Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about Tonalli, including our menu, reservations, dining experience, private events, large groups, and more.

Location & Hours

Where is Tonalli located?

Tonalli is at 253 Boulevard Saint-Joseph in Gatineau, Quebec, in the Hull sector. We are about ten minutes by car from downtown Ottawa, close to the Casino du Lac-Leamy and the Université du Québec en Outaouais.

How do I get to Tonalli from Ottawa?

Tonalli is roughly ten minutes from downtown Ottawa. Cross the Portage or Alexandra bridge and follow boulevard Saint-Joseph.

Do your staff speak French, English, and Spanish?

Yes. Our team serves guests in French, English, and Spanish, so order in whichever language feels most comfortable.

What are your opening hours?

We are open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays.

Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 11:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Saturday: 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Hours can change on holidays, so check our Google listing for the most current times.

Is there parking near the restaurant?

For your convenience, complimentary guest parking is available right next to the restaurant and next to the Parish of St. Joseph Cathedral. Simply pull into the lot on the side of our building and look for the sign that says “Sans façon parking” to find your spot.

Reservations, Groups and Private Events

Do you take reservations?

Yes, and we recommend booking ahead, especially on Friday and Saturday when we have live music. You can reserve online through libroreserve.com or call us at (873) 880-8008.

Do you accept walk-ins?

Yes, walk-ins are welcome whenever we have space. Weekends fill up quickly, so a reservation is the safer choice if you are coming with a group.

How far in advance should I book?

For a table of two on a weeknight, same day is usually fine. For weekends, we suggest booking one or two days ahead. For groups of 12 or more, please give us at least 1 day’s notice.

Can you accommodate large groups?

Yes. We regularly host groups for birthdays, work dinners, and family celebrations, and we seat up to 120 people. For groups of 12 or more, fill out our inquiry form, and we will build a set menu with you.

Do you host private events?

Yes. We host private events, corporate dinners, showers and celebrations, with full buyout or a semi-private section available. Send us the date, group size, and occasion through the inquiry form, and we will get back to you within 7 business days.

Is there a deposit or a cancellation policy?

Confirm the policy: deposit amount for large groups, how much notice is needed to cancel, and any no-show fee. Being upfront here prevents most reservation complaints.

The Food

What kind of food does Tonalli serve?

Tonalli serves Latin fusion cuisine, which means dishes rooted in several Latin American kitchens rather than just one. Our menu pulls from Peru, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and El Salvador, with a strong focus on seafood, ceviches, tartares, and grilled meats.

What is Latin fusion cuisine?

Latin fusion takes traditional Latin American dishes and techniques and reworks them with new ingredients and presentations. At Tonalli, that looks like Peruvian lomo saltado on the same menu as a Cuban congri rice, a Puerto Rican jibarito, and a forty-ounce tomahawk with chimichurri.

What should I order if it is my first time?

Start with the empanadas or the tostones Tonalli, then share a ceviche mixto. For mains, the lomo saltado and the risotto del mar are our two most popular plates. Finish with tres leches or flan and a Café Tonalli.

Is your food spicy?

Most of our menu is flavourful rather than hot. A few dishes carry real heat, like the ceviche mixto with habanero and the mango fuego cocktail with jalapeño. Tell your server, and we can adjust the heat on most dishes.

Do you have a lunch menu?

Yes. Our lunch menu is a shorter list built around sandwiches and plates such as the Cubano, the jibarito, the Tonalli burger, fajitas, enchiladas suiza, and tacos, priced between twelve and thirty dollars. Our lunch menu runs from 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Do you make your food in-house?

Yes. Our guacamole, corn chips, mayonnaise, aioli, chimichurri, and oyster mignonette are all made in-house, and our beef and chicken are marinated for twenty-four hours. Our burger buns come from Levain, a local bakery.

Do you have a kids menu?

We don’t have a kids menu, but we do have smaller dishes that could work for kids that work like our tacos, empanadas, or the grilled chicken.

Does the menu change?

Yes, there are seasonal specials. We announce our new menu online.

Dietary Needs and Allergies

Do you have vegetarian options?

Yes. Our ceviche Tierra is made with hearts of palm, artichokes, cucumber, jicama, and chayote, and both the tropical salad and the Tonalli salad are vegetarian. Guacamole and chips, yuca fries, and tostones also work well as a shared vegetarian meal.

Do you have vegan options?

