Latest news with #patios
CBC
10 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
NCC construction to cut patio season short for courtyard restaurants in ByWard Market
Some restaurant owners in the ByWard Market are concerned about the financial impacts of a construction project that will force their patios to close early this summer. The National Capital Commission is undertaking work in the Clarendon Lane Courtyard on Sussex Dr. that it says will eliminate tripping hazards, improve universal access, update the storm water management system and preserve heritage elements. The work is expected to begin in mid-August, the Crown corporation said in a statement. "We made significant adjustments to the construction plans and timelines to reduce disruptions to this patio season and the 2026 patio season, but the fact remains that this type of work can only be done during a certain time of the year," wrote spokesperson Benoît Desjardins. All tenant entrances will be accessible and highly visible with increased signage during construction, Desjardins added. For restaurant operators, that's not much of a consolation at a time of year they say comes with high demand for outdoor dining. David Godsoe is director of food and beverage operations with E18hteen Hospitality Group, which operates five restaurants in the market. "That middle of August to the middle of September ... is basically one of our busiest periods of the year, if not our busiest period of the year," he said. "We really rely on that revenue to carry us through January, February, March, when, you know, the city becomes a bit of a ghost town." He's also concerned about what impact the work will have on indoor restaurant traffic. "Once you start a construction project, that tends to be a bit of a deterrent for guests," Godsoe said. "So, it's not like just because we lose these seats any patrons that we were going to get are just gonna magically go inside. They might avoid the market altogether." A 'shock' to restaurant operators The NCC's decision to close the courtyard patios came with little consultation, some restaurant operators say. "We got the notice a couple of weeks ago," said Vish Tyagi, general manager of Beyond the Pale Brewing Company. "Obviously, it was a bit of a shock to us." Tyagi says he was told by the NCC to pack up the restaurant's patio by August 11. Since the brewery's ByWard Market location is nestled in the courtyard without a storefront on a nearby street, Tyagi expects the patio closure will make it harder for people to find the restaurant and figure out whether it's open. "We're aware that there's going to be some challenges getting people into our door," he said. "We're more of a destination spot than we are a place that someone walks by and happens upon, right? You have to know we're here." Other restaurants are already making tough decisions in response to their patio season being cut short. Moe Alameddine owns Dark Fork, a restaurant offering dine-in-the-dark experiences indoors and silent dining outside. It employs deaf and hard-of-hearing waitstaff to take orders on the patio using sign language. But, with the patio shutting down in a few weeks, those workers will be laid off. "You should see the tears in their eyes when I told them," he said. "It's sad, it's very sad." Work to be completed in time for next patio season: NCC The restaurant operators whose businesses back onto the courtyard say they understand why upgrades are needed, but they wish they were given more timely information about the patio closures and what the courtyard redesign will eventually look like. Alameddine says he contacted the NCC asking for construction work to be delayed until the fall to lessen the financial impact on businesses. "It's a big project, but we asked them if you can just like delay it only one more month to save the jobs, to save our season," he said. In its statement to CBC, the NCC said while it understands the challenge the repairs pose, delaying the start of the work would only compromise next year's patio season. Construction in the courtyard is expected to be done next spring.
