If negative stars were an option, Gitanes would earn them. I recently attended a group dinner with 19 people, and it was a complete disaster from start to finish.
The $85 per person three-course meal initially seemed like a fair price for a holiday gathering, but the experience proved otherwise. The portions were insultingly small—just four steaks for the entire group, paired with a laughably tiny amount of pasta that didn’t even count as a full bite. One person didn’t receive any steak at all, and when we asked for an extra portion, we were told it would take over an hour. To top it off, the food itself was flavorless and utterly unimpressive. I left the restaurant after spending over $400 feeling both hungry and ripped off.
The service was equally dismal. The staff came across as rude and dismissive. Seating was cramped and uncomfortable, and when I asked if we could add a table to create more space (which was entirely possible), I was taken aside for a private conversation that felt unnecessary and condescending.
The aggressive upselling of wine made the experience even worse. The staff persistently pushed overpriced bottles, charging $120 for wine that tasted like it was worth less than $20. And while they tried hard to sell us drinks, the cocktails we did order were watery and poorly made.
To make matters worse, their handling of our coats was disgraceful. Instead of storing them properly, they were thrown into a pile on a booth. My jacket came back covered in fur from other people’s coats, and I ended up paying for dry cleaning as a result.
The final insult was an automatic gratuity added to the bill without any warning. There was no mention of this policy on the menu, and it was only revealed when the check came. This sneaky move felt unprofessional and dishonest.
In total, I wasted over $400 on a night that was supposed to be special but turned into a nightmare. The poor food quality, terrible service, and lack of basic hospitality make it clear that Gitanes does not deserve anyone’s time or money. I will never return, and I strongly advise others to steer clear of this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
tony rabbani
I recently attended a group dinner at Gitanes with 19 people, and it was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. The three-course meal was $85 per person, which seemed reasonable for the holidays, but the execution was appalling.
The portions were shockingly small—only four steaks for 19 people to share and a tiny amount of pasta that barely qualified as a single bite. To make matters worse, one person in our group didn’t even get any steak. When we asked for another portion to be brought out, they told us it would take over an hour. The food itself was bland and entirely underwhelming. Despite spending over $400, I left the restaurant hungry and disappointed.
The service was no better. The staff was rude and judgmental. The seating arrangement was poorly planned, and I was stuck at the end of the table. When I asked for an additional table to make seating more comfortable (there was space for it), they pulled me aside for a private conversation that felt completely unnecessary and disrespectful.
They also aggressively pressured us to buy wine, offering bottles priced at $120 that were barely worth $19. Their persistence was uncomfortable and unprofessional. On top of that, the cocktails we ordered were watery and poorly made.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, they mishandled our coats. The staff took them and threw them in a pile on a booth table. My jacket ended up covered in fur from other people’s coats, and I had to pay for dry cleaning afterward.
Finally, an automatic gratuity was added to the bill without any prior notice or transparency. It wasn’t listed on the menu or clearly stated anywhere; I only noticed it when I saw the final bill. This felt sneaky and unprofessional.
In total, I spent over $400 on an experience that was nothing short of a disaster. Gitanes failed spectacularly in food quality, service, and hospitality. I will never return and strongly advise others to avoid this restaurant at all costs. If I could give minus 1 star, I would.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
T B
Our second visit. From the moment we stepped into the door we were great immediately with a friendly staff. We request a corner table and got an amazing big and quiet table. Our server was very knowledgeable and attentive. There were 5 of us celebrating a birthday and we all really enjoyed every single dish. The duck was so tender and flavourful. The beef Tatar was the best thing I’ve ever had. The oysters were fresh and tasty. We will definitely be back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Harry Cotaras
Fantastic service and food. The chefs table is high recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sherry M
Had such a great time at Gitanes! the meals were delicious (really enjoyed my steak frites), the atmosphere was welcoming/cozy and the service was great. I can't wait to go again.
Outstanding service all thanks to Andrew!! Will ask for him every time!!! Can’t wait to come back! Incredible atmosphere and everything was so full of flavour and cooked to perfection!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brent Coughlin
The chef's table was an amazing experience. The food was perfectly cooked & very delicious. Excellent evening.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters, Steak Tartare, Cacio E Pepe
Rita Moussi
A relaxed atmosphere, succulent food and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters
Leslie H
I’ve been to Gitanes many times now and it’s always wonderful! The food, drinks, service and atmosphere are always top notch. Gitanes is always a favourite and top choice in Ottawa as it’s among the best in the city. My husband and I had our intimate wedding dinner in the back room and Amanda and the whole team, exceeded all expectations and delivered the most perfect and special dinner. Amanda was so amazing to work with throughout and really offered and provided a personalized and unique dinner. Whether you’re going for the chef’s table experience, date night or for your wedding dinner, I can’t recommend Gitanes enough for all of it!
