Lago Bar & Grill

The cocktails are to die for, hence the name of Bar & Grill.
I absolutely loved the strawberry Bellini.
Grills were not available on Valentine’s Day.
The New York style fixed menu for Valentine’s Day was very good and tasty and a very good price but a little bit on the acidic side and the only thing one does not want on Valentine is to have sores in the mouth! There is no possibility of kissing afterwards. Do not get me wrong, the food was VERY good and the presentation was great but a little bit «biting» on those taste buds. The vegetarian options were too spicy and hot.
Maybe for next Valentine Day the chef will consider more mellow, velvety, soothing «lovers food». Also, a mellow, neutral vegetarian version would be very appreciated, with only three courses (soup/​entre/​desert) and a lower price.
We appreciated that we could take the kids with us and order kids food for them.
We also appreciated the youthful, elegantly casual atmosphere, the friendly but polite and timely table waiting and we will certainly return to LAGO for dining and wining on regular evenings and for celebrations and holidays.
We were discussing about the possibility of returning for the NewYear Eve party. I would prefer a more neutral, mellow but still gourmet menu that would help me have a few more of those wonderful Bellinis! If they add a Flirtini on that Cocktail list I am hooked!
Good job.
Overall a very good experience!
On the low note… sorry…#1.I am very sensitive to the quality of the ladies bathroom, wherever I go… and this one seemed to be abandoned. Toilet paper missing from some cabins… A little note to use the air hand drier would have saved my insistent pushing on the paper towel dispenser that was empty.
#2.A sort of partition to hide the unoccupied area of the restaurant or a way of arranging those emply tables would be more appealing and attractive… but this is just «cosmetics» .we were more than fine because the kids had a lot of room to play! And we could even dance if we had inviting music.
Maybe a designer would be able to help with a way to make the restaurant feel more intimate even when is not completely full. But this is not a big deal!
People, go to LAGO and enjoy!

This place is awesome! Never been there for regular dining but my wife and I had our Wedding reception there. Everything from the extremely helpful and tentative staff, to the Super Delicious food (the Brie Mashed Potatoes trumped everything), to the months prepping for the event, it was definitely a pleasant experience.
They really made our experience easy and beautiful!

One star for host who would not let us dine because we did not have a reservation NOT to mention the restaurant was 90% empty at 6:15pm on Friday. Unbelievable to turn away 2 folks who drove 20 miles to this place. What a disappointment!

