Fancy Vegetarian restaurants in Ottawa?
March 15, 2010 2:22 PM Subscribe
Hey all, I'm looking for a fancy, expensive, special occasion type restaurant in Ottawa that has more than one Vegetarian entree on the menu. I'm taking my vegetarian girlfriend out for our anniversary and am having trouble finding any "fine dining" type places that have some veggie items on the menu. She is strict vegetarian so fish is out. Italian is always an option but I was hoping the hive mind could come up with some other ideas.
A tough one:
Les Fougeres in Chelsea has an entire vegetarian menu. French country, in the higher end. Might be worth giving them a call. They may be able to do you a vegetarian tasting menu with a bit of notice, and their cellar is pretty famous.
Navarra, sometimes (but not right now). French/Italian fusion. Expensive and hard to get into sometimes.
I've heard from several people who were quite disappointed by The Table recently. That used to be the goto place for high-end vegan.
There are an number of Vegetarian/Vegan places listed at RestaurantThing, but nothing that says fancy dinner to me.
posted by bonehead at 2:50 PM on March 15, 2010
Les Fougeres in Chelsea has an entire vegetarian menu. French country, in the higher end. Might be worth giving them a call. They may be able to do you a vegetarian tasting menu with a bit of notice, and their cellar is pretty famous.
Navarra, sometimes (but not right now). French/Italian fusion. Expensive and hard to get into sometimes.
I've heard from several people who were quite disappointed by The Table recently. That used to be the goto place for high-end vegan.
There are an number of Vegetarian/Vegan places listed at RestaurantThing, but nothing that says fancy dinner to me.
posted by bonehead at 2:50 PM on March 15, 2010
Best answer: Aroma Meze is Greek / Mediterranean 'small plates'. Haven't been to the one on Nepean but they also now have one on Wellington West (opposite Herb & Spice) which I have been to several times and there are plenty of vegetarian options. It has a very nice atmosphere.
If you like Indian food, the East India Company on Somerset has quite beautiful decor (antiques) and really good food - buffet or a la carte. Haveli is also really good.
I haven't been to Zen Kitchen yet but I've heard good things about it.
posted by valleys at 2:52 PM on March 15, 2010
If you like Indian food, the East India Company on Somerset has quite beautiful decor (antiques) and really good food - buffet or a la carte. Haveli is also really good.
I haven't been to Zen Kitchen yet but I've heard good things about it.
posted by valleys at 2:52 PM on March 15, 2010
Oh, and do you guys like Indian? Many traditional dishes are vegetarian as a significant portion of Indians are vegetarian. I used to like East India Company , but they are not "fine dining" exactly. I can't think of any Fancy Indian places...
posted by saradarlin at 2:53 PM on March 15, 2010
posted by saradarlin at 2:53 PM on March 15, 2010
Oh, looks like valleys beat me to it...
posted by saradarlin at 2:54 PM on March 15, 2010
posted by saradarlin at 2:54 PM on March 15, 2010
I am a vegetarian Ottawan and I like going to nice steakhouses. Here, particularly Hy's, for tomato salad, asparagus with hollandaise, gorgonzola macaroni and cheese, etcetera. This sort of feast is much nicer, I find, than encountering somebody's dreary little idea of "vegetarian menu option" with an old eggplant on a bed of couscous or whatever.
I do like East India Company. I haven't been to the downtown one since it moved but Haveli's is nice too.
posted by kmennie at 3:18 PM on March 15, 2010
I do like East India Company. I haven't been to the downtown one since it moved but Haveli's is nice too.
posted by kmennie at 3:18 PM on March 15, 2010
Response by poster: saradarlin: it's funny that you should mention Mamma Teresa; that's my fall back if I can't find anything better. The food is fantastic but we've been there before and I'd like to try something new. It's also a bit conservative and traditional for my tastes (not that that's a bad thing, again, just looking for something new).
We both *love* Indian food, but I had something a bit fancier in mind.
Zen Kitchen is an idea; the menu looks very vegetarian friendly.
posted by mizike at 3:24 PM on March 15, 2010
We both *love* Indian food, but I had something a bit fancier in mind.
