murphymp:
What is your normal menu like?Are you a full service restaurant or coffee house?Being the owner of a restaurant myself, I always like to find a local place to eat at night and not a chain.

That $6.95 walleye in your avatar would sell out on RAGBRAI for sure. Too bad Springfield is such a long drive for us.

RIDE RIGHT

mjd1221:
For dinner, a baked potato bar is nice, beef & noodles or chicken & noodles are always attractive, and green salads are appreciated. I try to avoid fried foods for dinner.

If you serve breakfast, I’d love to see steel-cut oatmeal, pancakes or home-made cinnamon rolls and good coffee.

We DO serve breakfast, including oatmeal, pancakes, cinnamon rolls and really really good coffee. Also breakfast sandwiches, bagels, homemade granola, fresh fruit salad, granola parfaits, omelette cups (egg, bacon & cheese baked in a muffin form for one-handed on-the-go pure protein), scones, croissants, 100% juices, smoothies, pastries, danish, etc. We will also open at 4:00 a.m. for the early risers.

As for dinner, we don’t fry anything, and our salads are top-notch. In the interest of serving a crowd quickly, we could possibly have a special like beef & noodles with a side salad. We make a nice beef stroganoff as one of our specials. How would that sound?

FISH!! and some type of non-fried potatoes… would be heaven!!

havencoffeehouse: We DO serve breakfast, including oatmeal, pancakes, cinnamon rolls and really really good coffee. Also breakfast sandwiches, bagels, homemade granola, fresh fruit salad, granola parfaits, omelette cups (egg, bacon & cheese baked in a muffin form for one-handed on-the-go pure protein), scones, croissants, 100% juices, smoothies, pastries, danish, etc.We will also open at 4:00 a.m. for the early risers.

I’m loving the granola parfaits and omelet cups. I would say maybe even branch out and do a variety of the omelet cups. The other thing is sometimes riders don’t venture far from the main square so make sure you have some way of directing people to your place. Also make sure you let the people that are there for dinner know what you plan on doing for breakfast so they know to come back the next morning.

morning really depends on location, location, location. Campgroung, route out of town, and where you are. People are more willing to wander to find supper than breakfast. If y’all haven’t collasped by 9 am may stop by.

Beef stroganoff sounds fabulous!! Please, please, please plan to keep serving late! My group often times doesn’t eat until 9-10 pm and it’s often times slim pickings!!

Okay, you have me sold. I will be looking for your restaurant. I love seafood and vegetarian dishes and you have both.

Good protein is obviously a must. But a mix of carbs is helpful too. Let’s go country style cooking. Chicken and dumplings (heavy on the chicken). A couple nights of the week I’d certainly be willing to pay more for a good fish dinner (not catfish, ech on the bottom feeders) and big salad. For someone that’s not a vegetarian I eat LOTS of dark greens salads. Beyond that at night, some good moonshine to make the body really relax and sore muscles go away.

Here is what the 2003 survey said.
http://www.siouxcenterragbrai.com/wp-content/themes/responsive/docs/Catering.pdf

RIDE RIGHT

Beer & fried chicken!!!!

Some of us born in Iowa farm raised girls prefer vegan cuisine :)

I have noticed over the years that places at night that have vegetables in some form do really well and people will stand in line a long time for veggie ca-bob. Many people are bogged down by so much starch and fried foods, many athletes or even in shape people are not used to eating this stuff. Definitely agree on the limited memu. Pick what you do well, and do lots, but make sure you get the word out if you are not prominent.

Sandaltan: That $6.95 walleye in your avatar would sell out on RAGBRAI for sure.Too bad Springfield is such a long drive for us.

RIDE RIGHT

Ok, I’m really confused here. We don’t sell walleye and we’re not in Springfield. I’d appreciate if someone could explain this. . .

After looking at your menu, I would suggest you do 1 or 2 of you specialties (lasagna or something with chicken) and if you do sandwiches have them all prepared and lots of them…DO NOT plan on making them as you go! Depending on how close you are to the action, this “could” be the busiest night of your business ever. Quick, easy, somewhat unique and get the word out.

Blumblebees: I’m loving the granola parfaits and omelet cups. I would say maybe even branch out and do a variety of the omelet cups. The other thing is sometimes riders don’t venture far from the main square so make sure you have some way of directing people to your place. Also make sure you let the people that are there for dinner know what you plan on doing for breakfast so they know to come back the next morning.

I plan to have a barrel of granola ready for all of you Thursday morning, and buckets of berries and yogurt cream. Expect several omlette cup options including veggie varieties. As far as getting us noticed a block away from the square or maketing us either day in general . . .I’m working on that one already, but it’s a secret yet.