Gitanes

I will just say one word. Perfection from A to Z.
Coming from a picky Parisian guy like me it’s a real beautiful compliment.

Thank you for this unforgettable evening.

Merci pour tout

It was my birthday and I found Gitanes on Open Table. We love seafood, and decided to try it out. We were very happy with the entire experience. The food was exceptional and absolutely delicious, the service and staff were friendly, helpful and very good, and the ambiance was perfect for a quiet but enjoyable evening.

I was very touched by our waitress who brought me a small desert with a candle at the end when she found out it was my birthday.

We will definitely go back!

Amazing. Best vibes

Food was fantastic! Service was as well. Waiters kept clearing the table and refilling the water at a very regular pace. Great attention to detail by the restaurant. Food is absolutely delicious and the timing of each course was perfect as well. First time couldn’t ask for a better experience.

Service was above and beyond. Appetizers were delicious. Would consider less sauce and toppings on the $70 rib steak. Beautiful restaurant but tables across from the washroom doors don’t have a great view. Maybe consider putting a curtain across the windows to obstruct the view of the washroom doors.

After trying to get a reso for over three months, I finally scored a spot in time to celebrate my best friend's 27th Birthday. Through OpenTable I made a request that her Birthday be acknowledged with something special. From experience, a Birthday candle on a dessert, a nice spot etc. When Gitanes called to confirm my reso, I again mentioned the request. The table we received was in the middle of the front where servers bustled by. Not an ideal spot for a special occasion. Our server continued to interrupt our conversation and expected us to know what we wanted to drink as soon as we sate down. We ordered the half seafood tower which came with ice half melted. By the time we were onto the bottom tier, our grab was literally floating on cold water. Very unprofessional for a $95 meal. We ordered the spaghetti and then the eclair for dessert. The only mention of the Birthday was when we were seated. That was all. No candle, no Birthday message written in chocolate... What a complete and utter let down. My friend and I are the ultimate foodies, and this was a huge disappointment. A lot of hype for average food and service. I am hoping management can respond to this review to convince me to return, because at this point, I'll be swaying friends and family to restaurants who live up to such hype like Riviera, Giovanni's, Play and Gezellig.

Good paced service, attentive. Good ambience. Varied menu. I loved the escargots as well as the scallop dish. The almond tart dessert was also lovely. Had a great bottle of Muscadet which was warm but they cooled it down quickly enough. Try it!

We went for our anniversary and it was perfect. Food was delicious and drinks were good too. I recommend to use large ice cubes for certain drinks like the Old Fashioned so that the drink doesn’t dilute too quickly but that’s just a personal preference. The restaurant was chic and comfortable but the service was more casual which we liked.

Great service. The food was unique and interesting. Server was very accommodating with our need to eat within an hour and a half to get to a show. Would visit again for a special occasion.

Super bel atmosphère. Service impeccable. Bonne nourriture, manque un peu d’assaisonnement. Je vais définitivement retourner! Le crudo de pétoncles délicieux!

This was our first time there and we were so impressed. The restaurant has a great vibe and the tables are spread out enough to be both intimate and have a more energetic feel. The service is impeccable- probably one of the best. The food was absolutely delicious as well. At our table we had the steak frites, the duck and one other had a few different, smaller dishes. This is the only fault with Gitanes - there are so few vegetarian options, none that are entrees. It’s too bad because in this day and age, so many are more conscious of what they eat and there really is no excuse for not having at least one entree. I really hope they can find something (I would love to try a traditional French ratatouille!). And just to confirm, I did state at the time of making the reservation that there would be one vegetarian and were told this wouldn’t be an issue...I guess if you view french fries, a salad or a small pasta (the 3, small plate options), then yes, we were technically accommodated.

Outstanding! I woke up reliving every bite. It's been a long time since I was so impressed. Thank you

Outstanding! Chef’s table was like no other. Beautiful but not fussy presentation. Everything geared to stimulate the appetite.
Chef’s table room is cozy, perfect to enjoy a beautiful meal.
Service was professional but also welcoming.
Constructive feedback would be, give more time in between dishes, reduce the size of the main dish and deserts.

