New restaurant to open Monday in uptown Creston

A new establishment, The Backdoor Restaurant and Lounge, is set to have its grand opening Monday.

After closing That Bar in Afton last month, owner Christine Meadows is opening the restaurant in uptown Creston. With this new business, her primary focus is the food.

“We always knew we wanted to do something bigger with food, so once we found a location open in the Creston area, we moved,” Meadows said.

Her hope is The Backdoor Restaurant and Lounge, 211 N. Pine St., will be a unique addition in town with exceptional food. Her main chef is from Des Moines and has more than 25 years of experience.

“The food is extraordinary and homemade, and it’ll be a nice, comfortable place for people to have supper,” said Kellie Ritter, restaurant manager. “I’ve started drink recipes. The chocolate martini is killer.”

The restaurant will offer home-style cooking with an emphasis on fresh ingredients. There will be an expansive menu selection from steak to sandwiches and a variety of cocktails.

“It’ll be so different than what we had in Afton,” Meadows said.

The employees from the former bar in Afton have relocated along with Meadows, and she is looking to hire additional servers and bartenders. The crew’s goal is to provide a family-friendly atmosphere.

“The whole reason we won’t have ‘bar’ in our name is because I don’t want that bar crowd,” Meadows said.

The Backdoor Restaurant and Lounge will be open daily: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. There will also be a drive-thru window, which will stay open until 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

“We’re going to have crab buffets, a Bloody Mary bar on Sundays and special cocktails, so people don’t have to go to the city anymore to get what they want,” Meadows said. “We’re looking to set this town on fire.”