ottawa foodies

I worked 5 years at the Pancho Villa from 2002-2007 as a busboy. I was curious about a few things.

1. When did Pancho Villa open,and was it the original restaurant in the plaza.
2. When did the Lieutenant's Pump open, and was it the original restaurant in the plaza.

I heard about an old place on Elgin street called Peppers? Where was it, and what's there now?

I think Peppers was where the Standard is now. Owned by the Nasrrallah brothers if my memory serves me correctly.

I think Lieutenant's Pump and Pancho Villa were there since the late 80's ... if my ageing memory isn't filing me.

I had my very first ever mole chicken enchiladas at PV around that time. They were good.

I can put both those places there in 89. When they started, dunno.

I think it might have been one or two years earlier. If I recall correctly, both places were original tenants when that little mall opened. I also remember a record store that I would drop into after stopping in at the pump.

PV was owned by the Saab family, which also owns Father and Sons restaurant. They sold it awhile ago to 2 former employees.

Peppers was home to the infamous Eddie Nesrallah, Elgin St lothario.

Lieutenant's Pump opened in 1984.