Joanne, Richard and Larry Gehrtz have been in the restaurant business for over 38 years, 30 of those years have been right here in Devils Lake at the Cedar Inn. In fact, later this month on Oct. 27 they are planning to celebrate their 30 years as one of the best restaurants in Devils Lake by offering specials and drawings all day long.
Well known throughout a wide area for good home cooking the Cedar Inn has become a favorite for local folks as well as seasonal visitors who come to hunt and fish. Their popular Cedar Sausage, something they’ve made themselves since Munich stopped making their famous smoked sausage, has become equally as popular. Joanne tells about a special order of it they had to send to Pierre, South Dakota, for a birthday surprise for a man who raved about it each time he came home from a fishing trip to Devils Lake. We’re not only becoming known for our walleye fishing in Devils Lake, but also for the home made sausage you can only get at the Cedar Inn. It keeps customers coming back year after year.
And they do, come back year after year, Joanne says. Over the past 30 years they have built long-lasting relationships with the many loyal customers who come back for a hearty Cedar Inn breakfast or the all-you-can-eat Walleye dinners every Friday night from 3 to 8 p.m.
Two of the servers at Cedar Inn, Jan and January have been there for over 30 years, they were there when Joanne and Larry purchased the Cedar Inn in October of 1993, server Anessa has been there about 23 years and dishwasher, David, has been there 16 years, since 2007. It says something about an employer and a business when people, like these four, remain loyal and work there for that long. Their son, Richard, has worked at the Cedar Inn since he was 12 years old, now he’s 24 years old, the cook and manager with a family of his own.
Owner Larry opens up every day at 5:30 a.m. and often takes that time to make his homemade soups or specials they will offer during the day.
You can go on Facebook to find out what specials they have during the day. Their made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls and carmel rolls often sell out within 10 or 15 minutes of coming out of the oven, so get your order in early.
Joanne says they have seen a lot of change over the years. They have had to cut hours like a number of other businesses, finding good, reliable help can be difficult. They open at 6 a.m. and close most days by 3 p.m., except Fridays when they are open until 8 p.m. for their all-you-can-eat walleye dinner. Some of the items on their menu are no longer available – like the popular shrimp burger – no one makes the shrimp patties anymore for sale commercially. Of course, rising food costs have affected their prices, but they still offer the best deal in town when it comes to a hearty breakfast or home made lunch special.
In addition, they are working with a manufacturer called Ivory and Sage in Minnesota that provides the one-of-a-kind commemorative Devils Lake mug – it is their plan to have one for every town one day. The Cedar Inn is the ONLY place you can get these unique gift items. For $26 each, they make nice Christmas or birthday gifts. Fill them with your favorite candy or nuts and maybe a gift certificate to the Cedar Inn and it will delight just about anyone!
