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Local, seasonal small-plates restaurant & wine bar - Play Food & Wine, Ottawa, ON

Play Food & Wine

4.7
4.7
87 Reviews
CAN$51 and over
Contemporary Canadian
Top tags:
Play food & wine will make serious food fun and accessible to many types of guests by offering an inspiring menu, legendary service, outstanding values and a culinary home for our guests in which they can spend a variety of occasions.

All of our dishes are modest portions designed to share. This allows guests to sample a few different dishes without having to commit to just one main course as in a traditional restaurant. Our menu changes frequently, respecting product availability and seasonality.

We are committed to working with our many great suppliers to source the best and most flavourful ingredients possible. We use local, sustainable and seasonal products whenever possible, and believe in supporting area farmers as much as we can.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 20 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    CAN$51 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary Canadian, Canadian, Global, International
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Wed, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Wed–Sat 11:30 am–2:00 pm Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (613) 667-9207
  • Website
    http://www.playfood.ca/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Shane Brown
  • Catering
    Please reach out to us at info@playfood.ca for inquiries
  • Private party facilities
    Closedown of ground floor or whole restaurant is possible for cocktail or seated events by contacting info@playfood.ca
  • Location
    1 York St, Ottawa, ON K1N 6Z5
  • Neighbourhood
    ByWard Market
  • Cross Street
    Corner of Sussex Drive and York Street
  • Parking Details
    Public Lot
  • Public Transit
    Rideau Centre
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • NYE 10-Course Tasting Menu

    $225.00 per person

    Dec 31, 2023 only
    Join us at Play Food and Wine for an unforgettable New Year's Eve experience! Indulge in an exquisite 10-course tasting menu, expertly crafted by our talented chef Shane Brown. Each dish is thoughtfully paired with handcrafted cocktails and exquisite wines. Celebrate the arrival of the new year in style and indulge in the perfect blend of flavours. This exclusive menu will be bar seating only as Chef Shane will be preparing and serving each dish from behind the bar. We are unable to accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies due to the nature of our 10-course tasting menu. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding. We are happy to accommodate any dietary restrictions for our 3 course NYE menu.
    NYE 10-Course Tasting Menu photo

  • NYE @ PLAY

    $90.00 per person

    Dec 31, 2023 only
    Celebrate New Year's Eve in style at Play Food & Wine! Indulge in our exclusive 3-course special menu, meticulously crafted to elevate your dining experience. Begin with tantalizing appetizers, savour exquisite main courses, and conclude with decadent desserts. Each dish is a culinary masterpiece, expertly prepared to bid farewell to the year in taste and sophistication. Join us for a night of gastronomic delights, ambiance, and welcoming hospitality. Reserve your table now for an unforgettable New Year's Eve celebration! Visit our website to see the complete menu and plan your perfect evening.
    NYE @ PLAY photo

What 87 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Ottawa

    Great for fine wines

  • Ottawa

    Contemporary Canadian

  • Ottawa

    Most Booked

  • Ottawa

    Great for fine wines

  • Ottawa

    Contemporary Canadian

  • Ottawa

    Most Booked

87 Reviews

  1. Emie

    Ottawa

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was good, but portions quite small for the price. We were still hungry after sharing fries and having 2 plates each. Service was fine despite being charged for a drink they brought me when that was not what I had ordered.

    Is this helpful?

  2. johanne

    Atlantic Canada

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Not what I rembered pre Covid The vegetables were undercooked (way moore than al dente ) we were told that they could be recooked but it would take quite a while considering that the resto was busy. Theenu is great but tastes under delivered Service was great

    Is this helpful?

  3. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful spot Everything was delicious. Great staff. Would recommend highly.

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  4. SharonM

    Vancouver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lunch at Play is delightful. The ‘2 small plates’ is perfect. I know that the menu changes, but on this visit, I had the grey ghost squash soup and braised beef; both were delicious. Our foursome shared frites, warm olives and an order of grilled sourdough bread. I would recommend each of them; very yummy! The selection of wine by-the-glass is very good. I particularly like the Sauvignon Blanc, Scarbolo.

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    Vancouver

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Accessible, great balance between fine dining and casual attire.

    Is this helpful?

  6. OpenTable Diner

    Ottawa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food and service as always was awesome. The wait staff was very knowledgeable with respect to the food and wine pairings.

    Is this helpful?

  7. judyr

    Toronto

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Very high end experience with a unique and sometimes adventurous menu. Beautiful presentation and great service. Not for starving people that are looking for volume this is definitely quality over quantity. I will definitely return but only with guests that can appreciate a next level expert foodie event. Impressive!

    Is this helpful?

  8. OpenTable Diner

    Montreal

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food is creative and excellent. Ambiance is a little noisy. Service was excellent.Overall a pleasant experience.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Karen

    Chicago

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went for the lunch specials. Amazing food for such a great price.

    Is this helpful?

  10. OpenTable Diner

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything pretty good but think some of the flavours overcomplicate the simplicity of quality ingredients. Ribs dry - scallops pretty slim - plates were large but even for tapas - portions pretty slim by comparison.

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  11. Joanne

    Ottawa

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 1
    Felt the ambiance was really lacking - plain white walls and then just fabric draped on the ceiling. The steak and fries - which should be quite straightforward - just tasted very strange. Didn't taste like parmesan; didn't understand the sauce.

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  12. OpenTable Diner

    Ottawa

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 27, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Nice vibe, lovely staff. Good wine recommendation. Food was good - but not fully at par to past experiences. Gnochi was #1 as usual, it was awesome (4 orders for 5 people!) and mushroom croquettes were excellent (crispy and unique). Scallops were also on point. 5/5 Less so: bolognese was too el dente - while hard pasta is the way right now, it was really too sticky and hard. Steak was chewy (fries were good). Cod was good. All of these 3-4/5

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  13. OpenTable Diner

    Ottawa

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great experience at this restaurant. Our server was amazing! We really enjoyed our night and the food.

