Maybe we didn't order from the same menu as other reviewers or maybe our dark, humid back corner of the restaurant didn't offer the same ambiance as the empty tables further up, but Oz Kafe did not impress.

I ordered ribs which were cooked well, though somewhat salty and over sauced. The sides, however, seemed less like fusion cuisine and more like a collection of dissimilar oddities. The... more

I love everything about this place - drinks, atmosphere, friendly stuff and quality food. It's a great place to talk, whether it's a date or a friendly gathering. And I love the staff, very attentive and polite.
Tip for vegetarians: get the soul food plate.

This is my new favourite restaurant. Their caesars are to die for - the last time I ordered one, it was topped with the juiciest piece of bacon I have ever tasted! I enjoy the atmosphere, the service is amazing and the food is delicious!

It's one of those little hidden gems. Great food. Perfect for date night. Or a special occasion.

The food, drinks and prices are very reasonable. We came here on a Friday evening without reservation and were seated right away. My friend and I each ordered 2 dishes because it was unbearably cold outside and we were hungryyyyy. My friend ordered the beef seoul food and scallops w/risotto and I ordered the kimchi stew w/cheese dream and the mariposa farm duck breast. My friend's entrees... more

One of my favorite restaurant in Ottawa. Awesome salads, drinks are always on point and one of the best steak I've ever eaten was there. It never disappoints.

Love the edamame here, and the food has usually been good,
but the mixed drinks I had here last Saturday - mine and hers, one each due to the quality - were unacceptable.

I mean, when I can barely finish a manhattan, thinking, wow, should have just asked for booze over ice instead is a painful experience. Her drink was close to acceptable, but not for hard currency,

Aside:

Yes I am well... more

The atmosphere of Oz was good. It was pretty dark lighting but there were candles and enough light to see folks around the table. The decorations and tables were about average for any small restaurant and nothing was overly fancy. As for service, I have no complaints. We had attentive staff waiting our group who explained all of our meals very well. Over the course of our meal the restaurant... more

Not cheap but worth the quality. Waitress and hostess were friendly and happily explained each wine.

Food quality is high. I ordered Shrimp and Sea Scallop. Plating was done well and shrimp tasted great. The scallops unfortunately were too salty but they happily accepted that criticism.

Maybe I should be thankful that Oz Kafe can sit us right away without reservation?

The restaurant itself is dark and crowded. So dark I can barely read the menu.

We shared "Seoul Food" ($21) and Pork Chop ($24).

Seoul Food is a Korean style Beef Sirloin served on a hot plate. I would say it is a fusion food simply prepared. The ventilation in the back room is non existent, I would not order... more

We were introduced to this place by some friends and we absolutely love it. The meals are always great and the service is excellent. The wine list is also an attractive feature - particularly their Pino Gris.

We will be back many times to come.

Food I can't get over

This place is amazing! I can't get over their food! I also really like how their menu changes.
Their restaurant layout doesn't bother me as the food is incredible. I eat good food and that's what matters! Their staff is really nice, which is great too!
I wish I was there right now... ;)

Great food, atmosphere and friendly staff

I've been going to this restaurant for years. Always a fave when downtown. It's a little tricky to find/spot from the street, but centrally located on Elgin Street. Menu changes regularly and never disappoints. Sometimes they host guest chefs which is a fun experience. Small venue, but quality prepared foods. Live DJ on certain evenings. Great for dates or with... more

relaxed celebration, great food

Enjoyed a quiet birthday celebration with daughter last night at Oz. When making the reservation, they asked if it was a celebration and at the end of dinner, they quietly slipped her a lovely dessert with candle. Surprise!
I found the back room set up well for conversation. There was another larger party there too, but there was no disturbance.... more

Unpretentious local with interesting food.

OK, this is going to sound really stupid: but you MUST have the edamame. I know, you're tired of overpaying for a handful of frozen soybeans. But theirs are the best I've ever had: just kosher salt and butter. But spectacular. I really feel like an idiot writing that. Just trust.

