VIP Seafood Restaurant, a new concept focused on Chinese and seafood cuisine, is preparing to open a full-service restaurant in Ottawa at 99 Rideau Street.
The company is taking over the former home of the Rideau Street McDonald’s, which closed in 2023 after nearly four decades of operation, according to Ottawa Business Journal. The new restaurant will feature both a dine-in area and a dedicated takeout window. While no official opening date has been announced, the tenant signed a 10-year lease and began moving into the space earlier this year, following its announcement in early 2024.
The concept is being led by a chef with over 15 years of experience and an established reputation in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa’s Asian culinary communities. The restaurant is a partnership between the chef and a Toronto-based group and will focus on fine Chinese cuisine, with an emphasis on dim sum and specialty seafood dishes.
VIP Seafood Restaurant’s arrival follows a multi-year vacancy at the high-profile ByWard Market location. McDonald’s operated at the address from 1985 until May 2023, when it closed amid increased scrutiny and shortened hours due to a series of late-night incidents. The new tenant’s move marks a turning point for the site and is part of broader efforts to revitalize Rideau Street.
VIP Seafood is affiliated with a larger seafood supply business that boasts over 50 years of combined experience in sourcing and developing seafood products. Based in Atlantic Canada, the company supplies items like lobster mac and cheese balls, lobster roll kits, spring rolls, and seafood lasagna. This new downtown Ottawa restaurant is expected to integrate the company’s signature products while offering a dine-in experience centered around high-quality, additive-free seafood and Chinese cuisine.
