Restaurant International

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#482 of 2,352 Restaurants in OttawaInternational, Canadian, $$ - $$$

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Restaurant International

Review

At a glance

Closed today

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Website

+1 613-727-7691Improve this listing

About

Features

CUISINES

International, Canadian

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner

Special Diets

Vegan options

FEATURES

Parking Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

H101-1385 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, Ontario K2G 1V8 Canada

Parking Available

Is this restaurant a hidden gem or off-the-beaten path?

Yes

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Hours

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Closed today

Sunday

Closed

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

Thursday

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

Friday

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

Saturday

5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

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4.1

54 reviews

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Yes

Meander52191217971

4 contributions

A few tweaks would have made this experience a 5* review

Nov 2024 • family

Lovely lunch today. Our server was very sweet and attentive to our table of 4 people. My Korean chicken dish was very flavorful, served with rice and veggies (squash and beets were a bit undercooked and crunchy but still tasty). The spring rolls were piping hot and delicious. My spouse had the smash burger and fries which was very overcooked and dry unfortunately. The soup was very tasteful but just warm. Dessert was Apple Crumble with salted caramel sauce. Was served right from the fridge so very cold.. Warmed up would have been a game changer for flavour and consistency. This is a culinary training program so very understandable that some days food items can be not as expected. As I said the flavors were delicious...it is the temperature of some dishes that could be adjusted. A suggestion to management is to have a person visit each table at the end of the meal and ask for suggestions as to how they enjoyed each course and if there are any changes to be made. Even suggestion cards at each table would suffice so the students are aware of how they can improve in their culinary voyage. Keep up the great work students and know that practice makes perfect 😉

Written November 21, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gardiner W

Vancouver537 contributions

Experience the chefs of tomorrow at this student led restaurant

Dec 2023 • family

This is the fine dining restaurant of the Algonquin College Catering program so front of house and the kitchen are staffed by chefs in training. Today was a buffet ($28 so not badly priced) and focused largely on south Asian and south Asian influenced dishes. Good taste, enthusiastic (although occasionally nervous chef/trainees), good table service and pleasant environment. Great dessert bar with at least one flambe dish. Reservations important and dine here in the knowledge that these are students putting on the event under the watchful eye of instructors.

Written December 17, 2023

Brendan Roy

Ottawa209 contributions

Glad to be back

Sep 2021 • none

This is the first time eating here again since the pandemic began and the tables were nicely distanced. The food and presentation were once again excellent and the meal was very good value. The executive chef made a special visit with ice cream and blueberries for our toddler. Looking forward to returning soon again.

Written October 1, 2021

Genevieve B

Canada79 contributions

Disappointing experience

Jul 2024 • friends

Place without atmosphere. The (student) staff seemed not to know what to do. Errors in taking order. Bloody Mary without any taste not respecting the announcement made on the menu "with spicy green bean". Caesar salad without any taste, commercial croutons, iceberg lettuce, no dressing, no capers or Parmesan.... Overcooked salmon. Third experiment and I won't go back. I had specified not wanting the entrance at the same time as the cocktail and we received both at the same time. We had to ask for knives and forks twice. My friend's dish served five minutes before mine. Too bad because I wanted to encourage this establishment.

Automatically translated

Written August 4, 2024

CB_Ottawa

Ottawa73 contributions

Excellent Meal - You won't be disappointed!

Mar 2022 • none

So glad that this restaurant is open again!! We had a great 3 course meal. The menus are created by students and faculty from culinary and hospitality programs in the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Algonquin College. Its very clear the students and staff take great pride in their culinary skills. Thank you!

Written March 19, 2022

Stuball1

Ottawa212 contributions

A total faulure of incompetent faculty

Feb 2024 • friends

The evening debacle rests at the feet of the incompetent faculty on duty during the evening service. On this particular evening there were issues in the kitchen, and it was clear that the students had not been trained on how to deal with that sort of issue. In addition, the faculty members whose job it is to instruct and mentor students were nowhere to be seen. The student servers lacked a sense of follow up, again reflecting the poor quality of faculty whose function it is to mentor. On this particular evening the meals when presented were cold. It is understood that this restaurant is a teaching venue for students, but that being the case then the faculty management must seriously reassess the quality and fitness of the faculty that are supposed to be mentoring students in actual working environments. After this disastrous evening our group had to feel sorry for the students

