We went there twice for dinner and lunch the next day. In both cases, the service was difficult. The place and the decor are majestic. The food itself is good but nothing more.
Supper: Over an hour for starter service, which was cold starters and soups. Another hour of waiting to receive the main meals and we gave up on the possibility of receiving dessert. My partner and I each had a cocktail, they were very good, the only downside was that mine was served with a fruit “bibitte”. The squash soup was delicious, even more so if it hadn't had a crust on it from waiting too long on the serving pass. For the main course, the seafood stew was delicious and my steak and fries were good.
Lunch: It’s a buffet with several choices. The made-to-order omelette was very good. Some dishes in the hot buffet lacked freshness and could have been hotter. In terms of the cold buffet and pastries, everything was very good. The berry smoothie was a great success.
In conclusion, I believe that the restaurant lacks either employees or organization, because it has everything to succeed.
Vegetarian options: Some vegetarian options on the menu and for lunch.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Cairis Adams
Shoutout to Laurent fr he was very helpful and accommodating. Very nice atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
stefan valentin
Completely disappointed. Very weak menu ,waited an hour to get our food . Low quality steaks and a truly repulsive caesar salad. The place needs to be updated in terms of decor and the prices need to be urgently revised because if this is the pinnacle of what you can get in Ottawa then god help us !
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Aaron Miller
Good service. Mediocre food for A LOT of $$.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Deb Kitchener
The weekend buffet was overpriced and rather underwhelming. Poor presentation of food and limited offerings. Most of the hot dishes were warm. The desserts were lovely. Seafood was disappointing. It was very expensive for what was offered.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Nice Salad Choices
Daniel Anzola
The food was amazing, and the service was also incredible. My only complaint is the cleanliness of the washrooms
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joachim Chau
Among the worst service experiences I have ever had at a Fairmont restaurant. Plates were not cleared promptly. Sat for about 10 minutes before being asked if I wanted coffee. Coffee was never refreshed without having to prompt the server. Then waited over 15 minutes to get another servers attention to get the bill. $40 breakfast with fast food level service. Be better Fairmont!
Would not dine here again if not included in the room rate. Good thing I wasn't in a hurry to be somewhere!
On a positive note, food was good. Loved the omelette bar and the crepes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Lynah Nguyen
For an award winning restaurant the food was worse than your local pub. If I didn’t know any better the steak was microwaved. We had to return it as it was well done. We ask for medium rare. And the steak that came the second time was still more on the done side and it was extremely dry we did not finish it. The tomato salad was on the brink of rotting it was so mushy. The most decent thing was the soup that was bland . We had to ask for ketchep 3 times . We order the spicey margaritas and it was not worth the price. I would never come back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Jennifer Uhryn
I was visiting Ottawa and wanted to treat myself to the brunch buffet on Sept. 15/24. For $70/person I had pretty high expectations. My reservation was at noon, 30 mins after the brunch service began, but I arrived early and they sat me at 11:45. Everything I picked from the “hot” buffet counter was cold. Eggs, sausage, crepes, salmon puttanesca, roasted potatoes, mushroom ravioli, and roasted carrots (these were also very dry). When I returned to my table I asked for decaf coffee. My server came and poured me half a cup of coffee, which luke warm at best. I thought maybe her carafe was empty and she’d return, she did not. About 20 mins later she came to refill my cup, but only 3/4 full this time, and the coffee was luke warm, again. She came a third time, removed my old cup, and gave me a new one (which had dried food stuck on the rim) and filled it right up with coffee, and it was hot! (finally). Unfortunately, this was the last time my server came to check on me or fill my coffee cup. I really expected better service, and perhaps better coffee (like a latte) other than just drip coffee, especially for the price of the meal. I was not offered a menu or the option to order a breakfast cocktail, or other types of coffee, which is usually standard for a fancy brunch buffet. When I was ready for pastries, I took the pain au chocolat, cannoli, and cream puff. I expected the pastries to be made fresh, especially for the price of the meal. The pain au chocolat wasn’t buttery or flaky. It was hard and tasted stale. The cannoli shell and creme puff were soggy. These were not fresh and I was very disappointed in the quality of the food. I don’t feel that it was worth what I paid, and left disappointed. The chateau hotels in Canada have a quality standard to meet and unfortunately Wilfred’s missed the mark, big time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Éric Périard
Wilfrid restaurant is a prime example of style over substance. The food, while tasty, was overshadowed by its outrageously small portions and absurdly high prices. At $330, you're paying for 'food art' rather than a satisfying meal. The experience felt pretentious, more about presentation than value. For that price, I could have enjoyed a far superior and more filling meal elsewhere, like Baton Rouge. Wilfrid simply doesn't justify its cost.
