Almost Lindy’s, the former 19th Hole restaurant, may have new owners, a new name and a new theme, but some things cannot be changed.
“Relax, Elsie’s still here,” co-owner Vicky Strand said of the pizza cook. They promise that the pizza will stay the same.
“We’re not messing with the walleye special,” Trent Steinbach, co-owner, added.
Customers that were worried about the 19th Hole specialties need not be concerned. The new owners said they are listening to their customers and will not be changing everything.
Steinbach and Strand took ownership of the business June 2 and will unveil their new menu and new decor at their grand opening on Friday.
The new theme, “barbecue antique junkyard,” incorporates two things that Steinbach and Strand hope to share with their customers: barbecued beef, pork and chicken; and an interest in the history of the community.
“We want to pull out as much history from the area as we can,” Steinbach said.
He added that he hopes the local community will share their stories and mementos with the restaurant, and that the local culture will carry through to the restaurant.
They will be remodeling both the main dining room and the banquet room.
The pair have been working on the idea of owning a restaurant for more than a year. They have not owned a restaurant in the past, but have always enjoyed backyard barbecuing with friends and family and say they have had a positive response whenever they have cooked.
Steinbach said that they encourage suggestions and want the community to help decide the future of the Almost Lindy’s menu.
“Feel free to come down and give things a try,” Steinbach said. “Tell us what we’re doing right and what we’re doing wrong.”
The name Almost Lindy’s comes with a story. Their friend Cory Lindvall has been cooking with Steinbach for some time. Apparently a bit of a trickster, according to Steinbach, Lindvall sometimes claimed that the barbecue sauce that was being used was his. The sauce belonged to Cari Rostie, another friend. Thus, the sauce is “almost Lindy’s.”
The restaurant’s signature dishes will be barbecue ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket. For the new owners, the sauce is almost as important as the meat it dresses. The Almost Lindy’s sauce tastes sweet at first but has a tangy, spicy aftertaste.
The ribs are marinated in a dry rub and the chicken is injected with a marinade before they are joined by the secret sauce.
The restaurant will have a special each day based on what is fresh and what the pair want to feature that day.
This is a second job for Steinbach and Strand, who both work at the Boise Inc. paper mill in International Falls. They say that juggling the two sets of schedules has been the hardest part of starting the restaurant.
However, they say that owning their own business has its benefits. Steinbach said that he enjoys working for himself.
“It’s more enjoyable to work for yourself rather than for someone else,” he said. “We’ve been enjoying the heck out of it all week.”
Strand added that the best benefit for her was “spending time with the kids while we’re here.”
Strand and Steinbach’s four children, ages 17, 16, 15 and 12, have been spending time in the restaurant helping their parents with kitchen jobs, cleaning, lawn care, and computer work.
The restaurant will employ about 20 people, including the owners and their children.
“Our big focus is on customer service and we have future plans to add delivery to the lake area,” Steinbach said.
The Crystal Beach restaurant, located off Minnesota Highway 11 east of Ranier, will be open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Strand and Steinbach said that the menu will come with an average, family-friendly price point, and hope that people will try the restaurant under the new ownership.
“Include us in your shopping list of restaurants for the community,” Steinbach said.
