Olive Garden, the Italian-American casual dining chain known for its pasta dishes and unlimited breadsticks, is getting ready to open a new location in Ottawa’s Westboro area at 675 Kirkwood Avenue.
The restaurant’s upcoming Ottawa location is set to open this summer, according to the Ottawa Business Journal. The new space will move into the former East Side Mario’s location at Hampton Park Plaza, which previously operated as a dual restaurant site alongside D’Arcy McGee’s before both closed in 2023. An exact opening date has not yet been announced. Customers can expect Olive Garden’s signature menu centered on pasta, soups, salads, and family-style dining.
This marks one of two confirmed Ontario openings for the brand as part of its return to the province. Olive Garden’s expansion follows Recipe Unlimited Group’s acquisition of the Canadian operations of Olive Garden last year in a deal with U.S.-based Darden Restaurants. The Vaughan location was also previously announced, with both projects signaling a broader re-entry into the Ontario market after more than two decades away.
Recipe Unlimited Group, which also operates brands such as Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, Montana’s, Kelsey’s, and East Side Mario’s, now oversees Olive Garden’s Canadian growth strategy. The company acquired eight existing Olive Garden restaurants in Western Canada in 2025 and has since been working on expanding the brand nationally. Additional Ontario locations are also reportedly in planning stages as part of a longer-term rollout.
The Westboro restaurant will continue Olive Garden’s established format, focusing on Italian-American comfort food served in a casual dining setting. Menu staples are expected to include pasta dishes with signature sauces, soups, salads, and the brand’s well-known unlimited breadsticks. The concept is built around consistency and value-driven dining, which has helped the brand maintain strong recognition across North America.
