Ormstown’s The Riverain to Relocate
One of Ormstown’s beloved eateries will find a new home after close to nine years of business.
Opened in 2008 by Allison Harding and Robert Anderson, The Riverain was realization of a vision—one that would call on local ingredients to make up the menu. While the restaurant has changed a little over the years given the introduction of Harding’s daughter, Grace McClintock, to the business, the eatery has remained true to its initial mantra (Anderson left in 2010). When the restaurant announced that it would be changing venues about a month ago, it came as a shock to many of the locals. On October 8th, The Riverain will say goodbye to the riverside location that they’ve occupied for nearly nine years with a buffet featuring some of the restaurant’s favourite dishes. The restaurant’s official last day will be October 12th, with lunch being served on both the 11th and closing day (McClintock has hinted that there will be a few drink specials to lighten up their inventory, as well).
“We are so grateful to all of our friends, customers and family for supporting us over the years. Our wonderful staff has become like a family. I'm so glad to have worked with so many different people throughout the years, especially those who have stayed with us from the beginning. Going into work doesn't feel like work when you're doing what you love with people you admire,” says McClintock.
So what were some of the motivations behind opening a restaurant? “We both got into cooking because it's what we love to do,” explains McClintock. “One of my fondest memories was coming home from school and cooking with my mum. When she was cooking for our family, she always made sure to keep it fresh and healthy, using vegetables from her own garden. That mentality has continued into the restaurant's food…we try to buy locally—we'd rather pay a bit more money to support a local farmer than promote mass farming in other countries.” While McClintock admits that the restaurant business can be tough, there’s nothing that the duo would rather do.
While leaving The Riverain’s present location on Ormstown’s Bridge street is bittersweet, both Harding and McClintock look forward to what's next. For now, they can’t say what their plans are for the future, but they can say that they’ll be back in business soon—to the relief of more than a few locals who list The Riverain as their go-to restaurant.