Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[OTSkyline]

Wow... lots of glass! What a difference this will make compared to that blank concrete wall before.

[citydwlr]

We're supposed to hear more about the dining hall this month according to the Rideau Centre website, but I did find the following:

Italian fast food specialist Place Tevere confirmed that it will be opening in early August, in the new Dining Hall at Rideau Centre.

Source: Think Retail

[citydwlr]

CTV News released the names of the restaurants in the Dining Hall:

Rideau Centre bringing in plenty of new restaurants

The Rideau Centre’s $360-million expansion is all about big name brands…and a better selection of food.

Offering a tastier selection means moving the shopping centre’s dining hall from one end of the mall to another, and up a floor, in a space that used to be Sears.

“We have a very diverse customer base here. Lots of tourists, lots of students, lots of business people…and they are all looking for something different,” says Cindy VanBuskirk, General Manager at the Rideau Centre.

The 35,000 square foot dining space will house 16 restaurants including: MLTDWN Gourmet Grill Cheese, Big Smoke Burger, Crepe Delicious, Amaya, Green Rebel, Grillades Torino, Place Tevere, Shanghai 360, Umi Sushi Express, Thai Express, Subway, New York Fries, KFC, Jimmy The Greek, and A&W.

Customers will also be greeted with a greener dining experience by using reusable plates, glasses and cutlery while eating in. A scullery is being installed to keep up with the steady need of clean dishes. All take out dished and utensils will also be biodegradable.

The new dining hall is expected to be opened on August 1.

View the restaurant renderings in this photo gallery.

[kevinbottawa]

I'm not loving this selection. I would've loved to see Bourbon Street Grill and McDonald's on this list. I think the Bourbon at St. Laurent is the only one in the city and the McDonald's on Rideau is gross.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I'm not loving this selection. I would've loved to see Bourbon Street Grill and McDonald's on this list. I think the Bourbon at St. Laurent is the only one in the city and the McDonald's on Rideau is gross.

Agree the selection is not great. I can't say I will miss McDonald's, but I was hoping for an increase in restaurant quality to match the new digs. e.g. Nando's, California Pizza Kitchen, Baja Fresh, a chopped salad place etc.

[eltodesukane]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

... and the McDonald's on Rideau is gross.

I totally agree with you.
Went there three times, witnessed two fist fights, had no place to sit.
Was heckled at the door by some drug dealer (?) who shouted angrily "Who are you looking at?"
Gross all the way.

[waterloowarrior]

there is a MLTDWN in Kingston... pretty good! Although I find it hard to justify the spending on grilled cheese.

[citydwlr]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Agree the selection is not great. I can't say I will miss McDonald's, but I was hoping for an increase in restaurant quality to match the new digs. e.g. Nando's, California Pizza Kitchen, Baja Fresh, a chopped salad place etc.

Green Rebel should cover the chopped salad option. It's decent, but a little pricey.

I definitely agree with the previous posts. A bit of a let down... I saw two potential posts elsewhere that referenced a Pinkberry frozen yogurt establishment possibly opening at Rideau, but nothing concrete has been mentioned. I suspect it's just someone trying to get a franchise in there. I don't blame them for trying though...that's some good fro-yo

I don't normally frequent the "dining hall" anyway, so it's no loss to me.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by citydwlr

Green Rebel should cover the chopped salad option. It's decent, but a little pricey.

I definitely agree with the previous posts. A bit of a let down... I saw two potential posts elsewhere that referenced a Pinkberry frozen yogurt establishment possibly opening at Rideau, but nothing concrete has been mentioned. I suspect it's just someone trying to get a franchise in there. I don't blame them for trying though...that's some good fro-yo

I don't normally frequent the "dining hall" anyway, so it's no loss to me.

Could still open somewhere else in the mall.

Anyone have info on the current food court such as;

-Square footage;
-Number of seats;
-Number of food establishments;
-List of food establishments.

