Benny's Bistro in Ottawa

Got here around 11:30am and the place was fairly empty. Food was okay - I got the sandwich and salad, and while the sandwich was indeed tasty, it was fairly oily (too much for me). Salad tasted a little bland too. Prices here are fairly pricey, especially for the portions you get. Youre looking at around $18-$25 per dish. Service was good, at least. They give you complimentary bread thats pretty tasty.

They have a fantastic breakfast during the weekends with exquisitely prepared dishes. Everything is carefully thought out and prepared with skill. It isnt a cheap breakfast but if youre looking for something exceptional this is the spot.

Top 3 most exquisitely delicious meals of my life. I had the mushrooms for lunch, which had the most flavourful king oyster mushrooms, an ineffably tasty sauce and a few surprise raviolis! The server was sweet and the ambiance is very Parisian. Lovely lovely place tucked away at the back of the bakery that makes you feel like you’re somewhere in Europe.

Bennys is an absolute treat, bursting with fresh flavours!

OMG this is the Best place in Ottawa to eat. I would Highly Recommend to anyone visiting Ottawa or anyone who lives there to go to Bennys. It located in the back of a Bakery. All ingredients are fresh and locally sourced. Very interesting dishes and great to share among friends. Great job on Awesome food!!!! I really enjoyed this Bistro.

Probably best French toast I have ever had. Add the 🥓 for full awesome experience.

Good portions and very tasty food. Favorites were the salmon, mushroom, and scallops. Waitress was pleasant as there was only one waitress and one cook

Found in the back of the bakery, this neighbourhood institution has a straightforward menu that is consistently done well. The small staff does more than their fair share, sharing roles and responsibilities.The reason why I can’t give it 5 stars is because I can’t imagine why something this wonderful isn’t available in my neighbourhood.

While the food is delicious, service from Scott, the owner, was especially impeccable. He graciously explained the specials to us, replaced a glass of wine I broke. Between the excellent meals Ive had here, and the service, this restaurant deserves a visit, and Id return anytime.

I used to live on Murray street and thought The French Baker was a pet store because of their dog logo 😅🤣. Turns out, it’s a bakery that’s been in Ottawa since 1995 and opened a small brunch spot in the back called Benny’s Bistro in 1999. I think I read somewhere that it was a “hidden gem” in Ottawa so I wanted to try it. And now I understand why!! They start you off with some fresh slices of different baguettes. I was super excited because I was already thinking about buying baguettes after my meal but now I get to try some first!The French Toast was unbelievably good.. they used baguettes for the French toast, the outside was crisp and the inside was so soft. It came with apple compote, almond oats, and a salted caramel sauce. The flavours complimented each other so well, I’ll always come here for my French toast cravings now.We also got the Yukon gold potato gratin, with a maple cured pork loin, and a soft poached egg. As well, we added a side of the double smoked bacon & fingerling potatoes. We didn’t want to feel super heavy so we didn’t add hollandaise to our poached egg & potato gratin, but you can for an extra $2.We throughly enjoyed everything and will probably be back to try something else, and also get the French toast again 😆. The server’s are very friendly, and are super quick with cleaning and attentiveness. We only had to wait 10mins today but I’m sure it varies between 10-30mins depending on the day and time.

It is at the back of a bakery. The meal was delicious. Very rich with creams and butters. The service people are very sweet. The only issue is the floor is slanted in some places making getting a good angle in your seat something of a challenge. Or like myself change tables. Its very busy but should never stop anyone from a really good thing.Its very reasonably priced for its flavour and presentation. Ill go back and bring others with me.

An uncomplicated menu with delicious food. Start with a croissant and some coffee then order breakfast - wait and enjoy the amazing smell from the kitchen. Went twice when we were visiting Ottawa for a week.

The dishes are special and very very delicious. Highly recommended!!

French toasts and omlette was excelent! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ helpfull service. And this Coffee! Need to visit for breakfest.

