Absolute Comedy

Came here last night with a couple of friends.
You MUST make reservations if you want to guarantee a spot, and to pay for the tickets they only accept cash, however you can pay for drinks and food with debit or credit.
The place was PACKED! We were waiting in the downstairs area while we sent a friend up to grab our tickets, while we were waiting downstairs the «doorman» must have came up to us three times asking for our tickets, and each time we told him we were waiting for our friend… so that was slightly irritating, but no big deal.
The seating area is very small and cramped.
The comedians were hilarious, and drinks were ridiculously cheap! Very excited about that. We didn’t have any food though, so no comment on that.
Great place to go for a fun night with some friends, would recommend.

Just had a great evening with a group of about 20 friends at this club. We started with the buffet dinner and I’d have to say that pretty much everyone was pleasantly surprised with the quality. The only downer: the coffee was luke warm at best. The bar guys were efficient and friendly and the club’s staff handled our large group very well.
The three featured comics and the MC all got lots of laughs from us and the rest of the packed house. And this was a snowy Sunday night in Ottawa!
Well done Absolute Comedy!

Best bang for your buck!$
Great people, organized, clean, welcoming. Good food. Good variety on the menu. Good portions.
Strict with reservations but they have every right to be.
Any night of the week this place is PACKED!
I have always had someone in my group Cry laughing so hard here.
You may get the odd non funny comedian, but usually it’s 90% great comedians, especially on the more expensive nights.
Show up when seating starts, don’t dilly dally, trust me. It’s worth getting in Line early ASAP.

I’ve been here a few times and have always found it to be a better time than Yuk Yuk’s. It’s ruder and cruder, which some people might not like, but I find it pretty hilarious. If you’re looking for a tamer comedy club, this is not it!
After at least a year or so of not visiting, a friend of mine decided to have his birthday celebrations here just last month. It was a weekend so we got there a bit early to beat the rush of people, and we walked up the stairs to check in for our reservation and pay the entry charge (about $ 20 each, taxes in). They were kind enough to let us in to have a seat and order some drinks and snacks. As we were lead to our tables, we noticed the décor or table setup has not changed in the last few years. Very casual atmosphere, but you’ll notice people wearing everything from dressy clothes to sweatpants.
Because of the size of our group, we had two long tables (a bunch of 2-​person tables put together), side by side, seated smack dab in the middle, directly in front of the stage. If you’re ever seated in this area, don’t sit in the front unless you want to be made fun of, but the lights are dimmed enough to sort of hide you from the line of fire if you’re closer to the back of the room. You might also want to turn your chair a bit so that you’re not cranking your neck to the side the whole night just to see the stage. The stage is elevated, as are some of the seats, so there isn’t a seat in the house with a bad view.
I ordered a gin martini with extra olives and the «Absolute Platter» to share, which came with onion rings, jalapeño poppers, zucchini sticks, chicken fingers, and wings. The platter also came with garlic sauce and sour cream for dipping. It was quite large, and a lot of fried foods, so I would suggest ordering it if you have a big appetite for that kind of stuff, or if you plan on sharing between more than just two people. All of it was good, nothing overly greasy or undercooked/​overcooked, but again, a lot of fried food at once. The gin martini was great, though I would have preferred a bit more olive juice. I also ordered an extra spicy Caesar, also good, right before the show, as it’s a lot harder to catch the server once the show starts. Everything is very reasonably priced, including dinner items (if you’re not attending the buffet dinner and show combo).
The comedians themselves were pretty hilarious, the MC as well. Some are always more vulgar than others, but that’s to be expected. If you aren’t light-​hearted with a sense of humor, don’t bother coming here — you will likely need to brush off things that you may typically find offensive. There was someone in the front row that was obviously drunk and disorderly, so he kept interrupting the show, but all of the comedians played it off really well and he was eventually asked to leave. You never know what to expect here, but it’s always a good time!

My girlfriend and I come here often, it’s a great venue do relax and enjoy some comedy, they actually have some out-​of-​town headliners that are actually very entertaining and funny, great place to come on our first date

A good alternative to a movie for a date. Price is comparable. The lasagna pre-​show dinner left something to be desired, as it was very ordinary and unsatisfying.
Comedians start sets on time. Room is very small but arranged well. No blender drinks.

