The lover and I love us some seafood - nothing more satisfying in the summertime. Thankfully, we decided to make reservations. Otherwise, we would have had to wait and would probably have been crammed into a tiny table with other couples crowding in around us. If possible, I suggest asking for a corner table as it will afford you more privacy.

In terms of food, we both loved the oysters - best... more

Rarely do you find a restaurant of such quality. My only five star rating on yelp for an Ottawa restaurant. Everything about the concept works. Great for family get togethers. I like the salmon for takeout as a healthy alternative to fish and chips.

I hadn't been in ages and the cam chowder was as good as ever my fav seafood joint and a diamond in the rough.

One of my favorite places to grab lunch and then shop for sea food.

The menu is smallish, but inventive. My fave starters are the crab cakes with aioli and fried baby calamari.

The service is great and I love the small space with crowded little tables - nice ambiance.

My gosh I loved this place.
Try the lobster roll dinner !
It had lots of chunks of lobster and a very light binder. very tasty and adequately filling. The side dishes that came with it were simple (hand cut fries and a small micro salad) but nicely done. A good value for the price. I would also recommend the fish tacos. The fish inside is lightly breaded and deep fried, making for a very light... more

If I have to eat out in Ottawa, this is always my first choice. Hands down best fish and chips (halibut!!) ever, anywhere. We also like their fried smelts and calamari too. It's not that we love fried foods but they do it right here. Light and not overly greasy.
I highly recommend picking up some of the house cured smoked salmon from their market as well. It is sooooo good. They don't over salt... more

Without a doubt, my favourite restaurant in Ottawa. The food is always delicious. The fish is never overcooked, and the sides complement the fish well. They really know how to make the flavours of vegetables come out, and nothing get overwhelmed. The service is friendly, and they've recently expanded, so it's not as crowded as it used to be.

Came here for our Valentine's Day dinner on our trip to Ottawa, I made a reservation ahead of time knowing that it was Vday weekend. They had told me there would be Vday Dinner specials going on so I had some sort of expectation considering we would be dining in. Although our reservation was made for the bar, they were able to accommodate us and seated us at a table. Sadly, the only Vday dinner... more

This is my go-to restaurant to eat at with family and friends when I'm in Ottawa. To be honest, it's pretty much the only place I eat other than at home in Ottawa. The quality of the food here has been consistently excellent since the first time I went over 5 years ago. A couple of tips:

- the fresh bread. Holy moly. Eat it.
- Anything is good. The specials, regular dishes.
- The dishes are... more

Great seafood place!

You walk through the seafood deli to get to the restaurant, which is kind of cool because you can see the fresh product they use in the restaurant and you can buy some too.

The service was also great! Super friendly and they made sure we had everything we needed!

I ordered the wild haddock fish and chips and my friend ordered the lobster poutine. They were both... more

Best fish and chips ever. I had the haddock version (they also have halibut). Haddock was fresh and perfectly cooked. The batter was light and flaky and cooked to a beautiful golden color.
The rest of the menu and the fish market look fabulous as well. Unfortunately I live in Colorado and this may be the only time I get to Ottawa. Locals, consider yourselves fortunate to have this place!

Service was good, food disappointing, overcrowded.
After reading all the rave reviews we figured it was time to find out what all the fuss was about. Went on a Saturday night and the restaurant was full. First impressions were favourable having a fishmongers stand and a lobster tank in the lobby. The restaurant itself has way too may tables, too close together it is impossible to have anything... more

Love love love it here... A regular for our special occasions!

Super nice servers and amaaaazing food! We sometimes just grab a few apps (our favourite calamari we have ever eaten!) to share or sometimes a fish and chips (again best we have ever had!) and apps to share. Or we go all out and get our own mains then fight over sharing!

Book ahead though because if you just show up you'll be... more

Favourite restaurant in Ottawa.