(Photos by Scott H Wilson)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Frites, French Onion Soup with Bone Marrow, Steak Tartare, Cacio E Pepe, Foie Gras Ice Cream Sundae
Susan Clément-Beveridge
Exceptional food & service in a unique atmosphere while celebrating as newlyweds on our special night...we were treated like royalty. An evening of memories we will cherish always! We highly recommend this restaurant for your next dining-out adventure.
The service was warm and attentive, with regular check-ins that felt thoughtful rather than intrusive. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between romantic and modern, making it an ideal spot for any occasion. The food was outstanding: the oysters were fresh, the beef tartare paired beautifully with a hint of lavender, and the duck was expertly prepared. And for anyone who loves foie gras, the foie sundae is a must-try! Absolutely loved this restaurant!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Agrodolice Pommes Aligot
Jordan G
We very much enjoyed the food and service at Gitanes. The cocktails, oysters, tuna tartar and pork were delicious. Well worth the price. We would definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fries, Tuna
Jamie Mac
Food was divine, very atmospheric, quite high-end.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Éric Pilotte
Amazing staff and service! The team went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew S
I booked a birthday dinner here for 9 people and the experience was flawless.
Amanda went above and beyond taking care of logistics leading up to the event. Super responsive to messages, she arranged a champagne table for us and accommodated some minor adjustments to group size. She even made dessert suggestions that were a smash hit for us (order the Baked Alaska.. you won’t regret it!).
Hannah took care of our table and extended the same personalized experience during service. She made sure our glasses were always full, helped us navigate the menu based on preferences, and food orders came out at perfect intervals..throw in a little banter with the group to make the night extra engaging, and you truly have a perfect event from start to finish.
This is where you want to book your special event, date, dinner.. whatever. Honestly, do it and be treated like royalty!
If negative stars were an option, Gitanes would earn them. I recently attended a group dinner with 19 people, and it was a complete disaster from start to finish.
The $85 per person three-course meal initially seemed like a fair price for a holiday gathering, but the experience proved otherwise. The portions were insultingly small—just four steaks for the entire group, paired with a laughably tiny amount of pasta that didn’t even count as a full bite. One person didn’t receive any steak at all, and when we asked for an extra portion, we were told it would take over an hour. To top it off, the food itself was flavorless and utterly unimpressive. I left the restaurant after spending over $400 feeling both hungry and ripped off.
The service was equally dismal. The staff came across as rude and dismissive. Seating was cramped and uncomfortable, and when I asked if we could add a table to create more space (which was entirely possible), I was taken aside for a private conversation that felt unnecessary and condescending.
The aggressive upselling of wine made the experience even worse. The staff persistently pushed overpriced bottles, charging $120 for wine that tasted like it was worth less than $20. And while they tried hard to sell us drinks, the cocktails we did order were watery and poorly made.
To make matters worse, their handling of our coats was disgraceful. Instead of storing them properly, they were thrown into a pile on a booth. My jacket came back covered in fur from other people’s coats, and I ended up paying for dry cleaning as a result.
The final insult was an automatic gratuity added to the bill without any warning. There was no mention of this policy on the menu, and it was only revealed when the check came. This sneaky move felt unprofessional and dishonest.
In total, I wasted over $400 on a night that was supposed to be special but turned into a nightmare. The poor food quality, terrible service, and lack of basic hospitality make it clear that Gitanes does not deserve anyone’s time or money. I will never return, and I strongly advise others to steer clear of this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I recently attended a group dinner at Gitanes with 19 people, and it was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. The three-course meal was $85 per person, which seemed reasonable for the holidays, but the execution was appalling.
The portions were shockingly small—only four steaks for 19 people to share and a tiny amount of pasta that barely qualified as a single bite. To make matters worse, one person in our group didn’t even get any steak. When we asked for another portion to be brought out, they told us it would take over an hour. The food itself was bland and entirely underwhelming. Despite spending over $400, I left the restaurant hungry and disappointed.
