Dining with a big group in Ottawa can be a real challenge. Some restaurants in the city don't even allow more than six people to a table, let alone book out a whole room for something like a birthday or a work dinner.
And when it comes to drinks? Forget about it! On a busy Saturday night, trying to find a two-person table for a date night is hard enough — how do you expect to fit your whole group?
Well, some places in the city have dealt with this problem before, and they're here to help me help you find the best spots in the city if you're trying to eat and drink with a large group.
After all, Ottawa's hospitality scene is honestly just one large group. It's a community where everyone knows everyone, and now you have a chance for your group to get to know them too!
Let's see where we're headed, shall we?
Anabella's Kitchen & Lounge
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Modern Mediterranean
Address: 268 Preston St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Anabella's is strategically placed first on this list because I'm willing to bet that most of you don't know about it yet.
Well, that's on purpose (sort of). When I spoke with the owners of Anabella's, they explained to me that they've had a sort of extended soft opening, where they haven't done much promotion so that they can get everything perfect and be firing on all cylinders when word gets out!
After dining here, I can say with confidence, I get it.
The food is outstanding with generous portion sizes, the cocktails are wonderfully crafted, and the wine list is curated with thought and care.
The main dining room of Anabella's is actually quite small, but their upstairs space is perfect for large groups and even private events. Equipped with its own separate bar to ensure fast service, this is perfect for your group — just make sure to call ahead!
EVOO Greek Kitchen
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Japanese (Just kidding, could you imagine? It's Greek)
Address: 438 Preston St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: The name EVOO is short for extra-virgin olive oil, a staple in cooking from this part of the world. Also a staple in Greek culture is the camaraderie around eating! That's why EVOO is built to serve their food family style (or in other words, to be perfect for groups).
Their variety of platters and boards feature seafood dishes, meat dishes, potato and vegetable dishes, and a number of other Greek delights that will satisfy everyone at the table in one way or another.
Three things you can't skip at Evoo:
- Their selection of Greek wine — It's truly unique and a treat for any wine lover.
- The Keftdes — These Greek meatballs are backed with flavour and made fresh in house.
- Dessert — Ekmek is truly a delight. Although all your Turkish friends will tell you this means "bread," it's also a pistachio dessert that really hits the mark.
Ward 14 Consignment Bar
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Hot Dogs & Vibes
Address: 139 Preston St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Here we have our first late-night spot on the list!
Walking into Ward, you may underestimate their ability to host a group. The front room only has one booth, hell even the secondary Corona room can only comfortably fit six to eight people.
However, the true magic happens in the very back room, better known as the Jesus Room.
I'm not sure if anyone knows what to expect when I first tell them that. Although it is not a place of worship, it is a room filled with different depictions of the Christian figure, and the two large sets of seating are literal pews.
It's actually a lot of fun back there, and you can bring the whole squad without worrying about where everyone is going to sit.
Grab a house special (a shot and a beer, preferably with Jamo) and enjoy.
The Senate Tavern on Bank
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Pub Food
Address: 1159 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: For sports fans, there's nothing better than getting together with a group of your friends to watch the big game. But on a busy night, when you just KNOW everyone is going to be there, how do you find a spot for everyone?
The Senate Tavern on Bank Street has you covered. They have a private room tucked behind a sliding door that's perfect for large groups. The room is secluded, fitted with TVs and can be booked out in advance for you and all your friends.
What's nice about this spot is that you can still enjoy all the amenities of the rest of the restaurant. If you feel like getting in a game of shuffleboard, pool or darts, you can happily partake without the worry of losing your spot in the private room.
For smaller groups and more spontaneous outings, the Senate is also big enough that it's rarely an issue to push a few tables together in the main dining room or patio.
Bonus points if Kate is your server. (Hi Kate!)
Datsun
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Address: 380 Elgin St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: There's no other way to say it: Datsun is freakin' fun. The atmosphere gives NYC cocktail bar, the food is delicious and fun, and the cocktail program is severely underrated.
If you're a group, there is one wonderful place for you: The Cloud.
The Cloud is a long communal table fitted with a light fixture that features lightbulbs of various shapes and colours, packed together to simulate a colourful cloud-like structure (hence the name).
I've had many memorable nights with my group of friends at that table, and I hope that now, you will too.
LONG LIVE THE CLOUD!
Al's Steakhouse
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Address: 327 Elgin St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Al's is a long-standing classic with over 50 years of experience serving up steaks to Ottawans and visiting celebrities alike.
It's an institution in the Ottawa restaurant community and continues to knock the socks off of everyone who walks through its doors.
Dining at Al's is like a right of passage... It's one of the few spots left in the city that has truly seen it all. It's still run by the same family who originally opened the doors, and they still care just as deeply.
Al's has a MASSIVE dining room and can happily accommodate groups of all sizes. It's time to gather the squad and experience a true Ottawa classic.
Al's Steakhouse MenuThe summer is far from over, and now you and the squad have a list of group-friendly places to check out! So what are you waiting for? Get to it!
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
6 Ottawa restaurants and bars that are perfect if you're dining in a large group
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