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Written by REBECCA COPE
WW Peppers may look plain and gray from the outside, but inside it bursts with color and personality.

Located at 753 Horizon Court in Grand Junction (near Walker Field Airport), WW Peppers has cultivated its reputation for quality and distinctiveness since it opened 20 years ago. With decadent food boasting fresh ingredients and an authentically southwestern flare and a warm, yet sophisticated atmosphere the restaurant is perfect for a romantic dinner for two, a family lunch or an evening out with friends.

"We wanted to do something different and be unique," says co-founder and co-proprietor Debbie Wederath.

In the spring of 1984, Debbie and her husband, Hal, explored a vacant building in downtown Grand Junction. Before they knew it, they were restaurant owners and WW Peppers was in full swing.

"It's hard work, like a marriage," says Debbie. "But we're very proud. We devote a lot of time to it and nurture it every day. I'm out front, while Hal is behind the scenes cooking up amazing cuisine."

As head chef, Hal prepares a tantalizing menu, serving delicious entrées like elk, Alaskan salmon, Australian lobsters, quality-controlled beef from Texas and fresh seafood. All dishes are made from scratch, with "southwestern spices and flavors, prepared in a unique way," says Debbie. One of the restaurant's most popular items is the shrimp and crab burrito; sautéed shrimp, crab and cheeses, baked in a flour tortilla shell and served with a seafood sauce and garnishes.

With such a diverse menu, WW Peppers makes sure to cater to a diverse group of customers.

"We have so many people coming to us from all over the country because of the interstate and airport," says Debbie. "The outside of the building doesn't prepare you for what's inside."

WW Peppers is open for lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Dinner starts at 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Dinner starts at 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are not accepted. Call (970) 245-9251 for information.