State & Main — Restaurant in Ottawa

This was our first time to any State & Main. Before trying it out, at this new location, I had heard that they were well known for their steaks. I'm not convinced

My wife had the Sirloin steak (6 oz for $ 29) plus sautéed mushrooms; while I had the Empire State steak (10 oz for $ 39.50). First, in ordering the steaks: the way the menu is worded, there is an implication that there is no choice in your sides. The steaks come with mashed potatoes and asparagus, which is what my wife had. I, on the other hand, am not a big fan of either of those sides, so I was thrilled when our server asked if I wanted these default sides OR something else. I chose a Caesar Salad and fries. The fries came with a State & Main Dill Dip

My wife was very pleased with her Sirloin steak. It was cooked to perfection. The premium Angus beef was terrific. Unfortunately, I was less than thrilled with my order. Though my Empire State steak was also very well (properly, that is) cooked, I was not entirely impressed by the cut. There was a noticeable amount of fat to be cut off, before I was ready to eat it; and even after that, there was a moderate amount of gristle as well

My wife also enjoyed her mashed potatoes (she's from PEI, so what do you expect), and the asparagus. For me, the Caesar salad was great, and the fries were quite good. They were lightly spiced and went well with the Dill dip, though personally, I prefer ketchup with my fries (sorry, I guess I'm a traditionalist)

As we were near finished our steaks, I asked my wife how she enjoyed her steak; and, upon seeing her sautéed mushrooms, I suddenly realized that I never received mine. They were supposed to automatically come with the Empire State steak; but, for my order, I never received them. I pointed out this oversight to our server so that the same mistake would not happen to other customers. Though I did receive an offer to have them delivered then (which I declined, given how little remained of my meal), I did not, however, receive anything more than an apology for the mistake

Obviously, I have no way of knowing how representative my Empire State steak was compared to the usual you can expect from State & Main; BUT, based upon my experience, I would definitely recommend the Sirloin over the Empire State

We went out for this dinner to celebrate our 45th Wedding Anniversary, and we certainly enjoyed our experience overall

However, a couple quick pointers that we learned from this experience:

we wanted a reservation for Sunday evening at 5:00 pm, expecting the Sunday evenings this would not be an issue. We were wrong. Even for a Sunday, calling ONLY 3 days in advance is not enough to get the time we wanted. Instead, we had to settle for a 4:00 pm reservation arriving at 4:00, the restaurant was relatively empty and, at least for us, we felt the volume for the background music was too loud. It made it difficult to hear what our server was saying. The volume made the music much more than just background however, when we left after 5:00, the restaurant was very full; and we had no issues with volume of the music then (as it appeared to remain unchanged since we arrived) when we arrived to be seated, we were offered a "high" table with "high" stools. As it was not yet crowded, we asked for a "normal height" table & seating and had no problem getting one. So, if this is your preference, do not be afraid to ask they have a wide range of choices for appetizers to select from, but I cannot comment on any. Given our age and early arrival (and therefore a shorter period since we last ate), we did not order from this part of the menu and there are desserts available, though they are not listed on the menu. Again, we were too full too full to try any, but a number of the choices sounded very tempting. There is definitely a good variety of choices as we were leaving (after 5:00 pm), there were people being turned away at the door because the arrived WITHOUT reservation. So, DEFINITELY MAKE RESERVATIONS if you want...