Classic location with delicious food for everyone in our party. All the staff who met us were warm polite and efficient- especially our server Meghan. Thank you all for a memorable dinner.
Bonny
I would not at all recommend Wilfrid's for their buffet brunch. While the cold buffet offers a few higher end choices, such as cold prawns, smoked salmon and fresh lettuce with its accoutrements, the mixed salads are nondescript and loaded with objectionable ingredients. The hot buffet is unimaginative, limited and in my experience at least, always dried up, unappetizing and overcooked, even when the buffet opens. Half empty selections are neither rearranged nor removed, there is a preponderance of either cheap cuts of beef, pork and other dishes which do not cater to traditional food restrictions, the fish is overdone and over spiced, and the so-called chef behind the counter is defensive and unhelpful. It is not possible to order an egg done the way you like it, the fresh fruit is tasteless and not ripe, there is no fresh squeezed juice or even semblance thereof, and the dessert table is uninspiring. On the positive front, the atmosphere is pleasant, though the chairs are so heavy that even a prize fighter would have trouble moving them in and out from the table. Depending on which server is assigned to your table, the service can be friendly, but even that is inconsistent, as the staff usually does not attend to the guests as they should, probably because it is a buffet. In short, use your hard earned dollars for an à la carte brunch somewhere else and possibly try this place for a drink and a snack.
Jakob Stemmler
Food was ok, but we waited for more than an hour for it. Didn’t order anything complicated and have been there at regular time (8pm on a Friday). About 2/3 of tables were empty, so I don’t wanna know how long we would have waited if the restaurant was full.
Jason Shouldice
Alexi And Aleesha best bartenders in the world Great hosts and amazing atmosphere
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Florence
I visited for the weekend brunch buffet. Food: Overall, the choices and quality were disappointing. The mini-cakes were excellent, as was one hot dish (sliced beef flank). Scrambled eggs were fluffy and the bacon was crispy. But the rest of the hot dishes were underwhelming, and the roast meat counter (pork tenderloin this time, quite dry) was rarely staffed--leaving some diners bunched up at the hot food section waiting. I did not try the items in the cold dishes section. Not all dishes were labelled. Apple and orange juice was self-serve, but it's unclear what other beverages were available or included until a server offers it or you ask. Service: Despite having a reservation, there was a 10 min wait to be admitted as they were admitting people by order of arrival. There was no signage about what's happening or if there's a line. The waiting area was loud and had insufficient seating. It was nearly impossible to hear your name called. Staff admitting people were not coordinated, repeatedly calling groups that another staff member had already brought in. It felt chaotic and unwelcoming and I almost just left. Once inside, service was warm and cheerful for the first half hour, then there seemed to be a lull and it was a long wait for a coffee refill, even though the restaurant was not filled. Utensils and plates ran out at the buffet and not replaced promptly. Food items were often not replenished promptly either. Ambiance: A classical hotel experience with plush, comfy armchairs and shining silverware. Avoid tables near the exit to the patio--the automatic door is oversensitive, and often opens even when no one is walking through. It's distracting and gets cold. Live music outside was a nice touch but quite loud, and jarring whenever the door opens and there's a blast of wind and loud jazz. Overall: Great ambiance (as long as you're by a window and not the door), polite service but chaotic management, food limited and uneven in quality.