Salads are really nice here. As is anything with beef. Did not love albacore tataki. They have a good wine and beer... more

Good food

Dropped in for a late dinner with friends. The food was very good, and an excellent selection of drinks. The place was dark and cramped. I had to ask the table behind me to move so I could get up to go use the rest room. The location was also very echo-y, therefore making things seemed very loud. Other then... more

Good food

I have been to OZ kafe a few times. I would definitely recommend it. Very interesting menu.
I had a vegetarian dish, the menu was well thought out.

I don't know why but it took me a really long time to finally go to Oz. Once I went, it quickly became one of my favourite restaurants in the city.

Why you might ask? Well let me tell you.

1. Staff - they are all super rad. I've never had *knock on wood* a bad experience with staff. They are always friendly, attentive, helpful and generally make the experience quite positive.

2. Food - I've... more

Oz Cafe is tucked away beside the Lieutenant's Pump in the corner of the plaza at elgin and frank.

Upon entering I noticed the interior does not seem very cohesive. There are cool little embellishments like glasses hanging from the ceiling... but they were dusty.The front half does not appeal to me. The back however is a low-ceilinged, cozy seating area. Although, if you are claustrophobic... more

Solid average

Not too bad, but Ottawa has much better options as of late. They cram too many tables into a small space, so prepare to know the exact content of your neighbours' conversation, and better hope that they make it interesting. Food itself was ok. My scallops were a bit overdone, so rubberry. What they were served in was quite tasty... more

Best Meal in Ottawa

I had what was not only the best meal in Ottawa but one of the best meals of my life at Oz Kafe. From start to finish my experience was incredible. The ribs I had were so tasted, so well prepared, with such nice garnishes it was a pain to finish-I just wanted to keep eating.
The portions are a... more

Great meal & service

Small quaint restaurant in trendy Elgin Street area. Very nice service, good selection of beverages, very tasty food!

Great discovery

I took a visitor from out of town and was so happy I did. I'll be back. Great little menu, with excellent vegetarian options for my friend. The “Seoul Food” - Korean style barbeque roll-ups with local beef from O’Brien Farms and fresh additions was delicious. And, super value for money.

Casual dinning with good cuisine

I had a difficult time choosing whether to give them four stars or three stars. However, due to the casual nature of the restaurant and the average quality of the entrées, I decided to get three stars. I'm surprised at this restaurant is on the top 10 list in Ottawa. It's a good restaurant but I don't know if it's... more

LOVED this place

This was a great meal in a tiny restaurant. We came here because we had sampled the chef's food at an event and wanted a whole meal. A limited but great menu and good wine service.

Ordered the $23 6 oz steak medium rare and it came out just the way I wanted it - red and juices running - almost can hear the cow moo. The dish came with a small side of caesar for veggie and mashed potatoes. On the plate was a sauce that complimented the steak nicely. Service was excellent.

The menu at Oz is small but the food we ordered was prepared well. I tried Town recently too and while... more

Loved oz kafe

We just ate at Oz Kafe last night, large party of 8 to celebrate xmas and a bday... this is a great spot! the energy and feel of the place is good, its located across the road from Standard and in same complex as Lieutenants Pump on Elgin, great location. Oz Kafe when you enter has a small bar area... more

Trendy, seasonal and tasty offerings

A special occasion with family did not disappoint. Small, intimate space. Short menu but interesting offerings. Yummy grilled cheese & bacon app hit the spot, followed by our perfectly-grilled and sauced beef (choice of 6 or 9 oz) on smoked mashed potatoes, and a bison main that was a real hit. Mains moderate-2-moderately high priced, but well executed and creative,... more

I'm surprised by how many people they haven't heard of Oz Kafe.

Simply put: you should go here.

With a high-quality, constantly changing menu - it's hard to get bored of this place. Of course, this is not an establishment you go to every week. This is the place for good conversations over wine/beer, a nice date etc.