Written February 7, 2024

NigelC595

Ottawa62 contributions

A Disappointment

Dec 2018 • friends

Since it's inception I have visited this restaurant many times and it was always good. This restaurant is the front end of the culinary institute for Algonquin College which has had many good chefs in its alumni. Therefore one would expect it to be excellent. Today's visit was a shock. The cutlery layout on the table was incorrect. The waitress seemed to be a little lost on what she was supposed to do and the supervisor was little help. The first course was a choice of salad or French onion soup or Cream of carrot. The onion soup arrived just warm with a dab of cheese in the middle. The second course was a choice of Atlantic salmon, Chicken or Beef. All dishes were just warm. The dessert was a choice of crepe suzette or poached pears. The crepes were cold and very thick. The poached pears were passable but a lot of cream. We also had coffee which was just warm as well. For a catering school this is a poor example of fine catering and perhaps the instructors should pay more attention to how a real restaurant should be run.

Written December 11, 2018

Happycouple155019

Toronto14 contributions

Excellent food beautifully presented by earnest young people

Nov 2018 • couples

We’ve been to Algonquin College’s restaurant international several times and have never been disappointed, including a visit earlier this week. The moderately priced food is always excellent with an eclectic 4 course table d’hôte menu that changes frequently. The student servers try hard and while there is the odd fumble you’d really have to be quite the curmudgeon to really care. Outstanding value and highly recommended!

Written November 14, 2018

Stuball1

Ottawa212 contributions

Thank You Juan

Nov 2018 • couples

While it is true that this restaurant is really a classroom for Algonquin College students in the hospitality faculty, save and except for one or two minor glitches one would never know that. Firstly, the nominal negatives. When we arrived we stood at the reception counter for more than 10 minutes before anyone came to confirm our reservation. The person to be credited here was actually one of the student servers who noticed and came over. When our cocktails were served the wine glasses removed without, in this case the faculty member, asking whether or not we would be having wine with our dinner. The data itself was nothing short of outstanding, made even more so by the fact that the young man, Juan, who was attending us was a true delight. The only nominal mistake that he made, during the entire evening was to refer to two patrons, old enough to be his parents as 'guys'. He, however, and again to his credit accepted this slight bit of constructive criticism with grace and appreciation. Our meals were excellent. We both started off with crabcakes that were nothing short of remarkable. This of course was a beer/cheese soup and it was a little too watery. Our main courses were spectacular. My much better half had the poached trout and I had to beef. The presentation was outstanding at the taste was, for both, delicious. The apple tart/ice cream dessert was equally delicious. The other downside, if there is any, is the fact that the wine list is very limited and only offers Ontario wines. While this is understandable because this is an Ontario government-funded institution, nevertheless, some of the wines offered our best mediocre. This 'student classroom' remains one of our favorites

Written November 9, 2018

Hadley_Baxendale

Ottawa17 contributions

Delightful Birthday Dinner

Oct 2018 • family

My brother and I took my Mom there for her birthday on Saturday evening. The room itself is spacious and my Mom commented on how she appreciated not being jammed into a table. The room is quiet and airy. The service was prompt and friendly throughout the meal. Most importantly, the food is very good. There were interesting options in each of the four courses. My Mom had a chicken ballotine done with hazelnuts which she said was excellent. I had a lamb tagine which was tender and flavourful done with, among other things, green olives. My brother had the crusted tilapia. We all had the warm chocolate souffle with a warm creme anglaise for dessert and it was universally loved. The restaurant and these young people are terrific. This is a hidden gem in Ottawa.

Written October 8, 2018

Brendan Roy

Ottawa209 contributions

Excellent food, service and great value

Sep 2018 • couples

I ate here this evening with my wife for the first time, and was very satisfied with all aspects of the 4 course meal priced at only $25. The menu posted on the restaurant's website were the same choices available when we arrived. You had choices in each course section of app, soup, main and dessert. Vegetarian options were also included. We both started with the arugula salad with goat cheese tart, very flavorful and creamy. Next was the creamed carrot and ginger soup, very satisfying for a fall day. Then, we chose the grilled duck breast, perfectly cooked to medium-rare with a crispy skin, accompanied by seasonal vegetables and scalloped potatoes topped with cheese. Finally, we finished with a lemon fruit custard and meringue swirls, beautifully presented. While we did not have any drinks with our meal, other than herbal teas, a full bar of liquors, beers, wines and cocktails were available. Our primary server Valerie was also efficient and attentive to our needs. Thank you also to the rest of the kitchen team for creating an enjoyable meal. We will definitely be back soon to sample a new menu which changes weekly, or for lunch which is also available. My only suggestion would be to hang more artwork on the walls, possibly even by students for sale, to promote and showcase the visual arts dept. There were a few large posters, one at the back of which was not food or restaurant themed.

