The scallop appetizer was tasteless although some nice heat and the calamari even worse my daughters pasta was ok although the zucchini tasted off and when she got back to the hotel she got very sick and threw up ... We think food poisoning ...my veal scaloppini very average at best although my wife's stuff pasta was good .. Overall very disappointed to say the least as was told this had some... more

Great place for pasta

It is a really good place if you are looking for decent pasta, you will have a lot of choices. I ordered stuffed shells with crab meat and dry tomatoes. The flavour was rich and creamy. The portion of salad was big.

Overall, I was satisfied my dining experience there.

Location location location!! This is my 2nd time coming here. It's so awesome coming here on a nice summer day! I'm in love with the courtyard.

Aside from the amazing patio location, the food was great! They had a pretty good selection for vegetarians, but not so much vegans. I am by no means knowledgeable of authentic Italian food, but this tasted good to me. I ordered the margarita pizza,... more

I'm updating this review from a 1 star to a 3 star. The 1 star was because they closed earlier than what their help and website says. Almost 1.5 hours early. But my gf insisted we go because she likes this place.

We had 4 different pastas. All were decent 4/5 but for the price (around 19), the portions were small. For the average person, this is not enough. I would prefer to go to Boston pizza... more

This place would have been really great if:

- The service had been faster

- Portions had been larger.

A pity, because everything else was great. The staff were really friendly, there's great choice on the menu and the food was very good. My pasta pomodoro was cooked perfectly al dente and had just the right amount of basil and seasoning - not overly seasoned in order to compensate for bland... more

Simple, delish pasta

We usually come a few times a year... Either as a couple or the whole family (a 2 year old and a 6 year old). We ordered the Grazzi, Perfecta and the new Carbonara, all of which were really good, fresh, piping hot with as much grated Parmesan as you like. Not to mention the fresh bread that comes before,... more

Will not return. ..here's why

Arrived at 6.25 without a reservation. Wanted a table on patio. 3rd person was to join the 2 of us as soon as she found parking. Rule 1 could not be seated until all members of party were there. Note the patio was almost empty. We said we would order a drink while waiting. Rule 2 could not have only... more

Homemade Pasta...not your mama's

We were excited at the thought of homemade pasta..and the previous reviews were good...Homemade in this restaurant is not the entire pasta menu...only the "flat" pasta's were homemade. I qualify homemade because what arrived was nothing resembling the homemade pasta I've had or made myself. I ordered a fettucine dish...the pasta was not delicate and flat but rather round and... more

Amateur Hour

My wife and I had been wanting to try this place for quite a while, unfortunately, judging from the cheesy jokes (ex. calling my wife and daughter sisters), poor service and a brutal wait for food, I believe they hired the wait staff off the street earlier that day. No offers to refresh our drinks, no check up on how... more

Not going back

It started off with not being able to sit where we wanted to. The patio was not busy and my husband is a big guy that likes extra elbow space and weren't allowed to sit at the larger table for four. We had to sit at the very small patio table for 2. We started off with a capresse salad... more

Quality Stars need to be earned

We are a Monday, at noon. The parking next door costs $18 for 2 hours which adds to the costs of our meal. Our hopes are a high as we have chosen Mamma Grazzi because of previous Trip Advisor reviews. In the end, my companion is relatively satisfied but I'm not. Deserts are excellent but the main dish is warmed... more

Many options, something for everyone

I've been here a few times and it never fails when we have friends over. The food is always good, and the outdoor patio is gorgeous. We've usually had to wait, but it's never too bad. The fresh bread that is served at the beginning of the meal, is warm and delicious. I had the Odessa, my last visit and... more

So the pros are the space, courtyard and great service. The cons I ordered the Genovese -penne with homemade pesto and ricotta cheese for 15$ plus 7$ for some chicken. The dish was bland and some parts hot while others cold. The portions are small for the price. I also found it odd when I said 'table for one' and got the reply 'oh, would you like a table in the back?'.

