For 18 years, the Last Straw has been one of Shepparton’s most beloved Thai restaurants; now, the new owner, Gobie Raju, is determined to keep the status quo while adding his personal touch.
Mr Raju intends to keep “the great legacy” left by the previous owners, John and Yao O’Donoghue.
“Everything stays as it is, how John and Yao left it,” Mr Raju said.
“I’m not here to destroy the legacy.”
Mr Raju said he was concerned, as he had heard rumours saying that, due to his ethnicity, the restaurant had been converted into a Malaysian or Indian restaurant.
“It’s not true,” Mr Raju said.
“I (want) the public to know that everything remains the same.”
He highlighted that four of the current staff were employed by the previous owners and that the chef, who is Thai, was trained by Mrs O’Donoghue.
The most significant change so far is the introduction of dinners.
“We are going to start operating dinners on Monday nights, starting March 20,” Mr Raju said.
By the end of April, he hopes to have the Last Straw open for dinner on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
The dinner menu will be table d’hôte, and a fully licensed bar will be open, with a selection of beers and wine.