Heart and Crown Preston – A Classic Irish Pub Experience in Little Italy – Average EV Score: 4.8/10
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
Heart and Crown Restaurant Overview
353B Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1S 1V6
Heart and Crown is a well-known name in Ottawa, with several locations spread across the city. This review focuses on their Preston Street location, right in the heart of Little Italy. Unlike the bustling ByWard Market branch, which is famous for its nightlife scene, this spot feels a bit more low-key, at least on weeknights. When we visited, the restaurant wasn’t very busy, which made it easy to grab a table and settle in without feeling rushed.
The first thing you notice when you walk in is just how large the space is. It’s a very big restaurant with lots of seating, both indoors and on the patio. The dining room has the look and feel you’d expect from an Irish pub: dark wood, comfortable seating, and a warm atmosphere that leans more toward casual than upscale. The patio is a nice feature too, not the most elaborate in the neighbourhood, but good enough for enjoying a beer or two on a summer evening.
Food-wise, the menu has exactly what you’d expect from a pub. Think burgers, fries, poutines, sandwiches, and other pub classics. It’s straightforward fare, and honestly, you don’t come here expecting to be blown away by the food. The Heart and Crown is more about the atmosphere, drinks, and music. It’s the kind of place where you can hang out with friends, share some snacks, and enjoy a pint while chatting or catching some live entertainment.
During the week, things are calmer, making it a good spot to meet up for a casual dinner or drinks without dealing with crowds. On weekend evenings, however, the energy ramps up significantly. The restaurant often has live music, and there’s even a small dance floor that fills up as the night goes on. If you’re looking for something bigger and more nightlife-oriented, I’d recommend heading to the Heart and Crown in the ByWard Market. That location has a much larger dance floor and a more club-like atmosphere. But on Preston, the vibe is more contained and feels like a pub first and foremost, with some entertainment layered on top.
Overall, the Preston Street Heart and Crown is less about culinary excellence and more about being a dependable pub where you can grab a drink, enjoy some decent food, and soak up the Irish-inspired atmosphere.
Would return?: Not for the food.
Fries
😋 Enjoyment: 6/10
💰 Price Paid: $10
🎯 Benchmark Price: $8
📊 EV Score: 4.8/10
🔁 Order Again?: No.
The fries were fine but not exceptional. They were a nice large cut, which gave them a hearty, satisfying feel. Some were decently crispy, but the consistency just wasn’t there. A few fries had that ideal crunch, while others leaned soft and underwhelming. The sauce served alongside didn’t really add anything — it felt more like an afterthought than something that elevated the dish. All in all, they were serviceable pub fries, but nothing that stood out enough to make me want to order them again specifically.
Poutine
😋 Enjoyment: 5.5/10
💰 Price Paid: $17
🎯 Benchmark Price: $15
📊 EV Score: 4.9/10
🔁 Order Again?: No.
The poutine was about as average as it gets. It checked all the basic boxes — fries, gravy, cheese curds — but didn’t do anything memorable with them. The fries themselves were the same large-cut style as the standalone order, which was fine, but the gravy lacked depth. It didn’t have a strong taste and didn’t really tie the dish together in the way a good poutine should. The cheese curds were decent, with the right squeak, but again, there was nothing about this dish that made it stand out. It tasted like a standard poutine you could get at almost any pub in the city.
Final Thoughts
The Heart and Crown on Preston Street delivers what you’d expect from an Irish pub, but not much more. The food is solidly average — not terrible, but not anything that makes you want to come back specifically for the kitchen. The fries were hit-or-miss, and the poutine didn’t leave much of an impression. That said, this place doesn’t really need to lean on its food to draw people in.
Where the Heart and Crown shines is in its atmosphere and versatility. With its large dining room, decent patio, and live music on weekends, it’s a good place to hang out and have fun with friends. The fact that it wasn’t too busy on a weeknight made it a relaxed option for a casual dinner, but I also know it has the ability to transform into a lively pub with music and dancing when the weekend crowds arrive.
If you’re looking for excellent pub food, you may want to look elsewhere. But if you’re after a comfortable space to enjoy drinks, live music, and a laid-back patio vibe, the Heart and Crown on Preston does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s a reliable pub that delivers on atmosphere, even if the food leaves you wanting more.