Category Archives: Restaurants

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Review of Bear River Pasta Company

Bear River Pasta Company Entrance

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By Judy J. Pinegar, Writer

Recently, a friend recommended I try the Bear River Pasta Company, it was a little hard to find, at 109 Bank Street. Inside it is compact and very clean. There is a refrigerator full of pre-made pasta dishes with the sauce, along with bread and yummy salads for eating in, or taking out for an easy dinner meal. They also make lots of different sandwiches on wheat or sourdough bread with all the fixings. Owners Carl Brenner and Theresa McGuire have done a nice job of creating a reasonably priced venue for quick meals and take-out dinners.

If you are eating in, you microwave the dish of pasta, and your choice of salad and freshly toasted bread is brought to you. We tried the Spaghetti and Meatballs, apparently the hands down favorite seller!  It was delicious, and so were the Garlic and Pesto Breads! We also shared a Carmel Balsamic Gelato which was fantastic!  Lots of other flavors of gelato were also available along with Cannoli and Tiramisu.

A second refrigerator was filled with many different kinds on homemade pasta as well as homemade sauces, enough to serve a family. There is also a supply of Italian specialty items, oils, candies, cookies, beautiful wooden wine stoppers, nic-naks and potholders. The salad items also include many varieties of olives, nicely displayed.

We took out some fresh made Fettuccini and the Tomato Basil Sauce, along with some nice homemade pot holders. All and all it was a great find, and I am sure we will come again!  Check out the full menu at their website www.bearriverpasta.com. Bear River Pasta also attends local events and street fairs, and catering as requested.

For their menu and more go to their website Bear River Pasta Company

Their telephone number is 530.274.1760

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Restaurants

Diego’s Restaurant In Grass Valley

Outside seating in Diegos - Photo by John J. O'Dell
Outside seating in Diegos - Photo by John J. O'Dell

By Sherri L. Reynolds

Diego’s located in Grass Valley,Ca. at 217 Colfax Ave, (530) 477-1460

Hours:  Monday 4 pm to 9 pm , Tuesday – Thursday 11 am to 9 pm, Friday 11 am to 9:30 pm, Saturday 12 pm to 9:30 pm, Music provided on Friday nights.

For an authentic style of South American flavor, ” Diego’s ”  restaurant in Grass Valley, Ca. provides an experience for family and friends to gather for a very special meal of Chilean cuisine. Established in 2004, the owners, June and Diane have put together a place where dining is comfortable, affordable, fun and charming.

Their style of food ranges from starters, such as Empanadita’s (these are small fried empanada’s filled with mozzarella, jack and feta cheese) breaded and fried calamari to homemade mushroom soup. The salads are made fresh with organic greens and grilled seasoned veggies. The local favorite is the Ensalada Diego, served with your choice of grilled chicken, steak, pork, tofu or barbequed vegetables. All salad’s are served with homemade dressings. My favorite is the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette…very tasty !

Sandwiches are made with fresh baked pan bread and served with seasoned grilled veggies or you can order a side of garlic or sweet potato fries.One I like is the grilled chicken breast with guacamole, tomato, mozzarella or you can choose to spice it up with their traditional South American spice paste with smoke and pepper flavors. They also have anything from grilled steak, Portobello, roasted pork, veggie, bratwurst to burgers ( Nevada County, Ca grass-fed/naturally raised).

Specialty dinner entrees include a diverse selection of filet tilapia, crab relleno’s, stuffed Portobello with sautéed tofu and savory crepes filled with chorizo pork with grilled pineapple. All fish dishes are wild caught and meat dishes are range-free with no hormones or antibiotics added. All breads and corn tortillas are house made.

Specialty dinner entrees include a diverse selection of filet tilapia, crab relleno’s, stuffed Portobello with sautéed tofu and savory crepes filled with chorizo pork with grilled pineapple. All fish dishes are wild caught and meat dishes are range-free with no hormones or antibiotics added. All breads and corn tortillas are house made.

Thursday’s are fish taco day and these are absolutely delicious ( a sure winner) and a choice I recommend highly. For drinks/beverages they have organic teas, coffee, sodas, wine and beer. They are known for making Sangria’s and their house favorite is the “Electric Lemonade” made with rice distilled vodka or agave wine.

