This article previously appeared on OrilliaMatters.
A new Indian Chinese Cuisine restaurant opened this weekend in Orillia.
Marigold Unique Flavours opened on Friday at 28 Mississaga St. E. in the former home of The Golden Dragon. It will be the fifth franchise to open under the Marigold banner.
Owner Diana Patel moved to Canada from India in 2000 to marry her husband. After moving from Toronto to Muskoka in 2006, Patel began working in the hospitality business where she learned the fundamentals of owning and operating a business.
"I've always liked cooking," she said. "When I was living in Huntsville there was no Indian food and no restaurant people from Toronto wanted to come this way at that time."
Shortly after getting into the hotel business, Patel, 43, became a franchisee of a Pizza Pizza location in Muskoka where she learned how to manage a restaurant. She went on to open her first Marigold Unique Flavours in Huntsville in 2017.
"My intent in opening that restaurant was for it to grow into a franchise," she said. "I wanted to open a couple of locations where it was needed to introduce Indian food."
The other Marigold Unique Flavours are located in Bracebridge, North Bay, and Pembroke.
"We are doing great," Patel said. "We get lots of compliments from customers who enjoy our Indian food, Indian-Thai, and Indo-Chinese food."
Patel says her fine dining restaurant will bring "delicious" flavours to Orillia.
"So many of our Bracebridge customers come from Orillia," she explained. "They have been asking us to come here."
Patel says her restaurant is different from any other in the area. She says the food is "authentic".
"We have more than 120 items on our menu," she said. "People love it."
Patel expects the new location to be busy during the long weekend.
"We've been getting lots of messages," she said. "A lot of people already know about us."
Patel is thrilled to be located in the downtown core. She says it's a convenient spot for the restaurant to call home.
"We are close to the hospital and City Hall," she said. "We hope people will always come for lunch."
For a full menu and restaurant hours, click here.