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
ByWard Market courtyard renos to hurt businesses
A historic courtyard in Ottawa's ByWard Market is set to be renovated, forcing the closure of some popular patios. CTV's Kimberley Johnson reports.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Patio season over for some ByWard Market businesses for NCC renovations
Some restaurants in Ottawa's ByWard Market are bracing for a significant financial blow after the National Capital Commission (NCC) informed them they have to close their patios while renovations take place in the Clarendon and York courtyards. The NCC says that work is being done in the historic courtyards on Clarendon Lane starting in August. In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, the Crown corporation says the closures will be to facilitate work in the area that will 'preserve heritage elements, improve access and update storm water management.' Business owners and managers say the NCC's decision to close their patios was done with little consultation and is going to have devastating consequences at the height of patio season in one of the most picturesque and sought after spots in the city. At Dark Fork, which sits on George Street near Sussex Drive, owner Moe Alameddine says he set up his patio in the courtyard just weeks ago. Now, he has to take it all down. 'We spent money and time and a lot of effort to make this happen. And suddenly you cut us? This is not acceptable,' he said. Alaeddine says he was told about the work two weeks ago and was caught off guard. 'With very short notice, they kill the season,' he says. 'They kill the business.' It's a costly decision at the height of the patio season. He says he's set to lose out on at least $50,000 in potential revenue. He says he's also going to have to cut eight members of his staff. The Dark Fork is a unique restaurant concept that employs blind servers who attend to patrons in the dark inside, while on the patio, deaf waiters and interpreters serve customers. He says the patio servers cannot be moved inside. 'Some businesses - they survive on this season like this. Two months are very important for the restaurant business and the city,' Alameddine said. The NCC says the work will finish in the spring of 2026. 'We understand the impact these much-needed repairs will have on our tenants and are working with them to help minimize disruptions,' the statement from the NCC says. 'We adjusted our construction plans and timelines to reduce disruptions to patio season for this year and next year as much as possible.' Across the courtyard at Social Restaurant and Lounge, the restaurant's general manager Jessica McEwan says closing patios at the height of the season is extremely disruptive. 'Sixty per cent of our business in the summertime months is patio activity,' she said. 'So unfortunately, we're going to really be at a loss.' The restaurant is part of the E18teen Hospitality Group, which consists of five restaurants that have patios in the complex. David Godsoe, the group's director of food and beverage, says the 'most frustrating thing is the lack of communication and the short notice.' He says the restaurants, Restaurant E18teen, Social, Sidedoor, The Clarendon Tavern and The Hyde, are expecting at least $200,000 in lost revenue collectively. 'Renovations will have a huge impact on customers,' he said. McEwan says she has already had to tell two August weddings about the changes and has concerns about the coming weeks. 'Obviously devastating,' she says of the impact. 'We are a really event-forward summertime destination, which means I do host a lot of weddings in the summertime. And a lot of the discrepancy right now is that the devastation for my brides and grooms who are coming in for August, who will not be able to take their patio pictures outside or have their ceremonies hosted on my patio.'
CBC
19-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Local restaurants say 'bone appetit' to puppy patios: Jasmine Mangalaseril
Social Sharing When it's the dog days of summer, we hit our favourite patios with friends and family. Since many consider their furry good boys and girls part of the family, more restaurants are putting in the effort to make canine companions feel as welcome as their humans. "A lot of things have changed since COVID," said Kat White, general manager of The Wooly Pub in Guelph. "We've really noticed the amount of people that have dogs and the amount of people that want somewhere comfortable to go out with their dogs. That's your family, so you want to go places that can accommodate that." Weeks before the first lock down, Ontario loosened pet and companion animal regulations, allowing them on patios. That, combined with nearly three in 10 Canadians adopting a pandemic pet, has seen the emergence of more puppy-permitted patios. Crack open a dog beer At Guelph's Brothers Brewing Company, co-founder Asa Proveau noticed their patio saw growing popularity with dog owners. As the brew master, he decided to create something pets could enjoy too. Through his research, he learned bone broth is beneficial to dogs. "It's really good for gut health, for joint health, it's good for their coats, it can stop some shedding. It's just a very nutritious product," explained Proveau. Earlier this year, he launched his new company, Brü Masters (the name is a play on "brühe," German for broth), a shelf-stable, pasteurized, unseasoned premium bone broth "dog beer." "It's just beef bone broth and then a little bit of lactic acid to lower the pH to make it shelf stable," said Proveau. "It's something that is safe for them…I tried to keep everything to a minimum, so it's just a two-ingredient product." The broth can be lapped up (straight or diluted), used as a kibble topper, or frozen into pupsicles. It's currently