There is an outdoor covered patio for dining and a chalk board that welcome’s you with a quote for the day. One quote I happen to read said ” God bless is all, everyone of us” by Tiny Tim. The patio is decorated with a water fountain, chimes playing in the breeze, soft colored red clay walls imbedded with flower planters, an evening light in the shape of a star to make it an inviting and pleasurable experience.

Diego’s provides great service, good quality food and friendliness. It makes you feel like you’re somewhere else having an authentic experience. As Diego’s puts it ” Love is everything” and they do put a lot of love into their cooking. Try it out and explore a whole new taste in exceptional food.

” Enjoy life and the taste for it ”

Bon appétit,
Sherri L. Reynolds
sreynoldsjb@yahoo.com
freelance/poet/creative writer

 

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Restaurants

South Pine Cafe, Three Locations, Nevada City, Grass Valley and Auburn

 

Review by Sherri L. Reynolds

” South Pine Cafe”…a local Nevada County establishment, located in the foothills of beautiful Nevada City, Grass Valley and Auburn, Ca. is open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. A place where the community and visitors alike gather to eat and choose off a menu of healthy, zestful and exceptional food items.

The menu consists of anything from omelet’s, egg or tofu scrambles. specialty dishes like  lobster benedicts, huevos rancheros ( a local favorite) breakfast burritos filled with tofu, eggs, brown rice and fresh veggies, pancakes topped with fresh oliberries and real Vermont maple syrup to organic burgers, sandwich wraps, vegan sandwiches like the nut burger ( my favorite),hot homemade soups and salads.

They have an extensive list of beverages to choose as well, such as fresh squeezed orange juice, lemonade-strawberry mimosas, fresh carrot-apple-ginger juice, espresso coffee drinks, soy hot chocolate, local wines, light, dark and organic beer and Fox Barrel hard pear cider.

All burgers, tofu and coffee are organic, eggs are range free, little use on cooking oils, no GMOS are used. You can purchase the South Pine Coffee Blend at both SPD market locations in Nevada City and Grass Valley and at Caroline’s Coffee in Grass Valley. South Pine Cafe also makes their own Blackberry-Mango Jam and you can buy a jar at either of their locations. They also make their own ketchup and sell memorabilia t-shirts with their logo and theme ” Feel the Joy” .

South Pine Cafe has been owned and operated by George Dyer since 1995. Doug Huntington is the general manager of both locations and has been managing for about 9 years now. They employ several chefs, cooks, waiter and waitresses. They always have an upbeat, friendly, good energy feel and your meal is always served with a smile

The Nevada City location has a Bohemian feel to it. There are local artists paintings on the wall to observe and sell . Also, there are crayon drawings on posted on the walls that children have drawn. I, especially like the framed  “Ketchup” drawings, as it illustrates how to properly get the ketchup out of the bottle. At one time this location was once called “Misty Hot Tub” and when South Pine Cafe started, it still had a hot tub in the dish room area.

The downtown Grass Valley location opened approximately 7 years ago. At one time it was a local bar called ” The Office” and local musicians performed there on occasion. You can feel the warm and welcoming atmosphere here and a waiter named Todd can take your order without writing it down. This guy will always put a smile on your face and get you to laugh with his wit and humor. In general, everyone here gives you a home town welcoming feel.

So, I suggest giving these two locations a whirl for an exhilarating experience and save some space for a great cup of organic coffee and a slice of homemade cheesecake to top your day off with. ” Feel the Joy” and be surprised !

Bon appétit,

Breakfast and Lunch served from 8 am to 3 pm seven days a week.

( catering, holiday parties, birthdays, weddings and business lunches also available)

Visit their website for locations and more information

Sherri L. Reynolds

( a frequent patron)

Grass Valley, Restaurants

Sergio’s Caffe in Downtown Grass Valley

Sergio Martignago
Sergio Martignago

By Sherri L. Reynolds

One of my favorite places to eat is Sergio’s Caffe, a charming and quaint eating establishment located in downtown Grass Valley. (Yes the name Sergio’s Caffe is spelled with two f’s)

It is owned and operated by Sergio and his wife Lena , eight years running now and serving up delicious food from salads, sandwiches, soups, grilled chicken, salmon, tri-tip, vegetarian and lasagna ( a homemade specialty) prepared by his head Chef, Troy. All food is freshly made daily and there are local wines, coffee, teas and assorted beverages. Save room for dessert, as there are a variety of melt in your mouth sweet treats to be had.

