Cocotte Bistro — Restaurant in Ottawa

Had a really bad experience here with service. Host was incredibly nice and attentive, so i wont be giving a one. It was a quiet Monday night with only 4 tables apart from us in the restaurant and the server took about 10 minutes to touch the table for the first time. During a rush is understandable, but we were one of the only ones in the restaurant. We were given our wines before he even watered us, which just isn’t great protocol in my opinion. We shared the truffle risotto, which i enjoyed. Could use a little bit more seasoning and taste but overall it was a 8.5/10 dish as it is unique. We ordered a dessert at 915, thinking to go to a different restaurant afters. The server forgot our order and did not even bother to check on us. We were done with our wines at this point and even with our water. At 945, i asked for my bill with a different server and asked to cancel the chocolate cake as our original server had forgotten it and also because we wanted to go somewhere else, and she informed our server that we asked for the bill. He then proceeded to set up dessert spoons in front of us in a rush, letting us know that ‘the kitchen’ had forgotten our dessert and that they were working on it now. My guest and I work in the service industry as well, and it was clear that he had forgotten it, not the kitchen. It does not take 30 minutes to make a chocolate cake and if the kitchen had forgotten it, you would have still set the spoons in front of us after we ordered. I really didnt appreciate this lying and blaming of the kitchen, it looks ridiculous and unprofessional. We insisted on the cancellation and he honoured it. For those 30 minutes, not once did he check on us, not once did he ask us about our experience with the dish, the wine, and anything else. There was 0 quality check and to be honest i probably would have ordered a cocktail or another wine if he were to be more attentive but i lost respect after experiencing this ignorance and didnt see it worthy to spend my money there. There was no service really, and it was distasteful. I liked the interior of the restaurant so i would come back for the food and atmosphere, but i would avoid getting served by this particular server. I forgot his name, but he’s a male, young, tall and thin server of Asian descent. The ignorance was incredibly disrespectful and we felt invisible, i hope we get a better experience if we decide to come again next time. Host was incredibly warm, friendly and attentive so i appreciated that. Maybe the host should be considered for serving next time. He was way more attentive...

I stopped into this restaurant for the first time as a visitor to Ottawa. I wandered around DT choosing this place for its rating and French-forward menu. It as busy when i arrived so as a single i was asked if could sit at the bar, no problem, i didn't see any tables to accommodate me anyways, and it continued to be busy through the evening. I want to give a shout out to the amazing bar staff on the evening of Sept 26th, 2025. It took me a while to get a drink, but the bar-tender was hustling like, crazy, he was basically a one man show. I ordered a simple glass of white wine, and the salmon (which i had come specifically to have) and it did not disappoint! Just delicious. It came out in a pretty quick time considering how busy the restaurant was. I will admit i was only checked on once during, and ordered a second wine but overall enjoyed myself and watched the entire staff ( host/waiters/bar staff) run around like crazy, but a well oiled machine, smooth, professional. Helping each other, including behind the bar etc.. impressed overall with the staff, in particular when a few other patrons at the bar decided to be rather unpleasant ( one actually got upset when the host didn't recognize him as a "regular patron" and was offended and rude to the host.. ( totally uncalled for, people really need to check themselves) host took it like a champ, apologized etc... NOTE: I wish i had gotten the name of the bartender that evening ( tall slender younger fellow) who was on point, he deserves specicial recognition in this review. Beautifully crafted cocktails under immense pressure and knows his craft, i sat at the bar for over and hour and he didn't miss a beat. He took a moment to verbally thank me for being easy going and a pleasure a the bar (which means perhaps others had not been) Sadly I'm not from Ottawa, as i would return here no doubt. Only 4/5 stars on atmosphere as in the main dining area connected to the lobby/sitting at the bar, it was really loud, would not have been the best for a conversation etc.. but overall...

"French" restaurant that does not serve baguette. That's like going to an "authentic" Korean restaurant and not getting kimchi sides. Most of the finer dining I've had stick to their cultural etiquettes. My french friends will be complaining about it already when they sit down here. If you're looking for authentic french food and vibe, don't take their brunch. Service was wonderful, and the dining environment is clean (except for their toilets, it's messy). It was a busy Saturday, a few groups of college birthday girls and grad parties celebrated here. They were loud and laughing across the room. Toward the end of our meal, three ladies at the table next to us took out their cameras and shooting photos at our direction with dozens of flashes. It was very rude and disturbing. In my decades of dining experience, I have never experience people taking pictures for a full five minutes with flash on during their meal. The waiter just walked by them multiple times as if it was very normal. I chose not to speak up because we were about to leave, and waiting for our car. We ordered the American Breakfast, Albacore Tuna salad, and smoked salmon egg benny. American Breakfast was absolute mediocre. Two undressed eggs, baked potatoes and 3 thin slices of ham and a toast. Salad was okay, too salty, too much sauce. Grilled Tuna was kind of nice. The other great thing about this salad was that their olives were pretty good for someone like me who usually skips olives. Smoked salmom egg benny looks nice, tastes regular. None of these taste gourmet, and the atmosphere is not gourmet. It feels like a normal hotel food that you'd get in your travels, trying to be upscale. May come back for lunch or dinner, perhaps their main courses are really french and outstanding. That said, service was friendly and...