Restaurant

The Bad Alibi

Name: The Bad Alibi
Address: 5935 Jeanne D'Arc Blvd S, Orléans, ON, K1C 2N1, CA
Telephone: (613) 424-7000
Price range: value

Contemporary•Orleans•value

The Bad Alibi is one of the best contemporary restaurants in Ottawa for group dinner, especially if you want a strong option in Orleans.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

The Bad Alibi opened in June 2021 when industry veterans Matt Lewis and Jason Morris built something deliberately for Orleans rather than exporting a downtown concept east when rents got uncomfortable. The room on Jeanne D'Arc leans into a prohibition-era aesthetic — salvaged windows reportedly sourced from actual crime scenes hung on the walls — which sounds like a gimmick on paper but, by all accounts, lands as genuine commitment rather than costume. The pricing, the sourcing, and the general lack of attitude all reinforce the same idea: this was designed for the neighbourhood, not pitched at it. The kitchen's reputation centers on a Fish & Chips that gives you a choice between classic beer batter and a gluten-free dill pickle dredge — and the dill pickle version is consistently described as the more interesting of the two, not the accommodation. The House Smoked Salmon Board is house-smoked (a distinction worth making, given how much smoked salmon menus just mean thin-sliced packaged fish on a plank): flaked salmon arrives alongside bacon jam, fried capers, pickled onions, lemon dill cream cheese, and a garlic loaf, all for $24. Local meats come from Lavergne Meat & Deli, the pickled vegetables are made in-house, and the kitchen runs a house condiment called Matty's "Do the Dance Sauce" that apparently evolves based on patron feedback, which is either charming or deranged depending on your tolerance for that kind of thing. The Bacon-Chicken Carbonara has a following among regulars and is worth confirming with your server on any given visit. The gluten-free program here is reportedly legitimate — dedicated fryer, dedicated toaster, no cross-contamination theatre — which should move it near the top of the list for any table where that matters. The salmon board is designed to share; the fish and chips are the main event.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Ottawa guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Group DinnerCheap EatsOrleans dinner family dinner takeout easygoinglocal

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 8.4/10

Rating (Google) 9.4

1,456 reviews

Ottawa

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.4/10

Taste Score

Google 9.4 from 1,456 reviews

Best for

Group Dinner and Cheap Eats

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Orleans | 5935 Jeanne D'Arc Blvd S, Orléans, ON K1C 2N1, Canada

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.4/10

Phone

(613) 424-7000

Inside the restaurant

Photos of The Bad Alibi

1 photo

What to order

Signature dishes at The Bad Alibi

House Smoked Salmon Board

Fish & Chips (dill pickle dredge)

Bacon-Chicken Carbonara

Why go

What makes The Bad Alibi worth the move

The Bad Alibi is a reliable contemporary choice in Orleans in Ottawa when you want something that tends to land well. House Smoked Salmon Board and Fish & Chips (dill pickle dredge) also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 1,456 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.4 from 1,456 Google reviews

Best for

Group Dinner and Cheap Eats

Style

Contemporary in Orleans

Spend

Good value

Best for

Group Dinner Cheap Eats Orleans dinner family dinner takeout easygoing local

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.4 from 1,456 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: House Smoked Salmon Board, Fish & Chips (dill pickle dredge), Bacon-Chicken Carbonara

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for The Bad Alibi

Google snapshot

9.4 from 1,456 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

Sandy Hill doesn't ask much of you, and neither does NOX — but that's the whole point.

Casual dinnerlunchtakeout

292 reviews

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Website Menu Rate

Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Directions

Address: 5935 Jeanne D'Arc Blvd S, Orléans, ON K1C 2N1, Canada
Phone: (613) 424-7000
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.4/10
Google rating: 9.4 (1,456 reviews)
Cuisine: Contemporary
Neighborhood: Orleans

Restaurants in Orleans

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does The Bad Alibi serve?

The Bad Alibi is a Contemporary restaurant located in Orleans, Ottawa. The Bad Alibi opened in June 2021 when industry veterans Matt Lewis and Jason Morris built something deliberately for Orleans rather than exporting a downtown concept east when rents got uncomfortable.

What is The Bad Alibi best for?

The Bad Alibi is best for group dinner, cheap eats, orleans dinner, family dinner, takeout, easygoing, local. The Bad Alibi is a reliable contemporary choice in Orleans in Ottawa when you want something that tends to land well. House Smoked Salmon Board and Fish & Chips (dill pickle dredge) also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 1,456 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at The Bad Alibi?

The Bad Alibi is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.4 from 1,456 reviews

What should I order at The Bad Alibi?

Start with House Smoked Salmon Board, Fish & Chips (dill pickle dredge) and Bacon-Chicken Carbonara. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is The Bad Alibi worth visiting?

The Bad Alibi holds a 9.4 Google rating from 1,456 reviews. The Bad Alibi is a reliable contemporary choice in Orleans in Ottawa when you want something that tends to land well. House Smoked Salmon Board and Fish & Chips (dill pickle dredge) also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 1,456 Google reviews.