We are very proud to be partnered with Mealshare, a non-profit dedicated to fighting hunger in Canada and around the world.

For every Mealshare-branded menu item purchased at Aiana, we will provide one simple, healthy meal to a youth in need, through Mealshare. Most of the financial support stays here in our local community to provide meals at Operation Come Home, BGC Ottawa, and Parkdale Food Centre’s after-school program.

Operation Come Home is an employment, education, and support center for homeless and at-risk youth in Ottawa, BGC Ottawa reaches out to children and youth through after-school, weekend and summer programs that build self-esteem and help to develop stronger social skills, and Parkdale Food Centre runs an after-school program that provides healthy meals and promotes healthy eating, physical activity and wellness programs for school aged children.

These amazing organizations use food as the catalyst for change. Offering meals brings in at-risk youth, where they are encouraged to use the programs available to help them reach their highest potential. The remaining support we provide to Mealshare goes to provide meals to children in developing countries through Save the Children Canada.

There is no extra fee or action required to participate in Mealshare. So, next time you stop by, look for the Mealshare logo. It’s a small act that makes a big difference!

Aiana is proud to be among the only Living Wage certified restaurants in the Ottawa area. We believe the onus of reasonable and fair compensation should not rest on our patrons and gratuities – but rather on us as an employer.

Since Aiana first opened its doors, we have been committed to distancing ourselves from the culinary industry’s exploitative wage norms. Our standard ensures that guests can enjoy a gratuity-free dining experience provided by fairly-compensated team members.

Our owner, Devinder Chaudhary, spoke with Narcity and Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Andrew Pinsent about Aiana’s living wage commitment, Read all about it here.

With over 350 wines to choose from – each sourced from top producers and offering a thematic match to our menus – Aiana is pleased to announce that it has received the Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator.

The Wine Spectator awards recognize restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections and are appropriate to their cuisines. Our cellars have been recognized for their innate ability to satisfy serious wine lovers, and reflect a deep commitment to wine and service excellence.

To learn more about the Wine Spectator awards, visit their website – or better yet, book a reservation to discover our wine selection for yourself!

Aiana’s Executive Chef Chats With CTV News

It’s no secret that the arrival of COVID19 has presented a host of challenges to the food and hospitality industry, with Aiana as no exception. Recently, our Executive Chef chatted with CTV News Ottawa about the struggles of opening a fine-dining establishment in the midst of a global pandemic, our philosophy around food, and a new (exciting) menu addition.

A Living Wage Employer

After much hard work and anticipation, Aiana is finally opening its doors in early August in the heart of Ottawa’s downtown core. With roots planted in a desire to bring the abundance of Canada’s food products to the forefront of flavourful dishes, guests can expect seasonally-inspired farm-to-table cuisine paired with elevated service upon walking through Aiana’s doors.

Recognizing that an exceptional guest experience begins not only with the quality of food, but an enthusiastic and committed team, Aiana is committed to supporting its employees above and beyond industry expectations by providing employees with a Living Wage.

As a Living Wage Employer, Aiana will compensate its team with an hourly rate that enables each employee to meet their basic needs and expenses relative to economic trends within their community. The Living Wage is not a fixed wage, and rather, a wage that is reassessed each year to correspond with external factors (e.g. changes in the economy). As the Canadian Payroll Association found in 2019, 43% of Canadians attribute financial stress to their lack of workplace productivity – something Aiana is eager to curb through its commitment to creating a stable, productive, and enjoyable workplace for all employees. Through the provision of a Living Wage, Aiana will:

• Motivate its team to provide quality customer service
• Reduce stress and anxiety inside and outside of the workplace
• Reduce turnover rates
• Build an open dialogue among all team members

Aiana’s pledge of providing a living wage is just the beginning of creating transformational change in the restaurant industry.