My group of 4 had the best, yummy time at Pelican! Restaurant and washrooms were clean, staff were friendly and attentive (we noticed one staff cleaning the glasses and holding them up to the light to make sure they were spotless).

We ordered all the appetizers to share: Oysters, shrimp cocktail, lobster poutine, crab cakes, mussels, clam chowder; and ordered... more

Consistently good seafood

We've been to this charming little bistro several times and have always enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. The first is relaxed and the second is a cut above the standard pub fare.We have enjoyed moulles frites, fish and chips, planked salmon and, lately, grouper with an interesting vegetable medley. The adjoining fishmonger means they know their seafood, what's fresh,... more

Nice lunch

Glad we had a reservation as it was busy for lunch. The oysters were average but the scallops were very good. The service was casual yet pleasant.

Excellent

Best lobster Poutine in town!!! We also loved the crab cakes, fish tacos, lobster bisque and creme brûlée! Our server was very nice and quick. Lots of yummy options and local beers! The house wine was lovely. Nice presentation, would highly recommend it! Reserve in advance because it is BUSY!

Good food but slow service and crowded restaurant

Nothing to say about food but excellent. The lobster bisque is awesome and the fish and ship as well. It is unfortunate that some dishes are made with pork.
The service is very slow and our server did not care. He had a wound on his finger that was squirting blood and did not bother taking care of it. He... more

Super fish restaurant in Ottawa

Went with friends for lunch and were wowed by the great fish that was perfectly prepared and reasonably priced. Lobster roll was "the best I have ever had" said my wife. Located in a strip mall it seems a bit odd for such a place. But this place is a fish market with a restaurant on one side. Fresh fish... more

Amazing Food

I've been meaning to sit down and give a rave review for the Pelican Grill. First, I feel that this a hidden gem in ottawa. My husband took me there, and it was the best seafood in Ottawa I've had. Their fish, is amazing and the lobster is always cooked to perfection.
I love they have a market because their... more

best fish and chips

Went here Friday night on a whim. At first we were denied a table since we did not have a reservation but as we were walking out, John our waiter came back to announce he found us a table if we were sure to be done by 8pm ( it was 7.10 or so). We assured him we would comply.... more

Fish shouldn't be this good in Ottawa, but it is

We had business visitors for a week and after trying this place they wanted to come back every day! The fish is fresher there than it has any right to be in Ottawa. Well prepared with great beer and wine selection.

Fresh fish, reasonably priced. In the roughly seven months I have spent in Ottawa, Pelican Grill and Taylor's are my favorite places to eat.

Great Seafood

My husband and I have eaten at the Pelican Grill several times and have always found the fish, shrimps, etc. to be fresh and nicely cooked and presented., ..

Very much enjoyed my first visit

I had lunch today at the Pelican Grill with friends (one of whom has eaten here many times and had recommended it). I must say that, based on my first visit, I was impressed. It is quite small (think reservations would be recommended), and is one half of a fish market. The service was very friendly and efficient, and we... more

Disappointing

Two of us had bouillabaisse and a third had the trout special. I had the bouillabaisse a couple of years ago - it was excellent then! Tonight's had little flavour. It was barely warm, the broth was almost completely tasteless and the half lobster tail was chewy. The chef might want to try El Meson's Zarzuela.

Amazing Seafood

A friend and I went for lunch. I had the Fish and Chips and he had Oysters & the Lobster roll (new on the menu). All was served as asked for and was delicious.
Service was great, friendly and efficient. All was clean. The house Red and White wines were very good and well priced.
Best in Ottawa. We will... more

The very freshest fish

This is my second review of this excellent fish restaurant. I had a magnificent dinner with three friends some months ago and and reported how impressed we were by the standard of service and the superb quality of all our meals. I vowed to myself that I would return soon and have a simple lunch of fish and chips. I... more

Excellent Seafood

Best seafood I've ever had. I got the special which was a pasta with mussels and salmon. Also got the lobster poutine appetizer which is a MUST TRY. Fish and chips are also amazing. Atmosphere is perfect for both couples and families.