A gem of a restaurant tucked away behind the French Bakery! Virtually everything in the menu is fanastic and Scott, the owner/chef, was genuinely intrigued when my spouse asked for jam to go with the Monte Cristo and it was the first time hed heard of anyone doing that.The only criticism would be that service can be a bit show, but then again one should not rush through their meals here.

This is a great hidden gem, menu is small but never simple, complexity and depth on each dish, the wine pairing is perfectly achieved, again also the drink menu is small but we a lot of sense for their menu items. You should really give it a try. Consider this is a more flavor/price oriented than volume/price.

Summary: best value for great cookingLook for the sign outside next to the bakery! Cool spot in the back of the bakery. Went on a weekday for lunch around 2pm and it was fairly empty. Seems to be a seasonal menu at more than fair prices for the quality we received. I got the mushrooms and it was delicious. All of the dishes my three other friends got were also fantastic.

Food is just as impressive as yelp reviews. Didnt know you could fry Cornish hen like they did! The manager is a great guy! Its a bit hot inside though. The portion is fine dining small size so stop by the bakery upfront after for a snack.

went to the bistro in the back. Great price for really amazing cuisine. We were really impressed with the two mains we ordered! And really good advice for the desserts as well, even if they were not at the level of the main courses

We used to go to this bistro regularly but noticed that the quality of the food seems to have declined, as the owner-chef delegated more of the food preparation to his assistants. Of all the dishes I have tried, the mushroom is my favorite, and the few soups I have had were all tasty. However, the portions in general are small for the price. The food also tends to be oily, so be prepared to feel a bit bloated after the meal. The last couple times we went, the service was slow. One young woman didnt seem to have been trained properly as a waitress; she was expressionless and seemed to have forgotten to put in our order. We ended up asking another waitress after a rather long wait and she promptly put the order through. Because of that, we havent gone to this bistro for a while but have dropped by to buy their baked goods. The almond chocolate croissants from the bakery in front are delicious.

Ive only ever gone to the bakery at the front, not the bistro. This place has the best croissants in Ottawa, without a doubt. I am leaving this review to announce: If you go anywhere in Ottawa for a croissant, make it this pretty and humble little bakery. This Francophone establishment has a good staff and fair prices on its baked fare. Please treat yourself. These are unbelievably delicious, flaky, and subtle croissants.

I was here for Sunday brunch (yesterdaywith my girlfriend and another couple. We inadvertently arrived what I thought would be way too early, at 0945...brunch starts at 1030. As it turns out, by 1000 there was a line up to get in! We sat and relaxed with an excellent cup of coffee and one of the best croissants Ive ever had. 1030 rolled around and the line up to get in grew and we were given our menus. Among the 4 of us we had French toast (with cinnamon apple), salmon (loxand Yukon gold potatoes with poached eggs. It was all fabulous. The service was prompt, courteous and professional. Highly recommended.

Food is awesome and the service is excellent, great place to grab a bite with friends or family. They dont serve their full menu until 10:30, but if youre there earlier you can get coffee and one of their delicious pastries.

Omg if you havent been you MUST go! Breakfast/brunch/lunch all worth the wait. Expect to wait if you head for brunch on a weekend and reserve ahead during the week if you want. Love love LOVE this spot.

Benny’s located in the back of The French Bakery in the Byward Market. They both share the same place to say the least and serve the best brunches, pastries and cakes.I visit Benny’s often and Im never disappointed by the service or the taste of the food. The service is fast and friendly. Food is excellent and filling however the coffee is okay I would recommend getting something plain.The place well lit with artificial lighting obviously because it’s in the back of the Bakery however I think moving to a location that has windows and other decor would be much more interesting than the decor now.The washrooms are always clean and simple.The place is accessible for persons of disability and baby strollers.

Extremely long wait in an uncomfortable crowded hallway for brunch. Aside from that, bread with butter to start was delicious (although butter was hard), and the meals were amazing and unique. I tried the apple french toast and it was the best french toast in my life.

