NORTHFIELD, Minn.- Dale Finger's business model for his restaurant in Northfield is a tall order: Compete with prices of a quick-service restaurant in what's more of a family dining atmosphere.
"Everything we do is better than quick-service, but we try to compete with them price-wise," he said.
Quarterback Club has been a part of Northfield for 43 years. Some Minnesota Vikings players in the 1960s started the franchise that grew to 20 Quarterback Clubs, said Finger. Today, his location is the only one remaining. The Vikings players stepped away from ownership long ago.
Finger has been working there for about 30 years, and took ownership with his wife, Krin, 21 years ago. He's heard customers tell memories about how they came to the restaurant, which used to have a giant football on top, from as far as Rochester and Owatonna for the quick-service eating experience.
Now the place is somewhere in between fast food and sit-down dining. Customers place their order at the front counter, get their beverage, sit down and the food is brought to them on China plates with silverware.
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Seating is available for 65 people inside, and some outdoor seating is set up for warm weather. Customers dine while looking out the front wall of windows as cars go by on State Highway 3.
For years the restaurant has sponsored little league teams and has added framed pictures of them on the walls. Some former players, grown with families of their own, return to the restaurant to point out their picture.
About 90 percent of the clientele are local residents, and some regular customers come in multiple times a day. Finger is amazed at how many customers ate there when he started his career and are still coming in. It's likely that if they come in, they'll know somebody.
Finger said knowing people continually choose to eat at his restaurant is the most rewarding part of his job.
Customers will likely meet Lorie Estrem, who runs the front of the restaurant. She and her husband, Steve, met while working there nearly 40 years ago during a high school work-release program. Steve still works there, too, as a cook. They're two of what Finger considers his loyal staff.
Lorie jokes with customers that she knows them better than their spouses.
"It's their home away from home," she said.
Bottomless coffee is offered for 99 cents. Breakfast is served daily until 10 a.m. with traditional options, such as eggs, pancakes, French toast and hash browns.
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A popular lunch is one of the seven quarter-pound, flame-broiled hamburgers on special daily. The burger, a large fry and large drink sell for $5.50. Customers can upgrade to a half-pound burger for 99 cents more. Among the options are the Chipotle Fullback, with spicy mayo, or the QB Cheeseburger.
Most people don't finish the fries because the serving size is so big.
"A lot of people think we have the best fries," Finger said.
One of the best values Finger sees on his dinner menu is the baby back pork ribs. A half-rack costs $9.99 with two sides dishes and a roll, and a full rack costs $14.99.
Other main entrees include salads, seafood and dinner specials that run Monday through Friday. Families can pick up buckets of broasted chicken, or have Quarterback Club cater an event in the Northfield area.
Desserts include the Razzle, the Quarterback's version of a mixed-in candy ice cream treat, or pie.