Walking into the dining room, on the ground floor of Dow’s Lake Pavilion, one can be forgiven for thinking that you are the unfashionably-​early, first-​guest at a wedding. The place was empty and there were only 4 other guests for the entire time we were there. The décor and layout does suggest that they are expecting a bridal party anytime soon and being shown to our table by Rembrandt, our server for the night, we passed a DJ mixing desk and turntable which only added to the sense that we had forgotten our wedding gift and needed to run out to buy one in nearby Little Italy, quite apropos. Seated by the curved outer wall next to the window overlooking the lake, you do get a panoramic view of the lake and moored boats. Unfortunately the exterior screens could definitely do with a power-​wash as we spent the rest of the evening looking at a spider trying to make her way across the window to find her evening meal, as well as an assortment of other bugs. Oh well, minor details. We did get to see a family of four in one of those gawd-​awful pedalos gamely trying to have fun, dad peddling like crazy, mom trying to keep up with him, the pre-​teens in the back just wishing they had control of the pedals with a «oh god, why are we here» look upon their faces. We saw them later exchanging the boat for canoes, a more sensible choice.
Rembrandt bought the menus over quickly and we ordered a cocktail, each, I had a moscow mule with some really good local ginger beer, and my companion a pink lemonade. We chose pan-​seared scallops and a goat cheese salad as our starters and a beer-​braised pork belly and veal escalope as mains. He dispatched to the kitchen and then returned with fresh bread and a trio of flavoured butters to choose from, a sundried tomato one, basil and herb, and one other I forget what at this point.
The appetizers came. Wow. I love scallops and the treatment of these little molluscs was very original. Pan seared and with a honey-​granola sprinkling to give the dish some bite and texture contrast, with a balsamic splash and served on a bed of roasted celery root purée. Superb taste and presentation. The goat cheese salad had chunks of smoked bacon, with a sweet vinaigrette served oven a bed of mixed field greens which elevated it out of the realms of ordinary salad.
My beer-​braised pork belly came and goodness, it must have been half the pigs belly it was huge! Nestled on a bed of decadently creamy roasted onion mashed potatoes (which were some of the best ever restaurant mashed I have had) and topped with braised red cabbage and apple slaw, the flavour profile and combination was so heavenly. The salty fatty unctuousness of the pork belly with the sweet-​acidic-​syrupyness of the slaw was a marriage made in heaven. The side of al-​dente whole carrots and un-​topped-​and-​tailed french beans were a perfect addition too, a nice touch to the fine details. The thick veal chop-​escalope (it was somewhere in between, a nice thick meaty piece of protein) was skillet roasted with a chanterelle mushroom cream sauce with a balsamic reduction, also served with the amazing mash and veggies. Nothing was overly fatty or oily even though there is a liberal use of cream and butter; the chef has the balance just right. Perhaps the pork belly was a little too large as I was truly full when I had finished it but, heck, I am sure another could eat that size with no problem.
My companion and I are not desert eaters really so we chose the cheese plate as an after. I am happy to see the cheese plate making a comeback in restaurants. We have so many great cheeses in this area with the Quebec influence that it is a welcome prodigal’s return to the dining tables of the region. We had three cheeses: Le Cru de Clocher which is an excellent raw-​milk cheddar from Abitibi-​Temiscamingue with a creamy texture and medium strong taste; Le Douanier from Noyan, QC is a semi-​soft cheese with a signature line of ash through its centre and a mild-​oaky-​fruity flavour and a local brie. It is great to see raw-​milk cheeses on the menu. The plate was served with a selection of crackers and a made in-​house strawberry preserve and a whole grain mustard for contrast. Excellent. Again, attention to detail.
And, I am SO glad to see the chef has a caveat on the menu stating «We do not recommend meats and fish ordered well done» Sweet! If I was a chef I would refuse to serve anyone who orders any protein well done and direct them to another establishment.
A fantastic meal, we walked out of there very happy and content and full. Service was top-​notch, friendly and funny too. Rembrandt is not only the server but the manager of the complex too, with the upstairs restaurant under his belt.
Now, if only they could do something about that spider we had a birds-​eye view of…

Food was fantastic; venue was meh.
The very good: The food was fantastic. The chef outdid himself. Our waiter was amazing too and really brought his A game. We went with a Groupon that gave us 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts (& 2 coffees) and a bottle of wine (or sangria). We did what all smart people do and ordered multiple menu choices in order to maximize our palates. We were not disappointed. Bravo to chef Jason Low.
The really good: The wine options were very generous. We picked a red that the waiter recommended. It really did go with our meal choices. Our meals were artistically presented and really provided the perfect amount to enjoy. Portions were well thought out: this is quality, not quantity. Desserts were fantastic too.
The not so good: I now know what it feels like to be at a baseball game when there are only a few fans present in a 48,000 seat stadium. You would think that having a panoramic view of Dow’s Lake would put this venue into the category of «wow» and it should, but the empty space in the middle of the restaurant made me feel like I was intruding on a wedding or bar mitzvah party. The bright lights cast down on the table also made me feel like I was being interrogated. It would have been great if they could somehow dim the lights a little bit.
Lago is on the ground level and easy accessible to all. Parking is across the street and I believe that the restaurant will stamp your parking ticket to ensure that your departure out of the lot is free and stress free.

We held a reception at Lago and the event was spectacular. I had never been here before but the view from the lower level, looking out over Dow’s Lake was simply beautiful, peaceful yet full of activity and fun.
The staff was amazingly well-​timed, delivering amazing food almost simultaneously for the 120+ guests. The staff were friendly and the owner was on hand at the beginning and the end of the evening, ensuring everyone had a great time. (wish we could do four and a half stars)
I look forward to visiting for dinner.