Good, Simple Meal When I Needed It

This was the first restaurant I visited upon arriving in Ottawa. I'd had a stressful day of travel with flights changed and being bumped from another flight and luggage delayed. I needed something simple and Mama Grazzi's fit the bill. The evening was warm and I dined with a number of others in the courtyard. A romantic setting, I guess.... more

Mamma Grazzi's - excellent meal

We ate on their courtyard patio - very pretty and partially shaded with nice trees and plantings, etc. Our server, Dragan, was wonderful - informative, helpful and funny and he really added to the enjoyment of our meal. I had the spinach spagettini/chicken dish "Katrina" and my husband had a veal tortellini dish -in both the pasta was perfectly cooked... more

Wonderful Italian food. Some of the best fettuccine I've ever had, and their ricotta stuffed pasta shells were excellent. Great atmosphere, not too loud, and excellent service.

amazing authentic italian

This is the second visit here and again the food was incredible as was the service and ambience. Excellent specials and the house wine can't be beat

Enjoyable dinner

Visited with a friend for dinner. Calabrese salad was amazing. Pasta main dish was good but a little disappointing. Pasta was stuck together and too heavy on the red peppers. Service was prompt and very friendly. I had an unpleasant experience with a panhandler who was stationed outside the restaurant. I would definitely return again unless I saw the panhandler... more

Service and food excellent

A European style courtyard with great Italian pizza and friendly service, we loved this place so much we ate there twice. It certainly beats the chain restaurants in quality and price.

Great Food

Have been going to this restaurant for years, The food is always good. Pastas are always fresh and the service is great .When in Ottawa for 9 or 10 days we usually try to eat dinner at least twice.

Thoroughly enjoyable dinner and fabulous service

My son, husband & I recently had dinner at Mamma Grazzi's Kitchen. A very cozy and appealing restaurant tucked in Ottawa's ByWard Market & our host, Dragon, was one of the best & most helpful waiters have ever had. Dragon was charming, funny & made a terrific recommendation for us for sunday brunch the next day, even helping us to... more

Home-made pasta

This restaurant was a find! I am a great fan of Italian food, so mediocre Italian food does not score any points with me. The fact that they make their pasta is one of the main reasons I really enjoyed the meal there, as nothing beats fresh pasta!
Service was very good, staff was friendly and value was good too.... more

Disappointingly average in a nice little restaurant

Just had a business dinner this evening. Pleasant atmosphere and staff, but the bread was soft, white and not very tasteful. The caprese salad was quite nice, short on cheese but a nice plate of greens. For my entree I ordered a whole wheat penne with tomato sauce, peppers, spinach and other veggies. The sauce was somewhat bitter and uninteresting.... more

Went with a large group. Average at best. I will concede my veal escalope was OK but the accompaniments were a mess. Thin crust pizza was not great and starter Caprese Salad had a minuscule amount of Bocconchino and was principally green lettuce. Surprising when reviews on the whole are good but they likely did not try Bruchetta.

A wonderful find in the Byward Market

The service was great from the moment were were greeted at the door. Our waiter Dragon was fun, informative and attentive. I had the Milano, which was a delightful pasta with chicken, sun dried tomatoes and snow peas. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. The prices were very reasonable for Ottawa. I would highly recommend this restaurant. I will be... more

Decent meal

$20 avg. (ish) for pasta entrees, some without any meat which I find a bit pricey but it was homemade pasta, not just a bag of dried noodles. Our server was kind and I took her suggestion of the Odessa pasta bowl and it was delish! This would be a great spot in the summer.

Sadly disappointed

I used to love love this restaurant when I lived in Ottawa but when I went back the menus was poor with regards to choices, the water glasses were deity he bathroom needed cleaning and the food was mediocre to say the least. I have had such great memories there so it saddens me that I won't return to make... more

one of my all time favourites

I always come to this little place when I am in Ottawa. Friendly and long term staff, nice market location and excellent food. I like to sit at the back of the lower level, looking into the courtyard

Amazing - again

Last visited Ottawa 7 years ago and enjoyed this little gem of a restaurant so we looked it up again and were not disappointed. Fantastic food and great service. The look on my cousins 12 year old daughters face as she tucked into torone was pure delight!

Friendly Staff

I met friends at Mamma Grazzi's recently. This was my first visit to the place but two of my friends had been there previously and liked it. It seemed to be a good choice for dinner since they had to be downtown for some business. They had made a reservation and as I arrived before they did I was shown... more

Homemade pasta

Had a great experience w a large group. Wait staff was very helpful w suggestions. Food, wine and service were all exceptional.