One of the best seafood restaurant

We are regular clients of Pelican Grill since we discovered it after our move to Ottawa five years ago. We go to Pelican every time we are craving for seafood because they serve the best in Ottawa. Certainly, we don't love all of the meals in the menu but their oysters, lobster poutine, crab cake, fried squids, fish and chips,... more

Good food, but paella needs improvement

My husband and I decided to try something different last night and found the Pelican Grill by searching the Internet for some of the best seafood restaurants in Ottawa. The meal started with crab cakes. They were very tasty, but lukewarm and should have been a bit warmer. On to the main dish. I ordered the mussels and frites. The... more

Get your act together for takeout service

We stopped by Friday 7 March at 5:30 and ordered a one piece and two piece fish and chip takeout at the front counter. Wait time was estimated at 15 minutes. After 1/2 hr wait and noticing 4 customers waiting at the call take out window we enquired about our order. I give full kudos to the cash clerk who... more

A perfect Valentines dinner

My wife and i enjoyed a most pleasant Valentines evening here. they gave us a romantic booth and promptly brought our wine. we really didn't notice the delay in the appetizers - it's a funky place with lots of activity. our server apologized for the delay (it was valentine's night, after all),and comped us a glass of wine and some... more

Fresh Food- always

Visited the restaurant for the first time several weeks back and although I live in the area, I never thought to go in. It was a pleasant surprise when I did, as the menu although not large, offers quite a good choice for seafood lovers. I went during the week and had made reservations. Glad I did as it was... more

Definitely fresh seafood

With a seafood store in the same space, you are assured of fresh fish, oysters, lobster, etc.
Service is good, limited wine list, and daily specials make the experience exciting. Fish and chips is a high standard, with excellent chowders as well.
Best time to drop in is before lunch or after 2 pm. Otherwise you need to make a... more

Great Lobster

Well presented delicious seafood. A group of us wanted to celebrate spring with a lobster feed! Will go there again.

A favourite place for lunch or dinner

Great for lunch, great for dinner - just plain great all around.
This restaurant is small and always busy - for good reason, because the food is excellent.
I like the way the waiters "team-serve" - if they see something that needs attention at a table they take care of it, whether they are the primary waiter for that table... more

Always good

The food here is consistently good, I usually have two apps and am full, Husband always has fish and chips. Our go to place for fish.

Good food, no atmosphere

I would recommend the Pelican for its fish and seafood menu.
The food is tasty and predictable.
The restaurant has a fish shop attached, so you can pick up good quality seafood after your meal.
We found the atmosphere quite crowded and noisy, so go for the food, not the atmosphere.

Fresh seafood in an unpretentious setting

We have been dining at the Pelican Grill for many years. Never been disappointed with the freshness of their meals and we have tried many different items on their menu. This is a small, quaint restaurant that requires reservations both at lunch and at dinner time. The service is very efficient, even at busy times the waiters will take time... more

Consistently good meals

In my experience, a meal at Pelican is always a pleasure. The setting and service are good and the food is well presented and properly cooked. Like many people, we go there for the fish dishes. They have always been tasty and correctly portioned. The selection of dishes is not huge but there is always enough of a choice to... more

One of our favourites

Great little fish restaurant attached to a store selling fresh fish. Our favourite little restaurant for a Friday long lunch! Not really family-oriented (though kids are welcome). Better for couples, small groups or solos. Delicious food, friendly service.

