A landmark loses out to healthy

[media-credit name=”Photo: John Phenix” align=”alignright” width=”300″]Sushi Rollian[/media-credit]Two year’s ago the HGTV show Restaurant Makeover gutted the interior of the long-time Leaside landmark Sunnybrook Restaurant, replacing its old booths and saggy seat cushions with stainless steel tables, and an open concept dining area, complete with a wall-sized chalkboard menu.

Everything about the new establishment, renamed The Uptown, shouted urban, chic and cool.

But not enough people dined there. The number of breakfasters remained brisk, and the lunch crowd was reasonably loyal, but evenings were a wasteland.

As of April 19, the restaurant re-opened under the name Rollian.

Upon entering, customers are greeted by chefs preparing food at what must be the widest sushi bar in the country. The chalkboard is still there, but now it features only healthy foods such as petite sashimi (assorted raw fish), salmon teriyaki, lobster butter yaki, and tofu cake, in keeping with the restaurant’s mandate, which is to steer diners away from junk food.