By Anna Mahorski

The Meadowview Village Center, located on the corner of Nelson and Airport Roads, has five restaurants where diners can sample cuisines ranging from American to Japanese to Italian, plus a wide range of healthy choices. This variety of culinary experiences offers a pleasant diversion from the ordinary.

Hunter's Restaurant And Pub

Photo by Anna Mahorski

Vijay Mehra, owner of Hunter's Restaurant and Pub located in the Mountain View Shopping Center, offers an excellent variety of foods. This summer, patio dinning is also available.

If you are looking for excellent food in a comfortable elegant atmosphere, try Hunter's Restaurant and Pub.

Owner Vijay Mehra established Hunter's in December 1998. Born in India where his father had a hotel and raised in England where he went to hotel school, Vijay and his brother Naval own eight Hunter's restaurants located in the Washington, DC area. Vijay and his wife Ruth, a Colorado native, moved to Longmont 13 years ago.

Hunter's Restaurant has a 199-person capacity. The spacious dining area allows ample room for servers to wait on tables, yet maintain an intimate atmosphere.

Vijay's experience has helped to create an elegant dining experience. He enjoys spending time working with his chef and mingling with customers to ensure satisfaction.

"At Hunter's, you can come casual or elegant," assured Vijay. "This is the best place to make a deal at lunch. We have guests from Amgen and Seagate that do just that. We have families that come in for lunch and dinner. We want you to feel you retain value for your money. A restaurant is as good or as bad as its last meal."

Hunter's has a frequent dining club card that offers rewards. One exceptional reward is a birthday special. If you're 30-years-old you will receive 30 percent off your meal. "We had an 85-year-old man come in and order a filet mignon. He only had a few bites and took the rest home. He had $17 taken off his $19 dinner. We enjoy doing that for our customers," Vijay grinned.

The meals are very delectable. Their special last Saturday was a salmon in puff pastry with baby asparagus, which was baked perfectly and was beautifully presented.

New this summer, patio dining is now available.

Hunter's Restaurant and Pub is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner is served from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday dinner is served from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Hunters is located on the southwest corner in the Village. For reservations, call 303-485-9980.

Proto's Pizzeria Napoletana

Photo by Anna Mahorski

Pam Proto and Rayme Rossello have created a wonderful bit of Italy at Proto's Pizzeria Napoletana. They offer a wide variety of pizzas, wines and non alcoholic drinks. With a play area for the kids, Proto's is truly a family friendly restaurant.

Proto's is not your ordinary pizza place. This cozy spot is co-owned by two energetic women, Pam Proto and Rayme Rossello, who opened their first restaurant in November 1999. Pam and Rayme are proud to serve homemade pizzas with special ingredients that keep people coming back for more.

"We wanted to keep it simple but to turn it up a notch for a pizza place. We have really nice wines and beers from all over the world. We have sodas, Italian sodas, funky drinks and even champagne!" laughed Pam.

"We added a new pizza to the menu, a white pizza. That's with olive oil and mozzarella, no marinara," added Pam.

There is even a separate area in the back where kids can play. The atmosphere is relaxed. The fabulous hand-tiled bar is the right place for an enjoyable glass of wine or bottle of beer. Pam and Rayme are dedicated to making your selection perfect, so however you enjoy your pizza, just let them know.

An outdoor patio will be availabe later this summer. Proto's is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours are from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Proto's is located at the northeast corner of the Village. For dining information call 303-485-5000.

Grasshopper Café

If you are interested in having a satisfying, healthy treat try the Grasshopper Café. Esther Davis and Phoung Tran have designed a unique environment for those who have completed their workout at Hung Tran's Martial Arts Fitness Center or for anyone who just wants a darn good smoothie.

Grasshopper Café co-owners Esther Davies and Phoung (pronounced Fawn) Tran have a wonderful café adjoined to Hung Tran's Martial Arts Fitness Center. The café specializes in serving custom made smoothies, sandwiches, juices and spring rolls. Esther and Phoung enjoy serving healthy foods to families who come for martial arts classes and to pump iron. The Center has a homework area complete with computers where kids can do their homework while waiting for their class to begin or for their siblings. There is even a play area.

"Lunch is a very busy time for us and evening is great for people at the fitness center," stated Esther. " We have worked hard on coming up with healthy foods, no additives. Our smoothies are dairy or non-dairy and we'll make them with any combo the customer wants," she added.

Esther works full time at the Times Call as an assistant circulation director. After work, she comes to the Center to teach martial arts and weight lifting classes. "For me, it's a healthy way of living," asserted Ester.

The Trans are active in the Longmont community and look forward to participating in the Sunrise Stampede and the Home and Garden Show.

The Grasshopper Café is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.. Saturday they are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The café is located on the north side of the village. For information call 303-776-4298.

Over The Moon Café And Mercantile

Photo by Anna Mahorski

Enjoy a special tea, shop for a unique gift or learn how to knit. According to Tara Manning, " This is what we are all about." Truly a family affair, Tara, husband Bill and 2-year-old son Jack offer a warm, cozy setting for learning or just relaxing.

Serving a full line of coffee and teas, the atmosphere in Over The Moon Café is like a comfortable living room with overstuffed chairs by the fireplace and beautiful hand painted walls.

Besides coffees and teas, they serve pastries that are made from a selection of light foods, juices and waters.

While you're enjoying a beverage, shop for that special gift. In the back of the café is a knitting section where you can not only pick natural fiber yarns, but also attend knitting classes by award winning Tara Manning. Tara and her husband Bill co-own the café along with 2-year-old Jack, who contributes his energy and light heartedness.

"People say it's funny their favorite gift shop is a coffee shop," laughed Tara. "It's more than a cafe."

"'Over the moon' is an expression (which means) to be filled with joy, and that's what we try to do here. We've been open since March 1999, and we're looking forward to a great second year here. These places provide a neighborhood atmosphere and all of us who have businesses here really enjoy that. Neighborhood connections take place here!" remarked Tara.

Over the Moon Café is open on Monday from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. From Tuesday through Friday, the Café is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to Noon. The café is located on the west end of the Village. Contact them at 303-485-6778.

Sakura

Photo by Anna Mahorski

If you are in the mood for some authentic sushi and sake in a relaxed atmosphere, give Sakura a try. Diners have their choice of sitting on a Japanese style tatami or at a regular table while sampling tempura, teriyaki, sashimi or donburi.

Welcome to Japan! This cozy authentic place serves delicious Japanese food and has a wonderful fresh sushi bar. Diners can sit at an American style table or the more traditional Japanese tatami. Kho, the owner, opened Sakura on Nov. 3, 1998. The restaurant blends his many years of experience with a friendly, neighborhood atmosphere.

The menu includes a wide variety of sushi, plus main dishes of tempura, teriyaki, donburi and several comination specials.

Also available are sake, plum wine, Japanese beer, plus domestic beer and wine.

So, if you are in the mood for a bite of truly authentic food, stop by Sakuras. Sakura is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. They are located on the north side of the Village. Call 303-485-9982 for more information.