A flag rippling in the breeze down by Highway 2 at Petersburg, N.D., says "Food." If you turn into the little city, you find a similar flag that says "Open" in front of the café in the community center.
If you stop in the café, you can see Diana Bellah in the wide open kitchen. And you find her daughter, Bethany Abril, waiting tables.
The food is basic and good. No short cuts. All homemade, and with a flair. A toasted cheese sandwich, for instance, comes with two kinds of cheese. The café is clean and inviting. It gives people around this small farming community a place to gather. It serves senior meals. And it is a place for coffee and conversation in the morning.
On a recent day in May, there were pulled pork sandwiches with green beans for lunch. There was potato and macaroni salad, baked beans and milk. The meals were $8.99.
Earlier in the morning, from 7 to 11 a.m., the café offers homemade buttermilk pancakes. Along with them, there is a full menu of breakfast fare.
ADVERTISEMENT
Diana Bellah works in a large, light kitchen with a big window. She offers breakfast items all morning. And when customers start arriving for lunch, she is ready.
Then when lunch is over at 2 p.m., she has been moving on to her other job: driving school bus. Equally amazing is her daughter Bethany working as waitress. With a friendly outlook, she anticipates the needs of customers.
Meanwhile, Perry Bellah is at the Petersburg elevator where he is manager. The Bellahs are a family who moved to this area from Arizona. And they have found their place.
They have been operating the café in Petersburg since February of 2016. They take pride in offering french fries that they cut and burgers that are pressed out to order.
"Never frozen," they assure customers.
They feature the Elevator Burger. It's a deluxe double cheeseburger with bacon, ham, French fries and a soda for $13.99. There is macaroni and potato salad along with a grilled chicken salad and a chef salad.
Although the café serves no beer or alcoholic beverages, they are available nearby. There is a place called Town Pump 2. Local residents explain the first one burned down-it was Town Pump 1.
One of the friendly customers at the café is Warren Prior, 74, who isn't afraid of work and has done all kinds of it around the area. He sees that the Grand Forks Herald gets distributed around his area. And he likes to play pinochle.
ADVERTISEMENT
Petersburg Café
Petersburg, N.D.
Operated by Diana and Perry Bellah
Telephone: (701) 345-8201
Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays
Average lunch ticket: $10 to $12
Report Card: Clean and inviting. Food like mothers used to make. Friendly ambience with visitors welcome.
Reach Marilyn Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or by telephone at (701) 772-1055.
