Absinthe Cafe Resto Bar

4.5

48 Reviews

CAN$31 to CAN$50

French

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Experiences are available.

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Good for business meals

Established in 2003, Absinthe is renowned for its commitment to fine food. The restaurant is a modern bistro, using locally sourced ingredients, prepared in an inventive and sophisticated manner. Enjoy the richness of Absinthe cuisine which features meats, cheeses and produce from eastern Ontario and western Quebec, prepared with classical French culinary techniques.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
French, Contemporary French
Hours of operation
Tue, Wed 11:00 am–9:00 pm Thu, Fri 11:00 am–10:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(613) 761-1138
Website
http://www.absinthecafe.ca/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress

Location
1208 WELLINGTON ST WEST, OTTAWA, ON K1Y 2Z7
Neighborhood
Downtown
Cross street
Hinton and Wellington St West. Between Holland and Parkdale.
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Tunney's Pasture is just around the corner.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

A Magical (& Mischievous) New Year's Eve Dinner
CA$79.00 - CA$99.00 per person
Prepaid
Dec 31, 2024 only
Join us for an evening of fine food, festive drinks, and European-inspired revelry at one of Ottawa's most beloved bistros. Welcome the new year with elbows on the table & laughter in the air! Choose from our three-course dinner options: Appetizer Traditional cheese fondue with cave-aged Gruyere & Emmental Main (price includes all 3 courses) Fondue - Fondue Bourguignonne with beef tenderloin & signature sauces | $79 Salmon Wellington - A Chef Patrick specialty featuring locally-sourced ingredients and classical French techniques | $89 Beef Wellington - Our signature preparation of this timeless dish | $99 Dessert Dark chocolate fondue with house-made treats & fresh fruits
The best beef wellington you'll ever have!
CA$97.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Indulge in our four course "prix fixe" FOR TWO. Start off with with our featured "snack". Followed by our seafood trio. Roll out the red carpet for our savoury, perfectly cooked and mouth watering beef wellington. And to finish, your choice of creme brûlée or mousse au chocolat. Limited quantities available.

SoupCA$12.00
Mushroom Velouté / Herb Oil / Crème Fraiche
SaladCA$12.00
Artisan Greens / Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette / Parmesan / Toasted Pepitas
Scallops PétonclesCA$17.00
Seared Scallops / Safron Fennel Sauce / Tomato Jam
PatéCA$17.00
Pork / Duck / Pistachio / Piccalilli / Cranberry & Walnut Bread
Smoked Salmon Belly DipCA$13.00
Smoked Salmon Belly / Smoked Ricotta / Lemon / Dill / Crostini
From the Sea, Seafood TrioCA$20.00
Fish Cake / Tarter Sauce - Salt Cod Fritters / Lime Habanero Mayo - Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp / Romesco
CheeseCA$17.00
Cranberry Walnut Toast / Fruit / Chutney - St- Ambroise / Cows Milk / Semi- Firm / Washed Rind - Mouton Noir / Sheeps Milk / Semi-Firm - Tommes du Haute Richelieu / Goats Milk / Semi Firm / Washed Rind

Mains

PastaCA$27.00
Ricotta Gnocchi / Persillade / Pine Nuts / Lemon / Parmesan
The Burger and FritesCA$25.00
House Frites and Aioli / Tomato / Pickles / Cheese / Bacon / Secret Sauce
Beef StroganoffCA$39.00
Sautéed Beef Tenderloin / Mushroom / Sour Cream / Dill / Eau-De-Vie / Fettuccine
Mariposa FarmCA$38.00
Duck Breast / Grainy Mustard sauce / Fiddleheads / Mashed Potatoes
FishCA$37.00
Roasted Salmon / Sweet Pea Coulis / Jardinière Vegetables
Steak FritesCA$39.00
Marinated and Grilled AAA Steak / Green Beans / Frites / Horseradish Aïoli

Desserts

Chocolate Mousse / Caramel / ChantillyCA$12.00
Crème Brûlée / Malagasy Vanilla / Buttery SabléCA$12.00
Ice Cream and SorbetsCA$12.00

See Website for Special Menus

https://www.absinthecafe.ca/

What 48 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.3Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Absinthe Cafe Resto Bar offers a delightful dining experience with "amazing service" and "exceptional steak frites." The menu features fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, including standout dishes like beef Wellington. Guests appreciate the "hip and modern atmosphere," making it a "neighbourhood favorite." Some feedback mentions occasional service delays and noise levels.

