New eatery offering 'modern food with a traditional soul' gives Halifax bakery building fresh chapter

What used to be P Wilkinson Ltd Bakers on King Cross Road has undergone a transformation and will soon be reopening as a new eatery – Roostic.

Offering “simple modern food with a traditional soul”, the cosy and stylish restaurant is owned by Abdul Shahid, who was born and brought up in Halifax.

Roostic will serve fresh, healthy and tasty food, including a range of grilled chicken dishes and vegan options, he said.

“Cooking has always been a big part of my life,” he explained. “It was actually my first job after leaving school.

"I’ve gained a lot of commercial experience over the years, but I’ve never lost the connection to the food I grew up eating. That’s really what this place is about - bringing those two things together.

"We want to take the flavours and recipes and mix them with the techniques and ideas I’ve picked up along the way.

"The biggest thing for us is the flavours. These are flavours we grew up with, recipes that have been passed down through generations and have their own stories.

"We’re bringing those flavours into a modern kitchen and putting our own spin on them.”

Abdul has been working during evenings and weekends, with help from family and friends, to refurbish the space and create a warm, welcoming place to eat.

He says he has had a lot of interest from people passing by, asking what the building is going to become.

It has taken almost a year but the restaurant is now ready and they are hoping to open early next week.

"This building has been part of the community for a long time,” said Abdul. “It has a history of baking and feeding people, and that’s something we really wanted to respect.

"We’re not trying to wipe that history away and start again. We want to build on it.

"We’ve kept the old brickwork and some of the original character of the building because we want you to feel a part of the history when you walk through the door.

"It’s an old place with a new chapter.”