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Johnny Farina Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
216 Elgin StOttawa, ON K2P 1L7
(613) 565-5155
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
16 reviews for Johnny Farina Restaurant
16 reviews in English
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Review from Ram K.
4/10/2012
Nice trendy place in the Centertown/Downtown Ottawa area.
I liked the bar and the service area both. Drinks are decently priced but the food seems to be little pricey. Bartenders were super friendly.I liked their Pasta selection, Calamari and their Tiramasu is THE BEST I had.
YOU GUYS MAKE SUPER GOOD TIRAMASU. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Pizza and service were quite average, but fine for a family. I was a bit turned off at first as they seated only half our party while we looked longingly at the big empty table next to it. We were expected to seat ourselves once the hostess motioned to our table. Quite odd as there were at least two hostesses at the front, and they looked as if they'd never seated more than 4 people at a time before. Not a good sign.
At least the pizza held up the next morning which is not the case with the Napoletana type.
The pasta looked better and it was homemade, so perhaps it would have been a wiser choice?
The calamari, while fine, seemed as if it was derived from a frozen box and was a little bit too rubber-tire tasting. Even Earls does better.
The salad was one of the best parts. It was plentiful and good for sharing. The server didn't try to up-sell us, either, which was refreshing.
Overall, one of the only options for families when staying in the 'hood, but do make resos if there are more than two of you or they just might not know what to do.Listed in: Just a "Little" of Italy, Pizza Pies
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Review from Christian L.
Ottawa, ON
1/2/2012
The food is okay (good). For me, this is more a place for a quick lunch on elgin.
When i go, I usually get a pizza. -
Review from Chris Y.
11/5/2011
This is the best Italian food I've had in Ottawa. Not the best ever (hey, I didn't get my Elite badge for no reason!), but this place had the entire package. Nice atmosphere, great service, and really tasty food. It is definitely on the spendier side, but it is also more upscale, as well.
Lots of tough decisions in the menu, since it all sounded good. When I saw the table next to me had ordered my 2nd-choice-dish, I wasn't the least bit disappointed in my gnocchi, but I simply wanted to come back again to try that one, too!
Anyway, I feel like my reviews have been becoming too negative lately, so I'm giving Johnny's all 5 stars. Especially since they make the well-reviewed Canal Ritz restaurant look like a dive bar in comparison!Listed in: Food, eh?!
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Review from Thomas B.
North Bay, ON
2/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
After returning from Italy and finding that western spun Italian food sucks we went to this place and it was spot on with its authenticity. I will forever treasure this place as being one of the few joints in the western world where you can get reasonably high-quality authentic Italian food.
Also when I went in I was with my girlfriend and the host was very considerate and made sure to find us a nice private corner away from everybody else for us to eat our meal at together. -
Review from Ben B.
6/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have really bad luck when it comes to dining out in Ottawa. My main destinations randomly close during the day, my secondary locations turn out to be very far away, and then I end up places like Johnny Farina. I'll give the American-Italian joint a resounding okay, but much beyond that would probably be generous.
After standing at the 'Please Be Seated Sign' for a few minutes, I noticed a table of girls occasionally looking in my direction, turning to each other, and then back to me again. So basically I was waiting, then uncomfortable, and then surprised when one of them ended up coming over to seat me. Like...random girl leaves her meal, brings me to my table, and then goes back to her meal.
Ummmm...k?
When my server finally came, she was quite nice, helpful and attentive. She could answer questions about the one-page lunch menu but ultimately directed me toward the wood-fired pizzas. I added a starter portion of their spinach salad with poached pear and Gorgonzola dressing, and that was that.
The salad was pretty good although nothing you couldn't make at home in a couple of minutes. The dressing, I would guess, was from a bottle. The pears were tasty though and the spinach was nice and fresh! The Greek pizza was bigger than I expected, had plenty of toppings (Kalamata olives, zucchini, feta, tomatoes, etc.), and a great crust. It certainly wasn't gourmet or particularly authentic Italian, but it was tasty.
My only real gripe for both meals (beyond just not being all that exciting), was the fact that the red onions on each were cut thin and long...as in, I felt like I had to spaghetti twirl up the onions as I ate.
Overall, it was fine but I doubt I'd go out of my way to go back.Listed in: Ottawow!
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Review from Amanda B.
