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Foods from Benitz Bistro
Reviews
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Jul 15
Finally made it to Benitz last Saturday night, and it was well worth the wait.
The interior is quaint; simple and modern. Our server was very prompt taking our drink order and presenting a delicious amuse (blue cheese/garlic croquette).
For appetizers we ordered the quail and beef carpaccio, both were wonderful and left us wanting more. For mains, we had the beef short rib ravioli and the bacon-wrapped Atlantic scallops. The ravioli was very good however I was expecting larger ravioli and the spinach was a bit overpowering. The scallops were perfectly cooked and served with a yummy sweet potato puree and root vegetables.
For dessert we shared a white chocolate mousse, it lacked any chocolate flavour and had a bit too much anise. The coffee was amazing and could be some of the finest in the city in my opinion.
Overall a great dining experience and we will definitely return to try other dishes. Highly recommend this small gem.
The interior is quaint; simple and modern. Our server was very prompt taking our drink order and presenting a delicious amuse (blue cheese/garlic croquette).
For appetizers we ordered the quail and beef carpaccio, both were wonderful and left us wanting more. For mains, we had the beef short rib ravioli and the bacon-wrapped Atlantic scallops. The ravioli was very good however I was expecting larger ravioli and the spinach was a bit overpowering. The scallops were perfectly cooked and served with a yummy sweet potato puree and root vegetables.
For dessert we shared a white chocolate mousse, it lacked any chocolate flavour and had a bit too much anise. The coffee was amazing and could be some of the finest in the city in my opinion.
Overall a great dining experience and we will definitely return to try other dishes. Highly recommend this small gem.
Jul 11
Very nice restaurant! Minimal decor, friendly staff, good wine list, interesting menu with a Regional/French touch. Place for gourmet.
To try their superb Steak frites.
To try their superb Steak frites.
Jun 8
Went here on fri night for a friend's birthday. We were a group of 5, and a 6th joined at the end for dessert. We had heard many wonderful things about this gem and have been eager to try it out.
I agree with FoodGlut that the decor is a little stark. Perhaps a little too stark for my liking. We had the back table which is different from all the others - a rough hewn wood top, which was beautiful, but the chairs are not very comfortable for someone who is a bit shorter (5'2"). I think the place could be warmer if they changed the flooring. They also need to get rid of the little step at the back...I tripped on it and saw someone else trip later in the eve. Because the carpet is a bit dark, it is very hard to see the floor height change. Decor aside, the food was almost perfect.
The amuse bouche was a beef spring roll with a mango salsa whcih was very tasty. The bread was a 'herby' baguette sliced and lightly toasted and served with a celery root puree which was amazing.
For apps I had the soup of the day which was half butternut squash with coconut and half sweet potato with balsamic. It was divine and flavor combinations I have never had before but it worked wonderfully. I did not have to add pepper to anything as the spices were just right for my liking. Others had the caprese salad but I do not recall any comments about it. I think I was too engrossed in my soup to notice.
The mains were mixed. 2 of us had the Rib Eye steak. I ordered it blue and the other was med rare and they were cooked appropriately. It was absolutely massive and covered the entire plate (it was fairly thin and so it was very large in terms of surface area) so the rest of the food was underneath. It was not trimmed so one had to cut off all the fat. It made it more flavorful but a challenge to eat. We both felt the meat itself was also a bit gristly and chewy. It was an interesting presentation but I would have preferred it trimmed a bit more. The sides were very good. The mashed potatoes were very tasty and the sauce for the meat(do not recall what it was called) was excellent. I gobbled it all up but the other diner found it a bit strong...unfortunately it is difficult to please everyone. Two people had the duck special with risotto and the 5th had the pork loin which I heard them state was very good.
We finished off with a couple lava cakes whcih were just right. Not too heavy and great chocolate flavor. One had the Creme brulee which was very creamy.
All in all a very good meal. The service was friendly and attentive. I am interested to go back again and try some more temptations from the chef.
