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The Brockberry Café & Suites
Where Small-Town Charm and Simple Elegance Meet
I
f you’ve ever been to the Brockberry Café, you know it’s somewhere you’ll want to return. From the seasonal patio to the airy
Seaway Sunroom to the historic Brock and Fulford Heritage
Rooms that evoke the simple elegance of a by-gone era, the Brockberry
offers the best that Brockville has to offer in the way of a mid-priced
casual eatery.
When Josie Groniger and Seth O’Hara, who together are the face of
the Brockberry Café and Suites, took over from former owner Roger
Galvin in December 2005, they knew what they were getting into. Seth
was a seasoned chef and restaurateur, and Josie an experienced business
woman. With the Brockberry already a popular gathering spot with an
established and loyal clientele, the opportunity was too good to walk
away from. “When we each owned our own restaurants, Roger and I
used to joke that if we combined his lunches with my dinners, we’d
have a great restaurant,” laughs Seth, who worked at the Brockberry for
a year before taking over from Roger. And so that’s just what Josie and
Seth did - they took the best of the Brockberry and built on it.
Josie and Seth recognized that the Brockberry had been successful
for a reason and that it would be folly to institute sweeping changes.
“Regular customers tend to be suspicious of change,” explains Josie,
“so we’ve been very careful to introduce new things slowly.”
While many of the old favorites are still on the menu, one of the things
that Seth has done is to gradually introduce new flavours and influences
to the menu. He credits having grown up in Toronto with his love of ethnic foods. “I was exposed to such
a wide variety of foods at
a young age, and
that has really
influenced
how
I
c o o k .”
J o s i e
a d d s
that there
seems to
be a demand
in Brockville for
more ethnic food, so
they are looking at adding more
By Laura Wright
to the menu in the coming months. “Mind you,” laughs Josie, “one of
the most popular additions has been the cabbage salad, which is a recipe
Seth got from his mother. It’s elegant in its simplicity.”
While some changes, such as the introduction of new items on the
menu, are immediately visible, others are less so. “I believe strongly in
running the business in as environmentally-friendly a way as we can,”
says Josie. To that end they have had a professional energy audit, upgraded the heating system, installed energy efficient lighting throughout the restaurant and suites, and use environmentally-friendly products
and local produce whenever possible.
Josie Groniger and Seth O'Hara, The Brockberry Café
Brockberry was one of the first businesses in Brockville to attain the
Service Excellence designation through the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC), which means that all staff and management
have been through and continue to pursue rigorous training in customer
service. “We’re really proud of all our staff,” Josie says with a smile.
“There are people they see weekly, and they get really attached to them.
We like to think that this is a place where both staff and customers are
comfortable and where everyone is treated with respect.”
Josie and Seth have also worked hard at expanding other sides of
the business, such as the catering service and the guest suites. Catered
events can be on- or off-site, large or small, casual or elegant. A small
party might involve Seth cooking in your kitchen for you and your
guests, whereas a large party might involve fully uniformed staff and
the Brockberry’s “travelling liquor license.”
“Catering is where Seth’s artistic skills really shine,” Josie explains
with pride. “He can come up with new foods and new ways of presenting it based on the venue and the theme. We did a garden party where
we blended the food with the exquisite landscape architecture. Hors
d’oeuvres were served on slate trays - it was a lot of fun.”
Josie is particularly proud of the feature on their website (www.
brockberry.com) that allows people to requests catering quotes. “Seth
never thought people would use it,” she grins, “but it’s been really popular.”
The Brockberry also offers two fully-equipped efficiency suites that
are available for short or long stays. Beautifully furnished and located
in the historic portion of the building, they’re perfect for out-of-town
family, business associates, or even romantic get-aways. For those who
don’t like to cook, room service is available during the Brockberry’s
regular business hours.
Seth and Josie credit their staff with much of the business’s success.
“All of our cooks make their own contribution and have their own talents,” boasts Seth. “We like to think we push them to increase their
talent by giving them a lot of creative license.” But both Josie and Seth
know that even the best food won’t keep people coming back if the
service isn’t good. Always forward thinking, they made sure that the
Josie and Seth are proud that the Brockberry Café is the restaurant
of choice for both special occasions and regular get-togethers. With a
carefully blended atmosphere of small-town charm, casual dining, and
simple elegance, the Brockberry has something to offer everyone.
The Brockberry Café is open seven days a week. Lunch is served
from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. Sunday through Thursday; Friday and Saturday to 9:00 p.m. with
brunch every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The Brockberry also features singer and musician Les Picard select Saturdays for
evenings of R&B, ballads, and light jazz. Theatre packages are also
available. For more information or to book your catering event visit our
website www.brockberry.com or call the Brockberry at 613.498-2692
to book your reservations.
Fully Licensed Dining
Gift Certificates
Catering In House or Out
Sunday Brunch
64 King Street E., Brockville, ON. • 613.498.2692
www.brockberry.com
HOURS
Lunch 11-2
Dinner 5-8
(Fri. & Sat.
until 9)
[email protected]