Bazille - Nordstrom Ottawa (Review)

Tucked away on the second level of Nordstrom, Rideau Centre, lies the hidden gem of Bazille. It's sophisticated, it's elegant, it's casual, it's delicious. It's definitely not what you would typically find as a dining establishment in a department store. But, if you've wandered around the new Nordstrom, you already know it is not a typical department store.

Bazille features a full bar with many unique cocktails, fine wines and beers and a bistro menu sure to please simple and more refined palates alike. In the summer, their rooftop terrace will surely be crawling with locals grabbing a bite and cocktail after work and tourists escaping the daytime heat for lunch or dinner.

Parmesan Baked Cauliflower

As we usually do, we ordered a few appetizers to share to get the most out of our experience. We started with the Mediterranean Hummus ($8.95) and the Parmesan Baked Cauliflower. The Hummus was deliciously paired with kalamata olives, marinated feta, extra virgin olive oil and rosemary flatbread. The olives and feta added a fresh flavour to the hummus dip, unique from traditional hummus plates we have seen in the past. The Baked Cauliflower was a special on the menu and we gobbled it up instantly A mix of parmesan and bread crumbs added texture and flavour to this healthy starter.

Mediterranean Hummus

Our main plates consisted of the Warm Asian Glazed Chicken Salad, ($12.95), the Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad ($15.95) and the Nicoise Salad with Salmon. ($16.25). After devouring these three salads, we couldn't decide which one was our favourite. If you're in the mood for a tasty and healthy salad, any of these delicious entrees will do!!!

Warm Asian Glazed Chicken Salad

We were pleasantly surprised with the service, atmosphere and quality of the food at Bazille. The prices were a little higher than expected, but the fresh and local ingredients and good quality wine were worth the price tag in the end.

If you're hungry after an afternoon of shopping, need a break from a day of site seeing, or taking in an evening show at the NAC, Bazille is the place to be!

Verdict: 8/10 – fine dining with a casual twist

Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Price: $7.75 to $32.95

Bazille, Nordstrom Rideau Centre, 50 Rideau Street, Ottawa, ON 

http://shop.nordstrom.com/st/nordstrom-rideau-centre#restaurants