available at Guelph's Royal City Brewing and at Waterloo's Aristocanine Doggy Daycare and Bar. Proveau also has a Brü cart that has popped up at different markets throughout the summer. Doggie dining Some restaurants, like The Wooly in Guelph, offer barkuterie boards for special puppy party events. The plates often come filled with fresh dog-friendly fruits and veggies, unseasoned meats, cheese and dog biscuits. When they aren't throwing puppy patio parties, The Wooly keeps treats on hand. "We always have biscuits on us, and we'll ask [if] they like cheese curds, do they like carrots, can I bring a piece of bacon?" said White. Meanwhile, some restaurants like Beertown Public House, have dog-friendly menus. "We have unseasoned grilled chicken breasts, a turkey patty, a beef patty, brown rice, and then also carrots and celery," explained Megan Stover who's the VP of people and culture at The Charcoal Group, Beertown's parent company. "All of those items can be ordered individually, so that you can obviously pick and choose what is going to work best for your four-legged friend." Stover mentioned Beertown also accommodates raw food diets. Pups can wash down their meal with The Barking Brew, an alcohol-free, dog-friendly beer crafted from locally farmed Canadian Angus beef bones. A paw-sitive experience Patios can be potentially confining spaces. They can be noisy, busy and filled with interesting aromas. So, before you head out, ask yourself if your dog's temperament is suited for being in a new-to-them place, surrounded by human and canine strangers, and if they're confident and well-socialized. Cheryl Bishop, owner of Kitchener's Elite Dog Training explained being "well-socialized" takes on a different meaning when it comes to dogs. "A socialized dog is not a dog that plays well with other dogs. A socialized dog is a dog that is well behaved, no matter where you take them," said Bishop. Your dog should be content and comfortable lying at your feet, while not causing issues for other diners or their animals. To test their ability to do this, Bishop suggested taking them for walks on busy streets or standing a few metres from a busy plaza or grocery store entrance. If they struggle to keep calm, but you'd like them to join you on a patio, you may want to consider an obedience refresher. Other local dog-friendly patios in Waterloo region and Wellington County: Block Three Brewing, St. Jacobs. The Boathouse DTK, Kitchener. Brewhouse on the Grand, Fergus. Hop House, Waterloo. TWB, Kitchener. Willibald Farm Distillery and Brewery, Ayr. It's best to call in advance for their pet policy and to book a seat in their pet-friendly section.
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Local restaurants make list of top 100 Canadian spots for outdoor dining
Solé in Uptown Waterloo is seen on Jan. 29, 2024. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener) OpenTable has put together a list of its top 100 restaurants for outdoor dining in Canada and nine local businesses have made the cut. The online reservation service said the rankings were based on dining data, consumer reviews and other unspecified factors. While big cities like Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver were well represented on the list, southern Ontario had some standouts. Waterloo Sole Restaurant at 83 Erb Street West The Bauer Kitchen at 187 King Street The patio at Bauer Kitchen in Waterloo, Ont. on March 12, 2025. (Spencer Turcotte/CTV News) The patio at Bauer Kitchen in Waterloo, Ont. on March 12, 2025. (Spencer Turcotte/CTV News) Wildcraft at 425 King Street North Kitchener Charcoal Steak House at 2980 King Street East Elora Elora Mill at 77 Mill Street West The Friendly Society at 8 Mill Street West Paris Stillwaters Plate and Pour at 61 Grand River Street North The Paris Beer Company at 31 Mechanic Street Guelph Bardo Guelph at 105 Gordon Street (also pet-friendly) For the full list of restaurants, scroll through the photo gallery below. Expand Autoplay 1 of 104 Quebec patios Sixty per cent of Canadians love to sit outdoors when dining out when the weather is nice, a survey conducted on behalf of a leading online restaurant-reservation service has found. New data from OpenTable shows bookings for al fresco dining on its platform are up 21 per cent over the last 12 months when compared to same time period the previous year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes Patios in Vancouver The cities with the largest increase in outdoor-seated diners year-over-year are Vancouver (up 35 per cent), Calgary (up 35 per cent) and Toronto (up 27 per cent). Outdoor diners also said they especially enjoy a view of the water, according to OpenTable. The online survey was conducted by Walr and was based on the responses of 1,000 Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Dogs on a Kitchener patio Pet-friendly dining is also top of mind for those dining outside, with OpenTable data revealing a 25 per cent uptick year-over-year in reservations at 'pet-friendly' restaurants. Fifty-six per cent of dog owners have reported dining out with their pet at a restaurant/café at least once a month in the summer, while 36 per cent indicated they would 'definitely' dine out more often with their pet if dog-friendly options were easier to locate. 