UPDATE:

Dave Sidhu has reverted Royal Hut back to Elisabeth鈥檚 Chalet Restaurant. This happened sometime late in 2022. Below is our original story on the original changeover.

Original story below:

It鈥檚 the end of an era, of sorts, for Elisabeth鈥檚 Chalet Restaurant.

Owner Dave Sidhu has changed the name to Royal Hut and changed the cuisine to Indian. He said there were a number of factors that pushed him to switch up the place, but the single biggest factor was that he鈥檚 lost a large portion of his base of regular customers.

鈥淢any of our regulars have moved away and we don鈥檛 see them anymore,鈥� explained Sidhu. 鈥淎nd the majority of our current regulars are very old. So we don鈥檛 see them as much either. Add to this that many South Asians are moving to Cloverdale and it seemed the only option for us.鈥�

He decided to move ahead with the switch because he couldn鈥檛 envision going back to the quiet nights Elisabeth鈥檚 was seeing before COVID. He said they would get a smattering of customers on the weekends and zero during the week for lunch. Sidhu was thinking about changing the restaurant over to Indian cuisine for awhile, but COVID was the final straw.

鈥淔or two years, we were shut down. We had nothing,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are still struggling. We don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 happening. We don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen in the future.鈥�

Inside, the restaurant looks the same, but a new chef is working the kitchen.

鈥淲e鈥檒l be keeping the decor,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be keeping a small menu with Elisabeth鈥檚 Chalet items, the popular items.鈥�

Sidhu said his new chef has prepared an Indian cuisine menu and he鈥檚 mastered the Elisabeth鈥檚 Chalet menu. He added his regulars are thrilled he retained some of the Elisabeth鈥檚 menu.

鈥淚t鈥檚 one place with two types of cuisine,鈥� he noted. 鈥淐ustomers have been surprised. It鈥檚 a different experience. And our regulars aren鈥檛 disappointed. They said they like the new menu and they鈥檙e happy we still have some of the old menu available.鈥�

Sidhu wants Cloverdalians to come down to Royal Hut and give his new chef a try. He said the restaurant is still fine dining and they still hold themselves to the high standards Elisabeth鈥檚 Chalet Restaurant was known for.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not copying anyone. We鈥檙e putting our own stamp on the menu, including unique foods and deserts.鈥�

He said they鈥檒l still have their signature black forest cake too.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very popular,鈥� added Sidhu.鈥淲e make it in-house鈥攚e make everything in-house鈥攊t鈥檚 been on the menu for a long time and it鈥檚 going to stay on the menu.鈥�

Sidhu said he thinks Royal Hut will appeal to a wide variety of people. He hopes restaurant goers understand that while Elisabeth鈥檚 Chalet menu is smaller, it鈥檚 still on offer, and that the Royal Hut menu has a wide appeal and will offer patrons some distinctive food and flavours.

鈥淥ur new menu is unique, but it鈥檚 the same place,鈥� noted Sidhu. 鈥淲e have new cuisine and it will be a new experience, but it will be the same quality food and service.鈥�

editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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