New tastes abound in Ottawa restaurants

A tea room, barbeque joint and two bar and grills were among the eating establishments to set up shop in Ottawa in 2007.

Ottawans who want to sip a variety of teas in a calming ambience might enjoy the Serenity Tea Room, which opened in October at 101 S. Main St.

Other items on the menu include homemade soups, sandwiches, quiches and desserts.

The Fire Pit, 123 E. Second St., also opened last year and brings a combination of barbeque, smoked ribs, beef, pork and chicken, and Southern-style cuisine to diners’ plates.

The Blue Star Cafe, K-68 and Main St., got a new life when it reopened with the same name but under the owners of the Little Dragon, which formerly was at 1205 N. Main St. The Chinese buffet has expanded to include American dishes like macaroni and cheese, salmon and chicken nuggets.

Other restaurants that recently opened included Henry T’s, 208 S. Main St., and Drivers Sports Cafe, 222 E. Logan St., which each offer a variety of food choices and alcoholic beverages.

“A neighborhood bar and restaurant is popular these days,” Tom Weigand, president of the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce, said.

Weigand said eating establishments in Ottawa remain successful by filling a niche, being in a good location and providing consistent service.

“I think they’ve been able to meet our expectations,” Weigand said.

He said officials are looking for a restaurant to fill the space vacated by El Botijas at 210 S. Main St.

Of all the different choices for new restaurants that could come to town, Weigand said Ottawans would like to see Italian, seafood and a steakhouse.

“No. 1, we get asked for is an Italian restaurant and quality seafood,” he said.

P.J. Stephenson, director of Ottawa’s Main Street Association, said he gets a lot of requests for Italian, too.

“I hear it enough that it makes you want to recruit one,” he said, adding that he’s always recruiting for downtown. “I hear it on a daily basis.”