Ottawa has a great reputation for delectable brunch spots, but this one really did it for me!The French Baker, a cute Parisian style bakery (as its name implies), is worth the visit in its own right, delicious pasteries and coffees, a charming atmosphere... but oddly hidden in the back is the real pearl!Bennys Bistro is camouflaged behind the bakery. A windowless, smallish space... this usually wouldnt be my jam! But the homey service, delicious food, and unique little charm makes it more speakeasy than claustrophobic. And what really steals the show is the food! Delicious options with generous portions, this is THE brunch place to be. And for a little extra you can add a non-stop mimosa refill option which is great for a breakfast amongst friends.The setting is extremely intimate and often packed with locals and visitors alike so do make sure so show up a good 30 mins before open. The wait is more than worth it!

Its hidden behind the French bakery so its small and not crowded crazy like some of the other places in the Market. Speedy and friendly service to get us seated and coffee and pastries were on our table very shortly after that. Brunch is not your usual fare which is nice. I had the Yukon Gold gratin with pork loin and poached eggs and it was simply delicious! Highly recommended!

This was the best breakfast I’ve had in SO long! Gorgeous, thoughtful, and artistic dishes, all served by a competent, patient, and professional staff. Would recommend to anyone looking for a top-quality breakfast/brunch date in the market.

Great little restaurant! Had to wait a bit as we missed the brunch time, but it was well worth the wait. I had the organic mushroom dish and my boyfriend had the smoked salmon and it was amazing!! Highly recommend you take a stop here if you get the chance!!

OMG wow. Must try brunch in Ottawa. I came here not expecting much but the food is really delicious. I can not wait to come back. Arrived at 10 and got a seat right away. When we were finished at 11:30 there was a line almost to the door waiting for tables. Almost had everything on their menu and each dish was incredible.Grabbed a few different croissants and pastries and they were okay but I wouldnt say the best Ive had. I prefer Nadege pastries in Toronto for comparison.

Went on a Thursday morning (~9amand had no trouble finding a table for 4. The food was absolutely delicious (I had the French toast with rhubarb compote). It took a while for the food to arrive, but only because they make everything fresh when you order! Selection for breakfast was fairly limited (3 options), but the dishes are unique and excellent. Definitely will be back.

Good, off the beaten path local eatery...worth a visit

Bennys is my favorite place to eat in Ottawa. The food is consistently great and imaginative. The atmosphere is warm, friendly, and unpretentious. The open-kitchen plan makes it fun to watch as your food is being prepared. Most importantly, you also get to interact with the chef. If you ever get a chance, watch for Bennys special-occasion banquets (the two I was to were St.Valetines day banquet, and a wedding celebration). These are amazing experiences not to be missed.

I was really excited to try Benny’s Bistro since I had heard such good things about the food and service but we were a little disappointed. We got there about 10:20 and were seated a little after 10:30 when they started brunch service and a table became available. The place was actually full when we got there since people arrived early to enjoy a coffee before brunch. One of the waitresses came to bring us water and take our drink order. I ordered a tea and my boyfriend wasn’t sure yet and said he needed a minute. 30 minutes later she came back to take our order and I never got my tea. The table next to us was seated at the same time and they received their food and left before we even got to order. Another table that had been recently seated ordered 10 minutes after us and got their food 5 minutes before. From the time that we got seated to the time our food arrived it was 1.5 hours! Sure it was busy but it was Saturday brunch, they know it’s going to be busy! Over all the food was indeed delicious although my French toast was undercooked in the middle making it soggy. I hope this was just an off day because service was unacceptable. There was no real apology for the wait.

Great service and top quality foods. Breakfast menu is short but executed extremely well. Id recommend for sure.

