Iqaluit (Dec 15/03) - It's home style cooking with fast food flare.

That's the way Russell Halley, general manager for Paddy's Restaurant in Iqaluit, explains the style of his restaurant, which opened Dec. 3.

"Our motto is quality comes first and that's our game plan," said Halley.

Paddy's Restaurant is home to one-pound burgers, fish and chips, East Coast cod and homemade fries, "just like you used to have when you were a kid," said Halley.

Other items on the menu include large pizza slices and wings with 13 different sauces. On the supper menu, Paddy's is proud to offer lobster. And for breakfast you can get anything from a fried baloney sandwich to sausages or a big hungry-man breakfast.

The restaurant used to be Mary Brown's Famous Chicken & Taters.

"We haven't done a lot of remodelling. The product line is totally different," said Halley.

The response to the restaurant's opening has been "absolutely fabulous," said Halley.

When asked why his restaurant is doing so well Halley responded: "I think the people of Iqaluit are sick and tired of second-class dining. They don't mind paying a dollar, but they want a first-class product and that's what we offer. The burgers are made down South for quality control and the cod and 90 per cent of our seafood comes direct from the East Coast," said Halley.

The restaurant, owned by Sean Maloney and Ken Harper, currently employs 14 people.