MANSFIELD – A couple from Maryland hopes Richland County residents will enjoy Reindeer Grill as much as former customers did more than 450 miles away.

Ralph and Lisa Powell opened their restaurant Thursday, Nov. 15 at the former Saffron Indian Cuisine at 10 S. Park St., several months after moving their family of six moved from Aquasco, Maryland to Mansfield to be closer to relatives.

“It’s different than what we’re used to … but we’ve mostly settled in, got used to where everything is,” Ralph said about living in Mansfield.

And Lisa chimed in to share how “friendly” everyone has been.

In the restaurant’s former location, the couple only served take-out. But in Mansfield, they are excited to have space for people to dine-in. They’ve decorated the restaurant with their store’s sign from Maryland and reindeer-themed décor. Plus, a small section of the restaurant, called the Calves’ Corner, offers small things for children to do.

In the transition, they modeled their menu largely off of their best sellers in Maryland. They will sell salads, sandwiches, pizza and even specialty entrees like steak and grilled salmon.  

Their son, 7-year-old Christian, says pizza with cheese is the “best.” His sister, 11-year-old Kylie, spoke up about the crab soup and shrimp that her father sometimes makes as a specialty item, which Ralph intends to gradually introduce to customers.

“Probably on a weekly basis we’ll have specials, but it might take a little while, we’re still getting things going,” Ralph said. “And we’re always open to people’s requests – we try our best to accommodate.”

Reindeer Grill first opened about four years ago in Aquasco, Maryland after the couple experimented with a food court space at the Virginia Bazaar and later a food cart in Arlington, Virginia.

Lisa, from Eastern Pennsylvania, and Ralph, of Maryland, met while working for Hemingway’s Restaurant in Maryland, where Lisa served, and Ralph worked as the sous chef.

“He has an amazing talent in cooking and just wanted to work for himself and try to start a business,” Lisa said. “We both enjoy the hospitality business in general, so this was something the both of us had always wanted.”

The name Reindeer Grill came from a former store called Reindeer Custard that was once owned by Lisa’s parents in Silver Spring, Maryland. Lisa wanted to include “Reindeer” in the restaurant’s name to continue the legacy.

Saffron Indian Cuisine, located at 10 S. Park St. for about six years, closed in late May. The owners Hari and Warscha Nagpal expressed intentions to move east.

Reindeer Grill is now open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It will celebrate with a ribbon cutting ceremony tentatively set for Saturday, Nov. 24. Everyone is welcomed to attend.

For more information about the ribbon cutting and about Reindeer Grill, find the business on Facebook.