I don’t normally go to a lot of comedy clubs but I happened to get a free ticket and it turned out to be a fun and affordable evening out. The place is quite large and the waitresses worked very efficiently to take all the orders and serve food. I had the vegetarian lasagna and it was quite good. As for the comedy the first couple on this night were not that funny but it improved a lot with the last few. As stated before there is a bar downstairs with pool tables you can go to hang out afterwards.

Warning: I would advise never book a group here. It’s not worth the harassment and treatment you receive.
I booked a group of 14 to go, with 8 of those having dinner. I spoke with Jeff a few times during the week to make sure the reservations were running smooth. I provided my credit card number to hold it and kept in contact.
Two friends also reserved but they were also added to the booking I did. I spoke with them, and felt assured all was well.
20 minutes before the show, I was advised by friends they weren’t going to make it. I advised Jason (the owner) and paid the $ 30 to cover the two that didn’t show up.
Later that night, a friend got a call saying she never showed for her reservation. They called at 10:45 and said her credit card was being billed for it. She was there, with another friend, and had enjoyed the night with me and my party.
Someone didn’t cross off her reservation, and added hers to mine, so it was double booked.
Jason’s response was to treat her like a criminal, or perhaps a debt collector and scolded HER for not cancelling her original reservation.
When I called to clear up the matter and explain that I’d been coordinating with Jeff, Jason’s response was to give me the same scolding as he gave her, and to hang up on me.
I contacted Jeff to see if I could clear with someone more level headed, but since Jason’s the owner, his hands are tied. Free passes were offered, but why would I want to go back?
I dropped $ 100 downstairs in drinks, food, and show, and another $ 50 upstairs and that’s just me… I had 13 other people with me.
I want to believe this is a one off situation, but when I paid for the two no-​shows at the club I witnessed Jason going after a young woman who apparently had two people in her group who were there but didn’t pay and I saw him tell her she needed to go ask them to be honest and fess up and pay.
The comedians were great, the staff were great, but the customer service and his treatment are inexcusable.
Unfortunate because this could be a really great spot.

A friend of mine won some free tickets to Absolute Comedy and I joined him last night. I was pleasantly surprised at how funny all the comedians were! The headliner improv-​d almost his entire bit, just feeding off people in the audience, a truly effortlessly funny human being. The service was excellent, the drinks were delicious, and the food was quick! I’ve been to other comedy clubs including ones in NYC, but last night I was crying because of how hard I was laughing. I would definitely recommend Absolute Comedy to anybody in the Ottawa area looking for comedy.

4.5÷5
Outside of the comedy itself, I find that I’m always very impressed by how Absolute Comedy runs things. I’ve been here maybe two or three times, and it’s consistently been a very smooth experience — and a lot of fun.
As per other reviews, it is a good idea to have a reservation and to arrive early, but coming here last week for Open Mic Mondays ($ 4), a group of us came in right at 8:30PM with no reservations and they were still able to sit us at the rear. One of the comedians performing that night actually showed us in, with a candle no less, and a friendly reminder to turn off our cellphones.
A server came shortly after to take our beer orders. We had a pitcher, and with that you get some plain tortilla nacho chips and salsa for free. The emcee warmed the crowd up with some dead baby jokes, and it seemed like it was going to be a good night based on the reception (i.e. the two tables of twenty in the middle have been drinking enough to laugh at just about anything… and it’s contagious).
All the comedians that followed were similarly funny, although maybe one or two had fewer laughs than the others. Nice to see some familiar faces and hear familiar jokes (from the last time I was there) as well. Although if anybody else was there last week — raise your hands if you didn’t think the rape jokes were funny…
(That’s about my only gripe.)
Anyway, service is fantastic, and place is always packed (which is great). When the emcee closes the show, all the servers come out with everybody’s bills so they can be settled. It’s like it’s choreographed!
My only tip maybe is to not sit out front if you don’t want a lot of attention. And don’t wait until the very end for washrooms… you might wait a while!

Brought in the New Year at Absolute, and it was… okay. They got me, the honey wings got me bad… Remember Xenical? Its that weight loss pill that fat people took to block all the fat that they ate. The side effects were explosive, oily farts. I feel like they made these wings with Xenical seasoning. The waiter was nice even though he threw garbage at us. What happened was, as he passed us, my friend shouted, «Nice show pretty boy!» and then a crumpled up ball of paper came at us. The garbage hit my friend on the right temple and ricocheted striking my sister between the third and fourth rib causing her to drop her party hat. My memory is a little hazy cuz of the drinks, and I watched a lot of Seinfeld that day, but I’m pretty sure that’s how it went down. Anyway, 4 stars!

