Whether you’re following a low-fat or a high-fat diet, a paleo diet or a vegetarian eating style, Hady Dief is serving it up with Mediterranean flavours, now in Barrie’s north end and soon in the south end.
The owner of the Osmow’s franchise in Barrie, Dief opened the restaurant in North Barrie Crossing (547 Cundles Road E., unit 2), just more than a month ago.
Next month, he’s opening a second location, at Yonge Street and Big Bay Point Road.
He’s proud to be part of the fast-growing chain that began in a former submarine shop in Streetsville, now a part of Mississauga, in 2001.
“They have over 40 locations and they’re opening lots of new ones. It’s a Canadian company and only in Ontario, so far,” said Dief, who came to Canada from Egypt 12 years ago and to Barrie two years ago.
He said the appeal is the freshness and the ability to customize and create your own sandwich or plate.
“Osmow’s food is really fresh, no processed foods,” said Dief.
“If you eat it once, you will never stop. All the people become addicted to it.”
In the few weeks since opening his doors, he’s already greeting returning customers by name and preparing to make their usual orders.
“The chicken shawarma is my favorite, because it’s healthy and tastes really good, with all the sauces, like garlic and tahini. Our system is very flexible,” he said, adding the range of sauces also includes tahini, tzatziki, garlic, hummus and a secret Osmow’s sauce.
“It allows you to put whatever you want or imagine on it. We can make it for you,” he said.
The restaurant, which faces the Shoppers Drug Mart in the northeast commercial hub, offers quick take-out as well as the option to eat-in, and Dief is in the process of obtaining a liquor licence.
In the north end, he’s looking to serve up fresh food to Georgian College students or high school students who attend the nearby St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, as well as those who live and work in the city’s northeast. On the southeast edge of the city, his staff will cater to more students, commuters and residents who call south Barrie and even northern Innisfil home.
Appetizers include taboule, a fresh salad featuring tomatoes, parsley and green onions.
Salads, for those looking to add more greens to their diets, include taboule an fattouch, as well as entrée salads with beef and chicken.
Prices for sandwiches start at $5.31 and go to $9.75, depending on size and filling, beef, chicken and lamb main dishes range in price from $7.25 to $16.99. The main that would appeal to vegetarians features fattouch, hummus, baba ganoush and falafel, and costs $10.75.
Osmow’s is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Sundays through Thursdays and to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights.
