Mandy's Gourmet Salads opens up first Ottawa location in the Glebe

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Mandy’s Gourmet Salads served up leafy treats for the first time on Bank Street on August 15.

It was a bustling first day for the Montreal-based chain as hungry Ottawans lined up around lunchtime to get their roughage.

“You’ve shown us nothing but love and the warmest welcome — we’re thrilled to be opening our doors to you today, bringing you greens and good vibes,” the company said on social media.

By late afternoon the lines had dwindled some, but the restaurant was still busy.

The chain is in the middle of an expansion from its Quebec roots, with stores opening not just in Ottawa, but also at multiple new locations in Toronto.

The chain is popular enough to have started selling its various dressings in grocery stores.

The restaurant announced it would be opening its Bank Street location earlier this year.

Mandy’s opening comes at a time when some vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Ottawa are showing signs of struggling. The Chinatown eatery St. Elsewhere announced that this month would be its last after two years on Somerset Street West. Earlier this year, Pure Kitchen closed its Rideau Street location, decreasing its local footprint to three locations.