I had a great time at Absolute Comedy last night. We went on a Tuesday night for a Unilocal event and were surprised that the place was absolutely packed. We didn’t have a reservation but they managed to squeeze us in anyways. The tickets were only $ 5.00 which was surprisingly little, so I was expecting the comedians to be decidedly average, or worse, but as it turned out the comedy was, for the most part, great! One guy was getting crickets but everyone else was really funny. The MC was great and really kept everyone laughing while the headliner was hilarious.
I didn’t have anything to eat, but the drink service was very good. With it being so packed I was expecting to have to wait a million years to get our drinks but they brought them quickly and the waiter was nice and polite. Prices for Beer (which we were drinking) were competitive with most other places in little Italy, however I can’t comment on the other drinks.
Overall, this was a great Tuesday night show. $ 5.00 for an hour and a half of great comedy is worth it in my books. Would definitely recommend this place for a group of people. But beware, it is very popular and reservations are (theoretically) required. I imagine that on a weekend there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell you will get in without one.

I caught the Tuesday night show as part of Andrea B’s CMYE. The cover was only $ 5, but CASH ONLY (There’s a dubiously-​helpful sign that says something like «ATM inside; ask us where!»)
Surprisingly, the place was PACKED. On a Tuesday. We didn’t make reservations — didn’t know they were required — but they managed to find us the very last open table, way in the back, off to the side. It actually wasn’t that bad, either! The waiter made sure we were good for drinks and the show started with Ward Anderson. He was apparently the emcee for the night, and introduced a variety of (I assume) local comics. In between the amateurs, he would tell a few jokes and keep the crowd warmed up between acts (some were better than others, while Ward did great throughout).
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Ottawan comedy… would it be filled with Canadianisms, like jokes about Tim Horton’s or Saskatchewan? (There were several Canadian jokes, but I think I got most of ‘em). I gotta say, it turned out pretty good. It seemed that the acts got better and better as the show went on (even the sober folks agreed!). Half a dozen comics took around an hour and a half. They even hung around after the show to meet the audience.
Hmmm… considering that this is a comedy club, my review is shockingly un-​funny. Let’s get some funny votes with a joke! Didja hear about the new pirate movie??? It’s rated «arrrrr!!» !!! Ok, ok, I know, I should leave it to the professionals. So if you want better jokes than mine, go check out the platypus-​themed Absolute Comedy!

Absolute Comedy is a good date-​night destination and a good place with to go with a group of friends or co-​workers. I highly recommend the pro-​am nights because you’re guaranteed a good laugh when the professionals take the stage and those amateurs just might surprise you. They always have a good emcee to keep the show flowing.
You have to call ahead to make a reservation and give a credit card number to hold your spot, but you can pay in cash at the window.
The place is cozy, to make sure everyone can enjoy the bits. The location in Little Italy is nice, there are plenty of place to enjoy a nice meal beforehand. They do serve dinner, but I haven’t tried it. I have enjoyed more than a few drinks and laughs here!

There’s a lot to love about Absolute. I took the boyfriend here for his birthday because he’s always raved about it, and I’d never been. Actually, I’d never been a comedy club at all. What can I say, I’m scared of getting made fun of. Must be a younger sibling thing! Anyway, I decided it was time to get over my fear of scary comedians and made reservations for dinner and a show. As Jeff mentioned, you need to give a credit card or deposit to hold your seat. We called the day of (it was a Saturday night) at around noon (show started at 7) and we got the last spot for dinner. So, if you’re looking for the dinner and show deal, save yourself a heart attack and call the day before.
Second heart attack — PARKING. There was literally none. We had to drive around Preston for 15 minutes until we found something several blocks away. It would be super awesome if we could get some more parking down there. Alas, this isn’t Absolute’s fault, so no hating on them.
The food was alright — it’s a buffet style with very homestyle food. There was lasagna, veggie pasta, salad fixings, roast beef, rice, potatoes and more. Our server was just fantastic and super friendly.
The bf loved his dinner (I was starving, so I can’t be sure it was as good as I remember), and we played a game of pool afterward. As we were leaving we ran into the lead comic (we didn’t know who it was at the time) who played pool after us. He was hilarious. My only real issue was the amount of time between dinner and the show. Maybe it’s a tactic to get you to buy more drinks, which we obviously did. Drinks were awesome and well-​priced.
BF drgged me to the very front row. Obviously. I was terrified, but the comedians were all super friendly and funny and didn’t make me feel awkward at all, haha Silly me!
The first act wasn’t bad — he was a local so I had to give him some support. He was kind of like your friend who makes a lot of awkward jokes. The emcee was HILARIOUS and so was the lead act. I honestly haven’t laughed that hard in ages! I love that this place is locally owned and they’re really supportive of the Ottawa community.
This was an amazing date night, and I think it would be great with a group of friends as well My tip? It gets SUPER hot in there (it’s really crowded on a Saturday night) and the bathrooms are really small. Just be prepared :)

