparks is a nice touch. But, overall, the value proposition seemed weak.

Matthew Mckay

Riviera delivers time and again. Regardless of the occasion the team at Riviera deliver an exceptional dining experience. Money well spent!

Molly Anderson

Dearest Jordan (and team!), a hiaku as thanks for making our anniversary so memorable. She overshadows Culinary dining dreams When can we return?

Tiff C

Dine in

Jade Arthur

Had my birthday dinner here last night. The food was flavourful and elevated/delicious. The drink menu is extensive and our waitress was great at answering our questions. Will come again.

Joe Byford

Amazing resto. Make a reservation or you run the risk of not getting a table or bar seat. Great cocktails. Professional and knowledgeable staff.

Jenny Lu-Song

I was briefly passing through Ottawa for work and made it a point to stop at Riviera (#51 Canada's Top 100 Restaurants 2019!). The decor of the restaurant is beautiful and unique; I was a huge fan of the leather seats and curved bar. I ordered the beef tartare and glazed duck and both were delicious. The staff were lovely and the service was great.

Luca Buyson

As my dining companion (aka my girlfriend) and I patiently waited over a month to obtain our reservation the anticipation only got higher and higher. Walking into Riviera is not only a great atmosphere but an experience you don’t find too often in Ottawa. As we were seated you can see the team working hard to provide us with a great time. The purple rain cocktail tasted like candy and egg whites in the foam were the perfect touch to the drink. Wine was quite pleasant too. Buratta on focaccia was quite good though could use a little more seasoning. The beef tartare has been the best i’ve tried and the best dish of the night. Mushrooms on toast wasn’t my favourite as the flavours were quite monotone and the flavour of the mushroom were masked by sauce. Finally the ricotta gnudi with chanterelles was so delicate and delicious but the corn seems to be out of place… All in all a great experience worth the wait.

U. Y.

Super overpriced!!! The steak was worst I have ever had. My friends were not impressed with the crab pasta either (in taste and in portion size). The oysters were pretty good. The servers and sommelier were very sweet. The decor and high ceiling interior are stunning (it's a former bank). I had high hopes for this place, but was sadly let down. Fancy place, but the food did not match the expectation of the venue. Would give 1* but the gorgeous venue bumps it to a 2*.

Carol Bucking

Great cocktails! And I mean great. Their signature drinks are very thoughtfully created and delicious. The bar is very well appointed, with a healthy variety of liquors. The bar itself is chic and fun and is continuous with the open kitchen creating a great energy. Dinner was good, the beef tartare was the highlight of the whole meal. Something was a bit off with the entree, it was too rich and too sour (they tried to cut through the richness with lemon but it was just not right) and the dessert menu was a little thin with only two options. The service was a disappointment as it took over 20 minutes to get attention between the first and second courses. We were out of wine and probably would have ordered another bottle but it just didn't work out with the timing. It also took over 15 minutes for a coffee at the end. It may have been a one off night though as most of the staff were visiting a table with I assume other kitchen staff? They seemed to all know eachother.

Vanessa Dennies

Highly recommeded when in Ottawa!????great fodd, good wine list and excellent selection of spirits????

R T

Holy crap this place set a good first impression of Ottawa. Food was expertly down, staff knew their stuff and were super friendly. They event went the extra mile and hand wrote us a list of places to eat and check out.

Robin Dillabough

Super service, great food and beautiful setting. Celebrated my daughter's champagne birthday with complimentary champagne. Thanks for making the evening special.

Micheal Ostoforoff

The food was exceptional. The cocktails are outstanding! The head mixologist, Stephen Flood, is an absolute genius! You must go. If you can, sitting at the bar is a special treat. Resevations most definitely recommended. The Tuna Crudo appetizer, the Lobster Spaghetti, steak frites, damn! And, dill pickle chip encrusted halibut - chef, wow! The Negroni menu, amaro selection and wine list are extensive and filled with delightful offerings. Again, don't hesitate, you really need to be here.

Marks Dominick

Great place. Service, food, drinks all excellent. A 4 because of a couple small slip-ups in service right when we arrived. If I could, so would give 4.5 stars.

Rob Koraca

What a night!!! It’s was a great night of Great Eats. The food was. Idk. Words can’t say how good it was. It was damn good. So was our server. She did an incredible job. We where at the big table in the back. I had the Chicken Kiev and started with the Seafood Chowder. Yum. Yum. Yum. Everything was great. My son had the burger. He said it was the burger ever. I have to say that Riviera deserves a revisit. A special meal at a special place on a special day. Happy Easter.

