Amazing atmosphere, food, and service. Unique and comfort food dishes for adventurous and more conventional foodies. We will definitely be heading back.
Emrah Alpsan
Fantastic and unique. The most authentically memorable dining experience that Ottawa has to offer. Totally unassuming location, incredibly modest building, artistically cosy decor, very friendly staff (Zachary is awesome!), and everything on the menu is delicious. They have a very impressive wine list AND they serve uzo in addition to great cocktails. In contrast to the exceptional quality of both the food and the service, very reasonably priced. Far exceeds the fancy names elsewhere in the city, for sure. I cherish this place, and I love it that we have a restaurant like this in Ottawa. You can’t go wrong with any of the mezes, but the octopus and the uzo shrimp are both must trys! Oh, and that fresh warm pita…
Dragon Meteor
Genuinely don't understand the great reviews. Food we had wasn't just subpar, it was bad - bland flavour profiles and so much salt we needed a lot of water after.
Most dishes had a dollop of raw sour cream as the dominant flavour. And I am conviced the coloured sauces on our fish tacos were either super diluted or food colouring was used - flavourless.
Dishes are pretty - plated well but every dish we had, save for the dessert needs to go back to the planning phase.
Most of the clientele were early 20s hipster looking folks enamored with the novelty of tapas - they must not have a taste bud in their whole mouth to review this place so highly when there are genuinely great restos around the corner.
Another older couple walked out without finishing their wine after their first dish, we gritted it out and were treated to a cold open faced chicken dish - crumbled dry chicken, some sour cream, a heap of salt served on a stale piece of pita.
John Tadman
Excellent food and service. Only slight niggle was that having been told that all the dishes are for 2 and they would charge 1.5 times as there were 3 of us, a couple of the plates were not divisible by 3.
noel s
Excellent place for Greek Tapas - the selection for Vegetarian is amazing
Martin Dubé
Amazing restaurant.
Michael Palermo
This was my first tapas experience and they set the bar extremely high - food was amazing, staff was helpful and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere from the location to the interior was great! Definitely recommend to anyone in the area (or anyone planning on visiting Ottawa)!
Jill Marenger
we loved our visit to Aroma - the atmosphere was so cozy and a perfect blend of date nights, celebration, and family and friends gathering together. The food was delicious, we loved the octopus, beetroot towers, and eggplant roulade - but we loved it all, and got the sense we would have been happy with anything on the menu! the plates were perfectly paced, and the recommendation of 6 plates left us full but not overstuffed.
Iva Mihaylova
We had a wonderful dinner at Aroma Meze. Every menu item we tried was delicious and filling. There are also food options for a wide range of diets. I highly recommend the smoked salmon crisps and pulled lamb tacos. The staff are incredibly welcoming and friendly. The space itself is cozy and elegant. We would definitely come back the next time we visit Ottawa.
Joseph Kim
One word, perfect in all aspects of our dining experience. We celebrated our 1st year anniversary here and had a wonderful experience including enjoying the food and excellent service from our server. We would highly recommend trying different tapas and will definitely return. Special thanks to our server and staff that made our evening very memorable.
Excellent service. Food is too salty and my drink was served at room temperature.
Kristina WF
Fantastic service. Food was hit and miss. Good dishes were Salmon Crisp and Beef Tenderloin. Downside - Domaldes were terrible, open face chicken was mediocre, gnocchi overcooked. Restaurant needs a good cleaning, especially the hallway areas and floors… faucet is so loose it almost falls off… overall in need of a deep clean and repairs for a restaurant wanting to be in fine dining category. Reviews do not reflect reality… not deserving of its nearly 5 star review. Far better small plate restaurants in and around Ottawa.
Nicolas Pham-Dinh
Tapas at its best, but with an global flair. Good selection of wines. We asked the kitchen to feed us until we say stop. We had five sharing plates and it was perfect. One of my best restaurant experiences in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. I was there for lunch with my family and probably going back for dinner with a friend. It’s my birthday after all 😁
Sharon
An unforgettable dining experience!
