A night at the Whalesbone

     This blog recounts a night that my wife and I had in Ottawa recently and the fantastic restaurant that we discovered there, the Whalesbone Oyster House. 

     The place wasn't much to look at but the reviews were fantastic.  It was squeezed in between 2 larger store fronts and we almost passed it, even having the address in our hands, it was that small.  When we went in, we noticed exactly seven 2-top tables that shared a common bench, and then 12 bar seats that went round the bar

We almost missed it.

and even had a few that looked into the kitchen.  The last table was up front and held about 6, and they called that the "Common Table", because if your party didn't fill it, they'd do that for you with some other guests.  We were fortunate enough to score an end 2-top table and a 5:30 reservation.  It looks like they turn the tables 3 times per night, with a 5:30, 7:30, and 9:30 seatings.  As I said, the look of the place from the outside and then the first appearance of the inside did nothing to indicate the fantastic food that we were about to eat.

The 2-tops along the wall

     I'll post the current menu next, so you'll get a feel of what is offered.  I get the impression that it changes frequently with the fresh ingredients that are available and we were warned of the small portions, which I did find to be true, however, we ordered enough items to sate us.  Few of our items are actually on this menu.

STARTERS
LOBSTER ROLL. BRIOCHE . KETTLE CHIPS . SLAW $19.00
WHITE PACIFIC SHRIMP . CHORIZO . KALE . FRESH CHEESE . CORN CREAM $17.00
SCALLOP CEVICHE . KALAMATA . CUCUMBER . CREME FRAICHE . CHILI $17.00

BEET SALAD . C EST BON GOAT CHEESE TART . BEET SYRUP .SMOKED PEPITAS $16.00
CLAM CHOWDER . FRIED BISCUIT . BACON . DILL. PETIT POISSON $12.00

MAINS
LOBSTERGHETTI . MARIPOSA EGG PASTA . LARDONS . GRENNS . PECORINO $37.00
MACKEREL . CRISPY GNOCCHI . BACON . PARSNIP. LEEKS . BOURBON HONEY $28.00
BEEF SHORT RIBS . BLACK EYED PEAS . C EST BON GOAT CHEESE . CHERRY TOMATOES . KALE $33.00
WALLEYE . POLENTA . J CHOKES . WINTER GREENS. LEMON CAPER BUTTER $30.00
SOCKEYE STEAK FRITE . ARUGULA . TRUFFLE MAYO . RED WINE REDUCTION $33.00

My beautiful dining companion that evening

DESERT
QUEBEC CHEESE PLATE . CROSTINIS . FRUIT $14.00
STEAMING DOUGHNUT . HOT CHOKO . MERINGUE . CREME FRAICHE $11.00
CHUNKY APPLE CAKE . WHIP . APPLE BUTTER $12.00

     We started with 3 appetizers, but unfortunately had to change the presentation slightly as it was Ash Wednesday and we were trying not to eat meat.  We had a scallop dish that was supposed to be served on Foie Gras, but we had it without.  The flavor was excellent, but the portion was exactly 2 scallops, not going to fill up a guy like me.  We had a lobster roll, that was full of chunks of lobster and a light mayo-type dressing and a fresh roll.  Char actually liked the coleslaw served with it and heretofore had never like coleslaw.  I ordered a couple of oysters too, after all it was an Oyster House, and we were told that they had the best.  They did not disappoint. We moved on to the Pacific Shrimp (without the Chorizo) and again they were fantastic. Our entrees were coming next and we couldn't have been more excited for them.  Everything was so well done, thus far, that we knew that they would be incredible. 

Me with my back against the wall

     My entree was a fresh piece of Halibut served over a fried square of mashed parsnips.  It had a serving of baby Bok Choy along with it, and the sauce it had with it was understated but perfectly complimentary.   Char ordered the Sockeye Salmon and was very pleased with it, the french fries were homemade and were fried in lard.  Dinner had taken slightly under an hour and a half at this point and I never thought the service was slow,  it all came at a reasonable pace.  Char ordered a beer with her dinner and I had my standard gin and soda.  The wait staff was pleasant, even to a girl that sat 2 feet back from the bar, so she could show off her stockings.  I watched people squeeze by her for an hour, as her bar stool was almost pushed against the back chair of the 2-top adjacent to her.  She seemed oblivious to the havoc she was creating, and truth be told, her legs did not justify her causing all that trouble, they weren't that nice.  I hope she reads this, because I didn't say anything either. 

     We finished the meal with a pear tart served with marscapone cheese and fresh whip cream and I had a black coffee too.  The desert was as good as it sounds, although we got a glimpse of the fresh donut plate that was served next to us, and had a moment of buyer's remorse.  They had a cheese plate option too, which sounded just as good as everything else.  We didn't linger for after dinner drinks, as we were pushing the 7:30 time slot by the time we were done.  I'll finish this blog with an invitation to try out this restaurant if you ever get to or near Ottawa.  It was well worth finding it, the prices were inflated but a value too, and who knows, if you give me advance notice, I'll meet you for a cocktail.  I'll be at the bar, showing off my legs. 

The bar at the Whalesbone Oyster House