Urban Cookhouse now open

Crestline now has a new option for a menu full of fresh food made from local farms. Urban Cookhouse opened in the former Fire location in Crestline Village on Sept. 19.

“We believe Crestline is a great place to introduce our new ideas, including an extended menu to enhance the dining experience,” said David Snyder, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Andrea.

The Crestline location incorporates a more upscale interior with an outdoor patio that will feature a fire pit when complete. A selection of local draft beers will also be available at a bar area.

“Hopefully people will want to come hang out at night,” Andrea Snyder said.

In addition to farm-fresh selections available at other locations, the  Crestline menu features new seasonal entrées created based on local farm availability and a selection of new appetizers and dips.

The owners opened their Homewood location of Urban Cookhouse on 18^th Street in June 2010 and a second location at The Summit in November 2011.

Infused with Latin flavor, the menu features roasted jalapeno vinaigrette on the Pepper Patch Salad, cilantro in their rice pilaf and chipotle flavoring on their braised pork.

Much of their seasonal produce comes from Owl’s Hollow Farm in Gadsden.

In the summer they gather hundreds of gallons of strawberries from Harvest Farm in Cullman to puree and save year-round for their strawberry lemonade, made from fresh lemons (no syrup) daily.

“I think people can tell the freshness of the food,” Andrea Snyder said.

As delicious as salads like the Berry Good (greens, tomatoes, spiced pecans, feta and a citrus vinaigrette) are, it’s the warm orange roll that accompanies them that stand out the most. There’s no doubt that the decadent Alabama-based Milly Ray rolls are made from scratch.

Salad varieties are also served as wraps with a choice of one side such as hot cheddar pasta, fruit, garden salad or roasted vegetables. The menu offers a selection of sandwiches and “fork and knife” plates with meats and sides as well.

Urban Cookhouse’s kamado-style cookers (think The Big Green Egg: lots of taste, no added fat) are to blame for meat as flavorful as lime-marinated steak that tops the Urban Cowboy sandwich along with caramelized onions and peppers, pepper jack and aioli.

For catered orders, The Down Home is a popular choice with smoked turkey and pineapple ham, hot cheddar pasta, broccoli salad and a warm orange roll.

With selections like Piggy Mac and Grilled Peanut Butter Fluff, kids are more than welcome. Plus, you’ll find small containers of Goldfish near the drink dispenser in the restaurant.

Take Home Dinners for four include a meat, two sides and orange rolls for $22.95. You can call in advance to order one, or it can be ready in 5 minutes if you order at the restaurant.

Andrea Snyder said she encourages the community to come out to try the new menu.