I agree with FoodGlut that the decor is a little stark. Perhaps a little too stark for my liking. We had the back table which is different from all the others - a rough hewn wood top, which was beautiful, but the chairs are not very comfortable for someone who is a bit shorter (5'2"). I think the place could be warmer if they changed the flooring. They also need to get rid of the little step at the back...I tripped on it and saw someone else trip later in the eve. Because the carpet is a bit dark, it is very hard to see the floor height change. Decor aside, the food was almost perfect.
The amuse bouche was a beef spring roll with a mango salsa whcih was very tasty. The bread was a 'herby' baguette sliced and lightly toasted and served with a celery root puree which was amazing.
For apps I had the soup of the day which was half butternut squash with coconut and half sweet potato with balsamic. It was divine and flavor combinations I have never had before but it worked wonderfully. I did not have to add pepper to anything as the spices were just right for my liking. Others had the caprese salad but I do not recall any comments about it. I think I was too engrossed in my soup to notice.
The mains were mixed. 2 of us had the Rib Eye steak. I ordered it blue and the other was med rare and they were cooked appropriately. It was absolutely massive and covered the entire plate (it was fairly thin and so it was very large in terms of surface area) so the rest of the food was underneath. It was not trimmed so one had to cut off all the fat. It made it more flavorful but a challenge to eat. We both felt the meat itself was also a bit gristly and chewy. It was an interesting presentation but I would have preferred it trimmed a bit more. The sides were very good. The mashed potatoes were very tasty and the sauce for the meat(do not recall what it was called) was excellent. I gobbled it all up but the other diner found it a bit strong...unfortunately it is difficult to please everyone. Two people had the duck special with risotto and the 5th had the pork loin which I heard them state was very good.
We finished off with a couple lava cakes whcih were just right. Not too heavy and great chocolate flavor. One had the Creme brulee which was very creamy.
All in all a very good meal. The service was friendly and attentive. I am interested to go back again and try some more temptations from the chef.
2008 Feb 2
Went here for the "Taste of Winterlude" $45 fixed menu. I was impressed with the decor as soon as we entered. The walls are all white or off-white and the lighting was warm with lots of candles. The white tables with brown chairs looked great. Decor is a little stark but warmed by the lighting. Now, the real reason we went:
Started with an amuse bouche puff pastry with some kind of whipped cheese on the side. It was nice. Dinner started with the soup of the day which was a thick soup with fennel, lentils, pancetta. Tasty and filling. We had sliced warm baguette on the side with cauliflower dip which my wife loved. I'm not a fan of cauliflower but I liked it too.
Our appetizers: Bistro Caesar and macintosh apple salad with crab on top. The crab was absolutely excellent and went surprisingly well with the apple. The caesar salad didn't have a strong enough dressing. There was a skinny breadstick in the salad instead of croutons. A strip of bacon and baby organic mushrooms. The salad was kind of warm which seemed strange. There were no strong tastes in it leaving it a bit lackluster.
Main course: New York striploin and Bison bourguignion. We asked for the steak to be cooked medium and it came out a bit too charred on the sides but the middle was good. The bison was good but a little overdone and I couldn't taste any wine flavour in it.
Dessert was excellent. Belgian chocolate lava cake and creme brulee. The lava cake was rich, moist, warm, and came with a crisped sugar syrup construction on top (which I barely ate) and a side of vanilla gelato with a berry on top. I prefer ice cream with cake but the gelato saved me a few calories. And why the need for a berry on top? Pretty but the sharp flavour didn't really go and the sugar construction already got my wow. The creme brulee was classic and deliciously crispy and creamy and perfectly sweet. Came with a ripe sliced strawberry barely held together at the top. My wife didn't eat it but it would have gone well with the creme brulee.
Overall, the food was hit or miss. I think it must have been an off night for Benitz.
Started with an amuse bouche puff pastry with some kind of whipped cheese on the side. It was nice. Dinner started with the soup of the day which was a thick soup with fennel, lentils, pancetta. Tasty and filling. We had sliced warm baguette on the side with cauliflower dip which my wife loved. I'm not a fan of cauliflower but I liked it too.
Our appetizers: Bistro Caesar and macintosh apple salad with crab on top. The crab was absolutely excellent and went surprisingly well with the apple. The caesar salad didn't have a strong enough dressing. There was a skinny breadstick in the salad instead of croutons. A strip of bacon and baby organic mushrooms. The salad was kind of warm which seemed strange. There were no strong tastes in it leaving it a bit lackluster.
