Olive Garden to open in Ottawa this summer

This Monday, June 27, 2016, file photo shows an Olive Garden restaurant in Methuen, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

American restaurant chain Olive Garden is set to open in Ottawa this summer.

Recipe Unlimited Group Corporation announced plans to open an Olive Garden in Westboro this year. Olive Garden will also open a location in Vaughan Mills in Vaughan this summer.

According to Recipe Unlimited Group, the restaurant in Westboro is in “active development,” and will be part of its expanded “national mandate” to grow Olive Garden’s presence beyond Western Canada.

“With these upcoming openings, we’re taking an important step in expanding Olive Garden’s footprint into new Canadian markets,” Frank Hennessey, Chief Executive Officer of Recipe Restaurant Group, said in a statement.

“This expansion reflects our confidence in the brand, the strength of our partnership with Darden, and our ability to execute thoughtfully and strategically across Canada.”

Recipe Unlimited Group Corporation has more than 1,200 restaurants across Canada, including Swiss Chalet, St. Hubert, Harvey’s, Montana’s, Kelseys and East Side Mario’s.

In July, Recipe Unlimited said it acquired all of Canada’s Olive Garden locations in a deal with U.S.-based Darden Restaurants.