She came to Canada as a computer programming student at the University of Guelph.
But with Raman Deepkaur's love of food, and her husband's cooking background, the opportunity to open a restaurant was too appetizing to resist.
Jannat-E-Punjab Bar & Grill Indian restaurant opened Aug. 6 in the plaza at 206 Speedvale Ave. W., at the intersection with Dawson Road.
"I was planning to be a city bus driver," Deepkaur, the 27-year-old owner, told GuelphToday. "But it was my husband's dream because he came here as a chef. He wants to open his own restaurant."
Deepkaur arrived from India in 2017 for school. Her husband, Jatinderpal Singh Khaira, came over a year later to pursue his culinary career.
The couple started looking for a space last December, and signed the lease for the space in February. Then the work started on the building permit to modify the space for the restaurant use.
She admits it was a tough process ensuring everything was up to the standards of the city.
But Deepkaur is happy to see everything up and running.
"We were not even expecting that much (of a) crowd," she said. "On weekends, it's just amazing. It started picking up so good as a new business.
"For the new business, we were hoping it's going to take time. Maybe two months, maybe six months to pick up. But from our first day of the opening, it's just amazing. I'm totally satisfied."
There is a large menu to choose from, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
A lunch buffet is offered four times a week, and there is dessert too.
It's part of a suddenly-busy part of the plaza. Pyramid Pizza & Wings and Titan Auto Glass are the restaurant's next door neighbours, and also opened over the summer.
"I haven't hired much people, so I do serving by myself," Deepkaur said. "And my husband is the chef. My brother, my sister-in-law all are helping us."
That being said, the business is hiring. For anyone interested, you can bring your resume to the restaurant.
Even the logo was created in-house by Deepkaur. The hope is it becomes more recognizable, as the business grows, with the long-term goal of making the restaurant a franchise with multiple locations.
For now, the restaurant is open Mondays 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner. It's also open Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The lunch buffet runs Tuesdays to Fridays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
