Road Kill Cafe> Where the chef is more than happy to scrape something up for you

GREENVILLE — Its name conjures up rotten images, but in reality the Road Kill Cafe in Greenville Junction is one of the wildest and wackiest places to eat.

“As we expose you to our rendition of Northern Recycling, relax while our chef scrapes something up for you,” the menu reads.

It wasn’t a life-long dream, but a spur of the moment decision that lead Leigh Turner and Mariette Sinclair to open a restaurant in a small building on Moosehead Lake.

Rather than call the restaurant something traditional, like Mariette’s Cafe, “we wanted something fun that we could play with,” Turner said. And play with it they have. Decorated with old hub caps, the walls also sport road signs. The floor is painted to simulate a highway complete with the yellow line and traffic lights accentuate the furnishings. Whimsical signs also adorn the bathrooms.

“Our only concern is, would we offend the people, but that hasn’t been the case,” Turner said.

While he admitted that the menu violates every rule there is on how to promote food, the menu is drawing customers.

Ever try “Piglips,” or “Squirrel Island Clam Chowder?” If those dishes don’t sound appealing, how about a “Bye-Bye Bambi Burgers,” “Fungus Burger” or “Skunk Breath Burger?”

The soup of the day is “What the UPS man found on his way here from Guilford.” Then there’s the “Road Kill’s Big Macks,” the “Cana You Tuna A Car?” and the “Mutant Moosehead Crawfish Tails.”

“It’s fun to watch the customers read the menu to each other,” Turner said.

The clients enjoy the outrageous recipe names so much that they walk off with about 100 menus per week as souvenirs, according to Sinclair. Those menus have been passed around to friends and relatives througout the United States. People from Texas and California have even called the restaurant for copies of the menu or to order specially designed T-shirts promoting the cafe.

Turner is no stranger to the restaurant business. He restored and operated the Wolfboro Inn in Wolfboro, N.H. and was most recently involved in the restoration of the Kineo House.

In its third week of operation, the Road Kill Cafe has become popular with tourists who photograph the outside business sign.

“Cars pull up and someone is sent in to check the menu out just to make sure they’s not eating squirrel,” Sinclair said. The standard reaction when the menu is read is “You’re kidding!” Most seem relieved when they find out that while the name implies otherwise, road killed animals are not used in the dishes prepared by Howard “The Duck” Kelley.

In fact, the large portion meals are pleasing to the eye and delightful to the palate. The “Pig Lips,” for instance, are actually marinated pieces of pork that are coated with batter, deep fried and served with duck sauce.

The restaurant is not only unique because of its name and menu, but because it is perhaps the only restaurant in the state that is accessible within 100 feet by boat, seaplane, train or motor vehicle. It is also believed to be the only restaurant in Maine that serves “yards” and “half yards” of ale. A yard of ale is served in a special three-foot tall glass that holds about 36 ounces of liquid. A half yard holds about 24 ounces.

`We’re very happy about how (business) has gone. It’s been very well received,” Turner said. He even has thoughts of turning the Road Kill Cafe into a franchise operation.

The restaurant has seating for 49 people and is open from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily. Prices range from $2.95 to $6.95 for a sandwich to $6.95 to $10.95 for a main entree and fixings.