Ameasha Rakestraw stands outside of Roy’s Grill Thursday, October 27, 2016.Burgers are back on the menu by popular demand at Roy’s Grill, a landmark diner in downtown Rossville.
“We’ve heard you, hamburgers are back,” said Roy’s Grill new owner Ameasha Rakestraw, who reopened the longtime restaurant at 116 Chickamauga Ave. in late October after its former owner closed it in the summer.
Burgers weren’t available initially. Instead of standard diner fare, Rakestraw, a first-time restaurant owner with a background as a baker, opted for a “homestyle menu” with such “everyday items” as meatloaf, chicken and waffles and a pasta bake.
But Rakestraw reconsidered after Roy’s Grill customers clamored for burgers.
“I’ve been listening to the customers and learned our customer base,” she said. “I originally started out thinking most people would go to the numerous fast- food restaurants around here for their hamburgers, but soon learned they wanted me to have one.”
So Roy’s Grill customers can now order a half dozen “signature burgers:” a regular cheeseburger, a bacon cheeseburger, an onion-ring cheeseburger, a barbecue cheeseburger, a pepperoni cheeseburger or the “All-In Burger” with barbecue sauce, onion rings, pepperoni and bacon. Burger combos, which include fries or onion rings and drink range in price from $8.25 to $8.75.
Rossville Mayor Teddy Harris hailed the news of hamburgers returning to Roy’s Grill’s.
“That’s great to know,” said Harris, a lifelong Rossville resident.
Rakestraw said lunch business has been good, but dinner’s a challenge since downtown Rossville doesn’t have much nightlife.
“A lot of people still don’t know we’re open, believe it or not,” she said.
Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/MeetsForBusiness or twitter.com/meetfor business or 423-757-6651.