JOEY Rideau ★9.5

JOEY Rideau — Polished Global Dining by the ByWard Market

JOEY Rideau is what happens when a restaurant group spends three decades polishing a single idea: globally inspired food, glamorous but unstuffy rooms and service tuned like a good hotel’s. In downtown Ottawa, between the Rideau Centre and the ByWard Market, that idea fills a turn-of-the-century space with a theatre kitchen, a sushi counter and one of the city’s most dependable dining-room moods.

The Story

The chain comes from hospitality royalty: founder Jeff Fuller is the son of Leroy “Bus” Fuller, the man who built Earls. JOEY began in Calgary in 1992 as Joey Tomato’s, was renamed in 2005 and now runs rooms across Canada and the United States from its Vancouver base — with this Ottawa flagship holding its own against far bigger cities.

What to Order

The menu travels: seared salmon sushi from the counter, steaks off the grill, blackened chicken, big salads and bowls with Asian and Mediterranean accents, truffle fries on nearly every table. Desserts are unapologetically indulgent, and the wine list and cocktail card are curated with the same care as the food.

The Space

A layered room: chef’s-table seats facing the theatre kitchen, a wrap-around lounge, warm low light — and upstairs, a heated, covered rooftop patio that works in February as well as it does in July. It photographs beautifully and feels even better in person.

Who It’s For

Date nights that need a sure thing, girls’ nights out, family celebrations, and shoppers surfacing from the Rideau Centre in search of a proper meal rather than food-court fuel.

Good to Know

Do I need a reservation? For evenings, yes — the room fills quickly; lunch is much easier.

Is there a dress code? No, though the crowd skews smart-casual by choice.

Does the rooftop work in winter? Yes — covered and heated, it is one of downtown’s few true four-season patios.

Are there gluten-free options? Yes — the menu marks them, and the kitchen handles requests confidently.

Is it good for celebrations? Very — the staff are practiced at birthdays and anniversaries, and the room carries a festive mood most nights.

Opening hours