水果派AV

鈥淭hrough the years, things have just disappeared in Moravia,鈥� Rowan's Bar & Grill owner Lindsay Gaston told 水果派AV there on Thursday.

鈥淢y mom remembers when there were four bars in town. Now, there鈥檚 none.鈥澛�

Rowan's opened recently after more than a year of planning, in the former Community Medical Center building on Central Avenue.聽Aside from a Chinese restaurant and two pizzerias, the closest dining option is 10-10 BBQ & Catering. The Colonial Lodge and The Watering Hole (previously Goody鈥檚 Lake Como Inn) are just over 10 minutes away.

It's because they were so eager to give the community another eating option that Gaston and chef K. Andrew Youmans have opened Rowan's for takeout only, before the restaurant itself is ready. Gaston said she hopes that will happen in the next few weeks. In the meantime, customers can order food online or by phone.聽

'They enjoy taking care of people'

Gaston,聽suicide prevention coordinator at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has worked in the food service industry in different roles. She and her husband, David, are Moravia natives.

鈥淚鈥檝e always driven around,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd say, 'This would be a cute bed and breakfast,' 'This would be an awesome bar.' I love old buildings.鈥�

Youmans, a native of the town of Mexico, was discovered by Gaston through Facebook. He graduated from culinary school in New York City, then聽got a job at Bank of New York Mellon. While selling stocks and bonds was not his passion, he told 水果派AV, he continued developing as a chef after his days were over by volunteering in kitchens at night.

鈥淎t the end of the day, a majority of people become chefs because they enjoy taking care of people,鈥� he said.

The limited Rowan's menu offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options, plus dessert.

Along with breakfast staples like eggs, toast, pancakes and French toast are a chorizo omelet and a quesadilla, featuring scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and cheddar in a tortilla with a side of home fries. Youmans, who has Cuban and Spanish heritage, said he likes to infuse his food with some Hispanic flair.聽

Similarly, Rowan's also serves a Cubano sandwich that's stacked with pork, ham, Gruyere cheese, pickles and mustard between slices of the traditional crispy bread.

Gaston hopes to become known for such sandwiches and burgers, and is excited to offer them at affordable prices.聽

When the restaurant fully opens, the menu will have entrees as well. Instead of daily or weekly specials, a seasonal menu will give customers additional options.聽

'Keeping it alive'

The name of the restaurant pays homage to Gaston's son, whom she lost four years ago while he was in the hospital. It was a natural choice, she said.

She also plans to hold benefits for local neonatal intensive care units at Rowan's.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just being able to have that remembrance of him and keeping it alive,鈥� she said.

Gaston and Youmans want the restaurant to have that traditional community role of holding gatherings that help struggling families, celebrate birthdays or showers, or raise funds for local sports teams.聽

Rowan's will eventually be able to accommodate a little over 200 people. There will be a bar area with high tops, an adjacent dining area and a 60-person banquet room. The bar area will be managed by Steve Byrne, who has served beverages at Polish Falcons, McMurphy鈥檚 Irish Pub, Fargo Bar & Grill and other establishments across Cayuga County.聽

An outdoor patio will be the last part of the restaurant the owners tackle before deciding what to do with the building鈥檚 second floor.

The property also has two barns the Gastons would like to renovate at some point, maybe for additional event spaces.聽

鈥淭here鈥檚 quite a lot of potential here,鈥� she said.