"Food is our common ground, a universal experience."
These are the first words that customers see when they walk into the Fiddlehead Restaurant of Michigan City. Owner and Chef Aaron O'Reilly has dedicated his whole life to bringing others together.
As a young kid, O'Reilly would often hover over his grandmother in the kitchen. The best part of his day was knowing what was for dinner. O'Reilly’s love for cooking grew when the owners of Sophia's Kitchen, Marilyn and Louis, took him under their wing. They molded him and gave him a push to continue on his culinary path.
"When I got my first job it just clicked that I was good at it and I was happy doing it," O'Reilly said.
O'Reilly believes in investing in the place he calls home. He has aspired to not only build a business but also to give back to his community
"To me, that's just kind of a no-brainer," O’Reilly said without hesitation. "Build the city that you live in. Build the area you live in."
Before opening Fiddlehead, O'Reilly was already aware that the best meat came from happy cows that grazed naturally. That's why all of his burgers are made from grass-fed cows, free-range pork chops, and he personally visits the farms where he gets his food.
"The most important thing for me was to know where I was getting the meat," O'Reilly said.
From the time the restaurant opens until it closes, O’Reilly is there to make sure things run smoothly. He lives to serve both the city and his staff. O'Reilly's number one priority is having a happy staff so they can make the customers happy.
"Getting the whole staff involved is really important so they can answer people’s questions and be excited about the place where they're working and living," O'Reilly said.
If you want to experience excellent service and great food, visit 422 Franklin St, Michigan City, IN 46360. For more information about Fiddlehead, visit their Facebook page.