Riviera - Ottawa, Ontario

Highly recommend the lobster spaghetti and red right hand! The spaghetti was a generous portion and delicious flavor. The cocktail was unique and tasty! Exactly as described. The clear ice was a nice touch! Everyone around me seemed to be enjoying their cocktails and food as well! Would also recommend ... sitting at the bar. Great experience and vibe! Read more

Absolutely one of my favourite restaurants in Ottawa, and of all time. I have been a handful of times and it is always fantastic. The food is to die for - everything is fresh, flavorful and made to order in front of your eyes (particularly if you sit at the counter, which I ... highly recommend). The duck was my favourite item that I have tried thus far, but you cannot go wrong with any choice on the menu, food or beverage. I sampled quite a few of Stephen Flood/bar team's creations and they were all intoxicatingly good. The service is spectacular - the hosts, the bartenders, the servers, the chefs, everyone is friendly and happy to share their delightful food and drink creations with you. I have to give a specific shoutout to our server Alida and Chef Julien who most recently made a special occasion that much more special. Engaging, kind, fun, just amazing individuals who really made the experience. The atmosphere is warm and inviting inside a historic heritage building (previously a bank). The place drips with decadence - a mix of new modern contemporary finishes and old thoughtfully restored pieces. Cannot recommend Riviera enough. Thank you for having me and I can't wait for my next visit:) Read more

Probably the coolest restaurant you can find in Ottawa. Ideal for date night or a special occasion. Bar side seating is a nice experience, the special cocktails are a must try, and the duck is a no brainer choice

Had a wonderful night out at Riviera! The service was excellent from the moment we stepped in. We shared a number of plates and immensely enjoyed 4 out of the 5. The smoked duck breast with parsnip was the best duck I've had in at least 10 years, cooked absolutely perfect! ... The caramel panna cotta with pecorino crisp was a nice twist to finish our evening, and the Fogo Island cod was another stand-out dish. Unfortunately, the sauce with the octopus fell flat and underwhelmed us. However, the rest of the dish was executed very nicely. There is a wonderful ambiance with the high ceilings and the full-length bar seating. In the future, I would request to be further from the door. There was a slight chill as guests came and went. I would have liked to be closer to the action at the service bar or in front of the kitchen. Overall, it was an excellent experience, and I definitely plan to return! Read more

Excellent food, service, and atmosphere. We ordered the seafood tower and it was absolutely great! Every single one of the items on there was very good as you can see in the photos. Mains were cooked nicely. The toffee and ginger ice cream desert was very tasty. I would definitely ... go there again. All the staff are very attentive. I would book reservations ahead of time though. Food was pricey but worth the $$! Read more