Ok so went to Lago last night with some friends who had an amazing Groupon for here that was for dinner for 4. Wine, apps, entré and dessert included — sounded awesome.
My first impression was — is this place even open? It was very empty, I know it is fabulous for special events — it is a great space — but for dinner — it was very — well in a word — ODD.
It felt like we were intruding on staff that were hanging out. Don’t get me wrong — the food was fantastic — but as we all know the food isn’t everything. The atmosphere was horrible — although the view of the canal was pretty, the room itself was cold and uninviting with so many tables put away and chairs lined up against every surface — there were like 6 tables out and set and that’s it. It was very strange. — 1 star
We had a lovely host, however when he said he was sending our server we wondered where from since it took a very long time for a waiter to appear — to the point where it was very awkward. –1 star.
However, once the waiter came and things got rolling we had a fabulous time — the food was excellent — I had the scallops, the arctic char, and the sour cherry cheese cake which was phenomenal. I did like our waiter, however the wine selection was a little lack luster.
Will we go back — I don’t know. I won’t be rushing there anyway.

I attended the «Bash En Blanc» party on Friday June 20, 2014 at Lago’s Bar and Grill. I remember back in the day, I use to go clubbing here with my friends on Saturday nights. This place is so spacious with 2 bars and a massive dance floor.
This was the first time I have ever attended a Bash En Blanc party. It’s a charity party to help raise money for a snowsuit fund. Everyone wears white and parties until you can’t party no more or when the bar closes (i.e. 2am). Tickets are pretty expensive, starting at $ 75 per ticket but it’s for charity. It would have been nice if they gave us a tax receipt but it’s not a recognized charity from the Canada Revenue Agency.
They featured 2 hip hop violinists; one was from America’s Got Talent and another from Ottawa! Their performance was unbelievable. I wish I could post a video on here because then you could see how amazing they were. On top of that, they had a cheer squad performing, models in Victoria’s Secret lingerie, and they were giving out free beer!!! Chris Phillips and Marc Methot from the Ottawa Senators were there as well. Check out the pictures ;)
Overall, I would totally recommend going next year. The 2 hip hop violinists were worth the price of admission and everything else was just icing on the cake!

I just recently coordinated a wedding at Lago, I was so impressed with the staff and services provided!
From the first meeting to the tear down, they were absolutely great!
The venue itself was beautiful, we were on the bottom level at Lago, on the water, it was picture perfect. They were incredibly professional and super helpful all throughout the day and during the wedding itself.
They did all the set up, to our specifications exactly. They went out of their way to make sure everything we asked for was done and were on top of the entire evening.
Loved it. I highly recommend Lago!

From an event planning perspective Lago’s service is unparalleled. The staff here are amazing — kinda, funny, thoughtful and attentive. The venue itself is lovely, even during the winter when the magnificent views of the river are limited.
Weddings can be the epitome of stress. Every bride wants perfection, and undoubtedly something always seems to go wrong. Emotions are high, mother-​in-​laws are in town and let’s be real — trusting someone with your big day (and your big dollars) can be mighty scary. The staff at Lago do a fantastic job of calming these fears.
Working as part of a wedding coordinator duo, my partner and I were unsure of what to expect when we met with the folks at Lago to iron out the details of a New Year’s Eve wedding. After meeting with Gyneya (an absolute doll who knows her business inside out and sideways) we were pretty sure the event would go off without a hitch. Her suggestions were perfect and she took charge perfectly and efficiently.
Since Gyneya was such a delight we full expected to be in good hands. What we didn’t expect was the amazing amount of support, enthusiasm and commitment that the entire team at Lago showed from start to finish. The minute we were there to set up their coordinator Jen was in total control and understood perfectly what we needed help with. The remaining staff (big shout out to Chris, Elliot and Vanessa) went above and beyond to make sure every bite of food was superbe and every balloon was perfectly positioned. Chris even ran across the street to make sure my parking was validated!
I got the chance to sample some of their food throughout the long day of prep work. The kitchen was only serving chicken fingers and fries around 3, so we gladly ordered some. The fries were similar to MacDonalds (and I mean that in the BEST way), but they were even better. The chicken fingers were a bit on the spicy side but I loved them. We joined the wedding party for a bite to eat and I ordered an amazing warm spinach salad that was sublime. I also sampled the brie with blueberries which might have been the highlight of the menu.
I didn’t get a chance to sample much more of the food throughout the evening, but let me just inform you that Lago has a TON of food options for events. They did pass hors d’oeuvres and also had several food stations (a meat carving station, pasta station, stir fry station, pizza station) and other sit-​down meal options as well.
The venue is beautiful and has a ton of room, however it can be partitioned off as well. I highly recommend checking out this awesome space for your next event. Not only will you be treated like gold, your guests will definitely feel special and enjoy the food, service and ambience of this lovely venue. Thanks for an amazing wedding all!
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I love Lago., maybe its all the good memories of times with my special some-​one and good friends, maybe its the gorgeous interior design concepts, or could it be the awesome staff, no it’s the location and the food.
I admit my relationship with Lago has been something of a fairy-​tale, every time I have gone there I have had an almost impossibly good time. The first time I went was for a special event 25 and over night-​club type of party. As I was a guest of one of the promoters the «good life» was experienced to it’s fullest. The second visit was in the upstairs venue for a sort of «Stag and Doe» party, it was dope. Spent good times with friends who I hadn’t seen in some time and danced a bit with my beautiful fiancé. the place is beautiful, the service was prompt, the drinks were mixed well.
My most recent time at Lago was for a wedding. The buffet the kitchen pumped out was good, thats the only time I have eaten there. Understanding the delicate balance one must strike to serve up a good hot buffet, I was very pleased with the experience. The roasted chicken breast was so good for a buffet, cooked just right still succulent and juicy but not undercooked. Salads, scalloped potatoes, pasta, it was all good. And the cheesecake, not sure if it was done in house, but if it was DAMN! The place was packed and it seemed almost crowded at one point which is not to fault Lago at all. I recommend it as an event venue and can’t wait to go back!

