UberEATS on its way to Ottawa

A new Uber enterprise could be expanding its services to Ottawa.

The mobile app company is looking to bring its latest experiment in the restaurant industry to the capital.

Sources told CTVNews that UberEATS food delivery could be active in Ottawa early May.

Users would need to download the UberEATS app, which would offer full menus from restaurants using the service in the capital region.   

Mixes of Ottawa’s high-end bistros, neighbourhood favourites and specialty shops have expressed interest in joining UberEats. The list includes places like Ace Mercado, Luxe Bistro, EVOO Greek Kitchen, Kettleman’s Bagel Co., Art Is In Bakery, El Camino, Datsun, Sens House, Lowertown Brewery, The Hitonburg Public House and Slice & Co. Pizza.

UberEATS selling point is that Uber drivers are already on the road and can move food quickly. Restaurant marketing consultant, Sharif Virani, said food that normally would not travel well is able to be delivered.

“It’s not your regular pizza and Chinese food and things like that, its other higher end things like pasta, burgers, steaks, seafood stuff like that. So it allows you to have at home what you would get in a restaurant, in a shorter turnaround time,” said Virani.

It creates a new avenue for businesses like Ace Mercado to expand.

“Convenience absolutely is something a lot of our guests will be very excited about and also we have really good food to offer and it’s the first time they’ll actually be able to order it on another platform,” said Phil Faubert, the restaurant’s co-owner.

Toronto was the first Canadian city to use the service. Uber said more than 100 restaurants are signed up for UberEATS now.  

The head chef at Lowertown Brewery said the restaurant already offers delivery through other services but believe they could reach new clients with Uber.

“We feel as though they have a wider audience that they might be able to reach as a lot of people already have Uber on their phones, and they use the service, especially since it's been legalized in Ottawa,” said Kyle Mortimer-Prouls with Lowertown Brewery.