Rendezvous Owners Celebrate 1 Year at the Helm

We have several delicious dining options on the mountain, offerings for your tastes or your budget. But few restaurants on the mountain have the same reputation for blending quality and comfort like the Rendezvous Grill. 

Original owners Tom and Susie were known far and wide. Tom worked the front and ensured that every customer was satisfied. Meanwhile, Susie spent her time in the kitchen inventing sumptuous delights for lucky diners. When news of their retirement broke, it sent a ripple of unease through the Hoodland community. Were we witnessing the death of a favorite?

In fact, the Rendezvous was to get a new lease on life, thanks to new owners Tim Healy and Alex Steinmetz. The mountain locals were thrilled to take ownership of The Rendezvous, and — perhaps more importantly — they were ready to protect the legacy of this mountain institution.

“Taking over the restaurant has been really tough, but also really fun,” says Tim. “You can never imagine how many moving pieces there are until you're in the thick of it. Tom and Susie left large shoes to fill but we have been so supported and welcomed by the community that it's made it really enjoyable. And the first year flew by!”

Among locals, one of the largest concerns about new owners at the Rendezvous was the quality of the food. As one of the Hoodland area’s more upscale eateries, the quality of its food (and the restaurant’s array of signature dishes) were critical to its success. 

Fortunately, Tim understands how to introduce new dishes without disrupting the regular customers. “We are definitely aware that there are some staple menu items that we could never take off [the menu]! We love to keep the classics on the menu that people have been having for years, while also bringing in some fresh, new ideas. We strive to keep our food seasonal and high quality, so sometimes if a dish disappears for a while it's because we want to ensure we have the highest quality ingredients for it. We also want to provide unique dishes for people, and mix things up so no one gets bored!”

“We want to maintain the Rendezvous’ legacy by continuing to be a place where people can celebrate special occasions and also come for a casual meal,” he continues. “We want to maintain the quality of food, and while food costs are going up we really strive to keep some items on our menu for everyone. We want anyone to be able to come and enjoy a Rendezvous experience.”

In their first year, Tim and Alex also reached out to their community, hosting educational talks and meetings for groups throughout the area. “This community is such an amazing place. People come together and support one another through thick and thin and we are honored to be a part of that. One of our favorite things about taking over the Rendezvous is being able to give back to our community by creating a meeting space for people that need it, being able to collaborate with non-profits throughout the area, and supporting other local businesses.”

“We've learned a lot of valuable lessons about what works and doesn't work in our first year,” says Tim. “So, we'll be continuing to build on that in year two. We also look forward to trying even more new menu items!”

If you’ve been fortunate enough to visit the Rendezvous in the last year, you know that the restaurant (and Tom and Susie’s legacy) is in very good hands. If not, there’s no need to hesitate before you head into this delicious mountain favorite.