Babbos Cucina Italiana — Restaurant in Ottawa

We tried Babbos on a Tuesday at supper time and found it surprisingly busy for a Tuesday which I thought was a good sign. Started with the arugula salad which was tasty and the greens were fresh. Also had the calamari and zucchini appetizer. Calamari was nothing special and the fried zucchini was tasty but a bit dry. Main course was Linguini Pescatore for me and Lamb chops for my wife. I found the shrimps over cooked and dry. The mussels, scallops and calamari were cooked properly but lacked flavour and I felt they could have been sautéed better or even grilled to bring out more flavour. The red sauce didn’t have a robust tomato taste and was flat. It lacked both garlic and olive oil. It was also further spoiled with the addition of chilli sauce and onions that they put in it. My wife said her lamb chops on the whole were good but 2 of them were very dry. Don’t be in a hurry to eat. It took an hour to get our main courses. There was only 2 waiters and though very polite and friendly the wait service was slow. It took for ever to get empty water glasses filled (a big no no for any fine dining establishment) and to get our empty dishes cleared. To conclude the food we had was lack lustre and the service was slow but I’ve had worse. The restaurant did get many good reviews and I don’t want to discourage you from trying it. My tastes tend to be a bit demanding but you may find this restaurant to your liking.

Update: went back after 4 years just to check it out again. I had the same dish, Linguini Pescatore. It was a bit different this time. Now there was only shrimp, scallops, and clams with a surround of mussels but no calamari. There was an abundance of shrimp and this time not overcooked. The mussels and clams were also abundant yet only 2 scallops but they were at least large. But that’s were the good news runs out. The tomato sauce still was flat and totally tasteless. It did improve a smidgen with more olive oil but it was watery and had no tomato flavor at all. How do you make a tomato sauce with no tomato taste? I wonder. If they could just get the sauce right I would love to give 5 stars. I’ll try it again in a bit to see if...

Pretty disappointed in this visit to Babbos. Our server was borderline rude, and very curt. When we asked to order an appetizer, the response was literally, "No. We put your whole order in at the same time, so the kitchen isn't overwhelmed."

What? First of all, what kind of kitchen can't handle orders coming in staggered? But more importantly, she literally could have just taken the order, held on to it until we ordered our mains and submitted them all at once and we would have been none the wiser, not told "NO!" and the fragile kitchen could have dealt with the onslaught of food apparently the 3 of us ordered.

The food was meh. The Zucchini sticks were way overbreaded and lukewarm. The chicken parm and Gnocchi got the best review. My seafood was way overcooked and rubbery. I guess waiting for the app order didn't help.

The server overheard that the woman at the table next to us was celebrating her birthday (as was my mother and the reason we were there), and said " you should have TOLD me!! I would have done something!!" So when we were ordering dessert, I turned my head to her and discreetly said, it's Moms birthday. She said, "OK!" I was hoping maybe a candle or a sparkler but got absolutely nothing, not even a Happy Birthday. Now, while that's not mandatory, it just added to our overall feeling of imposition. The desserts (tiramisu and cheesecake) while pretty to look at tasted mediocre at best.

Overall, it was edible, but at prices they're asking, I won't be going back with the treatment we received and the food we got. The restaurant itself is cute but I'll spend my...

I loved everything about this place. 5/5 stars from me.

My husband and another couple and I stopped in last minute to give the restaurant a shot, no expectations set before entering and hoping to get a table at all. The hostess/owner said they had no tables available but accommodated us by setting up a great table spread right at the bar, making sure we had the same classy experience as everyone else.

The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and perfect for a date night or family dinner. The restaurant felt family owned in the best way, even two of the waiters were cousins. The bartender was pleasant and not at all intrusive but made sure we were attended to well. The staff was happy to share stories and jokes as offered without letting it affect their service.

The food was fantastic! The four of us each had a very different pasta dish and none of us were at all disappointed. The bruschetta was also great. I never once had to ask for a refill on my drink, even without a table we were able to talk and have a great time with the couple we were with, and the prices were incredibly reasonable.

I will, without a doubt, be going back there again soon! This time we'll make a reservation to try the table dining experience! Only warning I have is that the place heats up very quickly. I was overheating a bit by the end of my...