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Oct 5
Dropped in here on a Friday night a couple of weeks ago (without a reservation)… the place was packed! The hostess at the station by the door gave us a friendly greeting, and just as she was about to say “Do you have a Reservation?” we said… “We can sit at the bar”. So we were welcomed inside. As I looked around I noticed that every table was full, and I mean full, there wasn’t an empty chair in the house, and after we arrived only 2 remained vacant at the bar. It is good to see Fiamma back on top of their game!
I ordered a Hemmingway Martini to start, and “The Man” a cocktail. We perused the menu while the one of the servers brought us our cutlery, sideplates and glasses of water. The special on this particular evening was a dish that featured two scampi on a bed of pasta in a cream sauce. At almost $ 30 it was by far the most expensive item on the menu, but these crustaceans were calling my name… “The Man” settled on the Veal Saltimboco.
We ordered a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from Domaine Cassagnoles of France (a favourite of ours from our summertime visits to the Fourth Avenue Wine Bar). Our server soon returned with the Fiamma’s Wood Oven Baked Bread and the dipping plate of EVOO and Balsamic, along with two great wine glasses, and our chosen bottle.
After enjoying our pre-dinner drinks and the bread course… our mains arrived. “The Man’s” Veal was cooked to perfection and served with prosciutto in a white wine and butter cream sauce, it also came with a side of veggies and roasted parisien potatoes. Meanwhile, my giant scampis (and they were huge… as big as a regular lobster tail) were bathing in the garlicly cream sauce and melted in my mouth with every bite. We both agreed the meal was fabulous!
I ordered a Hemmingway Martini to start, and “The Man” a cocktail. We perused the menu while the one of the servers brought us our cutlery, sideplates and glasses of water. The special on this particular evening was a dish that featured two scampi on a bed of pasta in a cream sauce. At almost $ 30 it was by far the most expensive item on the menu, but these crustaceans were calling my name… “The Man” settled on the Veal Saltimboco.
We ordered a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from Domaine Cassagnoles of France (a favourite of ours from our summertime visits to the Fourth Avenue Wine Bar). Our server soon returned with the Fiamma’s Wood Oven Baked Bread and the dipping plate of EVOO and Balsamic, along with two great wine glasses, and our chosen bottle.
After enjoying our pre-dinner drinks and the bread course… our mains arrived. “The Man’s” Veal was cooked to perfection and served with prosciutto in a white wine and butter cream sauce, it also came with a side of veggies and roasted parisien potatoes. Meanwhile, my giant scampis (and they were huge… as big as a regular lobster tail) were bathing in the garlicly cream sauce and melted in my mouth with every bite. We both agreed the meal was fabulous!
Jun 17
After a recent visit have been informed that their Martini Bar is now open Thursday and Friday Evenings from 10 PM to 2 AM. They have a collection of 40+ Drinks (Standard Martinis, Cosmos, Flirtinis, Dessertinis) and such to select from.
Can't comment further as I have not visited during "Lounge" Hours, but will report back after I do.
Can't comment further as I have not visited during "Lounge" Hours, but will report back after I do.
May 3
Went there for dinner last night. We made a reservation for 645pm and when we arrived it was packed. Another couple arrived at the same time as us (without a reservation) and were told it would be 8pm before a seating would likely open. So we were glad we had called before going.
This was my first time here and my hubbies second. I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere (once you get past the strip mall thing). It was a tad loud at times but not overly intrusive.
Our table was not quite ready when we arrived and went to the bar and ordered our wine. No sooner had it been poured and our booth was ready. The pleasant waitress immediately took our appy order...interesting since most restaurants would wait for you to order apps and mains at the same time. I felt a little pressured and rushed by this but I think some people prefer to order separately so that they do not have to wait as long for the first course.
The bread also arrived immediately after sitting and while we were still reading the menu..again most would prefer to have it brought after ordering so that you can relax and enjoy the bread while you wait for the food...not sure if that was inexperience on the waitress part or a norm for the restaurant.
All fairly small complaints since the rest of the meal was wonderful. We shared a beef carpaccio...most of the apps are very large portions and I would recommend sharing, esp given the prices....17 for the beef. It had wonderful thin shaved beef and the olive oil was not too overpowering. Could have used a little more Parmesan but also had a refreshing side of capers, diced olives, tomatoes, shredded lettuce and diced red onion...nice variation on this classic.
For mains I had the Pollo Amaretto (Chicken breast, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, amaretto). Again lovely twist with a nice balance of the sweet and salty with neither overdone. Hubby had Veal Saltimboco (Veal Scallopini, prosciutto, white wine, butter, sage) which he 'mummed' over the whole meal.
We then shared a chocolate layer cake...with 6 different textures and types of chocolate ...absolutely divine, and had a double espresso and cappuccino, both satisfying.
