Happy birthday: Lehigh’s Daily Grind turns one

By Staff | Jun 17, 2015

MEL TOADVINE Exterior of Lehigh’s Daily Grind, at 1251 Taylor Lane.

Lehigh’s Daily Grind, in celebration of its first year of business in the Villages of Lehigh Center, off of Taylor Lane., just behind the American Legion, will give you an eighth meal free after you have purchased the first seven. Its official address is 1251 Taylor Lane.

“It can be any meal of the day breakfast, lunch whatever all you have to do is get a card and we check off your meals and when the eighth ones comes along, it’s on us,” said Margaret Serna, who along with her husband and partner, Jason Peppers, owns Lehigh’s Daily Grind. And with the card, you can drop it in a box in the eatery for a drawing for a free six-inch cake at the end of the month.

Serna said when they opened a year ago in June, business was slow at first and then it began picking up and they were very happy because “everyone was telling us how good our food and how fair our prices were that we were really excited. And that business is continuing through word of mouth and the same clientele coming back to eat,” Serna said.

They live in Bonita Spring and Serna admits is it a long drive here, she has come to love the community and its people who she says are very friendly.

“The thing that I hear from a lot of people is that they didn’t know where were located,” she laughed.

MEL TOADVINE Co-owner Margaret Serna in front of a large menu.

Lehigh’s Daily Grind is located in what some people call “the castle” in Lehigh, across from the side of the Hipps Elementary School. It is the same complex where Victory Christian Church meets. Out front is ample parking and the restaurant is attractive and it’s on the first floor.

When you enter Lehigh’s Daily Grind, you are likely first to be greeted by Serna or one of the other women.

Serna can usually be found behind the long rambling glass showcase filled with all kinds of baked goods cookies, cakes, pies, breads, and more. In fact, Serna says the baked goods are very popular and many customers stop by to pick up something baked to take home for dessert.

Her husband, Jason Peppers, also holds another job as a building contractor but on weekends, he is at the restaurant, not only cooking breakfast and preparing lunches, but baking to keep the glass showcase filled with all kinds of special baked goodies.

And he’s there for the specialized requests for special cakes and other baked goods for all occasions. For to go orders, you can call 239-368-5527.

MEL TOADVINE Getting cookies from inside the bakery glass case is Margaret Serna.

Margaret Serna said people book ahead for special baking needs and she asks those who are interested to come in or call ahead of time so arrangements can be made to suit the person interested in a special cake, or other delicacy.

Margaret and Jason are holding a month-long celebration for their first year and want to invite everyone in sit and dine with them.

And they are considering the promotion of the eight-meal free card to carry on after the birthday celebration of their eatery.

Lehigh’s Daily Grind is open Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfasts and lunch and on Sundays from 7 to 1 just for breakfasts. You can order breakfasts during the week from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Serna said.

“We have an all-American foods restaurant,” Serna added. “There’s nothing better than a breakfast meal of two eggs your way, home fries, choice or bacon, sausage, turkey sausage or ham and your choice of toast, all for $7.50. The dish is filled with food,” she said. It’s called The Daily Grind Breakfast.

Or there is their “Protein Power Breakfast” which consists of two eggs your way, a six-ounce burger patty with your choice of cheese and sliced tomatoes, again at a fair price.

You have a large selection of different breakfasts with one called the Mediterranean for $7.50 and it is spinach, black olives, red bell peppers, red onion and feta cheese.

And come lunch time beginning at 11 a.m., there are all kinds of salads from garden to Strawberry Field and Granny’s Apple and more.

Sandwiches include all types with one called “Build Your Own.” You have a choice of meat ham, turkey, chicken salad, egg salad or tuna salad, For a buck or two more, you can add roast beef or add bacon.

They’ve got all kinds of burgers and all types of drinks from colas to teas and iced coffees and iced mocha to juices.

“We don’t use any processed foods at our restaurant. It is all wholesome food made from scratch.

In addition to Jason and Margaret, also employed at the restaurant are Rhonda Stewart-Woods and Tara Cunard, both servers; Jeremy Smith, a cook, and Loyda Aguila, a cook and a master baker. On Saturdays their nephew, Kalen Serna works as a breakfast cook and a baker and Serna says he is good. All the regular employees live in Lehigh and the plan has always been to hire locally.

Lehigh’s Daily Grind is fast becoming one of the more popular small, intimate restaurants in Lehigh. Constant advertising and word of mouth brings new diners every day, Serna said.

“We want people to learn where we are and when they do, they are so surprised that we are so easy to get to, right in the downtown area,” Serna said.

“No kidding, were right in the downtown area, very accessible to everyone,” she said.

: MEL TOADVINE Co-owner Margaret Serna in front of a large menu.

: MEL TOADVINE Getting cookies from inside the bakery glass case is Margaret Serna.