Ottawa-Gatineau Restaurant News

[rocketphish]

Ottawa's restaurant scene rebounds, but patrons still 'counting their dollars'
Some 360 new food premise licences issued since March 2023

Arthur White-Crummey · CBC News
Posted: Jan 20, 2024 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: January 20

When she stepped onto a Barrhaven strip mall parking lot last fall, Caroline Rossi was struck by an uncanny feeling.

"It was the strangest feeling I think I've ever had," said Rossi, who'd been at that same mall, in the depths of the pandemic, when her family's restaurant of 17 years shut down.

Operating La Porto a Casa through shifting public health orders on a skeleton staff was emotionally and physically exhausting, Rossi recalled.

But last September she was back, locking up and saying goodnight to her staff, after opening in a different space in the mall.

"It was the craziest déjà vu I've ever had," she said. "It was like yesterday — and yet three years had passed."

La Porto a Casa is part of a restaurant rebound in Ottawa: according to city data for food premises — which include restaurants, bakeries, butchers, caterers and cafés — there were 360 new licences issued from March 2023 to now.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ot...s-still-counting-their-dollars-1.7089664

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by pattherat

I believe I have the most important question. What will happen to the original Lone Star!?

(Just kidding, if they were a shadow of their former selves I would be sad, but now they are overpriced with reduced portions)

That's the original Lone Star?! Had no idea. Didn't even know they started off in Ottawa. If I had to guess their original location, I would've said the one by St. Laurent because of how iconic it looks.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

That's the original Lone Star?! Had no idea. Didn't even know they started off in Ottawa. If I had to guess their original location, I would've said the one by St. Laurent because of how iconic it looks.

The St. Laurent location was initially the storied I.P. Looney's. Lone Star might have taken over that one in the late 90s or early 2000s.

https://facesmag.ca/i-p-looneys-ottawas-most-outrageous-eatery/

The Baseline location was probably the first in 1986.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Belcher

Edit, yes, Baseline was the first.

https://lonestartexasgrill.com/our-story

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The St. Laurent location was initially the storied I.P. Looney's. Lone Star might have taken over that one in the late 90s or early 2000s.

https://facesmag.ca/i-p-looneys-ottawas-most-outrageous-eatery/

The Baseline location was probably the first in 1986.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Belcher

Edit, yes, Baseline was the first.

https://lonestartexasgrill.com/our-story

Some great reads, thanks for sharing those. I'm glad to know Lone Star was co-founded by someone with Texan roots so nobody can ever question the authenticity of a Tex-Mex chain based in Ontario. Though, as pattherat said, they're a shell of their former selves these days.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

Some great reads, thanks for sharing those. I'm glad to know Lone Star was co-founded by someone with Texan roots so nobody can ever question the authenticity of a Tex-Mex chain based in Ontario. Though, as pattherat said, they're a shell of their former selves these days.

No prob! Still unclear if the house is heritage or if it was built that way. If it's heritage, it must have been moved there by I.P. Looney's since it's not there in older GeoOttawa images. Though based on I.P.'s "story", I would be surprised if it was built to look like a heritage house. The proportions aren't right.

Lone Star seems to think it's actually a heritage building though:

https://lonestartexasgrill.com/locations/stlaurent

Also, closed for renos. The iconic blue is gone. I think it's white or beige now (can't recall).

[rocketphish]

Asian restaurant to take over former Rideau Street McDonald’s location

David Sali, OBJ
January 29, 2024 1:32 PM ET

Nearly a year after it was vacated, one of downtown Ottawa’s most iconic retail spaces has a new tenant.

The building at 99 Rideau St. that was home to a McDonald’s restaurant for nearly four decades has been leased to an eatery that will focus on Asian cuisine, real estate brokerage Colliers told OBJ on Monday.

Kevin Houlahan, a sales representative with Colliers, would not name the building’s new occupant. He described him as a chef with more than 15 years of experience who is “well-known in the Asian community for his exceptional culinary work in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.”

