ottawa foodies

Had to make a quick stop in Bells Corners last night and there were about 8 white panel work vans (okay creepy) tearing out the middle refrigerators at the Butchery.

After going to the Kardish and Metro, word on the street is that they want to open a 40-ish seat steak restaurant...charging on par with big steak chains (think Baton Rouge, the Keg, etc).

I'm trying to reserve judgement until they actually divulge what's happening, but really? Getting rid of Vera's I can maybe understand. But trying to get people to pay big steakhouse prices in a tiny, likely crowded, likely being-watched-by-people-shopping-for-pork-chops butcher?

I don't know. I'm not sold.

Is Vera's gone?

I'm with you, I don't have an issue with grabbing/eating a burger with people milling around and shopping. But I would not be interested in a steak house.

Weird. Vera's better not be gone. It always seemed to be doing a good business.

I called and Vera's is reopening on Friday, apparently.

Pelican Fish has a similar set up - smallish resto on one side and a store on the other. There is a shared entrance but dividing wall so diners don't have to worry about sharing space with shoppers and it seems to work...

I don't even understand how they'd still have Vera's AND a steak house AND a deli counter AND a butcher counter. It's such a small space. There wouldn't even be room to walk, let alone for a dividing wall as Pasta Lover mentioned.

Well, I'm definitely curious now. I wonder if the quality of both the butcher portion and Vera's will suffer because of the shifted focus.

Perhaps it'd be best to get confirmation on the rumoured plans before drawing any further conclusions...

Got the scoop on this place today. Vera's will remain. What they are planning on doing is opening up the middle section for tables for a steak place and to do that, they are moving other stuff around to make room for them. The plan is to open that section for dinner 4 days a week, Wednesday through Saturday from about 5:00 to 9:30. The way it will work is, go to the counter to order, and your food is delivered to you. The menu will consist of steaks, Vera's burgers, smoked meat, and a chicken dish. At least, that is the plan. They are applying for a liquor license and are thinking of allowing you to BYOB (of wine, that is). I am assuming they will charge a corkage fee. NO TIPPING. The goal is to provide people with an excellent steak dinner for a lot fewer $$$ than high end steakhouses but with high quality steaks. He does not yet know when it will open.

The Bells Corners BIA just posted this pic of the new layout. Pretty neat!

Link: twitter.com

Im intrigued enough to try it.

I stopped in for a burger this afternoon. They are not serving the dinner menu yet, the sign says coming soon. It's a short menu ranging from a chicken dinner with fries and coleslaw for 17.99 to a cowboy ribeye (serves 2) for 45.99.