It is small, which helps with the ambiance, but it's also not a place for a... more

loved it

First time at this restaurant. Was visiting a friend who lives in Ottawa and has been there before. Great atmosphere.
The staff were wonderful and the food was fantastic and I can be quite picky. As soon as I looked at the menu I thought this is interesting. It showed a creative mind behind it. The prices were excellent for... more

It's ok to pretty good

Never had a bad experience here, but the food is sometimes not flavour balanced, often too much black pepper. Prices are not heap but not ridiculous either. Many tables are dark. Service is friendly, casual. For the money, I'd choose elsewhere, but this place is alright.

Belated Birthday Dinner

I love the OZ Kafe and tend to go here when I am in town. The staff are super friendly and accommodating. When the waitress found out it was my friends birthday she comped her desert which I thought was really nice. Quite a good wine list with a good and reasonably priced selection. The food is always good.

Delicious Meal

Had an interesting, well executed and delicious meal here. The menu was inventive, the service was intelligent and conscientious. Couldn't ask for more.

Returning customer

We ate at Oz the last time we were in Ottawa. And remembered it so well that a return visit was warranted. Relatively limited menu (changed regularly) of excellent choices. The three entrees at our table -- Halibut, Steak and Pork Tenderoin -- resulted in empty plates and satisfied diners. The mousse dessert was over-the-top delicious. Reservations recommended because this... more

Great food, service, value. What more do you want

Had a nice dinner with my husband here last night. The food was phenomenal. Had the daily specials - tuna tartare app and bison main. Hisband had the beef tataki app and bison main. Two drinks to start, two glasses of wine with the meal, a shared dessert (complimentary) and one cappucino was $122.00 (includes taxes, no tip). To break... more

Casual and fun with tasty food

I live in the neighborhood and have never had a bad meal here. Steak is always amazing and the wine list is tasty and reasonably priced. Amazing service.

Always a pleasure

Oz Kafe is always delightful. The "sharing platter' (cheese platter) is always fantastic, as is their vegetarian Bento Box. Food is reasonably priced - especially for the quality! Great drinks and service! A favourite place for celebrations - i.e. Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Fridays :) The patio is quite small, so get there early if you want to eat outdoors in... more

Fantastic Martinis

If I want a Martini in Ottawa, this is where I go. With all the garnish you could almost say you get a martini and a fruit salad, or olive platter depending on the type of martini you get. My favorite is the lycheetini which has peeled lychees in the drink. The menu is creative and a great place for... more

Oh yes, there was lots to love about the food and the company and the service I had here, and I'll come back to Oz Kafe when given a chance but I gotta say, the duck poutine sticks in my craw, if you'll forgive the expression. The poutine wasn't. Not a poutine. You could call it scallop potatoes with duck and you'd be closer but there wasn't enough cheese or gravy to be satisfied with it even... more

While Oz may be an easy restaurant to miss while walking down Elgin the food and decor are something everyone should sample! I just adored the wineglasses hanging decoratively from the ceiling, so clever! We didn't have a reservation, so we ended up with a rather drafty table on a Thursday night--so be sure to book your table ahead of time.

We started with some edamame, which was simple and... more

Good: Local beer selection. Lots of martinis, although these are not my cup of tea(ni). Wine list is ok.

Better: The divey atmosphere is hipster cool, and the DJ spins tunes til the wee hours. Service is competent but a little aloof (as in most hipster places).

Best: The Taipei corn-on-the-cob was just delicious. Smoky, nutty and fun to eat! Unfortunately, the rest of the food didn't live up... more

Great little place

Let me tell you, first and foremost the service at this place was incredible. Our waitress was so nice and meek I just loved her. She explained all of our dishes to our and seemed genuinely happy with her job.
The ambiance at this place is fantastic. Cute inside, not too packed, small and friendly staff. Just loved it!
We... more

The food never disappoints

We've been to Oz a few times now and always leave wondering why we don't go there more often. Must be the location...it's tiny and squished below street level between a number of other food establishments, plus parking isn't always easy to find. The food however, never disappoints - fresh, well prepared and nicely presented. Meat & fish entrees are... more

Average food

We ordered a steak dinner and vegetarian lettuce wraps with tofu. Both dishes were average, however steak was better than the lettuce wraps. One of our friends found a hair in her food, and consequentially they did not charge her for the meal.
The service was fast and friendly.

