Haven 55: a haven for foodies

The holidays are over and it’s time to treat yourself to some culinary excellence. Just over the Missouri border—and worlds away—you’ll find what you’re looking for: Haven

55. Perched over Little Sugar Creek in Pineville, Missouri is a cozy dining destination that is bound to become a favorite.

“The menu is American regional-rustic, meaning it is pulled from different parts of America and is plated simply,” said Haven 55’s chef, Alan Bone.

The restaurant calls it “casual fine dining,” and it’s a notch up from what you might expect.

The location is actually a former grist mill overlooking the site of the waterpower generator that once served the surrounding community. And the food is more than a match for the peaceful river view from every table in this cozy establishment.

Chef Bone was trained in Orlando at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. After he graduated, he worked under different chefs in Florida. Then he came back home to Southwest Missouri, and when the building where Haven 55 is now located became available back in 2012, he decided to open his own restaurant.

“It was where he wanted to be and what he wanted to do,” his fiancée Micah said. “Now, here he is. He was born and raised two miles down the road from the restaurant.”

With Alan’s formal culinary training, the menu he has created at Haven 55 is somewhat unique in Southwest Missouri, or anywhere, for that matter.

“He was taught by the French,” Micah explained. “A lot of the dishes lean towards that style. He has a New York strip steak with a blue cheese sauce on it, that’s our best seller. His 8 oz. sirloin with a red wine reduction sauce is my personal favorite. The pork tenderloin is really popular as well, and it’s got a blackberry sauce on it.”

The establishment is a close-knit family effort, with Alan’s fiancée Micah working the front, listening to customers and fine-tuning the experience.

Although the quality is high and the dishes are distinctly chef-inspired creations, the food is not extravagant or complicated. “It’s not fancy-fancy, but it’s not just your fried chicken either,” Micah noted.

“This is slow food at its best. Everything is prepared fresh and made to order,” she continued. “It doesn’t hit the skillet until someone orders it. That includes the sauces. They are made right with the dish in the skillet. It’s all fresh.” Culinary masterpieces

The creative dishes include pork and chicken, plus a wide variety of fresh seafood offerings, unique sandwich creations and certified Angus burgers and steaks.

While you’re waiting for your culinary masterpiece, you can grab a drink and enjoy the restaurant’s fantastic fried green bean appetizer served with a creamy horseradish dip. Or try the amazing Parmesan Truffle Fries—handcut russet potatoes, tried and tossed with parmesan, truffle oil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

The restaurant is open for lunch or dinner, and Micah was quick to answer when asked her favorite lunch menu item.

“My go-to lunch is the Croque Monsieur,” she said. “I call it a glorified grilled ham and cheese sandwich. It has a little bit of mayonnaise and mustard and two different cheeses, Swiss and provolone, and ham. It’s grilled to perfection. I love it.”

Haven 55 burgers are a hot item, too. “We sell a lot of burgers,” Micah said. “We use certified angus beef, which has great flavor.”

Specials

Each week Haven 55 rolls out several different specials.

Get your reservations in early to partake in Haven 55’s Wednesday Prime Rib night—a mid-week tradition worth planning ahead for. “We have a big following for Prime Rib night,” Micah pointed out.

(And, if you’re lucky, you’ll enjoy the prime rib sandwich as a lunch special the next day!)

There’s also Crab Leg Thursdays, featuring all-you-can-eat succulent crab legs. Regular menu items are also available.

Extend your night out at Haven 55’s Tavern. It’s open Friday and Saturday nights from 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Happy hour is from 5-6 p.m. They serve house crafted pizzas and other tavern fare and feature regular live performances by local artists, as well as karaoke every Saturday night.

The restaurant gains enthusiastic patrons every day, as more and more people discover this unique dining experience. Check out some of the recent reviews:

“We drove 139 miles (one way!) to try out this restaurant. And it was so worth it! It’s a cozy place…the service was excellent, and made us feel very welcome. And the food was amazing! I had the prime rib, cooked to perfection! My husband had the Haven 55 chicken with angel hair pasta, said it was the best dinner out that he’s had in a long time. Dessert was a decadent rich chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. We will definitely go back for another food adventure at Haven 55!”

“Has a serene view overlooking a creek with geese swimming. Servers are excellent and food came out quickly. Starter with parmesan truffle hand-cut fries is a must! We ordered the club sandwich, pulled BBQ, grilled chicken, salmon BLT and everyone was very satisfied. Portions are big, so we didn’t have room for desserthopefully next time!”

“Small menu but amazing food. We had burgers with excellent homemade fries. But the real stars were the desserts. Creme brûlée and chocolate bouchon. A perfect end to our meal. The restaurant ambience overlooking the river falls is lovely. Dress is casual. The food is fabulous and well made. The service was impeccable. Highly recommend a visit.”

Visit haven55.com and keep an eye on the Haven 55 Facebook page for changing specials, a more detailed schedule of upcoming events, or to view the restaurant and tavern menus.

A meal at this hidden gem is more than just lunch or dinner; it’s a dining destination.