Take Highway K East from U.S. Highway 71B at Pineville, go a quarter-mile, turn right onto Havenhurst, and -- viola -- you have discovered a treasure: Haven 55 restaurant.
Wrapped in lush green trees at 408 Havenhurst Drive, Haven 55 operates in a historic building filled with weathered character and charm. The door opens into a window-lined dining room which serves as a gateway into the nature behind the restaurant -- nature filled with luscious waterfalls and flowing natural springs of Little Sugar Creek.
Haven 55 Tavern
A tavern sits next to Haven 55.
The tavern is open 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. It is family oriented until about 9 p.m.
On Fridays, live music in the tavern begins at 9 p.m. On Saturdays, karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Food is also served in the tavern — pizza, fries with bacon, cheese, and sour cream, burgers and chicken sandwiches.
Soft drinks, wine, beer and alcohol are served in both the tavern and the restaurant.
The nature sounds and views at Haven 55 are a few of the unique experiences awaiting customers, who'll find that down-home, friendly, welcoming hospitality from the staff so typical in McDonald County -- and the food will turn you into a regular.
Haven 55 is a family operation that opened four years ago. The owners are the sons of George and Pam Bone -- Alan and Brian.
"We are a local restaurant -- we're McDonald County natives and though we appreciate our customers coming from distances, our McDonald County customers are special -- it's like family dropping in. McDonald County has been our home all our lives," Pam said.
Lynn and Jim Tatum of Pineville often drop in to Haven 55.
"The quality of food is always excellent and there is great ambiance -- the view of the water and dam is so peaceful and the staff is very friendly," Lynn said.
With no dress code, Haven 55 welcomes people coming in from work and leisure activities, Pam said: "People out fishing, construction workers, farmers, law enforcement, truck drivers, travelers, neighbors dropping in -- no formal attire is necessary."
A lot of money isn't necessary, either.
"We are not fast food, but our prices aren't much more," Pam said. Everything is made to order -- even the steak sauces.
Diners can get a 1/3-pound grilled, certified Angus beef burger with hand-cut russet fried potatoes -- for $7. Or a Croque Monsieur -- ham, Swiss, provolone, mayo and mustard on wheatberry bread grilled until golden brown -- again, for $7.
In fact, all the lunch sandwiches are $7 -- except the Salmon BLT, which is $8. The Haven 55 menu is online at www.haven55.com.
"The restaurant was named Haven 55 -- Haven to depict the peaceful setting, 55 to note the combined ages of Alan and Brian when they started their corporation, Pam said.
Alan graduated with top honors from the Culinary Cordon Bleu University in Orlando, Fla., and he knows how to prepare quality food at affordable prices.
"The rest of the family pitches in with taking care of the customers," she said. "People come from all over -- Fayetteville, Bentonville, Bella Vista, Grove, Neosho. And of course, we love having our McDonald County neighbors come in."
"For prime rib Wednesday, we need reservations before the end of the day Tuesday, and we take and seat our reservations on the half hour," she explained. On Friday nights, the restaurant offers fresh-catch fish specials.
Reservations are strongly suggested for Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Call 417-223-2055.
"If you're lucky," Pam said, "you might see our mascot, Mortimer, a great blue heron who protects his territory on the waters behind the Haven."
Haven 55 sits at the historic location where a grist mill once stood. A turbine at the site supplied the electric power to Pineville and the surrounding community before Empire and New Mac.
"There is a spillway under the restaurant where the Havenhurst Mill once was -- it was destroyed by fire in 1962," Pam explained.
Haven 55 opens at 11 a.m., closes at 2 p.m., then reopens at 5 p.m and closes at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is closed Sundays and Mondays.
"We are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day and one week following Labor Day and one week following Valentine's Day," Pam said.
General News on 09/22/2016