Written By Olena Riznyk
LUCAN – Walk into On the Table Café in Lucan, and the first thing you notice is not the menu–it’s the feeling. The room is warm and welcoming, the kind of place that invites you to sit down, take a breath, and stay awhile.
For owners Eun Ju (Anna) Shim and Myunghyun (Ryan) Choi, that atmosphere comes from intention, experience, and a great deal of hands-on work.
“We opened on December 18, right before Christmas,” Anna said. “It really felt like a gift.”
Originally from South Korea, Anna and Ryan bring years of experience in the food industry. “We lived in Korea, and we had a restaurant,” Anna explained. “My husband is a chef, so cooking has always been part of our life.”
The couple immigrated to Canada seven years ago and spent time in Nova Scotia working in restaurants and bakeries before moving to Ontario last year.
Before coming to Lucan, they opened a small takeout business in Grand Bend called Sorbite. But winter on the lakeshore highlighted a limitation. “Winter season is very quiet, and our customers need tables,” Anna said. “So, we were looking for a dining place.”
That search led them to Lucan–and to a space that needed time, care, and a lot of work. For nearly 45 days, the couple renovated the café themselves, cleaning, painting, and transforming the interior. Their children helped when they could, and Anna’s sister from London offered support as well.
Today, On the Table Café feels entirely different–cozy, bright, and thoughtfully arranged for people who want to sit and enjoy a meal. The menu reflects that same attentiveness. While the couple initially planned a mainly Korean concept, they adjusted after listening to the community.
“At first, we thought only Korean food,” Anna said. “But people came in and asked for breakfast, so we changed.” The result is a mix of Canadian breakfast favourites, Korean dishes rarely found in small-town Ontario, and pastries baked in-house.
Starting over in a new town brings challenges, particularly with language and paperwork, but Anna says the community response has been encouraging. “This town is very kind and friendly,” she said. “People love our place.”
For residents, supporting On the Table Café can be as simple as stopping in for breakfast, trying a Korean dish for the first time, or enjoying a pastry and coffee in a space that truly feels like it was made for the community.
