Mad Platters cafe opens in Linn County Courthouse
It’s a family affair at the Mad Platters café in the basement of the Linn County Courthouse. Left to right: Coral, Elson and David Harms. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
By Alex Paul
Communications Officer
ALBANY — David Harms didn’t set out to own restaurants.
He’s a land surveyor by training, just like his father.
But the mid-valley native has found himself drawn to eateries for 30 years including his latest adventure — Mad Platters in the basement of the Linn County Courthouse.
“I’m excited,” Harms said. “I named it Mad Platters so we can do things a little differently. We want to offer new menu items regularly and we’re not stuck with one style of food.”
Mad Patters is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is open to courthouse staff and visitors as well as the general public. Enter the courthouse from the west door and take the stairs or elevator to the basement.
Harms’ foray into the world of food actually started when he went to work as a valet at the CalNeva Casino in California.
The casino’s restaurant was not doing well and that was reflected in the poor tips his valet staff was getting. Harms made comments about the restaurant to the casino’s owner and the next thing he knew, he was put in charge of revamping the restaurant.
That was in the late-1990s and Harms has had restaurants in LaPine, the Oregon Coast and the mid-valley since, including Casetta di Pasta and Jo Jo Macs in downtown Albany.
“We want to create new things all of the time,” Harms said. “The world is full of wonderful ingredients and we want to use them.”
Harms said the name “Mad Platters” a play on the Mad Hatter of the Alice in Wonderland tale, allows him to be a bit “quirky, funny, to do some memorable things as well as use more vibrant colors like purple and yellow for décor.”
Open only a few weeks, Harms said a variety of hamburgers appear popular as well as the meatloaf sandwich and Taco Tuesdays.
His son, Elson, 24, enjoys creating new sandwich offerings and they will soon be on the menu.
“It’s a perfect fit for me,” Harms said., “I feel like I could do this forever. I like to keep people happy. We can create anything you want.”
Harms, 50, and his wife, Coral, live in Corvallis. In addition to Elson, they are parents to Brandon, 30, and Conner, 10.
“One of the nice things about being in the courthouse is that we see the same people every day and we get to know each other,” Harms said. “It helps when regulars call ahead since we know they have one hour for lunch. I love the food industry, even though the last couple years have been hard times in the restaurant business.”
Mad Platters serves breakfast and lunch, dine in or take out.
Call 541-967-3877 to order.
A sampling of menu items includes a sausage breakfast sandwich, a meaty breakfast burrito, a garden salad, a Mexican Street corn salad and pesto chicken and Reuben paninis.
Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.
