Art & Alma's serves good food with a side of history

If you are looking for mouth-watering steaks and seafood, a cozy, comfortable setting and a bit of history, stop in at Art & Alma's on Main Street in Burlington.

Formerly known as Burlington House, the 100-year-old building has been renamed Art & Alma's Century Inn to commemorate its centennial anniversary.

In keeping with the 100th birthday of the building, owner Terry Kupp has rolled out a new menu filled with favorite entrees, a wide variety of seasonal selections and a juicy sampling of building lore.

When the building opened as a tavern in 1908, it served as a hub for the German-born immigrants that populated the town. Under Kupp's ownership since 1987, the restaurant is focused on serving high-quality food at a fair price. Kupp said his chef uses only choice, Midwestern beef that is critically selected and aged in house for 21 days. As a result, the restaurant is famous for its filets and prepares them 13 different ways.

"The secret to good beef is aging it. That gives it the maximum tenderness and optimum flavor," Kupp said. "Our choices are based on quality, grade and flavor -- never price."

Chef David Bogash was trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and has been with the restaurant for 20 years.

Kupp has worked in the food distribution business since 1976 and knows his way around a cut of beef. He travels extensively to find new dishes, such as his pan-seared, roasted walleye pike, which he serves with asparagus, crab meat, portobello mushrooms and a chardonnay wine sauce.

New on the menu are fresh ground steak burgers offered every day but Saturday. These 10-ounce patties are sizzled on an iron griddle and come in a variety of ways, such as the Great Western B&B which is topped with sharp cheddar, peppercorn bacon and barbecue sauce. Or try the Oh So Black and Blue which comes with Maytag blue cheese crumbled over red onions and cracked black pepper. For $8 each, the burgers come with Saratoga chips, creamy coleslaw, a dill pickle, onions and lettuce. Patrons can add a trip to the salad bar for $3 more.

The seasonal selections for spring include six different entrees, including the 100th Anniversary Special, which is a roasted half-chicken for $9, or the Asiago cheese- and pretzel-crusted tilapia, which is pan-seared and oven-roasted for $14.

Art & Alma's Century Inn offers a full bar and restaurant seating for as many as 60 people. As one of the few local mom-and-pop establishments, Kupp prides himself on providing the quality and service that chain restaurants can't.

"The only way we can survive is by doing it better," Kupp said. "We're proud to serve honest food."