Owner and chef Barb Lychak (second from right) and staff inside Knotty Pine Bistro. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Knotty Pine

New restaurant at Little Red opens Monday

Sep 18, 2020 | 6:02 PM

After a summer of renovations and some unexpected setbacks, Prince Albert’s newest eatery opens Monday at the Cosmopolitan Lodge in Little Red River Park. The new restaurant is part of a broader city plan to revitalize the park and increase attendance.

“It’s a long time coming, people were getting anxious and the response has been overwhelming,” Knotty Pine Bistro owner and chef Barb Lychak told media during a tour on Friday.

Knotty Pine Bistro will serve fresh baking, premium coffee, smoothies, breakfast, lunch and dinner. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Lychak said Knotty Pine Bistro will have something for everyone, from families with kids, to couples looking for a night out away from the little ones.

Their signature sandwich, the Pine Burger, is one of dozens of items on the menu that spans breakfast, appetizers, salads and entrées. Lychak explained they’ll also have weekly features.

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“It’s a beautiful park, beautiful facility, the views are amazing and I think it’s going to be a reason to come out to Little Red,” she said.

City officials and media toured Knotty Pine on Friday. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Inside the sunny and spacious restaurant, a stone fire place and a high wooden common table are focal points.

Lychak explained the table, with seating for ten, is made from wood reclaimed from a 100-year-old barn.

“Having history and a story behind everything I think makes for good conversation,” said Lychak. “It’s a communal table. We can’t seat as many as we would like right now because of COVID, but it’s going to be a nice place to gather.”

Table bases and upholstered red dining chairs from the defunct Quality Inn have found a new home at Cosmo Lodge. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Meanwhile, in a reclamation of a different kind, dozens upholstered dining chairs and several tables from the former Quality Inn have found a new home at the restaurant.

The city took possession of the defunct hotel and all its contents this summer. In July, City Manager Jim Toye confirmed to paNOW tables and chairs had been moved to Cosmo Lodge.

An events room at the back of the restaurant is available for rentals and will be used by the Cosmopolitan Club for meetings. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

City council approved a five-year operating agreement for the Cosmopolitan Lodge with Knotty Pine in March.

Parks manager Tim Yeaman said the new restaurant will help attract a whole new user base to the park.

“I think it’s going to be a great destination place,” he said, explaining changes at Cosmo Lodge are part of a broader plan for further revitalization Little Red River Park.

The front entrance has been designated as a “warm up area” with benches and chargers. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Knotty Pine is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom