My Secret Restaurant Love Revealed

I love this restaurant so much I want to keep it secret. Is that selfish? It probably is. 

This restaurant in Livermore, Ca is a gem. Their menu reflects an emphasis on local, seasonal, and free-range. It’s pretty much the only real farm-to-table restaurant for miles. They change elements of their menu very often, some things come and go daily.  Everyone knows how excited it makes me when restaurants do this, and nail it, over and over again. When I first sit, don’t talk to me because I’m not paying attention. I grab the menus and my eyes glaze over, darting from item to item, in no order, just taking all the possibilities in. You can tell when someone finds fulfillment in creating with food, to give people pleasure and maybe show off a little. It’s an act of love– to the self and others.

 They divide their menu into three sections, Snacks, Appetizers, Entrées. The snacks and appetizers have such variety and innovation, I love getting multiple items from these sections and seeing what gets put in front of me. The descriptions state the ingredients, but not how they will be prepared, which I find exciting. When dishes arrive they often look different than I would expect. 

While the snacks and appetizers are always changing, I’ve noticed that their entrées stay generally consistent, but their accompaniments seem to be slightly different, creating a different seasonal rendition all year round. The core of their entrees stay generally consistent – chicken, steak, pork/ham, fish, and beans. However, the accompaniments change, creating a different rendition quite often. On Mondays, they have their fan-favorite, making the restaurant busy as if it were Friday… Flavorful, juicy fried chicken with crispy skin. The chicken is buttermilk-brined for at least 24 hours. And it’s free-range. It’s incredibly rare to find fried chicken that also enjoyed a considerably nice life outside. 

The wine list is small, but everything they offer is quality, to the point where I think you could order anything and like it. They have a beautiful bar that is the focal point of the interior where they stir up inventive cocktails that are refined and not obnoxious. I’m a fan of their simple and aesthetically pleasing glassware. The bar itself is up there with my favorite design element of the restaurant. It has a semi-circle-shaped mirror, outlined with tiles in varying shades of jade and seafoam green. It looks so cool and clean. The vibe of the restaurant is soft, with wood, white walls, and big windows. There is indoor seating, as well as a little courtyard in the back, with a big tree draping lovingly over everything. I mean, the whole place is just beautiful. 

The service is trustworthy. The staff is knowledgeable about all the dishes and preparations. I really enjoy asking my server what their favorite dishes are, and I especially like doing that here. Probably because the menu changes so often and it’s hard to visualize what each item will come out as, so asking their opinion gets me more excited and interested. I think it’s also a good way to bridge with someone, and I think that’s important. I love watching people talk about food that they love. 

Like I said, it’s a gem, and reservations are a must. I still don’t want to reveal the name… I temper this shameful selfishness by reminding myself that my mission with this blog is to be honest and guide you to good food and drinks. 

…

RANGE LIFE.  

-RUN, don’t walk. 

Some pictures below (if you’re still here).