By Emily Stonehouse
It’s finally here. Fine foodies unite to welcome Haliburton’s newest eatery: Juna restaurant, officially opening on March 7.
The Italian restaurant, located at 210 Highland Street in the heart of Haliburton, was originally slated for a December opening. But a series of challenges arose for owners Terri Mathews-Carl and Christoph Carl when it came to moving ahead.
“We had a lot of difficulty and hardships when it came to attaining permits from the township,” Terri said.
The couple are no strangers to the restaurant scene, as the owners of Rhubarb Restaurant in Carnvarvon. They were diligent when it came to making sure all details were in place for the opening of Juna, but misunderstandings with the municipality took to the forefront.
With the stamp of approval for opening finally in place, Terri is optimistic about the presence of the new restaurant in town.
“We wanted an upscale vibe that’s also comfortable,” she noted, nodding to the warm glow emanating from the amber candle holders on each table. “But we wanted to still make it cozy, still make it approachable.”
With rich blue hues and vivid art by local photographer Dana McMullen adorning the walls, Juna feels like an entirely new space.
Some would recall that the building housed Cindy’s clothing store for years on the main street, and prior to that, it was home to the Butcher Block, which can be seen in many old photos of Highland Street over the years.
Terri noted that the building itself is “ancient,” she laughed, sharing that they could not find records dating back to when it was originally built.
But she and her team were able to retrofit the space to accommodate the new restaurant, with 26 spacious and comfortable seats. “We made sure to use every space we had effectively,” she noted as we toured the building, with the neat and clean kitchen meticulously arranged and ready for business.
ACM Designs took the lead on the decor of the restaurant, with Terri adding her own style to the space. Each and every detail is put into place; right down to the engraved pepper grinders on each table.
It’s a well thought-out vision, with Nico Haedicke as the head contractor, who will also double as the front of house manager upon opening.
As opening day approaches, Terri noted that they are already sold-out for the first weekend in business, and moving forward, she strongly suggests people make reservations in advance, due to the small and intimate nature of the space. The restaurant will be open Thursdays to Monday through the week. For more information, visit junahaliburton.com
