The idea behind the new Chubby Funsters Kitchen and Cocktails came from ideas co-owners Joel Asher, John Ferguson, and Eric Stone had been mulling around.
“We always had these little ideas we would bounce around,” said Asher. “When the space became available it seemed like a great place to try out some of those ideas.” In the case of Chubby Funsters, it's a slightly more casual place where patrons can still get a nice meal.
Located in Grizzly Plaza in the building that has been home to a few other restaurants including Bad Paul's and most recently Ginger and Spice Bistro, Chubby Funsters opened with little fanfare on July 25. So far, the response to the new restaurant has been mostly positive.
“There's been a great response to the space. Everyone likes that it's open again,” said Asher. “Foodwise, there's some different things on the menu that people are open to trying.”
Local resident Samantha Robert, who has been to Chubby Funsters three times since its opening, said the calamari appetizer is high up on her list.
Other popular menu items so far have been the beef lasagna, 1/4 and 1/2 chickens and prime rib.
When I asked Robert about her experiences, she said she had nothing to complain about.
“The service is very friendly, very attentive and consistent from visit to visit” she said. “My favourite things are the beautiful outside back patio, the friendly attentive nature of this business and the menu.”
Asher said that like all new restaurants they have had their fare share of facility issues.
“It's always challenging to learn a new facility,” he said. However, a positive is that because all new staff go through at same time: “You know to expect problems when you're opening so it's nice to have everyone go through those problems.”
Despite also being involved with some well-known Revelstoke restaurants and pubs (Asher and Ferguson are also owners of the Village Idiot, while Asher, Ferguson and Stone are involved with the Big Eddy Pub), when I ask what makes a successful restaurant, Asher says he has no idea.
“I'm not sure why the people of Revelstoke enjoy our restaurants. We try to do stuff we like and that we think other people will like. The secret in restaurants is no different than in any other business,” said Asher who also noted luck plays a large part in the restaurant industry and that he has seen some fantastic concepts not work out.
Currently Chubby Funsters is open at 5 pm for dinner, but will open for lunch in the near future. They are also open for Sunday brunch.