Ottawa Newbie

Authentic, delicious, sublime. Tripadvisor has ranked Chelsea, Quebec’s L’Oree du Bois amongst the top four fine dining restaurants in Canada. Just 15 minutes from Ottawa, this nationally-famous restaurant has been serving its exquisite dishes for over 35 years. From their divine Table d’hôte to their masterfully crafted cocktails- it was quite easy to identify this as the best dining experience of my life. Here’s what it’s like to visit L’Oree du Bois, one of the best restaurants in Canada.

• Note: ranking is based on reviews and ratings from January 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021.

Setting the Mood…

The moment that you pull into L’Oree du Bois’ secluded driveway, you’re greeted with charm. Their dining space is set in a rustic farmhouse and is surrounded by greenery and forest in which a lot of the ingredients that they use grow. An area that you are even welcome to stroll through after your meal.

The Atmosphere

If there is one word to describe the vibe, it’s ‘cozy’, and somehow they have perfected this feeling year-round. One has clearly never experienced L’Oree du Bois if they say that comfortable cottage life and elevated fine dining can’t go together. Inside you’re met with wood-paneled walls and romantic candlelit tables. But, around back in the warmer months, you’re greeted with an open-air setting right in the action. Their outdoor patio is surrounded by the property’s greenery and boasts views of their buzzing kitchen. Both dining areas are great, but certainly provide a bit of a different dining experience.

The Staff

What truly sets L’Oree du Bois apart from other fine dining restaurants is their staff. This incredibly knowledgeable team has one goal: to ensure that your dining experience is the best that it can possibly be. Their warmth and welcoming begins the moment that you walk through the door. From there, they are always there when you need them to answer any questions that you may have, listen to your preferences and make recommendations, and explain each dish to you throughout the entire dining process. To me, that was really the L’Oree du Bois difference.

On the Menu: Table d’hôte Style

• The price: $65.

L’Oree du Bois offers a daily Table d’hôte menu which they change and rotate every season. This essentially consists of your choice of soup, appetizer, house specialty (entrée), and dessert. Diners have the option to either order all four courses at the start of the meal or after each course as the meal progresses. However, they do suggest putting your selections in at the start of the meal so that they are able to properly time each course for you.

If you’re looking for the full dining experience, they also offer an optional wine pairing which comes highly recommended. It includes three 4 oz glasses of vino followed by a final 2 oz which all couple perfectly with each course. This is at an additional cost of $38.

Each and every dish on their menu proves their love of local ingredients, their knowledge of traditional recipes, and of course- their passion for culinary arts. Our server was able to explain to us where each course derived from, and why L’Oree du Bois chose to create it. To me, when a dish has a story, it just makes you really makes you think and experience the flavors that much more.

Things to Know Before Visiting L’Oree du Bois

The Dress Code

Although rated as one of the top fine dining spots in the country, L’Oree du Bois certainly leans towards more of a relaxed dress code. Formal attire is certainly welcome, but jeans and a nice top are also totally acceptable. Here is a list of don’ts to help you outfit plan.

Making a Reservation

Making a reservation is highly, highly recommended at L’Oree du Bois. With their increased popularity and media attention, their tables fill up very quickly- and deservedly so! You can reserve your table in advance here.

You can watch my entire experience on TikTok below.