It’s not locally owned but it’s a restaurant that is really trying to bring local flair to its pretty space. The Garden Grille at the new Hilton Garden Inn in New Sudbury opened its doors in the height of the pandemic.
And now with Ontario reopening it is aiming to make its mark in Sudbury.
Alfred Estephan, the chef at Garden Grille & Bar arrived in Sudbury eight long months ago.
Sadly, his kitchen has only known two types of dining experiences in that timespan – 50-per-cent capacity and room service.
Estephan said now is the time to break out.
He said the restaurant is known for its fish first, and cured and dried on-site angus beef second.
“The pickerel is from North Bay and Manitoulin Island. The trout is from Manitoulin Island. Local salmon is used when possible, too. We use local fish supplier Jessnik and the potatoes are right from Azilda,” Estephan said.
There are also a number of items on the menu with a northern vibe. The Big Nickel is a half pound chuck burger served on a toasted brioche bun. You can also add an easy fried egg, mushrooms and aged cheddar to it.
There is also a Big Nickel breakfast on the menu, but he said the eggs benedict is the best-seller in the morning next to peaches and cream french toast.
Estephan jumped into culinary college at Fanshawe straight out of high school. He was part of the first graduating class to make the high school leap. Estephan spent 20 years training in hotels and private clubs in major centres like Ottawa, Calgary, London and Toronto.
He’s also competed in his fair share of professional chef competitions in both Canada and the United States.
Estephan said after becoming a dad for the first time, he decided to find a smaller city and Sudbury with its lakes and greenspace seemed like the right fit.
Estephan said in his own life, he never makes the same meal twice. He is creative in the kitchen and encourages his staff to have no fear when marrying tastes.
“They often play around making meals, or new cocktails. We are really into self-discovery here,” he said.
Estephan said wine is his forte and he likes to find pairing that match each meal well.
He’s also added items to the menu celebrating his Lebanese heritage with a deconstructed Shawarma plate with in-house made pickled turnips.
Estephan said the pandemic supply chain issues are driving up the cost of food. He said the restaurant industry is trying to find inventive ways to keep costs low like sourcing locally and re-envisioning braising to use whole animals and sparing nothing.
He’s also invited local musicians to play in the restaurant on a weekly basis in an effort to support homegrown talent.
The Garden Grille and Bar is located at the corner of Barrydowne Road and the Kingsway.
Our hours of operation are 7 a.m. till 10:30 a.m. for breakfast and 5 p.m. till 10 p.m. for dinner. 7 days a week.
The Facebook page can be found here Hilton Garden Inn Sudbury.
Anastasia Rioux is a freelance writer in Greater Sudbury. Let’s Eat is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
