Sidedoor - Ottawa, Ontario

Came with a party of 4 for the “best of Sidedoor” menu and things have definitely changed from a few years ago. The location is beautiful and located in the heart of the By Ward Market in Ottawa. On a short trip to Ottawa, a revisit to this restaurant was on ... the agenda. But it didn’t live up to expectations. The service was the worse part of the dinner. The waitress was rude, unattentive and did not explain the dishes and all plates seemed rushed. Every time something came to the table, nothing was explained. It felt so rushed that the waitress did not even ask if we were done and was taking plates away. The “best of sidedoor” menu is very fried food heavy and not well balanced, unfortunately. The menu is very Asian inspired but doesn’t quite nail it. Each service from the “tasting menu” don’t flow well either. Used to be a big fan of this place, which is why the two stars. Otherwise would be a one. Read more

The staff seemed to anticipate what we needed. We ordered what the waiter recommended. Loved the butter chicken curry taco, coconut curry fritters, and the Vietnamese pancake were extraordinary.

We had dinner at sidedoor last night for my partner's birthday and would highly recommend it! The atmosphere of the restaurant is lovely and the staff were friendly! We had the tasting menu and everything we tried was absolutely delicious! Definitely recommend it if you're looking to try a bit ... of everything! Can't wait to return! Read more

Wonderful hidden gem of a restaurant! The service was so friendly. I was surprised to see all their vegan options. I had the mapu tofu tacos (so tasty, with just the right about of spice!) accompanied by some rice and bok choy. The bok choy was cooked to perfection and ... was delicious, especially over the rice. Good atmosphere too!! Read more

You have to get the braised beef topped with penang curry, side of white rice, and vegetables (dish topped with peanuts too). Very rich, flavorful, and creamy...the texture is also amazing. Another thing to not skip is the donuts!!! I got the chef special (maple syrup topping and a custard filling - ... eyes rolls behind head) ...should be an everyday flavor if you ask me. Ordered an additional 3 more of those to go and I wasn't even hungry. Read more