The Flats Eatery and Drink has only been open in Estevan for a couple years, but it has become known as a place where people can enjoy a great meal in a comfortable setting.
Kurt and Wanda Zimmerman and their daughter, Tayja Lakusta, opened the business in February 2014. The adjoining licensed lounge opened eight months later.
Approximately 25 people work at the business, which is located on Nicholson Road on the western edge of the city.
Kurt, Wanda and Tayja pride themselves on using fresh meats, bread, buns and produce while preparing the menu items at the restaurant.
鈥淲e use only the highest quality of ingredients and make as much of our food from scratch as possible,鈥� Tayja said. 鈥淲e want our customers to feel like they ate a homemade meal, not boxed food that is reheated that you so often find now in restaurants.鈥�
The family brings a lot of knowledge about the hospitality sector to The Flats. Wanda and Kurt ran Estevan鈥檚 Husky Travel Centre, which includes a restaurant, for 19 years from 1994 to 2013. Tayja grew up around the restaurant.
She went to the University of Saskatchewan and obtained a degree in business management.
But in 2013, the family decided they wanted to make a change and venture out on their own.
鈥淚t was a huge decision to make that took months of consideration,鈥� Tayja said.
They were determined to bring a place to Estevan where customers can dine on quality food at an affordable price.
A breakfast and lunch menu is available until 4 p.m., and then their supper menu takes effect until closing time. The breakfast menu boasts a variety of main courses and side dishes, but there are also selections for customers with smaller appetites.
Lunch includes appetizers, foods for sharing, and a delicious assortment of soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers and side dishes.
The supper menu is even more diverse, allowing customers to enjoy their entr茅e or dish with The Flats鈥� home-cooked taste.聽
A separate menu boasts fresh-cut steaks that are made to order, and at a reasonable price.
Daily specials are also available. The Wednesday wing night, with 20 different flavours to choose from, is their biggest and most popular promotion. Tayja and Wanda say they have been told their wings are the best in town.
The restaurant has not only received excellent reviews for the food, but for the service, layout and cleanliness.
Their lounge includes a pool table and VLTs, and also incorporates an outdoor patio that is now open. The menu on the patio is the same as the restaurant and the lounge.
Kurt, Wanda and Tayja take pride in adapting to the changes in the restaurant industry. They want to continue growing by bringing in new menu items, while maintaining their core values of fresh, high-quality ingredients. And they hope to balance the latest food trends, while also maintaining the traditional menu options.
鈥淏eing family owned and operated allows us to not be restricted on the direction we want to go,鈥� Tayja said.
They also take pride in being able to appeal to a wide variety of customers.
鈥淲e have spicy items for someone who wants a meal with a kick,鈥� she said.
The owners of The Flats believe in giving back the community, and they host steak and chicken fundraisers for teams and non-profit organizations throughout the year.
They believe it鈥檚 great to be in Estevan, and they hope they can continue to make dining at The Flats an experience that people will find memorable. They appreciate their customers, and they hope it shows through in all the food they serve.