We had a party of 11 people for a birthday Saturday night. The service was bruuuuutal. Our server himself was a nice guy, actually the whole staff was polite and welcoming. We came in, ordered a round of drinks, all was well. It took roughly 30 minutes for someone to come around for refills / other drinks. We got those finally, and ordered apps. Honestly, food was very good. The issue we ran into was the 2 rounds of drinks and app plates were all over the place. Literally no one grabbed anything. There was 2 members off the staff leaning against the bar, facing us and nothing removed. A couple guys went outside, so we piled up the stuff as a "u wanna come get this" the answer was.... no. I had to ask someone to come over and grab stuff to take away, even then it was maybe a quarter of the stuff on the table empty. At one point there was 17 empty glasses sitting there. I understand it's a Saturday night, and was busy, I get it. But this was ridiculous, again, 2 ppl just standing there doing nothing. Also, on a few occasions one of the male servers was behind the bar, picking his nose. I'm not even kidding.... Finally, the mains are coming out and the realization that there isn't room on the table kicked in, and most of the stuff was finally taken away. Not all, still a bunch of empty glasses. The mains, again, tasted really good. Was impressed on how good all the food was. That's when another issue came up. Someone taking a bite of a fry and the dill dip (which was delicious) stopped cause they felt something weird. She pulls out PART OF A FINGER NAIL. Absolutely disgusting. We call over the server, we tell him what happened. He's says, "oh" gets a napkin and takes it away. As you can imagine, everyone was done at that point eating the food. So now we are sitting around for a good, 20 minutes and server brings over the bills. The person who had someone's finger nail in there mouth was upset that they received a bill and didn't believe they should pay. The server said ok, hold on, started getting others to pay, (weird) but then came back around and asked, ok, so what exactly was the problem again. There was a finger nail in my food. During this entire time the manager didn't come by and attend to this matter, so we asked for one to come over to chat. The manager did come by, and the situation was explained again, her response was the way it should have been from the get go, that's disgusting and I'm very sorry about that, don't worry bout the bill today. She also mentioned that she wasnt made aware of the incident until right then. Which is pretty wild on its own, but what can you do. The convo was appreciated, she was very polite and an easy conversation. It really is an unfortunate string of events, I don't want to say they tried their best, cause that wasn't what was happening. With all that said, it sucks cause the food was very good but that is pretty much the only positive...

Edit: Great food.

State & Main Kitchen and Bar in Barrhaven elevates the concept of comfort food to a whole new level, making it a must-visit destination for both locals and visitors alike. Nestled conveniently close to Highway 416 and just a short drive from Ottawa's bustling downtown, it boasts a prime location that is both accessible and inviting. The restaurant itself pairs a refined downtown vibe with the cozy, welcoming atmosphere of a neighborhood bar, striking the perfect balance for any occasion.

Upon arrival, guests can immediately sense the vibrant energy that State & Main exudes. It's an ideal spot for a perfect date night, offering a delightful dining experience that can be seamlessly followed by a movie at the nearby Cineplex Barrhaven Cinemas. This establishment isn't just about the convenience of location; it's about creating memorable moments through a carefully crafted menu and an impressive selection of cocktails.

For those in the Barrhaven area, whether you're finishing a round of golf at Cedarhill Golf Club or ticking off errands, State & Main emerges as the go-to spot for unwinding. Particularly noteworthy is Ottawa's best Happy Hour, a testament to the restaurant's commitment to providing extraordinary value and a great atmosphere.

The menu at State & Main is thoughtfully designed to cater to a wide range of tastes while focusing on elevated comfort food. From classic dishes that remind you of home cooking to innovative creations that stimulate the palate, every item promises to satisfy. Coupled with their inventive cocktails, dining here becomes not just a meal, but an experience.

What sets State & Main apart is not just its excellent food and drinks but its dedication to creating a lively, engaging environment. The staff is friendly and attentive, ensuring that each guest's experience is nothing short of exceptional. This commitment to service, combined with high-quality cuisine and a comfortable, stylish setting, makes State & Main in Barrhaven a shining example of how to blend the familiar with the extraordinary.

In conclusion, State & Main Barrhaven is a gem that offers a downtown dining experience right in the heart of the neighborhood. Whether you're looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion, enjoy a casual meal out, or simply relax with a well-crafted cocktail, this restaurant and bar will not disappoint. The next time you find yourself in the area, make sure to stop by and elevate your day with a dose of what can only be described as comfort food...