No. 1
Track & Field
Want to play the new thing around? Lawn games are what's happening right now.
Track & Field is a unique place because it succeeds at merging bocce, cocktails and shuffleboard. I went three times and had lots of fun; you can do it as a walk-in thing, or you can also make a reservation.
While you are there, ask for a “Versace” — it comes served on a fake (but realistic!) one-hundred-dollar bill.
No. 2
BevLab
This is quite a treat — like the molecular food at Atelier, one of my favourite restaurants in Ottawa.
The difference is that they offer workshops, and they pour molecular drinks that are completely amazing. You can walk in and ask for a cloud to drink, and the bartender will smile and serve it as if you were in a sci-fi movie. The food is awesome too.
Not the cheapest place I've been to, but a definite must for curious food and drink lovers in Quebec.
No. 3
O.Noir
This restaurant works on many levels: it's a completely unique experience, but it's also a learning one.
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be blind? At O.Noir your sight never gets accustomed to the dark, so you see absolutely nothing the whole time you're there.
The other side of the experience is your enhanced senses — your food tastes very different and every smell becomes more powerful. It is something you should not miss.
No. 4
Yasu
Omakase restaurants are, to me, the best way to eat sushi. What's the difference, you may ask?
Simple: there is no menu to choose from — you eat what the sushi master feels you should eat. It is almost always the most amazing sushi you will ever have. This restaurant is very exclusive: there are only 12 seats to fill inside, so it's a reservation-only place.
If you have a discerning palate that can appreciate an $80-per-person serving, you should definitely go; it's worth every penny.
No. 5
Signs
Going down the same lane O.Noir opened for the visually impaired, this restaurant is run for — and by — those with hearing impediments.
All communication with the staff has to be made in sign language. When I got there, I realized I didn't know any — so I used the cheat sheet on the table, and it came out just fine.
The meal was delicious, the dessert was mind-blowing, the price tag intermediate — and the cocktails were amazing too.
No. 6
The Addisons
Hearing the name, you immediately play The Simpsons theme in your head and say “The Addisons” in an imitating falsetto. That happened to me the whole night.
The place is very strangely decorated — like a real high-school party house. If you get there early there's no cover, and happy hour leaves your drinks at only $4.
Pizza boxes eventually circulate among the crowd, and there are games — foosball, Jenga, ping pong — to spend the whole night laughing and clapping. For people in a party mood only!
No. 7
Chill Ice House
This might be a one-trick pony you try once and then move on — but what a trick. It's a −5°C place where you can have some shots and drinks.
You don't need to dress for the temperature: you get a huge overcoat as soon as you walk in, along with some thick gloves. Everything is really made of ice, and the most you can stay inside is about 15 minutes — then you just move to the connected bar for a more relaxed, regular experience.
To do it once is awesome; then it becomes a little dull.
No. 8
Mysteriously Yours
This is definitely the place for a fun time with friends — if you like eating and laughing in equal degree.
I loved it every time I went (three visits so far). You pay for the show beforehand, like a ticket to a theatrical play, and also for your meal. Being in a theatre dressed in gold and red, with a juicy steak in front of you, is awesome.
The best part is for extroverts: we get to go on stage and have fun with the actors. And if you solve the mystery, you can play for a cool prize.