Tammy Dee serves up experience at Tammy's Place
Apr. 24—You get a sense of what a special place this is even before you walk in the door.
At Tammy's Place in Kasson, the big display windows toward the street are decorated with old-fashioned kitchen paraphernalia as well as a vintage 1910 stove. Walk in the door and you are immediately taken in by the rustic, homey feel of the place.
On a recent Friday afternoon, there wasn't a seat in the house. Servers were hustling between the bar and the kitchen, customers were clearly enjoying themselves, it was a cheerful sort of pre-weekend Friday afternoon.
Located at 111 W. Main Street, Tammy's Place is one of the newest dining additions to Kasson and clearly the place to go, though it's been open just a year.
The restaurant is a dream come true for Tammy Dee and her husband, Travis Dee. Tammy herself is no stranger to the hospitality business having spent years working in and around area restaurants.
"I started out at The Smiling Moose, then Whistle Binkie's North," Tammy says. "In 2002 I had the chance to go to Tillie's just off Highway 52, and that was really where I more or less settled. In 2018 I was offered the chance to take it as manager, which I did."
The owner decided he was going to sell post-pandemic, and since the Dees had dreams of their own place, they started the purchasing process. It was not to be.
The two then started looking at available properties and since they live in Kasson they wanted to be within 30 minutes. As luck would have it a property became available on Kasson's Main Street where the restaurant Misplaced Magnolia had been.
Says Travis, "The minute we walked in we knew this was the place. It's a 1922 building so it's old but we loved the feel of it."
Renovations began right away. As a member of Local 6 and a plumber and pipefitter by trade, Travis and a few friends did most of the work but left some of the original decor like the wood floors and a tin ceiling. It has all translated into a rustic, homey spot. They opened for business March 1, 2023.
Putting a menu together was also a challenge. Having been a part of restaurants for decades Tammy knew the direction she wanted to take. She also knows food.
Working with a friend from Sysco, the food distributor, she has put together a menu of choices that include basics like soups, salads, sandwiches and comfort foods as well as more non-traditional items.
Especially popular are the different types of burgers, wraps, fish tacos, the fried shrimp, the Monte Cristo and Cubana sandwiches. There are also daily specials. Many of the menu items are her ideas as well as long-time friend and cook Cindy Cruz, a Tilly's transplant.
It's also interesting that since she worked so long at Tilly's several former employees have followed her to this new spot, including several cooks.
Her energy is catching so it's no wonder she has a dedicated following of workers as well as customers. Watching her tend bar, take food orders, chat with customers, answer the phone, and clear dishes it's obvious how much she loves her job and how good she is at it.
"She was born for this," says husband Travis.
In addition to everything else, they do all the cleaning and maintenance on Mondays when the restaurant is closed. Hours are Tuesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. except Fridays and Saturdays when they're open until 10 p.m. If you're looking for a new spot to go for lunch, dinner, a beer or a special craft cocktail, head here. It's a happenin' spot.
Post Bulletin food writer Holly Ebel knows what's cookin'. Send comments or story tips to
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