“The people of Ottawa deserve delicious donuts! ”
All in Restaurant
allsaints event space - Leanne Moussa
“From the get go we have been an open and inclusive space. We are always delighted in sharing the rich history of the building. Many people we've met over the years attended church, got married, and celebrated all sorts of occasions here, and it was important for us to continue the tradition of having this building serve as a space of celebration and community. “ Leanne Moussa
Al's Steakhouse - Justin Merner
“We take pride that we’ve always butchered our meat on-site, which allows us to quality control what is coming in, and what we’re putting out.”
Big Rig Brewery - Lon Ladell
“My favourite part of the job is probably recipe development. It's fun to wake up in the morning and think about the type of beer you want to drink that day, then build a recipe and make it come to fruition.”
Moe's BBQ - Mobeen
“ I initially started BBQing because southern style halal smoked meat is extremely rare in all of North America. As a practicing Muslim, I only eat halal. Therefore, to enjoy smoked meat I had to learn to smoke it myself. “
Pure Kitchen - Kyle & Olivia
“We believe it is important not only to be a community for people, but to also give back to our communities. Whether it is partnering with a community organization for our monthly smoothie, taking teams over to Parkdale or The Mission to cook or hiring clients from Causeway, we want to help at the local level to break down barriers for those in need.”
The Works Glebe - Wade
“I didn’t set out to have a career in the restaurant business. After finishing school I set my sites on an acting career while taking acting classes and pursuing the dream of being an actor I ended up working in restaurants like most aspiring actors bartending and waiting tables.”
Taj Indian Cuisine - Indu
“When you open up any business make sure it is your passion and something that makes you happy. Remember that it is hard work and that you will need to listen to your customers and staff.”
App8 - Hani & Elias
“The moment came from a personal experience that most people can relate to. Elias was at a restaurant with a group of people, they finished their meal and had to head out for an event. It was a busy night and the waiter was doing their best yet the bill hadn't yet arrived. At the same time a long lineup was at the door waiting for the table to be released. It was a the frustrating thought of "the experience was amazing up until this point; why can't I just pay and leave". That was the moment.”
Sir John A Pub - Peter & Bob Abraham
“We were inspired at an early age by our father who was also in the restaurant industry. He owned and ran one of Ottawa’s earliest restaurants - The Gondola. ”
Muckleston & Brockwell - Andrew & Lindsey
“The support that we’ve seen has been tremendous. The welcoming we received from the area has really been the best part. We have so many regular customers and friendly faces who pop in to say hi, grab a steak or two, or even drop off samples of their delicious creations they've made using our meat. “
Town & Citizen - Marc & Lori
“ We love to support Elgin street and Ottawa as a whole wherever we can....food, drinks, suppliers, art, music, culinary talent, other businesses...Ottawa is a really great place to be a part of for the variety of things we can tap into.”
Tomo Restaurant - Nara
“Before the restaurant industry I was in retail which is not a far stretch since it is also a service industry. You name it, I probably worked there. A lot of my customer service and sales skills could attribute to those retail years.”
Johnny Farina - Dino & Anthony
“Anthony and I have been at it for 21 years. (October 27th 1997) we’ve been fortunate to have fantastic family support starting from our wives. Over the years, several family member worked with us also, today my son is with us, and two cousins. I’m sure there will be more to come. "
The Ministry of Coffee - Alex & Fadi
“Our favorite part of this industry and Elgin st is the fun and unique people we meet, who come in every day and make us smile, and become part of our family. “
East India Company Restaurants - The Mehra Family
“We roast and blend our own spice blends and for years people would ask mom and dad for a little bag so they recreate some of our flavours at home. For years it went on like this, but then about 12 years ago, we made some packaging for the spices and started selling them in the restaurants. The response was great and then Nitin approached Farm Boy about carrying the whole line. “
The Third - Ashley
“An urban sociologist, Ray Oldenburg, coined the term “the third”. The First place being your home, the Second place being your job and the Third place being a gathering spot for all.”
Beyond the Pale Brewing - Shane, Rob & Al
“ From the day we opened our doors we could not keep up with demand. In order to work the hours required we created a Fun environment that persists today. If it is not fun we don’t do it. We have fun making our beer; fun selling it and we hope that people have fun drinking it.”
Ottawa Free Tours - André LaFlamme
“Ottawa has a surprisingly seedy and colourful history. Many people look at it today as a clean, safe city to raise a family, but back in the day Ottawa (or Bytown as it was known) was considered one of the more drunken, violent and seedy cities in North America. It was mostly settled by hard-nosed lumberjacks and heavy drinking canal workers, none of whom ever really got along.“
Biscotti & Cie - Manu
“Actually, it's been a long time dream... then an opportunity came up and I seized it. I wanted to created a small café where my two daugthers could have their first little job. I had read a book (fiction) about the life of a family growing up in Italy in 1950 or so. One of the character's name was Biscotti... I thought it sounded nice for a café :) ”