EVOO Greek Kitchen — Restaurant in Ottawa

Having tried unsuccessfully to reserve online for Tuesday, August 23 (no availability), we booked bar seating for the following night. Not being able to reserve on our preferred night was just the beginning of our bad experience.

Our whole reason for visiting was to satisfy our desire for calamari.

Wellllll...

We started with char-broiled pita with olives (the menu clearly read plural: olives) and tzatziki. The pita was charred, nearly black, and there was very little tzatziki, with only a single kalamata olive on top. The saganaki we ordered was only so-so. The calamari—the main event we were so looking forward to—was overcooked, rubbery and cold.

Yes. COLD.

All portions were small and certainly not "shareable" as the menu claimed. In addition, prices, on average, are $10 MORE than indicated in the online menu!

The LEAST expensive bottle of wine was $75. Cocktails started at $15. We opted for soft drinks instead and got slender glasses full of ice and, I guarantee you, less than the 355 mL that is standard in a soft drink can.

We were seated at the end of the bar: they should NEVER have decided to seat patrons there: it's narrow, with seats interrupting traffic flow in the passage to the patio and restrooms. Anyone passing there would hip check my husband when walking by.

This brings me to another crucial element. The restrooms are up a flight of stairs: this means, in addition to the step and very tight corner to the left inside the entrance, this establishment is NOT accessible to those dependent on mobility aids or wheelchairs.

I appear able-bodied; that is, I have no mobility issues. Nevertheless, I do have a disability. More than one, in fact, although none is "visible" or appparent. I therefore feel it's incumbent upon me to advocate for the disabled—individuals who make up an estimated 10 to 15 per cent of the general population. It may not effect immediate change, accommodation or remedy, but if more add their voices to the conversation, it just might one day—sooner than later.

We paid over $70 for an utter garbage meal from which we got sick and for abysmal, inattentive service. Under no circumstances would I...

Our experience at EVOO started off fine. The restaurant was lovely, as was our server. We ordered a drink (we went for brunch), and asked for a few more minutes to decide on our food. A few minutes turned into her not coming back for another half hour. I'm not sure if they were busier than expected or under staffed, but either way, it was a bit off putting. Regardless, we ordered and then waited. They served us a tray of fresh fruit and bread, which we did appreciate. However, we were hungry and eagerly awaiting our actual meals. Those didn't show up until 45 mins after we ordered. Which at this point, is a whole hour and 15 mins after we have actually sat down in the restaurant. We were starving, and had tickets to a play at the Gladstone shortly afterwards. The server realized it had been a while but didn't really seem apologetic. On top of waiting, everything we had barely tasted like anything. Basic seasonings seem to be lost. My friend ordered the lamb chop dish, and it was barely a bite and mostly covered in fat. I had noticed other people asking for hot sauce to be brought to their table and now I know why. The only thing that had some flavour was the greek sausage I had ordered on the side of my dish, but even then it was not worth the $8 they charged for it. And on a sidenote, I noticed someone else here complain about their bathroom situation, and I agree, it really feels quite precarious. As does their choice of having high dining tables with giant holes in the middle, that you can easily knock glasses or other such things through. Not worth the $100 two people ended up...

Where to begin... From the waiter that brought us water and forgot about us for 10+ minutes until I flagged him down to take our order. We ordered 5 plates. The first was the beef meatballs... Microscopic but delicious - about 200g of meat for $20. Then the tasteless feta plate that fills you up with cheap & dry pita bread. After that we had to wait for 30 mins for the rest of the plates. Just before the remainder of the food was brought another waiter brought me a clean plate with utensils and shoved it on top of my arm instead of putting on the side as I was wondering where my food was while using my phone and slowly digesting that feta breading disaster. Finally our food arrived looking tired and dull. The lemon potatoes were lemony and dry on the inside. The pork souvlaki was very basic, monotonous, and deprived of any sensory stimulation. The Evoo half chicken that I had a piece of (that was the breast) ended up having a long (1.5-2 inches) and sharp bone in it that I was lucky not to cut my mouth on. The unenthusiastic staff then refilled our water and exhaustedly asked if there's anything else we needed. The tasteless food didn't make it all fully down our throats and we reluctantly took the left overs home dreading the taste of this work of culinary art once it's reheated. $125 and no tip (still looking for some effort or enthusiasm from the waiters who seem very excited standing around and watching each other light customer plates on deliberate fire for presentation) later I can't recommend enough for everyone to EVOO-luate their choices in restaurants and avoid this place...