Restaurants offering wine with takeout, food deliveries

Pandemic prompts province to allow sale of take-home booze until end of the year

Several Ottawa restaurants this week have debuted their versions of a pandemic-inspired bottle service.

In late March, Ontario’s restaurants and bars received provincial approval until the end of 2020 to sell alcohol with takeout food and delivery orders.

Before that, the businesses, while declared to be essential workplaces, were mandated to close their dining rooms to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Restaurateur Stephen Beckta announced on Instagram last weekend that he would sell wine by the case from the cellars his three restaurants Beckta Dining & Wine, Play Food & Wine and Gezellig.

The orders would be “curated” in that customers would simply let Beckta, a former sommelier in leading New York restaurants, know what style of wine they would prefer and their price range, and Beckta would select the bottles.

Customers, who can inquire about Beckta’s offer by emailing yum@beckta.com, will receive their orders through contactless deliveries on either Tuesday or Friday afternoon, and the orders will come with either cheeses or charcuterie.

“We’re able to find a way to actually care for our guests while we’re closed,” Beckta said.

“And we are maybe making the restaurant stronger for when we do open up and our staff come back and we’re able to rehire everyone.”

On its Instagram page, Corner Peach on Somerset Street West announced this weekend it would begin selling wine, beer and a few food items including sourdough bread, canned peaches and chocolate chip cookies for contactless pickup.

The list of available items will appear on the restaurant’s Instagram stories and those interested can email info@cornerpeach. com.

“All proceeds we make will be going into a relief fund for our amazing staff,” Corner Peach’s post on Instagram says. phum@postmedia.com