The new business is a partnership between the restaurateur and a group from Toronto, Houlahan said, adding the new tenants signed a 10-year lease at the property on Friday.

“The focus will be on fine Chinese/Asian cuisine with a highlight on dim sum and specialty seafood dishes,” he said.

The property will be renovated to include a sit-down dining room with an entrance on Rideau Street as well as a takeout window. Houlahan said the owners hope to open the new restaurant this summer.

The move marks a new chapter for the 3,917-square-foot space, which McDonald’s occupied from 1985 until last May.

The fast-food outlet became notorious for drawing rowdy late-night crowds after last call at nearby bars and restaurants. A video of a person pulling a baby raccoon out of a sweater during a fight at the restaurant in 2013 went viral, and the franchise owner eventually shortened the location’s hours.

Houlahan said the arrival of the new restaurant will be another milestone in the ongoing revitalization of Rideau Street, which was hit hard by the pandemic.

Earlier this month, the National Capital Commission revealed it has acquired the former Chapters building at 47-57 Rideau St. NCC chief executive Tobi Nussbaum told reporters last week the Crown corporation is negotiating with a group that wants to convert the 60,000-square-foot space into an events centre.

“It’s nice to see redevelopment in the area,” Houlahan said. “It’s another positive (story) for Rideau Street.”

He said the former McDonald’s, which was put up for lease last spring, attracted “substantial interest” from a range of quick-service restaurants and other potential tenants who sense that things are looking up in downtown Ottawa.

“We’re overcoming those hurdles,” Houlahan said, pointing to measures aimed at making the neighbourhood safer such as the new police hub at the Rideau Centre that is slated to become operational later this spring.

https://obj.ca/asian-restaurant-to-take-over-former-mcdonalds/

[JCL]

There is a brand new Chinese restaurant that opened in late-December 2023/early-January 2024. It is called "AAA Noodles" (Amazing Authentic Artisan).

It is located at 717 Somerset Street, where the previous 'So Good' Restaurant use to be.

They do handpulled noodles (similar to 'Le Mien' in the Byward Market).

[J.OT13]

Too bad they won't use the door on George as well. Wonder if they'll rent out the second level as well.

[J.OT13]

Big day for new Asian restaurants. Cross-post:

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Asian restaurant to take over former Rideau Street McDonald’s location

David Sali, OBJ
January 29, 2024 1:32 PM ET

Nearly a year after it was vacated, one of downtown Ottawa’s most iconic retail spaces has a new tenant.

The building at 99 Rideau St. that was home to a McDonald’s restaurant for nearly four decades has been leased to an eatery that will focus on Asian cuisine, real estate brokerage Colliers told OBJ on Monday.

Kevin Houlahan, a sales representative with Colliers, would not name the building’s new occupant. He described him as a chef with more than 15 years of experience who is “well-known in the Asian community for his exceptional culinary work in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.”

The new business is a partnership between the restaurateur and a group from Toronto, Houlahan said, adding the new tenants signed a 10-year lease at the property on Friday.

“The focus will be on fine Chinese/Asian cuisine with a highlight on dim sum and specialty seafood dishes,” he said.

The property will be renovated to include a sit-down dining room with an entrance on Rideau Street as well as a takeout window. Houlahan said the owners hope to open the new restaurant this summer.

The move marks a new chapter for the 3,917-square-foot space, which McDonald’s occupied from 1985 until last May.

The fast-food outlet became notorious for drawing rowdy late-night crowds after last call at nearby bars and restaurants. A video of a person pulling a baby raccoon out of a sweater during a fight at the restaurant in 2013 went viral, and the franchise owner eventually shortened the location’s hours.

Houlahan said the arrival of the new restaurant will be another milestone in the ongoing revitalization of Rideau Street, which was hit hard by the pandemic.

Earlier this month, the National Capital Commission revealed it has acquired the former Chapters building at 47-57 Rideau St. NCC chief executive Tobi Nussbaum told reporters last week the Crown corporation is negotiating with a group that wants to convert the 60,000-square-foot space into an events centre.

