Prova | Bar & Kitchen

Gluten-free pizza is a real delight!

I recently visited Prova Bar & Kitchen for lunch, and unfortunately, my experience left much to be desired. One major issue was that the bar was locked during lunchtime, which meant I couldn't order any wine. It was quite perplexing to find the bar closed during what should have been a prime time for customers. However, as I was leaving, they managed to locate the bartender and offered me a glass, which was a bit too late. Moving on to the food, I found it to be just okay. It appeared that many of the ingredients used were processed, which was a disappointment. However, I must admit that the pizzas stood out as the highlight of the meal. They were quite good, although unfortunately, my celiac boss had difficulty being accommodated, which is a significant oversight for a dining establishment. The service at Prova Bar & Kitchen had its fair share of shortcomings as well. The servers assumed that our entire group would be on one bill, even though it was a work lunch with a large table. This assumption led to some confusion and inconvenience. Moreover, the servers also made mistakes with our orders, resulting in my manager receiving her food a staggering 15 minutes after everyone else had been served. It was an unfortunate display of inefficiency. While the servers were generally pleasant, one aspect that grated on our group was the server's habit of speaking to us in a baby voice. This manner of speaking came across as patronizing and irritating to some of us. We would have appreciated being addressed in a normal, respectful manner. Considering the overall experience, I must say that the quality of Prova Bar & Kitchen did not align with its price. If you happen to be staying at the downtown hotel where this establishment is located, I would suggest venturing outside to explore the numerous other delicious dining options Ottawa has to offer. Prova Bar & Kitchen simply does not live up to the culinary standards set by the city. I am awarding it three stars primarily because the staff was friendly, and the experience, while flawed, was not entirely terrible.