Can-Indian Fusion Meets Highway 61
Story by Michelle McChrsitie, Photos by Darren McChristie
It’s been a long haul for Kamal Sodhi and the team behind the new Beaux Daddy’s restaurant. They purchased the establishment in 2021 and officially opened on December 10, 2023. And while the name Beaux Daddy’s and remnants of the original Uncle Frank’s decor are the same, just about everything else is original.
Sodhi and his partner operate a few other businesses around Thunder Bay, and moved here to run a gas station/truck stop/restaurant near Upsala before the pandemic. If you’ve driven west of Thunder Bay in the past couple of years, you’ve probably noticed the signs for the Canadian/Punjabi-style restaurant on the big building with the red roof. In case you were curious, the Fill ‘N Chill has over 350 Google reviews with an impressive average rating of 4.4.
Kamal Sodhi and his partner Pankuri
Needless to say, Sodhi and his team know how to put together a crowd-pleasing menu, and the one for Beaux Daddy’s is just that. “Our menu is a combination of East Indian food and North American food. We have tried to do a bit of fusion and presented the dishes in a way that they retain their authenticity, but are suited to the local palate,” he says. The menu is huge, even a little overwhelming, so don’t hesitate to ask your server a few questions or to make recommendations.
Samosas
Having tried something from every section of the menu, including the Amritsari fish pakoras, Indian chickpea salad (with pomegranates), samosas (the lightest, flakiest pastry), Mapusa fish curry, Old Delhi butter chicken (they sell the sauce to go), a veggie burger (with an Indian twist) and kesar phirni (pudding made with ground rice, milk, sugar, nuts, and saffron), I can honestly say that every dish was beautifully presented and completely house-made, including the sauces.
Indian chickpea salad
Sodhi says that popular specialty dishes include chicken and cauliflower wings and rosemary mustard sirloin steak, while the butter chicken croquettes (imagine butter chicken fused with breaded chicken strips), beef vindaloo (think rich, warm spices on a blustery cold day), and rabadi mousse (a sweet milk reduction with cardamom and rose) have quickly become local favourites.
Old Delhi butter chicken
In keeping with some of the past traditions, Beaux Daddy’s plans to have live music, open the patio when spring gives way to summer, “plus a few more features to keep guests entertained,” says Sodhi. You can almost taste the nostalgia at this restaurant which first opened in 1956—there is a photo collage that pays tribute to the original owners and menu in the front entrance, and those of us of a certain vintage will recognize the chairs, fireplace, and other decor that have been thoughtfully preserved.
“This restaurant is a part of Thunder Bay’s history,” says Sodhi, “Firstly as Uncle Frank’s Supper Club and then as Beaux Daddy’s. It’s a well-known establishment and we love to relive that history.”
Find Beaux Daddy’s online at beauxdaddy.ca
