The Whalesbone Oyster House

There are some restaurants that have a special combination of creative, consistently delicious food, fantastic atmosphere and great finishing touches. When you find them, it's hard not to want to go anywhere else! I had the pleasure of visiting The Whalesbone in Ottawa...for a third time...and it wowed me just as much as the first time.
Accompanied by a worldly, handsome and suave gentleman who also happened to be in ottawa on business at the same time -  we sat at the chef's table and had a great time watching the cooks in action, listening to the great music and having scintillating conversations...(hehe - thanks dad :) 

photos: www.thewhalesbone.com

Now to the food:

• Relish: It might be blasphemous to go to an Oyster bar and not have oysters...so we did. Shared 12 to start, 4 from BC, 4 from New Brunswick and 4 from Ireland. These come with 7 sauces, 3 of which are homemade (a seafood sauce, vinaigrette and spicy sauce, a few types of tobasco, and then whisky...which I stayed away from). We then shared a starter of seared swordfish: three beautifully put together mounds of swordfish, home-grown cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes and fresh cheese...delicious. I then had the scallops, soft and juicy, accompanied with radish, some fritters, blue benedictin cheese and tiny tomatoes - a sublime and beautifully balanced combination of tastes, all displayed with precision on a wooden board. Dad had the haddock - I stole a taste, and it was cooked to just-flaky - yet moist and savoury. Oh, I almost forgot - we also started with a few slices of fresh bread, filled with poppyseeds, nuts and seeds, and paired with a lovely melted-butter that tasted like a gourmet buttered popcorn. Wow. Sitting perched at the chef's table we saw a lot of food pass by en route to tables, and so I have to mention the lobster...a trio of lobster mac and cheese, a lobster tail, and a lobster bun...oh my goodness - that might be what I have to try next time.
• Quaff: a great wine list for pairing with seafood, about 10 whites and 8-10 reds. We were given a quick taste of our white before ordering, a server recommendation that paired perfectly with the oysters - a Sokol Blosser 'Evolution: Luck' from Oregon. 
• Feel: Hip-checking and laughing chefs in the tiny open kitchen, an oyster shucker working hard at the bar, great tunes, humming conversations, packed tables - this place has tons of character, with a fun, food and drink loving vibe, super friendly, smiling staff, and happy customers. The bathrooms deserve a special mention here - framed love letters in the ladies are a beautiful touch (and I've heard the men's has some creative decorations as well). 

My Dad summed up the take-away on Whalesbone quite nicely: "the food is amazing - but the best thing is the personality!".

w: The Whalesbone Oyster House

Social

Social is surprising. Big windows and old stone initially give you the feel that this will be a very classy and reserved restaurant - once inside, the spaces are funky and the red and dark brown colours give this a buzzing vibe.

Our scallops! photo: www.social.ca

• Relish: the appetizers were phenomenal. Next time, I would just order starters as they were awesome, and very shareable! The white tuna seared with cucumber and wasabi was refreshing with a good kick that perfectly complemented the tuna, and the scallops with watermelon and fried chorizo were absolutely incredible, a really neat complement of the watermelon sweetness, the spicy oomph of the chorizo and the tender, perfectly juicy scallops. For mains, the focus was on meat - tenderloin, lamb and a steak. All very good, although the portions were massive.
• Quaff: I had a Butterfield Station chardonnay from California, unfortunately not the buttery-creamy chardonnay that I was expecting from a wine named 'butterfield'. I was thinking massive oak and a buttery finish, and got none of it from the weak, almost watery wine. The wine list did have around 10 reds and 10 whites by the glass - so quite a few options to choose from, although pretty standard selections.
• Feel: social. Very social. It's a place that I could see turning into a good night spot after dinner on a thu/fri night (the massive size and thickness of our table-top made me think that it would be a good table on which to get up and dance...I got some funny looks for that comment). It would also be the kind of place where I would hold a work event - cocktails and appetizers in one of the more secluded areas by the bar.

Photo: www.social.ca

A bit expensive for the quality based on the other restaurants I've tried in the Ottawa area, but the portion sizes are on par with the increase in price. Definitely would recommend it for a more 'social' night out!

w: Social Ottawa website

town.

Tuesday night at 8:15pm in Ottawa, and the last thing I expected was to be walking into a packed restaurant. Town was just about full, but somehow miraculously we managed to nab two seats left at the chef's bar (we had a nice view into the kitchen and of the busy chefs as the dishes were being prepared).

