Founders Story
Diana and Karina Shishalovsky moved from Europe to the United States when they were just eight and two-years old. Today, just 20 years later, they’ve fulfilled their dream of opening a restaurant – Fresh Cutt Carving Grill. From an early age the sisters got a behind the scenes education on the joys and challenges of the food industry. “Growing up we were always surrounded by relatives in the restaurant business,” says Karina. While some of the mishaps they observed over the years would be funny on a reality TV show, they saw firsthand that running a restaurant is a lot harder than it looks. Still it was a goal they had the courage and determination to pursue. Armed with their insider’s knowledge of international foods and cooking methods, and with an entrepreneurial vision for the fast casual eatery they wanted to create, the two pursued business degrees at Northridge University and tested recipes daily over a period of four years. “Although we’ve always been considered excellent cooks, some of our creative ideas for menu items left us either laughing or crying, but we kept on trying until we got it right,” explains Diana. “We always cooked a lot at home for our parents and invited friends and family over to try new things. Everyone always raved about our slow cooked meats and fresh salads and they wanted to come over for more and more. That made us realize we have something special to offer and it inspired us to work harder to achieve our dream.”
“We wanted the dining area to be modern, but also warm and friendly, and allow customers to view what is going on in the kitchen,” adds Karina. “Our goal with the menu is to satisfy a variety of tastes with fresh, healthy and affordable foods that can be combined in thousands of different ways,” notes Diana. The user-friendly layout allows customers to create and build items of their choice following a few easy steps at convenient food stations.
Combining the best of international cuisine with “a new spin on fast casual dining”, co-founders Diana and Karina are passionate about using only the freshest ingredients and they promise everyday fair prices and prompt service. “We want people to have fun at our restaurant and feel good about making healthier choices for lunch or dinner,” the sisters agreed. They are confident that once you’ve tasted their tantalizing alternative to fast food, the memorable flavors will stay on your mind and you’ll be back for more.
