The talk of the town is the new Orillia diner and bistro, Sunday Stn.
Orillia couple Sarah Butler and Kalvin Sherry have breathed new life into the old Hasty Tasty location at 380 Laclie St.
“When we saw it go on the market last Christmas, we thought that it would be a good idea to buy it,” Butler explained. “It’s got a good kitchen, it’s cute, and it has an apartment upstairs.”
Both Butler, 36, and Sherry, 30, are well known in the local restaurant industry. Butler was once the co-owner of Stuffed, Sherry owns and operates Krew Catering Co., and the two owne FARE.
Sunday Stn. restaurant, which opened Oct. 30, is a vintage diner with a modern twist.
“We make big sandwiches for lunch,” Butler said. “We make a really tasty breakfast that has classics with a fun spin.”
Orillia is home to a number of breakfast joints, but Sherry says Sunday Stn. stands out.
“Our diner menu is new and innovative,” he said. “It’s more exciting for the younger crowd that is used to new trends, but on the other side of the menu, we have the old classics that you would have found in the Hasty Tasty.”
The restaurant has attracted people of various ages, Sherry says.
“We’ve had lineups,” he said. “On Saturday and Sunday, usually, the restaurant is completely full, and we turn tables around five or six times.”
Sherry says the only complaint he has received about the restaurant is pricing, but once customers try the food, they realize it’s worth it, he explained.
“You get big portions for what you are paying,” he said. “Food costs have gone up 47 per cent in the last four months, so we’ve had to keep adjusting pricing as we’ve been going."
A classic breakfast costs $9 at Sunday Stn., while some other menu items are up to $19.
Already, Sunday Stn. has built a loyal following, the owners say. Some customers can be found there three days a week.
Butler says Sunday Stn. has kind of inherited Hasty Tasty’s loyal customer base, and they have appreciated the way the new restaurant honours the old one.
“We have kept the old booths that were in the restaurant,” she explained. “There is an old menu on the wall, and we’ve kept a couple of little things that we were able to salvage from the building.”
Butler and Sherry hope Sunday Stn. will become a staple of the community for at least as long as Hasty Tasty was.
“We hope we can continue to make it a cool spot for everyone,” Butler said. “We are really happy with it. It’s been a great turnout.”