Main course: New York striploin and Bison bourguignion. We asked for the steak to be cooked medium and it came out a bit too charred on the sides but the middle was good. The bison was good but a little overdone and I couldn't taste any wine flavour in it.
Dessert was excellent. Belgian chocolate lava cake and creme brulee. The lava cake was rich, moist, warm, and came with a crisped sugar syrup construction on top (which I barely ate) and a side of vanilla gelato with a berry on top. I prefer ice cream with cake but the gelato saved me a few calories. And why the need for a berry on top? Pretty but the sharp flavour didn't really go and the sugar construction already got my wow. The creme brulee was classic and deliciously crispy and creamy and perfectly sweet. Came with a ripe sliced strawberry barely held together at the top. My wife didn't eat it but it would have gone well with the creme brulee.
Overall, the food was hit or miss. I think it must have been an off night for Benitz.
2008 Jan 2
I wish I had enough time to espouse all the virtues of Chef Derek Benitz and his team. My husband and I called the restaurant on a whim for last minute reservations in the afternoon on New Year’s Eve and got in on the early seating. Wow, were we glad our friends were busy that night.
I ate by far the best piece of meat I’ve ever consumed in my entire life, and let me tell you, that’s a lot of meat for comparison. The tenderloin sublimely melted in your mouth and the béarnaise sauce accompanying it was silky and delicious. I was literally thinking of licking the plate afterwards. And the steak knife was not needed...
The amuse-bouche, lobster bisque, seafood tasting platter, and chocolate tasting desserts were all luscious as well. The price for both of us including a $56 bottle of grape and tax cost a mere $200. The cost last year at another fine eatery in the city was $500 plus tip. I think we scored this year!
I would also say that the staff were very professional, and very attentive without being overbearing.
We will be returning very soon…before the reservations are taken and the prices go up!!
I ate by far the best piece of meat I’ve ever consumed in my entire life, and let me tell you, that’s a lot of meat for comparison. The tenderloin sublimely melted in your mouth and the béarnaise sauce accompanying it was silky and delicious. I was literally thinking of licking the plate afterwards. And the steak knife was not needed...
The amuse-bouche, lobster bisque, seafood tasting platter, and chocolate tasting desserts were all luscious as well. The price for both of us including a $56 bottle of grape and tax cost a mere $200. The cost last year at another fine eatery in the city was $500 plus tip. I think we scored this year!
I would also say that the staff were very professional, and very attentive without being overbearing.
We will be returning very soon…before the reservations are taken and the prices go up!!
2007 Aug 15
Benitz is truly a wonderful bistro.
Tucked into a quickly growing strip of restaurants in our “Somerset Village” neighborhood. This isn’t a sandwich shop-café-dessert place that calls it self a “bistro”. Benitz is the closest Ottawa has come to real bistro food in a very long time.
The amuse bouche of grilled corn and braised oxtail was a two-bite wonder. Delicate flavors of the meat were brought out by a long slow cooking and complimented perfectly with a sweet hit of corn and a salty slice of feta laid on top. It was an unexpected and very welcome start to the meal. Chef Benitz has a talent for slow cooking challenging meats, this will serve him well in the winter months when braising and slow cooked meals are the norm in a classic bistro.
The main course proved several things: there is great skill in the kitchen, elegant style on the plate and a satisfying silence at the table as the food became the star attraction.
I had the lobster risotto (butter poached lobster on a perfectly cooked saffron rissoto) my partner took on the classic bistro dish, steak frite. On all accounts the meal was executed flawlessly. The Italian coffee, prepared by co-owner Meghan, was nutty, rich and complex.
Menu changes daily. We will be back often.
Next time, we stay for dessert.
($125, for two with drinks.)
Tucked into a quickly growing strip of restaurants in our “Somerset Village” neighborhood. This isn’t a sandwich shop-café-dessert place that calls it self a “bistro”. Benitz is the closest Ottawa has come to real bistro food in a very long time.
