A new restaurant in town is putting a modern spin on Mediterranean cuisine.
Osmow’s, one of the many businesses to sprout up recently in west Orillia, held its grand opening Thursday.
Sam Osmow started the restaurant in 2001 in Mississauga. It now has 84 locations, including seven in Simcoe County.
The reason for its popularity is simple, according to Prag Patel, who runs the Orillia location with Hiren Patel.
“It’s the food, the quality,” he said. “It’s all fresh.”
The restaurant officially opened in July and has been doing good business since.
“People love our food. We have so many regulars,” Patel said.
He added it’s exciting to be part of the rapid growth in that area of town.
“This area, a year ago, was in the early phase of growing. Now it’s getting packed,” he said.
As Orillia grows, so does the diversity of its cuisine offerings. Osmow’s district manager Paul Tobias believes people are becoming more adventurous with what they eat, leading to a demand for cuisine from around the world in smaller towns and cities.
“A lot of our customer base travels and they’re experiencing all these cuisines. We’re catering to their needs,” he said.
Shawarma is a staple on Mediterranean restaurant menus, but Osmow’s is taking it to a new level.
Customers can order shawarma on the “rox” (rice), but they can also try shawarma on the “stix” (French fries) as well as shawarma poutine.
Osmow’s also recently added Beyond Meat to its menu to expand its vegetarian offerings.
Since the community is showing its love to Osmow’s, the restaurant wants to return the favour. The owners have made an effort to visit various institutions in town, including Lakehead University and the OPP, to introduce themselves. They will also be sponsoring local sports teams.
“We want to show them that we’re part of the community and giving back,” Patel said.
Find out more about the restaurant — located at 30 Diana Dr., Building 4, Unit 1 — at its website.