Family dinner

We were looking for a spot that was child friendly and not overly expensive. The environment is cozy and welcoming. I had made a reservation and the table was set for us. The 4 year-old with us was very cooperative and we found we could easily visit without too much surrounding noise. The servers were attentive and helpful. The Minestrone... more

Simply Awesome

We went as a group of 20 for lunch and the kitchen had no problem making sure everyone got their plates at the same time. There was one minor mistake with someone's order being put it wrong, but they owned up to it immediately (they told us before even giving us the plate, it wasn't like they put it down... more

Mamma mia

Delicious selection of great Italian food. I went back again - it was so good. Service was excellent.

Its the outside Ambience

Food quality here is average. I am an avid dirty martini drinker and they do not have olive juice. Despite this; when the patio is open the atmosphere is fantastic. Surrounded by outdoor patios, great vibes, its truly worth while (when its warm). The winter is quite dull and its small. Some might call it quaint (I would not).

Average Italian

Went here for dinner with a friend a couple days ago. The atmosphere is so-so. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. Both my friend and I ordered pasta dishes which tasted fine. There was just nothing that made this place stand out from the dozens of other Italian restaurants in Ottawa.

Surprisingly good

Despite some patchy reviews, we found this a very acceptable place for an al fresco lunch in October despite the warning on arrival that the restaurant's pasta machinery had broken down and the menu would accordingly be curtailed. Friendly service.

casual dining that won't disappoint lunch or dinner

If you are travelling in the market in Ottawa, a couple or a family, this is a great little restaurant, pasta, lovely desserts, good wine and beer selection, friendly service. In summer / fall you can sit outside in the courtyard area, very pretty and inside its had some updating done so its fresh, Ive been there several times, alway... more

Night out with the family

My family (3 small children plus two adults) were wandering around the ByWard Market and stumbled upon Mamma Grazzi's kitchen.
First the pros:
1) We did not have a reservation and had three small children and honestly one fussy toddler but the hostess was pleasant and attentive seating us quickly on the patio as we requested on a Saturday night.... more

Who Trains These People

After avoiding this place we decided to return because of better reviews on Tripadvisor. Sadly, the poor service again didn’t allow us to try the food let alone sit down.
Walked in on a Saturday evening around 8 and the pace was not busy, all the tables for 2 were taken but plenty of empty tables for 4. The host... more

A good home cooked meal in the Byward Market

Our family of 4 which included two children aged 7 & 9 enjoyed our dinner at Mama Grazzi's. The atmosphere was very relaxed. The food tasted homemade and not mass produced. The kids loved the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. We don't usually order pasta in a restaurant as we cook delicious meals at home and are most often disappointed with... more

Great place for either a meal or a quite bite

Stopped here briefly for a "snack" whilst walking around Ottawa and ordered pizza and a couple of sides.
The food was good (we had calamari, bruschetta and some sort of sausage pizza), which were all freshly made and delicious. We sat outside, as the weather wasn't too cold and we found it a great place for people watching. The service... more

Friends were visiting from Calgary and Montreal, so we decided to organize a dinner out for the occasion. We chose Italian food, as it would be a menu easy to please everyone. Mamma Grazzi's had impressed us in the past, so it seemed like a good choice for the occasion.

Unfortunately, the whole table was not impressed with the service. Though the server was attentive, she seemed very impatient... more

Beautiful evening; delicious food

After being turned away by a tiny, crowded restaurant where we did have a reservation, we were lucky to find an empty table for six at Mamma Grazzi's Kitchen. The patio was just what we were looking for and the staff could not have been more helpful in accommodating our group of six. Our waiter was charming and made us... more

Delicious Italian Food

We came to this restaurant after we asked our tour guide at the East Block what restaurants she recommends in Ottawa. She highly recommended Mamma Grazi's so me and my husband decided to check it out. We went for lunch and sat on the patio. We were served water right away. We ordered bruschetta for appetizer and we shared a... more

Hit and miss

I have been to this restaurant many times, in different seasons and with groups of different size, from a dinner for 2 to 20! It's hard to review this place. Consistency of food or service is not their forte. I have had very delicious pasta, excellent fresh bread and great wines. I have also had very terrible pizzas or other... more

Average Italian food

Nothing special, average Italian food (based on various trips to Italy / expectations of Italian food from eating it there - maybe I should be more forgiving since we are 4,000 miles from Italy !). Not bad - but I'd probably try somewhere else rather than wanting to go back.

