Coniston was created for miners, and the scenery and food at the golf course pays homage and celebrates that existence.
The Twin Stacks Golf Course, east of the city, opened in 1998, giving new life to the smelter and Coniston’s iconic twin stacks, which first became operational in 1913 thanks to the Mond Nickel Company.
Philippe Nave has been the official title owner and operator for almost a decade at Twin Stacks.
He and his business partner serve breakfast, lunch as well as dinner on league nights.
“We do burgers, club sandwiches, porchetta sandwiches on a kaiser with fries and salad, and other features depending on the upcoming events,” he said.
Philippe said all the food is made in-house by the team, including the lasagna and pasta dishes, as well as chicken fingers and chicken wings.
“Some people say the fries are the best in town,” he boasted.
The secret, Nave said, is the size of each fry along with the freshness of the oil and the entire process that is used to make them to perfection.
Phillipe also said that the pasta sauce is one that scores high in his books.
Made by workers like Celeste and Stacy, he said pasta night goes by quickly with lots of happy customers.
The restaurant relies on a lot of customers from the community, as well as the industrial park area for lunches.
Philippe said the feedback is always positive and many even order food to go.
The restaurant offers seating capacity for about 75 people and an additional 30 in the upstairs area.
Phillippe said due to the length of local summers, the restaurant has to capitalize on the short golf season and always remains open until the clubhouse closes in the fall.
As for the golf course, customers always comment on the unique experience of golfing on an old smelter site.
Nave said Twin Stacks is a golfer’s best kept secret, offering players great food, a fabulous price point with lots of wildlife that has settled at the old smelter site.
“Each day is a new day with raccoons, beavers, bears, geese, turtles. This area used to look like a moonscape, but thanks to re-greening efforts and great food, we are a ‘go-to’ for many in and outside the area,” he added.
The Twin Stacks Golf Course is located at 84 Smelter Road in Coniston, east of Sudbury.
The restaurant is open everyday for breakfast and lunch service from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays it is also open for league dinners.
Anastasia Rioux is a writer in Greater Sudbury. Let’s eat! is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
