Ramblin Roads Serves Comfort Food Classics
“Ramblin Roads” sounds like an old love song. But it’s actually a restaurant; in fact, it’s two restaurants serving comfort food classics. Here are facts about Ramblin Roads Family Restaurants in Bountiful and Ogden.
1. The first Ramblin Roads opened in Davis County in 1990. Martha Celia spent years as a Village Inn manager before founding the Deli at 5th in Bountiful, according to Christine Celia, her daughter who said she has worked at her mother’s eateries “my entire life.” Then Martha opened Ramblin Roads, a sit-down restaurant that was in North Salt Lake’s industrial park for 17 years before moving to 544 W. 400 North in Bountiful.
2. In a “name our restaurant” contest, a truck driver came up with the winning title, Ramblin Roads. It has a homey, folksy ring to it, which is fitting for the idea of people coming from all roads of life to enjoy classic comfort food, including all-day breakfast.
“People gather together and enjoy good food,” said Christine. “We have so many customers who have become like family.”
3. Another Ramblin Roads opened last October at 1720 West 12th Street, just off the I-15 12th Street exit in Ogden. When Christine’s father, Randy Celia, noticed the vacant building, he discussed the possibility of opening another restaurant with Martha and Christine.
Christine voted no. “There’s always been the three of us in this business, and my mother will be 70 next year, and when you own a restaurant, you are here 24/7.”
Also, the Covid pandemic was wreaking havoc on the restaurant industry, and the building needed a major remodel.
4. But the Ogden location has done well, said Christine, who became its manager. “For a short stint we had a restaurant in Clearfield, so a lot of those people followed us here. And some of our Bountiful customers live in the Ogden area, so they followed us here as well.”
Her mother, who used to be in the kitchen cooking at the Bountiful location, is now doing front-of-the-house duties while Christine moved to run the Ogden spot.
“I have always been the front of the house, and my mom the back of the house. She cooked until last year,” said Christine. “Now she’s out front and mingling with the customers she’s cooked for all these years. We have some good employees in the kitchen who know how to do things our way.”
And it’s a family affair, with Celia’s youngest son and sister-in-law both working at the restaurant. “We’ve even put my dad to work sometimes.”
Many repeat customers who become like family. “Yesterday I had a veteran come and replace our tattered flag out of the kindness of his heart.” Another regular customer helped install booth dividers to conform to Covid pandemic requirements.
5. Both restaurants have the same comfort food menu, with all-day breakfast staples such as eight different omelets, pancakes, waffles, hash browns, and biscuits and gravy.
Signature dishes include:
-The California Benedict, a fresh twist on eggs Benedict, sliced avocado, diced tomato, and bacon instead of the usual ham.
photo by Valerie Phillips
-The chili verde smothered breakfast burrito, filled with scrambled eggs, red peppers, onions, bacon, ham, and potatoes, and smothered in chile verde and cheese.
-The Utah-style scone, a Frisbee-sized, deep-fried disc of dough. The scone is also a base for Navajo tacos, topped with red bean chili, cheddar, lettuce, diced tomato, with sour cream and salsa on the side.
-The Malibu sandwich — a breaded chicken breast, topped with ham and melted Swiss cheese.
The Monte Cristo, a triple decker sandwich of ham, turkey and Swiss, is dipped in egg batter and grilled, then dusted with powdered sugar.
Several different burgers, including the massive Harley Burger and the Pastrami Burger, piled high with sliced pastrami and topped with melted Swiss cheese.
“After 30 years, we have a menu that our customers have made, because it’s what they’ve kept ordering,” said Christine Celia. “Although we’re known for breakfast, our dinners are excellent, and we’d like to see people try something they don’t normally try.”
The kitchen offers a variety of specials to switch up the usual menu, such as chicken enchiladas, or grilled salmon with avocado relish.
6. The berry crepes, popular on the weekends, are somewhat of a best-kept secret because they aren’t on the weekday menu. “You can still get them of weekdays, but you have to ask for them,” Christine Celia said.
7. Since portions are large, Ramblin’ Roads also offers a “lite fare” option. It’s a smaller version of some menu items, for $6. “A lot of our early morning crowd go for it, as we have a lot of seniors who can’t eat a large meal.”
8. The restaurant offers takeout, “But as my mother says, the quality of the food is not the same as when you come in and are served your meal hot on a plate instead of in a Styrofoam container,” cautions Christine Celia. “If something is wrong with your meal, I’m right here and can fix it and see that you are happy. I can’t do that when you take it home.”
9. Weekends are extremely busy.
“We don’t take reservations, but we have call-in seating.” She said. “If you call in ahead of time that day, your name is put on a list.”