We had heard a lot about a trendy dining spot called Somewhere Dine Bar in Ottawa’s Byward Market. It offers a delightful dining experience that combines casual elegance with a contemporary European flair and is highly appreciated by its patrons. The establishment, situated at 110 Murray Street, is noted for its American cuisine and opened in 2020.
Owners Ali Marati and Majd Samrout are hands-on, working in the kitchen and chatting with customers. There are 54 seats inside, including the bar, and 60 on a very attractive seasonal patio.
We were greeted by our server Karime, who started us out with some drinks. It was then time to look at the appetizers and a dozen oysters, accompanied by horseradish, lemon, hot sauce and mignonette. Keep in mind that during happy hour, between 5 pm and 7 pm, appetizers are half-price; oysters, are $2 and cocktails are $11.
Next for us was the truffle tuna crudo: yellowfin tuna, truffle oil, truffle salt, pickled jalapenos, micro cilantro and crispy onions. We then went for the Arancini al Agrodolce, with romesco and agrodolce sauce, micro basil and parmigiano reggiano. Arancini al Agrodolce is a delightful variation of traditional Sicilian arancini. These are risotto balls that are filled with a savory mixture, breaded, and deep-fried to crispy perfection. The “al agrodolce” aspect adds a unique twist: “agrodolce” translates to “sweet and sour,” so the dish is often served with a tangy-sweet sauce or glaze.
For the main course, the three of us shared the most remarkable Somewhere Surf & Turf Board. This was quite the feat: 14-ounce tenderloin, six-ounce poached lobster tails, seared scallops, poached jumbo tiger tail shrimp, glazed cremini mushrooms, garlic roasted asparagus, roasted parmesan potatoes, lemon garlic aioli, torched lemon, peppercorn sauce and clarified butter. Everything on this plate was beyond excellent and yes, we had leftovers for the following day.
There is a wide array of other menu items we will have to try next time visit: salad, calamari, steak tartare, wagyu and chicken dumplings, cheese and charcuterie board, pulled beef taco, steak frites, miso-glazed black cod, pasta and a chuck burger.
We did save some room for dessert and along came a decadent trio of tiramisu, fried cinnamon rolls and chocolate brownies. The tiramisu came with mascarpone, lady fingers, cocoa powder and espresso. The extraordinary fried cinnamon rolls had a caramel drizzle, vanilla ice cream and fresh berries. Who does not love a chocolate brownie? This one also came with vanilla ice cream, caramel drizzle, whipped cream and fresh berries.
Dinner is served here until midnight when another menu takes over through 2 am. There is a deejay on hand on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Somewhere Dine Bar is located at 110 Murray Street You can call or text (613) 562 7244 for more details or (613) 852-7244 for groups of six or more. Somewhere Dine Bar is open Monday to Sunday from 5 pm to 2 am. Log on to somewhereottawa.com.