Dave Dubue

A great takeout option during the pandemic!

Miranda Heredia

Food was amazing. Ordered tuna crudo and fog island cod. The atmosphere is great for a date night but not stuffy

Nish Gunasekera

Food was really good, although not exceptional for a high-end restaurant. Cocktails, service and indoor ambience were excellent though and definitely earn the 5 stars.

Mark Rossides

Great spot. White fish Caviar was fantastic; Steak & Frites ????????

Lori Pasian

As a restaurant owner I always like to see how other restaurants operate and every detail. This was the best service and food I have had in years. It’s amazing. Could not recommend it enough. Thank you Marco “Maître D “. Also Braeden for the great experience. Also big shout out to Steve the bartender. Hope I got that name right. Sorry for the delay guys. Got crazy when I got back to my place. Will be back soon

Sarah Moukahal

Sorry, but I was not impressed with this restaurant and here's why: 1) Not once during our meal did the server ask if we needed anything or if everything was ok. 2) Clearing away plates while others in the party are still eating is NOT acceptable - what is the big rush to clear the table? 3) Constantly being interrupted by the server filling the water glasses - best to leave bottles on the table. 4) Your food is not worth the prices - seriously! What constitutes a small piece of haddock on a bed of peas with 3 potatoes for $47 (which by the way I didn't even eat as it as not good at all). My companion had the lamb shank which was not great either. The fries with the steak were so salty they were inedible. The duck was good. Normally, I would expect the server to ask me if there was anything wrong with my meal (as it was obvious I did not touch it) but no - nothing. 5) Too loud in this place - if you are going for a quiet, relaxing meal - think again - very loud 6) Wooden chairs that are not comfortable at all Overall, in my humble opinion this was not worth the $170 bill. Appetizer, main and bottle of wine. Felt more cafeteria style that fine dining.

Claire L & Pierre L

We walked by on a Friday without a reservation, and we were fortunate to get a table on the patio. The food, presentation and service were all amazing. We had Burrata with tomatoes, and beef tartare, then we shared a main. Incredible flavors. Can't wait to come back and try other items on the menu.

Jenn Bounpraseuth

Service was very friendly and accomodating. The food was tasty, steak frites in particular was delicious. Great drink selection.

Adrian Sin

The fact that the restaurant is located in an old bank makes it pretty neat to walk into. The ceiling is very high and the small details like the bankers lamps makes a nice atmosphere. We had the seafood tower which was excellent. The lobster and crab legs came pre cut so all you had to do was eat the delicious morsels. The mushroom toast was very filling and had great flavours. The lamb shank was a bit on the drier side. Would definitely come back to dry more raw foods and pastas.

Fraser Stalkie

Riviera was strongly recommended by locals as the top restaurant in Ottawa... Not surprising based on our visit. We were 6 for dinner on a Sunday night and the place was packed. The house Negroni menu is very cool and worth a few visits to work through the whole thing. The venison tartar was excellent and the seeds added to the mix made for an interesting flavour not found at any other restaurant. The mushrooms on toast dish was unreal. The perfectly poached egg in a sea of mushrooms was devine. Between the six of us we ordered three of the three duck ham, two rabbit pappardelle and one lobster pasta (no partridge in a pear tree). Everyone was impressed by the plating, flavour and portion size of thier dishes. The pastas especially were enough food without being a mountain of starch. After dinner a few of us moved to the bar and worked through a few more cocktails. The bartenders were both very engaging which always makes it fun. The entire visit was great from beginning to end. Thanks very much to the whole team for making the last night of our vacation in Ottawa a special one!

Karoline Masse

Excelent service , drinks and food . I think the portion for the main course (pictures) were I little small specially the Lamb pasta.

Crystal Glover

While travelling to Ottawa on business we found ourselves stuck in covid lockdown #3. We really wanted a nice dinner on our last night and the takeout we ordered from Riviera did not disappoint! We ordered the dinner for two and everything was absolutely amazing -- one of the best takeout meals we have ever had. I really wish we could have eaten in for the full experience!

