Just east of 15th + Adams is a new development with a café that feels like it’s been there forever. Despite opening its doors just four weeks ago, The Café Next Door already gives off the vibe of a Topeka mainstay.

Owners Mark and Karen Rumbo recently relocated to Topeka from Missouri—south of Branson, near the Arkansas border—to open up the restaurant. The developer of the property at 15th + Adams was a friend of the Rumbos who leased them some space in Missouri.

“It’s a chance to be a part of the revitalization of East Topeka,” said Mark. “We looked around and decided to come on up here because Topeka seemed open to our homestyle cooking.”

And with such a welcoming experience, “homestyle cooking” is what you get at The Café Next Door. The Rumbos’ philosophy is spelled out on the front of their menu, which lets you know that the restaurant’s name symbolizes “a community to support our community.” And that’s not just some line of b.s. they’re trying to peddle, either. Despite being so new to Topeka, Mark and Karen have quickly embraced the community and what they have to offer. Their daughter, Lindsey, even came to town with them and helps out as a waitress; she’ll be starting at Washburn University in the summer.

“We do a lot of scratch cooking, and we use plenty of local ingredients,” said Mark. “We shop at the farmers’ market and most of our produce, meat and dairy comes from a 50-mile radius. It’s important to us.”

Back in the kitchen, Mark does most of the line cooking and Karen does most of the baking, including made-from-scratch pies. In fact, Karen’s pecan pie—which Mark informed me is an old family buttermilk pecan pie recipe—is enough to keep me coming back time and again until I can no longer fit through the door.

Even though I might come for the pie, I’ll stay for the meals, which include made-from-scratch chicken pot pie, enormous biscuits and gravy, and one of their specialties, the J.B., a prime rib sandwich served with hand-cut fries. It’s all I can do to keep from ordering just about everything on the menu, which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

As great as the food is at The Café Next Door, it’s not even the best thing about the place. There’s nothing flashy or fancy about the restaurant, no kitschy themes or trinkets covering the walls, no loud music or sports blaring around the room. It’s a comfortable space with friendly people, where it’s not weird to have the strangers in the booth over engage you in a discussion about local history; where the food is hot, delicious and fast; and where Mark, Karen and Lindsey Rumbo are just as interested in your experience as you are.

[ Oct. 2010 | story and photos by Lyle Vaughn ]