Gezellig Ottawa Review – Refined Dishes with a Few Misses – Average EV Score: 6.4/10
Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa
Each dish is rated using our EV Score (Enjoyment-to-Value Score), based on enjoyment, price paid, and benchmark pricing.
Table of Contents
Gezellig Restaurant Overview
337 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K2A 0E7
Gezellig is an upscale restaurant in Ottawa known for its refined atmosphere and polished menu. From the moment you walk in, it feels elevated. The dim lighting and quiet ambiance create a calm dining environment that’s well suited for date nights or more intimate dinners. It’s not loud or chaotic — conversations stay at your table.
Parking is street parking only, so depending on the time of day, you may need to circle a bit before finding a spot. That’s fairly typical for restaurants in this area, but it’s something to plan for.
Service throughout the evening was friendly and attentive. Staff were knowledgeable about the menu and pacing was steady without feeling rushed. Dishes came out at a reasonable pace, and the overall experience felt organized and professional.
Gezellig clearly positions itself as a more refined dining experience — and for the most part, the food reflects that. However, there were a few notable inconsistencies.
Would return? Maybe but not anytime soon.
Fries
Enjoyment: 4.5/10
Price Paid: $8
Benchmark Price: $8
EV Score: 4.5/10
Order Again? No.
Let’s start with the low point of the meal.
We asked for the fries to be extra crispy, but what arrived felt more like they interpreted that as “well done.” The result was overcooked, dried-out fries that had more of a burnt taste than crispiness. There’s a difference between crispy and dehydrated — and unfortunately, these fell into the latter category.
They were a generous portion, which was appreciated, but quantity doesn’t compensate for poor execution. They weren’t crisp in the way you expect — no light crunch with a fluffy interior — just dry and overly dark.
For an upscale restaurant, this was surprising. Fries may be a side item, but they still matter. This was easily the weakest dish of the night.
Seared Scallops
Menu description: Sunchoke curry puree, fingerling potatoes, edamame, beet & radish salad, cauliflower
Enjoyment: 7.5/10
Price Paid: $47
Benchmark Price: $40
EV Score: 6.4/10
Order Again? No.
The Seared Scallops from Gezellig were beautifully executed.
Scallops can easily be overcooked and rubbery, but these were cooked perfectly. They had that ideal tender, almost buttery texture with a light sear on the outside. No chewiness, no dryness.
The flavour pairing worked nicely. The sunchoke curry puree added a subtle warmth and depth without overpowering the delicate scallops. The accompanying vegetables added freshness and balance.
However, it did seem a bit overpriced considering you only get four scallops.
This dish felt refined and thoughtful — exactly what you expect from an upscale kitchen.
Ox Tail in Tomato
Menu description: Creamy polenta, pine nut gremolata, parmesan
Enjoyment: 7.5/10
Price Paid: $38
Benchmark Price: $38
EV Score: 7.5/10
Order Again? Yes.
Any time I see ox tail on a menu, I’m ordering it. It’s one of those cuts that, when done properly, is incredibly satisfying.
Gezellig did it very well. The ox tail was extremely tender, with rich, deep flavour from the tomato-based sauce. The meat pulled apart easily and had no tough or stringy bits.
The creamy polenta was smooth and comforting, serving as the perfect base to absorb the sauce. The pine nut gremolata was a standout touch — it added brightness and texture that prevented the dish from feeling too heavy.
This was one of the strongest dishes of the evening and one I’d gladly order again.
Duck Confit
Menu description: Farro, browned butter parsnip puree, king eryngii mushrooms, hazelnuts, brussel sprouts, maple demi-glace
Enjoyment: 7/10
Price Paid: $38
Benchmark Price: $38
EV Score: 7/10
Order Again? Yes.
The Duck Confit at Gezellig was another well-executed plate.
The duck itself was tender and well seasoned, with crisp skin and juicy meat. It didn’t feel greasy, which can sometimes happen with confit.
One of the standout components was the king eryngii mushroom. The scoring on the mushroom allowed it to absorb more sauce, which gave it excellent flavour and a juicy texture. It’s a small detail, but one that shows care in preparation.
The maple demi-glace brought sweetness and depth, tying together the nutty farro and earthy vegetables.
Overall, this dish felt cohesive and thoughtfully constructed.
Braised Lamb Shank
Menu description: Roasted garlic mashed potatoes, carrots, caramelized onion, bordelaise sauce
Enjoyment: 7/10
Price Paid: $45
Benchmark Price: $45
EV Score: 7/10
Order Again? Yes.
The Braised Lamb Shank at Gezellig was a very satisfying and hearty dish.
The lamb was very tender, falling apart easily without being mushy. The flavour was rich and well developed, complemented nicely by the bordelaise sauce.
The roasted garlic mashed potatoes were smooth and flavourful, pairing perfectly with the lamb. The caramelized onions and carrots added sweetness and balance.
Presentation was polished, and the portion size was satisfying without being overwhelming. This dish felt comforting yet refined — exactly what you want from braised lamb.
Matcha Tiramisu
Menu description: Roasted garlic mashed potatoes, carrots, caramelized onion, bordelaise sauce
Enjoyment: 6/10
Price Paid: $10
Benchmark Price: $10
EV Score: 6/10
Order Again? Yes.
To finish, we ordered the Matcha Tiramisu.
You could clearly taste the matcha, which was a positive. It wasn’t faint or washed out — the flavour came through distinctly while still keeping the creamy texture expected from tiramisu.
There was a physalis on top, which didn’t really add anything meaningful to the dish. It felt more decorative than functional and didn’t enhance the flavour profile.
The sauce on the plate, however, was quite good and complemented the dessert nicely.
Overall, it was a decent dessert — not spectacular, but a pleasant way to end the meal.
Final Thoughts
Gezellig delivers an upscale dining experience with polished service, a calm ambiance, and several well-executed dishes. The scallops, ox tail, duck confit, and lamb shank were all strong performances that showed technical skill and thoughtful flavour pairing.
However, the fries were a significant miss — especially for a restaurant of this calibre. Overcooked and burnt-tasting fries aren’t something you expect from an upscale kitchen.
That said, the strengths far outweighed the weaknesses. The main proteins were handled with care, textures were generally spot on, and the overall experience felt refined.
Gezellig is a good choice if you’re looking for a quieter, more intimate dinner with elevated dishes. Just skip the fries — and focus on the scallops, ox tail, or lamb shank instead.