absinthe

went to absinthe yesterday afternoon for lunch with friends.  each of had something different to eat and all of us enjoyed our meal.  i had a lamb burger and side salad and it was delicious.  would definitely order it again.  we thought that prices were reasonable for the quality.  service and atmosphere were very good.  would definitely go back.

we left before the food came! cannot comment on quality of the food, but the service was lacklustre, atmosphere was very stale and we didn't feel very welcomed. so glad we chose to leave and go up the street to wellington gastro pub.

my wife and i went here for the first time on our anniversary. cozy atmosphere, yet open and loud. if you are looking for a quiet place to eat, this is not it. that said, the place was buzzing and was full of energy which we liked. complimentary glass of champagne given to us for our anniversary.  we both had the steak, and it was better than steaks we've had at more expensive "steak houses". i like how they tell you it will be medium rare, which is how a good steak should be. our server was pleasant, yet at times seamed like a robot. her focus never really seamed to be on us, but more on what task she had to move to next. she would mumble something to us, while not making eye contact and scanning her surroundings. not a bad thing, but a server should be more interactive with their table.

overall, we were very pleased with our evening.

great experience again. knowledgable staff. great wine and wonderful food. wine pairing with the meal was definitely worth choosing the 3 courses with the wine. descriptions of our choices alone with the wine pairings made it a memorable anniversary. will definitely return to this restaurant.

great experience! we went to celebrate our son's engagement and are happy we chose this place. we were greeted with complementary champagne. each starter was terrific and the quail egg on the steak tartar was a very nice touch. the mains were even better. the duck was perfectly prepared. the braised rabbit ravioli is highly recommended. the sampler dessert was an excellent way to try several types of desserts. the service was impecable: polite, very knowledgable, and timely. there was never an empty glass and it was nice to get fresh cutlery with every course. we ordered absinthe to end the meal and it was nicely presented with clear, unpretentious instructions on how to let the water drip to dissolve the sugar cube on the slotted spoon. definitely a "go-to" place if you want to impress someone!

just love this place.  have been multiple times and will return again.  the fresh bread is outstanding, the lemon thyme dressing on the salad is wonderfully light and tangy, the steak frites mouthwatering.  service is top notch, the venue is perfect for friends, couples, even business dinners

stopped in for lunch and were told to try the steak and frites. the food was great and the portions were just right. service was very good and friendly.will be returning for sure.

steak frites dish was enjoyable but it was definitely cooked more than medium rare. service was fast, friendly and knowledgeable. my dining companions really enjoyed their cocktails.

we were fortunate to dine at absinthe this past weekend. it was one of the best meals we have had in a very long time. the tuna carpaccio and the beef tartar were both excellent. the tuna carpaccio had a wonderful texture, complemented by spicy elements and was beautifully presented. the beef tartar was the perfect presentation of a classic dish. the duck breast and arctic char, which followed were wonderful. the duck breast was perfectly cooked and delicious. the arctic char was moist and flavourful. the accompanying sides made both plates flawless. the meal ended with prifiteroles. the homemade ice cream, chou and chocolate sauce were scrumptious. 

although the atmosphere is relaxed, service is flawless and attentive. it was a great evening.

very average and super over priced. this restaurant seems to think they are gourmet and charge as if they are...but they are definitely not. portions are very small, flank steak was overcooked, salad was salty, fries are good, but the poutine is a major let down. burger was ok but terrible at $24. the desert was disappointing and it's priced at a premium but served at corner store quality. overall very expensive, menu is uninspiring, save your money there are much better places to eat in ottawa.

great atmosphere, fantastic salad, steak frites done to perfection. the server, mike-professional, personable and attentive. we have been there a number of times and will continue to go back.

i was greatly disappointed. my sister had gone there before and it seems like they changed the menu because they had nothing from her last time there. anyway to keep it short and simple the food was way too salty and not in a good way, it has this very upscale image but too me the food was mediocre at best. the beet 'salad' consisted of 1 small beet cut in quarters. the duck tartar was about 2-3 bites and was accompanied by this salty mess they call a salad, the fries...another salty undercooked mess the tuna carpaccio was the only decent thing besides the fact that i had to squirt a whole lemon on it. and the service was very cold and nonchalent. visit at your own risk.

absinthe makes the heart grow fondue! :) that's why it was the perfect spot for our valentine's day dinner on monday. thanks for a fabulous yet relaxed dining experience! the salad greens with lemon thyme dressing and sunflower seeds were spectacular, and the steak frites was delicious. wonderful service and a nice neighbourhood atmosphere. we'll definitely go back.

we were a group of 4 people from toronto. we drove to ottawa for the winterlude and took the opportunity to visit the restaurant. we were unaware that some dishes changes according to the day and it turns out that what we went there for wasn't available for that day! we talked with the staff and they were very considerate and did the dish for us even though it wasn't on the menu for the day. the service was extremely good and the food was amazing, totally worth the money. thanks to the waitress erin and all the kitchen folks. :-)

we went from toronto to ottawa on the weekend to skate on the rideau canal and to eat meat fondue which is so hard to find in toronto. so we searched on google a fondue place in ottawa and made a reservation at absinthe for saturday night. unfortunately the canal was closed and later we found out that the fondue night at absinthe was on mondays only!!!!! we were sad but we decided to eat there anyway as everything on their menu seems to be pretty yummy!! but when the servers learned that we were from toronto and we were there to eat fondue, they went to speak with the chef to accommodate a last minute fondue order for us!!! our server was erin and she was awesome, but all the staff that came to speak with us they were all so friendly and professional that made our night even more special.. we had the 3 course fondue meal - cheese, meat and chocolate and i can't find words to describe how delicious everything was... i can tell that made the 410km trip worth it! we were so impressed by their customer service, atmosphere and delicious food!!! just unforgettable!