Town
1 / 10

Town

4.6
·491k reviews·,

An intimate Ottawa bistro offering modern, seasonal Italian fare with a focus on fresh, local ingredients and an impressive wine selection.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

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Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Town

Town

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

An intimate Ottawa bistro offering modern, seasonal Italian fare with a focus on fresh, local ingredients and an impressive wine selection.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Experience creative Italian flavors in a cozy, relaxed ambiance perfect for date night."

TIP

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends, to secure your table.

Share Plates

Consider sharing small plates to experience a wider variety of the menu's creative dishes.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 5PM

Cuisine

Italian

Price

$$$

Phone

+1 613-695-8696

Address

296 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 0N9, Canada

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Cozy Ambiance for Dates

Cozy Ambiance for Dates

Intimate and relaxed atmosphere, perfect for a romantic dinner date with charming decor.

20 Best Restaurants for a Romantic Dinner in OttawaThe Best Restaurants in OttawaGoogle Review
Creative Italian Flavors

Creative Italian Flavors

Experience unique, seasonal Italian dishes with a modern twist, emphasizing fresh, local ingredients.

The Best Italian Restaurants In Ottawa CanadaBucket List Ottawa Restaurants You Need To Try If You Haven't AlreadyGoogle Review
Exceptional Wine Selection

Exceptional Wine Selection

Enjoy a thoughtfully curated wine list with expert recommendations to complement your meal.

Google Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Ottawa 🇨🇦 Capital of Canada #city #cityofottawa #capital #capitalofcanada #ottawa #downtown #photography #drone #viral #dji #video #videoviral
@djicanada
110 likes • 5.3K views

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends, to secure your table.

Share Plates

Consider sharing small plates to experience a wider variety of the menu's creative dishes.

Ottawa Today 🌦🇨🇦 #canada🇨🇦 #ottawatiktok #ottawa
@ottawacityvibes
4K likes • 52.1K views
Downtown Ottawa, Canada 🇨🇦 🔥 🔥 #canada_life🇨🇦 #snow #city #shorts
@abalonegames0
868 likes • 26.2K views

Ask for Recommendations

Staff are knowledgeable and happy to help you choose from the menu and wine list.

Allow Time for Parking

Parking can be challenging, especially on weekends; plan extra time for your arrival.

Ottawa, Ontario is Canada’s capital. Yeah capital P for pee-ew! Everything in this city closed at 6pm because everyone has to wake up early for their government job and they are dog tired from ploughing some dudes wife from Stittsville. #fyp #ottawa #ontario #trend #Canada
@kyleluceycomedy
46.8K likes • 435.4K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends, to secure your table.

Share Plates

Consider sharing small plates to experience a wider variety of the menu's creative dishes.

Ask for Recommendations

Staff are knowledgeable and happy to help you choose from the menu and wine list.

Allow Time for Parking

Parking can be challenging, especially on weekends; plan extra time for your arrival.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Town is praised for its cozy and relaxed ambiance, creative Italian dishes, and excellent wine selection, making it a popular choice for dates and special occasions. While many highlight the flavorful food and attentive service, some diners have noted issues with the portion sizes for the price, the temperature of some dishes, and challenges with parking and service during busy periods.

"Came here for my birthday dinner and had a really nice time! Our server was very friendly and the service overall was excellent. We absolutely loved everything we ordered and found the dishes all super creative. The cozy and relaxed ambience is perfect for a dinner date imo😊"

Vivienne Cruz

"Town has been around for years. There's a sense of confidence and consistency in what they do. The vibe is chill and unpretentious, great for a relaxing evening out. Dishes are packed with flavour, showcasing real care in the kitchen. The Croatian wines paired beautifully with the meal. Service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. A solid spot."

Tu Vuong

"Food was good, service was decent. Was very warm in the restaurant and the ambiance wasn't anything to write home about, but nonetheless would absolutely go again.

Took us about 30 minutes to find parking and walk over, so give yourself plenty of time if you're going on a weekend."

Sierra S

What People Like

Cozy and romantic atmosphere
Creative and flavorful Italian dishes
Great wine recommendations

What People Dislike

Portion sizes perceived as small for the price
Occasional temperature inconsistencies in food
Parking can be difficult

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend dining, as the restaurant is intimate and often busy.

The Best Restaurants in OttawaGoogle Review

Many guests suggest sharing plates to try a variety of the creative, seasonal dishes offered.

The Best Italian Restaurants In Ottawa CanadaGoogle Review+1

Yes, the staff are known for their helpful recommendations from the extensive wine list.

Google Review

Parking can be a challenge, particularly on busy nights. It's advisable to allocate extra time for finding a spot or consider valet.

Google Review+1

The restaurant features a cozy, relaxed, and intimate atmosphere, making it ideal for date nights and quiet dinners.

20 Best Restaurants for a Romantic Dinner in OttawaGoogle Review

Dishes like ricotta stuffed meatballs, beef carpaccio, and lamb bolognese are frequently mentioned as highlights.

