Syrah owner Josh Silvers has just closed a deal to take over the former Mixx space in Railroad Square. After months of speculation about who might go into the vacant restaurant but Silvers tells BiteClub that construction and renovations have begun. Named Jackson’s Bar & Oven, plans are for affordable dining with a focus on the wood-burning stove — pizza, pasta, burgers, hot dogs, hangar steaks. Of course with Josh’s Cal-Ital-French flair. “We’re even thinking about doing buckets of chicken wings…stuff you just don’t see a lot of in Santa Rosa,” says Josh’s business partner and wife, Regina.

 “We have wanted that space for a long time. It just never made sense before and now it’s falling into place perfectly,” she tells BiteClub. They plan to open the restaurant (named for their son) early next year.

That should be about the time that nearby Jack and Tony’s Restaurant and Whiskey Bar opens for business. Plans were delayed for the opening slated for this fall and owners say it may be December (or so) before they’re officially ready for business.

With the facade of a stately Victorian manor and the soul of a chain-smoking, cocktail swirling 20-something, The Belvedere is one of Santa Rosa’s most beloved contradictions. And I mean that with love.
Anchoring the northwest corner of Mendocino Avenue’s Tipsy Triangle (including the 440 Club and Round Robin) the Belvedere looks more like a bed and breakfast than a bar. Which may explain its cache and a weekend hangout.
But ask about the restaurant and you’ll get puzzled looks. “They serve food?” In fact, they do.
It’s been an on-again off-again affair. Several years ago, attempts at a
high-end restaurant failed. Then nothing. Then Gary’s at the Belvedere
reopened with more modest ambitions — burger, salads and sports bar
fare. Steaks. Man-eats for the downstairs crowd.
Served Monday through Friday, the lunch menu is
simple: Burgers, steak sandwiches, Caesar salads and various
adaptations of the aforementioned. Salads with steak. Wraps with salad.
Infinite burger combinations involving bacon, barbecue sauce, mushrooms
and cheese.
Best bet is the burger, though you’ll have to suspend judgment about the puck-shaped disc of grilled chuck and cafeteria-like fries Though I’d lay bets that both
recently did some hard time in the big chiller, the grilled onion blue
cheese burger wasn’t half bad. In fact, it was a lot better than some
bloody awful burgers I’ve recently had the misfortune of eating. No,
the onions weren’t as caramelized as I’d like, but the buns were nicely
toasted and the presentation thoughtful, especially while sitting on
the wrap-around porch watching the world go by. It’s a big, fat meal
for $11.99 (including a drink).
Dinner features some of the same appetizers and salads with the
addition of steaks and pasta. I’ll let you, dear readers, have that
adventure with managed expectations. Featuring 40 beers, a full bar, five pool tables and a smoker-friendly porch you
could do a whole lot worse than an afternoon or evening with front-row
seats to the crossroads of Santa Rosa. And I mean that with love.
Gary’s at the Belvedere, 727 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707.542.8705
(restaurant), 707.542.1890 (bar). Open for lunch Mon-Fri from 11am to
2pm, Dinner Mon-Sun, 5pm to 10pm.
PS: After this, no more burgers for a while. Promise. I’m done.

A British foodie recently came up with 100 things every Omnivore should eat before dying. What to try is so subjective, but the list is a fun start. I’ve crossed out what I’ve eaten and left blank the one’s I’ve yet to try. I can tell you I’m no rushing out for roadkill anytime soon.

Many of the foods are available locally without much looking. Others are more of a challenge (like Black Pudding, which I actually had at Oliveto). What would be on your 100?
Continue reading “100 Things to Eat”