Turned away

I'd like to start out by saying that this is my first review. Ever. I was so astounded by being turned away by the hostess at this restaurant.
We were there on Friday evening .. the courtyard is beautiful and it was a lovely summer night and we looked forward to dining on a patio. There were three empty tables... more

Don't bother

We were served (eventually) with 3 pizza's. All were undercooked stodgy and extremely bland in taste. I overheard the chef telling off one of the waiting staff for not 'grilling the pizza long enough' following a complaint from a different table. The pizza's toppings were good, but no matter how good the topping if you use a cheap cold oven,... more

Somewhere in between

Recommended by the young concierge, this place was okay. Great location in the market, down the stairs to what looked like a cafeteria. The tall waiter was a little short with us (ha). One of my colleagues wanted a salad to start and he informed her she didn't need one with what she ordered... she would have enough! okay...
The... more

Service was awful

We found their back patio last summer and thought it was beautiful. Eager to enjoy a meal outside we asked for a table and were escorted to a lovely little table in the middle of the patio.
However, after 25 minutes of sitting there, no one had come to see us. No one. We watched the servers and hosts (as... more

Wow

Found this place listed in some of the propaganda at the hotel. Was craving an extravagant Italian meal, and this sounded perfect.
Dining room was closed, so ate dinner in the beautiful courtyard. Ordered the special - chicken, Shrimp, mushroom and broccoli in a pistachio sauce. Served with bread and salad. Bread was o we the top amazing. See if... more

Good special

We ate in the basement with friends. It was cozy and we had our area to ourselves. We all had the butternut squash pasta daily special. The sauce was delicious! The pasta was 'to the tooth'. The bread served before the meal was fabulous! Crispy on the outside, chewy inside and yummy peppered olive oil for dipping. The tiramisu was... more

Always good time

Not our first visit here, and the food is always good and fresh. we took the squid entree and it was just perfect. The staff is great, but it seems that only one of the staff was able to speak french!

2 weeks without my own kitchen led me to eating out way to often. I've lived in the same courtyard as Mamma Grazzi's for 2 years but never came by and caved after having an awesome meal at Black Tomato with Yelp superstar Julia M. from Calgary so decided that it might not be to bad after all.

It took a second to find the door but when I walked in I looked around as I wasn't sure if it was open... more

I had a really fantastic dinner with my friends last night. Best meal I've had in a while, for sure!

This place is small but makes up for size in atmosphere. It is dim, relaxing and is indeed like walking into someone's dining room! Their menu is 99% pizza and pasta. I didn't even look at the pizza because all of the pasta options sounded way too good.

I settled for a pasta with red peppers,... more

Good food in lovely setting

I enjoyed a group dinner here recently. The restaurant is charming and the service was very attentive, friendly and helpful. The crusty warm bread, was offered to start us off, served with an infused oil was really nice. The pizzas - quite large for individuals, perhaps better to share - seemed popular. I had the special pasta of the day... more

Family lunch stop

Our family of three stopped by for a bite in the market area after a morning at the Museum of Civ. and we're pleasantly surprised. The Kids Menu is sparse, but at an Italian restaurant, this can be excused - pizza and pasta are staples for our daughter. We felt that we got good value for our money from the... more

A summer day in the gardens

The food was just delicious and the service was excellent. The environment is charming and if you are lucky when you visit Mamma Grazzi you will have a front seat to Ottawa at it's best. A Timeless place to relax.

A dinner on a worktrip, not more

Ok environment, in the basement. The bread served at start was really nice,
Really attentative refilling water. Most of us had pasta, it was ok, nothing more,
Nothing less. Will probably pick a different place to try if in town on a worktrip.

Terrible food, atrocious service

The waiter tried to memorize the orders of fifteen people, got three of them very wrong, and when we asked to speak to the manager, we were told he wasn't in that night. On the way out, another server whispered to us that that WAS the manager!!

