Not your average pub: Head chef Charles Latremouille shows us the Chicken Dijon plate photo: Aaron McKenzie Fraser

The exposed brick and stone of the walls adds an older, more established feel to this now nine-month-old establishment. Wooden archways separate the two main levels and help lend intimacy to the surroundings.

The menu is as varied as the music, with a regular offering of gourmet burgers, salads, a croque monsieur, spaghetti & meatballs, chicken wings and a New York steak. And if that were not enough of a culinary mêlée, there is a weekly menu that listed at the time of our visit a fettuccine dish, baby beef liver with fried onions and Brie in a philo pastry on a bed of greens. Did I mention that there is also a daily chef's special?

I started with an order of escargot in garlic butter, which arrived in its conventional dimpled dish containing a generous serving of the little snails. Warm rolls were provided to soak up the remnants of the amply garlicky sauce. A solid start, nicely washed down with a pint of the local Heritage lager, one of a few micro-beers on tap.

For the main dish, I had to go with the namesake entry, the Chez Lucien Burger. Burgers are ubiquitous pub fare, but can vary widely in quality. Happily this was one of the tastiest ever, a big juicy patty topped with a yummy, gooey mix of bacon, cream cheese and mushrooms between a toasted sesame bun. Perfectly thin and crispy fries and a mixed green salad with a Caesar dressing served as accompaniments.

The Frida and Diego burger was equally scrumptious with toppings of jalapenos, Monterey jack cheese and fried onions. I am not sure if this was the kind of fare enjoyed by the famous Mexican painters, but count me as a fan.

The chicken sandwich was solid though slightly more pedestrian, with a light coating of Dijon mustard and served with potatoes and vegetables.

The croque monsieur with a croissant, sliced ham and smothered in a rich gruyère béchamel sauce was a delightful example of this French bistro classic sandwich.

Although tempted by the chocolate fondue or the crêpe with maple cream and fresh fruit for dessert, our bellies could hold no more and this will have to wait for another visit.

The service was friendly but stretched because one lone server (on both of my visits) had to pour drinks, answer the phone, settle bills, serve and clear tables. This led to less than attentive service, but if you are not in a rush, the fine food and inviting ambiance more than makes up for it.

CHEZ LUCIEN

137 MURRAY STREET

241-3533

ENTRÉES: $5-$15
 
 

