Toronto chef turns to crowdfunding for new restaurant

Loka Snacks wants to open a brick and mortar restaurant. Since launching almost a year ago, the pop-up snack bar, conceived by Chef Dave Mottershall, has operated select nights only out of the kitchen at Hi-Lo Bar turning out plates of house-made salumi, pigs head croquette, and crispy fried smelts - always driven by Canadian ingredients.

Now Mottershall (a.k.a @Chef_Rouge) is turning to Kickstarter to raise $25,000 capital to fund his next move, and it's all or nothing. If he doesn't make his goal he won't get a cent.

The ambition is to crowdfund enough to match his own investment, which will be joined by another $40K from a private investor. This plan ensures Mottershall will maintain a controlling interest in his company and the ability to implement his own vision rather than opening a restaurant for someone else.

The new restaurant will move away from being a snack bar, but still intends to serve small plates. There's no address attached to the project yet, but Mottershall is looking in the west end for a property.

Pledges of $100+ will buy a 5-course tasting menu in advance of the opening, while lesser contributions will be rewarded with things like T-shirts and the inclusion of donor names in a custom-made artwork.

Is crowdfunding a viable solution to starting a restaurant? Add your opinion to the comments.