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Chez Lucien
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
19 reviews for Chez Lucien
19 reviews in English
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Review from Samantha M.
Ottawa, ON
2/6/2012
This is a cool place. Every time I've gone it's been so busy there is a wait. I find the seating to be a bit cramped and I feel like this would be a terrible place to bring someone for a discussion over dinner... But somehow the times I was here it seemed like everyone kind of knew each other and were all friends, besides me and my boyfriend... Also kind of slowed the service down because everyone was yacking to the waitress. Also funny story: I met my boyfriend's mom for the first time here and we sat at a table at the top and could barely hear each other to begin with, and then a sax player randomly sat behind us and started playing.
Anyway, to get to the food. The fries are REALLY good, like up there with the best fries I've had... They also serve their burgers with a really good, fresh salad. The burgers were ok though... Nothing special, there's some interesting combinations, I've previously ordered the brie and pear one and the jalepeno cream cheese (I think) burger. I find the meat to be a bit dry and the burger might just be a bit bland, I would probably add mayo or something to them next time. But man, the sides are awesome enough to bring it up from 3 stars to 4.
Also, our table's menu was in French, my boyfriend doesn't speak any French so I had to sit there and translate everything for him. That was a bit annoying. The service here is bilingual I believe, so that's nice I guess... -
Review from Lynn C.
2/3/2012
Small hipster pub that's apparently known for its food. The burgers there are supposed to be really good (with pears) but the place is so crowded and hard to want to be inside. When you get in, the bar is right there, also where people are waiting for seats. There's almost no room to move and you keep hitting people in the head who are already seated. I had asked the server as soon as I got in how long it was going to be to get a seat and she had said not long at all, but it was quite a long wait.
I had the grilled New York steak with black pepper demi-glace. I asked for medium and it's hard to tell whether it was cooked to medium because even though it was pink in the centre, the steak was very jerky and not very flavourful.
They have menus in french and english, but only one menu per table, so if you only speak/read one of the two languages, you better hope you get seated at the right table. They're so busy that if you ask for the other one, you'll be forgotten.
Service was good though, no complaints. -
Review from Tara E.
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not bad pub food. I ordered the wings and the burger with pear. Both were decent, although neither was fantastic. Lots of selection of beer, and also had cider on tap!
The free juke box was really what sold me on this place. Great for hanging out. -
Review from Danielle F.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 5/6/2011
Chez Lucien is climbing up in my books! Better table, better service and better food than I've had before.
This time I got the chicken sandwich that came with roasted red pepper goat cheese, also accompanied with tomato and lettuce. The bun was great and toasted perfectly and the goat cheese spread was ample. Only thing was, the horizontally sliced chicken breast was quite over-cooked. It was a sad, oop-there-goes-a star moment.
But hello best of both worlds, fries AND salad on the side saves the day! The fries were shoestring cut, crisp, and seasoned perfectly. Enjoy with or without ketchup. The green salad was made with a mixed leaf combo, carrot and sprouts. A zippy garlic-y dressing accompanied to provide some freshness to a hefty portion of food.
Our server was ever-accommodating, quick when she needed to be and hilarious. At one point we saw her serve some beer to the table beside us, turn around discretely (well, not discretely enough I suppose) and toss back a shot she'd poured herself. When she met eyes with my friend who saw she just gave us a huge smile, shrugged and said, "One of those nights!". In no way did the alcohol affect her performance and it was a lot of fun to build a rapport with the staff throughout the night.
The great atmosphere and charming decor remains the same and we are grateful for it. It's great for ANY occasion so it seems.Listed in: O-Town Love
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/11/2010
Way to get my hopes up, Yelp people! I thought this experience would be ULTIMATE. I'd passed by the… Read more »
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Review from Coy W.
3/19/2011 8 Check-ins Here
I walked by this place many times not knowing that it was a cool little French bistro inside. Thankfully a friend of mine recommended this place and told me to walk to the bartender and put your name on the waiting list immediately.
I thought ok whatever, I can't see the place being busy as it's just a dingy little place from the outside. I was wrong! The place was packed with people standing all over the place waiting for a seat the first time I went. I recalled my instructions and went straight to the bartender and asked to be put on the waiting list. I was told it would be at least an hour and agreed.
Looking around, the place looks tiny but there is a basement and an elevated second floor were people can be seated. We placed an order with the bartender and they recommended me a beer that I had never tried called Blanche De Chamblay. Wow I was pretty much in love with this beer when I smelled it but it tastes even better. I ordered 2 more before I was seated.
About 45 minutes went by and we were seated and given our menus. I looked over the menu and realized I had a French one so I had to get an English one which our waitress promptly brought. Looking over my English menu I thought the prices looked pretty damn good for what you get.
