Fine dining returns to the McKenzie

NIMROD: Craving some spicy hummus, shrimp dumplings or a chicken pesto baguette? Those choices are not what’s currently found on menus in local restaurants.

It’s been years since locals and visitors alike had a wide choice of where to go out for dinner. Restaurants like Albert’s Lodge, the Log Cabin Inn and Holiday Farm are now just memories.

“Every day someone has asked where they could go,” recalls Bert de Klerk, owner of the McKenzie River Inn resort in Nimrod. We could see there was a need and we decided to offer something at the highest level possible.

His answer, the Crescent Moon Cafe, is set to open to the public on July 21st.

Situated in the resort’s main lodge building, the cafe currently has indoor seating for 17 with addition outdoor tables on a patio overlooking the McKenzie River. Plans call for breakfast service to start at 9 a.m. along with both lunch and dinner offerings.

So what’s on those menus? Someone stopping in for lunch might start off with pan roasted chicken or shrimp dumpling potstickers before opting for a BLT sandwich, Jersey Sub or a Club Baguette. Later in the day, diners could match an organic field green salad and steak de boeuff with bacon wrapped green beans and potatoes dressed with onion based gravy. Although there are no dessert options, meals can be topped off with any of four different smoothies - ranging from an “Oh La La” with pineapple, mango almond milk and maple syrup to a “Berry Blast Off” mixture of berries, bananas, coconut and apple juice.

Looking closer, diners can also opt from a number of Indonesian specialties like Nasi Goreng pan roasted rice or Satay Ayan marinated chicken on sticks.

De Klerk says his plan is to offer, “All the kinds of things you want for a healthy lifestyle,” with an emphasis on organics and USDA approved meats. “And of course, we’ll have high end drinks too.” Those include award winning wines from the Rolling Bay vineyard and local micro brews.

What will all this cost? Surprisingly, the menus prices are reasonable - ranging from $4 to $8 for salads and starters and $4 to $12 for dinner entrees. Four of the luncheon sandwiches range from $8 to $9, with half portions available for lighter eaters.

Opening next week at 49164 McKenzie Highway, de Klerk says the Crescent Moon Cafe hopes to fill a need by, “offering something at the highest level possible.”

Reservations are recommended. Call 541-822-6260.

Image above: A new restaurant, the Crescent Moon Cafe, will open this month at the McKenzie River Inn resort in Nimrod.

McKenzie River Reflections