Some places become part of a neighbourhood’s routine almost immediately.
The coffee spot friends insist on taking you to.
The brunch place you end up recommending to everyone.
The restaurant where weekend plans seem to naturally begin.
In Centretown, Mazarine has become one of those places.
Founded by Selina Qaqish and Yesmine El-Ayoubi in September 2019, the Mediterranean-inspired brunch restaurant has built a loyal following around fresh ingredients, scratch cooking, quality coffee, and a menu that blends Levantine flavours with familiar brunch comfort.
At its core, Mazarine was built around more than brunch.
The restaurant draws inspiration from Mediterranean and Levantine dining culture – where meals are meant to be shared, conversations stretch longer, and gathering around the table is part of daily life.
That philosophy shapes everything from the atmosphere to the menu itself.
Dishes like the Ashta Pancakes, Avocado Labneh Toast, and Shish Tawouk Club reflect that balance between comfort and creativity, while Turkish coffee, cappuccinos, and cocktails help turn brunch into something people linger over rather than rush through.
When Selina and Yesmine opened Mazarine, they felt there was space in Ottawa’s brunch scene for something different.
“We realized there was a void in brunch restaurants that combine the flavours from the Levant and Canadian cuisines,” they explain.
What started as a smaller, more focused menu gradually evolved as customers responded to the fusion of Mediterranean flavours and classic brunch staples.
Over time, the restaurant refined both its menu and operations – including introducing an automated waitlist system that lets guests explore the neighbourhood while waiting for a table instead of standing in line outside.
That evolution helped Mazarine grow while staying grounded in what mattered most: quality and consistency.
Ask the owners what they would tell themselves back in 2019, and the answer is simple.
Consistency goes further than hype.
Rather than constantly expanding the menu or chasing trends, Mazarine focused on doing a smaller number of dishes exceptionally well – building trust with customers one visit at a time.
And over the years, that consistency has helped turn first-time visitors into regulars.
The relationship between Mazarine and Centretown has always gone both ways.
The neighbourhood embraced the restaurant early on, with regular customers and word-of-mouth recommendations helping the business grow.
And in return, Mazarine has remained committed to giving back through donations and community support initiatives whenever possible.
Over time, the restaurant has become woven into the neighbourhood’s rhythm – part of weekend routines, coffee runs, celebrations, and slow brunch mornings shared with family and friends.
Built on Small Business is about more than longevity.
It’s about care. Craft. Responsibility. Long-term commitment.
It’s about businesses that understand they don’t exist in isolation – that they’re part of a neighbourhood ecosystem, shaped by and shaping the people around them.
Centretown runs on places like Mazarine.
Places where people gather. Slow down. Catch up. Share a meal.
And in Centretown, it’s built on breaking bread together.
Photos by the amazing Nicolai Gregory – @nicolaipgregory
