Bistro 26 replaces Judy's on highway 26

Server Brittany Echavarria of Quincy brings drinks to a family who was passing by on the highway. She plans to attend Yakima Valley Community College in June.

Susie Littlewood, manager of the new Deli-sh Café on highway 26, turns hamburger patties on the grill.

by Ted Escobar & <Br> Chronicle Editor
| May 12, 2013 6:05 AM

Susie Littlewood, manager of the new Deli-sh Café on highway 26, turns hamburger patties on the grill.

ROYAL CITY - There is a new restaurant-wine tasting operation on Highway 26, west of Royal City, moving into the old Judy's Café.

Bistro 26 will feature the Deli-sh Café and Frenchman Hills Winery tasting room. Susie Littlewood will own the restaurant business.

Norm Myrick will own the building and the wine tasting room. He will also have an in-season fruit and produce stand. He invited Littlewood to join him on the highway.

“I just thought we could do well working together,” Myrick said.

Littlewood was up for the idea almost immediately. She estimated it would bring the 10 or so more customers per day she thought her business needed.

“I see it as a win-win,” she said. “My business will bring him traffic. His business will bring me traffic.”

Littlewood closed the downtown Deli-sh on April 26. She opened the new operation one week later on May 3.

“If today is any indication, I am going to get my 10 more customers per day,” Littlewood said on opening day. “The highway really brings them in. We ran out of some things. I'm really excited.”

Myrick needed to move his wine tasting room. It was at the end of a gravel road more than a mile off the highway and hardly visible to anybody. And it was difficult to find even with posted signs.

“This is where I needed to be all along,” he said.

Myrick said his brother Larry, the Frenchman Hills winemaker, will operate the tasting and produce stand. He'll be available to answer all wine questions.

Frenchman Hills winery produces a Merlot, a Syrah, a Cabernet and a red blend.

Littlewood will operate the restaurant from 11-7 daily, 11-5 on Saturdays and from 11-4 on Sundays.

“I'll be here every day, at least until everything gets settled, she said.

Littlewood will add a breakfast schedule in June, opening at 6 a.m. First day customers were urging her to do breakfast.

“It will be a simple breakfast menu with pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, hashbrowns and that type of stuff, and we might put together some breakfast burritos for people on the go,” she said.

Littlewood added that she will have soft serve ice cream and milkshakes soon. She had the machine at the old operation but never used it.