Blue Heaven

With its relaxing atmosphere and inviting patio seating, Blue Heaven is a taste of Key West right here in the middle of the Natural State. Diana Young, owner of Blue Heaven Restaurant & Bar, was inspired by the beauty and delicacies of Key West, which heavily influenced the ambience and menu at Saline County’s one-of-a-kind eatery. 

“My family has been going to Key West, Florida, for over twenty-five years, and we love the laidback vibe and open-air restaurants. The fresh food coming in from the Gulf is so amazing; we just had to bring a little bit of that back to share. My granddaughter’s favorite restaurant in Key West was Blue Heaven because she loved the outdoor games, chickens, cats, and pancakes. When I asked my family what to name the restaurant she said, ‘Blue Heaven.’  So here we are!” Although Diana’s background is in wholesale women’s accessories, she and her husband John Young opened the doors to Blue Heaven on May 5, 2021, and have never looked back.

The roots of the location on I-30 have always been associated with home cooking, friends and family, and small-town U.S.A. From Pat’s Cafe to Ed and Alma‘s, to most recently Ed and Kay’s, all of these families cared and took pride in serving Saline County over several decades. The Young family plans to carry on that tradition by offering the freshest take on southern comfort food while adding their own twist. 

Renovating the old and locally historic restaurant took almost two years and a lot of tenacity. “I had no idea we would run into the problems we did, but we had a super chill builder, Laithe Massey, and we just worked our way through all the setbacks,” recalls Diana. Because of COVID, Diana and her team also endured months of just sitting around, waiting for it to pass. “The biggest challenge was opening with the fear of COVID closing us back down. We had no idea what would happen when we opened our doors, but the support of the community was overwhelming.” 

One thing to which Diana attributes their success is the uniqueness of the menu. “Blue Heaven’s menu was different; it was small, but we worked very hard to perfect every item.” From day one, Blue Heaven customers have exceeded owner expectations. “We cannot thank them enough for all their support,” adds Diana. 

Another winning strategy for Blue Heaven is the business’s philosophy. “Our saying here at Blue Heaven is ‘No Bad Days.’ When our customers walk in the door, we want them to have a great dining experience.” Blue Heaven seats roughly ninety people inside, featuring a speakeasy room with beautiful stained glass and an antique bar. Outside, another ninety guests can gather to enjoy the beauty of the marvelously landscaped surroundings, and the somewhat quirky but fantastically entertaining exterior décor complete with occasional live music and games for the young and young at heart.    

Unlike many restaurants famous for a particular item, Blue Heaven seems to have created a menu favored for all its delectable options. “Our menu is an ever-changing thing. Some items are seasonal, and we are always trying out new ideas for our customers. Our chef constantly blows us away with his new creations. All our food here at Blue Heaven is homemade.” The steaks are cut daily, and the fish, vegetables, and other sides are the freshest available and locally-sourced if possible. Desserts are freshly made in-house, and just as it is with the entrees, desserts are ever-changing to offer patrons a new experience each visit.  

In addition to creative cuisine, Blue Heaven is well known for its variety of exotic cocktails. “We have tried to set ourselves apart and offer something special to our customers,” explains Diana. “We have the greatest bartenders, most incredible wait staff, best chef and cooks, and wonderful food. I admit to being partial about all the folks who work here. It is a family here at Blue Heaven.”  

Diana is thankful for the support Blue Heaven has received from the community. “Saline County has been wonderful to us. Customers have even brought in their friends and relatives from surrounding counties and out of state. They come out to support our live music and are always open to any holiday silliness we come up with here at the restaurant.”

Blue Heaven feels fortunate to have been a part of so many life experiences in its community. “We’ve witnessed marriage proposals, served rehearsal dinners, hosted club meetings, held baby showers, sung ‘Happy Birthday’ many times, helped surprise ladies on their anniversaries, coordinated book signings, and joined in the fun of countless girls’ nights out events. We feel very connected to our customers and their families, and they know we will take care of whatever they need for their special time.”

