Whalesbone - Ottawa - February 2021

Experience Rating

 4.5/5

Our return to normal began on a cold and snowy February night with a trip to Whalesbone on Elgin Street in downtown Ottawa. This was our first in-restaurant dining experience since the Fall of 2020 and there was no way that a few inches of snow was going to stop us. We had been wanting to visit Whalesbone for months after hearing several great reviews from our foodie friends and this restaurant didn’t disappoint.

Whalesbone was opened in 2001 and has three different locations across the city (Elgin, Kent, and Bank), as well as the Elmdale Oyster House and Tavern located in Hintonburg. It’s exciting to think that this group also has plans to open a high-end steakhouse just blocks away in Summer 2021 – likely to be called “Harmon’s”.

Well-known for their excellent seafood, Whalesbone offers up a dynamic menu selection in a laid-back and casual setting. Some have compared the overall feel of the place to the famous Joe Beef in Montreal, and I’d definitely say that there are some similarities.

We started off with a huge plate of fresh Atlantic Canada oysters for the table which proved to be a great choice. The oysters were fresh and delightful and we served with an excellent selection of sauces, mignonettes, and fresh horseradish – which is a must in my opinion. We followed this with the Ahi Tuna Sashimi – served with a BBQ mayo, pickled tomato, and a crispy little crouton. The dish was deserving of it’s “house specialty” designation and was wonderfully light and delicious, offering some excellent flavour and textures.

For mains, we decided on two different dishes: the first was the crusted halibut served with duck fat potatoes and a preserved lemon emulsion, and the second the scallops and pork belly. Both dishes were equally great, but the scallop and pork belly selection stood out as top dish. I was genuinely intrigued by the combination and was incredibly happy with the result. Served with squash puree, coriander salsa, and roasted Shitake and vegetables, the salty and crispy pork belly worked perfectly with rich and tender scallops. This is definitely a dish that I will be re-creating at home!

One of the things that impressed me the most was the extensive wine list which is full of what I would call more “exotic” selections. For example, I went with glasses of a bright, zesty Malivoire Viognier from Niagara to start (oysters), followed by a balanced and refreshing Austrian Gruner Veltliner (ahi tuna sashimi), and an aromatic and flavourful Spanish Albarino (scallops) to finish. All proved to be perfect pairings and I have to say that I’d be hard pressed to find this variety at many restaurants.

This said, we will definitely be making a trip back to Whalesbone soon, perhaps to take advantage of their great outdoor patio. Cheers!