The prices are a tad high and have obviously gone up even since the menu was posted on the website. It was $182 after tip for the 2 of us with a $69 bottle of wine. But I would still return especially since the rest of the menu sounded very enticing. Perhaps we will try the house red and see if we can have an equally enjoyable meal with a slightly lower price.
This was my first time here and my hubbies second. I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere (once you get past the strip mall thing). It was a tad loud at times but not overly intrusive.
Our table was not quite ready when we arrived and went to the bar and ordered our wine. No sooner had it been poured and our booth was ready. The pleasant waitress immediately took our appy order...interesting since most restaurants would wait for you to order apps and mains at the same time. I felt a little pressured and rushed by this but I think some people prefer to order separately so that they do not have to wait as long for the first course.
The bread also arrived immediately after sitting and while we were still reading the menu..again most would prefer to have it brought after ordering so that you can relax and enjoy the bread while you wait for the food...not sure if that was inexperience on the waitress part or a norm for the restaurant.
All fairly small complaints since the rest of the meal was wonderful. We shared a beef carpaccio...most of the apps are very large portions and I would recommend sharing, esp given the prices....17 for the beef. It had wonderful thin shaved beef and the olive oil was not too overpowering. Could have used a little more Parmesan but also had a refreshing side of capers, diced olives, tomatoes, shredded lettuce and diced red onion...nice variation on this classic.
For mains I had the Pollo Amaretto (Chicken breast, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, amaretto). Again lovely twist with a nice balance of the sweet and salty with neither overdone. Hubby had Veal Saltimboco (Veal Scallopini, prosciutto, white wine, butter, sage) which he 'mummed' over the whole meal.
We then shared a chocolate layer cake...with 6 different textures and types of chocolate ...absolutely divine, and had a double espresso and cappuccino, both satisfying.
The prices are a tad high and have obviously gone up even since the menu was posted on the website. It was $182 after tip for the 2 of us with a $69 bottle of wine. But I would still return especially since the rest of the menu sounded very enticing. Perhaps we will try the house red and see if we can have an equally enjoyable meal with a slightly lower price.
Feb 25
Sorry, for the delay in getting this review up, but I've been mulling the whole experience over in my mind trying to decide what to write.
We were here about a month ago, for a quiet birthday celebration. A few years ago, this was a fairly regular spot for us, besides being conveniently local, it met the 3 pillars of tastey food, good service and atmosphere. Since early 2007 this has been a hit and miss experience.
First, the location was sold, and the new owners closed it for several months, before opening it in the same format albeit a somewhat more expensive menu and wine list.
Under new ownership, this restaurant has struggled to "find itself" again. The food and service on many nights have been hit & miss. Often times its greatest failings have been the constant turn-over of staff, and new servers who are not familiar with the menu, wine list or long-time clientele. And it shows in the "bums in seats". Back in 2005, you couldn't get near this place on a weekend without a reservation.
Our most recent visit was a Sunday evening. The place was very quiet with under 10 tables occupied (say about 25 people in total). In my experience this is unusual for a weekend evening. There was friendly greeting and our drink order was taken. "The Man" ordered a cocktail, and I opted for one of the martinis (they have a list of about 10 different ones). The drinks were delivered quickly, unlike the time we visited in November when the Bartender joked (not really) that he'd have to look up the recipe. Shortly after the arrival of our drinks, came a nice hot loaf of bread (baked in their stone pizza oven) and a dish with EVOO & Balsamic. Their bread is great, unfortunately, sometimes this item isn't always remembered by the wait staff, and water also can be hit & miss.
"The Man" and I shared a large ceasar salad. This dish is usually quite good, unfortunately this time there was too much dressing, and therefore the garlic was overpowering.
For Mains "The Man" ordered the Veal Marsala (which to their credit they continue to do well) and inlieu of potatoes, he instead opted for a side of spagetti. As a bonus, the plate did also come with the veggies. I ordered the Seafood Linguini with garlic, tomatoes & basil. We washed it all down with Mandolin's Merlot (they have a decent selection of wines including many by the glass). And then relaxed with cappucinos.
What made this visit, stand out from other recent ones was the service. We had a very pleasant gal named Chelsea. She was friendly, efficient and did her job with pride. At the end of the meal, she sent out a complimentary tiramasu, confessing that she had heard us discussing the "birthday". When we stated we weren't sure we could get thru it, she said she'd happily wrap it up for us to take home.
Overall the experience was a good one this time, and that is primarily owing to Chelsea.
--- --- ---
Unfortunately, just as I was looking forward a return visit, I heard that they are but again going to make a change in the upcoming weeks. They are planning to add a martini bar (at first glance a good move following the neighbourhoods recent loss of the Terra Grill and their well attended martini nights). However, the Bartender admitted that they are not really renovating to add this feature, but merely taking out some of the centre tables and putting in high-tops. Somehow I don't see how this is a positive, (especially if they have Bartender # 1 working, LOL). IMO they should stop "trying to find themselves" and just do what they have done well in the past... provide good food in an otherwise sea of disappointment in Barrhaven. That and ensure that their staff are happy enough to stay on and provide friendly, professional service to an on-going customer base.
