Regular food served in a quirky setting

The name “runcible spoon” comes from a short poem by Edward Lear, “The Owl and the Pussycat,” in which the two animals are lovers and are not supposed to be together. The owl and the cat are the mascots of the Bloomington restaurant, the Runcible Spoon, and are featured on its sign outside.

The term “runcible spoon,” a utensil that is a fork, knife and spoon all combined in one, was created by Lear for the poem.

The Runcible Spoon opened for business in 1976 as one of the first coffee shops in town that roasted its own organic coffee beans. In 2001, previous owner Jeff Danielson decided to sell his business to a local couple — Matt and Reagan O’Neill.

Originally a cafe that only served breakfast, the restaurant has now vastly expanded its menu to include lunch and dinner, but it still carries its most popular dishes that were famous back in the day, such as eggs Benedict, their huge pancakes and home fries. 

“The restaurant is meant to have a homey feel,” said Regan, co-owner of the Runciple Spoon, said.

Regan said they updated certain aspects along the way such as expanding the menu, renovating floors and adding various artwork.

“There is an ambient, comfortable quality to the restaurant,” said Wix Black, a waitress at the Runcible Spoon. “It has a charm to it that makes it unique.”

She said Matt and Regan spend more time at the restaurant than they do at their own house. Even the books on the bookshelves are from Matt and Regan’s home.

“There is a wide scale of clientele,” Black said. “It is an all-around friendly atmosphere.”