'We are seeing a demand for pet-friendly patios in real time, as dining is growing 11 per cent higher year-over-year at pet friendly restaurants than those that don't allow pets,' said Matt Davis, OpenTable Canada's senior country director, in a news release. (Heather Senoran / CTV News Kitchener) 2025's Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining Eateries in OpenTable's 2025's Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining are listed below in alphabetic order by province. OpenTable says that the list was generated based on one million reviews from verified diners and its own booking metrics for a period spanning from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Anejo Anejo is shown above. It is located in Edmonton, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Barbarella Barbarell is shown above. It is located in Calgary, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Bonterra Trattoria Bonterra Trattoria is shown above. It is located in Calgary, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant is shown above. It is located in Calgary, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Bridgette Bar Canmore Bridgette Bar Canmore is shown above. It is located in Canmore, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Chairman's Steakhouse Chairman's Steakhouse is shown above. It is located in Calgary, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Chartier Chartier is shown above. It is located in Beaumont, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Deane House Deane House is shown above. It is located in Calgary, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Happy and Olive Happy and Olive is shown above. It is located in Edmonton, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Farmhouse Restaurant & Bar Farmhouse Restaurant & Bar is shown above. It is located in Bragg Creek, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) LUPO Italian Ristorante & Patio LUPO Italian Ristorante & Patio is shown above. It is located in Banff, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Pizza Culture Pizza Culture is shown above. It is located in Calgary, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Porch Porch is shown above. It is located in Calgary, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) River Café River Café is shown above. It is located in Calgary, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Sorrentino's West Sorrentino's West is shown above. It is located in Edmonton, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant is shown above. It is located in Banff, Alberta. (OpenTable photo) Beach House Beach House is shown above. It is located in West Vancouver, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Boom + Batten Boom + BattenAnejo is shown above. It is located in Victoria, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Cafe Brio Anejo is shown above. It is located in Victoria, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Finn's Seafood, Chops and Cocktails Finn's Seafood, Chops and Cocktails is shown above. It is located in Victoria, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Fireside Grill Fireside Grill is shown above. It is located in Victoria , B.C. (OpenTable photo) Glo Restaurant + Lounge Glo Restaurant + Lounge is shown above. It is located in Victoria , B.C. (OpenTable photo) Haven Kitchen + Bar Haven Kitchen + Bar is shown above. It is located in Langley, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery Anejo is shown above. It is located in Kelowna, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Homer Street Cafe & Bar Homer Street Cafe & Bar is shown above. It is located in Vancouver, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House is shown above. It is located in Vancouver, B.C. (OpenTable photo) LIFT Bar Grill View LIFT Bar Grill View is shown above. It is located in Vancouver, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Lila Lila is shown above. It is located in Vancouver, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Maxine's Cafe & Bar Maxine's Cafe & Bar is shown above. It is located in Vancouver, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Oddfish Restaurant Oddfish Restaurant is shown above. It is located in Vancouver, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate Winery Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate Winery is shown above. It is located in Kelowna, B.C. (OpenTable photo) Provence Marinaside Provence Marinaside is shown above. It is located in Vancouver, B.C. (OpenTable photo) The Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room The Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room is shown above. It is located in Brentwood Bay, B.C. (OpenTable photo) The Lunch Lady The Lunch Lady is shown above. It is located in Vancouver, B.C. (OpenTable photo) The Story Cafe - Eatery & Bar The Story Cafe - Eatery & Bar is shown above. It is located in Richmond , B.C. (OpenTable photo) Cibo Waterfront Cafe Cibo Waterfront Cafe is shown above. It is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (OpenTable photo) Drift Drift is shown above. It is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (OpenTable photo) Mic Mac Bar & Grill Mic Mac Bar & Grill is shown above. It is located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. (OpenTable photo) Salt & Ash – Halifax Salt & Ash – Halifax is shown above. It is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (OpenTable photo) Allen's Allen's is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Amal Restaurant Amal Restaurant is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Ancaster Mill Ancaster Mill is shown above. It is located in Ancaster, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Auberge du Pommier Auberge du Pommier is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Bardo Guelph Bardo Guelph is shown above. It is located in Guelph, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) BlueBlood Steakhouse BlueBlood Steakhouse is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Charcoal Steak House Charcoal Steak House is shown above. It is located in Kitchener, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Cluny Cluny is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Crossroads Restaurant Crossroads Restaurant is shown above. It is located