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Citysearch
Editorial Review
By
Kae Denino
Editorial
Rating: Recommended
Welcome
to a darling little flower-filled place
that
serves breakfast and lunch cooked American and homey.
The Scene
It used to be difficult to find a breakfast eatery in Columbus that wasn't
a greasy spoon or a corporate chain, but Wildflower Cafe has filled
that gap in this city's restaurant scene. It's a smidgeon of a place,
with maybe 20 tables. It feels light, airy and clean, and the service
is relaxed.
The Food
The menu is a basic breakfast menu, with sandwiches and hamburgers for
lunch and specials that change daily, like pot roast and meatloaf. The
food will
remind different people of the South, of Mom's home cooking or of Mayberry-style
meals. It's hearty, American--and none of this "comfort food with a twist" business.
The mashed potatoes are just that, the fried chicken is shameless in its golden
crispiness and the cole slaw even has a little sprig of parsley.
Those wild folks at Wildflower remember when, to make chicken salad, you cooked
a chicken, chopped it up in little pieces and mixed it with mayonnaise--instead
of using canned stuff. If you're a connoisseur of chicken salad, try it here.
There are a few places in town that should come here for lessons.
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McCarthy Brothers Extend Scope of Wildflower Café
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JASON LICHTENBERGER
Daily Reporter Staff Writer
07/07/2004Business has come full circle for Clintonville native Keith
Charles McCarthy. As a teenager in the 1970s, he entered the workforce
busing tables and washing dishes at a Columbus restaurant. Even now he
occasionally has dishpan hands, but these days it is by choice - he's
the boss.
McCarthy (known by his friends as KC) and his brother Patrick are about
to celebrate the five-year anniversary of their 1,500-square-foot restaurant
in Clintonville.
KC and Patrick opened McCarthy's Wildflower Café and Catering
at 3420 Indianola Ave. in September 1999 for breakfast and lunch crowds,
but they recently extended their hours to accommodate evening customers.
Although the restaurant is closed on Mondays, Wildflower is open from
7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
Sunday.
If helping run a restaurant weren't enough for the entrepreneur, KC also
works as a respiratory therapist for Select Specialty Hospitals at Riverside
Methodist Hospital in Columbus. He claims his brother is the talent in
the partnership and that Patrick does the talking. KC's responsibilities
include bookkeeping and accounting chores, while Patrick handles more
of the restaurant tasks.
In addition to Wildflower, Patrick McCarthy's restaurant experience spans
30 years, all at businesses in the Columbus area. He also has worked
in a non-related field.
Before the McCarthy brothers opened their Clintonville restaurant, KC
opened McCarthy's Coins and Collectibles and Patrick joined the business.
"
It was here that we learned that we could work together and we talked
about doing a restaurant, but when we opened Wildflower, the roles changed
and he became the boss," explained KC.
"
It was a little rough at first," he said jokingly, "but we
got through it."
On a serious note, KC added that the role reversal between the brothers
has been healthy for their partnership.
At any given time, there are several McCarthys working inside Wildflower.
Family members who are in the business include Patrick's wife Maureen,
or Mo, and their three teenage sons. "And if I had any kids, they'd
be working here too," said KC.
Maureen makes all of Wildflower's pies and other desserts by hand, but
other items on the menu are made from scratch as well. The waffles come
highly recommended by KC and so does the corned beef and eggs. The average
cost of breakfast items is around $5 and lunches average about $6.50.
Midday options include a variety of cold sandwiches, soups and salad
combos that come highly rated among Wildflower customers, according to
KC.
Steaks and pastas can be found on the recently-added dinner menu and
daily specials - such as meatloaf on Tuesdays; chicken and noodles on
Wednesdays; and pot roast on Thursdays - are featured throughout the
week. Dinner prices average around $9.
Since the restaurant opened nearly five years ago the McCarthy's have
had their share of success, but KC is quick to note the entire experience
hasn't been a leisure trip down the primrose path.
They had some trouble hiring dependable employees at first and have endured
a leaky roof in the kitchen since they took over the business from the
previous restaurant owner.
Although he had money saved to start Wildflower, KC said he was forced
to sell his Harley Davidson motorcycle to come up with the necessary
funds.
Still, he said, it was a decision he was willing to live with - and one
his mother appreciated - so the McCarthy brothers haven't looked back.
The success of Wildflower's expanded hours and menu have caused the brothers
to consider expanding the business' catering capabilities in the coming
future, KC said. The motorcycle may be gone, but business keep on rollin'.
If you have questions or comments for The Daily Reporter regarding this
story please contact editor@sourcenews.com.
Reprinted with permission of The Daily Reporter, copyright 2004.
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TOQUE OF THE TOWN
WILDFLOWER CAFE QUICHE BEING TESTED AS DAILY MENU ITEM
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
BUSINESS 02E
By Doral Chenoweth
For The Columbus Dispatch
Wildflower Cafe quiche isn't just for Sundays anymore.
Chef Beth Lynch is taking her specialty to the masses, at least this
week.
For the past four years, her quiche and fruit crepes have been on the
Sunday brunch menu only. But as a participant in the Gourmet Galaxy Cafe
program at next year's Home & Garden Show, Lynch will be testing
these demonstration- menu items on customers all week.
Lynch is the first chef to be tapped for the nine-day show that begins
Feb. 28 at the Ohio Expo Center.
Lynch is a newcomer to the roster. Show coordinator Donna Jarvis-Miller
will announce other chefs during the next three months.
Patrick McCarthy, owner of the Wildflower Cafe, 3420 Indianola Ave.,
said the quiche has been a big seller on Sundays. This week-long offering
will be his market study to see whether it should go on the daily menu.
Wildflower serves breakfast and lunch until 2 p.m. daily except Monday.
For information on the cafe, call 614-262-2233.
Toque of the Town is a collection of street talk involving the restaurant
business -- chef movements, firings, hirings, new/old eateries -- compiled
by Doral Chenoweth.
All content herein is © 2003 The Columbus Dispatch and may not be
republished without permission.
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