We'll no doubt be back in the months to come... so I will post and update then.
We were here about a month ago, for a quiet birthday celebration. A few years ago, this was a fairly regular spot for us, besides being conveniently local, it met the 3 pillars of tastey food, good service and atmosphere. Since early 2007 this has been a hit and miss experience.
First, the location was sold, and the new owners closed it for several months, before opening it in the same format albeit a somewhat more expensive menu and wine list.
Under new ownership, this restaurant has struggled to "find itself" again. The food and service on many nights have been hit & miss. Often times its greatest failings have been the constant turn-over of staff, and new servers who are not familiar with the menu, wine list or long-time clientele. And it shows in the "bums in seats". Back in 2005, you couldn't get near this place on a weekend without a reservation.
Our most recent visit was a Sunday evening. The place was very quiet with under 10 tables occupied (say about 25 people in total). In my experience this is unusual for a weekend evening. There was friendly greeting and our drink order was taken. "The Man" ordered a cocktail, and I opted for one of the martinis (they have a list of about 10 different ones). The drinks were delivered quickly, unlike the time we visited in November when the Bartender joked (not really) that he'd have to look up the recipe. Shortly after the arrival of our drinks, came a nice hot loaf of bread (baked in their stone pizza oven) and a dish with EVOO & Balsamic. Their bread is great, unfortunately, sometimes this item isn't always remembered by the wait staff, and water also can be hit & miss.
"The Man" and I shared a large ceasar salad. This dish is usually quite good, unfortunately this time there was too much dressing, and therefore the garlic was overpowering.
For Mains "The Man" ordered the Veal Marsala (which to their credit they continue to do well) and inlieu of potatoes, he instead opted for a side of spagetti. As a bonus, the plate did also come with the veggies. I ordered the Seafood Linguini with garlic, tomatoes & basil. We washed it all down with Mandolin's Merlot (they have a decent selection of wines including many by the glass). And then relaxed with cappucinos.
What made this visit, stand out from other recent ones was the service. We had a very pleasant gal named Chelsea. She was friendly, efficient and did her job with pride. At the end of the meal, she sent out a complimentary tiramasu, confessing that she had heard us discussing the "birthday". When we stated we weren't sure we could get thru it, she said she'd happily wrap it up for us to take home.
Overall the experience was a good one this time, and that is primarily owing to Chelsea.
--- --- ---
Unfortunately, just as I was looking forward a return visit, I heard that they are but again going to make a change in the upcoming weeks. They are planning to add a martini bar (at first glance a good move following the neighbourhoods recent loss of the Terra Grill and their well attended martini nights). However, the Bartender admitted that they are not really renovating to add this feature, but merely taking out some of the centre tables and putting in high-tops. Somehow I don't see how this is a positive, (especially if they have Bartender # 1 working, LOL). IMO they should stop "trying to find themselves" and just do what they have done well in the past... provide good food in an otherwise sea of disappointment in Barrhaven. That and ensure that their staff are happy enough to stay on and provide friendly, professional service to an on-going customer base.
We'll no doubt be back in the months to come... so I will post and update then.
seafood pescatore
shrinp and scallop gratinee
zucchini sticks with garlic aioli and mista salad
2007 Jun 9
June 09
f i a m m a
as in many classic vampire tales: "love is older than death."
i loved f i a m m a, an italian restaurant in the outskirts of barrhaven. and at night out of their windows you could speak to the black southern sky 'my god, it's full of stars...'. since last november the owner went kaput and he also owned both hooters locations in ottawa, notorious for their awful overpriced food and extra cheesy female exploitation, which closed shortly before fiamma a few weeks later raising the sign 'under new management'. from a business perspective, i usually find this lingo a vivid symbol of marketing's ecocentric nature and a reflection of the owners' financial woes moreso than the prospects. so approaching with caution and trepidation, taking 8 months later to finally take the risk and be brave to see what the new chefs and the new menus had to offer. the place was packed and thus reservations recommended -- a sign of good prospects. first off, fiamma's infamous 13 layer meat and mushroom lasagna was no longer part of their menu. ouch, the prospects just did a fiery nosedive like a zeppelin. i always found their pizzas not to my liking due to their thick crust and automatically passed. fiamma was known to be strong on their deserts with eccentric presentation and now the desert menu has shrunken.
and so it started with shrimp, scallops and wild shrooms sauteed in garlic butter and cream gratinee which was a surprise flavor explosion. generous amounts of zucchini sticks were fresh and crunchy on the inside, battered perfectly on the outside with their signature insalata mista salad (aka munchkin-sized greek salad) and garlic aioli. the pan seared cod with olives, fresh tomatoes, and white wine with veggies was nice and smooth; however, the tomatoes overpowered the subtle taste of well cooked tender and flaky cod. and for my ultimate test for any joint -- the seafood linguine pescatore. tonight, it was bomb voyage. not only did the server mentioned that they were out of mussels but they were also out of oysters -- cardinal sins. so they opted to add extra shrimp and surf clam. what showed up was a fairly bland experience of garlic white wine sauce with noodles and some seafood thrown which was more michelinas tv dinner than gourmet bon appetit.
the service was excellent indeed! drinks were bottomless, proper etiquette was exhibited, and the servers were all youthful clad in tight formal black dress shirts and low cut black skirts and topped with an impeccable allure of fashion show and hair salons. sounds like too much work to impress but it's more about the social competition among the ladies than to attract patrons' attention.
i would give fiamma another try for their other menu offerings but for now i can now say that love ain't older than death.
2007 Mar 13
Fiamma is a modern-style Italian restaurant tucked away in a nondescript strip mall (is there any other kind?) in Barrhaven.
We had a 7:30 reservation for three and were about five minutes late on a recent Friday night. The place was hopping—it’s not overly large to start with—so we were invited to have a seat at the bar for a few minutes. We had barely started sipping our drinks (mine was a lovely Cosmo) when we were escorted to our table, a nice booth. Although the restaurant was quite busy I did not find it overly loud.
I was feeling adventurous and decided to start with Escargots Gorgonzola. My dining companions both had Shrimps and Scallops Gratinees. It’s a good thing they give you lots of tasty garlic toasts to go with these wonderful appetizers—we soaked up every drop. Divine!
My main was Linguini Carbonara with Proscuitto. It was a bit salty (as proscuitto can be), but delicious nonetheless. Pasta portions are on the small side, which I actually liked because you can have an appetizer and main course without feeling like you’ve overdone it.
Everyone was very happy with their main courses (we all had pasta) and finished it off with very good coffee.
Prices are on the high side, especially if you’re having cocktails and wine. Service was very good up until we received our bill. We had to wait longer than I would have liked for the credit card to be picked up, but hardly a big deal.
Nepean often feels like a food wasteland, so it’s nice to have a "real" restaurant in our neighbourhood that's worth visiting.
Thumbs up!
We had a 7:30 reservation for three and were about five minutes late on a recent Friday night. The place was hopping—it’s not overly large to start with—so we were invited to have a seat at the bar for a few minutes. We had barely started sipping our drinks (mine was a lovely Cosmo) when we were escorted to our table, a nice booth. Although the restaurant was quite busy I did not find it overly loud.
I was feeling adventurous and decided to start with Escargots Gorgonzola. My dining companions both had Shrimps and Scallops Gratinees. It’s a good thing they give you lots of tasty garlic toasts to go with these wonderful appetizers—we soaked up every drop. Divine!
My main was Linguini Carbonara with Proscuitto. It was a bit salty (as proscuitto can be), but delicious nonetheless. Pasta portions are on the small side, which I actually liked because you can have an appetizer and main course without feeling like you’ve overdone it.
Everyone was very happy with their main courses (we all had pasta) and finished it off with very good coffee.
Prices are on the high side, especially if you’re having cocktails and wine. Service was very good up until we received our bill. We had to wait longer than I would have liked for the credit card to be picked up, but hardly a big deal.
Nepean often feels like a food wasteland, so it’s nice to have a "real" restaurant in our neighbourhood that's worth visiting.
Thumbs up!
Martinis [1]
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Oct 5
Fiamma serves both traditional Martinis and the more popular Martini Cocktail (the girlie ones). In the latter category there are some great choices, beyond the standard Cosmopolitan (which they also do very well).
My current favourite is the Hemmingway Martini which features premium Vodka, White Rum, Cranberry and Pineapple Juices, and is garnished with a couple of frozen cranberries. Very tasty!
--- --- ---
Martini Lounge - CURRENTLY CLOSED
As we haven’t been in much over the summer… we inquired about the Weekend Martini Lounge. We were told that it had been very slow in the summertime (with everyone away or entertaining at home) but there are plans to perhaps start it up again later this Fall. I will keep everyone posted.
My current favourite is the Hemmingway Martini which features premium Vodka, White Rum, Cranberry and Pineapple Juices, and is garnished with a couple of frozen cranberries. Very tasty!
--- --- ---
Martini Lounge - CURRENTLY CLOSED
As we haven’t been in much over the summer… we inquired about the Weekend Martini Lounge. We were told that it had been very slow in the summertime (with everyone away or entertaining at home) but there are plans to perhaps start it up again later this Fall. I will keep everyone posted.