Fratelli Kanata — Restaurant in Ottawa

We were staying in a hotel in Kanata a couple of months ago and asked the front desk for a recommendation for dinner. The hotel is near two shopping centres (Kanata Centrum and Signature Centre) and there are quite a few restaurants in the area but most of them are what I call "chain" restaurants (Moxie's, Baton Rouge, Jack Astor's) and we wanted something family run and a bit higher quality. The person at the front desk recommended Fratelli's - in the Signature Centre, beside Farm Boy - and told us that some Italian tourists staying at the hotel recently went there and reported that it was the kind of restaurant that they would expect to visit in Italy.

That was enough for us so we walked over to the restaurant from the hotel for dinner on our first night of our vacation. We were greeted by one of the front of house team members and seated at a very nice table for two just inside the restaurant near the glass doors that open to the outdoor patio. The restaurant was a bit noisy, as some reviews have mentioned, but it was the noise of people laughing, singing (there was a birthday party being held upstairs that night) and otherwise enjoying themselves. We did not find that it interefered with our conversation. The decor of the restaurant is certainly eclectic (there was a Vespa-like scooter in the front area of the restaurant) but it gave us something interesting to look at while waiting for our food to be delivered. (the 50th birthday party upstairs was also entertaining)

Our server Simone was attentive and professional. When asked for recommendations or to explain a menu item, she did not hesitate. This speaks to the training and experience of the wait staff.

Once we placed our order we did not have to wait too long before lovely sliced Italian bread was delivered to the table along with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. This was a nice touch and it reminded us of how things used to be before the craziness of the pandemic.

Our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time and we proceeded to enjoy a starter of the caprese salad followed by a large Juventino pizza and parmesan fries. Even though we were sharing these items, we did not leave the restaurant hungry.

The only thing I would advise the reader is that the caprese salad really was sized for one person and not really appropriate for sharing.

When it came time to leave, we asked Simone for some suggestions on where to go in Ottawa that we had not already visited during our numerous previous visits. She recommended several places, all of which we visited and enjoyed.

Next time we are in Kanata, we will be going back to Fratelli's for a...

We went for a family dinner upon a friend’s recommendation and made a reservation. We were asked to follow COVID protocols which we did. Upon entering, we experienced an unpleasant and unwelcoming attitude of the staff. Throughout the process, we constantly experienced staff looking at us and talking amongst themselves. We got demeaning stares from the employees. There were no follow ups or check ins in between our orders. To give our side of the story we pleasant and kind clients who just wanted to have a good family dinner. When we asked for extra desserts, the waitress looked at us with amusement, clearly she had it written on her face “”will you be able to afford it?”

We ask for the bill and we tip despite the unprofessional, unwelcoming and racially discriminatory behavior. One staff member comes as we leave and sternly orders us to wear our masks when she clearly sees that we are all in the midst of putting it on, there was no gesture of courtesy or customer experience that followed. We decided we have had enough at this time and asked to see a manager. The manager was the same person who had been rude to us when we were leaving. When we brought to her our concerns we could see she got uncomfortable and started saying that things are stuff for restaurants etc. Well we know things are tough for restaurant and that is why we are here supporting local businesses. She was justifying the behavior of her staff.

She explained that when staff was speaking about us, they were talking happily of how much business we will be giving them. If that was the case, perhaps we would have seen the staff provide basic customer service at the minimum. Instead we got stares, and people talking down to us.

It is 2020 and it is Kanata, why do we have to still face racial discrimination? We were made to feel small, uncomfortable and demeaning. If you are person of minority avoid giving your business to this restaurant! Will be taking this up with OHRC and posting about my experience of this restaurant on all our social media accounts. Behavior like this needs to be spoken about LARGELY & LOUDLY!

PS: Overall the food was below average. Dessert was the only thing that...

My wife and I went there for my 71st birthday on a busy Friday night. We thankfully had a reservation and our table was available within a few short minutes. While the noise level was intimidating at the outset, we realized, as the evening wore on, that this was due to the anticipation of the good food that was awaiting. Noticeable from the moment we walked in rhough was the great rapport that Fratelli's staff has with the clientele. They are friendly, informative, efficient and cleaŕly knew all about the food being served. The decor is modern yet has a cosy, laid back feeling to it. Being here for the first time, we relied on our server, Robert (or Roberto), to guide us through the menu and wine list. My first question was about the wine menu, and how I was undecided about 2 wines I had never tried before. He un-hesitatingly advised me to chose the Quattro, from the Fontamera house. What a delightful choice it was. We have also been driving to Kingston for years now to eat a thin-crust, wood fired pizza of the kind you find everywhere in Italy specifically, and in mamy other European countries. Again, Robert assured us that that was exactly the kind of pizza they serve. This is what we chose (the 'Pirlo') to share as a starter and what a treat it was! This tomato--based pizza featured thinly-cut prosciutto, mozarella, a good amount of arugula and shaved parmesan. The pizza was served piping hot, cooked to perfection and with the thin crust promised. Watching other pizzas from the menu pass our table ensured that we would be back to try others on their menu. The main courses we selected (gnocchi gogonzola and penne diavola) were equally well cooked, with the pasta al dente and the sauces beautifully seasoned. This is not a place for a quiet romantic tête-à-tête dinner. But if you are looking for great Italian food, on par with what you would get in Little Italy, in a bustling and vibrant atmosphere, aided along by friendly and knowledgeable staff, then make sure that Fratelli's in Kanata is on your "go-to'" list. You will NOT be...