What’s new in town? Just take a drive over to Moorefield and check out the changes at the Moorefield Diner. After closing their doors for a few weeks for renovations, husband and wife owners team, Terrence and Beth-Anne Rumph have created a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. The fresh and up-to-date look also offers a nostalgic touch with black and white historic photos of Moorefield’s past. “It’s important to stay current,” say the Rumphs, “yet we still wanted to keep that at the kitchen table atmosphere.” Beth-Anne laughs as she recalls that when they reopened, her regular customers asked her if they could still wear their rubber boots into the diner.
Her response? “Of course!” The Rumphs challenge themselves regularly to take a step back to look at their business from their customer’s perspective. “We want to offer a complete and satisfying dining experience” and that’s why they not only renovated their diner they took a second look at the menu. With a passion for cooking, the challenge was to be able to offer as many of their home-cooked recipes as possible. Adding buffets seemed to be a perfect solution. “We weren’t sure how well the buffets would be received” admitted Terrence, “but since reopening we have been completely thrilled with the response.”
The Diner now features three standard weekend buffets – not that there is anything standard about these buffets. Friday is Pizza & Pasta buffet night and includes soup, salads, chili and garlic cheese fingers. Every Saturday from 7am to 2pm and Sunday from 9am to 2pm a “gianormous” brunch buffet is served. Bacon, ham, sausage, scrambled eggs and scrambled eggs with cheese, French toast, pancakes, home fries, soup, chili, meatballs, chicken fingers, onion rings plus two meat entrees such as chicken parmesan, turkey divan or roast beef will help to satisfy everyone’s taste. In addition to the hot buffets, a salad bar is also included. Homemade salads made on site include coleslaw and potato, macaroni, broccoli, bean and ambrosia salads – all just like mom (or dad) used to make. If that doesn’t knock your socks off wait until you hear the price. The Pizza & Pasta is just $12.95 for adults; $10.95 for seniors, children 8-12yrs old: $8.85; children 3-7yrs: $6.95 and children 2yrs and under are free. The brunch buffets are an incredibly priced at: adults: $11.95; seniors; $9.95; children 8-12yrs old: $7.85; children 3-7yrs: $6.95 and children 2yrs and under are free. If buffet is not your style you can still order off the menu which features a traditional diner fare of sandwiches, burgers, fries and much more. In the fall of this year they hope to add a special-themed Saturday night buffet such as French cuisine evening, a luau night and maybe even a Chinese food night.
The Rumphs are no strangers to the restaurant business. In fact, Beth-Anne originally opened the doors to the Moorefield Diner back in October of 2002. She admits the venture was a real eye opener, with a two-month-old baby, a busy farmer/husband and a busy restaurant. But with the help of staff she managed to run a successful business for five years. In 2007 a she decided to take a hiatus from the business but it wasn’t too long before Beth-Anne returned, reopening in 2010.
This time around Terrance came fully on board as chief cook. The Rumphs also credit the local community for the diner’s success. In the 1990s a group of Moorefield citizens banded together to start a restaurant in Moorefield to ensure they had a place to go and meet one another. It was through this backing and commitment that the Rumphs were able to carry on that business venture and have maintained a solid customer base as the business continues to grow.
“It’s very important for the restaurant to have the support of the community,” notes Beth-Anne, and “very important for the community to have the restaurant.”
Terrance and Beth-Anne have a passion for their customers and enjoy the friendly banter with their regulars and welcoming new ones. Their ultimate goal is to bring the best quality food and service to their customers at reasonable rates. They credit their excellent staff of nine part-time employees for helping them achieve that goal and hope to serve for many years to come.
For now plans are in the works for an exterior renovation.
For some small town, home-cooked meals visit the Moorefield Diner, 42 McGivern St. Moorefield. 519-638-0413 Mon-Thurs: 7am-3pm Fri: 7am-9pm Sat: 7am-2pm and Sun: 9am-2pm.
