O'Brien's Roadhouse — Restaurant in Ottawa

I’ve always liked O’Brien’s Roadhouse. It’s in a great, convenient location, and over the years it’s been a reliable spot to grab a bite, hang out with friends, or enjoy some casual drinks. One of the highlights for me has always been the patio, it’s a solid setup and one of the nicer ones in the area, especially when the weather cooperates. It’s the kind of place I’ve recommended to people and returned to multiple times.

That said, I have pretty mixed feelings about the recent changes. The new menu just doesn’t hit the mark the way the old one did. I’m all for trying new things and switching things up, but in this case, most of the new items just haven’t delivered. I’ve gone out of my way to try a number of the updated dishes, and unfortunately, I found most of them lacking in either flavor or overall appeal. It’s not that they’re inedible, but they just don’t live up to the standard the restaurant used to have.

Funny enough, I accidentally ordered the Roadhouse Nachos, not something I would’ve usually picked based on the description, but to my surprise, I actually loved them. They were completely unconventional, with ingredients like corn (yes, corn from a corn on the cob) and BBQ sauce, which you wouldn’t normally associate with nachos. But somehow, it worked. That’s the one standout I have continuously returned for!

As for our most recent visit, which was just this past Victoria Day long weekend, it was unfortunately disappointing. The place seemed unprepared for the holiday crowd. From the moment we walked in, things felt off. The host, although polite, was incredibly soft-spoken. In a busy, high-energy environment like that, I had to keep asking her to repeat herself, it got awkward fast. Small detail, but important, especially when setting the tone for guests walking in.

We opted for the patio, which I normally love, but we weren’t given a heads-up that there would be live music. While I do enjoy live music in general, it felt mismatched with the vibe of the restaurant that day, almost like the genre didn’t quite fit. And it was loud. Loud enough that conversation was tough and my guest, who already wasn’t enjoying their meal, felt even more put off. We ended up cutting the visit short and heading out early, which is rare for me at a place I usually enjoy.

In the end, I still think O’Brien’s has potential. The staff are competent, and the atmosphere can be great when everything aligns. But right now, between the hit-or-miss menu and the inconsistencies in the guest experience, it feels like it’s lost a bit of its charm. I hope they find their groove again soon, because when this place is good, it’s...

Great food, service, and manager! This is my updated review of O’Brien’s ( will copy my original review from 2 years ago below) This has been our go-to neighbourhood spot since they opened. There seemed to be a few hiccups when there were some management changes earlier in the summer. But we gave it another chance today and are thrilled to see that the new manager, Johnny, has done a fantastic job at making this spot as good or possibly better than it was before. The staff and food are excellent. We dined on the patio and enjoyed delicious perogies to start. They were cooked perfectly and served with ample bacon and onion and sour cream. I had my favourite Studebaker Club with garden salad. Nice big portion and perfectly toasted bread and yummy chicken and avocado. My husband had the Nashville style chicken sandwich with fries and it was awesome. Fries are fabulous! Our server was attentive, friendly and professional. Congrats to the new team at O’Brien’s! We will continue to dine on your beautiful patio and in the restaurant. So pleased. 10 out of 10!

My review from July 2021: So happy to share my great experience! It exceeded my expectations. My husband and I had been looking forward to trying O'Brien's on Industrial Avenue since last March before the pandemic began and today was our first visit. We were so pleased with the ambience and comfortable patio furniture to begin and the staff were pleasant and welcoming. There was a bike rack right at the entrance for us but also a nice parking lot if we choose to bring our car. The beer list was very ample and the our drafts arrived cold and fresh! We ordered a lb of hot wings which arrived meaty and fall off the bone and the sauce was perfectly hot and tangy and right for my taste. We then split a Club sandwich with a side of coleslaw which came on a butter toasted bread with a side of yummy coleslaw and awesome handcut fries. I loved those fries! We also ordered two pizzas to take home (a pesto chicken and a meat lovers) which were both fantastic. Tasty sauce and ample toppings with a great crust. We thought the service and our server in particular was excellent.! She was very friendly and accommodating and got everything right. There was live music which made for a fun and toe-tapping time but also very relaxing and enjoyable patio experience. We look forward to going back and I highly recommend...

I was here earlier today. When I arrived, I politely said that I am here to watch the Masters so if available I would need to sit where I can watch it on tv. They had a spot at the bar and the golf was on. Soon after, a couple sitting beside me asked to put the Jays game on. There are two TVs on our side of the bar. One had golf on and the other had curling. The guy who I assume is the manager changed both the TVs to the Jays game. I reminded my server that I was here to watch the golf so if you could please change one of the TVs back to it. She said that the manager handles the TV so she will ask him to do it. Some time goes by and nothing changes. The food arrives and I remind the server again that I would like to have the golf on one of the TVs. She again says that she will tell the manager because he handles it. Meanwhile, this whole time the couple who requested for it to be changed are just buried in their cell phones, not even looking up to watch. No one comes back to me again until I am finished my food. I again ask one last time to change it, knowing that I can order a drink and can stay a bit longer. Again nothing happens. Then the wife of the couple pops her head up from her phone to say "oh the Orioles tied the game, when did that happen?". That was two innings ago if they had bothered to watch. Now at this point I am very irritated. I order the bill and get out of there. As I am getting up to leave, the couple gets up and moves to a booth with some others that had joined them. I am glad they got to "watch" their Jays game, while I was completely neglected despite making my intentions for being there clear from the moment I got there. I drove 30 minutes to get there. One star for the establishment for wasting my gas, my money, and most importantly, my time. One star to the couple beside me as...