Ottawa is getting a taste of the Never Ending Pasta Bowl — Olive Garden is moving into the former East Side Mario's space on Kirkwood Avenue, bringing the beloved Italian-American chain to the capital for the first time.
A Familiar Space Gets a New Tenant
The Kirkwood Avenue location has been sitting vacant since East Side Mario's shuttered, leaving a noticeable gap in the neighbourhood's casual dining scene. Now, Olive Garden — the massively popular chain known for its bottomless breadsticks, hearty pasta dishes, and warm, family-friendly atmosphere — is stepping in to fill it.
For a lot of Ottawans, Olive Garden has been a bit of a white whale. The chain has dozens of locations across Canada, but Ottawa has historically been left off the map. Residents who wanted their fix of fettuccine Alfredo or chicken parmigiana had to either travel to another city or settle for an imitation.
What to Expect
Olive Garden is owned by Darden Restaurants, one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in North America. The brand has built a fiercely loyal customer base around its Italian-inspired comfort food — think pasta, soups, salads, and those legendary breadsticks that keep coming until you wave the white flag.
The Kirkwood location makes practical sense. It's a well-trafficked corridor in the Westboro and Hampton Park area, with solid foot traffic from nearby residential neighbourhoods and easy access from the Queensway. East Side Mario's occupied a full-service dining footprint there for years, so the bones of the space should translate well to another casual Italian concept.
The Bigger Picture for Ottawa's Dining Scene
This opening is part of a broader trend of major North American chains eyeing Ottawa as a growth market. The city's population has grown steadily over the past decade, and the dining scene has matured considerably — but there's still appetite (pun intended) for reliable, affordable family dining options.
While Ottawa's independent restaurant scene continues to thrive, the arrival of Olive Garden will give families a go-to spot for casual celebrations, weeknight dinners, and yes — unlimited soup and salad. It's the kind of addition that tends to draw long lineups in the early weeks, especially from Ottawans who've been waiting years for a location closer to home.
When Does It Open?
An exact opening date hasn't been announced yet, but the Kirkwood Avenue location is confirmed to be in the works. Keep an eye on Olive Garden's website for updates on the Ottawa opening.
Whether you're a die-hard breadstick loyalist or just curious what all the fuss is about, this is one opening worth watching.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal
