Datsun

380 Elgin St, Ottawa
(613) 421-7411

Recent Reviews

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Janet Nicol

Oppressively loud music…for what? To make us think the place is exciting? I’m done with going out to dinner when I have to yell at my people. The food is a solid 5/10 with some dishes being okay and others meh.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 3

Sacha Mitri

Got the squash dumplings, everyone suggested it. It was good, but definitely not worth the price. You go there for the experience; lights are low, music is nice. We received the food pretty fast.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Kabocha Squash Dumplings

Sean Martin

Really nice restaurant with a great vide the pork dandan noodles were great + the chicken bao!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Eva Klassen

We love Ari !

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Em Wong

Trendy place, nice plating, meh food and service for the price. Don't think it was worth the price.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

caelan warnock

Enjoyed a nice dinner and drinks, but we're told after an hour and 15 mins we had to finish and leave in 10 mins to make way for the next table. No one informed us of a strict (short) time limit, either in the reservation policy or when we arrived. We had been ordering and eating the entire time, and we're about to order dessert, but instead I had to chug the sake left in the bottle. The server then kept walking by the table to make us uncomfortable and leave. This left us feeling very unappreciated, especially since there were empty tables around us and other patrons who had been there longer than us.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 2

Marc

Our favourite go to spot in Ottawa!! Recommend making a reservation beforehand cause it usually gets pretty busy. The chicken bao, tofu bao, cauliflower bites and dandan noodles deserve a standing ovation

Food: 5

Seelai Tooryalai

Food was great and unique. Service was slow, could also use some work to arrange the restaurant better so you don’t have to be elbow to elbow with strangers.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 3

Christopher Quigley

I’ve never written a negative restaurant review in my life. I save my energy for places worth celebrating.
But congratulations, Datsun on Elgin inn Ottawa , you broke the streak.

I walked in. No hostess. No greeting. Just an empty podium and several open seats at the bar, so I sat down. The bartender was a gem , kind, quick, and ready with a menu.

Then, like a TikTok sprite summoned by the scent of sincerity, a 19-year-old hostess materialized beside me. In her high-pitched, influencer-infused cadence, she informed me that all bar seats were reserved.
No apology. No solution. No alternate seating. Just… bad and insincere vibes.

So I said “Thanks,” got up, and left.

I ended up at Elgin Diner down the street, where everything , absolutely everything , was fabulous The tuna scoop salad? Perfect. The rice pudding? Heavenly. The service? Actual experienced humans. The whole experience reminded me of Barny GreenGrass in New York , simple, honest, comforting.

So here’s the verdict:
If you like fakery, performative coolness, and noodles that will most likely be served with all the authenticity of a silicone injected influencers jawline, Datsun might be for you.

If you want real food, real people, and a place that doesn’t make you regret leaving your hotel, head to Elgin Diner.

Atmosphere: 1

Nicole Hall

Food was good but service was slow and the menu hadn’t changed in the past 2 years. Needs a refresh but a fun time for first timers

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 3

Alyssa Paige

Ambiance 10/10, I dream about the chicken bao, perfect texture with the crispy chicken and soft bun

P Rick

Firstly the restaurant was very cold, we had to wear our jackets the whole time. Our server was nice. The food was pretty good but for the price i would expect the portions to be larger.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 4

berubefrank

Datsun is such a great spot — beautiful, easygoing ambiance with amazing drinks and super flavourful food. Probably the best ramen and chicken wings in Ottawa, and the bao buns are fantastic too. Always a great experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Erica Harrold Huider

Finally got to dine here and I was not disappointed. Service was good, atmosphere was fun and my meal was great. I tried two different mocktails, each were flavourful and unique. My husband and I shared the pork bao, the beef bao, the Datsun ramen, the shrimp burger, and the rice paper rolls. Everything was delicious but honestly those crispy rice paper rolls stole the show for me. Will have to come back to try the dessert because we were too full to try this time.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Priscilla Milsom

Fabulous food!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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