Editor’s note: The Albert Lea Tribune sent an employee on a date in Kiester to experience what people had been telling about the choices in this town in southeast Faribault County.

 My boyfriend, Caleb Flugum, and I decided to have a night out on Kiester, and we found plenty to do. Our route took us west and then south about 25 minutes from Albert Lea. We arrived to find a beautifully lit downtown with many businesses conducting the daily routine at 6:30 p.m. on a Friday night. 

With a population of 540, Kiester is a small town, but it has amenities galore. 

This beautiful village is nestled among some of the highest hills in the area. According to the city’s Web site, cityofkiester.com, “Kiester Hills” are a product of glaciers that passed through this region many moons ago.

Jamboree Foods is the town grocer and is conveniently located on Main Street. We parked across the street and entered Forever Berma’s Bar & Grill. When I mentioned to a few friends that I was taking Caleb to Kiester for a night out, they all ranted about the Berma Burger.

I was surprised to see how reasonably priced the menu choices were. The famous Berma Burger was first on a list of burgers and sandwiches that ranged in price from $3.50 to $5.25. I decided on this delicious selection right away. 

It is a large burger patty smothered with sliced green olives and pepper jack cheese. I was surprised when Caleb ordered a regular cheeseburger, as he is a green olive fanatic. They have 13 appetizer choices. We sampled the breaded cauliflower — and as Rachel Ray would say, “Yummo!” 

Forever Berma’s on this night had six tables for dining and a bar with a dozen barstools. The menu offered appetizers, sandwiches, shrimp, fish and chips, sirloin steak, steak sandwich, and some Mexican fare. In November, they added fresh homemade pizza to the list. 

The place had some entertainment to enjoy as well: big screen TVs (Viking specials on Sundays), video poker, dart boards, a billiards table and a jukebox. The bar offers tap beer, bottled beer and spirits. The burgers were huge, and done just perfectly. 

Our night was still young when we left the restaurant. We were full from our dinner and had a tough choice of bowling or seeing the new James Bond film “Quantum of Solace” at the Kee Theater. It happened to be a very chilly evening, and the movie theater appeared first on our walk down Main Street. We decided to see the film because neither of us had seen it. 

The Kee Theater sits right in the middle of Main Street and has great historic charm. Movies are shown at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The cost to see “Quantum of Solace” was $3.50. The popcorn and candy were better than the movie, but then again I never was a James Bond fan. I think it’s a guy thing. My dad would tune in to the films on TV when we were kids, and I knew the women would be daring and beautiful, and James would be more fit than ever — not the kind of scenery you want to look at after consuming a giant cheeseburger. 

The theater itself was very neat and had a nostalgic quality about it. I would definitely see another film there. It was a fun evening. Kiester is a must-see — not sure about the Bond movie though. 

The next time we go to Kiester, we will sample the pizza at Forever Berma’s. I would love to check out the bowling alley. I have heard many good things about it.