in Rosseau, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Daphne Daphne is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Dolcetto Dolcetto is shown above. It is located in London, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) El Catrin El Catrin is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Elora Mill Elora Mill is shown above. It is located in Elora, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Fishbone By The Lake Fishbone By The Lake is shown above. It is located in Stouffville, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Greystones Greystones is shown above. It is located in Orangeville, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Gusto 501 Gusto 501 is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Il Postino Il Postino is shown above. It is located in Unionville, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Isabelle Restaurant + Lounge Isabelle Restaurant + Lounge is shown above. It is located in Burlington, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) JOEY King St JOEY King St is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Koh Lipe Thai - Downtown Koh Lipe Thai - Downtown is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) KŌST KŌST is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) La Vecchia - Marine Parade La Vecchia - Marine Parade is shown above. It is located in Etobicoke, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Lake House Restaurant Lake House Restaurant is shown above. It is located in Vineland, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Le Sélect Bistro Le Sélect Bistro is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) LOCALE - King City LOCALE - King City is shown above. It is located in King City, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Miller Tavern Miller Tavern is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Nodo - Liberty Nodo - Liberty is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) One Fine Food One Fine Food is shown above. It is located in Peterborough, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Parallel Parallel is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Posta Ital Bar Cucina Posta Ital Bar Cucina is shown above. It is located in Mississauga, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Rasa, Toronto Rasa is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Rizzo's House of Parm Rizzo's House of Parm is shown above. It is located in Fort Erie, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Simona Simona is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Sole Restaurant Sole Restaurant is shown above. It is located in Waterloo, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Sorrel Rosedale Sorrel Rosedale is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Spencer's at the Waterfront Spencer's at the Waterfront is shown above. It is located in Burlington, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Stillwaters Plate and Pour Stillwaters Plate and Pour is shown above. It is located in Paris, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Stock Bar Stock Bar is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Taco N Tequila Taco N Tequila is shown above. It is located in Niagara Falls, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Taps Public House Taps Public House is shown above. It is located in Mississauga, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Terroni Price Terroni Price is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) The Bauer Kitchen The Bauer Kitcheno is shown above. It is located in Waterloo, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) The Chase The Chase is shown above. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) The Friendly Society The Friendly Society is shown above. It is located in Elora, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) The Good Earth Vineyard And Winery The Good Earth Vineyard And Winery is shown above. It is located in Beamsville, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) The Keg Steakhouse + Bar - Oshawa The Keg Steakhouse + Bar - Oshawa is shown above. It is located in Oshawa, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) The KTCHN The KTCHN is shown above. It is located in Oro-Medonte, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) The Paris Beer Company The Paris Beer Company is shown above. It is located in Paris, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) The Royal Hotel The Royal Hotel is shown above. It is located in Prince Edward, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) The Winery Restaurant at Peller Estates The Winery Restaurant at Peller Estates is shown above. It is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Treadwell Cuisine Treadwell Cuisine is shown above. It is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Trius Winery Restaurant 94. Anejo is shown above. It is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Verace Restaurant Verace Restaurant is shown above. It is located in Oakville, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Watercolour Watercolour is shown above. It is located in Markham, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Wildcraft Wildcraft is shown above. It is located in Waterloo, Ontario. (OpenTable photo) Damas Damas is shown above. It is located in Montreal, Quebec. (OpenTable photo) Ferreira Café Ferreira Café is shown above. It is located in Montreal, Quebec. (OpenTable photo) Maison Boulud Maison Boulud is shown above. It is located in Montreal, Quebec. (OpenTable photo) Terrasse William Gray Terrasse William Gray is shown above. It is located in Montreal, Quebec. (OpenTable photo) Hearth Restaurant Hearth Restaurant is shown above. It is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. (OpenTable photo)