[jchamoun79]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Agree the selection is not great. I can't say I will miss McDonald's, but I was hoping for an increase in restaurant quality to match the new digs. e.g. Nando's, California Pizza Kitchen, Baja Fresh, a chopped salad place etc.

That would've been nice, but those are more standalone sit-down restaurant chains, not really the kinds of places you'd find in a typical mall food court.

Who knows? Maybe we'll get one or two full-service restaurants when the new section of the mall opens.

[citydwlr]

^ Speaking of full sit-down restaurants, the Richtree (Marché) restaurant was removed from the bottom floor and they were a little vague as to whether or not it would return.

I recently went to the Eaton Centre in Toronto, and they re-did their Richtree (and re-branded it as "Richtree Natural Market"), and it looks amazing. If we do get it back, I hope it looks like that one. It even includes a little grocery market full of healthy foods - very impressive.


[Source: BlogTO]

[Boxster]

What can you expect? Its Rideau St. The worst St. in Ottawa.

Until someone decides to clean up the area, its always going to remain like that.

I can't wait to see the underground heated LRT station. Wonder if they are going to install facilities for the ......

Originally Posted by eltodesukane

I totally agree with you.
Went there three times, witnessed two fist fights inside the restaurant, had no place to sit.
Was heckled at the door by some drug dealer (?) who shouted angrily "Who are you looking at?"
Gross all the way.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by jchamoun79

That would've been nice, but those are more standalone sit-down restaurant chains, not really the kinds of places you'd find in a typical mall food court.

Who knows? Maybe we'll get one or two full-service restaurants when the new section of the mall opens.

One will open on the ground floor behind the Ogilvy façade. It was suppose to be "Joey's", but the new renders show something called "Chloe".

As for the subway station, it will be interesting to see if it attracts crime and/or homeless people and how they deal with it, if at all. The only subway system I've ever visited was Montreal's. I only saw one homeless person in a long pedestrian tunnel at Bonaventure.

[1overcosc]

MLTDWN is coming to Ottawa!!! A taste of home in Ottawa I'm really happy. It's DELICIOUS btw.

[citydwlr]

Didn't see this coming:

The Drake General Store - Rideau Centre Location


[ Source: BlogTo ]

The Drake General Store (for those who don't know) is a retail store run by the Drake Hotel in Toronto. They have some pretty neat, if not a little expensive, merch. Here's a quote from BlogTo (see link above):

Drake General Store is pretty much a dream come true for anyone who's interested in the art styles present in the famous Drake Hotel. From cute fedoras to vintage jars, it's everything you've ever wanted to swipe from the hotel, conveniently available at this new location near Yonge and Eglinton.

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The only subway system I've ever visited was Montreal's. I only saw one homeless person in a long pedestrian tunnel at Bonaventure.

They're all over the Montreal metro. They panhandle mostly at the entries/exits since physically entering the system requires an expenditure. Ottawa will need to ensure safety, or peoples' perception of it, is a top priority.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

They're all over the Montreal metro. They panhandle mostly at the entries/exits since physically entering the system requires an expenditure. Ottawa will need to ensure safety, or peoples' perception of it, is a top priority.

They are already all over the bus stops on Rideau St. I don't see why it would be worse with a subway. If they migrate to further afield stops, it will be an issue.

[EdFromOttawa]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

One will open on the ground floor behind the Ogilvy façade. It was suppose to be "Joey's", but the new renders show something called "Chloe".

As for the subway station, it will be interesting to see if it attracts crime and/or homeless people and how they deal with it, if at all. The only subway system I've ever visited was Montreal's. I only saw one homeless person in a long pedestrian tunnel at Bonaventure.

seriously?

I've travelled quite a bit, and my old adage is that it's hard to know exactly how average Ottawa is until you've been around to a few other places.

[YOWflier]

Interesting. My love of Ottawa has grown since I started travelling.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

Interesting. My love of Ottawa has grown since I started travelling.

I agree. And for the record I have been on 7 of the 10 biggest subway systems in the world.