Restaurants in Ottawa extending hours to support Muslims observing Ramadan

Some restaurants in Ottawa are extending hours and offering special menus during the month of Ramadan. CTV’s Kimberley Fowler reports.

It’s the start of the holiest month for Muslims.

“It’s a very auspicious month, and we feel proud that it has come,” Raghid Syed, manager at Cafe by Dhruvees in Vanier told CTV News Ottawa Friday. “Ramadan is the holy month in Islamic calendar. In fact, it’s the month where every Muslim across the globe, look (forward to) and wait for.”

This is Syed’s first Ramadan in Canada after moving to Ottawa from Dubai.

“It’s a month where you forget the world and dedicate yourself only into God and praise, you know, and fast,” explained Syed.

Ramadan is observed as a time of prayer, reflection, and self-discipline throughout the month, along with fasting from sunrise to sunset. The fast is broken with an evening meal, or Iftar, and with evening prayers.

There are numerous restaurants and shops across Ottawa, including Café by Dhruvees on Beechwood Avenue, and the Dining Room next door, extending their hours during the month of Ramadan in support of Muslims who are observing. For three years, Dhruvees has extended their hours for the holy month.

“We’re going with a sequence of what is traditionally had a Ramadan,” said Donald Wingell, owner of Dhruvees. “We start off with dates, then we have a porridge, which is called ‘kanji’ in Sri Lankan cuisine, and then we have a whole tray of snacks.”

This year, Dhruvees is partnering with the Sri Lankan High Commission in Ottawa and the Sri Lanken Tourist Development Corporation during Ramadan.

“Our concept and theme are Sri Lankan food, and not necessarily that it is special for Ramadan, but we brought it together to make sure that it’s a feast -- not just a normal meal -- it’s a feast!” said Wingell.

Dhruvees is offering a five-course set menu. There are also vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options in their dining room -- and next door, you can reserve the cafe for exclusive private dinner and prayer.

“Me being a Muslim, I’ll be fasting as well,” said Syed.

Wingell adds “it’s also a time for me to connect with my Muslim friends and to have Iftar with them.”

Ramadan starts Saturday and ends on March 29.