Perched on Ottawa’s iconic Rideau Canal, Canal Ritz has welcomed locals, tourists and nearby university students for decades. With its four dining rooms, an expansive 130-seat patio and a menu that blends classic Italian dishes with steak and seafood favourites, the restaurant balances high volume with a high-touch dining experience.
When General Manager Christopher Burke and his team decided to modernize their point-of-sale system, they turned towards Virtuo POS, the evolution of Maitre’D. The goal was clear: bring the flexibility of the cloud into their operations while preserving the reliability and depth that Maitre’D has always delivered.
The Challenge
Before implementing Virtuo, Canal Ritz ran on a legacy version of Maitre’D that, while dependable, couldn’t keep pace with the flexibility required for modern restaurant operations. Seasonal changes, dynamic staffing and a busy patio service made adaptability essential.
Kalil Saikaley, the owner, and Christopher recognized that they were ready for a futureproof, cloud-based POS that could support a faster, more digital workflow.
The older system required manual effort for routine updates and simple changes to menus or pricing often took longer than desired. Staff onboarding also became more difficult with a younger, tech-savvy workforce accustomed to intuitive interfaces. The Canal Ritz team wanted a system that could scale with them and feel as familiar as their menu.
The Implementation
Canal Ritz was the first restaurant to participate in the Virtuo pilot program. The upgrade was guided by PayFacto’s local implementation specialists, who worked closely with Christopher and his team.
“They were great to work with and made everything feel easy,” said Christopher Burke.
The transition unfolded before the busy summer season. The installation process was handled in phases to avoid downtime. Training was tailored to the staff’s needs, focusing on hands-on use during service.
Most of the restaurant’s team members are university students, comfortable with technology, so the change felt natural to them.
Immediate Benefits
Since switching to Virtuo POS, the restaurant has seen clear improvements across every part of service:
- Management reports and end-of-day summaries are now completed in a fraction of the time.
- Servers can input orders and process payments more quickly, which helps turn tables faster during peak periods.
- Christopher noted that Virtuo has been “very quick” with “no crashes or lag”. Stability during busy patio shifts has been a major win.
- Staff now access all their tools through an intuitive interface that requires less training time.
When small issues arose early on, the Virtuo support team addressed them immediately. “If a report didn’t look right, they worked it out almost immediately,” Christopher shared. That responsiveness built confidence and trust throughout the transition.
A Partnership Built on Support
For Christopher, the software is only part of the story. What stood out was the people behind it. This implementation succeeded because of both strong technology and teamwork. The Canal Ritz team credited PayFacto’s responsive support for helping the transition go smoothly.
“I wouldn’t have anything negative to say,” he said, “and because of the individuals that helped us, I would strongly recommend it.”
With Virtuo POS, the restaurant now enjoys real-time control over menus, prices and reports, whether they’re in the kitchen, office or at home. Managers can monitor sales remotely, while staff can focus on guests instead of technical details.
Looking Ahead
The Canal Ritz team plans to continue exploring Virtuo’s growing capabilities, including advanced reporting and cloud-driven updates. The restaurant’s blend of classic hospitality and forward-thinking operations makes it a fitting showcase for what Virtuo POS can achieve.
Christopher Burke saw the upgrade as a chance to modernize how the restaurant operates and to build a stronger foundation for the years ahead. With Virtuo and PayFacto, Canal Ritz has achieved the right balance between tradition and innovation, using a system that evolves alongside its team and guests.
