My 10 Best Restaurants In Ottawa

If you could see me now: I'm wearing purple pants, an orange top and a yellow sweater. I'm not what you would call a regular person — I have different interests and an enormous curiosity.

Now that I have stated that, you can read on and embark on a life-changing gastronomic experience. Buckle up!

This is by far my favourite experience in the entire town. Having dinner 150 feet in the air is what I call a unique experience by all means. If the weather is nice, the experience is amazing — and if it's not, it's amazing too — but a sky without the trace of a cloud lets you experience the city in its entire splendor.

There are two prices and services: you can go up for a cocktail and pay $150, or have dinner for $250. The experience is well worth the price — the food is prepared and served on the spot by the two members of staff accommodated in the middle of the rectangle. Besides them, the table has space for 22 other lucky people.

Lifting your eyes from the plate you're eating and seeing the entire city lit like a Christmas tree is an uncanny thing. Even if you can only afford to do it once — you should.

Have you tried African cuisine? Well, if you did, you know it is great. If you didn't — then you should not let this opportunity go by.

This beautiful restaurant on Merivale Road sells some of the best jerk chicken I have ever tried. It can be had in a combo along with some rice & beans. The jollof rice, the grilled tilapia, the fufu with goat stew and the fried chicken are all awesome too.

If you love flavourful food with a spicy kick, you are definitely going to love this place.

Whenever I get paid for a big photo job, I indulge myself by going to this restaurant to try out whatever new insanities they've come up with.

Have you ever thought you would eat helium-filled edible balloons, or fish inside a phyllo-dough nest? I don't want to be a spoiler, but… it can happen. They have won awards, and the restaurant is home to one of the best chefs in the country.

Molecular food is awesome — and Atelier offers it at its best.

If I asked you to point at Burma on a map with your index finger — could you? If not, I'm guessing you also didn't know there is a Burmese restaurant in Ottawa.

I love shrimp, green vegetables and hot sauces mixed with rice, and all of that can be found on the menu of this great restaurant.

Go there, order shrimp, be happy.

If you didn't know about Burmese cuisine, you definitely didn't know about the Sri Lankan one!

Yes — there is a Sri Lankan restaurant in Ottawa, it is called Ceylonta, and it is very good. Sri Lankan food is very spicy and full of taste, since there are many ingredients involved in each dish. You might just feel you can't quite tell what you are eating — and you're loving it!

I recommend it for adventurers and conservatives alike; the dishes are great.

Ethiopian cuisine is awesome. It's important to know that it is an experience, rather than a casual night out for dinner.

The first time I went, it was amazing: the owners offered to let me witness how the coffee is toasted and then served. Plus, the meal was fantastic and the price very acceptable. The decoration is traditional and very welcoming, with warm colours everywhere.

You'll feel at home right away.

OK, we have covered the African part of the continent — but what about Latin America?

La Cabaña serves food from El Salvador, and it is so good and so full of flavour it will put a smile on your face in a heartbeat. The restaurant was established 22 years ago, and you can tell they have perfected their menu many times over.

For the best pupusas in the country, go to La Cabaña.

Caribbean food is as fun as Caribbean people. Jamaicans have dishes such as the Chicken Roti in perfect coconut curry — and it's mind-blowing just how much difference the right amount of condiment makes.

There are many reasons why Island Grill made it into the top 10, but the first and most important is simply how good the food is. Besides, it is not at all expensive — in fact it's close to the cheapest restaurants I've eaten at.

A great experience I recommend, especially as a starter for a fun night out.

This option might surprise more than one reader, because it is not at all a fancy place — it's more of a cheap spot that serves amazing Chinese food.

Let's set one thing straight, in case you didn't know: Chinese food is abundant and filling, as opposed to Japanese. They are completely different — think sushi versus chow fan or chow mein.

That being said, this place is amazing! The meat is tender, the flavours strong and the ambience so chilled. I loved it, and you will too.

Lastly, an Afghan-cuisine place. Let me tell you: the lamb chops here may very well be the best in the city — and arguably the best in the country.

It is also very cheap, and the vibe inside is awesome. If you're into something different without spending much, go there — you won't regret it.