absinthe

friday night, my girlfriend and i went to absinthe for dinner. we were not able to celebrate valentines day on the thursday because of work but i wanted to do something special. she had mentioned absinthe before and i checked out their website and read reviews. they did not disappoint! unbelievable food. phenomenal service and absolutely amazing atmosphere. our server was fantastic. they were quite busy, but he never forgot about us and always took a second to check in to see how we were doing. the food was incredible. we both had the absinthe steak frites and arugula salad. both items were excellent. the chef at absinthe actually knows how to properly cook a steak medium rare, which is rare, no pun intended. the arugula salad was one of the best salads i've ever had! then there was the desert. absolutely amazing. we had the desert sampler and wow. if you're thinking of checking out absinthe, don't hesitate. by far one of, if not the best dinning experiences i've ever had.

thanks absinthe for making our valentines day great!

one of our favourite restaurants.  the menu isn't extensive but covers all the key areas (vegetarian, beef, fish, pork, pasta...) and seems to change regularly. the food is always amazing - the flavours, presentation, combinations.  we usually get the 3 course meal combo with wine pairing ($45 - $55 for 3 courses plus $40 for 3 wine selections.)  the service is excellent - friendly and efficient (no trying to get a waiter's attention.)  decor is pleasant, perhaps the only slight downside is it can be noisy when busy and the tables are fairly close together.  definitely need to book on popular nights. last night we both had steak frites, i had an amazing tuna salad (one of the best appetizers i've had in a long time!) and butternut squash soup first and my wife had a beet salad and an arugula salad.  with a cocktail before and a dessert after for both of us the bill was a little over $200 for 2.

my wife and i took our son and girlfriend there for an early supper before the rush on sun dec 30th. this was not our first time at absinthe. we were greeted by the staff and taken to one of the few non-reserved tables. the staff asked if they could take our coats to their coat closet/room. they took all of our coats. after a lovely well served and delicious meal i paid and we were ready to leave. when my son and i went with the staff to collect our coats, the staff member was all flustered as to which cabinet the coats were in.

after being home my sons girlfriend was aware of missing her keys and wallet from her coat. my son made a phone call the next morning back to the restaurant. the answer had turned up nothing but the person that answered finally said that the key was there. my son and girlfriend went back to restaurant to pick up the keys and were greeted by who seemed like the chef. he was very abrupt and defensive. he said there is no wallet and that was the end of conversation.

 really it would just been nice to have had this issue dealt with by a sympathetic helpful staff and not an arrogant unapologetic person . 
the management has my sons contact number to rectify this issue.  

needless to say we will not be back to this restaurant.

prepare to not be disappointed. we took out a couple here for their birthday, and oh boy was it a great time. the service was exceptional, our waiter was extremely helpful and friendly. recommending some good menu items, we all ordered the full course meal. started off with a cold leek soup, and yum! we all loved it! we then had the beef tartare and it was very unique followed by the steak. i would definitely recommend this place, however it is on the pricier side but worth it!

ambiance is nice, if a bit loud (par for the course in restaurants these days); service was inattentive and did not take into account simple dining etiquette (when to take what order, and in order of service); food was acceptable, not noteworthy.

we were extremely satisfied with everything from the greeting, the service, the food and the special birthday acknowledgement for my aunt. everything was classy. even after we were finished our meal and paid, our server continued pouring water as we continued our conversation. we didn’t feel rushed and had a wonderful time. we enjoy good food and are often not satisfied. however this time, everyone loved their meal and we each had a different appetizer and a different main meal. even the drinks (dirty martini) was the most delicious i’ve had.