Bland not what I expected

After all the great reviews, I was shocked at how boring the food was. Had a tartare first: not chopped finely enough, pieces of un chewable gristle, and only hints of the herbs and spices that could have made it wonderful.
Next came blackened trout with corn salsa and grilled veg. First bad sign, the plate is cold. The fish... more

Consistently good food with daily specials that shine

We've bern to Oz a few times before, always with consistently good food. This evening did not disappoint as well. The main room has a small bar, with the noise from a drinks blender which I will be more wary of the next time. We were with an older couple who had a bit of hearing difficulty. The back room... more

Really, Really Good

Read the review from the Ottawa Citizen Restaurant reviewer and decided to try. We went for dinner and was absolutely impressed. Small restaurant with some outdoor tables. The menu has basic menu for everyday but there is a list of daily specials that change daily. We tried the salmon "sushi" which was fantastic. For mains had the fish which was... more

The Great OZ

Fresh ingredients, beautiful plates, what more could you ask for?
I've been to OZ for brunch on Sundays only, dinners and for late night snacks. The mains/appetizers change everyday and there are always new items added depending on the season and what's available locally.
Casual atmosphere, really cool servers that take care of you and always make sure you have... more

Funky food without pretension

OZ is a fun place with interesting food. It has a vegetarian bento box for the veggie crowed, and usually has a fillet or stark on the menu. Their side of poutine was delicious (with smoked duck for good measure) but I think they stopped serving it. Can be a little loud up front with large packs of 20 something... more

Great restaurant on Elgin

I had been hearing about and reading the great reviews of OZ Cafe for the past couple of years but had been really deterred by the location - being on Elgin that is. Not originally from Ottawa I would assume it is more of a University crowd than dinner crowd which is bit of a turn off. Any case, we... more

Wow, food is awesome

My husband and i had brunch here on Sunday. Had an unusual and tasty gnocchi dish with tomatoes and arugula and wild garlic. We were so impressed we instantly added this to our favourite restaurant list. Will be back for dinner! the restaurant is pretty basic and casual but the service was also above par. Nice to see inventive cuisine... more

A peaceful spot for brunch

This is one of those small spots in Ottawa that can be easily confused for the restaurant next door, as the signage isn't really that obvious. It doesn't look very big, but there's ample enough seating although the back area isn't really well lit. Sunday brunch is what I'd call gastropub fare, i.e. they like the unorthodox. I started with... more

Perfect date spot

Pretty much everything about this place is great. The menu is small but delicious, the staff are friendly and knowledgable, there's a great wine selection, great atmosphere... Honestly, one of our favourite date spots.
The only thing I find that detracts from the experience is that it's a pretty small restaurant and the tables are pretty close together, so sometimes... more

Yup, Oz is worth checking out.

With the exception of a few "good old standby" items, the menu is a bit eccentric and changes daily - honestly it's difficult to compare to another restaurant in Ottawa. On this visit we had the steak and ceasar ($25) and soul food (a dish comprised of make your own wraps with Boston letter, Korean bbq beef and traditional Korean bbq sides). We also had the daily... more

Cozy and interesting menu

This restaurant is located in the basement but it's cozy. I had the daily meat special, which was quail with bacon, mushrooms and squash. It was quite tasty. For dessert I had the Empire apple slices on shortbread crust with cheese. It was good. I'd go back again.