I had dinner at Aroma Mèze last night with a friend, and we were absolutely delighted. The variety of flavors, presentation, and kind service from the entire staff—especially Arun and Zach—made the evening truly special.
We sat by the window in the main room, greeted warmly and surrounded by beautiful, travel-inspired décor that made us feel like we’d stepped into a cozy, global escape in the heart of downtown Ottawa.
We shared a stunning lineup of dishes: Kopanisti dip (feta cheese with roasted red peppers and chili) with homemade gluten-free pita; Smoked Salmon Crisps with black caviar on a sweet potato cracker; Arancini in a rich but balanced rosé sauce; Pulled Lamb Tacos served in a delicate, homemade corn tortilla; the dramatic and flavorful Ouzo Shrimp, flambéed table side; Shrimp Gnocchi in an irresistible sambuca cream sauce with basil; Mishari Ginger, a tender beef tenderloin on pesto topped with crispy onions; and finally, Dolmades floating in a velvety avgolemono sauce to complete our tasting adventure.
Each dish offered something unique and satisfying. The Kopanisti was the perfect savory start, and the pita was warm and clearly homemade. The salmon crisps were playful, the arancini a highlight for my friend, and the pulled lamb tacos deeply comforting. The ouzo shrimp provided both flavor and flair, while the shrimp gnocchi was hands-down our favorite—we could have swam in that sauce. The beef tenderloin melted in our mouths, and the dolmades added a lovely, classic finish.
Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another bite, the servers graciously brought us all three desserts—crème brûlée, chocolate mousse, and raspberry cheesecake. We left nothing on our plates.
All of this for both of us under $95! Incredible value for such a heightened culinary experience. I’ll definitely be returning with family and friends. Thank you to Arun, Zach, and the entire Aroma team for keeping this gem in the community alive with heart, flavor, and warmth.
Mary T
Everything was delicious! Most of the menu is gf or has gf options (my son & I have celiac disease so really appreciated this). We enjoyed everything but especially the fish tacos, lamb poutine, beet towers, saganaki…everything wonderful. The service was excellent too - everything done in a timely fashion with a genuine smile. I only put 4 stars for the atmosphere because it was very loud, making conversation a little difficult - but I truly appreciated that there was no annoying music in the background.
Amazing atmosphere, food, and service. Unique and comfort food dishes for adventurous and more conventional foodies. We will definitely be heading back.
Fantastic and unique. The most authentically memorable dining experience that Ottawa has to offer. Totally unassuming location, incredibly modest building, artistically cosy decor, very friendly staff (Zachary is awesome!), and everything on the menu is delicious. They have a very impressive wine list AND they serve uzo in addition to great cocktails. In contrast to the exceptional quality of both the food and the service, very reasonably priced. Far exceeds the fancy names elsewhere in the city, for sure. I cherish this place, and I love it that we have a restaurant like this in Ottawa. You can’t go wrong with any of the mezes, but the octopus and the uzo shrimp are both must trys! Oh, and that fresh warm pita…
Genuinely don't understand the great reviews. Food we had wasn't just subpar, it was bad - bland flavour profiles and so much salt we needed a lot of water after.
Most dishes had a dollop of raw sour cream as the dominant flavour. And I am conviced the coloured sauces on our fish tacos were either super diluted or food colouring was used - flavourless.
Dishes are pretty - plated well but every dish we had, save for the dessert needs to go back to the planning phase.
Most of the clientele were early 20s hipster looking folks enamored with the novelty of tapas - they must not have a taste bud in their whole mouth to review this place so highly when there are genuinely great restos around the corner.
Another older couple walked out without finishing their wine after their first dish, we gritted it out and were treated to a cold open faced chicken dish - crumbled dry chicken, some sour cream, a heap of salt served on a stale piece of pita.
Excellent food and service. Only slight niggle was that having been told that all the dishes are for 2 and they would charge 1.5 times as there were 3 of us, a couple of the plates were not divisible by 3.
Excellent place for Greek Tapas - the selection for Vegetarian is amazing
Amazing restaurant.