Simone Lai

Staff were friendly and attentive. Distances between tables. The space is really lovely, and it's an open kitchen kind of restaurant. Beef tartare was spectacular. Waiter gave us excellent wine recommendations. Cod was good. Lamb cavatelli was ok. Desserts were great, except my pavolva had an overcooked, very hard interior crust at the bottom. If you're afraid of heights, don't look at the prices on the menu...phew!

Lynn Glenn

Enjoyable meal. Beautiful building and nicely decorated. Music a bit loud but I did find myself singing along from time to time. Good food, nicely presented. Wait staff pleasant and fairly attentive.

Cornelius Browne

Amazing dining experience , the food was outstanding . Gillian was our server and she was brilliant, her recommendation on the wine was spot on. All of the staff work as well oiled machine, flawless. The atmosphere is energetic and fun. From suits to jeans they accommodate all . Highly recommend !

Raja Johnpulle

This is a classy, high-end restaurant located near the parliament. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for its ambiance, fine cuisine, customer service, unique vibe. Prices are on the higher end but that definitely reflects the quality of the food as well as the setting. We were a group of 5 and all of us thoroughly enjoyed all of the dishes that we ordered. I personally tried the yak Bolognese pasta and I enjoyed its unique flavor. The restaurant also has quite a selection of alcoholic beverages. Given the price points, I would say that it is worth a try for a special occasion, not for just any random night out in the town.

Nick Zhang

Charming setting and good service. Lobster linguini and braised lamb was spot on, would definitely recommend.

Eric Asselin

I had a stellar experience this evening. I was dining out alone on a whim and didn’t have a reservation. The maître d’ offered me a large table on the patio and made me feel welcome despite my lack of preparation. My server was attentive, friendly and very knowledgeable of the menu. The service at Riviera is refreshingly unpretentious and remarkably accommodating. I had oysters, the tuna crudo, and the ricotta gnudi. The tuna in particular was an absolute treat. The pieces were large and impressive. The garnishes and accompaniments were a perfect complement to the dish. The gnudi was a rich symphony of cheese, chanterelles, and corn served with butter sauce. To the uninitiated, the plethora of drink options may be intimidating, as you are seated with two supersized menus for wine and cocktails. Being an absolute fiend for good cocktails, I know that Stephen Flood and his bar staff never disappoint, crafting dozens of dazzling concoctions from the restaurant’s immense collection of booze. Seeing Flood work behind the bar tonight, I couldn’t help but wonder how he doesn’t get lost behind his many little potion bottles. The Purple Rain is my favourite but you can’t go wrong with any of the many, many options. In sum, you’ll want to have one of everything. I recommend multiple visits to accomplish this feat.

Robyn Way

Outstanding meal topped with exceptional service. Felt welcomed from the moment I walked in the door. Had the Autumn cocktail which was a perfect start. Had the pate which when I ran out of bread an extra slice magically appeared. The halibut was a refined take on fish and chips. Only regret was no room for dessert!

Amanda Barlowe

Hands down one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Ottawa. The restaurant is located in a historical building with 3-story high ceilings, giving it a great vibe. The food is delicious and perfectly seasoned, and they even have a mocktail list (perfect for non-drinkers)! The service is warm and the whole thing comes together with great interior design. Highly recommend!

LP J

Last year at this time, I was celebrating my wife's birthday in this great restaurant! A great experience! Enjoy life, boys and girls!

Brittany Singh

We had takeout tonight from Riviera and it was phenomenal! This is our new favourite restaurant and we will be ordering again soon! Of all the takeout I have ordered during Covid, Riviera was the best- the best quality, packaging, and care! The food was as good as if we were eating at the actual restaurant. We had the tuna crudo, lamb gnocchi, beef tartare, and the opera cake. All of the dishes were amazing! Thank you Riviera

Y Y

We had reservation at 8:30 and the table was ready around 9:00. The hostess and staff were amazing that they kept us informed. Overall the food are delicious but salty that night. The beef tartar is my favourite. The waitress was excellent, she kept coming back and see if we are good. At the end, they sent us 3 complimentary desserts for the wait. We visit there again the next day and the food was excellent.

Lee Lacombe

What a fantastic place. Looks like it used to be a bank, but the new set up is incredible. Our server Marshall was so knowledgeable I didn't even hesitate to let him pick my drinks. He treated us in a way that felt he was our personal server. Watching the kitchen at work right beside the bartender or mixologist was a site to see. Food has to be the best in the city. Worth ever dollar you spend from experience to taste. Bravo Riviera!