Restaurant

Benny's Bistro

Name: Benny's Bistro
Address: 119 Murray St, Ottawa, ON, K1N 5M5, CA
Telephone: (613) 789-6797
Price range: moderate

French•Ottawa•moderate

Benny's Bistro is one of the best french restaurants in Ottawa for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Ottawa.

Benny's Bistro, tucked behind a bakery in Ottawa's Byward Market, operates on a kind of quiet confidence that larger rooms rarely manage.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Benny's Bistro, tucked behind a bakery in Ottawa's Byward Market, operates on a kind of quiet confidence that larger rooms rarely manage. The space is deliberately intimate — thirty seats, no windows, local art on the walls, and an open kitchen where the conversation between cook and customer is apparently part of the design. It runs Tuesday through Friday for breakfast and lunch, and Saturdays for brunch only, and that limited frame seems intentional: this is a room that has decided exactly what it is. Since reopening in 2023 after a three-year pandemic closure, it has slid back into Ottawa's dining consciousness with notable ease. Voir Ottawa has called it the best gourmet brunch in the city — praise that aligns with the consistency diners report, and with the presence of a sous-chef who has reportedly held this kitchen together. The menu centers on a small roster of dishes that regulars describe as precise without being fussy. The Yukon Gold Potato Gratin is built around maple-cured pork loin and a poached egg — a combination that diners consistently point to as the table anchor, the dish that sets the register for everything else. The French Toast is baguette-based, which distinguishes it structurally from the softer diner versions; almond oats and salted caramel are known to appear as accompaniments, sweetness kept in check. The Salmon Gravlax — fried egg, potatoes — reads on paper like a French-Canadian argument for what breakfast's upper limit should be, and by all accounts it holds that position. The room seats thirty, and the city is paying attention, so a reservation is not optional for Saturday brunch. Bookings come through the French Baker site. Walk-ins on weekends are a gamble not worth taking. The Yukon Gold Potato Gratin is the place to start; French Toast, shared, is reportedly the right way to finish.

Sophie Laurent, Food Editor

Methodology•Ottawa guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Date Night French bistro dinner romanticwarm

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 7.8/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

504 reviews

Ottawa

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

7.8/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 504 reviews

Best for

Date Night and dinner

Price and pace

moderate

Neighborhood

Ottawa | 119 Murray St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5M5, Canada

Price

moderate

Taste Score

7.8/10

Phone

(613) 789-6797

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Benny's Bistro

1 photo

What to order

Signature dishes at Benny's Bistro

Yukon Gold Potato Gratin

French Toast

Benny's Salmon Gravlax

warm lemon, caper & fingerling potato salad, informata olive tapenade, sunnyside egg

Why go

What makes Benny's Bistro worth the move

Benny's Bistro looks like a good night-out option in Ottawa because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Benny's Salmon Gravlax and C'est Bon Chèvre & Black Peppercorn Parfait also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 504 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 504 Google reviews

Best for

Date Night and dinner

Style

French in Ottawa

Spend

moderate

Best for

Date Night French bistro dinner romantic warm

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 504 reviews

Price point: moderate

Popular dishes: Benny's Salmon Gravlax, C'est Bon Chèvre & Black Peppercorn Parfait, Roasted Mushrooms

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TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Sophie Laurent for Benny's Bistro

Google snapshot

9.2 from 504 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Sophie Laurent

Maria's Tacos is not a restaurant in any conventional sense — it's a window cut into the wall of Maverick's on Rideau Street, and that distinction is the whole point.

Tacoscasual nightgroup dinner

195 reviews

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Call Rate

Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 119 Murray St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5M5, Canada
Phone: (613) 789-6797
Price: moderate
TastyPals score: 7.8/10
Google rating: 9.2 (504 reviews)
Cuisine: French
Neighborhood: Ottawa

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Benny's Bistro serve?

Benny's Bistro is a French restaurant located in Ottawa, Ottawa. Benny's Bistro, tucked behind a bakery in Ottawa's Byward Market, operates on a kind of quiet confidence that larger rooms rarely manage.

What is Benny's Bistro best for?

Benny's Bistro is best for date night, french bistro, dinner, romantic, warm. Benny's Bistro looks like a good night-out option in Ottawa because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Benny's Salmon Gravlax and C'est Bon Chèvre & Black Peppercorn Parfait also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 504 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Benny's Bistro?

Benny's Bistro is in the moderate price range (moderate). Google rating: 9.2 from 504 reviews

What should I order at Benny's Bistro?

Start with Yukon Gold Potato Gratin, French Toast and Benny's Salmon Gravlax. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Benny's Bistro worth visiting?

Benny's Bistro holds a 9.2 Google rating from 504 reviews. Benny's Bistro looks like a good night-out option in Ottawa because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Benny's Salmon Gravlax and C'est Bon Chèvre & Black Peppercorn Parfait also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 504 Google reviews.

Where is Benny's Bistro located?

Benny's Bistro is located at 119 Murray St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5M5, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is Benny's Bistro good for a date night?

Yes — Benny's Bistro is tagged for date night dining. Benny's Bistro looks like a good night-out option in Ottawa because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Benny's Salmon Gravlax and C'est Bon Chèvre & Black Peppercorn Parfait also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 504 Google reviews.

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