Chicken shawarma lovers looking to expand their palate are taking notice of a new restaurant in the east end.
Tahini’s, a London, Ont.-based Middle Eastern chain, has begun welcoming guests inside their doors at the Churchill Plaza next to Cobs Bread.
Offering all sorts of Mediterranean fusion dishes since the company was established in 2019, Tahini’s has since expanded to 45 stores nationwide — including two in northern Ontario.
The Sault’s excited new owner Atul Sharma made the big move from India to Canada in 2012 and has been living in town for the past five years.
Already owning and operating Pizza Pizza and Jack’s Chicken and Fish, Sharma knew years ago that Tahini’s was another franchise he wanted to be a part of.
“I’ve been talking to them since 2020 about opening a store in the Sault,” he told SooToday. “I chose Tahini’s over other franchises because of their quality of food. I enjoyed their food as a customer every single time, and it’s remained the same year after year. That means they’re doing something good.”
It’s no secret the Sault has witnessed a massive expansion to the culinary scene since the pandemic cooled down.
In the last two years alone, major plazas like Churchill, as well as The Shoppes on TransCanada (formerly the Wellington Square Mall), and the Northern Avenue Plaza have added a variety of internationally fused options.
Local establishments like Georgie’s Shawarma and big-name chains like Osmow’s would be considered competitors to Tahini’s as these restaurants all share a passion for Mediterranean food.
That excites Sharma.
“It’s a challenge, but I love challenges,” he said. “The way restaurants are growing here right now; it almost feels over-saturated. A year ago, it was not. But that’s the nature of business.”
Last week, the team at Tahini’s received a warm welcome to the Sault as Mayor Matthew Shoemaker stopped by for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Sharma, who is now married, owns a home, and has a one-year-old son, can’t imagine living anywhere else but here.
“Everything I got, I got it from Sault Ste. Marie,” he said. “The experience, the learning curves — it all comes from here. We’re settled in and we want to stay here.”
Readers can access Tahini’s menu and hours of operation by clicking here.
