im usually in ott 4 days/wk for work and so i've been to most of the restos listed but i dont see my current favourite. Fraser Cafe (especially Table 40 on mondays).

As for the other choices, lately im a frequently at Union 613.
Murrary/Play/Whalesbone/Navarra they are good, have great reviews but none are memorable to me. imho. though there is no good tapas in toronto anymore.

if you got wheels theres some great restos on the QC side, fougere, wakefield inn.

Tacos at Sidedoor during happy hour. The chef is on this season's top chef canda. Its 9$ during reg hours, 6$ during hh. I dont think they're worth 9$. Think gourmet tacos like what you see on Eat St.

Smoqueshack in the market for southern bbq. Better than fatboys which also just opened in the mkt.

Whalesbone for oysters on bank.

But if you got wheels, id go to the quebec side. I really like the resto at the wakefield inn and the lac leamy hilton, or fougere but not cheap.

I also like the burgers at chez lucien in the mkt. 10$ for a burger and side.

Last week canadian tire had kitchen aid ones for 19$ (10") and 29$ (12"). I picked one up awhile ago at that pirce and its great. Cast iron puts a nice crust on meats that non stick just cant. it can also go easily from stove top to oven broil (my non stick has a max of 400 degrees). Make sure you season after use (and it'll become non stick over time like a wok) and dont leave it soaking in water, as it'll start to corrode (says my wife)

Moscow Sauna Club at finch+dufferin.
Been there once 7 years ago. Half resto, half sauna.
We went because my russian coworker was visiting from miami and there were no russian restos there. He said it was authentic cause of the bread and the kvass.

Try zen kitchen on somerset for vegetarian.
Otherwise there are vegetarian chinese restos

Value picks
jadeland on somerset. The set menus are a good deal.
Chu sing has a snack menu. Great if you are eating alone and want a variety. Dishes are 4-8$.
Chu sing is across the street from yangtze and upstairs on somerset

Steak frites was great and on the prix fixe. The duck confit was disappointing.
The raw seafood tower was great but not cheap. I believe they have 2 sizes

Sorry i thought you meant milagros in toronto not ott

Empire, blue catus, stella are all very similar. nice senery, ok food.
Hys is a upscale chain like ruth chris. If you been to one before youve been to all.
Big easy is cajun similar to big daddys on elgin.

Heres my suggestions
1. Steak - al's steakhouse on elgin
2. Atelier - molecular gastronomy. Ive never been. I believe its 75 pp for a set meal. Id guess you'll leave hungry.
3. Agave in westboro for mexican. Not as nice or authentic as milagro but better than chi chis
4. Gastropub in westboro or Domus in the mkt. Both are local meats and veg

-----
Domus
85 Murray St, Ottawa, ON K1N5M5, CA

The italian area is called preston street. its on preston between somerset and 417.

I believe the chef from sweetgrass opened up a new resto in the mkt called smoqueshack. Its a bbq place and the prices are good.
Smoqueshack.com

id say comparable prices..

Here's my suggestions all walking distance and closer than the market.

1. Japanese - Sushia. nice basement. Best jap in ott.
2. Italian - Farinas (on elgin). If you want history, goto Momma Theresa (though i dont think their food is good but all the politians go there)
3. Steak - Al's Steakhouse (on elgin). might be higher than ur budget but they do have a ribeye w fixings for 28$.
4. 222 Lyon - for tapas. not as nice as meze or play but cheaper.
5. Coriander Thai - best thai in ott.. nothing special scenery-wise.

if you got wheels, goto westboro OR across the river to the QC side..

-----
222 Lyon
222 Lyon St N, Ottawa, ON K1R5V9, CA

Good luck. Looks like the website has changed a bit but i did find this..

http://performance.rcmusic.ca/venues-...

For more information and to book your event, contact Kristin Campbell at rentals@rcmusic.ca or at 416.408.2824 x591. Performers, dates, and other details are subject to change.

Hi
I too looked at canoe, ph and rcm and ended up at the park hyatt at the rooftop ballrom. Food was great, the view was amazing. I dealt with roberta who was very helpful and very responsive.
We had < 100 ppl and it was very intimate. You should be able to fit 120 and still have a dance floor but id say at least 1 of those tables is going to have a crappy sightline to the head table.
The ballroom on the mainfloor will hold 200-400+ ppl depending on how many walls they remove.

Here's what i know about the other choices:
Canoe - you're going to be able to fit 140 seated with no dancing or 110 with dancing. The floor plan is like an L shape. there is a food minimum that is dependent on day. Sat being the most $$$. there is no bar plan, all drinks are charged by consumption.

RCM - i really liked the space and i had seen photos of another wedding there so i knew they did wedding but unfornately i could not get anyone there to return my calls or answer my questions. I got married nov 2010. All I could get is a pdf that i downloaded from their website.
I know they have a couple of rooms/terraces but their best room is the biggest and most expensive and is intended for 200+. the space may seem too big for 120? 120 will fit on the 2nd level terrace.

My question to you is: how much work/customization do you want? If you pick canoe or ph or any other resto/hotel, then you pick your menu. You can upgrade the linens, etc if you want but tables/chairs are what you'd normally get during regular dinner service. If you pick rcm then you have to pick your tables, chairs, forks, plates, knives, linens and everything else.

I believe a restaurant is cheaper than renting a venue. When i looked into having it at a venue (TBG and Gardiner Museum) and doing catering. I thought it was affordable based on the food prices+room rental. But i didn't realize that it didn't include chairs, tables, cutlery, nor did it include server fees, after hours security, etc.. By the time we added it all up, it cost more than having it at restaurant.

We ended up at the Park Hyatt, which may fit your billing for 1920s since it is very Art Deco. They had packages but we ended up picking our menu which was cheaper. We only paid the food prices + tax + tip. They do have a open bar package if your friends are big drinkers. We didnt have to worry about heritage/landmark fees, room rentals, server charges, the no# of forks on a table, linens, security, etc since it was built into the food prices.

-----
Park Hyatt
Toronto, ON, Toronto, ON , CA

We did a macaron tree for our wedding cake from dolci di Annie. She works out of her house but she makes some great cakes..

http://www.dolcidiannie.com/

Just found out that joey's at the shops on don mills has a gluten free menu.

http://www.joeyrestaurants.com/resour...

Try the alphorn.. large portions for schnitzel, bratwurst, etc..

www.alphornrestaurant.com/