Seafood

Located on Merivale Road, Red Lobster is a chain that many are familiar with, though in recent years there has been talk about the company facing financial troubles. With that in mind, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when we walked in.

The first impression was positive: the restaurant has a large dining room with plenty of seating. It wasn’t overly busy when we visited, and service was friendly and attentive. Our server made the experience enjoyable and ensured dishes arrived fairly quickly. Lots of free parking in the large parking lot of the plaza.

Pelican Grill is both a seafood restaurant and a fresh seafood market, popular enough that nearly every table was full during our visit. The ingredients were clearly fresh, and the menu is seafood-focused with classic East Coast influences. Service was friendly but slow—especially when it came to settling the bill, which took about 10 minutes after asking. Still, the casual and bustling atmosphere makes it a go-to for many in Ottawa’s south end.

Seafood Grill on Merivale was quite busy when we visited, which is usually a good sign. The seafood overall seemed fresh, and the menu offered a decent range of options without feeling overwhelming. The setting is modern casual—nothing fancy, but clean and comfortable.