I was at Lago for a wedding and wow the location is gorgeous! I did not know that Lago had a private room upstairs that it owned on top of the restaurant and bar downstairs.
The place has changed a lot since it was a night club on weekends and mainly handles dining now and private events. The restaurant space is very nice with a summer patio. We had a lot of appetizers during the wedding which was catered by Lago and they had some hits and some misses. The staff were extremely friendly and fun for this event.
The dining was nice as well but the view over the canal and the trees were absolutely gorgeous from the second story in the fall. I’d say this might be a solid date spot for the view alone but I haven’t tried anything from their regular dining menu in a long time!
If you come here you will park across the street but they do validate your parking at the restaurant.

I finally came back for their food! And I was not disappointed.
It was actually for a work party, so there was a set menu. They gave three choices for your appetizer — maple salad with apples, wild mushroom and bacon chowder with truffle, or arugula salad with homemade ricotta cheese, grapefruit, and pistachios. There were also three choices for entrees — chicken breast with ratatouille, a 12oz Angus striploin with mushrooms, or maple marinated salmon. All of the dishes also game with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The dessert was cheesecake with berry sauce.
I chose the wild mushroom and bacon chowder for my appetizer, and the steak for my entrée. The chowder was fantastic! On the menu, it said it was «Creamy wild mushroom and European bacon chowder with chive oil and black truffle crème fraîche», and you know what? That’s exactly what it was. It was creamy but not too thick, and you could really taste the bacon and truffle. There were also plenty of mushrooms, but they were sliced thin. My boyfriend even had a taste and he was a huge fan, even though he doesn’t like mushrooms!
All of the steaks were cooked medium, which I was a little disappointed with, only because I like my steak rare to medium rare. It was pretty flavorful, though, and quite filling. It’s funny because I’m usually a big steak eater, but I was more into the mashed potatoes, which were garlicky and «dirty» mashed with the skin. Incredibly tasty.
The cheesecake was pretty standard, but I really liked their crust. It had crushed almonds in it, which was very good. I knew there were almonds because I could taste them and I bit into a couple slivers that weren’t totally crushed. Don’t get me wrong — I love almonds. People at the party that are allergic to nuts? Not so much. Lago probably should have warned them or something, but thankfully, the allergies weren’t serious.

Lago is a premium night spot in the city, it is a dazzling location that is set right along the beautiful Dow’s Lake and the Rideau Canal.
Its ideal for the summer time because of its really large patio, overlooking the water. It’s a huge facility in itself, as it also has a banquet hall inside.
The atmosphere is ok, though a bit dull and pretentious. The music varies depending on the night and the DJ, though I’ve only been here twice. A lot of weddings and private parties are booked here as well.