Suzy’s Pointer Cafe – Mineral Point, Wisconsin

When it comes to our seven grandkids…we’ll follow them just about anywhere to watch them participate in just about anything. And recently, after a weekend filled with baseball adventures in Wisconsin, Peepaw and I headed back to Iowa.  And the road sign for Suzy’s Pointer Cafe in Mineral Point, Wisconsin was a welcome sight since it was definitely time for dinner.

Mineral Point, Wisconsin is a beautiful and historic spot filled with quaint shops and talented artisans galore. I wish we had arrived earlier in the day so we could have spent some time exploring the shops and art galleries spilling out of the brick and stone buildings on the main street…but alas, that was not to be. We had to settle for a quick meal before finishing our drive back home. (If you get a chance to explore Mineral Point…GO!)

It was almost dusk when we pulled into town on that Sunday evening, and my smartphone GPS had given me several dining possibilities, but  Suzy’s Pointer Cafe’s  manicured lawn and newer building on the edge of town looked like a good option.

There were only a few cars in the parking lot, and we were unsure if the small town eatery was still open on a Sunday evening, but we took a chance and stepped inside. And what a cute little restaurant it turned out to be!

Our smiling server arrived quickly with a menu for each of us, and the menu logo at Suzy’s Pointer Cafe made me smile.

“Great Home-Style Cooking…Grandma Would be Proud”

(Not so fast, I thought…THIS Meemaw/Grandma will be the judge of that!)

Our baseball-watching weekend had been filled with meals of pizza and hot dogs and popcorn…and a few beers for Meemaw and Peepaw during our “adult time” at night!  We were ready for a healthy option for dinner, so we each ordered grilled chicken salads…but we were quite surprised when they were delivered. Our quite-pricey entree salad was actually quite small, resembling a “side salad” in size. There no bread or crackers were served with it. But that was no big deal, especially after we saw…the cheese!

I had forgotten for a moment that in Wisconsin, cheese is KING. And there was NO SHORTAGE of cheese on that tiny grilled chicken salad, so my goal of a healthy salad was somewhat tarnished by that mountain of golden cheddar. But you know me…waste not, want not. I soldiered on and ate the whole mountain! (When in Wisconsin…)

While I tackled that mound of cheddar, I noticed something I have never seen in any other restaurant anywhere in the world.

Suzy’s Pointer Cafe has A PLAY AREA for kids!!!

I don’t approve of allowing kids to run around and play in a restaurant since I expect our grandchildren to use good manners and stay seated when we take them to a restaurant. And I expect children to EAT in a restaurant…not play! And if I’m dining in a restaurant, I don’t want shrieks and screams and clanging toys to accompany my meal. I want a calm and stress free environment…not a playground full of noise! (OK…my Meemaw rant is over…!)

After we finished our “healthy” cheese-laden meal, Peepaw couldn’t resist the temptation before him. He took a short stroll over to that fixture he looks for in our stops in small town restaurants and Mom and Pop places…

That Merry Go Round of Desserts…The Carousel of Calories…

Otherwise known as…THE PIE CASE!

Just to “window shop” he says…

And then he saw it. That piece of pecan pie was simply calling his name. Over and over…

And he CAVED.

I must admit…the look of utter joy on his face as he devoured that pie was worth whatever price he paid for it. The pie made our meal worthwhile.

So while  Peepaw paid the bill and I headed to our car, I realized we had found a gem at Suzy’s Pointer Cafe in that mining town of Mineral Point.

What was our gem?

It wasn’t the salad. It wasn’t the cheese. And it certainly wasn’t the play area.

It was…PIE.