“It’s nice to see redevelopment in the area,” Houlahan said. “It’s another positive (story) for Rideau Street.”

He said the former McDonald’s, which was put up for lease last spring, attracted “substantial interest” from a range of quick-service restaurants and other potential tenants who sense that things are looking up in downtown Ottawa.

“We’re overcoming those hurdles,” Houlahan said, pointing to measures aimed at making the neighbourhood safer such as the new police hub at the Rideau Centre that is slated to become operational later this spring.

https://obj.ca/asian-restaurant-to-take-over-former-mcdonalds/

[Badyouken]

A 10-year lease!

I'm quite curious to find out what that is. Asian Legend? Congee Queen? Something more boutique?

It's hard to imagine that kind of restaurant in this (hallowed?) space, but hey - that sounds great to me.

[originalmuffins]

Wonder what they're gonna do with the tunnel/walkway...

[Badyouken]

Originally Posted by JCL

There is a brand new Chinese restaurant that opened in late-December 2023/early-January 2024. It is called "AAA Noodles" (Amazing Authentic Artisan).

It is located at 717 Somerset Street, where the previous 'So Good' Restaurant use to be.

They do handpulled noodles (similar to 'Le Mien' in the Byward Market).

Have you tried it? Any good?

[Kitchissippi]

LOL. If you asked AI to imagine an asian restaurant at that Rideau McDonalds location it might come up with this:

https://i.imgur.com/qtOzvLy.gifv

[Badyouken]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

A video of a person pulling a baby raccoon out of a sweater during a fight at the restaurant in 2013 went viral, and the franchise owner eventually shortened the location’s hours.

Amazing that they put this in the story What a memory.

[harls]

Originally Posted by Badyouken

Amazing that they put this in the story What a memory.

I think it would be hilarious to have a "no raccoon" sign at the entrance.

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

LOL. If you asked AI to imagine an asian restaurant at that Rideau McDonalds location it might come up with this:

https://i.imgur.com/qtOzvLy.gifv

Lmfao…

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

LOL. If you asked AI to imagine an asian restaurant at that Rideau McDonalds location it might come up with this:

https://i.imgur.com/qtOzvLy.gifv

Perfection

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

No prob! Still unclear if the house is heritage or if it was built that way. If it's heritage, it must have been moved there by I.P. Looney's since it's not there in older GeoOttawa images. Though based on I.P.'s "story", I would be surprised if it was built to look like a heritage house. The proportions aren't right.

Lone Star seems to think it's actually a heritage building though:

https://lonestartexasgrill.com/locations/stlaurent

Also, closed for renos. The iconic blue is gone. I think it's white or beige now (can't recall).

As far as I remember, it was a new build when I.P. Looney's opened. It is not a heritage building.

[DTcrawler]

To continue the train of Asian restaurant news, it looks like one of my favourite spots from when I lived in Montreal, Sammi & Soupe Dumpling, is opening a location in the Byward Market at 41 York St. It's their first expansion outside the Montreal area, where they currently have six locations.

I believe they had planned to have their grand opening a bit earlier but pushed it back to Feb 10 (per Google).

Don't know if there's news about it elsewhere but here's the link to their IG post. https://www.instagram.com/p/C2s3cMNLpN6/?hl=en

[Ottawacurious]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

To continue the train of Asian restaurant news, it looks like one of my favourite spots from when I lived in Montreal, Sammi & Soupe Dumpling, is opening a location in the Byward Market at 41 York St. It's their first expansion outside the Montreal area, where they currently have six locations.

I believe they had planned to have their grand opening a bit earlier but pushed it back to Feb 10 (per Google).

Don't know if there's news about it elsewhere but here's the link to their IG post. https://www.instagram.com/p/C2s3cMNLpN6/?hl=en

And more Asian news, JFuse is also getting very close to opening on main Street.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C125WImIjri/?igsh=MXVvZnAyOXphdTV2Mw==