Good food and service and a quieter dining atmosphere than some of the other places in the Market. Special kudos for having gluten free pasta as an option. Even better that it was delicious.

I couldn't agree more with Tina and Mari about mamma grazzi's. The food was horrible and the service s@!%!y. We decided to go there my wife and I a couple weeks ago. We were pleasantly greeted and that was about it and the rest was way downhill from there. So ordered the rosemary chicken and fettuccine , when our food arrived and we had our first bite we couldn't eat it. The pasta was f@!%!*g... more

Walking around the Bayward market really helped develop an appetite for a nice dinner. My fellow yelpers suggested Mamma Grazzi's Kitchen. This small place is tucked away in an old stone building facing a courtyard. As we made our way down into the dining area, I really felt like I was entering an old Italian Kitchen in Tuscany. The ambiance was cozy and warm with classic Italian touches.

The... more

Awesome!

I liked the simple menu, the prices were fair, and the options were decent. My wife enjoyed her dinner, so there is that. The staff was uninterested and not knowledgeable about the food, but that's not a deal breaker.

The patio is nice and the area it's in is quite charming.

Unfortunately, you go to a restaurant to actually eat, and that's when it really fell apart:

Pasta -> overcooked
... more

Lovely little courtyard for al fresco dining. Good, tasty, authentic Italian food (and good sized portions). House red is an inoffensive little number. Cozy and unpretentious interior if the weather is against you. Seafood linguine and a glass of red for just over $20.

Great and original food. Great variety for a vegetarian. Liked very much Francesca (Spinach spaghettini with pine nuts, raisins, & ricotta cheese).

The bad: the space on a table for 2 people is not enough. Tables are small.

Love this place, simple decor, no large lush booths with onyx finish. Great atmosphere. Fantastic food, always order the Chef's Special... never need to see the menu. Friendly staff.

This is a small and cozy italian restaurant... the food is very good and you can notice that it is "prepare to order".

I am not a big fan of going out for Italian food but this place breaks my tradition... every time I come to Ottawa, I go to eat at least one night for dinner. Sometimes I need to wait... and I don't have any problem.

The service is always good and every plate that I've tried... more

"Everybody Knows", this place is rotten, food was cool, roaches hoppin; dry-clean your clothes, everybody knows.

Excellent Italian food, plenty of selection, exceptional service.

In search of an eating establishment that would neither break the bank nor be populated by drunken college kids, we discovered Mamma Grazzi's, a secluded stone building in a somewhat quieter area of the Byward Market.

We were led down a flight of stairs to the dining room area, which consisted of cozy candlelit tables and views of the patio. The space isn't overwhelmingly huge so securing a... more

My husband and I were looking for a good Italian restaurant while on a day-trip in Ottawa. Walking by Mamma Grazzi, a gentleman who was just leaving told us it was the best food in Ottawa. Trusting his opinion, we decided to have dinner there.

I'm not sure where the fellow had eaten prior to Mamma Grazzi's, but in my opinion, the food was the *worst* food in Ottawa. I ordered the milano... more

Don't go to this place.

This place was terrible. Sevice and food was just plain poor.

Upon arrival we were shown a table for two downstairs. Only one other table occupied and yet we were placed by the coats with scarfs haning on our heads. We asked to move to a nice table for four but were refused. Very rigid.

Moved upstairs to a nice table. NO-ONE else in the room. Ordered wine but it... more

This place is in such a nice location in the...

This place is in such a nice location in the market – tucked away inside a courtyard, if you get to sit upstairs by the window, it’s neat to see other little shops hidden in the “back alleys”.

I love their Funghi pasta – it’s different and though the portions may look small, you do leave satsified. Lives up to the expectation of a good traditional Italian restaurant – fresh, delicious, and... more

Beautiful cobblestone patio. Hard to beat their patio for atmosphere as you snag a table with a great view of the 'courtyard' milieu.

And the food? Extraordinary pastas and pizza served here my favourites being the Milano, Perfetta (love the red pepper, sun-dried tomatos tartness combo) and the Katrina. Whether you enjoy cream, rose, or aglio olio style there's a pasta to suit your tastes.... more

Food is tasty, portions are ample and the atmosphere is cozy and familiar. Definitely worth stopping by Mama's kitchen!