We’ve been to Absolute Comedy more times than I can count, and we keep going back because the comics are hilarious, the price is right, and the night is always fun.
It’s in a great location, surrounded by great restaurants and bars. I’d chose this comedy club over any in the city.

This is a first rate local business and THE Ottawa comedy club.
Absolute Comedy is located in the Little Italy, on Preston Street between Carling and the Queensway. Street parking in the immediate area is available, but with few vacancies.
There has always been a lineup out the door, for weekend shows. The wait has been long enough to make me antsy that someone took my conditional seating. A credit card or deposit is usually required to hold and guarantee your reservation.
Absolute Comedy recommends arriving at least 40 minutes prior to showtime. My wife and I were told we would lose our reservation & seating priority, if we arrived less than 15 minutes prior to the showtime.
Only cash is accepted at the Box Office.
The showroom features crowded but intimate seating. They serve the usual pub grub.
My experience has been that the acts get progressively better, as does the emcee.
This is one of my favourite destinations for a fun night out.

If you like comedy, make time to go to this place. I was only in Ottawa for a few days and wanted something to do on a Monday night and I stumbled across this place. Monday nights are «open-​mic» nights and the cover was only $ 4 so I was a little skeptical but it turned out to be such a good show! There were about 8 different comedians that had about a 7 – 8 minute set each and they were all pretty good (except the 1^st guy — he was absolutely AWFUL and I questioned how the other acts would be but it definitely got better as the night went on…). We had to actually call to make reservations since the place only seems to hold about 50 people but it was worth it! I can’t imagine how good it must be on a regular night if open-​mic night was this good. I HIGHLY suggest it. 2 thumbs way up (wish I had another thumb so I could give another one for the awesome price of $ 4!!!)
Go. To. This. Comedy. Club.
Seriously…it’s worth it.

I took my girlfriend here and it was definitely high-​quality in all respects. The comedians, especially the host and headliner, were great. There were three acts in total, plus the host.
As mentioned, the sightlines are great, its wide around the stage, and the seats are close together, making everyone feel close to the stage, and maximizing the atmosphere. While the seats are a bit too snug, its not to the point where its uncomfortable; its well worth it.
While we didn’t order food, and just had drinks, it looked and smelled really good; with the wings in particular looking scintilating. The servers are quick, energetic, and friendly. A lot of them joke around with the regulars. My view was only blocked once or twice, and it was only because they were directing a customer to their seat.
Reservations are key; especially on friday and saturday nights. They have an organized system that corresponds your reservation number with your seat.
All in all, can’t complain at all about Absolute Comedy, always good for a fun time!

This is the club that has become the flagship for all independently run clubs in North America. Comics from all across Canada and the US have come to recognize that Absolute Comedy in Ottawa is one of the best clubs in the continent.
The design of the club shows that the team that put this club together knew about comedy and how to make an audience happy. The showroom is upstairs, leaving the downstairs bar available for pre-​show dinner buffets, free pool and shuffleboard, and on truly busy nights, available to house a second show where the acts run downstairs and perform for the overflow crowd below.
The main showroom has no obstructions, clear sightlines from every angle, and seating that has everyone in together close and tight to produce the best atmosphere for the crowd and comics alike. The servers are spectacularly trained to be able to swoop in, take orders, and drop off food and drinks in a manner that so does not interrupt the show that ninjas and Navy Seals would be envious. All this and the food served is some of the best I’ve ever tasted in a comedy club. It sounds like a back-​handed compliment like saying you’re the best public speaker in Flin-​Flon, but it does stand out from other pubs and restaurants.
If you haven’t figured out by now, reservations are a complete must.