IN Canon-Mac Fall 2016 | Page 39

SPONSORED CONTENT DINING OUT SPONSORED CONTENT Beechie’s Place A Landmark on the Culinary Map I n the world of restaurants, seven years from open to close is considered a good run. Beechie’s Place has been serving the Meadow Lands for more than 64 years, and business has never been better. “It’s like everyone’s a loyal family member,” said Lane McFarland, who is the third owner of the restaurant. “Every generation of owners this restaurant has had has treated the customers like family and they reciprocate that service and dedication.” Just because the customers come first doesn’t mean the food comes in second at Beechie’s Place. McFarland said the quality and freshness of the food keeps people coming back night after night. The menu is changed seasonally to utilize the fresh fruit and vegetables that are being trucked in from farm to table. “Local produce influences all of our menu items,” he explains. “We specialize in home cooking, comfort foods, and using the freshest ingredients that we can source locally.” Working with his mother and father, McFarland adds that Beechie’s Place is a true family business, with employees who are members of the community. “You’ll see your server in church or your cook at the grocery store,” he said. “Everyone knows everyone, and that’s part of the appeal of the restaurant.” And if you think that a smalltown restaurant can’t compete with the “big box” restaurants in the city, you’d be wrong. Beechie’s may be a local place, but it is keenly attuned to the needs of the customers. The restaurant was one of the first in the region to have a gluten-free menu, implemented by customer request. Today, there are many gluten-free options on the menu, cooks and servers are properly trained in handling gluten-free food, and Beechie’s boasts one of the best-tasting gluten-free pastas around. The restaurant also has the capacity to handle parties up to 50; can cater private, in-home parties; and delivers to local businesses for daily lunch orders. While the menu touts delicacies like Creole Shrimp, Mojo Pork Cubano Sandwich, Jambalaya, and Honey Sesame Glazed Salmon, there is still room on it for classic burgers, pizzas and pastas. One of the items Beechie’s is best known for is jumbo wings, which, in 1976, became an overnight sensation and have been a local favorite for 40 years running. “We do a lot of wings,” McFarland said. “They’re always fresh and the sauce is homemade. We use giant wings and offer breaded, which no other place does. It’s funny that people love them so much because we don’t consider ourselves to be a ‘wing place.’” To see everything on Beechie’s menu, go to beechiesplace.com online, where you can find out more about its long history in the community, and place your order from the website. You can also stop in Mondays through Saturdays, starting at 11 a.m., at 400 West Pike Street, Meadow L