Breakfast is served anytime, and it brings a lot of people into Season's Family Restaurant, just off Business U.S. Highway 2 in East Grand Forks. The regulars from all walks of life are there on weekdays. On Sundays after church, the place usually is jumping.
My choice on the breakfast menu is called "Sunrise Special." It consists of a toasted English muffin topped with a scrambled egg, melted cheese and choice of bacon, ham or sausage ($3.95).
Coffee is $1.39 in Season's. They make it bold and serve it hot.
The breakfast menu is complete with everything from omelettes, to skillets, biscuits and gravy and pancakes. Then, there are caramel and cinnamon rolls and jumbo blueberry muffins.
The large, laminated menu is well-arranged and easy to read and understand. In the center of the menu are the listings from the Sandwich Board, where you find descriptions of 13 deluxe sandwiches for $5.25. Customers can add a choice of potatoes, soup, salad, chili or onion rings for $1.50.
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I went the Sandwich Board route when I was in Season's on a recent Friday for a quick, late lunch.
Soups of the day were clam chowder and tomato. I chose tomato to go with a sandwich called Ham Stacker. The soup was served hot and had a nice consistency with chunks of tomato. The serving size was generous.
The sandwich on a nice marble rye bread was toasty warm and good - except that the ham was in thicker slices than I had imagined and quite salty.
Dinners range from $7.50 to $8.50. They include walleye and deep-fried shrimp, chicken and country fried steak. And Season's is long on ice-cream treats - after all, it replaced a Dairy Queen when it was built in the fall of 1993.
The building was up high enough to avoid the Flood of 1997. It has a brick exterior and colorful red signage on a light green strip around the top of the building.
Inside, Season's is inviting with a counter where some customers enjoy sitting and visiting. There is a main dining area with comfortable chairs and booths along the side. There is an area off to the side and another meeting room that can be reserved.
The place has homey touches, such as wallpaper and light wood wainscoting. High windows that slant up to the roof create a light atrium effect and add brightness on dreary days.
Season's doesn't cater to any one group of people, according to Brad Betting, the owner. The menu is designed for the mainstream of customers who like everyday food. Betting has a staff of 35, with 10 of them full-time employees.
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Season's is the only restaurant in East Grand Forks that is smoke-free. Unlike Grand Forks, there is no regulation against smoking in eating places of East Grand Forks. But Betting believes it is unfair to his employees to work in a smoke-filled area.
Betting has been in business in East Grand Forks for 34 years. He was 19 and studying civil engineering at UND when he had a chance to buy the Dairy Queen that was formerly located on the Season's lot. So, he went into the business and switched to a full-service cafe. He has survived and prospered in a competitive business by being around and on the job.
Season's Family Restaurant
300 Third Ave. N.E., East Grand Forks
Owner-manager: Brad Betting.
Assistant managers: Shiela Berg, John Wilkenson, Cody Frye.
Hours: Opens 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. Sunday; closes 9 p.m. daily.
Seating: 122.
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Meeting room reservations: (218) 773-1137.
Pay: Major credit cards accepted; senior discount, 10 percent.
Report card: An everyday kind of a place where you can get breakfast, lunch or dinner. Prices are moderate. Service is good. Surroundings are clean and pleasant.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gfherald.com or (701) 772-1055.
