A California inspired restaurant is set to open its doors in downtown Syracuse next week. Corina Cappabianca spoke with the Original Grain staff to see what new flavors they’ll be dishing out.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The former site of a Tim Horton’s on South Salina Street is getting a fresh new look. Original Grain will be serving up noodle bowls, toasts and salads come next week.
"I think the culture that we're trying to emulate is something that's going to be really laid back, but high energy at the same time," said Original Grain co-owner Chris Bily.
Bily says his business partners were ready to take on the new venture after inspirational trips to the West Coast. He says it's all about "healthy, fast and casual eating."
"We knew a lot of that sort of wasn't in the Syracuse area, specifically downtown," said Bily.
Chef Steve Samuels says the food is locally grown and sourced as much as possible.
“Many different textures, many huge different flavors, many flavors that are different from what they've had before and also flavors that bring back memories of things they grew up with,” said Samuels.
Bily is hoping the food will change the way people think about eating.
"We even see now that even our youngsters are being taught at an early age to know and understand their health, know and understand their food and actually what's in it," said Bily.
While the dishes from nori wraps to kelp noodles might sound different now, the team is hoping over the next few years, they'll become more familiar.
Food prices range from around $6 to $14.