The amuse bouche of grilled corn and braised oxtail was a two-bite wonder. Delicate flavors of the meat were brought out by a long slow cooking and complimented perfectly with a sweet hit of corn and a salty slice of feta laid on top. It was an unexpected and very welcome start to the meal. Chef Benitz has a talent for slow cooking challenging meats, this will serve him well in the winter months when braising and slow cooked meals are the norm in a classic bistro.
The main course proved several things: there is great skill in the kitchen, elegant style on the plate and a satisfying silence at the table as the food became the star attraction.
I had the lobster risotto (butter poached lobster on a perfectly cooked saffron rissoto) my partner took on the classic bistro dish, steak frite. On all accounts the meal was executed flawlessly. The Italian coffee, prepared by co-owner Meghan, was nutty, rich and complex.
Menu changes daily. We will be back often.
Next time, we stay for dessert.
($125, for two with drinks.)
2007 Aug 2
Benitz Bistro had an open house last night that I dropped in on and it was amazing. After being greeted by the owner we were promptly offered a fantastic lobster appetizer and kir cocktail. A tantalizing taste of the dinner I have not yet had an opportunity to have!
2007 Jul 27
Went there tonight, very satisfied, for a place that's only been open a few weeks it shows a lot of maturity, service was attentive and professional
The space is nice and clean, and sports a small patio as well. We were seated inside. Place was mostly full, which is good...
The wine list is diversified and in a very sensible price range (most if not all bottles in the 2 digits)
My wife had the house Kir (with passion fruit) and we ordered a Vineland Merlot.
A nice amuse bouche was produced before we ordered, an corn with braised beef empenada on greens. Very generous portion bordering on apps size.
We shared the chef tasting menu, which is not meant as a main but is just right to be shared as an appetizer for 2.
It was 4 preparations on one plate, all seafood. Tuna tartare, scallop, shrimps and soft shell crab. Everything on the plate was yummy, especially the scallop, which was smoked.
For the main course, we had the bison and the trout. Both impeccably executed. The bison was absolutely tender served with the jus and lovely allumette fries and the trout was cooked just right and allowed to shine without being overpowered by a nice side of fingerling potatoes and greens.
Dessert was OK but no more, creme brulee was a bit runny (hot night) and the chocolate lava cake was very tasty but no melting centre.
Overall, this is a very promising place, hats off to Chef Benitz and his team. It is a short walk from my place so it won't be my last visit... :)
The space is nice and clean, and sports a small patio as well. We were seated inside. Place was mostly full, which is good...
The wine list is diversified and in a very sensible price range (most if not all bottles in the 2 digits)
My wife had the house Kir (with passion fruit) and we ordered a Vineland Merlot.
A nice amuse bouche was produced before we ordered, an corn with braised beef empenada on greens. Very generous portion bordering on apps size.
We shared the chef tasting menu, which is not meant as a main but is just right to be shared as an appetizer for 2.
It was 4 preparations on one plate, all seafood. Tuna tartare, scallop, shrimps and soft shell crab. Everything on the plate was yummy, especially the scallop, which was smoked.
For the main course, we had the bison and the trout. Both impeccably executed. The bison was absolutely tender served with the jus and lovely allumette fries and the trout was cooked just right and allowed to shine without being overpowered by a nice side of fingerling potatoes and greens.
Dessert was OK but no more, creme brulee was a bit runny (hot night) and the chocolate lava cake was very tasty but no melting centre.
Overall, this is a very promising place, hats off to Chef Benitz and his team. It is a short walk from my place so it won't be my last visit... :)
This entry is here thanks to Fresh Foodie
BigMouth
silver
The interior is lovely. It's more modern that you would think given that it's located in one of those beautiful brick 'heritage' homes on Somerset.
We went there for lunch so I ordered the Bistro Burger which is a good chuck of angus beef topped with shredded braised short rib and blue cheese. It is paired with fries and a salad. The burger was quite substantial and delicious, and quite affordable at $12. The sides weren't all that impressive though. The fries are exactly what one would get at McDonalds and the salad was okay. My friend ordered the club sandwich which she enjoyed quite a bit.
I would try Benitz again and next time I look forward to indulging in their dessert menu!