We always look forward to the Pelicn

We have been regulars at the Pelican Grill for many years and have always enjoyed its fare whether for lunch or dinner. More often than not one of us orders the special of the day and we have never been disappointed. It can however be a bit of a challenge to get a reservation when a Groupon special is about... more

Make a reservation

We have been clients of this restaurant for several years. It is our go to place for seafood which is very fresh and always well prepared. I usually order the lobster bisque and crab cakes. This is a full meal even though both are appetizers. My partner has the fish and chips and we are pleased there is a choice... more

Pelican Perfection

You can always count on the Pelican!
I have been a regular there for years... both the restaurant and fish counter are superb.
Whether you want an awesome seafood platter for a party, or just to pick up some yummy delights for a no cook Friday night, you'll find what you need... and then some!
Their smoked salmon is always... more

Dissapointing

The last two times we ate here (which was about a year ago) we were disappointed. The shellfish (mussels) were neither fresh nor plump; the chowder was over-salted and too thick. I can't remember the rest of what we had, unfortunately. I'm only sending in this review now because I was 'prompted' to do so.

We'll be back

This was my first time dining here. I made reservations through the restaurant's on-line system (which was very simple to do). We were a party of five celebrating my father's birthday on a Saturday at 5:00. The place was almost packed so you'd definitely want to make reservations. It's a rather small dining area and there's not much space between... more

Great service and food

We found that the food was original and really good. (Maybe a heavy on the salt though). It is the best seafood we have had in town.
The service is really amazing though. They really did everything they could to make our night the best!
We will be back.

Upscale good quality seafood

We were a party of 8 for a birthday celebration. The restaurant is right next to the fishery. So it smells fishy initially but faded away after a short while. Its a small restaurant and spaces between the tables are tight.
The clam chowder is yummy, creamy and yet not too heavy. The smelts were fresh and well cooked. The... more

Excellent Food and Excellent Service

This is a review based on at least 10 visits to Pelican. All of them have been at lunch time, with most on my own, but some with family and friends.
To start, the 1$ Oysters at lunch are delicious and fantastic at that price. They come with a couple of sauces and lemon wedges which are perfect on the... more

Sea food at its best

I have been to this restaurent with my man several times now. He is a big seafood fan and we have tried several seafood places in ottawa with this now as our favorite. The moment you walk into the restaurent you are in the fish market then you turn to the right and there is a cute cozy restaurent section.... more

Great ingredients but only good food

I was very excited about hearing about the restaurant and store, and looking at the shelves they carry some fantastic products and have very fresh fish (and a good variety).
So it was a bit of the disappointment then the lobster bisque reminded me more of something from a can than something from a creative chef. The Lobster poutine was... more

I'm always impressed with this place. It's a great atmosphere, very friendly, not too loud. The food never disappoints. My family must have come here 10+ times, and we enjoy it every time. The drinks, appetizers, main course, coffee/tea afterwards (never have room for dessert!) and even the yummy little coffee candies they give with the bill are all excellent. It is expensive, but you get what... more

Great food, slow service

I have been going to the Pelican Grill for the past 7 years for lunch. Funny but I find that not much has changed over the years. The food is VERY fresh and the menu does change from time to time. The last time we went a few weeks ago the service was very slow due to so many people... more

We enjoy eating frequently at the Pelican Fishery and Grill. It's one of the best places in Ottawa to enjoy great quality, fresh fish other than Whalesbone Oyster bar. The food is rich in flavour, light in preparation, creatively infused with herbs and their specials never fail to please and surprise. I also buy my fresh fish occasionally from their counter. I wish I lived nearby so I could... more

Great service & very good seafood

We had a dinner at Pelican Grill the first time last weekend. The service was super great, they brought our water quickly after we got seated. And they also brought something to entertain our little one to play and draw when we were having dinner there. Our little one likes the apple pieces from the salad in the restaurant, one... more

Great food

We have eaten there several times and every time the food has been delicious and cooked to perfection. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes. Reservations are definitely recommended as it is always full.

