The recently shuttered Lepe’s Taqueria, a Bennett Valley institution for nearly 30 years, will reopen early this spring as Parkside Eats, according to new owners Hayley Cutri and Efrain Balmes.
The couple, who also own Sonoma Eats in Agua Caliente, are taking a sharp left turn. Sonoma Eats is known for its Oaxacan-style cuisine, rooted in Balmes’ Mexican heritage, but Parkside Eats won’t be a taqueria or strictly Mexican. Instead, they’re rolling out what they describe as “California comfort food,” blending Mexican-influenced favorites like tacos, quesabirria and fresh guacamole, a standout at Sonoma Eats, with burgers, salads, soups, hearty appetizers and fresh juices.
“Californians love Mexican food, and the restaurant will have a lot of Mexican soul and a lot of avocados,” Cutri said, summing up their California approach to comfort cuisine. That also includes a farm-to-cocina ethos, emphasizing local and seasonal ingredients. Cutri said they hope to source from their own farm and other nearby growers. She previously worked at Sonoma Valley’s Flatbed Farm.
Parkside Eats is also a personal project for the couple, who spend time hiking at nearby Annadel State Park. After long days on the trails, they craved food that’s both hearty and healthy. Cutri said the restaurant reflects what they want to eat and what they feel the neighborhood has been missing.
The pair is also mindful of the legacy they’ve inherited. Lepe’s co-owner, Eduardo “Eddie” Lepe, ran the restaurant with his brother, Marco, for decades. Eddie’s sudden death in 2021 left a void in the community that many still feel. His children, Bella, Diego and Matteo, kept the restaurant going for four years before deciding to close in November.
“We will continue being a family-run restaurant that warmly and graciously hosts our neighbors,” Cutri said. “We promised that to the family.”
More details on the menu and an opening date are expected in the coming weeks.
Sonoma Diner opens
The owners of Sebastopol’s Hole in the Wall Cafe (972 Gravenstein Highway S.) and Santa Rosa’s Brother’s Cafe (3135 Cleveland Ave.) have opened Sonoma Diner in Bennett Valley. The four-page all-day menu ranges from morning scrambles and omelets to burgers, sandwiches and crepes. Bigger dinner entrees like fish and chips, chicken piccata and coconut curry are also available. Best breakfast bets are the sticky-crunchy Dutch baby German pancake with caramelized apples and biscuits with mushroom gravy. 52 Mission Circle, Suite 111, Santa Rosa, 707-978-5098, sonomadinersr.com