Ottawa, ON
11/1/2010
Walk-ins at restaurants can be such a hassle - wait time, unsure about the food, etc. Johnny Farina was an A+ on all accounts!
My boyfriend and I walked in at about quarter to 7 or so on a Thursday night. We had some time to kill until we had to meet for our Haunted Walk at 8:15 and we thought Johnny Farina was a good place to grab some dinner beforehand. We were dressed very casually in jeans and a hoodie, as we were supposed to be walking outside in the cold. They seated us right away upstairs and a waitress came a few minutes later. She asked us what we wanted to drink, briefly left, and came back with two glasses of water, a beer (as ordered), and a basket of bread with oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.
Since we didn't decide on what we wanted to order yet, but of course we already finished the bread, the waitress brought us more :) We then decided on the day's specials - meat lover's lasagna of the day for my boyfriend, and pork loin with sundried tomatoes, avocado mashed potatoes, braised onions, and a side of roasted lamb rib for me.
The lasagna was pretty straight forward - plenty of meat and cheese baked in the dish, not greasy or overcooked. It also came with a few pieces of garlic bread.
The pork was cooked very well, tender and not too dry, with sundried tomatoes that were fresher than most. The avocado mashed potatoes were good, though a bit watery and not overly flavourful. There were more braised onions than potatoes, but they were tasty nonetheless. The best part was the lamb - medium rare and full of the barbecue char flavour that we all love so much. I only wish there was more lamb than pork. It's a shame they don't have lamb on their regular menu!
Because of our limited time, we passed on all other appetizers and desserts. Originally, we were a bit worried the food wouldn't come in time and we'd be rushed to eat, but ordering just the entrees, we had plenty of time to eat, relax, and walk to the Haunted Walk meeting place, right around the corner from Sparks Street.
All in all, the service was great - fast, sweet, and not harassing, and the food was fantastic - good portions, well cooked, and tasty. The total bill with tax came to about 70-something dollars for both entrees and a beer, plus tip - about what you would expect at a nicer, sit-down restaurant, though not for those on a budget looking for a quick and cheap bite to eat. -
Review from Danielle F.
Toronto, ON
8/22/2010
I am a carb queen. I am the Queen of Carbohydrates.
So is my friend! And we went to Johnny Farina completely starving. That was our first mistake. We wanted everything. Unaware that every table gets a complimentary loaf of bread, we ogled a roasted garlic bulb, bread and a cheese thingy and decided it was necessary. Roasted pepper slices were sparse but delicious mixed in with the cheese.
She's a veggie and we wanted to share a pizza and pasta so that's the road we went down. Mistake number two, the portions are big. Good-sized, but big. We powered through anyways though, effectively polishing off half of our Greco pizza (olives, feta, tomatoes, zuchinni) and over half of the Verduri- whole wheat!- penne (cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers, onion, and broccoli in a red sauce).
We sat on the second level, overlooking the entire restaurant. There is a section in the back that is much quieter but I prefer the bustle. Great look to the restaurant and fancy bathrooms! Our waitresses had a fun sing-songy was of speaking that would have been annoying coming out of anyone else's mouth yet on her it was endearing.
Anyways, yum to the whole night and yum to my ample leftovers.Listed in: O-Town Love
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Review from Darren M.
Ottawa, ON
12/5/2010 1 photo
Johnny Farina has a daytime lunch counter and their walk in restaurant for lunch, dinner or just drinks.
If I were rating these places separately I would certainly put the lunch counter well above the restaurant.
There aren't many places where you can get a fantastic fresh panini and a large side salad for under $10. The paninis where are very large and as mentioned, fresh! The salads are also prepared in front of you with many options.
The line up here is indicative of the quality. Don't be turned off by the fact that the line up is out the door because staff move people through it quite quickly.
They also have entrée options and specials which change daily.
The restaurant itself is decent but I can't quite figure it out. You can plan a nice date here but the back area of the restaurant may seem intimate until you look up and see the flat screens are playing a hockey game. It's sort of like a nice sit down restaurant but with a bar identity crisis.
The front restaurant is good for lunch or always a great option before going to a show at the nearby NAC.
I just find the restaurant food to be hit or miss compared to the delicious take out they offer at lunch which is always fresh, affordable and large portions. -
Review from John I.