Major

Best place in the city....amazing food and outstanding atmosphere....I make a point of going at least once a month and it never disappoints....BEST martinis I have ever had!!!!!!!!

my favourite restaurant in ottawa so far

Fresh presentation, locally sourced. Starting with the drinks, I enjoy their Manhattan. The caesar (drink) is a meal. The cheese dreams starter was oily and intense, but what do you expect when you order cheddar and bacon on baguette. The steak and caesar are delicious - lots of garlic in the salad and amazing sauce on the steak (22 ingredients).... more

What a surprize

I discovered this place by chance and went to it without hearing much about it. The owner is lovely and the menu is really good. It's small and cozy. It's a great place to go to.

Interesting menu, great service, cozy environment

The menu is an interesting mix including 'seoul food' which includes kimchi and then steak and caesar. I had the steak which was really good. Not excellent but really good! The waitress was sooo nice and well-informed. The place is small and it is easy to miss it. It is L-shaped and was full when we were there. It's a... more

Hugely disappointing

My family and I just returned from a Father's Day meal here which was really quite awful, given the Oz Kafe's sparkling reputation. My wife booked dinner for 6 pm and at no point did anyone tell her that on Sunday's the cafe only serves an all-day brunch. The place itself is quite small and set back from the road,... more

Not only is Oz awesome as one of my favourite fine dining destinations in Ottawa, whenever I go there I instantly have so many excuses to sing, "we're off to see the wizard..." while I walk down Elgin. Whatever. I don't live here. People can think I'm crazy all they want.

The interior can be a little off-putting during daylight but as the sun goes down, the warm ambiance really comes alive.... more

So underwhelming and overpriced - will not go back

Was very underwhelmed by Oz Kafe - at every turn it felt like we were inconveniencing the restaurant. We went to celebrate the return of a friend who had been out of town, so we were a larger party. We made a reservation, only to have the restaurant call three times to confirm that we are still the same number.... more

I not only had the best steak I've ever enjoyed in Ottawa at Oz but probably the best steak I've ever had in my entire life at Oz.

It was a delightful meal and the service is great. The owner is there pretty much every evening and makes a mean martini! Be sure to get a reservation on weekends as it's quite busy.

It would get five stars from me but it's a little on the pricey side but worth it... more

One of my favorites

My co-workers and I usually hit this spot after work. This quaint little kafe is open till 2am.
Serves amazing food up til then as well.
I work right near Elgin street and recommend my guests to try this kafe all the time. They have come back to me raving about how excellent the restaurant is.
Food is great, service... more

This hipster hangout is great for an expensive meal or an after dinner drink. Good looking staff and a great DJ just add the the ambiance.

Another thing I've found is that the dishes are always very clean.

Picture this: You're dressed up and ready for a night on the town. You enter an intimate space with low lighting and flickering tea lights on the tables. There's a strain of ambient, chill-out lounge type music playing just loud enough to give the place a good vibe. You sit down at the table and order a gorgeous martini. If this martini were a human being, you'd ask it for it's number.
... more

Had to take out a star because of the service. An hour and a half for food is unacceptable. Too slow. Will not be going

Had to take out a star because of the service. An hour and a half for food is unacceptable. Too slow. Will not be going back for a while.

Great place to get a meal when it's late

Great place to get a meal when it's late.

Very very good

Very very good!

really nice ambiance. food selection was limited but the food was delicious. wine list was limited but cocktails were

really nice ambiance. food selection was limited but the food was delicious. wine list was limited but cocktails were very well mixed. inclusion of fresh fruit in cosmos (strawberry slices, star fruit, blackberries, blueberries) was a great touch. only one dessert was available. excellent service and great music.

Nice atmosphere but a little bit pricy and limited selection of food

Nice atmosphere but a little bit pricy and limited selection of food.

Top notch food for reasonable prices. Perfect host as well. Hi Oz

Top notch food for reasonable prices. Perfect host as well. Hi Oz!

All the food is amazing

All the food is amazing, with a creative spin.

A favorite with a menu that has something to offer everyone

A favorite with a menu that has something to offer everyone