The Buzz: Electric City Coffee expands hours, menu

Electric City Coffee is offering something new. In March 2015 owners Thad and Heidi Reiste added “bistro” to their business’s name, and last week's launch of “Small Plates” finally fulfills that part of their business plan.

“We’re not offering a full dinner because there are other great places you can get that,” said Thad. What they are offering is a menu of high-end, farm-to-table appetizers that diners can pick and choose from.

“My husband and I go out for date nights,” said Heidi, “and we just wanted to provide another option.”

Small Plates will be offered from 5 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday. The current menu, which will continue for at least three weeks, features salad, assorted hors d'oeuvres, shrimp, seared duck and dessert.

“The prices are all reasonable,” said Heidi.

The Reistes also expect their beer and wine license to come through this fall, and once that happens, the business will stay open Wednesday through Saturday until 8 or 9 p.m.

“Those times are subject to change, of course, but we’re going to try this out and see how it goes,” said Thad.

The couple will continue to offer reservation-only full dinners once or twice a month. The next one is Aug. 26 with farm-to-table courses from Groundworks Farms in Fort Shaw and Prairie Heritage Farm in Power.

“Farming is very near and dear. I grew up on a farm and I support them 100 percent,” said Heidi. “And you can definitely tell the taste.”

Electric City Coffee’s new chef, Ryan Dalke of Great Falls, keeps that farm-to-table concept going as much as possible.

“Basically we just turned our kitchen over to him and said this is our idea, this is our vision and just run with it,” said Thad.

For more information on Small Plates, visit Electric City Coffee on Facebook.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Traci Rosenbaum at 791-1490. Follow her on Twitter @GFTrib_TRosenba.