Broadcaster Press 09 December 23, 2014 www.broadcasteronline.com ...with Toby’s: A chicken tradition By Katie Clausen For the Plain Talk Just west of Vermillion, in the tiny community of Meckling, there can often be found a parking lot full of cars and a lot of people with full bellies too. Toby’s Lounge, often solely referred to simply as Toby’s, has a rich history in the Meckling community. Started by Stanley “Toby” Larson 43 years ago, the restaurant is just as popular as it ever was. “My Dad and his brother started it in 1971,” Deb Larson, manager of Toby’s said. “And they started it as a chicken and shrimp place.” Toby’s is famous for its comfort food. The menu is simple, yet satisfying. Appetizers such as cheese balls, fried mushrooms and cauliflower precede a short list of dinner options, the shining star being the broasted chicken. “It’s the best chicken people have ever eaten,” Larson said. “We get people all the time from other places, and even internationally, we’ve had people in from Australia and England in Toby’s.” Often patrons will make a trip from Sioux Falls, Sioux City or Yankton just to grab a soothing dinner at the eclectic chicken joint. The cooks in the kitchen at Toby’s still refer to the original recipe that Toby Larson used in the 1970’s. It’s unique because of the preparation process. “It’s my Dad’s recipe, I think it’s so good because we take so much time preparing it,” Larson said. “We spend about six hours preparing it. We don’t just get it and put it in the broaster, we actually do a lot of preparation.” Over the years, Toby’s has changed the menu slightly to accommodate children by having chicken strips and other small options. “Same recipe and same menu, except we’ve added some things like kids meals, chicken strips, and appetizers,” Larson said. “Everybody brings their family here; it’s always been a family place.” Aside from these few variations, the crew at Toby’s has stayed consistent with the meals they serve up. “Sometimes during the summer we try different things, but it always came back to chicken,” Larson said. “During the winter we have soup and things like that, but other than that it’s a ‘stick to what you know’ kind of thing, which is chicken.” Coleslaw, the most popular and virtually exclusive side dish available, is also given special consideration. It’s creamy and tangy and something visitors seek out when they stop in. “We make the coleslaw from scratch and that’s made every day,” Larson said. “Not very many people want any other side except coleslaw” Tradition and community spirit are all part of what made Toby’s Lounge what it is today. Adam Mount, a Meckling native, still frequents the restaurant and enjoys the camaraderie Toby’s provides. “It’s about the people you see when you walk in,” Mount said. “And it’s the best chicken around.” Meckling, dubbed the "Hay Capital of the Universe", is still home to quite a few families. The majority of which have ties to the agricultural community. “My dad grew up in Meckling, his dad farmed, he went away to the army and came back,” Larson said. “He and his brother just found out where there the highway was going and decided to put the restaurant there.” Deb Larson is now helping run the restaurant with her brother, Clark. Keeping chicken coming to the customers has always been a family affair. “My brother and I, and his kids and my kids have all worked there,” Larson said. “Nobody got out of working.” The prior generation running Toby’s also had close family ties. Even during the infancy of the business, there was some skepticism, even from Toby himself. “He also had three sisters and they worked in the restaurant, it’s always been in the same building,” Larson said. “He wasn’t quite sure that he would be spending a lot of time there because he CLAY COUNTY COURTS 12/05/2014 – 12/11/2014 CUNNINGHAM, LEONARD P, II, SIOUX CITY, IA; OPEN CONTAINER; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $20. HANSEN, KADE ALAN, VERMILLION; OPEN CONTAINER; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $20. TALBERT, ARLEY JUSTIN, VERMILLION; NO DRIVERS LICENSE; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. ELLENBOLT, GARY, VERMILLION; FAILURE TO MAKE PROPER STOP AT STOP INTERSECTION; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. BEEKEN, BRIAN LEE, BURBANK; SPEED ON FOUR-LANE IN RURAL AREAS; Fine: $39 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. COTA, ANDREA