The Best Italian Restaurants In Ottawa Canada20 Best Restaurants for a Romantic Dinner in OttawaBucket List Ottawa Restaurants You Need To Try If You Haven't Already

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With a fun, low key atmosphere, Town puts an inventive, original spin on its well-crafted Italian dishes. The menu is relatively small but includes a inviting range of small plates, as well as larger versions of upscale favorites, such as ricotta stuffed meatballs with soft polenta and san marzano. The restaurant prides itself on its connections to local suppliers, meaning all the ingredients are sourced fresh, and also furthers its sense of community by supporting local artists, whose works line the walls.

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Town (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || ).push({}); Couples who enjoy a busier atmosphere with a lot of personality should check out Town on Elgin Street. This small and cozy restaurant is known for their excellent service and offers a “stripped down dining experience featuring smart upgrades on Italian classics”. Always delicious and inventive, guests can choose from small plates, like Lavender Almonds or Beef Tartare, and larger dishes including Lamb Bolognese or Ricotta Stuffed Meatballs.

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It's not uncommon for restaurants in Ottawa to grab inspiration from a particular, traditional cuisine and somehow adding to it to make it their own. Town embodies this cooking style stylishly with Italian eats-- you can find menu items like barbecued octopus, lamb bolognese and ricotta-stuffed meatballs with polenta. Chef-owner Marc Doiron recreates these classic Mediterranean and central Italy dishes without desperately trying to recreate a replica of these Italian foods.

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Welcome to Town in Ottawa, where the quaintness of a small town collides with the charm of Canada's capital city. Prepare to be delightfully confused as you wander through the city's maze-like streets, seemingly designed by someone who enjoyed bending straight lines. Take a break at one of the countless coffee shops, where you can sip your latte while watching the constant battle between hipsters and businessmen over who can sport the best beard.

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Located just a stone’s throw from downtown, this intimate Italian-style bistro serves up classic Italian fare with a modern Canadian spin. The elegant eatery is best-known for its housemade pasta and old-world wine list. While the compact restaurant usually fills up on most weeknights, the ambiance is always cozy and welcoming—although we do recommend making a reservation if you’re hoping to get a table during peak hours.

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Town is one of the best restaurants in Ottawa serving modern, seasonal Italian fare. With a welcoming atmosphere that’s never snobby, Town has friendly staff, accessible prices, and downright mouth-watering food that will instantly turn you into a regular. Chef and owner Marc Doiron is a true artist, and knows how to expertly balance flavours to provide only the best food for his customers.

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Address: 296 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1M3, CanadaPhone:+1 (613) 695-8696Website:townlovesyou.caDetails: $$$, Italian restaurant. Nestled in Ottawa’s Elgin Street, Town is a local favorite that offers a remarkable dining experience. With its impeccable food quality and outstanding service, it’s no wonder this restaurant receives rave reviews.

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Another small plates restaurant that's popular with locals and visitors: town. Visitors say this Italian-inspired outpost is a hit thanks to its convenient downtown location and its flavorful dishes. And when you're ready to sample some of the city's seafood, head to the Whalesbone Oyster House for (what else?) oysters.

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One of the best hangouts for a food lover, the Town is for those who never settle for anything less than the best. The town is famous for its home-to-home experience, complemented with warm Edison lighting. The simple rustic tables, textured wooden flooring, and leather seating enhance the overall experience.

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Town is an exciting culinary haven where you can expect something new each visit, thanks to its seasonal fare of delectable bites. If there’s anything that’s constant, it’s the cozy, inviting ambiance and the artistic presentation of mouth-watering dishes that make each meal a memorable experience.

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Planning to go a bit further and need to choose one of the best restaurants in downtown Ottawa?. Town is the place to go. Billed as an artisanal Italian restaurant, Town is family-owned and -operated, offering dishes like the classic meatballs to falafel and sweet potato tahina.

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Their slogan, “Town loves you and wants you to be happy”, says it all!. Creative cuisine made with fresh locally-sourced ingredients, accompanied by good music, a warm atmosphere and excellent service, at a reasonable price. Open Thursday-Monday from 2 p.m.

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The restaurant, located in the ByWard Market, is known for its high-end Canadian cuisine. Town offers a prix fixe menu that changes daily, and features dishes like caribou tartare and lobster bisque. The average price for a meal at Town is $80 per person.

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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (441 reviews) - Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5) - Type of cuisine: Italian - Price: $$ - $$$ - Address: 296 Elgin St Downtown, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1M3 Canada - Read more on Tripadvisor

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And although I found it a fair bit pricey and not that stellar in many of their dishes, my absolute favorite dish I’ve had in Ottawa was the octopus at Town. I have no idea if they still make it, but if they do it’s worth a visit.

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Dinner suggestion: Town is a family owned and operated, artisanal restaurant serving seasonally inspired smart upgrades of Italian classics. 296 Elgin St. (613) 695 – 8696

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