Rock River Cafe open for business in Chatham

There's a new local café open in Chatham that is focusing on local food and regional favorites.

The Rock River Café is on M94, in the historic Pacific Hotel building, in the former site of the Villager restaurant. The new co-owners are Pat Nesberg and John Filus, and they're approaching their new enterprise with the idea that local food is the best food.

"The community of Chatham is where forest meets agriculture and hosts earthy entrepreneurs who live off of the land in a myriad of ways. The theme of Rock River Cafe is rustic quality, evoking what is 'this area.' Local ingredients, natural when possible, but at the same time gourmet quality and presented in a thoughtful way," says Nesberg. "We simply see Chatham as a culinary destination and plan to introduce others to this idea."

The partners are bearing out their mission with a menu based around local farm products and traditional U.P. recipes like Finnish pancakes and juustoa, herbs, veggies and teas from Rock River Gardens and Greenhouse, Lake Superior trout dishes, and plenty of vegan options on offer.

"Come for the Finnish pancake, the great steak, the trout for breakfast, the fresh local greens with maple vinaigrette made from Rock River Sugar Bush syrup," says Nesberg. "We may have the most vegan friendly menu in Alger County."

It's also accessible to outdoors enthusiasts or those just passing through, as it's between the Marquette and Valley Spur bike trails and next to the Hiawatha National Forest.

The Rock River Café is open seven days a week; from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. And they're on Twitter.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Pat Nesberg, Rock River Cafe