We went there twice for dinner and lunch the next day. In both cases, the service was difficult. The place and the decor are majestic. The food itself is good but nothing more.
Supper:
Over an hour for starter service, which was cold starters and soups.
Another hour of waiting to receive the main meals and we gave up on the possibility of receiving dessert. My partner and I each had a cocktail, they were very good, the only downside was that mine was served with a fruit “bibitte”. The squash soup was delicious, even more so if it hadn't had a crust on it from waiting too long on the serving pass. For the main course, the seafood stew was delicious and my steak and fries were good.
Lunch:
It’s a buffet with several choices.
The made-to-order omelette was very good.
Some dishes in the hot buffet lacked freshness and could have been hotter. In terms of the cold buffet and pastries, everything was very good. The berry smoothie was a great success.
In conclusion, I believe that the restaurant lacks either employees or organization, because it has everything to succeed.
Vegetarian options: Some vegetarian options on the menu and for lunch.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Shoutout to Laurent fr he was very helpful and accommodating. Very nice atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Completely disappointed. Very weak menu ,waited an hour to get our food . Low quality steaks and a truly repulsive caesar salad. The place needs to be updated in terms of decor and the prices need to be urgently revised because if this is the pinnacle of what you can get in Ottawa then god help us !
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Good service. Mediocre food for A LOT of $$.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
The weekend buffet was overpriced and rather underwhelming. Poor presentation of food and limited offerings. Most of the hot dishes were warm. The desserts were lovely. Seafood was disappointing. It was very expensive for what was offered.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Nice Salad Choices
The food was amazing, and the service was also incredible. My only complaint is the cleanliness of the washrooms
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Among the worst service experiences I have ever had at a Fairmont restaurant. Plates were not cleared promptly. Sat for about 10 minutes before being asked if I wanted coffee. Coffee was never refreshed without having to prompt the server. Then waited over 15 minutes to get another servers attention to get the bill. $40 breakfast with fast food level service. Be better Fairmont!
Would not dine here again if not included in the room rate. Good thing I wasn't in a hurry to be somewhere!
On a positive note, food was good. Loved the omelette bar and the crepes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
For an award winning restaurant the food was worse than your local pub. If I didn’t know any better the steak was microwaved. We had to return it as it was well done. We ask for medium rare. And the steak that came the second time was still more on the done side and it was extremely dry we did not finish it. The tomato salad was on the brink of rotting it was so mushy. The most decent thing was the soup that was bland .
We had to ask for ketchep 3 times .
We order the spicey margaritas and it was not worth the price.
I would never come back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
I was visiting Ottawa and wanted to treat myself to the brunch buffet on Sept. 15/24. For $70/person I had pretty high expectations. My reservation was at noon, 30 mins after the brunch service began, but I arrived early and they sat me at 11:45. Everything I picked from the “hot” buffet counter was cold. Eggs, sausage, crepes, salmon puttanesca, roasted potatoes, mushroom ravioli, and roasted carrots (these were also very dry). When I returned to my table I asked for decaf coffee. My server came and poured me half a cup of coffee, which luke warm at best. I thought maybe her carafe was empty and she’d return, she did not. About 20 mins later she came to refill my cup, but only 3/4 full this time, and the coffee was luke warm, again. She came a third time, removed my old cup, and gave me a new one (which had dried food stuck on the rim) and filled it right up with coffee, and it was hot! (finally). Unfortunately, this was the last time my server came to check on me or fill my coffee cup. I really expected better service, and perhaps better coffee (like a latte) other than just drip coffee, especially for the price of the meal. I was not offered a menu or the option to order a breakfast cocktail, or other types of coffee, which is usually standard for a fancy brunch buffet. When I was ready for pastries, I took the pain au chocolat, cannoli, and cream puff. I expected the pastries to be made fresh, especially for the price of the meal. The pain au chocolat wasn’t buttery or flaky. It was hard and tasted stale. The cannoli shell and creme puff were soggy. These were not fresh and I was very disappointed in the quality of the food. I don’t feel that it was worth what I paid, and left disappointed. The chateau hotels in Canada have a quality standard to meet and unfortunately Wilfred’s missed the mark, big time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Wilfrid restaurant is a prime example of style over substance. The food, while tasty, was overshadowed by its outrageously small portions and absurdly high prices. At $330, you're paying for 'food art' rather than a satisfying meal. The experience felt pretentious, more about presentation than value. For that price, I could have enjoyed a far superior and more filling meal elsewhere, like Baton Rouge. Wilfrid simply doesn't justify its cost.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Classic location with delicious food for everyone in our party. All the staff who met us were warm polite and efficient- especially our server Meghan. Thank you all for a memorable dinner.
