“The Hawk” in Roosevelt, was recently reopened under the leadership of Richard and Shauna Morris. Lake of the Woods’ newest restaurant features fresh, unique twists on classic American cuisine including, appetizers, homemade pizza, delicious burgers, and fresh salads. The Hawk also has a full bar with your favorite cocktail, beer, seltzers, and sodas.
Head Chef/Owner, Richard Morris, originally from Cape Town, South Africa, has spent nearly his entire life in the restaurant industry.
“My mom and dad were great cooks. When I finished school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and a friend of mine encouraged me to enroll at culinary school, and it felt like a good fit.”’
After graduating, from culinary school, Richard came to the United States through a work visa that allowed him to travel to the United States for work. He began his career working in the kitchen of a Florida resort, but took this opportunity to work in restaurants across the country.
“I was able to work in many different places across the country including Florida, Arizona, Colorado, and others. This provided me the opportunity to see the United States and learn a wide variety of techniques from different chefs”
In 2014 while they were both working in Medora ND, at the Medora Musical, Richard met Shauna and begin dating. After getting married, Richard and Shauna moved to Fargo ND, where he continued to work in the restaurant industry. Shauna’s father, a frequent visitor to Lake of the Woods encouraged the family to consider Lake of the Woods.
“I always enjoyed working in areas with a strong tourism industry, because the customers are on vacation and having a good time. It felt like a good fit for us.”
Richard took a job working in the deli at Doug’s Foods in Warroad and providing catering services, while they waited for the right opportunity to open their own restaurant. In the spring of 2022, the Morris family began looking at the Hawk Restaurant in Roosevelt, which closed during the pandemic, and decided it would be a great opportunity to pursue their dream of restaurant ownership. After 5 months of planning, the Hawk reopened on July 13. The restaurant has already been a hit.
“We’ve got off to a great start; the community and visitors have been very supportive. We had a family from Nebraska stop on their way to Canada, and they liked the food so much that they made it a point to stop again on their way home. “
When they are not busy with the restaurant the Morris family stays busy with their two children Cora (5), and Cade (Infant), and two dogs, Max and Milo. The family enjoys spending quality time with family and friends camping in northern Minnesota’s many camping sites, and exploring Beltrami Island State Forest 100’s miles of trails.
The Hawk is located on Hwy 11 in Roosevelt. For more information, check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheHawkRoosevelt
