Riverside offers great food, view in Pelican Rapids
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 05/21/2012 2:00 PM
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Riverside Bed & Breakfast and Bistro
Location: 18 North Broadway, Pelican Rapids
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Sunday.
Starting May 1: Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. to close; Closed on Sunday.
Customer favorites: Beef brisket prepared with the Riverside's spice rub and slow roasted. The house pizza made with the Bistro's special crust recipe.
Contact: (218) 863-2326 or (763) 567-8579
PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. — A feeling of coming home greets you when entering Riverside Bed & Breakfast and Bistro.
The atmosphere coupled with good food, coffees and conversation is what Terri and Larry Gray had in mind when they opened six years ago.
They always enjoyed entertaining, Terri said. The Grays often invited family and friends to theme and dinner parties to their Twin Cities home.
The menu features a mix of eclectic and down-home dishes. The beef brisket receives their signature spice rub before it's slow cooked. Pizzas are made with their special crust recipe. Soups are made from scratch. Salad choices include fresh pears with mixed greens. Melts, wraps and sandwiches are also available.
Starting in May and continuing through summer, Friday and Saturday night dinners are available. The meals may center around Italian, Mexican or French cuisines.
They have offered "Tex-Mex Meets Italian" at one of their gourmet events. Toppings include salsa, beef, black beans and corn topped with cheese and garnished with fresh avocado sour cream and cilantro. The "Go-Go Garlic Feta and Chicken (or shrimp)" has crumbled garlic feta and green onions topped with black olives, fresh mushrooms, tomatoes and chicken or shrimp. The "My..Oh My...I Love that Thai" has a peanut sauce prepared with fresh ginger and topped with shrimp or chicken, red peppers, green onions and cheese garnished with shredded carrots and fresh cilantro. Classic pizza lovers can enjoy pepperoni, sausage and mushroom.
The dinners are a hit as are the weekly lunch specials. Lunches range in price from $7 to $9 and dinners range from $10 to $14, Terri said. She sends out a daily e-mail to customers to let them know the specials of the day.
They receive garden produce from local grower Ryan Pesch of Lida Farm, who offers them the customers' favorite, fresh basil.
The Grays also feature homemade pastries. Scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls and cookies are among the choices. Rhubarb muffins, crisps and more are offered in season, Larry said.
They operated their own business in the Minneapolis area when they discovered a building was for sale in Pelican Rapids. They were captivated by the rolling hills and many lakes.
Their business is along the Pelican River and offers a great view of the Pelican River's falls.
They purchased the building in 2007 and opened the doors a couple of weeks later.
Their son and daughter-in-law, Tanner and Tammie, moved to Pelican Rapids to help. They lived in the building's upstairs apartment. When the young couple, with their son, purchased their own home about two years ago, Terri and Larry renovated the apartment into bed and breakfast suites.
Guests can come downstairs for omelets and French toast or they can choose to enjoy pastries and coffee in their suite while taking in the breathtaking views of the river and falls.
They also offer special events including scrapbooking get-togethers, private parties, dinners, receptions and weekend retreats.
The couple rents out kayaks. The river is shallow and the travel down the river offers a pleasant journey through the rural landscape.
Daughter Ashley and her husband live in the Twin Cities, they said. On busy weekends in the summer, she joins the family at The Riverside to provide a helping hand.
To learn more about Riverside Bistro Bed and Breakfast, check their website at www.riversidebbb.com.
— Carol Stender