BY ANGELINA MARTIN
209 staff reporter
CROWS LANDING — Fine dining establishments aren’t too hard to find in the 209, and most Turlockers know that they can always head to downtown Main Street to have a delicious meal. But, just ten miles down the road is a hidden treasure that many have never heard of: the Farmer’s Den.
With its authentic western décor, such as pictures of nationally-known cowboys and family-owned antiques, Farmer’s Den provides an atmosphere that is unique.
“You walk in and it’s a throwback of a way people used to be,” said restaurant owner Jeff Green.
The menu at Farmer’s Den is full of “hearty comfort food,” said Green, including the likes of breakfast food such as bacon and eggs, biscuits and gracy, linguica and omelets, and lunch dishes like hamburgers, philly cheesesteaks and crispy chicken salads.
“We have big portions, so come to eat,” said Green. “It’s nothing too crazy or fancy, but it’s a nice meal.”
Green’s father opened Farmer’s Den in July 2005, fulfilling his dreams of owning a restaurant. The restaurant’s building was home to each a store/small restaurant and taqueria before finding success with Green and his family. Though the restaurant – located in Crows Landing – is about 20 minutes away from Turlock, it’s conveniently placed right in between the cities of Turlock, Patterson and Ceres, making for a regular clientele that Green has come to appreciate.
“We try to keep that small town vibe,” he said. “We get a lot of farmers and a lot of locals.”
Two such locals even have keys to the restaurant, he said, and even arrive before the chefs to drink their coffee and play dice.
“A lot of the people come in and see someone they know, then they’ll see someone else they know,” said Green. “That doesn’t happen at chain restaurants.”
Along with its standard menu items, Farmer’s Den also offers specials during the week, such as their Thursday night dinners. For around $20, customers can enjoy a prime rib dinner, which includes a baked potato, salad, garlic bread and vegetables. Along with prime rib, Green also barbecues other meats like steak, ribs, grilled shrimp, brisket or tri-tip.
An offer that’s new to the restaurant is 99 cent coffees during the week.
“You can go to your McDonald’s and get a dollar coffee, but to go to a café, relax and have it served to you for 99 cents is different,” said Green.
The restaurant is located at 9952 Crows Landing Road, and can be reached at 209-669-6541. Farmer’s Den is open Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursday dinners are held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Entering its 12th year in business, Farmer’s Den has developed both an ambiance and clientele that is unique to the 209.
“I think we’ve created a neat little vibe out here,” said Green.
