If you searched “restaurant marketing Ottawa,” you've probably been pitched more posting and more ads. That's the wrong starting point. Guests find you on Google, book or call from your profile, and come back because you gave them a reason to.
Money is tight on both sides of the counter. Restaurants Canada cut its 2026 foodservice sales growth forecast to 2.3%. It pointed to an Angus Reid survey where 74% of Canadians said they'd cut discretionary spending, with dining out the top cutback.
So every guest you already earned matters more, and every leak costs more. Here's the order we'd work in, cheapest fixes first.
Keep your Google profile current with a real menu, hours and a booking link, and ask every guest for a review. Answer every call, or let an AI receptionist take the booking. Build your own email and SMS list with proper CASL consent, and treat delivery apps as a paid channel, not your whole plan.
Your Google profile is your real front door
Treat your Google Business Profile like your real homepage. Google says businesses with complete and accurate info are more likely to show up in local results, and it calls out special hours by name. Update them before every holiday and every patio season.
Put your actual menu on it. Google's menu editor lets you list items with descriptions and prices, and an experimental AI tool can build one from a photo or PDF. Changes can take 24 to 48 hours to show, so update before a menu change, not after.
Add your reservation link, your own ordering link and fresh photos of real dishes. Then pick the right category. Our categories guide and the Ottawa local SEO checklist cover the details.
So-what: if your Google hours are wrong on a holiday Monday, no amount of Instagram fixes that.
Reviews: fresh beats famous
A 4.6 rating built in 2022 isn't doing much for you now. BrightLocal's 2026 consumer survey found 74% of consumers only care about reviews written in the last three months.
So ask every table, every night. Use a table card with a QR code, a line from your server, or a text after a reservation. Just don't trade a free dessert for a review, because Google's policy bans incentives and bans asking only happy guests.
Then reply to everything. BrightLocal found 89% of consumers expect owners to respond, and 50% say generic, templated replies make them unlikely to choose a business. Our guide to Google reviews for Ottawa restaurants has the full system.
Reservations and phone orders: stop letting them ring out
Picture Friday at 6:30. The host is seating a party of eight, the phone rings, and nobody can grab it. That caller wanted a table for four or a pickup order, and now they're calling the place down the street.
Online booking helps, but it doesn't answer the phone. The fix is making sure every call gets answered, booked or called back fast.
An AI receptionist can take reservations, answer the same questions about parking, allergies and patio hours, and text a confirmation. It won't replace your host. It covers the rush and the hours after close.
See how that works on our AI for restaurants page. It's also a clean moment to ask for consent to send specials, which brings us to the list.
Restaurant marketing Ottawa math: delivery apps vs your own list
Delivery apps are rented reach. DoorDash's Canadian plans charge 20%, 25% or 29% commission on delivery orders, depending on the plan, and 8% to 10% on pickup.
On a $60 order, that's $12 to $17.40 gone before food and labour. Apps can still be worth it for finding new guests. But if your regulars order through an app, you're paying rent on customers you already won.
The fix is your own list. Email and text let you reach regulars without paying per order. But Canada's anti-spam law, CASL, applies to both.
The CRTC says you need three things: consent, identification and a way to unsubscribe. Pre-checked boxes don't count as express consent, and unsubscribes must be processed within 10 business days.
A purchase can give you implied consent for two years, but express consent doesn't expire. So ask for a clear yes at booking or checkout, and keep a record. Penalties reach up to $10 million per violation for a business, so don't wing it.
Our CASL-friendly text templates show what a compliant message looks like. Then send something worth opening: a new menu, a patio opening, a slow-Tuesday special.
So-what: every regular you move from an app to your own list is a guest you stop paying commission on.
Restaurant Marketing in Ottawa: FAQ
What is the best marketing for a restaurant in Ottawa?
Start with what guests already use: Google, reviews and the phone. Keep your Google Business Profile current, ask every guest for a review, answer every call and build an email and SMS list you own.
How do I add my menu to Google?
Open your Business Profile and select Edit menu to add sections, items, descriptions and prices. Google can also build a menu from a photo or PDF, and changes can take 24 to 48 hours to show.
Can I give a free dessert for a Google review?
No. Google's policy bans offering discounts, free goods or services in exchange for a review. It also bans asking only happy guests to post.
Do I need consent to text or email customers in Canada?
Yes. Under CASL, commercial emails and texts need consent, sender identification and a working unsubscribe. A purchase can give you implied consent for two years, while express consent does not expire unless the guest withdraws it.
How much do delivery apps charge restaurants in Canada?
It depends on the app and plan. DoorDash's Canadian plans charge 20%, 25% or 29% commission on delivery orders and 8% to 10% on pickup orders, according to its merchant pricing page.
Want fuller tables without more ad spend? Start with a free audit.
We'll check your Google profile, reviews, phones and guest list, then show you exactly where bookings are leaking. Founder-led, free, and yours to keep.
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