FOOD&WINE
I
RESTAURANT GUIDE
on the walls to the regulars relaxing at their favorite tables, this country inn is sure to bring a smile to your face as well as warmth to your belly.
Garlic Brothers
Ernie’s on the Brick Walk
Ironically, Garlic Brothers is a spectacular spot for a date, even though the kitchen is known to go heavy on the—you guessed it—garlic. Fun and lively, this restaurant sits right on the water’s edge and boasts delicious garlicky pizzas, pastas, and seafood. Contrary to popular belief, however, anything on the menu can be whipped up without the brothers’ favorite ingredient. Before you leave, roll up your sleeves and dig into a serving of Justy’s Cake—vanilla ice cream on a cookie crust topped with toffee and glazed with caramel and chocolate.
296 Lincoln Center, (209) 951-3311. Full bar. Open for lunch and dinner. $$-$$$
Ernie’s has been incorporating classic French technique with abundant Central Valley produce since its doors opened in 1990. Chef and owner Warren Ito was trained at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and loves to use his skills to prepare fresh takes on “old classics” for his loyal patrons. The menu ranges from rib eye steak to Australian lamb chops to seasonal fish and pasta dishes to house specialties like the nutty grilled tahini prawns and madeto-order fresh Manila clam chowder. Take your time while perusing the extensive wine list—it’s over one hundred fifty wines long.
[ at the bar ]
summer drinks
Add in summer fruits for refreshing cocktails Citrus Tango 1.5 oz. SKYY Infusions Citrus vodka 2 muddled fresh orange slices 3 oz. lemonade Squeeze of fresh lime wedge
For more recipes: Visit www.skyy.com
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Le Bistro 3121 W. Benjamin Holt Dr., (209) 951-0885, www.lebistrostockton.com. Full bar. Open for dinner. $$$$
This award-winning restaurant is Stockton’s only four-star dining experience. Whether eating lunch or dinner, Le Bistro offers a menu of French Continental cuisine beautifully presented in a stylish and sophisticated setting. This is a luxurious affair, where servers wear tuxedos and the everevolving wine list is like no other. The quiet elegance extends to the outdoor patio as well as four banquet rooms that can accommodate up to two hundred guests. If you are in the mood for an upscale treat, this is the place to go. Check the website for current information about live bands playing in the restaurant’s show room this fall.
Papapavlo’s Bistro and Bar 501 N. Lincoln Center, (209) 477-6133, www.papapavlos.com. Full bar. Open for lunch and dinner. $$-$$$
Papapavlo’s Bistro and Bar is considered by many to be one of Northern California’s most unique fine dining establishments located in Stockton’s Lincoln Center. They offer you the finest and freshest in gourmet cuisine and their fabulous menu includes a large variety of continental dishes. The main dining room has a unique design with a showcase kitchen and bar in warm, classy decor. You’ll find the three outdoor dining patios a perfect place to relax during lunch or dinner. Papapavlo’s offers four private banquet rooms accommodating groups as intimate as 12 to as large as 100
guests. Papapavlo’s also specializes in offpremises dining with their outstanding catering services. Papapavlo’s is open Sunday-Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm.
Paragary’s Bar and Grill 110 El Dorado St., (209) 943-1110 www.paragarys.com Open for lunch and dinner. $$-$$$
Located at the downtown Stockton Waterfront area, Paragary’s Bar and Grill is a destination in itself. The menu is full of simple American fare with all the right ingredients taken straight from our own Central Valley. The contemporary eatery also features a classic kids menu and surprisingly inexpensive happy hour specials in addition to their lunch, dinner, and dessert offerings. The Stockton location is part of the Sacramento-based Paragary Restaurant Group, but with tasty offerings like these, we don’t mind sharing.
The Shadow Oaks Steakhouse 7555 Pacific Ave. (209) 477-5547. Full bar. Open for dinner. $$-$$$$
If you’re looking for a place that knows it’s steak, Shadow Oaks is the spot. Known for its Kobe beef and Porter House steaks, the Prime Rib, lamb, and veal aren’t the only thing made to perfection at this local restaurant. With pasta, seafood, and salads on the menu as well you’re bound to find something to fall in love with. An incredible selection of wine awaits you at Shadow Oaks, with bottles priced anywhere from $25 to $450. And did we mention the tequila list? Hidden within the full bar is a variety of tequila bottles, whose respective shots range from $6 a shot to $85. With it’ssophisticated interior, beautiful bar, and live music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, this casual restaurant offers fine dining without the pomp and circumstance.
Stockton Joe’s 236 Lincoln Center, (209) 951-2980, www.stocktonjoes.com. Full bar. Open for lunch and dinner. $$-$$$
Featuring San Franciscan, Italian, and American continental cuisine, this is the place to go for a delicious meal in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Entrees include charbroiled steaks, fresh seafood, and veal, chicken, and pasta dishes, and have recently extended to offer several hearthealthy options. Stockton Joe’s frequently plays host to a variety of musicians and local artists who entertain diners relaxing in the restaurant’s comfy, padded booths
and chairs. Each month, the kitchen selects a featured wine from a local winery, and wine tasting events and wine dinners are held throughout the month. With exhibition cooking, a banquet hall that can seat up to sixty people, and catering for all occasions, Stockton Joe’s is a local feature not to be missed. Taste of Brittany 2041 Pacific Ave. (209) 946-9494 www.tasteofbrittany.com Full bar. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. $-$$
Owner Daniel Peron and Executive Chef Christopher Freeman create the most authentic classic French cuisine in the Valley. Dishes range from savory crepes made out of buckwheat flour and filled with beef bourguignon, chicken Chardonnay, or smoked salmon, to a variety of omelets made on the griddle, pancakes, and, of course, sweet dessert crepes. Sunday Champagne Brunch is also a winner, and at nighttime, try dishes like Oysters Rockefeller, grilled rack of lamb, filet mignon with wild mushrooms and cherry demi-glaze sauce, and crispy skin seabass with sunchoke puree. Taste of Brittany also has banquet facilities and provides full catering services for any event—“Beyond the Bayou” catering serves French and southern-influenced food from New Orleans’ French Quarter. Valley Brewing Company 157 W. Adams St. (209) 464-2739, www.valleybrew.com. Full bar. Open for lunch, dinner, and weekend breakfast. $-$$
The Valley Brewing Company is a fun place to bring the whole family for dinner: homemade beers, classic pub fare, live bands during the summer, and unique sports memorabilia keep everybody happy. The Brewing Company keeps fourteen beers on tap at all times, from a pale wheat, to an IPA, to the house favorite Black Cat Stout, and apricot and berry fruit beers. Friday is fish night, and
Saturday is all about Prime Rib. Beer and scotch tasting events are held throughout the month; check the website for up to the minute information about when the fun’s happening. Waterloo 10447 E. Waterloo Rd., (209) 931-4019 www.thewaterloo.com. Full bar. Open for lunch and dinner. $-$$
At this fun aussie-inspired restaurant, they really know how to mix it up on the barbee. One of their signature dishes is the savory barbecued ribs, served as an
JULY 2009
courtesy Skyy
Muddle orange. Pour SKYY Infusions Citrus vodka and lemonade into the glass. Add ice cubes. Shake well. Add a squeeze of fresh lime.
6629 Embarcadero Dr., (209) 474-6585, www.garlic-brothers.com. Full bar. Open for lunch and dinner. $$