I would not at all recommend Wilfrid's for their buffet brunch. While the cold buffet offers a few higher end choices, such as cold prawns, smoked salmon and fresh lettuce with its accoutrements, the mixed salads are nondescript and loaded with objectionable ingredients. The hot buffet is unimaginative, limited and in my experience at least, always dried up, unappetizing and overcooked, even when the buffet opens. Half empty selections are neither rearranged nor removed, there is a preponderance of either cheap cuts of beef, pork and other dishes which do not cater to traditional food restrictions, the fish is overdone and over spiced, and the so-called chef behind the counter is defensive and unhelpful. It is not possible to order an egg done the way you like it, the fresh fruit is tasteless and not ripe, there is no fresh squeezed juice or even semblance thereof, and the dessert table is uninspiring. On the positive front, the atmosphere is pleasant, though the chairs are so heavy that even a prize fighter would have trouble moving them in and out from the table. Depending on which server is assigned to your table, the service can be friendly, but even that is inconsistent, as the staff usually does not attend to the guests as they should, probably because it is a buffet. In short, use your hard earned dollars for an à la carte brunch somewhere else and possibly try this place for a drink and a snack.
Food was ok, but we waited for more than an hour for it. Didn’t order anything complicated and have been there at regular time (8pm on a Friday). About 2/3 of tables were empty, so I don’t wanna know how long we would have waited if the restaurant was full.
Alexi And Aleesha best bartenders in the world
Great hosts and amazing atmosphere
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I visited for the weekend brunch buffet. Food: Overall, the choices and quality were disappointing. The mini-cakes were excellent, as was one hot dish (sliced beef flank). Scrambled eggs were fluffy and the bacon was crispy. But the rest of the hot dishes were underwhelming, and the roast meat counter (pork tenderloin this time, quite dry) was rarely staffed--leaving some diners bunched up at the hot food section waiting. I did not try the items in the cold dishes section. Not all dishes were labelled. Apple and orange juice was self-serve, but it's unclear what other beverages were available or included until a server offers it or you ask. Service: Despite having a reservation, there was a 10 min wait to be admitted as they were admitting people by order of arrival. There was no signage about what's happening or if there's a line. The waiting area was loud and had insufficient seating. It was nearly impossible to hear your name called. Staff admitting people were not coordinated, repeatedly calling groups that another staff member had already brought in. It felt chaotic and unwelcoming and I almost just left. Once inside, service was warm and cheerful for the first half hour, then there seemed to be a lull and it was a long wait for a coffee refill, even though the restaurant was not filled. Utensils and plates ran out at the buffet and not replaced promptly. Food items were often not replenished promptly either. Ambiance: A classical hotel experience with plush, comfy armchairs and shining silverware. Avoid tables near the exit to the patio--the automatic door is oversensitive, and often opens even when no one is walking through. It's distracting and gets cold. Live music outside was a nice touch but quite loud, and jarring whenever the door opens and there's a blast of wind and loud jazz. Overall: Great ambiance (as long as you're by a window and not the door), polite service but chaotic management, food limited and uneven in quality.
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