I ended up ordering the escargot and the Chez Lucien burger. The escargot was delicious and I'm not really a fan, I figure I'd try it again since I haven't had any recently. When the Chez Lucien burger arrived I thought wow this could be the best $10 I spent this week! The platter came with a salad and fries. The dressing for the salad tasted similar to the garlic sauce you can find at some of the shawarma places around town. Yes it was delicious. The fries aren't bad either. The burger was very delicious and this was surprising as the burger is cooked well but is topped with cream cheese which gave the beef patty a lot of moisture. The combination was great!
I've been back many times and found out they have a daily special that ranges from lamb to steak and never over $20. I actually think that might be $15. I've since tried other burgers on the menu and stick to the Chez Lucien burger. The appetizers are pretty solid but I was really disappointed with the brunch I had at this place. I think it's because everything else I've had here I've enjoyed. The brunch was ok. Since I've enjoyed so much on their menu the brunch was a major let down. -
Review from Chris P.
Kingston, ON
7/28/2011
Arrived late at night (ok, 9:45) Kitchen open go for the Chez Lucien burger and Blanche De Chambly...or two.
From the outside it looks quiet and just the BAR neon light, but once inside the juke box playing good oldies and busy, but a few seats available and just all around comfy.
Will go back again for try more of the menu and enjoy the environment.
Service not super fast, but at the pace you want to drink at. -
Review from Andrew K.
Ottawa, ON
5/6/2011
Chez Lucien:
Useless service, pretty good music, not bad atmosphere, sometimes warmish beer, and decent burgers. Prices of food have recently skyrocketed- maybe Lucien needs a new car.
A good place, by the dismal standards of Ottawa's restaurants. -
Review from Ken C.
Ottawa, ON
11/23/2011
Certainly the best burgers I've ever had.
They use local beef as stated on a sign near the kitchen.
All their food is delicious. Beers sometimes may be a bit warm and the service may be slow(but friendly). The place is almost always full. There may be a short wait but it's well worth it.
The prices, when compared to others in the area, are reasonable. -
Review from Amanda D.
Ottawa, ON
10/20/2008
Chez Lucien is a pretty popular nook in the ByWard Market. It has great atmosphere, good food, a free jukebox, free jazz on Sundays and a great selection of beer, including local beer. It's a great place to go cozy up and talk with someone as you slowly sip on your drink, munch on your food and occasionally select music for the bar to hear as you sit in what looks like an older European bar.
On Ottawa XPress' Best of 2007 list, Chez Lucien received honourable mentions for Best Pub and Best Burger. -
Review from Amanda D.
Orleans, ON
5/13/2009
You could walk by this place a million times and never walk in. That's what I did. The place doesn't look like much on the outside. I read a review and decided to give it a try.....and I love this place!
They have a short menu- it's actually just a small card but everything I have had has been wonderful. I Usually go for the chicken sandwich with sundried tomato goat cheese sauce! The burgers are great too. The sandwiches are served with a salad with a nice garlic dressing and delicious fries. Dip the fries in the garlic sauce...yum! The prices are great! I believe it is under $10 for a meal.
The only minor complant that anyone may have is that there are long waits and few staff. My answer to that..make reservations or avoid peak times but they have a great beer menu. So have a beer or 2 and relax b/c the food is worth it! -
Review from Darren M.
Ottawa, ON
10/22/2010
It's not quite as much of a haven for the Ottawa hipsters as The Manx but there's no shortage of them but there's also a real diverse crowd of people.
The upstairs area can get extremely loud and you'll probably find yourself waiting for a table no matter where you try to sit as it's a small yet very popular hang out.
Service is decent and the food is huge portions and there's nothing to complain about. I wouldn't suggest bringing a large group here as it's quite crammed.
Probably the most intriguing part of Chez Lucien is when you first discover it and wonder where it was all this time -- oh right it's pretty much hidden! -
Review from Vanessa G.
Gatineau, QC
10/15/2008 1 photo
Right, how to say this.... Let me start by saying that I really liked this place.
It's got a cool French bistro type of ambiance. The owner is often around chatting with patrons. The food is simple, good and affordable. It's a little off the beaten path (located on the King Edward St end of Murray St near some divey types of places) but it's always packed- with mostly the after work crowd and local residents.
Sounds good so far, but I had an experience that was so off putting that I don't think I would go back. My hubbie and I decided to go there for drinks and a bite to eat one night. It was busy so we were seated at the bar but it's a casual place so no biggie. Anyway, just as we were about to tuck into our food, an extremely drunk man rocked up to the bar and decided to strike up a conversation with us. He was far past the point of realizing that the conversation was pretty much one-sided and proceeded to slur out story after story all the while hovering over and showering us with what you can imagine was less than appetizing breath!
