A cozy little bar that feels like a bunch of friends hanging out in someones basement. Always extremely friendly service and for the most part knowledgable about the beers on tap. Food is excellent and relatively inexpensive, and although the selection is limited, it does change daily. Not a huge beer selection but they typically focus on microbrews (mainly Ontario based)

On our first trip to Ottawa last weekend we arrived around 2-ish and headed to The Manx for a late lunch and a pint or 2. They were serving brunch so I got a breakfast burrito and the beautiful bride got an omelet or something. Both were decent. Service was solid. A few taps 5 - 6 - we opted for the McAuslan stuff - an oatmeal stout for me and a pale for the BB. Nice tight funky little old-style English pub scene. Decent music, friendly neighborhood crowd. I liked it a lot - we’ll hopefully make our way back there sometime soon.

Great little basement pub in Ottawa. If you cannot get out to the Cheshire Cat than check out the Manx. Decent tap list and good food. Tends to get full early in the evening

Nice crowded hole in the wall close to downtown Ottawa. Had a seat at the bar and got some decent recommendations on their various beers. Good food, nice thick cut fries. Prices were okay and on par with the city. Pretty good place, though can be hard to get a seat on a busy night.

A great basement pub with a great atmosphere as long as you don’t mind the lack of windows. Seating is a little tight and its always crowded, they don’t take reservations either; but of course that is all part of the charm and the great food and fairly good beer and decent scotch selection more then make up for it. A decent selection of locals and imports (St Ambroise, Kitchisippi, Churchkey) with rotating taps and seasonals on a fairly regular basis. Of course its the food and service that bring this place to the next level - Ottawa isn’t exactly well known for its pubs but this is probably the best one all around - a place that I would be more then happy to spend the day, evening or night.

Stopped in here yesterday for a laid back pub crawl with a fellow beer geek my age. Need little place, subterranean, with lots of high wooden chairs. Has a very cramped feel to it, though it didn’t bother me much. Some might call it intimate. Menu looked impressive in terms of culinary creativity and genuine quality, though I only had a sample of some delicious crab cakes. Bar is full of Ontario craft stuff, with some good offerings you wouldn’t find outside of the Ottawaish area. Service was rushed but not unfriendly, the place seems to be super busy almost all of the time. Music would have been a really nice touch, though I understand that they often do have a DJ come in. Prices were reasonable considering it’s Ottawa. Over-all I enjoyed my visit and would come back for sure.

Talk about cozy. Well-lit but not overlit low-ceilinged basement bar has a dingy, lived-in but lovingly cared for pubby feel, with old worn red velvet everywhere, copper bar tables, and a small bar. I stopped for lunch en route to parts west and found efficient, quick service, very solid and surprisingly healthy food options, and a couple of excellent pints of local and fairly uncommon beers. This place isn’t going to blow anyone, even an Ontarian used to crappy choices, away with its selection, but everything seemed well-chosen, little to no crap on tap, and the feel of the place is wonderful. I’ll be back.

English pub-style atmosphere feels genuine and not in any way forced. Somewhat crowded layout of tables re-inforces that community feeling. Service was friendly if occasionally overwhelmed. Food was fantastic (late brunch on Sunday) and beer selection had a nice cross-section of Canadian Microbrews mainly from Ontario but also with entries from Quebec and Alberta. Although there are relatively few rarities (other than some local micros), this is definitely one of the premier places in this city.

After-work and weekend brunch delight! Good supporter of local breweries, fun setting and great food. Limited food and drink menu is offset by friendly staff and clientele (January 3, 2004). I’ve been back numerous times recently and the selection of unique Ontario brewers has fallen - they are pushing more the Magnotta and Churchkey which I believe are far inferior to the Scotch Irish. Since I usually come here for a hi-hopped beer - I’ve had to settle for McAuslans Pale Ale which is from Quebec (December 2004).

C’est la tout première place en Ontario (bien qu’il y en a plus) qu’il y a plus de bière de micro ontarienne que tout autre place que j’ai visité, 6 sur 18, et pas de Labatt/Molson en plus. Le pub lui même est petit mais très confortable. Le gros point faible, mais ce n’est pas leur faute, le stationnement est à c**er!