The service was no better. The staff was rude and judgmental. The seating arrangement was poorly planned, and I was stuck at the end of the table. When I asked for an additional table to make seating more comfortable (there was space for it), they pulled me aside for a private conversation that felt completely unnecessary and disrespectful.
They also aggressively pressured us to buy wine, offering bottles priced at $120 that were barely worth $19. Their persistence was uncomfortable and unprofessional. On top of that, the cocktails we ordered were watery and poorly made.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, they mishandled our coats. The staff took them and threw them in a pile on a booth table. My jacket ended up covered in fur from other people’s coats, and I had to pay for dry cleaning afterward.
Finally, an automatic gratuity was added to the bill without any prior notice or transparency. It wasn’t listed on the menu or clearly stated anywhere; I only noticed it when I saw the final bill. This felt sneaky and unprofessional.
In total, I spent over $400 on an experience that was nothing short of a disaster. Gitanes failed spectacularly in food quality, service, and hospitality. I will never return and strongly advise others to avoid this restaurant at all costs.
If I could give minus 1 star, I would.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Our second visit. From the moment we stepped into the door we were great immediately with a friendly staff. We request a corner table and got an amazing big and quiet table. Our server was very knowledgeable and attentive. There were 5 of us celebrating a birthday and we all really enjoyed every single dish. The duck was so tender and flavourful. The beef Tatar was the best thing I’ve ever had. The oysters were fresh and tasty. We will definitely be back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic service and food. The chefs table is high recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had such a great time at Gitanes! the meals were delicious (really enjoyed my steak frites), the atmosphere was welcoming/cozy and the service was great. I can't wait to go again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fries, Steak Frites, Gitanes Burger
Outstanding service all thanks to Andrew!! Will ask for him every time!!! Can’t wait to come back! Incredible atmosphere and everything was so full of flavour and cooked to perfection!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The chef's table was an amazing experience. The food was perfectly cooked & very delicious. Excellent evening.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters, Steak Tartare, Cacio E Pepe
A relaxed atmosphere, succulent food and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters
I’ve been to Gitanes many times now and it’s always wonderful! The food, drinks, service and atmosphere are always top notch. Gitanes is always a favourite and top choice in Ottawa as it’s among the best in the city. My husband and I had our intimate wedding dinner in the back room and Amanda and the whole team, exceeded all expectations and delivered the most perfect and special dinner. Amanda was so amazing to work with throughout and really offered and provided a personalized and unique dinner. Whether you’re going for the chef’s table experience, date night or for your wedding dinner, I can’t recommend Gitanes enough for all of it!
(Photos by Scott H Wilson)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Frites, French Onion Soup with Bone Marrow, Steak Tartare, Cacio E Pepe, Foie Gras Ice Cream Sundae
Exceptional food & service in a unique atmosphere while celebrating as newlyweds on our special night...we were treated like royalty. An evening of memories we will cherish always! We highly recommend this restaurant for your next dining-out adventure.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The service was warm and attentive, with regular check-ins that felt thoughtful rather than intrusive. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between romantic and modern, making it an ideal spot for any occasion. The food was outstanding: the oysters were fresh, the beef tartare paired beautifully with a hint of lavender, and the duck was expertly prepared. And for anyone who loves foie gras, the foie sundae is a must-try! Absolutely loved this restaurant!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Agrodolice Pommes Aligot
We very much enjoyed the food and service at Gitanes. The cocktails, oysters, tuna tartar and pork were delicious. Well worth the price. We would definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fries, Tuna
Food was divine, very atmospheric, quite high-end.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing staff and service! The team went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I booked a birthday dinner here for 9 people and the experience was flawless.
Amanda went above and beyond taking care of logistics leading up to the event. Super responsive to messages, she arranged a champagne table for us and accommodated some minor adjustments to group size. She even made dessert suggestions that were a smash hit for us (order the Baked Alaska.. you won’t regret it!).
Hannah took care of our table and extended the same personalized experience during service. She made sure our glasses were always full, helped us navigate the menu based on preferences, and food orders came out at perfect intervals..throw in a little banter with the group to make the night extra engaging, and you truly have a perfect event from start to finish.
This is where you want to book your special event, date, dinner.. whatever. Honestly, do it and be treated like royalty!
Thank you to everyone at Gitanes!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Frites, Tuna
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