Another restaurant coming to Decorah

Opening Day Dessert!

The Decorah restaurant scene is expanding again, but this time the venue may be a bit surprising. The Viking Cafe will open Tuesday, February 11th,  at Decorah High School.

Family Consumer Science instructor Elaine Lore said the project is part of her Foods 2 class and was made possible by the recent high school renovation that was able to incorporate an industrial kitchen into the consumer science classroom. Lore says the project brings real experience into the classroom, not just for students who may be looking for food industry jobs, but for all students as they become aware of being responsible for the food preparation and diet issues in their lives.

The Viking Cafe will be open to the public from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on February 11th, 25th and 27th.  Dates for the rest of the semester have not been set, but they hope to be open several days each month.

Lore promises good down-home cooked food, with nothing from a can. Lunches will feature a main and side dish, along with what she said will be a "scrumptious" dessert.  Two "Foods 2" classes will be involved in all the preparation, serving and clean up for the restaurant service.

The Cafe also engages in a limited catering business and has already provided food for a blood drive, speech contest, a dance and wrestling tournament.  All proceeds from the restaurant and catering will go back into classroom equipment. The project is another of the cross curriculum offerings at Decorah High School. Accounting class students will work with the restaurant on the bookkeeping that goes along with running a business.

The Cafe will be able to seat about 20-25 customers (in the classroom seating). Cost for lunch is $5, and reservations are required. Please call the high school at 382-3643 for reservations or for catering information.

Access to the Cafe is on the east side of the high school, with direct access from the new faculty parking lot next to the building. Space will be made available in that parking lot on days the restaurant is open.

New industrial kitchen

Serving line