Customers who frequent the Moneta Pub & Grub don’t necessarily have fancy tastes.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t have great taste.
The self-proclaimed hidden gem for food in Timmins has been serving up mouth-watering pub food for years. And the customers keep coming back for more.
“I definitely believe the Timmins population has a real love for pub food, and that’s what we have here,” said Jana Pandolfi, a full-time staffer at the Moneta. “A lot of the restaurants in town that are pub-food based are very successful. People are drawn to us for our chicken wings, our appetizers and our fish and chips.
“Sauces … mild, medium, hot, barbecue, honey garlic, ranch, a spicy ranch, blue cheese, Tai, and we can mix any of them, and have them on the side or on the wings.
“Poutines are really popular here. Our gravy is loved by people. It’s a very delicious beef gravy. We use the real curds.”
The restaurant is open five days a week for dinner and late snacking. Lunch is served Wednesday to Friday.
“We take reservations always. Sometimes it’s recommended to make a reservation," she said.
Many of their lunch customers have limited time before they go back to work. So, staff at the Moneta have to be on the ball.
“Most people come in for chicken wings and hamburgers at lunch, and always fish and chips,” she said. “Most lunches are quick, quick.
“Dinners are often fish and chips, hot hamburgers, hamburger steaks. And then he does a fish and shrimp on Fridays and Saturdays, that’s one piece of fish and five tempura shrimp that he does in in-house. It’s delicious.”
But don’t even think about copying some of the delicious secrets of the Moneta.
“Frankie is an excellent cook up there. He has great timing and knows the right seasonings,” Pandolfi said. “He does have his own seasoning salts that he uses, and we don’t even know what the recipes are for that. It’s a secret.
“For wings, there’s always seasoning and on the fries. For fish, the tempura batter is really lovely and light.
“He consistently changes the oil and that makes a big difference.”
With pandemic rules relaxing, more entertainment can be expected by patrons.
‘We always have music Thursday night,” she explained. “And we try to have one Saturday night a month with a local. One Saturday a month, there is a comedy night and they sell tickets.
For the details on shows, keep an eye on their Facebook page.
Like other local businesses, the Moneta had to make some changes to survive during the pandemic.
“COVID definitely impacted on alcohol sales and people being able to come in and socialize. But we were very successful with takeout,” Pandolfi said. “We were very thankful for that level of takeout and the commitment of some of our customers. It’s been a blessing.
“We’ve got some of the loveliest customers. They’re drawn by the food, and the service is a bonus. And the owner really enjoys the customers.
“We have a core committed staff.”
So, what does an employee who works at the Moneta order for herself?
“I would always want an appetizer,” she said. “I would want the mushroom caps. I feel that we live in a town where we all want mushroom caps.
“And I’m always going to do chicken wings. Always. And I love my chicken wings tossed in the cougar sauce, which is the hottest.”
The Moneta Pub & Grub is located at 331 Pine St. S. in Timmins.
It is open Tuesday from 3-10 pm., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to about 10 p.m. or midnight, Saturday from 3 p.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. (depending on regulations and how busy it is).
For reservations, call 705-264-7444.
