Vittoria Trattoria, a long-standing family‑run Italian restaurant in Ottawa that began in the Glebe in 1991 as “Vittoria Veal and Delicatessen,” is getting ready to finally rise from the ashes after a devastating fire that happened six years ago at 35-37 William Street.
In 2019, Domenic Santaguida, co-owner of Vittoria Trattoria, confirmed that the popular ByWard Market restaurant will be rebuilt after being destroyed in a major fire. However, an exact timeline was never revealed. Santaguida learned about the blaze while returning from Italy and was overwhelmed by messages from friends, family, and business contacts. He described the loss as deeply personal, saying the restaurant had been a part of his life for decades, having started with his brother Cesare. The duo moved Vittoria Trattoria from the Glebe to the ByWard Market in 1996.
Reconstruction of Vittoria Trattoria in Ottawa’s ByWard Market is now set to begin this summer, with construction expected to start next month, according to the Ottawa Business Journal. The blaze caused over $2 million in damages to the restaurant, which had operated at the site for nearly 30 years. The City of Ottawa has approved building permits, and preliminary work on water and sewer services is already underway, including the upgrade of the waterline and the installation of new storm sewer connections. The rebuilt property will be about five times the size of the original.
The project is being developed in partnership with York Entertainment Group, which owns the neighboring property at 62 York Street, formerly home to several restaurants and most recently a Starbucks. The new Vittoria Trattoria will include dining areas on the ground floor and in the basement, some retail space, and a 40-seat rooftop patio and event area. The redevelopment will also feature a residential component with 14 short- and long-term rental units. The total investment is expected to be approximately $7 million. Co-owner Domenic Santaguida tells What Now that he hopes to reopen the restaurant in summer 2026. The restaurant’s other locations at 3625 Rivergate Way remain open.
