New cafe opens in Pea Ridge

Family-friendly service offered

One of the menu items at the newly opened Pea Ridge Cafe is a Mickey Mouse pancake on the kids’ menu. But, it’s more than just a pancake — it’s three pancakes topped with sweet strawberries and whipped cream. It’s a feast for the eyes and the mouth.

The chef, Doni Ravmana, enjoys cooking and offers special items on different days of the week in addition to the traditional fare. On Fridays, there are two huge beer-battered crispy fried catfish filets. Both Doni and his fiance, Shukrie Balazoska, are assistant managers and work full time in the restaurant on Lee Town Road.

Shukrie’s father, John Balaoski, is the owner. He owns Sunrise Cafe in Monet, Mo., and Cassville, Mo.

“I’ve been at it about 30 years,” Balaoski said. He said he grew up in Chicago where his father was

in the restaurant business and often took him to work with him. Later, they moved to Springfield, Mo., and still later to Cassville.

“We always liked the area,” Balaoski said.

Menu items include burgers, sandwiches, biscuits, waffles, pancakes, omelets. There is a kids’ menu and a senior citizen menu which is for anyone 55 and older.

“Doni is the cook. He likes to make pancakes,” Balazoska said. “Everything is made fresh here.” Daily specials include:

• Monday: Country Benedict and Texas barbecue sandwich

• Tuesday: Chicken fajita omelet and barbecue sandwich

• Wednesday: Omega (two pieces of French toast and two eggs any way and choice of meat), Boston chicken sandwich, Monte Cristo

• Thursday: Mexican omelet, Mexican skillet

• Friday: Cinnamon fried toast slammer, fish fry — catfish and jumbo shrimp

• Saturday: Biscuit and gravy skillet, spaghetti and meat balls, chicken parmigiana and chicken Alfredo

• Sunday: Country fried steak skillet, chicken ranch wrap

Balazoska said breakfast items are served at any time. There is a drive through window, as well.

TIMES photographs by Annette Beard John Balaoski, owner, and managers Shukrie Balazoska and Liridon Ravmani (Doni), work hard to provide a family-friendly atmosphere and good food at the Pea Ridge Cafe.

TIMES photograph by Annette Beard Meals are prepared by ‘Doni’ — Liridon Ravmani, assistant manager and chef, and Juan Rivera, cook, at Pea Ridge Cafe.

TIMES photograph by Annette Beard Shane Tedford washes dishes at Pea Ridge Cafe.

TIMES photograph by Annette Beard Friendly faces ready to serve customers at Pea Ridge Cafe are Meagan Davis, head waitress; Shukrie Balazoska, manager; and Mandy Jones.