Vain in Versailles Bistro

Service was excellent, atmosphere is lovely, cocktails delicious (need to go back to sample them all!), my main was delicious and beautifully plated, the desserts (I had one and sampled two others in my group) were very good but not amazing, but then I’m not celiac so I may have noticed differences in taste and texture compared to gluten-containing equivalents. Overall, I would definitely go back for drinks, apps and dinner, but I might pass on dessert or go down the street for a gelato to spread the local business support around. VIV is a great option for anyone who can’t have gluten but also a delicious and fun option for anyone who likes a nice cocktail and delicious, thoughtfully prepared food. Nice wine list too.

I don’t understand why the ratings for this place aren’t 4.9. It is fantastic. The ambiance is absolutely gorgeous, the service is excellent, the cocktails are excellent and to have a restaurant where every single thing that you could order is gluten-free, what a delight. I have coeliac disease, so it is a fantastic experience to have a full gluten-free restaurant. But not only that, it is really groovy and would be a stand out place, even if it wasn’t specifically catering to gluten-free. And, you don’t need to be gluten-free to enjoy this food, it is so good.

I wanted to like this place and attended with a large group. I knew that VIV is gluten free so my expectations were high for things like their Brioche bread but it was as dry and tasteless as any rice floured bread I’ve ever had. Most of the food was bland and some dishes like the bean Cassoulet could have been out of a can. Most enjoyed the beet salad and the flavour of the Crozets was interesting but the pasta was over cooked. Sadly most of us were enticed by the wood fired tandoori oven from the restaurant next door that made us want to switch restaurants! Perhaps not a good combo for non vegetarian/GF foodies to be smelling tandoori chicken and naan? The servers were extremely friendly and the great company still made the experience fun. However, we all left hungry and unfortunately the restaurant next door was closed! Sorry VIV…despite your motto, ‘….enjoy every bite or tell us kindly if not’, that’s the best I can do! With a bill approaching $300 for 2 (admittedly that included a bottle of their cheapest wine at $60, and a couple of cocktails) this was not a cheap outing and considering how many amazing restaurants there are in Ottawa, we won’t be back.