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Cantina Gia, Ottawa, ON

Cantina Gia

4.7
4.7
497 Reviews
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Italian
Welcome to Cantina Gia
We look forward to seeing you soon.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 71 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Italian

  • Hours of operation

    Daily 11:30 am–8:30 pm

  • Phone number

    (613) 569-0464

  • Payment options

    AMEX, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Neighborhood

    The Glebe

  • Parking details

    Street Parking

  • Additional

    Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

What 497 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Ottawa

    Great for brunch

  • Ottawa

    Italian

  • Ottawa

    Most Booked

  • Ottawa

    Great for brunch

  • Ottawa

    Italian

  • Ottawa

    Most Booked

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  1. Barkla

    Ottawa

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall2food1service4ambience4
    This is an owner who doesn't care. The plates were chipped (no biggie but not professional nor indicative of caring). Calamari was from frozen and both calamari was bland and the dipping sauce too. Three pasta dishes all equally amateurish and frankly, I could have cooked at home and had a better dinner. I would never go back and certainly would not recommend anyone eat here. I think you would never get away with this in Montreal or Toronto but something about Ottawa and the white bread palates make people say this is good. Pasta was either overcooked or undercooked. Each dish as bland, dull and boring as the next. Taken once but never again.
  2. Cassie

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food, great service! A lovely spot for a Sunday brunch - coffee and food were both exceptional and value for money was great.
  3. SophieL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food and wine. Service was excellent too.
  4. RachelQ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing! Would definitely return. Thanks for a great evening!
  5. DougG

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    What a find, great appetizers calamari to start! The wife hade the pasta with sausage and I had the pasta carbonara both were fantabulous! Keep up the good work folks! Cheers
  6. SandraP

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Casio E Pepe was wonderful, the sauce rich and flavourful. I was delighted that the pasta was hot when it was brought to the table. My friend had pasta Carbonara which was very delicious too. The Caesar salad was very fresh with a generous portion of grated cheese and homemade croutons which was shared between us. My only quibble was that the restaurant was extremely noisy. We had to shout to say things to each other. I didn’t realize there was music until a few diners had left. I guess noise is inevitable when the food is excellent. I will ask for a table by the window or at the far end of the dining room next time. We were at a tiny table in the middle of a long row of tables.
  7. LocalLove

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    The food was absolutely incredible as usual. Highly recommend!
  8. Bobbybro

    Toronto

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service yummy cocktails and great food. Lively atmosphere feeling big city. Carpacio and pasta outstanding. Good night out
  9. Johnny

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We loved the lunch
  10. ROBERTN

    Ottawa

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall1food3service1ambience1
    Service has declined! Have been to La Gia over a 1/2 dozen times and they seem to have lost their way. Noisey and cramped seating I can handle, but when an already small menu shrinks, with no new items, it gets tired fast. Staff are focussed more on turn-over of tables while running back and forth in a cramped corridor, very hard to enjoy what could be a nice atmosphere. With so many choices in The Glebe, Gia needs to get back to basics and focus on customers enjoying an evening out.
  11. Fred

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Great experience overall in terms of ambience, service, and quality. Pasta dish was worth its price.
  12. MarthaH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing as always- Fantastic food and atmosphere. A great spot for both Lunch and Dinner- a true gem in the Glebe. Casual atmosphere with great recommendations by staff for both food and Drinks.
  13. Michel

    Calgary

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fabulous and happening spot with wonderful complex pasta dishes.
  14. Heather

    Montreal

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing time as always @ Gia. Lamb Ragu was sensational
  15. Cait

    Ottawa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Brunch was great, we had the pancakes and split some rosemary potatoes which were both amazing. The servers were kind, and the décor and vibe were also lovely.
  16. OpenTable Diner

    Ottawa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious brunch, well priced, great designs on lattes. Would highly recommend
  17. MarcOttawa

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall1food1service3ambience2
    So unfortunate! Good drinks and wine. That’s it! Forgettable experience. Burnt bread served with carpaccio or chewy undercooked calamari for appetizers. Mains had poorly cooked pasta on a sour Sauce? Penne a la vodka with burnt raw shrimps. How? Also the other pasta dish was forgettable. Very bad presentation. First and only visit.
  18. Kelcie

    Ottawa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One of the best meals I’ve ever had - ever! I cannot wait to go back and bring everyone I know with me!
  19. ALXMB

    Ottawa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Cantina Gia was great as always. We went for lunch and there were two small babies in our group. The staff were very accommodating. The food was delicious! We had the caesar salad, sausage & rapini pasta, and the mushroom pasta. All so so good.
  20. Annie

    Toronto

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food, ambience and service are fantastic! I always have a hard time picking which pasta I'm going to get--cacio e pepe, mushroom mafaldine or their newest sausage and rapini dish. Also--if you're lucky enough to have Katie as your server you will have the best time--attentive service, knows the menu inside and out, and just a lovely person:) We'll be back soon!
  21. ClaudiaV