With its relaxing atmosphere and inviting patio seating, Blue Heaven is a taste of Key West right here in the middle of the Natural State. Diana Young, owner of Blue Heaven Restaurant & Bar, was inspired by the beauty and delicacies of Key West, which heavily influenced the ambience and menu at Saline County’s one-of-a-kind eatery. 

“My family has been going to Key West, Florida, for over twenty-five years, and we love the laidback vibe and open-air restaurants. The fresh food coming in from the Gulf is so amazing; we just had to bring a little bit of that back to share. My granddaughter’s favorite restaurant in Key West was Blue Heaven because she loved the outdoor games, chickens, cats, and pancakes. When I asked my family what to name the restaurant she said, ‘Blue Heaven.’  So here we are!” Although Diana’s background is in wholesale women’s accessories, she and her husband John Young opened the doors to Blue Heaven on May 5, 2021, and have never looked back.

The roots of the location on I-30 have always been associated with home cooking, friends and family, and small-town U.S.A. From Pat’s Cafe to Ed and Alma‘s, to most recently Ed and Kay’s, all of these families cared and took pride in serving Saline County over several decades. The Young family plans to carry on that tradition by offering the freshest take on southern comfort food while adding their own twist. 

Renovating the old and locally historic restaurant took almost two years and a lot of tenacity. “I had no idea we would run into the problems we did, but we had a super chill builder, Laithe Massey, and we just worked our way through all the setbacks,” recalls Diana. Because of COVID, Diana and her team also endured months of just sitting around, waiting for it to pass. “The biggest challenge was opening with the fear of COVID closing us back down. We had no idea what would happen when we opened our doors, but the support of the community was overwhelming.” 

One thing to which Diana attributes their success is the uniqueness of the menu. “Blue Heaven’s menu was different; it was small, but we worked very hard to perfect every item.” From day one, Blue Heaven customers have exceeded owner expectations. “We cannot thank them enough for all their support,” adds Diana. 

Another winning strategy for Blue Heaven is the business’s philosophy. “Our saying here at Blue Heaven is ‘No Bad Days.’ When our customers walk in the door, we want them to have a great dining experience.” Blue Heaven seats roughly ninety people inside, featuring a speakeasy room with beautiful stained glass and an antique bar. Outside, another ninety guests can gather to enjoy the beauty of the marvelously landscaped surroundings, and the somewhat quirky but fantastically entertaining exterior décor complete with occasional live music and games for the young and young at heart.    

Unlike many restaurants famous for a particular item, Blue Heaven seems to have created a menu favored for all its delectable options. “Our menu is an ever-changing thing. Some items are seasonal, and we are always trying out new ideas for our customers. Our chef constantly blows us away with his new creations. All our food here at Blue Heaven is homemade.” The steaks are cut daily, and the fish, vegetables, and other sides are the freshest available and locally-sourced if possible. Desserts are freshly made in-house, and just as it is with the entrees, desserts are ever-changing to offer patrons a new experience each visit.  

In addition to creative cuisine, Blue Heaven is well known for its variety of exotic cocktails. “We have tried to set ourselves apart and offer something special to our customers,” explains Diana. “We have the greatest bartenders, most incredible wait staff, best chef and cooks, and wonderful food. I admit to being partial about all the folks who work here. It is a family here at Blue Heaven.”  

Diana is thankful for the support Blue Heaven has received from the community. “Saline County has been wonderful to us. Customers have even brought in their friends and relatives from surrounding counties and out of state. They come out to support our live music and are always open to any holiday silliness we come up with here at the restaurant.”

Blue Heaven feels fortunate to have been a part of so many life experiences in its community. “We’ve witnessed marriage proposals, served rehearsal dinners, hosted club meetings, held baby showers, sung ‘Happy Birthday’ many times, helped surprise ladies on their anniversaries, coordinated book signings, and joined in the fun of countless girls’ nights out events. We feel very connected to our customers and their families, and they know we will take care of whatever they need for their special time.”

There is truly something for everyone at Blue Heaven, and remember, when you get here, leave your worries at the door because at Blue Heaven there are no bad days!