Written September 28, 2018

Stuball1

Ottawa212 contributions

Thank you Zofia

Feb 2018 • couples

These young people could not try any harder. We have yet to have a poor experience at this hospitality school restaurant. We went there for dinner just after the school break and the nervousness of the students was palpable. But overall they could not have tried harder. The server who helped us, Zofia, while he was a little nervous at he start, nevertheless settled in and showed what a great professional she will likely become. The presentation of the place settings was perfect when we were seated and the presentation of each course was as well done as one would expect in any 'top drawer' restaurant. The menu changes regularly so that one is never bored at seeing the 'same old' on the menu. Again for us each course was perfectly prepared. That being said, the instructors need to pay attention to what is happening in the 'front of the house'. When we arrived there was no one to greet us and to assist or at least to direct to the cloak room. There was a student 'floor manager' and it did not leave a good impression when she was seen to have have her glass at the corner of the bar and then to be seen throwing a straw across the bar into a waste basket of some sort. As well the students need to be a little more careful in the idioms they use. For example a server should refrain from referring to clients as 'you guys' or saying that he.she will 'grab more bread' for the table At first blush it is easy to criticize, but here the weakness is not that of the student(s) but rather of the instructors who need to pay more attention to decorum and detail The above being said, the restaurant is really one of the hidden gems in Ottawa.

Written March 6, 2018

Mary Cameron M

Ottawa12 contributions

Birthday night for 3 ladies

Feb 2018 • friends

We are 3 friends who have January birthdays (and also born the same year). We were pleased to celebrate this year at Restaurant International. The service was good, and the food delicious. 2 of us started with the charcuterie and 1 had the stuffed artichokes. We all totally loved our dishes. 1 had a soup with mussels, 2 had a quinoa salad. YUM 2 of us had Beef Wellington, and 1 had the tuna. We all enjoyed these mains. 1 had the chocolate mousse cake (delicious), and 2 had the leche cake (this was dense and without a lot of taste-the ONLY disappointment of the evening). All in all we were very pleased with our dining experience and would be excited to return. Thank you very much.

Written February 21, 2018

Maureen C

36 contributions

Don't ever eat here!

Apr 2017 • family

Because we had two children with us we booked a table for 5:30 pm. There were no other patrons in the restaurant. There were two waiters, but we waited half an hour for water and menus. This was just the beginning to a dining fiasco. We then waited two and a half hours for the main course. By the time we left at 8:45 with two sleepy children, we were all exhausted and full of the salty, mediocre food. Throughout the meal the maitre d' hid in the kitchen. Terrible service and lackluster food. Avoid this restaurant at all costs!

Written April 22, 2017

Stuball1

Ottawa212 contributions

Thank you chef Ramsay and Constantin

Mar 2017 • friends

What an outstanding experience! We were a group of five and we could not have asked for a better meal presented by nothing short of an outstanding server. The appetizers, both the spring rolls as well as the calamari were enticing and did not overpowering. The two suits on the menu, minestrone and mushroom were tasteful and again, not overpowering. Our group had a number of the main courses which included rabbit, pork and fish and all were exceptionally well presented and tasteful. For dessert we all had ‘deconstructed pavlova’ that was a perfect ending to a really outstanding meal. Special kudos have to go to our server, Constantine. What an exceptionally personable young man! He had just the right mix of charm and professionalism and knew how to read and deal with his guests. He was able to describe the menu items and match them to the tastes/inquiries of his guests. He knew his wine list very well. When this young man finishes his studies he would be a great asset to any restaurant where tact, humor, and professionalism are the watchwords. Just before dessert we had the privilege of meeting the faculty chef working that evening, Mario Ramsey and two of his students who had taken the lead in the preparation of what was an outstanding meal. It was obvious that he took pride in students, and they, in turn, held him in the highest of respect and regard. No educator could ask for more. Two of our group were treated to a tour of the kitchen and they came back thoroughly impressed. Oh, and the prices are an unbelievable value, but go there for the meal, the value is the added bonus Even though it is a student learning environment is nothing short of outstanding!

Written April 1, 2017