Fin City Fish and Chips Restaurant is swimming in a new direction.
Now under new ownership, the restaurant at 300 James St. E. is getting a new menu, larger portions, and an outdoor patio.
Abbey, who preferred not to give his last name, became the new owner on Sept. 1. Before then, he says the restaurant was struggling.
"When this restaurant started it was crazy busy," he said.
Over the last year, Abbey says, for a variety of reasons, Fin City stopped meeting customer service standards.
Abbey, who's in his early 30s, says it's his responsibility now to grow the business to its full potential. He says he owes it to the people of Orillia.
"The people need good food and good fish and chips," he said. "I love food, I love to talk to people, and that's why I'm here."
Abbey plans to make the restaurant as popular as it was when it was previously known as BJ's Home Cooking and Baking.
"It was a famous breakfast place," he said. "It was a hit and people would travel from Barrie to eat breakfast here."
On Nov. 23, Fin City will begin serving a new menu that will include classic breakfast items.
"We'll have pancakes, toast, sausage, everything," he said. "The potatoes we are getting are from local farmers and people are loving it."
Since Abbey took over in late summer, he says the restaurant is already seeing most of its former customers return.
"They see that portions have increased and the food is amazing," he said. "People are loving us again."
Abbey says customers can taste the difference in the fish and chips since he took over.
"People are loving our batter," he said. "People are loving our haddock, halibut, and cod."
Abbey says the restaurant has added new staff and new lighting. By next summer, it will have a new patio, he promised.
"We want people to come, sit, enjoy, and relax," he said.
Beginning on Nov. 23, Fin City will be open every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Their food is also available for takeout on via Skip the Dishes and Uber Eats.
Fin City will celebrate its grand re-opening on Nov. 21 at noon. On that day, orders of fish and chips will be buy one, get one free.