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Chez Lucien: a Great Little Café     I've eaten here a few times -- my observations: The interior is unique in Ottawa, the spacious main floor & bar area has a ceiling that is two stories high, while the small second floor dining area is 'intimate', in the sense that it feels comfortably cramped with tables and a lower-than-usual ceiling. The walls also sport the artwork of local artists - not just the photos written up in the article. There is also a small enclosed patio of sorts where you first walk in, seating about ten patrons. For people watchers, there isn't much foot traffic on the sidewalk to look out upon. I've had the beef liver a couple of times and been very impressed. The liver was cooked so as to be still tender, and the red wine sauce was just sweet enough to balance that slightly sharp taste that liver has. Both times the liver was served with scalloped potatoes - prepared a little differently at each seating - and grilled fresh vegetables. And always, a single sprig of fresh thyme was place, standing up, in the potatoes - the chef's calling card. A couple of Friday's ago I popped in during the evening to sit down for the evening special - a filet of sole stuffed with crab, served atop a rice pilaf, grilled fresh vegetables and, yes, the ubiquitous sprig of thyme. The fish was delicately cooked, the stuffing absolutely scrumptious. Although the pilaf was a touch on the bland side, the vegetables were grilled so as to be still crispy and full of flavour. The soup that this came with was amazing. The single bowl contained two different soups (a carrot and, I think, a spinach) - one half of the bowl was carrot, the other spinach, drizzled with a bit of cream. I couldn't help admiring the site of the half-orange, half-green bowl of soup before digging in. When I finally got around to eating the soup, I'd take a couple spoonfuls of the carrot, then a couple of the spinach before just stirring them together when I was about half done. Fantastic! All of this for about $13.
Andrew Dzuba	{30 votes}	October 28th, 2004
Chez no service     I actually like this bar. It's got a "warm" feel to it. The interior is definitely unique. It's not huge, but not small either. The service is really bad. I have been there a few times and each time it took forever to order,to get out food/drinks and the bill. They have a great menu for drinks and the food isn't too bad either.
Melissa Guimond		May 10th, 2009
What Service??     Ok, I have been there a few times and although the food is very good the service is HORRIBLE!! I have waited over an hour for a burger...then almost 10 min for ketchup. Come on why is it so hard to remember that someone asked for a refill on their drink 15 minutes ago, or the bill. It seems to me that the staff is clueless and the place is understaffed to boot. If you go, be prepared to double check everything that comes to your table, in case the drink is wrong and the order is wrong (this happens a lot). Like I said, once you get your food it tastes great, but give yourself more time that you would normally expect a burger to take and try not to get too frustrated when your drink comes after your meal is finished!
Nick Firman		March 26th, 2009
Absolutely wonderful food     This is an absolutely wonderful pub!! I've been there a number of times with different groups of people and, each time, everyone has loved their meal. Every time I go I have something different to eat and have enjoy each dish. It's nice to have some different beers to choose from instead of the usual Molson or Labatt's selection. Get there early for Friday lunch because it fills up fast. Can't say enough good things about this place!
June Lane		January 31st, 2009
Excellent Pub     This is easily one of the best if not the best pub in Ottawa (I also like the Manx). The reasonable prices of great quality food and drink. This is not a typical Ottawa bar that some how turns into a night club by 11:00 pm. The type of place you can enjoy a good drink and good company. The juke box is awesome with very eclectic non main stream tastes and its free!!!
Paul Bryant		August 31st, 2007
love this place!     I simply can't get enough of this place! I've had several steady haunts in Ottawa, but this place tops them all. The food is good and well priced. The servers vary in style and flare, but are all friendly and efficient. I love the eclectic clientele and warm atmospere. I can't quite categorize this pub as it has many different dynamics at play. Music, art, food, sports, litterature... Great!
Chantale Lemay		August 3rd, 2006
I agree with all - a great place     What can I say to add? Great food, enjoyed the free and varied music, a warm and cosy pub. Seems such a simple formula, but most places miss the mark - not Chez. Service has improved, more staff on at busy times. My daughter recommended it to me, she brings all her buds there now, I bring mine. Only drawback is that once we tell everyone how great it is - we'll never be able to get into the door!
Mike Young		February 5th, 2005
Best pub in the bad Byward     It is owned by guys who used to work at the Lafayette.Think of it as an upscale Chateau. I quite like the free jukebox, St. Amboise Pale Ale on tap and great pub menu. Had the croque monsieur. Delicious.
Kevin Sullivan		January 18th, 2005
Hidden gem!!     I think Chez Lucien is a great little hidden gem in the market! It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the inside will sell you quickly! If you go once, you'll find yourself itching to go back! Friendly staff, and its nice to see the owner in the pub every day! Cheers!
Emily Moir	{2 votes}	November 10th, 2004
Chez Lucien Fantastic     Finally in Ottawa, we have come along way to find a restaurant catering from Juicy Burgers to french dishes as they encountered escargots in a beautiful aroma of garlic butter, also should I add warm rolls that is a PLUS nowadays hard to find, everytime you get these side rolls they are cold most of the time. This restaurant has alot of potential a real melting pot of dishes one extreme ex. spaghetti to croque Monsieur to crepes WOW. Thank God no ones counting the carbs, they are very rich with their dishes not counting calories at this establishment, lots of rich sauces and cheese on the burgers, perhaps they should add to their menu something less heavy for the more conscious eaters. Nowadays everyone is thriving on counting their carbs, even fast food chains are changing example McDonalds, this restaurant has alot of promising future being so varied in taste, perhaps later on they will add more of a variety in a SLIM WAY of course. Thanks again for a great review, Aaron Shaw nice touch once in a while you have to treat yourself and this is the PLACE Congrats.
Marianne Guint	{5 votes}	November 2nd, 2004
Lucien.Me     Have your very own personal presence Lucien. http://www.Lucien.Me Merci, Lucien
Lucien Me		March 16th, 2010
Now that's atmosphere!     With microbeers to boot. Burgers yes! but not often enough with salad, great prices!
Skeleton James	{5 votes}	October 28th, 2004

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