El Rio: A public country club; The Terrace restaurant offers fine dining in Fort Mohave

By Ric Swats

River Cities Business Journal

MOHAVE VALLEY - There was a little confusion in late August when El Rio Country Club moved out of its temporary quarters in a trailer in front of the new clubhouse. Some people thought the country club had closed.

But, it really was moving into its opulent new quarters in the stylish clubhouse.

“It was interesting because we had to transition overnight,” El Rio County Club Food & Beverage Director Ross Seidner said. “On the 27th we were in the clubhouse downstairs and on the 28th we opened with a limited menu. It was an incredible challenge because we did not have the space to practice. Much of the training was verbal. We've been really fortunate because we haven't had any kinks.

“The staff had a need to make its first impression a real good one and they took a lot of pride in that.”

Through most of September the restaurant offered a limited breakfast and lunch menu while the staff learned the system. But, by the end of September the country club went to full menus for breakfast and lunch.

Although there are plans for evening fare, they are as yet undetermined. That doesn't mean the restaurant won't be busy evenings.

“We just had a really great week. We had the realtors association golf tournament. There was a pre-golf tournament cocktail party the night before. It was an all-day golf tournament. We provided breakfast and lunch out on the terrace and in the restaurant,” Seidner said. “On Friday night at 11 this was still going on. This was only supposed to go until 8, but people were still out there loving it.

“We've got a lot more of that coming up through December. We have a ton of requests for between 40 and 120 people.

“In January something is going to happen. “We're working on several ideas. All those ideas look to provide an answer to some need in the community.”

While management continues to mull its evening possibilities Seidner feels The Terrace is already living up to its potential in its breakfast and lunch offerings.

The menu is diverse enough to offer something for everyone at reasonable prices, the atmosphere is casual, but stylish and the staff is polite and attentive.

Seidner also stressed that he wants people to understand that although it is a county club it is open to the public. Management's desire to is to offer a country club experience without the country club dues to the public.

“We want this restaurant to be a place where people can come and relax and enjoy a magnificent view and great service,” Seidner said. “I really want this restaurant to be accessible to everybody.”

The menu has a nice assortment of breakfast and lunch offerings.

And, for the burger enthusiast has what amounts to a build-your-own custom half-pound hamburger grilled to order with your selection of condiments and choice of cheese.

“The biggest compliment that I've had is that there is too much food on the plate,” Seidner said.

Business is picking up and will pick up much more in the very near future. The golf course is temporarily out of commission for overseeding, but will re-open on Oct. 14. And, the El Rio housing development that surrounds the country club and golf course has model homes going up and will soon begin construction.