Bites Nearby: Honey B’s II

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in.

But we've got a better idea.

Each week, Caledonia Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here's this week's choice:

Honey B's II Diner

There’s a cream of taco soup at the new Honey B’s II Diner with just enough spice to clear your sinuses without burning your face off.

Topped with thin strips of crispy tortilla, available with enough sides of cheese, sour cream or avocado to tone it down for the even the tamest of taste buds, the soup du jour strikes the balance you might expect from three brothers from just outside Mexico City trying their hand at feeding the masses in Caledonia.

“You can’t have too many peppers here, you know,” co-owner Jimmy Mendez joked.

Despite the soup, the restaurant at 4713 Douglas Ave., isn’t exactly ethnic. And it’s not really supposed to be, general manager Effie Kiriaki Holub said.

Served on signature white, square plates, the dishes range from American to Greek to French to Italian to, of course, a bit of Mexican flavor.

For breakfast, customers can find traditional oatmeal and eggs, but also to yogurt parfaits and a secret recipe French toast with a flakey strudel-like crust.

At lunch, the specials include everything from strawberry chicken salad to meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

For dinner, the menu is a mix of Mediterranean pork chops, garlic chicken pasta and baby beef liver, among other dishes.

Buckets of chef and co-owner Juan Mendez’s special fried chicken – another closely guarded secret recipe – are available for carry-out anytime. On Fridays, the fish fry is available for dine-in or carry-out.

“I don’t want us to be known for anything exclusive, because we’re a breakfast, lunch and dinner diner,” Holub said.

And she hopes the menu will attract a mix of people, too.

“Today, I had construction guys in muddy shoes, and I also had business guys in suits,” Holub said. “I like that people of all types can eat here. I’d like to see the place turn into a Cheers – everybody knows everybody.”

Not everybody is on a first-name basis yet at the restaurant, which opened Feb. 26. But there has been a steady stream of customers since the 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. diner started serving.

Holub attributed that partly to neighborhood interest.

Built in what used to be Leonardo’s Pizza, Holub said neighbors have been asking for information after Holub and the Mendez brothers – Jimmy, Juan and Gregory – began pulling out booths and repainting in January.

Since the sign went up, the diner’s name has helped create a bit more buzz.

Named in honor of the Mendez’s beekeeping parents, Juan and Hope, Holub said the name also signifies how the brothers work together.

“They way they get things done, so fast -- they’re like busy bees, I’m telling you,” Holub said.

There are plans for a Honey B’s I Diner; business negotiations just didn’t work out to launch for the “second” site opened,” Holub said.

But, for now, Holub said she and the Mendez brothers are just looking forward to the official grand opening of Honey B’s II later this month and, once spring comes, serving customers in an outdoor dining area.

After that, it’s all about building what any family might want.

“We just want to make an honest good living,” Holub said.