2 weeks Ago By Christopher Malone [email protected]
Town, village and business reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. AUBURN — The owners of Mattie Street restaurant Roseadah's were tripped up as soon as they opened in March 2020, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But owners Traci Leubner and David O'Hara didn't let that trip turn into a stumble.
As they celebrate the restaurant's fifth anniversary, Leubner and O'Hara reflected with The Citizen Wednesday on their transformation over those years into a source of both comfort food and culinary flair. They began transforming by serving takeout orders through their front window, a perk of opening in a former ice cream shop. Prior to Roseadah's, the space was Poppy's and then Sweet William's .
The window, which now features an overhang Leubner and O'Hara installed, remains popular. Mattie Street neighbors in particular enjoy the convenience of getting food there, Leubner said. The menu started with simple favorites like burgers and macaroni and cheese, which remain staples, but slowly expanded into more sophisticated fare while maintaining a farm-to-table focus.
Leubner's family owns and operates Maple Lane Farms in Marietta, so caring about where food comes from is in her blood. She met O'Hara, of Sennett, at Peter's Dairy Farm there. She credited JFS/Curtze Food Service for helping Roseadah's ensure the freshness of everything it serves.
"We do pay a little bit more than if we were to use Sysco," she said, "but we like to give our customers a choice on how they want their burger cooked." Where Cayuga County Eats is a monthly feature in The Citizen highlighting the "hidden gem" restaurants of the area. To suggest a restaurant for a future edition, email david.
[email protected] , call (315) 282-2245 or message @auburncitizen on Facebook. Roseadah's on Mattie Street in Auburn.
Another popular aspect of Roseadah's is its gluten-free menu. Leubner lives with celiac disease, which is why anything on the regular menu can be made gluten-free by swapping the appropriate ingredients, namely breads and breading. The restaurant's kitchen is set up with a separate prep area and its own equipment in order to prevent cross-contamination.
"I think we have some of the best gluten-free stuff around," she said. The menu also changes to feature ingredients, and monthly specials are tied to themes. This month, Leubner added a caprese-style smash burger with fresh basil, mozzarella and tomato topped with a balsamic glaze — a bright summertime burger because she misses the season, she said.
"I'm seasonally inspired," she said. In February, Mardi Gras-inspired specials will include a Cajun blackened burger, muffuletta sandwiches and jambalaya. For the Lenten season, there will be no shortage of seafood like shrimp, calamari and catfish.
Haddock remains a mainstay at Roseadah's. Year-round, appetizers include duck bacon wontons, homemade Cabot cheese mozzarella sticks and 24-ounce pretzels. All the breading is done by hand.
The restaurant is also popular for burgers like the Maddie St. Mobster, made with a special black Angus steak blend, as well as sandwiches like the grilled ham and Swiss. Shannon Komanecky loves working at Roseadah's in Auburn, and the food there.
She takes on a variety of tasks at the Mattie Street restaurant. The name of Roseadah's comes from Leubner's grandmothers, Rose Demperio and Adah Cole. A framed picture near the restaurant's main entrance shows the two women sharing an oversized Syracuse Orange T-shirt.
It's a notable piece of decor in the rustic space, which also displays paintings and photos by local artists that are available for purchase. The way they inspired Leubner can be felt to this day by her customers. They never let her leave hungry, and now she does the same.
When The Citizen visited Wednesday, Roseadah's staffer Shannon Komanecky was at the restaurant eating lunch with her father, Trevor Komanecky. "Everything is spectacular," Shannon told The Citizen, adding that she holds the haddock in high regard. She said she enjoys working there just as much as eating the food.
"Traci does so much for the special needs community," said Trevor, whose daughter has cerebral palsy. Adding to the atmosphere is the friendship between Leubner and O'Hara, which was apparent during an interview laden with laughter. When asked what inspired him to cook, O'Hara pointed to Leubner without missing a beat.
"I come up with the recipes and teach him to cook it," she said. "When you get customers that really enjoy the food and the atmosphere, and they keep coming back," O'Hara said, "that makes it worth it." WHAT: Roseadah's WHEN: Open 11 a.
m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesdays through Saturdays WHERE: 20 Mattie St., Auburn INFO: Visit roseadahsrestaurant.com or call (315) 282-7686 Roseadah's owners Traci Leubner and David O'Hara stand inside the Auburn restaurant on Wednesday.
Roseadah's on Mattie Street in Auburn. A fried haddock plate at Roseadah's on Mattie Street in Auburn. A grilled ham and swiss with onion rings at Roseadah's on Mattie Street in Auburn.
Roseadah's on Mattie Street in Auburn. Staff writer Christopher Malone can be reached at (315) 282-2232 or christopher.malone@lee.
net . With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Town, village and business reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
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