Confirm what can be made vegan. Note that the Tonalli salad has feta, the sopa azteca has feta cream, and the congri rice contains bacon, so the kitchen needs to confirm which dishes can be adjusted.

Do you have gluten-free options?

Many of our dishes are naturally free of gluten because they are built on corn, plantain, yuca, and rice rather than wheat. Our ceviches, tartares, grilled fish, and grilled meats are good choices. Please know that we are not a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, so cross-contamination may occur.

Can you accommodate food allergies?

Yes, and we ask that you tell us when you book so the kitchen can prepare. Please note our menu is seafood-heavy, with shellfish used throughout, so let your server know about any shellfish or nut allergy before you order.

Do you serve halal food?

[Confirm. Since pork and alcohol both appear on the menu, an honest answer here is better than a vague one. If the meat is not halal, say so plainly and point to the seafood dishes instead.]

Drinks and Weekly Specials

Do you have a full bar?

Yes. We serve signature Latin cocktails built on pisco, mezcal, rum, tequila, and cachaça, alongside a wine list from Argentina, Chile, Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Canada, and New Zealand, plus local and imported beer on tap.

What are your signature cocktails?

Our most ordered cocktails are the Mango Fuego with mezcal and jalapeño, the pisco pitahaya with dragon fruit, the michelada Tonalli with tequila and clamato, and the Colada Tonalli. The Café Tonalli works as a dessert and a drink at the same time.

Do you have weekly drink specials?

No, we run the same drink menu most nights..

Do you have non alcoholic drinks?

Yes, we have: mocktails, sodas, and coffee.

Is there a corkage fee?

[Confirm whether guests can bring their own wine, and what the fee is. In Quebec, this rule varies by licence, so give the exact answer.]

Takeout, Delivery and Catering

Do you offer takeout?

Yes, you can order by calling us directly at (873) 880-8008. Each order may differ in pickup time depending on the dish ordered.

Do you deliver?

We currently do not offer delivery.

Can I order online?

We do not currently offer online ordering. We are working on providing a better online ordering experience by adding an online ordering system.

Do you offer catering?

[Confirm whether catering is offered, for what group sizes, and how much notice is needed.]

Do you sell gift cards?

Yes, they can be picked up at the restaurant, and you can contact us via email, phone number, or DM to receive a Gift Card.

The Experience, Events, and Policies

Is there live music at Tonalli?

Yes. We have live music on weekends, which is a big part of the room on Friday and Saturday nights. To check the most up-to-date event lineup, please check our Instagram and Facebook.

Is there a dress code?

No formal dress code; most guests come smart casual.

Is Tonalli good for a date night?

Yes. The dining room, the live music on weekends, and the shared plates make it a popular choice for date nights and anniversaries. If you are celebrating something, tell us when you book and we will take care of the details.

Is the restaurant family friendly?

Yes, children are welcome, and high chairs are available. Are there quieter hours that suit families better?

Is the restaurant wheelchair accessible?

No, we do not provide a wheelchair ramp or wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.

Do you have a patio?

Yes. Our patio is open during the summer, and seating can be reserved.

Can we bring a cake for a birthday?

[Confirm whether outside cakes are allowed and whether there is a plating fee. If you offer a dessert with a candle instead, say that here.]

What payment methods do you accept?

[Confirm cards accepted, whether you take cash, and whether the bill can be split among several cards.]

Is gratuity added for large groups?

[Confirm the group size at which gratuity is added automatically, and the percentage.]

Local Search Questions

Where can I find Latin food in Gatineau?

Tonalli is a Latin fusion restaurant on boulevard Saint-Joseph in Gatineau, serving dishes from Peru, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Argentina. We are open Tuesday through Sunday, with live music on weekends.

Is there a Latin restaurant near downtown Ottawa?

Tonalli is about ten minutes from downtown Ottawa, across the river in the Hull sector of Gatineau. Many of our guests come over from Ottawa for dinner, and there is [parking detail] when you arrive.

What makes Tonalli different from a Mexican restaurant?

Mexican restaurants cook from one country. Tonalli draws from several, so a Peruvian lomo saltado, a Cuban sandwich, an Argentine chimichurri, and a Mexican sopa azteca all sit on the same menu.

Visit Us

We offer a vibrant, inviting space where bold flavors and premium ingredients take center stage. Modern Latin Fusion Cuisine in the heart of Gatineau, 10 minutes away from Ottawa.

Address: 253 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Gatineau, Quebec J8Y 3X5

(873) 880-8008

Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 11:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Saturday: 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM