Today, Ottawa restaurateur Stephen Beckta opens the third installment of his legacy in hospitality. Enduring three dry runs and one media event, gezellig – located at the corner of Richmond and Churchill in Westboro- is set to open it’s doors to the public today at 5:30 p.m.
After repeatedly coveting the title of best restaurant in the nation’s capital with his first born (and self titled) restaurant, Beckta Dining and Wine, Mr. Beckta went on with business partner and executive chef Michael Moffatt to open his second restaurant, Play, in 2009. Play was recently granted a position in Maclean’s first issue of Canada’s best restaurants. Both Beckta and Play have been incredibly successful and have helped sculpt the dining scene in Ottawa. Both locations offer unique dining experiences and unbeatable food with a heavy dose of hospitality- the signature that Stephen Beckta has been recognized for throughout his career as a restaurateur.
Enter the newborn child.
Gezellig , a dutch word that has no literal English translation, means a combination of things, but predominantly: cozy and convivial. In his newest location, and especially in a community like Westboro, Beckta hopes to capture that friendly neighbourhood feel.
Images of Ottawa’s newest restaurant certainly convey the dutch catch phrase. As reviewers who were granted a sneak peak can attest, so does the food. Ottawa Citizen’s Ron Eade reported the menu to be simple yet sophisticated offering seven small plates (or appetizers) and six main dishes ranging from $19-26. Sharing plates are also offered.
Grayson McDiarmid, who has worked with the company since 2009, will be governing the wine list- and based on his previous efforts to incorporate intriguing and off beat wines at Play, gezellig is guaranteed to host a wine collection out of the ordinary.
Floor to ceiling windows, a second floor mezzanine , the wine cellar located in a bank vault (the location was previously occupied by a TD bank) and a hospitality mastermind behind the steering wheel are just a handful of gezellig’s selling points.
Keep checking back for reviews of the national capital’s newest restaurant.
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