McKEOWN'S RESTAURANT & BAR
About Us
Dennis and Nancy McKeown first met in the early 1980s while working at the Front Room Restaurant in the Bay Area. He was a Chef and she Assistant Manager. They decided to move to Oregon in 1986 and their first residence was in Coos Bay, Oregon. Their family consisted of 4 children at the time, Jesse and Celine Botts, Meghan and Sean McKeown. Then in 1987 Miss Morgan McKeown made her entrance into the world as the first family born Oregonian.
During their time in Coos Bay, Dennis was involved in the Governors cookoff and was Chef Coordinator of that event in 1987. He and Nancy attended the National cookoff in South Carolina along with Oregon's Seafood Chef of the Year, Bill King from the famed McCormick and Schmick's Restaurant. Upon return they made the decision to check out other areas of Oregon for better Career opportunities and Dennis was made an offer from Shilo Corporation and was hired as their Executive Chef of the Seaside property in 1988. Not long after Nancy too was hired by Shilo. During that time Dennis entered the Cookoff challenge and won a silver and a bronze medal in the Governors cookoff that year. After working for the Shilo for 11 years and working her way up to Food and Beverage Manager, Nancy decided it was time for a change. She went on to other jobs and after 13 years, and reaching the position of Corporate Chef, Dennis also left Shilo.
An opportuinity came up at the Seaside Outlet Mall and that is when "The Dog Water Cafe" was born. The McKeown's opened the Hot Dog Cafe in 2001 and after wheeling in a hot dog steamer, an Espresso machine, a pizza oven and a home oven, they started their own business. This is where our logo "Pete" came about. It was fashioned after our Basset hound. After 3 years and adding a food court style menu they were as busy as could be. In 2004 the Downtown location offered itself to them and that is when they opened McKeown's. We then took Petes old logo and had him fashioned into the soup sipping french chef on our logo. A friend of Nancy's father who lives in Camano Island by the name of Tom McClure is the artist for all Petes logos and art. We now have his logo on our own seasoning which we use to prepare alot of the dishes on our menu as well as cups, shirts and hats. The lease on the Cafe was up in 2005 and we did not renew so they could focus on their new adventure.
McKeown's is a family run restaurant with a passion for putting out great tasting and beautifully presented food for the whole family. We have continued to prepare our most popular dishes from the Cafe as well as adding many new favorites. Two of the 5 children continue to work in the restaurant , Sean as a bartender and Morgan as a server, and recently our Grandaughter Ashley became a busser, as well as some of the same employees that we called our family at the Cafe. Dennis and Nancy now have 5 grandchildren as well and a daughter and son in law. Ashley, Chance, Jaeden, Taya and Gavin all have their own items on Grandma and Grandpas kids menu. Little Mia is getting ready to arrive in November 2010 and that will make 6!
We are just getting ready to open a take out BBQ called McKeown's Smokin Rack Shack in Summer 2010. It will be housed in the same building as our Restaurant, directly in front of the Banquet room on Broadway Street. We drove to Texas and picked up a custom built smoker to smoke ribs, beef and chicken in. A few dishes will be incorporated into our regular menu but the shop will be for Take out BBQ and we will offer Catering with our smoker too.
Dennis' Irish Grandfather and Italian Grandmother, James and Tillie McKeown, would have been very proud of what he has accomplished! We hope that you will choose to come and see us and find out why we are a town favorite for locals and tourists alike!!
During their time in Coos Bay, Dennis was involved in the Governors cookoff and was Chef Coordinator of that event in 1987. He and Nancy attended the National cookoff in South Carolina along with Oregon's Seafood Chef of the Year, Bill King from the famed McCormick and Schmick's Restaurant. Upon return they made the decision to check out other areas of Oregon for better Career opportunities and Dennis was made an offer from Shilo Corporation and was hired as their Executive Chef of the Seaside property in 1988. Not long after Nancy too was hired by Shilo. During that time Dennis entered the Cookoff challenge and won a silver and a bronze medal in the Governors cookoff that year. After working for the Shilo for 11 years and working her way up to Food and Beverage Manager, Nancy decided it was time for a change. She went on to other jobs and after 13 years, and reaching the position of Corporate Chef, Dennis also left Shilo.
An opportuinity came up at the Seaside Outlet Mall and that is when "The Dog Water Cafe" was born. The McKeown's opened the Hot Dog Cafe in 2001 and after wheeling in a hot dog steamer, an Espresso machine, a pizza oven and a home oven, they started their own business. This is where our logo "Pete" came about. It was fashioned after our Basset hound. After 3 years and adding a food court style menu they were as busy as could be. In 2004 the Downtown location offered itself to them and that is when they opened McKeown's. We then took Petes old logo and had him fashioned into the soup sipping french chef on our logo. A friend of Nancy's father who lives in Camano Island by the name of Tom McClure is the artist for all Petes logos and art. We now have his logo on our own seasoning which we use to prepare alot of the dishes on our menu as well as cups, shirts and hats. The lease on the Cafe was up in 2005 and we did not renew so they could focus on their new adventure.
McKeown's is a family run restaurant with a passion for putting out great tasting and beautifully presented food for the whole family. We have continued to prepare our most popular dishes from the Cafe as well as adding many new favorites. Two of the 5 children continue to work in the restaurant , Sean as a bartender and Morgan as a server, and recently our Grandaughter Ashley became a busser, as well as some of the same employees that we called our family at the Cafe. Dennis and Nancy now have 5 grandchildren as well and a daughter and son in law. Ashley, Chance, Jaeden, Taya and Gavin all have their own items on Grandma and Grandpas kids menu. Little Mia is getting ready to arrive in November 2010 and that will make 6!
We are just getting ready to open a take out BBQ called McKeown's Smokin Rack Shack in Summer 2010. It will be housed in the same building as our Restaurant, directly in front of the Banquet room on Broadway Street. We drove to Texas and picked up a custom built smoker to smoke ribs, beef and chicken in. A few dishes will be incorporated into our regular menu but the shop will be for Take out BBQ and we will offer Catering with our smoker too.
Dennis' Irish Grandfather and Italian Grandmother, James and Tillie McKeown, would have been very proud of what he has accomplished! We hope that you will choose to come and see us and find out why we are a town favorite for locals and tourists alike!!
McKeown's Restaurant & Bar
1 N. Holladay Drive
Seaside, Oregon 97138
Reservations or take out (503) 738-5232
nancy@mckeownsrestaurant.com
