Donair Grand Opening

On Tuesday August 2 2011 Shannon Donair on 57th Avenue in Cloverdale, almost on the corner of 176th Street had a grand opening, so this is sort of a semi review. More about the grand opening than the food.

We received a flyer in the mailbox that they were serving free donairs between noon and 2pm. I walked down with my dog about quarter to 1 thinking I could tie her leash to the nearby signpost while I went in. I was also hoping that I'd beat the rush for free donairs. No luck. There was a good line up of people. I couldn't see how many were inside the restaurant but there were about 20 outside the restaurant, including a couple with a dog on leash. There's always a possiblity of trouble with dogs on leashes so I decided to continue home with the dog and come back on my motorbike. I was back around 1:25pm and parked on 176th Street. I saw the couple with the dog walking down the street with their donairs so that tells me at least a half hour wait. The line up was to the doorway of the tattoo shop next door, so about 12 people on the sidewalk and however many inside I couldn't tell.

I got in the line even though I wasn't planning to eat a donair. My husband was at work and he's a hard worker so I was getting one for him. He eats meat and I don't so it would be a nice change for him because we don't cook meat in the house. The donair choices were beef or chicken and I believe falafel (vegetarian, chick pea).

I'd been in line for close to 10 minutes and barely moved when a man came out of the restaurant. He announced that the free donairs would be ending and they would be half price till the end of the day and the cut off for the free donairs would be the man in the blue t-shirt, a couple of people behind me, who was the last person standing in the line.

Fair enough. They have to cut off the free donairs at some point. Good decision and very nice of him to come outside and make the call. Great customer service.

Line is still moving slowly. I'm wondering why they didn't make a bunch of donairs ahead of time expecting a crowd for a free donair or have more people to help out on opening day. I finally get inside the door and its a few minutes before 2pm and about 10 people inside the restaurant ahead of me in the line up. The woman behind the counter announces that all donairs will now be half price, the free donairs are over. About 4 people ahead in the line get disgusted and leave. The man who had come outside is about halfway back in the restaurant putting ingredients together. One woman in the line ahead of me tells the female behind the counter that the man had said the free donairs were until the man in the blue shirt. The man (proprietor I assume) rushes back to the counter and quickly tells the woman that's correct. The cut off for free donairs is the man in the blue t-shirt and they continue on. It appears the two of them are serving the donairs, though occasionally one of them has to stop and do some other food preparation. I'm not sure what their relationship is. Perhaps husband and wife? There was an older couple working in the back of the restaurant cooking food. Assuming they may have been one of their parents?

Anyway part of the reason the line up is moving slowly is that in addition to getting a free donair people are buying more donairs or pop. Great for business. They're making sales. That's what grand openings are all about. When I am third in line the woman behind the counter complains to the man working beside her that it is now quarter after and the free donairs are over. He tells her not to worry about it. I checked my watch. Five after. Maybe her watch is running fast? The two customers in front of me both want to buy extra donairs. I'm hoping like crazy the man will be the one serving me and sure enough he is. Whew! There are still 2 behind me plus the blue t-shirt man. After him are a few other customers who have been made aware they'll be buying half price donairs.

My husband ate the beef donair. Now we have to take in account this is opening day. Things are crazy with lots of people showing up for a free donair. Its possible the restaurant scaled the product back a bit. We plan to return so we can get a fair assessment. My husband said the beef was grisly and there wasn't a lot of beef in the donair. Again, this could very likely account for planning on free donairs and using smaller portions and a lower quality cut.

Shannon Donair is a small restaurant, mostly take out, with a counter and some stools. It is bright and clean inside and they've done a good job. We're looking forward to trying it again on a less hectic day.

Their hours are closed on Sundays and open 10am till 9pm the rest of the week. I don't know. They might have to adjust those hours once they get a better feel for the customer base. 11am till 7 or 8pm might be sufficient for Cloverdale.

Good luck with your new restaurant!