Zen Kitchen is an idea; the menu looks very vegetarian friendly.
posted by mizike at 3:24 PM on March 15, 2010
Response by poster: Replying to my own post here; of course the menu at Zen Kitchen looks vegetarian friendly, there's no meat on it at all! Serves me right for just glancing at it before posting.
posted by mizike at 3:28 PM on March 15, 2010
posted by mizike at 3:28 PM on March 15, 2010
Best answer: Zen Kitchen, Black Tomato, and Oz Kafe are where the veggie-lovers I know go.
posted by Jairus at 4:28 PM on March 15, 2010
posted by Jairus at 4:28 PM on March 15, 2010
Also, East India Company is pretty fancy. It's a favourite of MPs and Senators.
posted by Jairus at 4:30 PM on March 15, 2010
posted by Jairus at 4:30 PM on March 15, 2010
East India Company is a great choice.
I've also had some very good vegetarian meals at Khao Thai. Its not very expensive but the atmosphere is nice.
posted by Zetetics at 4:53 PM on March 15, 2010
I've also had some very good vegetarian meals at Khao Thai. Its not very expensive but the atmosphere is nice.
posted by Zetetics at 4:53 PM on March 15, 2010
Atelier serves a spectacular 12-course tasting menu. Definitely fine dining, and wonderful food, albeit pricy.
The 12-course tasting menu is fixed (and you don't find out what each course is until it arrives), but they will make substitutions for vegetarians, so as long as you're adventurous and willing to be surprised, I'd strongly recommend it.
It's a tiny restaurant, so reservations are essential, but they use OpenTable, which means you can see what their availability is online.
They also have great wine pairings if you want to go all out.
posted by dttocs at 5:12 PM on March 15, 2010
The 12-course tasting menu is fixed (and you don't find out what each course is until it arrives), but they will make substitutions for vegetarians, so as long as you're adventurous and willing to be surprised, I'd strongly recommend it.
It's a tiny restaurant, so reservations are essential, but they use OpenTable, which means you can see what their availability is online.
They also have great wine pairings if you want to go all out.
posted by dttocs at 5:12 PM on March 15, 2010
Suisha Garden at bank and slater does good veg.
posted by sebastienbailard at 5:50 PM on March 15, 2010
posted by sebastienbailard at 5:50 PM on March 15, 2010
One other thought ... Several unconnected people I know have recently raved about Le Hibou in Wakefield, which I think is vegetarian and seafood focused. They don't seem to have a functioning site at the moment but might be worth calling.
I can also recommend both Juniper and Absinthe as being slightly 'finer' than the recommendations in my first response, but neither will likely meet the requirement of having multiple veggie options. Whenever I've eaten at both places I've been very happy with the food. Both post online menus featuring some variation of pasta, but I think the menus change daily.
posted by valleys at 5:54 PM on March 15, 2010
I can also recommend both Juniper and Absinthe as being slightly 'finer' than the recommendations in my first response, but neither will likely meet the requirement of having multiple veggie options. Whenever I've eaten at both places I've been very happy with the food. Both post online menus featuring some variation of pasta, but I think the menus change daily.
posted by valleys at 5:54 PM on March 15, 2010
Fratelli's in the Glebe has good pasta.
posted by sebastienbailard at 6:35 PM on March 15, 2010
posted by sebastienbailard at 6:35 PM on March 15, 2010
Beckta is awesome for this, particularly if you phone ahead (like when you make a reservation); I have a rather picky allergy and have gone there spur of the moment and they have always been able to accommodate me, no fuss, no problem. It is seriously AWESOME (my bf is obsessed with Beckta and its level of service, quality of food, etc are his point of comparison for every other restaurant).
posted by urbanlenny at 7:21 AM on March 16, 2010
posted by urbanlenny at 7:21 AM on March 16, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions all, I've made a reservation at Zen Kitchen; it looks like a fancier version of Fresh in Toronto so I'm sure my GF will love it.
posted by mizike at 9:48 AM on March 16, 2010
posted by mizike at 9:48 AM on March 16, 2010
I know you already made a decision, but I just wanted to nth Zen Kitchen. My gf took me there for my birthday in December, and it was delicious. It's completely vegan, and it's SO good.
I can't wait to go back - just have to wait for another special occasion :)
posted by sabotagerabbit at 11:17 AM on March 16, 2010
I can't wait to go back - just have to wait for another special occasion :)
posted by sabotagerabbit at 11:17 AM on March 16, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by saradarlin at 2:42 PM on March 15, 2010