Would Return

After reading the reviews and talking to friends that have visited the Pelican Grill, I thought it was high time to see for myself. As we decided to have an early dinner, I did not expect the restaurant would be very busy around 5PM on a Wed. The waiter had a full booking but did manage to fit the two... more

First time dining, and not too impressed

My fiance and I found a groupon for this place and decided to give it a try due to the many positive reviews it received. We dined in last night, and both of us ordered the Cedar plank salmon meal. Neither of us were pleased with our meal, as we both found the fish to be way too dry and... more

Will definitely be back

My wife and I visited Pelican Grill for the first time on a Tuesday night. From the outside the restaurant doesn't look like much being in the corner of a strip mall, but it is actually quite pleasant inside and was pretty busy for a Tuesday night. The staff were all very friendly. The atmosphere is very laid back. However... more

Small and crowded but oh so tasty!

Superb evening

Best seafood restaurant in Ottawa (and we know and love and seek out seafood!) -- the tempura (huge and tasty) shrimp appetizer was amazing, in lightly spiced mango sauce, and mains tried of maple-glazed salmon and vast generous boulliabase (sp?) were wonderful. Hot tasty unusual rolls to start. Service was fast and friendly, at start and checking throughout, save only... more

Service at table S--K

This restaurant had been recommended by a friend and I wanted to have a pleasant meal with my wife since it was her birthday. It is to be noted that my wife has several food restrictions because of her medical conditions.
When she told the waiter of her food restrictions, he did not care and told her that he was... more

Fish Tacos unreal

I took my son who considers himself an aficionado of fish tacos and he stated they are the best in Ottawa and possibly the best he has ever eaten - although he is demanding to return to try them... more

Service is deplorable; make sure you have lots of time.

From the get go the service was among the worst I have experienced around the world and that includes ex-communist countries! Non caring would be a kind thing to say. There were very long waits to... more

Yummy food

We went to Pelican on a friend's recommendation. We had a reservation which was lucky as the place filled up very quickly. It is a small restaurant and quite fancy on the inside which I did not... more

Great seafood and attentive service

This is our go to restaurant for family birthdays. Love their fish with panko topping and their homemade and french fries. The chowder is very good, our whole party orders it each time we go. The scallops are also really good. All the fish is fresh as they also sell fresh sea food to take home.
It is a very... more

Fresh and yummy Seafood

I read good reviews about Pelican on tripadvisor then came across a groupon, so decided to give it a shot! I am so glad I did! It's a small little restaurant tucked away in a strip mall. It took me a while to get a reservation here, they are ALWAYS FULL !! which says a lot in itself I guess... more

Great food in a mall

A small restaurant in a strip mall...the servers are knowledgeable & prompt. The food was outstandingly fresh, my wild shrimp in a red Thai curry sauce was so tasty, a nice balance of flavours and it came with 9 good sized shrimps. Hubby had the halibut & chips which he declared delicious. Everything was fresh & hot. We each had... more

Seafood great, but no Pelican

Maritime fish market ambiance on Bank street. Had a great dinner for four. Service was charming and informative and bill didn't bust the bank either. Highly recommended! However, pelicans grilled or otherwise are in short supply.

Seafood cuisine

Our group of 3 persons went to Pelican Grill for dinner last Friday evening. We needed a reservation for this very popular seafood restaurant. The service was good and we enjoyed our dining experience. We started with a shrimp tempura appetizer which was excellent. Our dinner selections were Salmon on a cedar plank, Arctic Char with pea barley, and pan-seared... more

This is BY FAR my favourite restaurant in Ottawa. The food is fresh and delicious, the menu is dynamic, and the restaurant itself is a great experience.

The first thing I'll mention is the menu. While there are some staples (muscles, clam chowder, cedar-plank salmon, fish and chips, etc.), new and different items are constantly being added. The dynamic menu makes coming every couple weeks a... more

Bought some sushi-grade salmon from here.
Was not dissapointed! Super fresh. Staff even went into the back to get the freshest salmon for me when I asked for sushi-grade.

A tad pricey, but great nontheless!

