Arlo : Natural Wine and Continental Cuisine in Centretown
Arlo Wine & Restaurant serves comforting, European-inspired cuisine crafted to pair wonderfully with a thoughtful list of natural wines, in a setting where nobody should ever feel out of place. The restaura...
Arlo Wine & Restaurant serves comforting, European-inspired cuisine crafted to pair wonderfully with a thoughtful list of natural wines, in a setting where nobody should ever feel out of place. The restaurant fills a century-old house in Ottawa’s Centretown. Behind it are three close friends: sommelier Alexander McMahon, chef Jamie Stunt and their partner Mark Ghali.
Excellent, Never Too Serious
The name comes from Arlo Guthrie. “I wanted to name it something musical. I didn’t want any culinary reference,” explains McMahon. “He was really prolific and very important, but at the same time he was really goofy and didn’t take himself too seriously.” The same spirit runs through the motto “Be excellent to each other,” borrowed from the movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. A Noma alumnus, the sommelier brought home that restaurant’s attention to detail and warm hospitality. “I don’t think it needs to be reserved for three-Michelin-star restaurants,” he says.
Continental Cuisine Led by the Seasons
The chef grew up skateboarding with the sommelier. He then spent a decade leading the kitchen at Oz Kafe, a late-night industry favourite that has since closed. He calls his style continental cuisine: Polish roots, a French foundation, a love of Spanish food, all shaped by what local farmers bring in.
The menu rotates with the seasons, leaning on vegetables in summer and on the grill in winter, but a few staples never move. Snacks for the table put the ingredient first, with raw oysters and a little dish of pickled shrimp always on offer. Among the composed appetizers, the beef tataki with barbecued eel and crispy sweet potato is a fixture. “We have tried to change it a handful of times and people won’t let us,” says McMahon.
Mains always include a fish, a vegetarian dish and a couple of meat options. The duck frites, a brochette of duck hearts and breast served with a crunchy salad, aioli and, naturally, a generous pile of fries, has earned a permanent spot on the menu.
Natural Wine for Everyone
The Arlo wine list runs to about 300 wines, all organic and almost entirely natural, with plenty under $100 alongside a few of the world’s iconic bottles. A sommelier is always on the floor to help steer. “The wines that have changed my life are always wines without sulfites,” says McMahon. “But I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of making sure nobody’s going to feel alienated by the wine list.” Cocktails change with the seasons but stay bright, herbaceous and often lower in alcohol, a palate opener for the wine to come. Two drinks stay put: the house martini and a Chartreuse daiquiri poured since day one.
Nobody Feels Underdressed Here
The partners took the house nearly down to the studs and dreamt up the main floor themselves, mixing new and vintage materials. “I wanted it to be stunning and beautiful when you walk in, but I didn’t ever want anybody to walk in and feel underdressed,” the sommelier explains. Upstairs, there’s also a private dining room called the Apartment, designed by Jen Skuce of Skuce & Associates.
A regular on Canada’s 100 Best list and featured on The World’s 50 Best Discovery, Arlo takes the most pride in its team, where staff tend to stay for years. “When you have a team that’s feeling taken care of and appreciated, they extend that onto the guests,” says McMahon. What’s left, he adds, are guests who feel very loved and very welcome. We’re certain that Bill & Ted would approve.
Écrit par Marie-Ève Godin
Photographié par Molly Wright & Audrey-Eve Beauchamp
Updated on 19 October 2026