Offering seasonal, locally sourced and handmade ingredients. Beautifully designed to embrace our heritage roots. Chef Dave Godsoe was inspired by the vibrancy and character of the market when creating this ever-evolving menu, showcasing the restaurant’s relationships with local farms and purveyors.
The Clarendon menu offers tavern classics with craft beers, vintage and reinvented cocktails and happy hour specials. Located in the Byward Market just steps from The Rideau Centre, NAC, Parliament Hill, and The National Gallery. Soon to be one of Ottawa’s favourite watering holes.
Paul Larose
We stopped by The Clarendon Tavern for breakfast (brunch menu on the weekend), and it was a pleasant surprise in the heart of Ottawa’s ByWard Market. The historic building has such a cozy, welcoming feel—exposed brick, great ambiance, and that tucked-away courtyard patio vibe even if we were inside.
The food was the star again: fresh, flavorful, and well-executed comfort breakfast classics. Portions were generous, and everything tasted like real care went into it—definitely farm-to-table quality that stands out. We loved our meals and would happily order them again.
That said, service was a bit on the slower side, which we noticed more since the place was pretty quiet during our visit. Not super busy at all, yet our group still didn’t get all our plates at the same time, and there were some delays. The staff were friendly, but it felt like they could use a touch more coordination (and maybe extra training on that specialty coffee machine, as our brews took longer than expected with a couple of small hiccups).
The quiet atmosphere was actually kind of nice—peaceful and relaxed instead of the usual Market hustle—which made it feel more like a hidden gem for a chill breakfast. If you’re looking for great food without the crowds, this could be perfect. We’ll definitely return, especially for the brunch, and hope the service catches up to the kitchen’s level. Highly recommend for quality eats in a cool setting—just plan a leisurely pace!
Great job on the breakfast menu, Clarendon team—keep shining!
… moreOsa Atoe
As it is the holidays, I’d like to reminisce on last week’s dinner. I had the honor to dine amongst family and friends in the Clarendon Tavern’s warm and cozy environment.
The table ordered some appetizers, and afterwards a main dish of their own. I ordered the ‘Clarendon Burger’ with toppings of bacon jam, dill pickle mayo, shredded iceberg lettuce, and cheddar cheese atop a warm brioche bun. It was splendid.
My date ordered the ‘Half Chicken’. A roasted half chicken with Yukon gold mash and colorful seasonal vegetables, served with a roasted chicken velouté. The portion size more than generous.
The conversations amongst each table were lovely; happy birthdays, catching up, and celebrating each other for all the things we’ve accomplished this year. The Clarendon Tavern is truly the place for every occasion.
To end the night, I shared a plate of ‘Cheesecake’. A white chocolate cheesecake with a classic crust, topped with caramelized white chocolate and fresh berries. Divine.
Thank you to everyone at the Clarendon Tavern, you were more than wonderful hosts, see you soon and Merry Christmas!
… moreSam Mohr
Nice brunch spot in ByWard Market, especially on Christmas Day when options are limited. The Eggs Royale was mediocre. It was okay but nothing memorable. That said, the atmosphere was good for brunch, lively and relaxed, which made the experience pleasant. In terms of the price, it’s a pretty affordable place for brunch in Ottawa.
… moreCarmen B.
The cocktail, Victoria’s Secret, was deliciously sweet and refreshing. I ordered the fish and chips, which tasted good, but the portion size left something to be desired. It felt more like a plate of fries with a small salad and a modest piece of fish rather than a hearty meal. My friends enjoyed their food overall, but it wasn’t particularly memorable. The squash salad wasn’t very squashy but was very oniony, something was missing my friends said. The flavors were decent, but the portions and presentation didn’t quite match the price or expectations. Great ambiance, though, which made for a pleasant dining experience. Last but not least, waitress was exceptionally friendly, thank you for that.
… moreJoanna C
I specially went to there to taste the Scotch egg, but disappointed that the waitress said they will have it in evening, not sure they will have it anymore even though in evening, the other review was left in few years ago . We stayed for the brunch, my dish looked good, but eggs yolks were hard(suppose to soft and liquid), the potatoes taste was good, but percentage of portion was high, also good at it has less oil. I couldn’t give higher stars, because nothing was special.
… moreMarie-Julie Côté
It was by far the most beautiful cocktail and the most delicious cocktail I’ve ever had in my life! What a masterpiece! I understand she told me it took time to create to perfection. Thank you.
… moreVince Ou
Brunch: the food was fine, nothing mind-blowing. Priced with “tourist tax” in Byward, as you may expect. Average value.
They tried their best with the service; an item was missed, but they were very nice about rectifying it.
I’m really not a fan of putting circular tables next to each other; the reduced surface area makes it feel incredibly cramped. The exposed brick walls makes more a very echoey atmosphere, not cozy at all. Very photo-friendly, however.
Specifically, my smoked salmon was more spiced, not very smoked. Would not recommend that dish.
… morePeter Szczyglowski
I regularly come here after work. I love it because they don’t play the music too loud so you can comfortably have conversations without straining to hear yourself, which is the issue with a lot of other places. The service is great, they remember me even though I don’t expect them to, and they’re quick on delivering orders and following up. The food and drinks are reasonably priced and I’ll continue to come back. Much love ❤️
… moreAmanda
We came for happy hour pizzas. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the pizzas were delicious. High-quality ingredients, it tasted like the sauce was even made in-house. Would definitely return.
… moreGabriella Richards
Clarendon is one of my favourite restaurants in Ottawa, and my most frequented for sure. I’ve been meaning to write a review for so long. The food is excellent, the cocktails are creative and delicious. The happy hour is such a great deal, at a great time. The bathrooms are on the main level (very important to me and uncommon) and very clean. The patio is wonderful. The atmosphere/decore/vibe are really nice. 10/10. Most recently I was here with some friends for brunch (the brunch menu and brunch drinks are so so good) – one of my favourite brunch places in Ottawa for sure. We were served by Fab (I don’t know how to spell his full name) and he was amazing he had such great energy and put us all in a great mood. Val is also amazing and always there when I’m there, she’s so lovely and always remembers me and is so kind. The staff are always warm and friendly. There is nothing negative to say about this place! 🙂
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