OCCO Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Ottawa

Suffice it to say that our work group will NEVER go here again (Bay location).

We had made the reservation for our group of 13 one week prior to the actual scheduled date of the breakfast, so it wasn’t a surprise that we were coming.

We were told by the server that breakfast time is relatively quiet but that day they had two big groups: ours of 13 people and another group of 8-10, so extra staff was brought in to deal with the rush. Looking around, there were a few more tables: One of 6, one of 4 and one of 2. The restaurant wasn't packed by any stretch of the imagination and seemed quite manageable with the staff present (at least the number of staff that we could see – there could have been more in the kitchen.)

It took half an hour to take our orders and one more hour before getting our food. We had to request water several times before getting it (bringing everyone a glass of water while we are looking at the menu might solve this problem in the future). Some of the food was cold when it did come out with some people missing items like toast and preserves. The servers were very rude/curt when we asked for items that were missing.

One person who requested no meat with their Brunch Plate, had a pile of meat on his plate. He asked for the server to bring the plate back to the kitchen so that he could get his order without meat, specifically asking for items of food that hadn’t touched meat. The plate that was brought back to him was the exact same plate of food without the meat (i.e. they did not give him a new pancake, potatoes, egg and fruit that had not touched meat). He asked whether it was the same plate with the meat just simply taken off and the server lied and told him it was a new plate and that they had just screwed up the order from someone else at our table. I know that it was the same plate because when she had put it down the first time, maple syrup had spilled onto the pancake. The "new" plate had the same spill on the pancake. Also, no one else ordered the scrambled eggs, so there was no "screwing up the order" (i.e. giving someone the wrong order). He reluctantly ate the food and felt ill afterwards.

My eggs were rushed because the kitchen had prepared them over-easy instead of poached (which the server caught right away), so they were not well strained and sat in a pool of vinegar water, which ruined the taste.

Our main server did not check up on us once we had all the food we had ordered. We had to flag her down when we needed something. Our empty plates also sat on the tables for a while, instead of being promptly cleared.

I can deal with the mediocre service, the slow kitchen and the mediocre food, but bold-face lies fed to customers is absolutely unacceptable, especially when it comes to accommodating dietary...

I was excited for the opening and have been 3 times with mixed results. Twice the service was mediocre. Slow and at times I think disorganized though this is somewhat expected in a brand new restaurant. One of the servers stood out, i believe his name was Samuel, with truly fantastic service. The food is high quality though a few changes would help. First time there I had the hamre burger with the heirloom salad. I found the bacon inconsistently candied in that one bite felt and tasted like there was a jelly bean in my burger which was not pleasant (I hate jelly beans). I hope there is an option for regular bacon going forward so far I haven't asked I have just avoided menu items with the candied bacon. The heirloom salad was interesting yet I would probably not order again. I found the pomegranate spheres distracting. They were amazing individually. My second visit I requested a small sample for my friend as they were such a fantastic burst of juice in the mouth. However in a savory salad I found them confusing. They would be fantastic in a dessert of some kind. Despite that I highly recommend trying the salad at least once to experience them! The brie was fantastic but quite small for the price. My friend tried the sample plate of appetizers and this dish would easily be perfect if the sauces came on the side instead of on items. The sauces made the delectably fried food soggy yet the flavors were on point. So would order again but request all the sauces on the side. The tacos were fantastic. I had the crispy fish and the pork belly ones. They are both good but if you are only trying one go for the pork belly it was fantastic. Over all this is a fantastic restaurant that has a few growing pains to work through but a...

The experience of ordering Gooney’s sandwiches at Coco Kitchen & Bar is quite positive overall. The decoration of the place is appealing, creating a pleasant atmosphere for diners. The staff are nice and friendly, which adds to the welcoming vibe of the restaurant. The ambiance can be a bit noisy depending on the time, but considering it is a bar and restaurant, this is expected and part of the lively environment. One standout feature is the countertop where waitresses pick up food to serve customers, which is noted as looking very cool and adds a unique touch to the dining experience. The food quality is generally very good. Although the calamari was a bit softer and less crunchy than in some other restaurants, it was still enjoyable. This minor point does not detract from the overall satisfaction with the meal. Personally I have a strong intention to return to Coco Kitchen & Bar with friends and family, I do have a high level of satisfaction and confidence in the restaurant’s offerings. I will also recommend the place to others, which suggests that the experience because my experience was definitely memorable and worth sharing.

In summary, Coco Kitchen & Bar offers a nice ambiance with good food and friendly service. The lively atmosphere typical of a bar-restaurant setting might be a bit noisy at times, but the appealing décor and unique serving setup enhance the experience. The food is tasty, with only minor critiques such as the texture of the calamari. Overall, it is a place worth revisiting and recommending for a casual, enjoyable meal with company. This review reflects a positive dining experience that balances good food, friendly staff, and a vibrant...