Last Minute - The Lethbridge Journal

Honkers is your north side pub and eatery with a big, huge heart
Honkers, which recently celebrated 15
years in Lethbridge, is like Cheers
according to co-owner Vicky Vannatta
Miller. Her business partner is Red
Seal Chef Bob Lawrence who can
create some amazing home cooked
meals. His wife Maria has worked
alongside him since the day they
opened.
The kitchen team also consists of Red
Seal Chef Scott Angyal and helper
Vanco.
Honkers food is one of Lethbridges
best kept secrets that needs to be let
out.
All our soups, gravy and sauces are
made from Scratch. When we say
hand tossed Burgers, we don’t buy the
frozen patty it’s made from scratch.
Also we are famous for our Indonesian
Ribs (now over 12 flavors), Dill Pickle
Soup, Beef dips and so on. Even our
hash browns are real pan fried
potatoes.
Honkers provides a cozy atmosphere
with comfortable booths, an informal
diner atmosphere, pool tables, VLTs
and Big Screen TVs to watch the game
of the day.
Miller said it is like one big happy
family, where the customers look out
for each other and the staff as well as
their community.
“It’s where everybody knows your
name, and if they don’t they’ll find it
out,” said Miller, who recently won
YWCA Women of Distinction –
Community Commitment award this
year. Helping their community is
important to the Honkers family.
They always have a fundraiser on the
go. Since the beginning of the year,
they have been holding 50-50 draws
to raise money to renovate the
residential floor of the YWCA. Their
goal is to raise $5,000 and are over
half way there to meeting it. Miller
says “Once we raise the funds, we will
buy product from LOCAL businesses,
(most of which are customers) ask for
donations of labor and then to
organize a work bee. The work bee
will include the staff and management
who will work along side the trades to
make it a community project. Any
trades that want to help, please
contact us.
They are also involved with the Heart
and Stroke Foundation big Bike Ride,
May 12.
Their venue will also be the starting
point for George’s Ride,Aug. 11, with
all money being donated to the Jack
Ady Cancer Centre here in Lethbridge.
Motorcyclists will begin at Honkers for
breakfast and ride down to past
Waterton and back to Lethbridge for
a dinner and dance.
“All of the money we help raise stays
in Lethbridge,” she said.
“We help charities and customers in
need through our establishment so
that we are hands on with the events
because we like to get both staff and
customers involved. No matter
whether you have $5 or $500 it all
comes from the heart.
We certainly cant help all charites as
we are a small business but if you are
a customer or a potential one we
make every effort to help out,” she
continued.
“I’m a farm girl, so there is no such
thing as a time clock. We do what
needs to be done,” she said.
“I don’t sit in the back and give orders.
I’m not that type of manager. You will
see me working on the floor beside
the staff clearing tables just like Bob
who has worked hands on in the
kitchen right from day one,” she
continued.
They also realize the importance of
their customers.
“Every year at our Customer
Appreciation we give away free food,
very reasonable drink prices, hire
bands without a cover charge, why
because Customers are our Business
and we do show our appreciation to
them.”
Honker’s Food is different from typical
pub fare. In addition to serving
breakfast from 10-11:30 a.m. every
day, Honker’s offers an extensive
menu.
“Everything is made from scratch. It’s
good food at an affordable price,“
Miller continued.
They also offer a variety of activities
including karaoke every Saturday, pool
and cribbage tournaments and don’t
forget their mystery dinner.
“Customers can take part in a Honkers
Mystery Dinner which is a great night
out to celebrate birthdays,
anniversaries any special occasions or
Photo courtesy of Monica Chapman - monicachapmanphotography.com
just doing something different,” she
said. You will have to order one to
discover the details, but basically
customers order different anonymous
dishes and you never know what you
will be supplied to eat them with.
“It’s unique. Spend two or three hours
with us and enjoy our great food,
service and conversation.”
Miller raved about her staff, “We have
some great dedicated team mates
who really care about the customers
and soon become friends with them.”
Most we remain in contact with, even
after they’ve left the city.
“We have girls who move away and
they’ll contact us asking if they can
work some shifts to stay in contact
with our customers.”
We invite you to cross the tracks,
come to the North side to a friendly
Pub that not only has excellent
homemade food and service but a Pub
that cares about customers and the
community.
Honkers Pub is open Monday 10-10
Tues – Sat till at least midnight and
encourages you to stop in for lunch,
supper, an after work drink or take
advantage of our take out service to
enjoy our excellent food in your home.
Like us on Facebook or our website
www.honkerspub.com to keep you
current on our events.
41068442
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2 LETHBRIDGE JOURNAL • WEEK OF MAY 11, 2012 • www.lethbridgejournal.ca