A man of few words, Hisa Joe operates The Cozy Table Restaurant, located at 1514 N. Main St. in Benton.
"We opened the restaurant on Oct. 13, 2008," Joe said. "I lived and worked in Florida with some of the finest chefs and was on my way to open a restaurant in Green Bay, Wis. I decided to make a stop in Du Quoin to visit a friend who owns property in Benton. He first showed me the building next door, but I preferred this location instead."
"I would like to open more restaurants but want to see how this one goes first," Joe said.
"The name 'The Cozy Table Restaurant' came off the top of my head. I didn't want to use the term 'family style' because that scares some people off. I also didn't want to use the term 'diner' for the same reason. This way, the name of the restaurant is a combination of both."
Joe said everything in the restaurant is made from scratch.
"I have been in the kitchen for a long time combining different ideas," he said. "I do mostly cooking and prepping and want to do the cooking myself. The recipes for the soups I make myself. I don't want anyone else touching the soups."
The Cozy Table Restaurant has become a popular hangout for people of all ages. Joe said the restaurant is particularly popular with the older crowd.
"We have a lot of older customers who know what they like," he said. "It is difficult to try something new. I work the morning shift in the kitchen and I really don't have time to experiment, but I would like to try new menu items. Time is my problem. I have to be here non-stop.
"Breakfast is served all day long," he said. "That surprises some customers. I had a guy ask me the other day how long breakfast was served. When I said all day, he looked shocked. The gravy, along with sauces and all of the dishes, are made from scratch."
Joe said quality is of the utmost importance.
"I want good quality food," he said. "I concentrate on a small menu, but that is what I want. I buy the best I can get and make the best out of it. Others may get by on the cheapest ingredients, but I don't work that way. I served roast turkey last Sunday. One of my regular customers who is here everyday told me, 'You don't buy the cheap stuff.'
"It made me happy because I know he likes the food. If people didn't like the food, I wouldn't have been here this long," Joe said. "It will take time to introduce them to my dishes. I will work to get them used to new items one thing at a time."
The Cozy Table Restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Joe said his daily specials are always changing.
"I served stuffed pork chops on Thursday, will have Philly steak sandwiches on Friday, fish and steak on Saturday and chicken on Sunday," he said. "The soups also change every day.
"I would rather use my mind and my hands to create new dishes and quality recipes than to talk," Joe said. "Carry-outs are available and we also host parties. We try to do everything for the people. It's not just about the money."