• Relish: The options included about 10 smaller dishes, 4 larger dishes (two of which were available in a small size) and a cheese plate. We shared the Mint Cavatelli (a rolled pasta with super tender lamb, mint, pistachios and ricotta - it smelled incredible and was great comfort food, although missing a tad bit of 'oomph'), the Ling cod (absolutely fantastic, a crispy crust with a bit of tangy sweetness, mini asparagus, sweet peas and a couscous - the winner of the dishes by a long shot), and the Tuna Crudo (not the greatest, the chives and prosciutto and oil overpowered the delicate taste of the tuna and somehow gave it an odd aftertaste). We also shared a cheese-plate, 4 quebec cheese and an italian taleggio, accompanied by honey, stewed apricots and crisps. Overall good, but not in the same league as whalesbone or Murray Street. I would order differently if I were to go back - the meatballs and prosciutto salad would be on my list.
• Quaff: I had a scrumptious Mission Hill (BC Okanagan) pinot noir - 'five vineyards'. Stewed cherries and chinese five spice on the nose, with grippier than expected tannins and a nice balance, it was delicious, although served a tad bit too chilled for my taste (but that is always rectified with some requisite nursing). My dining partner tried two different draught ales - Beau's, that he described as 'india pale ale, not as bitter, light after taste' and a 'good flavour', and  the McAuslan, a st. Ambroise apricot wheat ale.
• Feel: Dark walls, a natural wood bar and tables, a chalkboard wall displaying the menu and a wall of wines behind the bar gave this cosy-chic feel, very 'ottawa-esque'...based on the similarities with Whalesbone and Murray Street. It made me feel like I found my neighbourhood haunt, and was a perfect spot for a great conversation

Photos: town. facebook page

w: Town website

Sidedoor

Asian-fusion-tapas is the main focus at Sidedoor. A recommendation from a colleague, it's tucked in the alley (or courtyard) off of York street in Byward market, just in beside the restaurant Eighteen. This makes for a very cute little spot surrounded by old stone buildings. The patio has a mix of wooden tables, trees and lounge tables with couches.

• Relish: The menu here is all about sharing plates, tapas-style. The highlights: the crispy fish tacos with trout, coriander, avocado and jalapenos, the steamed shrimp dumplings packed full of shrimp, and the 'melt in your mouth' braised beef with curry and roasted peanuts over rice. Other honourable mentions: the papaya salad, stacked with mango, papaya, mint, thai basil, and the broiled black cod with butter lettuce wraps and home-pickled pickles. Not worth a mention was the tuna sashimi - too much seasoning drowned the tuna.
• Quaff: A great wine by the glass list, with 3 oz and 5oz options. Some very unusual grape types available by the glass - a white auxerrois, cortese, ribolla gialla, chardonnay musque, and a red agiorgitiko from greece. I kind of want to go back and try all of these interesting grape-types! Decent beer choices, although the focus is definitely on wines and cocktails. The agiorgitiko was more complex than I expected, a bit of a 'cherry bomb' off the nose, but serious undertones of leather and cedar helped mellow the mouthfeel. Low tannis and average alcohol - I would definitely pick up a bottle and pair with spicy foods - it was great with the braised beef. (Agiorgitiko, 2009, Gaia, Nemea, Greece).
• Feel: Relaxed and enjoyable. The patio was cute, surrounded by old stone walls, but maintaining a modern feel due to the different table styles and leafy trees, while the inside of the restaurant felt a bit imposing, but multiple levels and exposed stone made it classy yet relaxed. Lots of groups of 6+ sitting at larger boot-like tables, while on the patio most of the tables were dates or smaller groups of friends. Made me feel comfy - and I would happily have stuck around for a second glass of wine and relaxed after dinner. 

I'll absolutely be back - both the wine and the food were delicious!

w: sidedoorrestaurant.com

Murray Street

My first review is a little locale just off the busy Byward Market in Ottawa. Charcuterie, Cheese, and all manner of delicious in-betweens, a great wine list and pretty good lighting make this a fun spot for some wine, cheese and a very relaxed dinner. The poutine is amazing - spatzel instead of fries, ham and goey cheese...ranks up there with the best poutine I have had (disclaimer: I am by no means a poutine connoisseur, which may be why I liked it). 

• Relish: Great charcuterie plate, elk salami, smoked duck breast, terrine and local cheeses, poutine and smoked fish fritters. All delicious. I would love to go back to try a main (or two, or three).
• Quaff: Good wine list - much more interesting old world wines that the new world selections, a fair number by the glass (20 or so), and generous pours. Some local beers, although I have to say I didn't pay too much attention to those. I had a delicious old world Rose (and will remember to note the name down next time)!
• Feel: Quiet inside as the patio was full and we couldn't sit outside, but a great vibe and a fun young crowd. Would be a fun place to sit at the bar, and I could see this being an extremely cosy spot in the winter! 

I would go back, and would recommend it! Great for a quiet catch up conversation, a meal with a few good friends, or to sit at the bar. Similar in feel to Starfish. 


Enjoy!
w: Murray Street Kitchen
m: link to Ottawa restaurant google map