If Rudy Rosalez had his way, he’d own five restaurants. But for the time being, the owner of the Woodbound Inn in Rindge will have to settle for two.
Last month, Rosalez officially took over the lease of the Hometown Diner in Rindge and is expecting to reopen as soon as all the logistical details are figured out. Rosalez said the original plan was to open Aug. 21, but delays in licensing from the state have pushed the reopening date back. In the mean time, Rosalez has been working to train staff members in the mornings at Woodbound, 90 percent of which were employed under previous owners Bonnie and Bill Rosengrant, in order to be ready when they get the go ahead.
“Unfortunately, we hit a few speed bumps,” Rosalez said. “So we’re trying to maximize what we can do now.”
And when Rosalez does open the doors, there will be a new addition to the Route 119 location, as Rosalez is also launching the Phoenix Smokehouse in the area behind the diner.
“It’s dinner in front, barbecue in the back – kind of like a business mullet,” he said.
As a Texas guy, Rosalez knows his barbecue and felt this was the perfect opportunity to introduce his passion for the food to the region.
“We’re going to do true Texas barbecue,” he said. That includes the big beef ribs that Rosalez prefers, as well as the smaller pork option, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, kielbasa and smoked wings. Add in sides of collared greens, corn, mac and cheese, smoked jalapeno poppers and it adds up to a menu that Rosalez expects will do quite well.
“Our goal is to be out of barbecue every single day, starting fresh in the morning and serving it right out of the smoker,” he said.
The ultimate plan is to add beer taps to the operation to go along with the dart board and cornhole boards. There will also be live music on weekends beginning Thursday nights, as the Phoenix Smokehouse will be open Wednesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner.
“From day one, we’re going to kick off with live music,” Rosalez said.
While people will still find the same comfort-style food the Hometown Diner is known for, Rosalez said, it will be done in a different way.
“All we’re doing is brining our own take on diner food,” he said. “And everything is from scratch.”
The Hometown Diner will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Wednesday through Monday, with some adjustments to when food can be ordered. Breakfast and lunch will be available all day, while dinner options begin at 4 p.m.
For breakfast, Rosalez said the cornbeef hash will not disappoint, as they brine their own cornbeef for five days before creating the side dish. The banana foster pancakes will give guests a feeling of sitting in New Orleans thanks to the traditional sauce made in house.
The lunch sandwiches will be crafted using from homemade bread baked in the restaurant, as he brought in two pastry chefs, with the meatloaf and pilgrim Thanksgiving sandwich being two that Rosalez believes will be big sellers.
“It’s the things that are in the sandwich that make them great,” he said.
For dinner, you won’t want to skip the Old Yankee pot roast, the meatloaf, pot pies or turkey dinners. And another diner classic.
“You’ve got to have liver at a diner,” Rosalez said.
While reopening a restaurant at any time can be a difficult endeavor, Rosalez knows it will be even more challenging given the current situation and increased protocols for eating establishments.
To begin, the Hometown Diner and Phoenix Smokehouse will be separate entities, so guests will not be able to sit down for a meal at the diner and order barbecue and vice versa. It’s being done that way to keep the employees from crossing paths. But in the future it may change when it can be done safely.
The smokehouse is meant as a to go operation, which was why Rosalez opted for barbecue.
“Our takeout has to be solid; it has to travel,” he said.
Rosalez frequently ordered take out from the Rosengrants during the early time of the coronavirus shutdown and became friends with Bonnie. He talked to her before inquiring about the diner’s lease and in the end just wanted to see the local eatery reopen.
“Closed businesses equal closed towns,” Rosalez said.
There are two years left on the lease, Rosalez said, so it gives him some flexibility in the future. But having owned the Woodbound Inn for the last seven years, Rosalez feels the community knows what to expect. And as someone who likes to support the town, he sees the diner/smokehouse filling a need.
“It gives me another way to employ people in the community,” he said.
Still, Rosalez knows it comes with a risk.
“From what we’ve heard people are chomping at the bit for the doors to open,” he said. “So I’m not worried about the diner when we open, I’m worried about when winter comes and people have to go inside.”
One thing that will help is an enhancement of the outdoor seating.
“It’s not just about food, it’s about the atmosphere,” Rosalez said. “We want to make people comfortable in a time that is so uncomfortable.”
For updated information about opening, visit https://www.facebook.com/hometowndinernh.