    Is this helpful?

  14. OpenTable Diner

    Saskatoon

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Deliciousness I’ll be back for sure Great service good and atmosphere

    Is this helpful?

  15. GeeWhy

    Atlantic Canada

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We don’t go out as much as before because of the high cost but Play Food Wine was a very nice experience. Pleasant staff and it was interesting watching the food preparation.

    Is this helpful?

  16. kathleenm

    Ottawa

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Consistently great. Amazing food, attentive service. Couldn’t have been more perfect.

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  17. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always love going to Play! The staff are amazing, and the food and wine are always stellar!

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  18. SharonB

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Wonderful experience. Food was 5 star. Service excellent and the wine pairing was perfect. The mixology right on point.

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  19. sylviaP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 14, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of my favourites Staff particularly accommodating and knew when to lean in and wham to leave us alone

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  20. Ryan

    Toronto

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 13, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food, amazing service. Couldn’t recommend more.

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  21. AndreeC

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Interesting and delicious small plates perfect for sharing. If Paul is your server you’re in good hands!

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  22. CaitlinE

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Amazing food, great wine selection, but we had to wait 40 minutes for our second plate (but they were very nice and took it off the bill). Upstairs has terrible acoustics and it was very hard to converse.

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  23. KatB

    Ottawa

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I forgot how much I enjoy this restaurant. Nice small plates conducive for ordering many and sharing. Scallops were delicious, beets were great, lingcod was tasty. Nice wine selection and great service. A perfect evening. :)

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  24. FlamingoT

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server was super attentive. Food was served in warmed bowls and plates. The attention to detail is immaculate. We had a lovely lunch experience.

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  25. MargaritaK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Delighted that the restaurant is once again open for lunch. The food was outstanding. I will certainly go again in the near future.

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  26. AlexandreH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very nice restaurant in the heart of Ottawa. Food is jus amazing and the service is very kind One of the best place in city center!

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  27. Safa

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved it here. So fun to have different choices and tastes of different things on the menu. Food was scrumptious. You need to try the lamb gnocchi!

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  28. PKandMB

    Montreal

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Every dish was exceptional and the wine pairing was superb. Service was outstanding in a nice relaxed environment. You won’t be disappointed.

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  29. JeffS

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service was excellent, among the best we have had in a while. The food was good, not brilliant. Some of the dishes were worth the $24.50 each price and others were not. We enjoyed the meal but not sure we would go back again.

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  30. ReneeK

    Saskatoon

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The gnocchi was the lightest I’ve had the opportunity to eat. Interesting components to the meals , sometimes even eclipsing the main item ( the ribs were good but the roasted squash wedges were astonishingly good on the wonderful creamy base). Our group of 8 enabled us to try most of the items on the menu. Great suggestions by the attentive waiter.

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  31. AstridN

    Ottawa

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 1, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Play is one of my favourite places to dine in Ottawa. The food and service is always spectacular.

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  32. SuzanneR

    Ottawa

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We always enjoy Play. The service this October 2023 was with a lovely very upbeat waitress. The ever changing menu was especially creative. The small plates with wine pairings are always fun to explore (hence the name Play".). I especially appreciate that half glasses of wine are offered which allows me to have fun with the wine pairings . I csn enjoy tasting 4 wines with having only consumed the equivalent of two. Always a wonderful experience.

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  33. MichelleM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food and atmosphere and the most brilliant waitress in Ottawa.

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  34. Lieve

    Ottawa

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I do not like a place where the noise level can be rated "energetic." I prefer a more relaxing atmosphere. I found the cappuccino a bit bland: too much milk, not enough coffee. However, we enjoyed the overall experience enormously.

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  35. SarahM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The best food ever! Also the cenote drink was amazing

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  36. SophieV

    Toronto

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was bang on except for the ribs which my friend didn’t enjoy so much because they did not fall off the bone. My allergy to basil and my friend’s intolerances to dairy, soy and gluten were extremely well managed. Our server was very prof, knowledgeable, SO nice and patient with us. Steven’s nephew who greeting and seated us was charming. Thank you! Never disappoints!

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  37. Colin123

    Ottawa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    The multiple "small plates" that are offered is a good strategy for tasting a wide variety of dishes. The lingcod was a standout.

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  38. AlexisC

    Montreal

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Highly recommend. Great food and clearly the staff take pride in their work. They were attentive and responsive.

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  39. KaremM

    Ottawa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful restaurant, with fresh local produce. Perfect portions and creative dishes.

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  40. RobertR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food! Service was excellent. Overall, a very enjoyable experience.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily

  • Physical distancing

    • Extra space between tables

  • Screening

    • Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

Play Food & Wine offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (613) 667-9207.

Play Food & Wine is rated 4.7 stars by 87 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 20 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Play Food & Wine

1 York St, Ottawa, ON K1N 6Z5

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Corner of Sussex Drive and York Street
  • Neighbourhood
    ByWard Market
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Wed, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Wed–Sat 11:30 am–2:00 pm Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    CAN$51 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary Canadian, Canadian, Global, International
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking Details
    Public Lot
  • Public Transit
    Rideau Centre
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Shane Brown
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.playfood.ca/
  • Phone number
    (613) 667-9207
  • Catering
    Please reach out to us at info@playfood.ca for inquiries
  • Private party facilities
    Closedown of ground floor or whole restaurant is possible for cocktail or seated events by contacting info@playfood.ca
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