Waterloo Region’s restaurant scene is about to get a little more flavourful with Olive Garden Canada planning to open a new location at The Boardwalk in Waterloo next spring. The Italian-American restaurant chain announced the plans this week, with online job postings suggesting it will take over the former Swiss Chalet space. The news has already generated excitement among some residents, including those who have never had a chance to try the restaurant. “I’ve heard so much about it and never got to try it, so I can’t wait,” Tiffany Klassen told CTV News. Another resident said he thinks the restaurant will be a welcome addition to the area. “It’s a good idea. I think it will do well here,” Reg Watson said. A new addition to Ontario’s restaurant scene Olive Garden currently has 11 locations across Canada, all owned by Canadian restaurant company Recipe Unlimited. Most of the restaurants are located in the Prairie provinces, while Ontario is home to three locations in Vaughan, Ajax and Ottawa. A Waterloo restaurant would mark the chain’s first location in southwestern Ontario in decades. Can the excitement last? While the arrival of Olive Garden could bring a sense of nostalgia for some customers, retail analyst Bruce Winder said the restaurant will need to deliver more than name recognition to keep people coming back. “They might try it once, but if Olive Garden wants them to come back, they have to offer good value and good-quality food,” Winder told CTV News. Preetinder Kaur, an assistant professor in the University of Guelph’s business school, said the restaurant’s arrival could also have broader benefits for the region. “It’s going to be positive for the region. Lots of new jobs will be created. The market will become even more attractive,” she said. Kaur added the restaurant will need to keep up with customer demand and maintain the standards of its other locations. Olive Garden Canada has not announced an official opening date, but said in its post it is aiming for late spring 2027. Until then, some prospective customers say they are willing to wait. “If I have to wait in line to eat there, I will do so,” Klassen said. CTV News reached out to Olive Garden Canada and its parent company, Recipe Unlimited, for further details about the planned Waterloo location, but did not hear back before publication.