This was my first tapas experience and they set the bar extremely high - food was amazing, staff was helpful and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere from the location to the interior was great! Definitely recommend to anyone in the area (or anyone planning on visiting Ottawa)!
we loved our visit to Aroma - the atmosphere was so cozy and a perfect blend of date nights, celebration, and family and friends gathering together. The food was delicious, we loved the octopus, beetroot towers, and eggplant roulade - but we loved it all, and got the sense we would have been happy with anything on the menu! the plates were perfectly paced, and the recommendation of 6 plates left us full but not overstuffed.
We had a wonderful dinner at Aroma Meze. Every menu item we tried was delicious and filling. There are also food options for a wide range of diets. I highly recommend the smoked salmon crisps and pulled lamb tacos. The staff are incredibly welcoming and friendly. The space itself is cozy and elegant. We would definitely come back the next time we visit Ottawa.
One word, perfect in all aspects of our dining experience. We celebrated our 1st year anniversary here and had a wonderful experience including enjoying the food and excellent service from our server. We would highly recommend trying different tapas and will definitely return. Special thanks to our server and staff that made our evening very memorable.
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent service. Food is too salty and my drink was served at room temperature.
Fantastic service. Food was hit and miss. Good dishes were Salmon Crisp and Beef Tenderloin. Downside - Domaldes were terrible, open face chicken was mediocre, gnocchi overcooked. Restaurant needs a good cleaning, especially the hallway areas and floors… faucet is so loose it almost falls off… overall in need of a deep clean and repairs for a restaurant wanting to be in fine dining category. Reviews do not reflect reality… not deserving of its nearly 5 star review. Far better small plate restaurants in and around Ottawa.
Tapas at its best, but with an global flair. Good selection of wines. We asked the kitchen to feed us until we say stop. We had five sharing plates and it was perfect. One of my best restaurant experiences in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. I was there for lunch with my family and probably going back for dinner with a friend. It’s my birthday after all 😁
An unforgettable dining experience!
I had dinner at Aroma Mèze last night with a friend, and we were absolutely delighted. The variety of flavors, presentation, and kind service from the entire staff—especially Arun and Zach—made the evening truly special.
We sat by the window in the main room, greeted warmly and surrounded by beautiful, travel-inspired décor that made us feel like we’d stepped into a cozy, global escape in the heart of downtown Ottawa.
We shared a stunning lineup of dishes: Kopanisti dip (feta cheese with roasted red peppers and chili) with homemade gluten-free pita; Smoked Salmon Crisps with black caviar on a sweet potato cracker; Arancini in a rich but balanced rosé sauce; Pulled Lamb Tacos served in a delicate, homemade corn tortilla; the dramatic and flavorful Ouzo Shrimp, flambéed table side; Shrimp Gnocchi in an irresistible sambuca cream sauce with basil; Mishari Ginger, a tender beef tenderloin on pesto topped with crispy onions; and finally, Dolmades floating in a velvety avgolemono sauce to complete our tasting adventure.
Each dish offered something unique and satisfying. The Kopanisti was the perfect savory start, and the pita was warm and clearly homemade. The salmon crisps were playful, the arancini a highlight for my friend, and the pulled lamb tacos deeply comforting. The ouzo shrimp provided both flavor and flair, while the shrimp gnocchi was hands-down our favorite—we could have swam in that sauce. The beef tenderloin melted in our mouths, and the dolmades added a lovely, classic finish.
Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another bite, the servers graciously brought us all three desserts—crème brûlée, chocolate mousse, and raspberry cheesecake. We left nothing on our plates.
All of this for both of us under $95! Incredible value for such a heightened culinary experience. I’ll definitely be returning with family and friends. Thank you to Arun, Zach, and the entire Aroma team for keeping this gem in the community alive with heart, flavor, and warmth.
Everything was delicious! Most of the menu is gf or has gf options (my son & I have celiac disease so really appreciated this). We enjoyed everything but especially the fish tacos, lamb poutine, beet towers, saganaki…everything wonderful. The service was excellent too - everything done in a timely fashion with a genuine smile. I only put 4 stars for the atmosphere because it was very loud, making conversation a little difficult - but I truly appreciated that there was no annoying music in the background.
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