The Tudor-style building at the corner of 8th Street and Pine started out as an elementary school back in 1912. After World War II, it served as a training facility for returning veterans – hence the garage – but today, it’s home to a long-running restaurant.

Colonial Steakhouse actually started out in the M.A. Austin antebellum home at the corner of 5th and Beech, not too far away. It was the creation of a lady by the name of Mildred Compton, who opened it on August 10, 1974. She sold it to Scott Mouser, a 21-year old local resident and his partner, Rick Borgman. After a fire destroyed the old house on Beech in 1987, Mouser purchased the demolition rights for the 8th and Pine property and set about renovating. He moved the restaurant into the first floor and leased out the second level for mortgage offices and such, and he still owns the building today.

Mouser sold the restaurant to Joe and Donna Coker in 1993. Coker took on a restaurant that had long established itself as a hub for the community, a place where families came for every important life event. On June 3, 2014, he sold the restaurant to Dana and Wayne Gateley. Dana had been a waitress at Colonial Steakhouse for more than a quarter century.

“The steak house has an amazing legacy of support,” said Dana.  Some employees have been here 40 years, and there have even been three generations of the same family working here at the same time. “We have the most amazing community, and we see the third generation of the same families now. We do their prom and their engagement party and their wedding receptions. The kids come in the first time in high chairs and we see them through graduation and their wedding rehearsal dinners. We are not fast food and at the end of the day, great customer service is the most important thing I can offer my guests!"

It is not just who eats there that defines the place. Colonial Steak House’s menu has been knit together from the recommendations of its patrons and the suggestions of its staff. Veronica Scarver, who started working there when she was just 14 years old, is now responsible for the famed black bottom pie; her mother Linda Scarver serves up the famous Cotton Blossoms with apricot brandy sauce and the signature au gratin potatoes; her aunt Helen was the grill master for many years. Dana Gateley has kept most of the recipes, adding New England lump crab cakes, a shrimp scampi over fettuccine, and her own Kick'n Grilled Shrimp Skewers. Those big , hand-cut, charcoal grilled steaks will remain unchanged. After all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Colonial Steak House is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday nights. Come in and enjoy the steak of your choice cooked to your exact specifications.  You'll be glad you did.

Try A Slice Of Our Famous Black Bottomed Pie!