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Bonfire on Queen opened amidst a global pandemic and has been evolving ever since. The menu is simple and down to earth, like we are. Inspired by traditional Italian dishes and the bounty grown on Bruce County's farms, we specialize in thin-crust pizza and homemade pasta using locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible. We are proud to feature local beers, wine, and cider alongside our seasonal and weekly specials on our cozy patio, or in our warm, inviting dining room. We also offer for takeout thanks to COVID.
One St. Paddy's Day in Ottawa, a Bruce County farmgirl walked into a bar and sat down next to a British Chef. That's where our story begins.
Fast forward a few years, and on April 16, 2020 we opened Bonfire on Queen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We never planned to open as a takeout restaurant but after six months of renovations we had to try to launch our dream, for better or for worse.
Owned and operated by Chris Shaw, a Red Seal chef, and Jen Christie, who grew up in Tara, Bonfire on Queen marries the casual, warm pub culture of Chris' upbringing with Jen's farm roots and just great, homemade, Italian-inspired food using local ingredients.
“My great-aunt worked at the Paisley Inn in its heyday, and my mom has hinted more than once it was the place to be. When we moved to Paisley, we quickly realized this is a social place without a social house,” said Jennifer.
Chris has experience with many different styles of cuisine and has managed kitchens and restaurants in Europe, Australia and Canada. He came to Canada in 2009 and worked on the west coast before landing in Ottawa and now Paisley.
The name, Bonfire on Queen, is a nod to both the popular summer social activity and Chris and Jen’s birthday, which happens to be on November 5th, a notable date in British history when English Catholic rebel Guy Fawkes tried to blow up parliament in the failed Gunpowder Plot. It’s come to be known as “bonfire night” in England.
