Red Caboose Cafe is on track for dinners

For the first time in its history, the Red Caboose Cafe will serve dinners.

The cafe, which was located at Bullard and Minnewawa avenues in Clovis for more than 14 years, was known as a breakfast and lunch spot. But after its move to Academy and Shaw avenues in April 2009, customers have been asking for dinner, says Red Caboose general manager Jackie Weedin.

"They can stay close to home and still go to dinner somewhere," she says. Many of Red Caboose's customers come from Shaver Lake, Wonder Valley, Tollhouse, Prather and Auberry -- an area that doesn't have as many dinner options as Fresno.

The dinners will start Thursday, with entrees from $11.95-$16.95. They include prime rib with steamed vegetables and a choice of rice pilaf, baked potato or mashed potatoes; honey fried chicken with mashed potatoes, country gravy and corn on the cob; and bow-tie pasta with Italian sausage, grilled chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and red peppers sautéed in garlic and cream sherry.

Desserts include root beer floats and strawberry shortcake.

It's the latest step for the 130-seat restaurant, which has been adding new features since the move. The Red Caboose added a beer-and-wine license in July 2009. It installed four televisions and added an appetizer menu on Monday nights for the 2009 National Football League season.

And its signature model train is once again suspended from the ceiling and walls. It's more than 8 feet long and growing, Weedin says. Companies can buy a train car with their logo for about $75-$100, and the Red Caboose will attach it to the train, she says.

Red Caboose train whistles, T-shirts and coffee mugs also are for sale.

The Red Caboose's breakfast and lunch hours are 6 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. Dinner is served 5-9 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

On Thursday nights, the restaurant offers a free kids meal with the purchase of one entree. Accompanying children must be 12 years old or younger, Weedin says.

For more information, call the cafe at (559) 297-9545.

Correction: Because of incorrect information provided by Red Caboose Cafe, an earlier version of this column misstated the price range for entrees at the restaurant. They are $11.95 to $16.95, not $11.95 to $13.95.