dineah

Perfect. The last night of trivia before we break (at least until June) and there's a rainbow over the China Dine-ah. That, I believe, is a good sign. Actually, I don't believe in "signs" but, if I did, that would be a good one!

I spend a fair amount of time at the China Dine-ah and it seems whenever I'm there at the same time Lisa Wardwell, the owner, is, she doesn't have time to talk because she's bussing tables, serving orders, greeting customers or cleaning tables. She's has the same philosophy as former owner, Norm Elvin, has. When something needs to be done, if you're there and the crew is busy, you do it.

When Lisa Wardwell purchased the China Dine-ah from Norm Elvin earlier this year, she knew she was going to add a lounge. After all, the lounge at her Augusta eatery, Lisa's Restaurant, is very popular and there had never been anything like it in the China Lakes Region. The closest thing ever was Nick and Nora's in Vassalboro, which has been gone for years.

As of Friday morning at around 11 o'clock, Lisa Wardwell, owner of Lisa's Restaurant and Catering on Bangor Street in Augusta, added another feather to her cap: The China Dine-ah, to be exact. Norm Elvin, owner of G&E Roofing of Augusta and Norm's Chicken and Seafood in South China, wished Lisa the best of luck as they all gathered at "The Dine-ah" on Friday night!

My friend Norm Elvin barely choked back tears as he spoke to the large group that had gathered for trivia at the restaurant he started nearly seven years ago. That really hit me because, it seems like just a year or two ago, I was walking in to the Dine-ah for the first time. That first weekend was happy chaos as the crew inside (a bunch of whom are still there) were getting their sea legs. Read M

Sorry I look so drab....nobody was in makeup this morning and the cameraman didn't show up, but I shot this quick vid anyway to tell you what's up for grabs with Meal or No Meal this morning.

One of my best friends is Norm Elvin and, in the recent past, he's struggled with his love of the restaurant that he founded and his diminishing time to do the things he knew he should be doing. In the end, love of his family and desire for some much needed rest won out...

The China Dine-ah Too's inaugural season is in the books. Norm Elvin spent most of his summer behind a fryolator, cooking up chicken, fries and seafood for hungry tourists. That's how he rolls. When he starts a business, he's in it for the long haul and, to him, there's no such thing as a menial job!