LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2025

CHEF’S DAY OFF

Playing Favourites A chef’s guide to the best patios in Ottawa for great food, drinks and summer vibes.

BY JESSICA HURAS ————— ILLUSTRATION BY JOANNA TURNER

Chef Lizardo Becerra’s restaurant, Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine (raphaelperuviancuisine.ca), was born out of necessity but quickly became a passion project with staying power. When the entire culinary team at Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market, including Becerra, was laid off during the pandemic shutdowns, Becerra didn’t just wait for the industry to rebound. Instead, he launched a Peruvian takeout concept from a small ghost kitchen in the City Centre complex, introducing Ottawa to the bold and eclectic flavours of his homeland. As word spread and demand grew, Becerra took the leap in 2022 and opened a permanent brick-and mortar space for Raphaël. Here’s where he’ll be drinking and soaking up the sun in Ottawa this summer. 1 Aiāna 4 Torta Boyz

Torta Boyz has a fun patio for an afternoon beer. They serve nachos and other Mex ican dishes, but their tortas and sauces are my favourite. It’s kind of a hole-in-the-wall in Chinatown, and summer nights on the patio are great.

It’s one of my favourite spots for celebrations. The service is spectacular, and their tiny patio is a hidden gem. Tucked among the buildings in the heart of the business district, it offers a unique urban view. Chef Raghav Chaudhary does an incredible job crafting dishes that highlight the best of Canadian ingredients. aiana.ca 2 Brassica I love the Wednesday night tapas at Brassica. The food is divine, and they’re always changing the menu. When I dine out, I always want to try something different. It’s a casual, pub-like atmo sphere, but the food is very well done, and their street patio is beautiful. brassicaottawa.com 3 Le Poisson Bleu This seafood restaurant puts so much research and thought into their dishes. I particularly enjoy their fish-focused brunch. Where else in Ottawa can you get a smoked king salmon Benedict or trout gravlax. They have a little patio in the back, and I like the coziness of it. lepoissonbleu.net

The atmosphere is very colourful with lights and lively music. @tortaboyz.ot

5 Bar Ocelli

If you want to dress up, visit Bar Ocelli in ByWard Market. It’s the perfect summer desti nation, and the best cocktail bar in the city. In the summer, they roll up their front window completely, so the whole place becomes a patio. They have Peruvian pisco, so I love that I can get a Pisco Sour. barocelli.com

For Peruvians, limes are essential to my cooking. It’s always shocking to me when Canadian friends don’t have them in their kitchens.

128

———————— SUMMER 2025