Toronto, ON
6/7/2010
I had the opportunity to dine at Johnny Farina Restaurant during a recent trip to Ottawa. The restaurant is quite large and very loud. The mix of people ranges from neatly dressed and respectful to people who are eating pizza in the aisles on their way to leave the restaurant. I wasn't impressed with how this restaurant is organized. Tables were scattered and servers weren't really organized.
The main course featured that night was a lemon veal. The veal was tough and livery. The sauce was not pleasant and felt rushed. The starch and veggies were mass produced and felt improperly seasoned and prepared.
The pizzas looked good, but I am not sure if I will give this place a second chance. I cannot recommend you dine at Johnny Farina Restaurant. I am sorry. -
Review from Purazar B.
Nepean, ON
12/1/2010 6 Check-ins Here
Lunch time - All I want is a quick hot meal. Johnny Farina has been a "go to" place for the times when we (colleagues and I) feel like having something a little fancier than fast food.
An item of note: I've only been to this restaurant for lunch, so I can't speak about their dinner service.
Service: Fast, but had to continually ask for water refills and the bill.
Food: Good, but it was prepared quickly and possibly earlier in the day, and that is definitely noticeable.
I opted to try the Gnocchi - Potato dumplings in a monterosa sauce. (Rosé sauce = Tomato sauce + Cream based sauce).
Verdict: The dumplings were very starchy, and the taste got repetitive very quickly. A $15+ dish, that didn't include salad or a piece of garlic toast. Wouldn't order this item again. -
Review from Amanda D.
Ottawa, ON
11/27/2008 1 photo
This is a beautiful two story restaurant and the former home of an old movie house on Elgin Street. The lighting is dark and moody with big private leather booths for intimate dining. The prices are a bit steep, but this is a finer Italian restaurant than most places you'll find in Ottawa, although it's difficult to beat an evening on Preston Street. I received good service and excellent food, including a warm goat cheese and strawberry salad. That's a boring suggestion to make, but it was the item that was the most memorable and delicious. It was especially good if ordered with Fruli (strawberry beer).
I had to wait a bit longer than most places for my food, but they warn you about that beforehand. This is worth trying out if you're downtown looking for a good Italian restaurant and don't want to go all the way to Little Italy. -
Review from Azim A.
Ottawa, ON
10/9/2008
A splendid place in the heart of Ottawa, Johnny Farina has some great pastas dishes. While it may not be authentically Italian, this establishment is high on the yum factor.
Prices are not too bad, and the service is friendly. Do expect the food to take a while, as it is fine dining. If you're in a rush, this may not be the place for you.
For starters, definitely try the calamari fritti. The primavera pizza is a safe choice, while the canneloni is a favourite. However, the reason d'etre for your visit to Johnny Farina's may be the wood-oven pizza's. THey are out of this world. The BBQ chicken pizza and the Genoa are my personal favourites. -
Review from Chloe P.
Ottawa, ON
Updated - 1/8/2011
when you pay 20 - 30 $ for an entree i don't expect to have to ask for cuterly. or perhaps you should ask me how my meal is.
infact it wasn't that great, and it was a mistake coming here in the first place. the staff made me feel like we were was imposing on them. we totally felt rushed out. but yet our cheques took forever to come. my friend was asked at least four times if she was done with her meal and half of it wasn't even eaten. we weren't there that long, we didn't even order appetizers.
i don't know what happend to this place, it used to be so good.Listed in: places i've eaten.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/17/2010
this place is a safe bet for some wholesome, and hearty pasta. you can't go wrong.
it does fill up… Read more »
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Review from M C.
Ottawa, ON
6/2/2011
Visited Johnny Farina's for the first time a few weeks ago. Italian is one of my favourite cuisine's so I am very discerning customer (having spent 3 months in Italy feasting on some of the best food ever, I have high expectations.) Johnny Farina did not disappoint. The food was fresh and flavourful, portion size was great (even for my husband) and the menu offers a wealth of variety. The restaurant was busy, the ambiance is trendy/casual and I will definitely return again!
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Review from Adrienne L.
Ottawa, ON
2/25/2009
I got a salad with pear, pine nuts and gorgonzola dressing - YUM! Someone else I ate with got gnochi with gorgonzola sauce and said it was good too. Another person got the daily special and said it wasn't the best... So I guess it depends on what you order? The service was good. The vibe is a bit more upbeat than what I'm used to in an Italian restaurant, but maybe that's because it's downtown instead of Preston.
