Chez Lucien

I have been to Chez Lucien, and look forward to going back soon. It is a bit small, but both times we lucked out with great tables. The menu is simple pub fare, but most items have a nice twist. The prices are really cheap, most meals are $10. Also the jukebox is worth mentioning, loaded with gems.

A small and rustic tavern located in the Byward Market area. We Arrived and the place was packed. So much so that it was chaotic and we weren't sure if we had to seat ourselves, or wait to be seated. Eventually, we grabbed a table and our server said that it was fine, as we were supposed to seat ourselves. This was a dimly lit ructic pub with some interesting Quebecois artwork on the walls, and a couple tvs at the bar to watch the hockey game.

Our server started us quickly on drink, and we placed out order a couple minutes later, after receiving our drinks. At this point, the service became somewhat laboured. There was only one waitress for the entire place, one bartender, and a guy I can only assume was the owner, who was doing a couple tables. But out server was doing about 20 tables and was overwhelmed. We finished our first round of drinks, about 30 minutes later, still no food. In fact by this time, the people who had arrived long before us were just getting their food. so we ordered more drinks, and about 15 more minutes went by before our food was out.

I ordered a burger topped with caramalized onions, brie, and pear. It was delicious and well prepared. The char from the grill gave it the right amount of that real bbq smokey flavour. The frites are skinny and appetizing, and the salad was simple but tasty. Overall, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better burger. I had two pints of beer, which were both fresh and served in the peoper glassware. A ping of Tankhouse Ale, and a Griffon Blonde. I like that they served micro brewery stuff here.

Overall, I'd go back for the food for sure. And while our server was actually very helpful and friendly, and was apologetic about the wait, it was obvious that they were severely understaffed, and as a result, while the actual service from the waitress was excellent, the overall service is slow and cumbersome. The entire experience took about one hour, 45 minutes. if they had two more servers on, the overall score from me would probably have been my highest thus far.

Food is the greatest of its category. It is full out bar food and doesn't pretend to be anything else. Great burgers, period.
I have been their about 5 times in the last year, never had an empty glass, never had to ask my server for service. The staff members are friendly, talk to you and are actualy a part of the experience.

Intimate setting, but noisy at times. The food is great if you stick to the basics, (burgers and fries).
Several types of great burgers, fries are thin, tasty and made fresh.
Off the beaten track so it's not hard to get a table for two durring the week.

This is our local place that WE LOVE. The staff are AMAZING...of course you have to wait for your food order!? The place is packed & there are only a couple of guys in the kitchen people!? It is worth the wait!! Have a pint & listen to the FREE jukebox while you wait. Chances are, you will run into a neighbour...the place is a real welcome addition to the overpriced JUNK in the market! :)

We went in early evening for a family meal. Although it was a limited menu everything we ate was delicious. However, despite there being only two other tables apart from ourselves (as well as a couple of drinkers,) the service was terrible. By this I do not mean that the waitress was not pleasant, in fact she was lovely, only that it was glacial. The cheesecake alone took over half an hour. Although she was charming & pretty she could not wait to save her life. The only reason she was hired, I am sure, was as eye-candy. I pity the clientele that was arriving as we left as the place was definately getting busy & she was the only staff serving.
Anotherpoint I must make is the establishment itself; it cannot seem to decide what it is. The interior is very pleasant with a refined pub feel & pretentions to a literary pub with photos of, my hero, Jimmy Joyce & Proust on the walls yet for some reason there were Sens pennants & paraphanalia scattered about trying for the "sports bar" feel. I know the Sens are the local team & they're doing well but you are either a sports bar or something a bit more refined. The two aspects sit not well together.
Having said all that I will return. The food was good quality & good value & the pub itself has a very cosy atmosphere. I have no doubt that once they sort out their waiting on staff it will become a firm favourite for many an Ottawan.

I just love this place. I try to go on Sundays, when they have live jazz in the late afternoon for 2 or 3 hours), and normally the two regular Sunday servers are a couple of classy, friendly (and quite beautiful) girls who do their job as best as they can, considering they are handling a packed bar on their own. I really think they should have more people serving or busing tables, or just at the bar, but if you're not in a rush and you truly understand the charm of the place, it's not a huge deal.

The food is always great. I'm always surprised at how low my bill comes to, and I like the selection of wine and beer on tap. Add the kick-ass layout and atmosphere, and you've got probably one of the greatest little pubs in Ottawa.

I had heard horrendous stories about bad service but I was delightfully surprised --our waitress was fantastic. The food was delicious, served hot and in a timely manner. The beer menu was a little limited (particularly because they had run out of one kind--sorry, not a beer drinker), but overall, we were totally impressed. Very reasonable prices. A little loud noise-wise, but super cute place on the whole.

It was a wonderful place. I loved the atmosphere and the food. The service was terrible though, it was sunday afternoon and there were about 2 other tables including ours, and it took over an hour to get our meal. Otherwise i really like the place and i will definatly visit again.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! It's a small, cozy, neighbourhood pub, with beautiful and eclectic artwork, a free jukebox, and a staff that remembers you.

The food is amazing and, I think, TOO reasonably priced - somehow, the secret got out, and now there's often a long wait for a table.

You see the waitresses infrequently, since the place is so busy. Aside from the v-e-r-y slow service, they are friendly, polite and helpful, and the long evening has become part of the CL experience (I've learned not to go there when I'm starving - snack before you leave home!- and to order another drink when my glass is still half-full).

Great wine, great beer, gourmet-quality food for under $15... well worth the wait!

(but don't tell anybody else, ok?)