This is a great little gem on Elgin Street. The food is top notch and the wine list is extensive and creative and a bit expensive. Service is excellent and very personable, the waiters know their stuff, and the decor is unique. Highly recommended for date night or special occasion.

Terrific food and service in a cozy atmosphere. The cocktails and wine list are also excellent, overall great time for any occasion!

It was great! The restaurant was quite noisy but other than that it was great and will definitely be going back!

Outstanding from the moment I was greeted to the moment I left... Food incredible, wine pairings thoughtful, service attentive but not overbearing, décor on point, and a lovely atmosphere to top it all off!

The staff is lovely. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful.
You really eat with your eyes first here. Each dish is meticulously executed. The ambience, service, and cuisine was nothing short of outstanding. It’s not just dinner it’s an eating experience. The menu offers a range of food driven by local farms and depth in flavour.

Do not skip the dessert. Do not skip the dessert. ♥️

Excellent restaurant...un des meilleurs à Ottawa.

My experience at Gitanes was good. The staff is very knowledgeable and the food is delicious. However, service for our table was very slow. A table of four sat down at the same time as our table and ordered around immediately before us, yet we had to wait an additional 25 minutes for our food. No explanation or apology was given - it was not even acknowledged. We also only ordered three appetizers, whereas the table had full entrees.

Out of the three dishes, only one at the table was fully satisfied. I ordered the crab pasta and while it was very delicious the portion was a lot smaller then the pictures on their social media page show and was expensive for the quantity. A member of my party ordered the beef tartare and while it was very delicious the dish did not offer any bread / crackers to eat with the tartare. She wasn't notified by the server that this would be the case, otherwise she would've ordered something else. She was left to eat the raw beef dish by itself and was left unsatisfied. The remaining member ordered the french onion soup and found it delicious and filling.

The ambience, decor and noise level of Gitanes was great. I sympathize that it is a new establishment and the staff is still figuring themselves out. As I did enjoy myself, despite the long wait and unfulfilling portions, I would probably return for cocktails/drinks and rawbar, but will not be ordering the crab pasta and beef tartare again.

Beautiful setting, modern music with a perfect balance of cozy and exciting. Food was excellent, I would insist on getting the foie gras ice cream it is truly remarkable and is a must try. I highly recommend gitanes.

The food was quite good. Very nice renovation of the space. Our only issue is with the selection of music. It was kind of weird blend. Softer jazz music would likely add to the ambiance

Amazing food you can’t get anywhere else in Ottawa. The ambiance is unreal. Such a beautiful spot. We really enjoyed our dinner here. 10/10 will be one of our regular spots

Fantastic new restaurant! Fabulous vibe and beautiful modern Parisienne decor. The food and cocktails were perfect. I had high expectations of Gitanes and I was not disappointed.

Excellent restaurant with a creative and extensive wine selection. Service was great and personable. Best duck I have ever tasted. We will be back.

Beautiful place. Nice cocktail list. Too much salt on everything.

Wow!!! Blew my mind. Waitress was very patient and explained everything on the menu when we asked!! The place is very similar to New York restaurant same style, modern and cool. There’s a cold food menu all amazing seafood!!! Overall, I would 100% recommend and I’m definitely coming here more often!!!

Had a great time at Gitanes. The food was phenomenal. Great service as well. We were a little rushed due to a member of our party being late due to parking; so the time limit between each table was a little unfavorable but understandable. Otherwise, great ambiance, food and drinks!

Dining at gitanes was a wonderful experience! We loved the place, the menu was amazing, but best of all was the friendly and well-informed staff who made our evening so special. If you're looking for a great place to splurge on a very fancy meal, this is absolutely a must try.

Delicious food with creative flourishes, but the staff was a little all over the place.

Attentive staff in a beautiful setting. Menu is familiar but also inventive and delicious. The celery dish was wonderful as were all the dishes we tried (tuna, steak tartare, steak frites, halibut). Looking forward to returning here again.