Left to right - Rene Medina, Jordyn Chapman, Sergio Martignago
Left to right - Rene Medina, Jordyn Chapman, Sergio Martignago

Sergio uses the finest high quality ingredients available, cooking without MSG, margarine and no hydrogenated oils. Lunch prices are reasonable.

This is one of the most welcoming and friendly places to sit and enjoy a good meal. There is always pleasant music in the background, anything from French, Italian, Russian, Spanish to Norah Jones. The tables are sweetly decorated with fresh flowers, soft light, and the service is always friendly and impeccable, Sergio employs two chefs, Troy and Renee (on occasion his wife Lena cooks too) and waiter Jordan and waitress Jordyn, whom are all very delightful. So, sit and relax under the beautiful green palm plant tree and have a pleasurable experience. As Sergio say’s ” Eat, Drink and Be Merry”…..

Bon Appetite…

” Sergio’s Caffe” a charming and quaint eating establishment is located downtown Grass Valley, Ca on 154 Mill St. ( across from the Del Oro movie theater). 530-274-2600, lunch: Monday-Saturday 11:00 am to 3:30 pm and dinner; Wednesday-Saturday 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Sherri L. Reynolds

(Just one of the many regular patrons)


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O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091

Entertainment, History, Nevada County Information, Restaurants

The Willo

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The Willo at Highway 49 and Newtown Road
The Willo at Highway 49 and Newtown Road

Driving out two and one half miles north on Highway 49 from Nevada City you might notice a non-descriptive building with a sign “The Willo” along with a small florescent martini glass. You may wonder why there are so many cars and trucks parked outside.  Your first thoughts might be, this must be a really great watering hole!  So unless you live in Nevada County or  a good friend has told you about this restaurant there is no hint that this has been voted the best steak house in Nevada County.   

Once you park and start to walk inside, you will notice a sign near the left hand door that finally tells you that this is a steak house. Walking in, you are in a different world, with dark paneling, cedar walls, pictures hanging in some kind of random order and a picture of the Bay Bridge with lights flashing on the wall. Once your senses have gotten acclimated to the scene, you are in for a treat with excellent service and good food. You have a choice of three portions of New York Steak, small, medium and large (16 ounces). You also have a choice of pork, chicken and three kinds of fish, or even a garden burger. You can cook the steaks yourself, but for an extra fifty cents, they’ll do it for you. By the way, the prices are excellent and won’t break your budget. 

The Willo is owned by a very friendly, very nice couple, Mike Byrne and Nancy Wilson. They have kept up the tradition of the Willo which started its history at its present location as follows: 

Beginnings of the Willo 1947
Beginnings of the Willo 1947

In 1947 Bill Davis purchased a surplus WW II Quonset hut from the U.S. Army.  The hut was located at Camp Parks in Sacramento and was disassembled and transported to the site of the Willo at the corner of Highway 49 and Newtown Road. It was re-assembled and opened as Bill Davis Hut, a popular watering hole for the lumber and mining work force. It was later sold to a local couple and it became The Hut. 

In 1963 Bob and Peggy Tucker purchased the Hut and renamed it Tuck’s Hut. With a truck load of lumber from a local mill they enlarged the bar and added a covered structure on the east side where they built a grill pit and served hamburgers through the window to the bar patrons. A “Gold Miners Special” (burger and beer) cost sixty cents. In 1969, the Tuckers leased the property to a local tavern owner, Frank Williams, who was forced to move from Grass Valley to make room for construction of the new “Golden Freeway”.

Together with Veda Folden who with the help of her husband and brothers, converted the covered structure into the main dining room and the Willo Steakhouse was born. The banquet room was added in 1973. How did the Willo get its name instead of the Willow?  What happened to the W on the end? Well, it’s a combination of one of the prior owners names, Frank Williams last name and his wife’s first name Lola.  I advise you to call ahead for reservations, for they are always packed. Their telephone number is  (530) 265-9902

Google shows two locations for the Willo. Don’t know why, but location B is almost the true location. You have to drive a little farther from Nevada City then point B, it’s at the corner of Newtown Road and Highway 49.


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