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Maureen Wallenfang
Appleton Post-Crescent
Published 11:24 AM EDT Jun 8, 2020
River Tyme Bistro’s opening is noticeably different from what its owners had in mind when they sat down to plan the new cafe last October.
Just nine months ago, no one would have imagined servers wearing masks and tables spaced six feet apart.
And who would think the cafe’s soft opening, going on now, would have to be by reservation only to limit capacity?
Its public opening is June 19.
Owners Candice Mortara and Christine Williams completely renovated the space at 425 W. Water St. in Appleton, the historic 1878 Atlas Paper Mill building perched above the rushing Fox River. They’d both been customers as the previous restaurant on the site, Atlas Waterfront Cafe. Mortara loved sitting on the outdoor deck. Williams had her favorite seat by a window.
With an investment of $500,000, they built a new large kitchen from scratch and redesigned the space with wood, industrial details and vintage fixtures from the Thilmany mill. Table tops from Urban Evolutions use wood from the old Case factory floor. A private party room can seat up to 120.
Renovation was going according to plan, but then the coronavirus shutdown hit and their April opening was pushed back two months. They pared down the inside seating, to 32 seats, and figured out no-contact serving methods. They worried about customer comfort levels.
“The normal fear you have opening a new place is tripled,” said Mortara. “It’s the unknown. You have no idea if two people will show up or if it will be 20.”
By day, the place will have a casual coffeehouse/café vibe with a menu of homemade bakery, espresso drinks, salads and sandwiches.
“The daytime menu is ‘ports of call’ and we have things like a porchetta sandwich, a Mediterranean mezze platter and Jamaican meat patties,” said Mortara.
She and Williams also own the River Tyme tour boat business on the Fox River.
In the evening, the place takes on a bistro/wine bar feel with craft cocktails and a casual supper menu they call “approachable and good.” Menus will feature “back home for supper” comfort food like lasagna and pot roast.
Info: rivertymebistro.com, Facebook or (920) 903-1415. Carry-out starts June 19.
Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.
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