The barman saw what was going on but didn't say a word to him. The drunk then proceeded to verbally attack the barman and even went so far as to threaten to kill him. God only knows what the history there was but even after their heated exchange the drunk was not asked to leave!
Thank god after a pit stop to the mensroom he decided to leave on his own but not before ruining a perfectly good meal. -
Review from Gary C.
Gatineau, QC
8/12/2011
Went in for a quick drink late on a thursday night. The place was fairly busy and I was greeted by friendly staff and served promptly.
I couldn't say about the food because I didn't eat anything. My impression overall is pretty good for a little kind of neighbourhood bar with probably a fair amount of regulars because of friendly types hanging around and friendly staff.
Prices are average for the area although it's a notch down off the so called trendy crowds of the other side of dalhousie along clarence st. And the rest. (I say this because Chez Lucien is located on the east side of dalhousie st. By about 100 feet, and is thereoff, technically speaking "out of the square" of the trendy clubs that make up the by-ward zone)
The people in there also, are not very prissy like some of these " my s****t don't stink" kind who show off in some of those other clubs in the area, but are a lot more down to earth and seem much nicer to talk to.
This goes for the staff as well !
I give it a 3 stars only because it was my first visit and I couldn't really honestly rate it any higher without really having tried the food. So I plan on doing this some time soon and can reajust this rating after having done so.
I will say this though, I give them an A for friendlyness and good service as far as I'm concerned and I will certainly give them another shot to try the food which I heard can be pretty good on a good day. -
Review from Tim C.
Ottawa, ON
Updated - 11/26/2011
Food is great as always but have a backup in mind in case the wait is too long. There's ALWAYS a wait, and always too few employees.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/5/2010
Go, have a burger or veg chili. Pick a beer. Leave full and satisfied. Cool atmosphere -… Read more »
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Review from Christopher B.
Ottawa, ON
2/4/2011
Great Atmosphere and very friendly staff. I would Definitely recommend the Salmon Burger for a great meal. Only drawback was that the service was a little bit slow.
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Review from Out of Towner R.
Kenora, ON
2/1/2010
Great atmosphere with mixed crowd - students, locals and older adults 55+. We sat at the bar because there were no tables available and it was comfortable. Like another reviewer - highly recommend fry dipping into the garlicky house dressing YUM. Our burgers were ok but nothing spectacular even though I had the brie and pear burger. The beef patties were dry and tasteless.
Would however give it a try again when next in Ottawa -
Review from Jayne V.
Ottawa, ON
9/6/2011
We were so disappointed. I've been wanting to try this place for years but kept forgetting to check it out. Now I can cross it off my list and never return. Service was slow & burgers were just okay. I've had better many times. Nothing special here.
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Review from Spike D.
5/27/2010
The other reviewers pretty much sum it up but here is a short course for getting the most out of Chez Luicen. Go towards, but not into, the dodgy part of the market and look for a small neon BAR sign over the door of an old stone building. Unless you love crowds, don't go during peak hours. Tuesday lunch would be an ideal time to check this place out -- or one of those days when you have the afternoon off but nobody else does.
At the bar you'll see the regulars: bikers discussing Proust; law students just barely holding it together during exam season; and elderly, impeccably coiffed women sipping white wine. Order a pint of blanche de chambly - it's a citrusy Quebec brew that CL has on tap. Admire the collection of armadillos and Habs memrobilia behind the bar and then go check out the jukebox. It's free but it's only stocked with music 'Lucien(?)' likes - an eclectic mix of Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Edith Piaf and who knows what? Don't ask for a menu. That's it on the little tent card on the table - eight items or so plus a few daily specials on the blackboard near the jukebox. Order whatever you think looks good. It will be good. The burger topping combinations work surprisingly well - I'm a Frieda and Deigo fan myself. Best of all they don't ask if you want fries or salad - they automatically bring you both plus lots of condiments for dipping.
Service is friendly and as quick and attentive as the crowd permits.
Out-of-Towner R, I totally agree with your assessement about a slight dryness to the burger patties but you have to know this is a Canadian thing. The federal food police watch grills across the country to ensure that every patty reaches a high enough internal temperature to extract all of the juice and most of the flavour. (This is why Canadians are so shocked when we order a burger in the US and they ask us how we want it done. There are choices??)
I've never had the desserts at CL but I have been known to have a second chambly, which inevitably leads to discussions about Proust with bikers and more Johnny Cash on the jukebox. Just go!Listed in: Guilty Pleasures - Ottawa
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Review from Hintonburg R.
Ottawa, ON
7/15/2009
Great burgers. Great ambience. And a place to have a good beer that isn't an Irish or British pub. Not that I have anything against those types of pubs, just refreshing to see something different.
