Shilo Inn Restaurant partners with Chicken Chef franchise

SPRUCEWOODS — Shilo Inn Restaurant has signed a new agreement with the Canadian franchise Chicken Chef, with the restaurant now operating under the combined name Chicken Chef Shilo Inn.

The transition has already brought positive results, co-owner Jackshil Patel, who took over the restaurant last year, told the Sun.

“Since we got Chicken Chef, the business is going pretty well,” he said in an interview. “We get good support from the base and the community. They’re supporting us.”

The addition comes amid what Patel described as growing interest in the Chicken Chef brand across smaller communities.

Patel said they chose the franchise due to quality and reputation.

“The first thing I would like to tell you about the brand is they’ve got fresh quality and good quality of everything that we liked,” he said. “They’ve got fresh chicken coming in and good quality products. It’s a well-known franchise in small towns and cities — a popular franchise.”

The owners took over the more-than-50-year-old business that has long served the community and nearby military base in September.

The restaurant has been operating as Chicken Chef for about three weeks, and customer response has been strong from both residents and members of the base, co-owner Parth Patel said.

“Right now, the guys who live on the base are coming here for delivery, takeout, pickup or dining,” Parth Patel said. “Same thing with the community as well.”

While exact customer numbers are difficult to estimate, Parth Patel said the repeat visits are “steadily” increasing.

“Our repeat customers are more day by day,” he said. “Once they come, they’re coming back because they know the quality of our chicken and the products that we are giving.”

The expansion has also meant job growth.

“The restaurant now employs approximately eight to nine staff members in total, reflecting increased demand,” Jackshil Patel said.

In addition to the Chicken Chef menu — which includes pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and its signature chicken — the Shilo location offers features not commonly found at every franchise site.

The establishment includes a licensed bar and video lottery terminals on one side of the building for patrons over 18.

“We have a bar on the other side,” Patel said. “When they stop in, they can have fresh chicken and fresh quality products. If they’re over 18, they can enjoy the other side as well.”

For now, the family-owned business is focusing on the core Chicken Chef menu and current promotions, including pizza and chicken deals, though they say additional menu items could be considered in the future.

As for peak periods, the owners said the restaurant is experiencing steady traffic daily since the recent launch. “Every day is a peak period right now because we just recently opened and everyone wants to try.”

Looking ahead, the Patels said their priority is maintaining quality and continuing to build relationships in the community.

“Thanks for supporting us,” Patel said. “Keep supporting us in the future also — we’ll never let our community down.”

The Patel brothers bring years of experience in the food industry, with Jakshil having managed multiple Subway franchises in Toronto and later working at Burger King in Prince Edward Island. Now, they’re applying that background to revitalize the restaurant, bar and motel operations.

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