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Such a fun and engaging place to eat in walking distance from our Glebe home. Delicious, healthy and unique choices to eat, perhaps a bit too big a portion, so had to take some home. Wonderful service, fun atmosphere and a great mix of patrons.
  22. DanK

    Ottawa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Cantina Gia continues to be a neighbourhood favourite and a destination for others. We have been many times and have never been disappointed. Must try!
  23. MaryLouiseR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The personnel were all very pleasant, and Olivia was helpful and knowledgeable. The food was wonderful. The service was impeccable. We will definitely go back.
  24. Veronique

    Las Vegas

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on March 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We sat at the bar and had a wonderful experience. Very busy and bumping place. Every dish was perfectly executed. Great wine and cocktails. Service was top notch. No wonder it's considered one of the best in Ottawa and will continue to be!
  25. glebeeats

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 10, 2023

    overall3food4service1ambience3
    Even though our reservation was at 7:30 we had to wait for 30 minutes because our table wasn't ready. The reservation was for a birthday so I had pre-arranged with the restaurant to have a dessert brought out with a candle. They obviously forgot and didn't do it. It was also way too hot which made it hard to want to eat. The food quality was great, but there were obviously some problems with the service on the night we went.
  26. Anne

    Ottawa

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 8, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Great spot! Lovely decor & delicious italian food.
  27. Amanda

    Tuscany

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    So great! If you’re looking for fantastic, real Italian food, drinks and wine this is the spot!
  28. CandaceJ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food is so delicious! And the place has a really eclectic, homey vibe that just feels so comfortable and lovely. The only thing that kinda sucked was having to scoot out because another reservation was coming - but we had also been there for a long time!
  29. BrianR

    Edmonton

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on March 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Quintessential Italian restaurant in the Glebe section of Ottawa. Amazing food, appropriate portions, great wine selectins and excellent service. Well worth the walk to get there!
  30. KaitL

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Girls night at the bar. Chill staff and amazing night sharing plates of deliciousness off the menu.
  31. DeneJ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great atmosphere. Loved our table in front of the kitchen. It was secluded yet let you see the whole restaurant. Definitely will go back.
  32. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 3, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience5
    The overall ambiance of the place is awesome! But if you’re going in a group of two, be prepared to be quite close to other people as there is not much room between tables. Service was good—our waitress was nice and attentive. The food was good. We got the carbonara and the cacio e pepe. The carbonara was good; however, the cacio e Pepe was quite salty. The portion sizes however are generous. The wine list for whites and reds is extensive, although quite expensive. I would recommend that the restaurant update their menus online to reflect the current menu prices in-restaurant. Overall we would return to cantina Gia.
  33. OpenTable Diner

    Mexico City

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on March 2, 2023

    overall5food5service3ambience5
    Delicious porchetta sandwich, negroni and tiramisu
  34. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing! Food was incredible-caesar salad was to die for!
  35. JoAnne

    New York Area

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 1, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    We always enjoy the ambiance at Cantina Gia and the unpretentious service! Love the selection of food and the price points - makes it easy to return time and again! Such a wonderful addition to the Glebe!
  36. MariaN

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 27, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    The entrees, sides and dessert were a hit and miss. Some were delicious like the broccolini while the caccio de pepe pasta was overcooked. The service was good but for a party of five, a larger water pitcher would have been useful. We had to constantly ask the server for refills. Overall, it was an enjoyable dining experience with my family but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I was in Rome recently and my expectations for Roman food are high.
  37. Laura4

    Ottawa

    16 reviews

    4.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on February 26, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Deliciou Food in a small but pleasant room. As others have noted, sound reverberates making conversations more difficult and strained; suggest lowering music volume. Caesar salad was best I have had in this city, calamari were just ok (why not offer grilled.), and pasta outstanding. Limited but good wines by the glass; more choice by the bottle. We will definitely return.
  38. OpenTable Diner

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 25, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    Server was lovely, food was good, dessert was the best, seating is really snug and we had the unfortunate pleasure of sitting next to one of the worst first dates I’ve ever had to listen to. But other than that, good time!
  39. OpenTable Diner

    Montreal

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The serve made everything amazing however the food was incredible
  40. JohnC

    Toronto

    4 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 23, 2023

    overall2food4service2ambience1
    Far too noisy, with people shouting, quite happily it seems, to make themselves heard above the already noisy music. Not a pleasant evening

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available
  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables
  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Diner temperature check required
    • Staff temperature check required
    • Contact tracing information collected

FAQs

Cantina Gia offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (613) 569-0464.

Cantina Gia is rated 4.7 stars by 497 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 71 times today
Google Map for Cantina Gia

749 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3V3

Additional information

  • Neighborhood

    The Glebe

  • Hours of operation

    Daily 11:30 am–8:30 pm

  • Cuisines

    Italian

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking details

    Street Parking

  • Payment options

    AMEX, MasterCard, Visa

  • Additional

    Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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