Meal with a view: CitySide Cafe opens at CityFlats

CityFlats Hotel has opened a new place people can enjoy a meal with a view of the Black River.

The downtown Port Huron hotel's new CitySide Cafe has been open for a little over a week. Head chef Tonya Makela and sous chef Dan Geiersbach, who are also mother and son, said they both love to have the cafe open. Makela said she had pushed to get the restaurant space open because the area does not have many all-you-can eat options and it would be a nice feature for the hotel.

"We have a unique building with great scenery," she said. "A lot of people look for hotels with a continental breakfast. None of our stuff is pre-cooked; it's made fresh to order."

CitySide Cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, with extended hours on Tuesdays for all you can eat Taco Tuesdays. The cafe is then open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

CitySide Cafe was formerly known as The Kitchen, which closed last fall.

Makela said CitySide Cafe uses all fresh ingredients and spices to create its menu items. She said the food is made fresh every day for customers to enjoy.

The cafe will have some fan favorites from old The Kitchen menu, while also bringing in some new items. Makela said the food will be homestyle cooking. From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., the cafe will have all-you-can-eat breakfast at $12 for non-hotel guests and free to hotel guests. Additionally, all the prices listed already include tax.

Makela has been in the culinary business since she was 16 years old. She said she loves being able to talk with customers.

Geiersbach said working with Makela makes all of the staff put their best foot forward because of how passionate she is about cooking.

"I love having this place open," he said. "I do construction too, and I come in here because she's my mom and she's always had my back. Family first."

Makela said hotel guests have given CitySide Cafe some good feedback. She said they were happy to have a fresh breakfast.

Makela said any details regarding a grand opening are yet to be determined.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com.

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