New cafe opens in Cottonwood

OPENING DUTIES: Co-owner Dale Burlingame prepares her new business, Kelsay's Kafe, for opening in Cottonwood.

Formerly the site of Grandma's BBQ in Cottonwood, a couple of restaurant owners will open Kelsay's Kafe in the same small, blue building at 3342 Main St. Planning their opening for Sept. 29, co-owner Dale Burlingame said the cafe will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, providing a variety of "down-home cooking."

The menu will include steaks, hamburgers, chicken fried steak, sandwiches, omelets and biscuits with gravy, she said. Fresh Red Angus beef served at the restaurant will be supplied by Burlingame's family's Rockin Bar B ranch in Cottonwood.

Burlingame guessed that the most popular menu item in Kelsay's Kafe will be the "Matt Stack" which she described as a huge, mounded sandwich on Texas toast with turkey, roast beef, bacon, cheddar and pepper jack cheese.

"That's going to be a good sized sandwich for people with a hearty appetite," Kelsay said.

While the dinner menu will change regularly, he plans to serve prime rib every Friday and Saturday nights, he said.

"Most of my time will be at the cafe," Kelsay said. "It was an opportunity and something we've been looking at for a while. I have a need for trying to do new things. I don't let the economy ... deter me from what I feel is a good thing."

Burlingame gave honorable mention to Kelsay's chicken chili. All the soups are made by hand by business partner Matthew Kelsay, a graduate of California Culinary Academy in 2006.

The two also operate a restaurant in Redding, Kelsay's on the River, open for over a year, she said, adding that the same soups will be made at both restaurants.

Kelsay's Kafe will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. On Friday and Saturday, the restaurant will close between 8-9 p.m. Closed on Sunday and Monday, the business can be reached at 347-1961.