“Food trucks seem to be gaining recognition a little bit more,” said Chris Stewart, owner of Not Just Dogs!, who has run a mobile eatery for eight years.
Three food trucks in the Orillia area each offer something unique for those looking for a casual meal outdoors.
And all three companies have one thing in common: they source their fresh-cut fry potatoes from Fer-Mar Farms Lafontaine Potatoes.
Not just dogs!
Not Just Dogs!, located at 595 W. St. S. next to Trombly's Tackle Box, offers a unique item: breaded and deep-fried pickles.
We get an order of five pickles with ranch dip, which is mild in flavor, not too vinegary, and the coating is crisp and delicious.
“This year has been going pretty well so far. It seems like the food truck is starting to get a little more recognition,” owner Chris Stewart said.
Stewart has been operating the food truck for eight years, which may be the longest-running food truck in town.
“I love this job. I meet people from all walks of life. They're all happy to come and buy food,” he said.
The top three ordered items are:
Poutine – $12 Burger – $9 or a combo with fries and pop for $16 Fried pickles – $9
Prices include taxes.
Regular customer Shelley McDonald of Orillia said her favorite item on the menu is the steak bun ($13).
“It's great. The fries are great,” she said.
Hours: Monday 11am to 7pm, closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11am to 9pm, Saturday 11am to 6pm, Sunday 11am to 9pm. For more information, call 705-238-2121 or find them on Facebook.
Grub Spot
Fresh burgers and chicken tacos are the specialty of the Grub Spot food truck, located at 321 Atherley Rd. near the Bayview Inn.
“We make our own beef patties every morning, we make our own batches of chicken every day, we make our own sauces, coleslaw and fresh fries,” owner Rob Patel said. “We were the first to do the Smashburger in Orillia.”
The black food truck will celebrate its two-year anniversary at the end of June, and the trailer has been moved to face Asrari Road to make it more visible.
The top three best-selling items are:
A smashburger is $12 or a combo with fries and a pop is $15.75, fried chicken tacos (two) are $12 and a Big Boy burger is $15.
Prices do not include sales tax.
For vegetarians, the restaurant offers veggie samosas and sweet potato fries tossed with Parmesan and served with spicy mayonnaise.
“We try to offer a variety of options and different price points. We have a large hot dog for $4, two for $6,” he said.
A new initiative this season is a partnership with Skip the Dishes.
Opening hours: Closed Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 8pm.
For more information, call 437-855-6057 or check us out on Instagram.
Johnston's Fly Shack
The newest food truck in the Orillia area is Johnston's Fry Shack, which opened May 17 at 1937 Horseshoe Valley Rd. E. in Price's Corner.
“The welcome and support from the community has been overwhelming,” said owner Sandy Stewart (no relation to Chris Stewart).
“We had repeat customers the first week, which is great,” she added.
The food truck serves burgers, hot dogs, fries, poutine, sausage and onion rings, and also has an ice cream shop as part of the operation, serving Chapman's Ice Cream.
The unique food item at this location is the Elk Burger, which is currently being offered on a trial basis. Another unique feature of this food truck is its setup: a large seating area on repurposed artificial turf with music, lighting, a games area, and plenty of flower planters. Additionally, there are portable toilets and hand-washing stations.
“That's really the experience we're trying to create here. We don't want to just be a chip truck. We want to have a Johnston's kind of experience so everyone can come and have a good time,” Stewart said.
Sean Muldowney of Sudbury stopped into Johnston's Fry Shack and ordered some fries.
“The fries are crispy and I gobble them up. They're thick cut, which is nice,” he said.
The top three companies in terms of sales are:
Poutine – $9 Burger – $7.50 or combo with fries and drink for $14 Johnston's Footlong – $8
Prices do not include sales tax.
Hours are closed Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 11AM-7PM, Friday and Saturday 11AM-8PM, Sunday 11AM-7PM, and open Canada Day.
For more information, call 705-408-1076 or email us. [email protected] Or find us on Instagram.
