The Cove Cafe Restaurant & Grill

The pandemic, lockdown and all our favourite eateries are on a Takeout basis only. No sitting in a comfy homey locale enjoying an appetizer followed by a scrumptious entree and finished off with a sweet desert. Cooking became the daily grind. No relief, even in this quaint ‘adult lifestyle’ community. Then The Cove Café & Grill stepped in and up.

The Cove is a renovated family style restaurant that serves primarily the Sandy Cove Community. Seniors from this community, enjoy stopping here for a tea and desert with a friend or bring family visitors for a relaxed meal. Friendly service and home cooked meals with a chef’s flair delight the palate. Add a glass of wine or a beer, with your home steps away and this becomes a superb getaway from the daily grind of retirement. Okay so retirement is not a grind. In fact, this resembles a vacation haven and the quality dining tops off the total enjoyment.

Daily specials make this a treat any day of the week, but the Cove added entertainment every Sunday drawing in their regular devoted patrons. Saturday night became rib night. Did I mention the fish & chips? These are available every day not just Fridays and challenge the best fichis to be found anywhere.

When we moved here, the establishment was a little weary, badly in need of a face lift. The chef owner gradually refreshed each area providing new flooring, tables, a coat of paint, new artwork and over time it took on the appearance it has today – a fine dining family restaurant attracting customers from afar as well as the ‘adults’ of Sandy Cove.

Once more I was able to try Liver ‘n Onions and appreciate them cooked to perfection. This is a dish I carefully avoid in most restaurants as it can easily be massacred. At The Cove the meat comes out tender and juicy smothered in golden onions. Lovely. The Menu features all your fav grill items – hamburgers done to perfection; wraps, sandwiches and then the Entrees which include Meat Loaf, Steak Sandwich, Beef Melt, Crispy Schnitzel. Stand Alones offer the Club House Sandwich Platter on your choice of bread, Perogies, Chicken Souvlaki and the Wheel Dipper. This last is sliced roast beef, braised onions, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, horseradish, may and au jus on the side. The chef’s flair shines through here.

Have I mentioned their selection of fresh baked deserts? A variety of pies always tempts. My favourites are the strawberry rhubarb – with a scoop of ice cream of course, or the lemon meringue. The pecan, or apple or seasonal pumpkin are all terrific.

Have I tantalized a tiny bit? I have not even skimmed the surface of the delicacies offered here. The Daily Specials, the Appetizers, the Soups and Salads and the always new desert list. The outstanding food and service has always been a joy. However, it was the extra effort put in as we became isolated by the pandemic that made this restaurant the heart of the community. Delivery became the standard. Not only could you order and pick-up but also have delivered. One frustrating evening of trying to find fish & chips to either pick up or deliver had us tearing our hair in frustration. The wait was exhausting – an hour or more. Then we thought of The Cove. Fifteen minutes for pickup. Amazing! Even more amazing was the quality. We had never done take out at The Cove because it was a dine in restaurant for us. With that no longer available, we suddenly realized that not only did The Cove have takeout, but they also delivered. He next time we tried Delivery. It was a bit longer, but they were very clear on the time and again the food arrived hot and sooooooo savoury. The Cove did not stop there. Frozen entrees are available to have and keep for a quick meal. Service has continued to be exceptional and friendly. Food continues to melt in your mouth delicious. Now we make sure to add a desert to top off our meals.

We miss the eat in and look forward to the re-opening however we are thrilled to have our favourite restaurant experience in our own homes for now. Thank you Cove.

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To read more of my short stories published on Vocal, check out CHOICES, The Wonders and Wounds of Older Dating, and, Merlot Aroma.