The Swan At Carp — Restaurant in Ottawa

Located in a beautiful old house surrounded by old trees. This place has much potential but the experience was very average. The road up for parking (around the back) was not well marked, and it was an inclined dirt road with large areas recessed from water running during previous rainfall. The front door is VERY uninviting - it looks like a white solid door you would find as a house access via garage. We wondered if we were entering a back entrance.

When we went in, there were 3 people seated, and the rest of the place was empty. Really empty. Not a server or waiter- no one behind the bar. We stood for 5 minutes wondering if anyone was going to come see us? Or maybe the restaurant was closed and the people seated were management or something?

Eventually, a server came out and seemed surprised to see us. He told us to grab a table. I believe he worked the bar as well- maybe the kitchen? He had an apron on that was really dirty.

The menu looked alright, if pricey. The iced tea I ordered cane with a paper straw. (EVERYONE hates paper straws). The server was polite and friendly and food came out quickly and was hot! 😀

The food was okay. The spring rolls tasted like ones that I could get from the grocery store and just deepfried. Good, but not something special I would go to a restaurant for.

The bathroom entrance door has paint all worn off from it, and when you go through that door, you're immediately in the "back" of the restaurant- kitchen door open with a cook like 2 feet away watching me go into the bathroom door. So that was awkward.

The bathroom is TINY but clean.

Overall, it was okay. The character of the place is a bit lost - a hunting vest hung on the wall- on a hanger, on top of ornate wallpaper- next to abstract paintings- the decor didn't quite make sense.

I think with a few renovations, to add charm and character back into this beautiful spot, and a bit of an updated fresher menu, it could really...

The food is good, but from what we had heard about the reputation and quality of this restaurant - we were not impressed. It did not live up to our expectations. Don't get me wrong: the food and service are fine; but nothing great

And, though their choices of beer may be great (as noted in other reviews), their choice of desserts was very limited … a few pies, a few truffles, several choices of single serving sized logs, and crême brulee. I had one of the logs and I found it to be too dry

If you have never been here before and especially if you are arriving after sunset, familiarize yourself on Google StreetView on how to get there in advance so that you don't muddle around. The entrance to their driveway comes up quickly on the right near the bottom of a hill on Falldown Lane and is easy to miss while you are watching where you are going in the dark. Also, be aware that the driveway is only a single lane and goes back up the hill (in a different direction) that you just went down. Should you meet someone on the driveway leaving as you are arriving, courtesy and practically calls for you to yield to the leaving guest since you can back down the driveway easier than they can back up it. The only exception would be if you should meet each other near the very top of the driveway, in which case the distance the leaving guest would have to back up versus you trumps...

I have eaten at the Swan several times over the years and this was the worst dining experience I have had to date. Usually the food is well crafted and use fresh ingredients. Tonight my jambalaya had overcooked shrimp, frozen vegetables, and dry chicken with a couple slices of flavorless sausage. The sided is of spicy kale salad was Costco bagged lemon seed kale salad in a tiny fruit cup. Great for home bbq with the family, terrible side for a 18$ dish at what once was a respectable restaurant. Our appetizer was the shrimp and crab cakes, which ended up being four tiny discs the diameter of a golf ball, all breading, barely tasted of crab with the equivalent of one shrimp chopped between the four cakes. Included with the poorly done crab cakes was half rotten wilted greens and dried out carrot shavings. The blackened talapia was just breaded and deep fried with an over salted sauce slathered all over it and some awful rice. For two Cordon Blue chefs running the kitchen, this was simply awful and a waste of a evening drive to Carp. Never again will I eat at the Swan or recommend it to...