By Ty Walker, The Mountain Times
It’s official. As of Dec. 1, new owners have taken over one of the most popular restaurants on the mountain— The Rendezvous Grill. For the past three decades, the Welches restaurant, off U.S. Highway 26 at milepost 40, has built a reputation for being the place to go for a great Northwest mountain fine dining experience.
Originally from Montana, these new owners, Alex Steinmetz and Tim Healy, were visiting the Mount Hood area to go house shopping in 2019, when they first stumbled upon the cozy rustic restaurant. It was love at first taste.
“The Rendezvous was the first restaurant we ate at here and we had a really fantastic experience,” Alex said. “The food was wonderful. It was warm and welcoming. We just automatically fell in love with it.”
Alex and her husband found a house in Rhododendron, 10 minutes away from the restaurant, and moved there permanently. She got a job at Rendezvous as a server right before COVID, working there on and off for three years.
They had bounced the idea of buying a restaurant and had looked at other locations previously. The opportunity to buy the Rendezvous seemed like a good fit and they were looking for a change.
“It happened organically, it worked out really well,” Alex said. “Tom and Susie Anderson, the previous owners, already knew us and knew we had a passion for it.”
Alex and Tim plan to continue the course of excellence set by the original owners when they opened the Rendezvous in 1995. Tim is cooking up some new special recipes, augmenting the menu with fresh flavors. But popular dishes like smoked chicken rigatoni will remain.
Tim has worked as a cook in the restaurant business for years. He also spent 25 years as a seasonal snowcat ski slope groomer. He has launched several businesses, including a food delivery service.
Alex balances running the restaurant with her work at Hoodland Library, while also running her small marketing firm. She and her husband share a love of cooking and enjoy creating new recipes in the kitchen at home.
The new Rendezvous owners will continue using local purveyors in providing seasonal produce, fish and meats. Using local ingredients is key to their restaurant venture.
“Crab comes off the Oregon Coast,” Tim said. “You try to keep everything local and fresh as possible.”
They are looking to expand the number of hours the restaurant is open by bringing back lunches. The mountain can always use another place with a lunch menu.
“We want to continue a service that’s been provided for the last 30 years and honor what Tom and Susie have created here, and just keep moving forward with it,” Tim said.
14 employees from the existing staff were retained by the new owners, making for a smooth transition.
“We couldn’t do without them,” Alex said. “It’s such a great turnkey business. Tom and Susie have built such an amazing brand and staff and menu. We are lucky to have inherited such an easy situation.”
Business has been brisk during the first few weeks under new ownership, with local companies choosing the Rendezvous as the venue for their holiday parties.
“It’s Christmas season so we have been super busy,” Alex said. “Since we are one of those special occasion places, we are so fortunate that so many businesses want to spend their holiday parties with us.”
But you don’t need a special occasion with fancy dress to enjoy the mountain fine dining that Alex and Tim first found so inviting in 2019.
“It’s mountain fine dining, right,” Alex said. “So you come in there have a meal that will knock your socks off, pair it with a fantastic bottle of wine. But you can come in your ski clothes or pair of jeans and that’s A-OK.”
The Rendezvous’ new owners said they are pleasantly surprised by the support they have received from the community.
“Taking over a business that’s been here for 30 years, with everybody knowing Tom and Susie, I see nothing but love and support from the community,” Alex said.
Opened in 1995 by local residents Kathryn Bliss, Tom and Susie Anderson, The Rendezvous Grill has become a destination for curious Portlanders and discerning locals alike. Locally known for their delicious, seasonal cuisine, friendly service, relaxed atmosphere, ever-changing wine list, and divine desserts. Find them on US Highway 26 between Portland and Mount Hood in Welches, Oregon…milepost 40. Check out their website at https://www.thevousgrill.com/ or call them at 503.622.6837.