48 Reviews

J
Joe
New York City
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great food and service. Often quiet but not during GCTC nights.
Is this helpful?
E
Emma
Ottawa
4 reviews
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
Ambiance wasn’t as good as expected but the food was very good !
Is this helpful?
C
Charles
Atlantic Canada
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Had a great time, service is amazing! Can’t wait to go back!
Is this helpful?
R
Robert
Toronto
7 reviews
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on December 11, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
We made a mistake on going on Fondue Night as it had a limited menu (2 items other than Fondue). They also didn’t have our table ready at our reserved time and had to sit at bar for 15 minutes. No big deal but not what we expected. Wine selection was good but House Red was not a good quality wine and was $16 per glass (overpriced). Meals, Steak Frite and Salmon were very good. Bread was amazing. The Server did let us know about the 3 course special so I had Soup (excellent), main and desert. This was a good value. Would definitely go back but not on Fondue Night. It was very busy for the Fondues so I would suspect they are very good.
Is this helpful?
R
Robert
Ottawa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 29, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent! Quick and thoughtful service. Great food. Some of the best bread I’ve had in my entire life.
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P
Peter
Montreal
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
We had the beef Wellington meal. The beef was great, but that board of seafood items was bizarre. The shrimp in particular were awful. I can’t believe no one has mentioned before how awful it tastes and how it really doesn’t match a beef Wellington meal. We left most of the food on the board, which the server cleared away without saying anything about the fact we clearly didn’t enjoy it.
Is this helpful?
R
Robert
Greater Boston
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 9, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 4
Appetizers were just ok, nothing really special. Mains (Steak/frites) were exceptional, maybe the best steak I’ve had in Ottawa. Service was terrible! We were seated right away then sat at our table for almost 30 minutes before we were approached by a server. Another couple were seated 10 minutes after us and had their beverages and bread 10 minutes after that. Music played was annoying. I noticed that there were 2 speakers missing on our side of the room so all we heard was bass thumping from the other side.
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C
Caroline
VIP
New York City
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
I was visiting Ottawa from NYC and found this lovely restaurant on both Trip Advisor and Open Table. Great neighborhood restaurant with (among many other things) a selection of cocktails made with Absinthe. The three course fixed price menu is a great value. Delicious beef stroganoff and the steak frites was yummy. Highly recommend!
1 person found this helpful
K
Kris
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 30, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent in every aspect of dining. Food, service and ambience. Relaxed and would go back.
1 person found this helpful
L
Leigh
Ottawa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 29, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Highly recommend Absinthe. Staff friendly and attentive. Excellent food. This particular visit i went for the fondu. Will certainly go again
1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Absinthe Cafe Resto Bar is rated 4.5 stars by 48 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Experiences are available.

1208 WELLINGTON ST WEST, OTTAWA, ON K1Y 2Z7

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Hinton and Wellington St West. Between Holland and Parkdale.
Neighborhood
Downtown
Hours of operation
Tue, Wed 11:00 am–9:00 pm Thu, Fri 11:00 am–10:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Cuisines
French, Contemporary French
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Tunney's Pasture is just around the corner.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.absinthecafe.ca/
Phone number
(613) 761-1138

Absinthe Cafe Resto Bar

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Experiences

A Magical (& Mischievous) New Year's Eve Dinner

The best beef wellington you'll ever have!

Menu

Appetizers

SoupCA$12.00

SaladCA$12.00

Scallops PétonclesCA$17.00

PatéCA$17.00

Smoked Salmon Belly DipCA$13.00

From the Sea, Seafood TrioCA$20.00

CheeseCA$17.00

Mains

PastaCA$27.00

The Burger and FritesCA$25.00

Beef StroganoffCA$39.00

Mariposa FarmCA$38.00

FishCA$37.00

Steak FritesCA$39.00

Desserts

Chocolate Mousse / Caramel / ChantillyCA$12.00

Crème Brûlée / Malagasy Vanilla / Buttery SabléCA$12.00

Ice Cream and SorbetsCA$12.00

See Website for Special Menus

What 48 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is Absinthe Cafe Resto Bar restaurant rated?

Is Absinthe Cafe Resto Bar currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information