Another great article spotlighting Inn on the Cliff and Cliffside Restaurant

The following article was published in the September/October 2014 issue of "View on Southern Utah Magazine."

A LABOR OF LOVE - TRANSFORMING A LANDMARK

The idea for the Inn on the Cliff and Cliffside Restaurant was born when new Washington County resident, Tom Heers, was looking through Craigslist and saw a posting for a hotel and restaurant for sale in St. George, Utah. He looked it up on google earth and quickly told his wife, Dorothy, he now knew what their next project would be. “When I saw it was on a cliff, it was all over. I knew we were going to try to purchase it.” The former Rococco Hotel and Restaurant had fallen on hard times. It was built in 1977 and was a landmark restaurant in St. George. The property was purchased in August 2013 and the extensive remodel was finished in February 2014. Renamed Inn on the Cliff Hotel and Cliffside Restaurant, it has opened to wonderful reviews. The hotel was named the #1 hotel in St. George on Trip Advisor after just three months of operation. The restaurant has delighted its customers with its menu of fresh American style food with a twist. According to Heers, the key to the success of the hotel and restaurant has been pretending that is wasn’t on a cliff with a spectacular view of the beautiful city of St. George and of the surrounding picturesque red hills, and that the success of the hotel and restaurant would be on the merits of its hospitality and food.

Tom and Dorothy are the parents of five and the grandparents of 16. Tom Heers is a second-generation general contractor who has been licensed in three states and has spent his career building single-family homes, various commercial projects and hotels. With his contracting skills and Dorothy’s designing skills, they put their collective efforts into this project along with many talented subcontractors, consultants and suppliers and are proud of the results. The style of the hotel and restaurant is a soft contemporary with the view taking the main emphasis. The Heers love the hospitality business. They have previous hotel experience as the creators of the Anniversary Inns in Salt Lake City and Boise (sold in 1999).  According to Tom, ”the Inn on the Cliff hotel is a real all-around hotel as the rooms lend themselves to honeymoons and ‘staycations.’ They also are great for families, with the hidden trundle beds and the Cliffside pool, bordered by glass overlooking the city”. With wall-to-wall windows, the panoramic views are spectacular from every room. 

The construction was a beehive of activity for many months and was a fun job to work on because of the view and the can-do attitude of the workers. “With an old building, there is always something unexpected happening to keep your attention”, according to Tom. As the opening day, February 14^th, approached, the Heers were anxious to see the public’s response to the city’s landmark. They were happily surprised when it opened to rave reviews and no vacancy for three straight days. Dorothy was happy to see that the guests noticed all the little touches she had put in the rooms for their enjoyment. The beds, with their Simmons Beauty Rest mattresses, are a big hit as customers repeatedly ask where they were purchased, so they can enjoy a great night’s sleep in their own homes. Also noted are the 50” high definition televisions that are hooked to high speed internet so the guests may watch movies with their Netflix accounts.

The Cliffside Restaurant opened in April 2014 and was delighted to have as some of their first customers, the Sullivan family, who owned and operated the hotel and restaurant for over 30 years. From that night on our guests have experienced great fresh food prepared by trained chefs with terrific plate presentation and served by smiling young servers anxious to learn their craft and provide great hospitality. With Chef Vance Lott and sou chef Paul Huggans, the restaurant consistently serves excellent food at very reasonable prices.

This project, found on craigslist, has become a labor of love for Tom and Dorothy. They, along with their friendly staff, invite all to come enjoy the Inn on the Cliff and Cliffside Restaurant experience.

Cliffside Restaurant Featured in "St. George Health & Wellness".

We would like to thank Rebecca Monson for sharing this fabulous article published in the September/October 2014 edition of "St. George Health and Wellness Magazine". 

RESTAURANT JOURNEYS:
CLIFFSIDE RESTAURANT

By Rebecca Monson
          I like to think I’m a bit of a foodie with a perceptive palate. So I was thrilled when St. George Health and Wellness Magazine asked me to review Cliffside Restaurant!
         Owners Tom and Dorothy Heers have done their due diligence in providing a “coming of age” spot for St. George foodies (or “wannabe” foodies), locals, and visitors to Dixie. With an original menu inspired by Chef Peter Sproul, Director of Utah Valley University’s Culinary School, their exquisite selection of contemporary American cuisine is produced by culinary artist Chef Vance Lott and his Sous Chef Paul Huggans.
         The spectacular city views form the panorama windows provide a visual feast in and of themselves, while the open seating and subtle décor compliment the distinct Dixie red-rock vista and provide a sophisticated ambiance perfect for intimate dinner conversation.
         The Heers’ have succeeded in providing St. George with a stand-out, chef-produced menu - with a twist. From the soup stock to the confections, all menu items are a fusion of flavors that tantalize the taste buds. Chef Vance meticulously selects ingredients providing the starting point for each of the “from scratch” creations.
         I delighted in the lunch menu, starting with Cliffside’s Famous Potato Soup. Creamy… YES! The buttery immingling with bacon crumbles danced with lemon-infused oil pained on top. The hand breaded Coconut Crusted Shrimp was possibly the most tender fried shrimp I have EVER tasted.
         Trust me when I tell you that you CAN “trust the skinny chef!” Chef Vance’s homemade mozzarella cheese accompanies vine ripe tomatoes on crostini with basil pesto – and this was just ONE of our appetizers. I believe my entrée choice could be their Signature Dish – Chili Glazed Mango Salmon. WOW! The perfectly seasoned mango-topped seared salmon, was so moist it flaked apart with the little pressure from my soon-to-be loaded fork, pairing perfectly with the coconut infused rice pilaf.
         But let’s talk desserts! The fresh Vanilla Bean Brulee with the caramel candy top you can’t wait to crack into? A MUST! Or indulge in the Heers Family Favorite – Lilikoi Cheesecake adorned with Mascarpone Cream atop a swath of Passion Fruit puree! From their many years on the Big Island, this confection was a staple at their family table.
         Are your taste buds screaming for you to head on over? Be assured you don’t need a reservation. Whether you’ve just come from a brisk hike or you’re dressed in a “little black dress” or suit and tie, the Cliffside Restaurant is the spot where you’ll feel welcome and server-pampered for any occasion. Cliffside Restaurant provides exquisite 5-star dining for extremely reasonable prices. Add to that a child-friendly menu and amazing daily specials. Chef Vance will even prepare custom vegan entrees with just 24-hour advance notice. It’s all here!
          Come experience for yourself the culinary genius of Cliffside, located at 511 S. Airport Rd in St. George. Visit their website: www.cliffsiderestaurant.com or call (435) 319-6005.