we have never been to absinthe before but have a reservation for fondue and thought we’d try it on a regular night as my aunt lives close by. well there is nothing regular about absinthe – everything is exceptional and we are now looking forward more than ever to our fondue dinner
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good not great place, that was just missing a few things to make it a top-notch experience. i definitely feel like this place has potential, so i'll start with the good. a small menu with quality items that they do well. my cocktail was fantastic with great presentation! their cheese selections were to die for and probably my favourite part. it was my birthday and they brought me creme brûlée which i loved!!! however, the ambience was pretty lacklustre and i was a little disappointed in the wine selection. we ended up going with a bottle that was fine, but not sure if it was worth 75$. my duck was great, but my brothers steak came with two very visible hairs right on top and the server offered to re-plate it. he declined and just re-plated it himself by taking the hair off. all in all, it's a good place but with so many other restaurants in the area it wouldn't be the first place i'd recommend.

a totally wonderful experience! charming and classy decore, the friendliest and most accommodating service and the food!! most definitely the tastiest in ottawa or maybe on this planet! we took the seafood appetizer which was delicate, yet overflowed with mouth-watering flavours..the mushroom soup was robust and so creamy..my steak with horseradish was beyond divine..my son and his wife took the pork cheek and the duck; both were raving how tender and delicious it was. in all honesty, we spent most of our eating time with our eyes closed, revelling in those sublime tastes...the creme brule that was offered at the end of this birthday dinner was simply perfect; delicate, creamy and crunchy and not too sweet. even foccacia served at the beginning of the meal, dipped in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar was outstanding. unquestionably, this dinner experience topped the many high end meals we have had in various countries. we will most definitely be returning there as often as we can! most highly recommended!! ; )

the trout in white wine sauce with a lime coriander spice was delightful. perfectly cooked and presented. loved the wine and the service was wonderful.  dim lighting was soothing. a real treat. it was a bustling saturday night so it was also revitalizing. the great reviews from colleagues, family and friends were right on the money. you should go.

ideal spot for a business dinner in ottawa.  the service was attentive, informative, and unique.  everyone enjoyed their meals, several of our group had the table d'hôte.  high ratings include the beet salad, the beef tartare 'with a bite',  the velvety roasted tomato soup, and the trout (although mine was slightly undercooked, the service made up for it).  very happy with our restaurant selection for our out of town guests.

ate here on saturday night as part of a very large group. the food was fantastic. i had the pork cheek main, and it was perfectly done melt-in-your-mouth. the staff were extremely accommodating as well. i brought my baby with me to meet the group, and while absinthe caters to an upscale crowd and may not have a change table, they made sure there was a table put in the washroom for us to use before i could even ask where the washroom was! thank you for the lovely evening!!

absolutely delightful would be my description. the 3 course fondue was fantastic. the chef did tempura vegetables for the vegetarians in our group of 8 for one course. the staff was incredibly attentive and accommodating. a huge thank you to the staff for a wonderful evening on my wife's 50th birthday. we will be back.

our premiere visit to absinthe included wonderful, sumptuous cuisine and attentive, polite service in a lovely, subdued atmosphere. needless to say, we'll recommend this restaurant to all of our friends and we shall return, soon.

was here once before, in the summer and during the week. food tasty, but service terrible. admittedly, a friday night, but myself and companions were seated at the bar despite there being empty tables. i was promised a table should one open up, however the hostess never came back to make good on that promise. the tables remained empty throughout my meal. this place is loud! it's impossible to carry on a conversation even when seated immediately next to someone.

prices overpriced on drinks ($12 for mediocre red; bartender underpours) with constant pestering by staff for up sells. (didn't get her name, but black and white striped blouse; despite being seated at the bar, she interrupted our attempts to have a conversation over the din, three times. when, in answer to her question, i described the meal as "fine", which it was, she became argumentative and i had to turn away from her to signal for her to go away. when i'm paying an average of $35 for a main, i expect to not be harassed while i'm trying to enjoy it.)

a good attempt, but given the horrible table and staff management (five tables open for an hour and a half and turning away patrons at the door), not sure how long they will stay in business. a shame really, because the concept is good, but as with many things, execution is proof.

i went for lunch yesterday with a friend and everything was superb;the food,the service and the welcoming atmosphere.the serving staff did not even hint that we should leave even though we talked for a long time.it also has parking! bonus!