Owner of new Ottawa restaurant ‘very excited’ about location near ByWard Market

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New restaurant opens in the ByWard Market

What's on the menu at Barrio?

The owner of a new restaurant set to open near Ottawa’s ByWard Market this weekend says he’s excited about the location.

Barrio is located at 115 Rideau Street, in the former Pure Kitchen location across from the Rideau Centre and the O-Train Rideau Station.

Owner and chef Lizardo Becerra told CTV Morning Live he has no concerns about opening the restaurant.

“According to what I’ve seen in the last few days when we were doing construction and renovations, it’s been packed every day,” Becerra said Thursday morning.

“Even Monday, a little bit of sunshine and every patio is packed. We have high expectations – we’re prepping a lot of food.”

• Chuck’s Roadhouse is the latest restaurant to open in Ottawa’s ByWard Market

Becerra is also the owner of Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine on Elgin Street. He says he’s looking forward to returning to the ByWard Market.

“It was a different location when I started at the market. it was Clarence Street, so it was a way more of a night vibe in that location,” Becerra said.

“Right now, we’re at one of the most transit intersections in the market. Right in front of the Rideau Centre. Different location, so much people working around….so I’m very excited.”

Barrio bills itself as a restaurant with a “South American beat in the heart of the market.”

“Barrio is neighbourhood in Spanish. After our great restaurant Raphaël on Elgin Street, we wanted to bring something a little bit more close to the people (and) the streets,” Becerra said.

“We kind of think about street food from South America, so Colombia, Venezuela, a little bit of Peru. All the beautiful sandwiches you can eat on the streets.”

Barrio will have a soft opening on Thursday, before opening to the public at 50 per cent through the weekend.

“We want to start slow, but secure. We have a beautiful and solid menu we want to showcase.”

Barrio is the latest restaurant to open in the ByWard Market.

Chuck’s Roadhouse opened on Tuesday in the former Dunn’s Famous Deli location on Dalhousie Street. Grey’s Social Eatery opened earlier this spring in the old Blue Cactus location in the ByWard Market Square.

Shawarma Time and Place recently opened in the former Cupcake Lounge location on ByWard Market Square.

• Ottawa to deploy Night Ambassadors in ByWard Market this summer

Barrio, Chuck’s Roadhouse and other restaurants are opening as the City of Ottawa takes steps to improve the perception of the ByWard Market.

A new “Night Ambassador” program is launching this summer, who will patrol the market area on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

The city says, “providing additional eyes on the street,” the Night Ambassadors will “enhance community and safety wellbeing” by practicing bystander intervention and de-escalation, helping patrons and employees find a safe ride home and connecting people with emergency and social services.