Joni's

Restaurant

opens for

business

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Joni Ahlness quietly opened her new restaurant, Joni's Restaurant & Catering, last Wednesday so she and her staff could get the "kinks out" in order to have it humming smoothly this week.

This is a second "start" for Ahlness since certification of the kitchen Oct. 8 allowed her to start operating her catering business from that location.

For Ahlness, the restaurant and the companion catering business are the culmination of a goal that has been over 30 years in the making.

"I've been in the food business since I was 14," Ahlness recalled. "I got my start cleaning dishes at Carl's Corner in Essig."

Her restaurant will be open seven days a week, with Monday-Friday hours of 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

"Eventually, I'd like to be open Friday and Saturday evenings," Ahlness said, "but for right now, this is enough."

She has designed her menu to be family oriented, with "basically something for everyone from seniors to teenagers and small children."

However, her closing every day at two in the afternoon doesn't mean the restaurant isn't pulling in revenue until six the next day.

"It's available for private events in the evening," she said. "Seating for 10 or more is available with either a prepared meal or ordering off the menu."

She also caters "drop-off meals" for off-the-premises "meetings and such."

In addition, Ahlness said a room for meetings seating 15-20 "should be finished within a month."

And if you want something to take home and eat, she'll handle that as well. Just call 359-2018, an all-purpose number for her restaurant and catering business.

She plans to run daily specials, and she's featuring three different kinds of soup daily.

"Chicken spaetzle, sauerkraut and chili will be available, along with one chef's special soup every day," Ahlness said.

Have a special family recipe? Joni's Restaurant will make it for you.

Running a restaurant and a catering service keeps Ahlness and her staff busy.

"It's a lot of work, but I love it."