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BUSINESS Luna Cafe opens at Ashland Hills Hotel Space, '70s-themed eatery offers counter service Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jun. 16, 2016 at 8:34 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jun. 16, 2016 at 8:34 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Renovations progressing on Oregon's 'front gate' • Newly renovated Ashland Hills hosts open house • Neumans' plan for Medford's Red Lion: destination resort • Ashland Hills Hotel » Social News Astronomy, manned moon shots and hopes of a new frontier “out there” — these are the themes of the new Luna Café and Mercantile at Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites. Why? Because the place was built in 1978, in the middle of a space-minded decade. It’s the third restaurant to be opened in the valley by Doug and Becky Neuman but operates on a very different model, with “farm-to-counter” — meaning they get much of their food from small, local farmers and you order and pay at a counter, then go sit where you want, including on a view deck looking out on stunning Grizzly Peak. Or you can grab-and-go, enjoying it the lake or park. In its long-ago first incarnation, the restaurant at the Ashland Hills Inn was a local favorite but the whole operation went under late in the last century. The Neumans, along with their partners, Mike and Laura Naumes, opened the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites two years ago, but it had no food service until Friday, June 10. The Luna Cafe is shooting to be an “Oregon oasis,” a welcoming place with good food where you can relax over dinner or lunch — or spend the night — on your way to San Francisco or Portland, says Becky Neuman. They also serve light, continental-style breakfast. “We want to capture that I-5 traffic,” she says, “but also be a good local place where it’s not ‘hotel food.’” While most '70s architecture and décor takes a beating in the public mind, Becky says, “I was inspired by it. It speaks to me and it’s fun to have the basic elements of it to work with. I wanted a retro, throwback ‘70s experience. My main colors are aquarius blue and tangerine orange.” Spinning out her astro theme, she renamed the big ballrooms Orion, Aquarius and Andromeda, kept the spiky, spacey “acrylic chandeliers” and has Star Trek playing on the TV above the bar. She even haunted Portland antique shops to find those inimitable orange couches of the period. Food is all made from scratch, says Damon Jones, executive chef for all three Neuman restaurants (including Larks in Ashland and Medford) and takes the form of gourmet pizza, burgers, rotisserie chicken and meats, vegetarian options, artisan coffees, house-made pastries, micro brews, cocktails, and the region's best local wines and cheeses. They seek to break the restaurant routine. It has a reach-in wine and beer cooler. You can sit anywhere, including couches or a dog-friendly patio out front, facing Highway 66. The bar, which looks like a cheery soda fountain, offers craft cocktails you never heard of, says Ava DeRosier, director of food and beverage for the trio of restaurants. She mentions Crater Lake rye with muddled mint, lemon and brown sugar. Rim salt may feature paprika and celery salt. Another novelty is the Apollo Grooming Company, a guy’s haircutting place on the second floor, which greets you with an Apollo moonsuit, as well as spherical moon chairs — and a free shoeshine and whisky drink while they shape your locks, as part of the $30 tag, says owner Chris Espinoza. The Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites is the biggest hotel or conference center in Southern Oregon, says Becky, and may soon start serving the Sunday brunches that were so popular there decades ago. It has a pool and tennis courts for guests. “It’s the natural stop, the half-way point to Portland and Seattle, great for rock bands, where the driver is limited to only so many hours behind the wheel,” says Don Anway, general manager of the Neuman Hotel Group. “We love the idea of empowering guests,” says DeRosier. “Our other restaurants are fine dining, but this is more self-directed. You can bring a book and sit a while, as you snack and drink. It’s about providing a simply yet unique and magical experience of the day. We try to make sure something magical happens easily.” John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jun. 16, 2016 at 8:34 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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