Tiny trains take food to tables at Cambridge, Ont. Indian restaurant

Food delivered to your table – by train. CTV’s Spencer Turcotte takes us to ‘Flavour Station’ in Cambridge.

There’s a new stop on the way to ‘Flavour Town’ and it’s called AA Flavour Station.

It’s a new Cambridge, Ont. Indian restaurant that’s delivering food to customers’ tables in an unusual way.

Owner and chef Manjit Batra fills up the plates in the kitchen on individual train cars. Then with the press of a button, and flick of a switch, he can control which of his tables the food is delivered to.

“It’s Indian and Pakistani cuisine,” said Batra, over the honk of one of the miniature trains making a delivery.

The restaurant opened about four months ago and Manjit has a one-track mind for standing out from his culinary competition, considering Cambridge already has several Indian restaurants.

“First time in Canada. No other restaurant in Canada, like Indian or Pakistani restaurant in Canada, is serving the food like here, actually,” said Batra.

He says other Canadian restaurants may have food that is delivered on trains along a track that loops. But he can send trains in whichever direction, and has a switchboard that is wired for each table.

Batra said he got the idea after seeing an online video of a restaurant in India delivering food to tables this way.

He saw it as a smart business move and hopped on the gravy train.

“I found that person, then he guided me properly step-by-step. And I make everything here,” said Batra.

But it did take a lot of trial and error testing the tracks out from his home.

“Maybe I tried it thousands of times because I didn’t want any risks,” said Batra.

Then finally, it was all aboard.

Each meal that is delivered is accompanied by music that plays over the restaurant’s speakers.

Although similar concepts exist with robots at sushi restaurants, Batra has taken a step back in time with a forward-thinking idea.

“Robots are not that perfect. But with trains, I think it’s perfect,” said Batra, explaining that there is less room for error. “I think it’s a very good [way] to save space.”

The trains also help cut down on the number of staff he has to pay.

“Otherwise, I may need two waiters. But with the train I need only one waiter, that’s it. Half the food I can serve on the train,” said Batra.

To avoid any derailments or spills, an extra human hand is needed to help deliver the trickier dishes.

“They will give the bills and they bring some heavy food also. But on the train, we serve mostly light food,” said Batra.

But he tells customers not to allow staff intervention sidetrack them from the world he’s created – one with tiny trains that take their tastebuds to new places.