R+L Eatery – Open Year Round, 7 Days A Week

Jeff Green | Nov 08, 2023

Rose Wood saw an opportunity when the restaurant and the Mazinaw Lakeside resort closed down. She had experience in the restaurant business in Denbigh where Rose owned a pizza restaurant several years ago. Now, based in Flinton, she decided it was the right time to get back in the restaurant business, so she entered into a lease and opened R+L Eatery on July 1st.

“You know when you do something, you don't know how it will go,” Rose recalled last week in an interview at the restaurant, “And then this thing took off like a rocket.”

R+L Eatery is located at the north end of Mazinaw Lake, about 12 minutes from Cloyne and 18 minutes from Denbigh on Hwy. 41.

In the summer it draws cottagers from Mazinaw, Skootamatta, Ashby and even Weslemkoon Lakes, as well as campers from Bon Echo Park.

“But what really has been a wonderful thing, is that we are doing well, maybe even better, in the fall,” she said.

“The business is different, of course, and involves establishing relationships with local groups and catering to their needs. But groups like the Old Pharts, Mazinaw Powerline and hydro crews, are all looking for a place to meet and to eat, and we are happy to have the business.”

Prices at R+L are rather reasonable. A full breakfast starts at $12, and burgers start at $8.75.

Open from 8am – 5pm, 7 days a week (maybe later during hunting season) the Eatery features all day breakfast, pizza, a lunch menu with standard items including a soup of the day, and all the baking, from bread to butter tarts to pies, is done in house.

“A lot of people don't even know we are here and that we are open all year, and we want to get the word out about that.”

And there are plans for the future.

“At one time, this place had a store, gas, bait, just about everything people needed. We want to bring some of that back,” Rose said.

To that end, she is in the midst of getting the room at the back of the restaurant ready to be a store.

“We are taking our time, making sure we are fully stocked and get things like milk and groceries available at all times, but we hope to be open in the winter or spring, certainly before May 24 next year.”

For the winter, she is planning to have hot, take home meals, and a delivery service, available, as well as beiwng able to handle small and medium sized gatherings over the holidays and into the new year.

“We know winter can be slow, but we are on the Mazinaw Powerline Trail, so that should help.”

Next summer she plans to be open 7am – 8pm, but will be holding the 8-5 hours until then.

R+L Eatery can be reached at 613-336-0747.