We tried Pelican Fishery &Grill recently. I enjoyed his beer-battered fish & chips and my wife had the special - a perfectly fried portion of black cod perched on a mound of saffron risotto, surrounded by a tomato-Yuzu broth. For appetizers, my wife enjoyed the clam chowder which was fresh and light. While I couldn't have enough of his lobster poutine - tender morsels of the crustacean... more

I found Pelican using Yelp, which has mixed reviews, but I thought I would try it anyway.
It is located in a busy little strip mall, so parking was a bit difficult in the middle of the day. When you walk in, it is quite "happening", nearly every table was full despite it being past the expected noon rush hour (1:30). I was seated quickly, and served in a timely manner as well. The staff were... more

The Pelican Grill is a cozy spot and a personal favourite. We've been many times - I tend to order the fish and chips because they do it very well. The service is friendly and attentive and the atmosphere is great. Pictures of the staff on the walls posing with props are very interesting and entertaining.

Wandered over without a reservation, arriving just after 7 on a Wednesday night. This place had come up in a number of places - including personal recommendations from friends - so I was happy we were finally going to try it.
You enter through the fish shop - which had just closed. Just keep going and hang a right at the first opening.
The restaurant was about 60% full. To be on the safe side,... more

The Pelican Grill is a small bistro adjoined to the Pelican Fish Market.

We had a positive lunch experience here highlighted by excellent service and a nice atmosphere that makes you forget that you are in a strip mall.

The fish is fresh without doubt however the overall execution of our dishes was a bit disappointing. We had a bowl of Chowder ($7), the daily special (Arctic Char for $19) and... more

My wife and I booked dinner with another couple to treat them for his birthday.

First off be aware this place is tiny and we were packed in. Not a huge deal, but just so you know. My seat was literally back to back with another chair. We were seated and dropped off water and amazing bread and then told about the menu. We placed our drink order and then waited...over 20 minutes for our drinks... more

Never had a bad salmon or seafood here! Personal service and lots of laughs.

I have been to Pelican Grill a number of times. In fact, I had my wedding reception there! I don't make it out there nearly often enough but this is by far one of the best restaurants in Ottawa.

The prices are fair, the service is wonderful, the ambiance is inviting, the decor is unique, and the food is AMAZING.

You must try the mussels in white wine sauce. DH says the maple-plank salmon he... more

My friend's dad was very kind and offered to treat us to lunch. I had never been there before, and I was very excited when we walked in, as they have the fresh seafood for sale in a different section on the right side, so I knew the seafood was fresh. Surprisingly, this fresh seafood smell did not travel to the restaurant-grill area where we were seated. It was extremely popular, and the... more

The fish n chips were delicious!! Really enjoyed stopping here for lunch!

Really great restaurant, the seafood was very fresh and tasty. Service was prompt, and presentation was beautiful.

The entrance smelled of fish (they have a counter where you can buy fresh seafood), which was a bit worrisome considering fresh seafood shouldn't smell that much. Also, they looked rushed to close down at around 8pm, where they told us the kitchen was closing. What a shame...but... more

Finally, perfect fish and chips. Happened to stop by on a whim and decided to try the fish and chips. Normally, I am cautious in Ottawa, where every two-bit chain pub (and you can't swing a dead cat in this town without hitting one) serves some over breaded over cooked deflavoured overpriced serving of fish and chips.

Not the Pelican Grill. Tender, succulent fish with delicate breading,... more

Best Fish & Chips in town! The fries are tasty! Welcoming staff, reasonable prices.

Wonderful fish and seafood in a simple setting next to a fish shop. Loved the calamari and variety of daily specials. Boiled veggies are too plain, though; could use a herb butter jolt, for example. Service friendly, good food value. I mean, a pasta special with smoked salmon, shrimps and calamari was only $10.00! Not bad, and very fresh.

Nice Place! This is a fantastic seafood restaurant with very good food and a friendly staff. The surroundings have a noticable aroma of fresh fish from the remote fish market on location (this may be a drawback for some)... more