Fauna - Ottawa, Ontario

Went to fauna for my husband’s birthday. I did confirm with them that it was his birthday ahead of time. The place setting was very plain for what the restaurant is trying to showcase as a four star restaurant. Would have liked nicer dishes, salt and pepper on the table. The ... wine chosen was flavourful and the gin and tonic as well. The mushroom appetizer was very tasty and the rack of lamb was exquisite with gnocchi and asparagus which was extremely well done and flavoured. However, the desserts were not to our taste. The rhubarb and coconut cake was so so…the coconut cake was extremely dry. The chocolate mousse was flavoured with a flavoured rum which was a disappointment. The cake came with a dollar store candle with a brief happy birthday from the waiter. The coffee was very strong and bitter. I was disappointed as Fauna was highly recommended and I was looking for something a bit more special and acknowledgment for my husband’s birthday meal. Read more

Went tonight for a group dinner. It is a lovely spot with dark understated decor and a fair sized dining area. It was surprisingly noisy considering that there were only about 12 customers were in the restaurant tonight. There was only street parking available and none directly ... in front, but the signage still made it easy to find. I don't know if the server was affected by the unaccountable dining room noise, but he seemed slightly distracted and not fully engaged tonight. Service was prompt and accurate, but not warm or particularly welcoming. The food was uniformly well received. We shared the tempura mushrooms which were more heavily battered than expected for Tempura. The mushroom within was so mild as to be overpowered by the battered coating. Oysters were served with a vinaigrette or hot sauce. I shared the 16oz aged ribeye and at was perfectly well-done with a nice sear and good seasoning. The accompanying veggies were tasty but a little overdone and limp, My companions had the halibut, lamb chops and Beet Wellington. All were reported as tasty! The rack of lamb was thought to be a little small for the price, but the beet dish was an enormous serving. Overall a positive night out in the Glebe. Read more

Excellent dinner. The menu had a limited number of choices but a wide spectrum of style and flavours resulting in everyone in our party of five having a couple of good options to choose from. Everything we ordered was creative, delicious and prepared to perfection. The server was well prepared ... to answer questions about the menu and help in wine selection from an impressive list. They where attentive to our needs and timing. The atmosphere was beautiful but when full a little loud for fine dining, but still able to have table discussion. Read more

I came for a set Valentines menu, and it didn’t disappoint. Every part of the meal was 10/10 and the wine pairings were lovely

The second visit in one month and was still very happy about everything. The stuffed wings are very interesting. The seasoning feels like an Asian fusion with spices and zing. The dry aged steak for 2 is by far my favorite, cooked to a perfect medium rare, and the veggies and ... mash works well. The pork chop is an interesting one: the protein itself was cooked nicely, though I find it needs a little more seasoning. The veggies came with the protein was overwhelmingly earthy... made me wonder what the idea behind that specific combination was. Overall, I really enjoyed this place and will come back for more Read more