Restaurant ordering in Ottawa: what the numbers say
Ottawa grew 8.9% between 2016 and 2021, faster than the national average of 5.2%. Growth like that brings new customers every year, so it pays to collect their contact details with each direct order and build a list you own.
Ottawa is spread out, at about 365 people per km² over 2,788 km². Set delivery fees by distance so long trips pay for themselves, and give pickup customers a reason to choose it.
Delivery zones across Ottawa
You can draw separate zones and fees for the parts of Ottawa you serve. Restaurants here often think in terms of areas like these:
- ByWard Market
- Centretown
- The Glebe
- Westboro
- Little Italy (Preston Street)
- Chinatown (Somerset Street)
- Hintonburg
- Orléans
- Kanata
- Barrhaven
Local facts for Ottawa restaurants
Shawarma is an Ottawa staple, shaped by the city’s large Lebanese community; Marroush opened in 1984 and is often cited as an early shop.
Ottawa sits across the river from Gatineau, so many restaurants serve customers in both English and French.
Sources: CBC Ottawa; Ottawa Business Journal.
Nearby cities you can reach
The closest large municipalities to Ottawa are Gatineau (7 km). Distances are straight-line from the city centre. If your kitchen sits near a boundary, one Chefzi delivery zone can cover customers on both sides of the line.
Sales tax on online orders in Ontario
Restaurant meals in Ontario carry the 13% HST (5% federal plus 8% provincial portion). Qualifying prepared food and drinks with a combined price of $4 or less get a point-of-sale rebate of the 8% provincial portion (CRA GI-064), so check how your menu prices fall.
Chefzi shows tax on the checkout and receipt using the rates you set. Rates can change, so confirm them with the Canada Revenue Agency or your accountant.
Language
English is the main language of business. Ottawa, Sudbury and parts of eastern Ontario also have large francophone communities, so a French menu can help there.
One system for Ottawa restaurants
- Online ordering on your own site with no commission per order; guests order in the browser, with no app to download.
- POS and kitchen display, so online orders are never retyped.
- Table reservations and a loyalty program.
- Delivery by your own staff or by Uber Eats and DoorDash couriers.
- A staff order-taking app on Google Play (App Store coming soon).
- Card payments go straight to your restaurant. Menu setup and onboarding are free, plans are month-to-month, and pricing is $17 or $35 CAD a month. See pricing.
Ottawa and Ontario rules for restaurants taking online orders
- Before you open: notify Ottawa Public Health at least 14 days before opening a food premises, through the City of Ottawa Business Information Officer or the City's business licence pages (Ottawa Public Health, food premise operator resources).
- Food handler training: a food service premises must have at least one food handler or supervisor with food handler training on site during every hour it is open (O. Reg. 493/17, Food Premises, s. 32). Ottawa Public Health no longer runs the course itself. It points to Algonquin College and other Ministry-recognized providers (Ottawa Public Health, certified food handler training).
- Inspections are public: Ottawa Public Health posts each inspection report online within two business days, and keeps it there for 2 years (Ottawa Public Health, food premise operator resources).
- Calories: chains with 20 or more locations in Ontario must post calories, including on online menus that show prices and take orders (Ontario, calories on menus).
How Chefzi works for Ottawa restaurants
Pricing is a flat monthly fee: see plans in CAD. Moving from GloriaFood? Read our GloriaFood migration guide.
- Your own ordering page and app, with your name and menu, and no commission per order.
- Delivery, pickup and table ordering from one menu.
- Orders go to a tablet or printer in your kitchen.
- Customer list and offers you control, for repeat orders.
- Card payments paid out to your own account.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take orders in English and French?
Yes. You can present your ordering page in both languages, which suits Ottawa's bilingual customers and anyone ordering from across the river in Gatineau.
Does Chefzi take commission on orders in Ottawa?
No. Chefzi charges a flat monthly fee. Card processing fees still apply to card payments, as with any payment provider.
Can I deliver from Ottawa to Gatineau?
Yes, if it fits your kitchen. You choose your delivery radius or draw zones on a map, and you can charge a higher fee for longer trips.
Who needs food handler training in an Ottawa restaurant?
At least one food handler or supervisor with food handler training must be on site during every hour you are open (O. Reg. 493/17, s. 32).
When do I tell Ottawa Public Health I am opening?
At least 14 days before you open (Ottawa Public Health).
Do Ottawa customers need to download an app to order?
No. Customers order on your website, in the browser. The Chefzi app on Google Play is for your staff to take orders.
Does Chefzi have a POS and kitchen display in Ottawa?
Yes. Chefzi offers a POS, kitchen display, reservations and loyalty in Canada.
Can I move from GloriaFood?
Yes. GloriaFood ends on 30 April 2027. Chefzi sets up your menu for free; see moving from GloriaFood.