Had breakfast here: Two eggs sunny side up, with bacon, salad and potatoes fingerings. Since theyre making everything from scratch, the bacon and potatoes are super crispy and delicious. The eggs and the salad were great as well. The place is quite small and I can imagine it being super packed on the weekends (brunch is offered). Special shoutout to our waiter who was super friendly and gave us tips for our trip to Montréal.Tl;dr: Tiny, delicious, recommendation!

Great breakfast, but expect steeper prices. Wait can be long for brunch but service was fantastic and we were offered coffee while we waited. The line is also largely indoors so not waiting outside in the cold during the winter.

My Ottawa cousin rated this bakery and cafe to be the very best to visit and we had to agree. The owner/operator was able to fit in the three of us for brunch although every table appeared filled or had a reservation. We had a delicious meal and each took away from the bakery a marvellous croissant.

Really cute little bistro behind a bakery. Small menu which is good. Really tasteful and good brunch. On the expensive side. But worth it.

Long wait is totally worth for the delicious brunch

Haute Cuisine for brunch ? This small restaurants food exceed our expectations! It was worth to wait in line (they are popular and their space limited). Very friendly polite server and staff. Its quite interesting to see how efficient they are in that small open kitchen. Bravo!

This little hidden/exclusive Bistro was surprisingly good. I was a bit concerned at first, as they had no menus available while we were waiting for orders to be taken at 10:00 am. Their method of taking orders was a bit unconventional as well, so I assumed the wait would be long and service would be mediocre. To my pleasant surprise, everything came out relatively quickly, and the quality of the food was nothing short of amazing.They have very unique menu items, which are of a fine-cuisine nature, but still very flavourful and satisfying. The favourite part of my breakfast was the double smoked bacon w/ fingerling potatoes..to die for.On your way out, be sure to pick up a few things from The French Baker at the front. They had the best tiramisu Ive ever had in my life. Excellent, sweet and fresh goodies/pastries/breads.

The food is very tasty at this place. You might want to consider an hour of wait line.

The food here is delicious and the place is quiet. However, service is painfully slow. We probably waited 20 minutes just to get seated when there were empty tables. The restaurant is not the cheapest, so why not hire at least another waiter? Portions are a bit on the small side but as I said their cooking is delicious. Despite the wait Id probably go again.

Had a fantastic brunch here. It was so difficult to choose something off the menu because it all seemed so fantastic. The tuna dish was absolutely amazing and I cant wait to go back to try the other dishes. The décor and atmosphere were great as well.

Outstanding food and service. We never miss the weekend brunch when we are in Ottawa. For the three years since we first dropped in, the quality of the food has stayed amazing. The retention of the cook during these years speaks to the quality of the establishment.

The preamble: In fairness to restaurants we didn’t care for, we have omitted reviewing them. If your restaurant doesnt have a review on our board, we either didn’t love it, or we haven’t eaten there yet. If you are interested in having us dine at your establishment, send us a note and well get you on our list for future meals. We’re not here to trash the restaurants we believe have some work ahead of them, rather to applaud the restaurants we feel are above the bar.Incredible brunch and lunch menus (sorry, no dinners). Go just after the lunch rush Monday to Friday, or show up early for the very busy weekend brunch. Interesting and sometimes changing menu including poached eggs, yukon potatoes and smoked salmon, or my favourite beautiful tuna loin with smoked tomato broth, chorizo balls and poached eggs. Great friendly service and interesting menu make this a must try place.

Nice place tucked behind the store front bakery. The service was friendly, and quite timely considering it was prime time for brunch on a Saturday. We had a 10 minute wait for a seat for two. The Kir Kir cocktail was great as was the hanger steak special. Expect to pay $15-20 each meal plus drinks which is reasonable for the quality of the food. Very flavorful.

This has been one of my favorite "go to" places for the past 4 years.Bright, colourful and open decor. In the back of the Boulagerie.Food is fantastic! Each plate prepped in detail from scratch to finish, and the service is attentive and kind. Great coffee as well, and drinks.The space fills up quickly... is the ONLY drawback.