KAY, VERMILLION; SEAT BELT VIOLATION; Fine: $25. HARMSEN, JONATHAN, VERMILLION; SPEEDING ON OTHER ROADWAYS; Fine: $19 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. ANDERSON, HOLLY, VERMILLION; RENEWAL REGISTRATION DURING ASSIGNED MONTH; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. SPEEDING ON OTHER ROADWAYS; Fine: $39 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. MOREY, TRAVIS WAYNE, WEST BEND, IA; FAILURE TO MAKE PROPER STOP AT STOP INTERSECTION; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. RISTY, HANNAH CATHERINE, VERMILLION; MUNICIPAL SPEEDING; Fine: $59 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $20. THOMAS, SIERRA ALEXIS, VERMILLION; MUNICIPAL SPEEDING; Fine: $19 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $20. SCHULZKUMP, NICKI, VERMILLION; FAIL TO STOP AFTER ACCIDENT WITH UNATTENDED VEHICLE; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. LIKNESS, JASE ARLAN, VERMILLION; OBEY TRAFFIC DEVICE UNLESS DIRECTED BY POLICEMAN; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. MINNICK, MARTHA SARAH-JO, VERMILLION; MUNICIPAL- FURNISHING ALCOHOL TO MINOR; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $20. CLYDE, DONALD ALVIN, VERMILLION; SEAT BELT VIOLATION; Fine: $25. HUBER, LEO J, VERMILLION; SPEEDING ON A STATE HIGHWAY; Toby's has a uniuqe decor dedicated dedicated to all things chicken. KATIE CLAUSEN / FOR THE PLAIN TALK thought it would close, but it ended up being very popular.” Stanley “Toby” Larson died in 2007, but the restaurant he created has continued to help the Meckling community and focuses on employing a great staff that is grateful for the opportunity to work there. “It has helped numerous people who have lived in Meckling through college,” Larson said. “It’s one of the businesses that have kept Meckling on the map as one of the assured businesses that has continued to be there.” Toby Larson believed in helping Meckling and area youth rise to their potential. He knew everyone and greeted customers with warm welcome and employee’s with vested interest. “It’s just fun have all the people out there, the people we’ve employed have gone everywhere,” Larson said. “All the kids have gone off to do wonderful things. My dad loved all that stuff” Just as Toby Larson did, the staff is focused on quality meals. “He was there every morning at eight and was there checking everything out,” Larson said. “He never took vacations; he checked every order that went out.” Fine: $59 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. KASHAS, JEREMIAH DANIEL, VERMILLION; SPEEDING ON OTHER ROADWAYS; Fine: $59 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. CROWE, RORY STEWART, VERMILLION; SEAT BELT VIOLATION; Fine: $25. KOTSCHEGAROW, JULIA ANN, YANKTON; SPEEDING ON A STATE HIGHWAY; Fine: $39 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. JOHNSTON, ROBERT WILLIS, WAKONDA; SPEEDING ON OTHER ROADWAYS; Fine: $59 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. MCCAULEY, ROBERT A, PRIMGHUR, IA; OVERDRIVING ROAD CONDITIONS; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. THOMPSON, MAKENNA, VERMILLION; NO DRIVERS LICENSE; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. WANG, GUOJIN, VERMILLION; OVERDRIVING ROAD CONDITIONS; Dismissed-Motion by Prosecutor. SWANSON, GALEN THOMAS, Pukwana; OVERDRIVING ROAD CONDITIONS; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. HOEKE, GARY HUGO, VALLEY SPRINGS; SPEEDING ON A STATE HIGHWAY; Fine: $39 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. HOEKE, GARY HUGO, VALLEY SPRINGS; SEAT BELT VIOLATION; Fine: $25. VANDUYSEN, LORI, WAGNER; ALLOW UNAUTHORIZED PERSON TO USE VEHICLE; Fine: $54 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. SEAT BELT VIOLATION; Fine: $25. CERTAIN OPERATORS REQUIRED WEAR SEAT BELTS; Fine: $25. OLSON, DYLAN D, NORFOLK, Neb; SEAT BELT VIOLATION; Fine: $25. LEARING, LAURA JEAN, IRENE; COUNTY SPEEDING; Fine: $39 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $20. MARTIN, MONTEZ, CANTON; DRIVING WITH SUSPENDED (NOT REVOKED) LICENSE; Fine: $204 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. SPEEDING ON A STATE HIGHWAY; Fine: $19 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. SORENSEN, SEAN TIMOTHY, OMAHA, NE; SPEEDING ON OTHER ROADWAYS; Fine: $39 Court Costs: $40 Surcharges: $26. 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