The long-awaited Parkside is inching closer to fruition in the former Boulanger building in downtown Los Gatos.
Owner Darren Matte says he’s waiting on the parklet to be completed before opening, which could mean the end of September. Once concrete is poured, it needs to cure for two weeks before construction on the parklet, which absorbs six parking spaces, can commence. Able to accommodate 50 people, who will sit on woven rope chairs, its mandatory concrete planter boxes, which act as safety barriers, will be faced with the same brick as the building exterior.
Inside, Parkside is nearly complete, with natural lighting from enormous windows along with overhead fixtures and wall sconces. Matte says lighting is critical: Even the underside of the bar, with its hooks and outlets, is illuminated.
The interior is relaxing and comfy, with a mix of dark leather seating, blue-gray wainscotting, warm walnut tables and matching paneling. The gleaming white three-sided marble-top bar is deep enough for dining, and is lit from above by massive glass fixtures that look like something from another era. Four high tops along Main Street and three booths provide more indoor seating, but the parklet is sure to be the “it” spot in town.
The Tasting House Bistro is closed temporarily through Oct. 9. However, the newly launched Champagne Bar will remain open, with inside and patio seating, Wednesday-Sunday, noon-8 p.m.
Proprietor Denise Thornberry says former Chef Ryan Fillhardt has left for the Village Pub in Woodside to pursue his sommelier dreams. He’ll be working with one of his mentors, Jim Rollston, formerly of Manresa. Thornberry, who encouraged Fillhardt’s talent for wine and food pairing in developing the bistro’s unique opening menu format, says they are working to recruit an executive chef with Michelin experience. Enrique Leon, a sommelier at the Plumed Horse in Saratoga under Jeffrey Perisho, recently joined the Tasting House team.
The Bywater in Los Gatos has a new summer menu featuring watermelon poke, tomato salad with anchovies, a pork belly cheeseburger and steak and fries, to name a few items.
Chef Maria Lynn, who worked in Los Gatos at Manresa Bread, and as resident chef at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, recently joined Anaba Wines in Petaluma as their executive chef. Combined with the lineup of wines by longtime winemaker Katy Wilson, Lynn will be preparing unique pairings and elevated comfort food, seasoned with flavors from around the globe.
Hobee’s and the German Club of San Jose are entering into a partnership that will see a new beer garden and restaurant on the site at Second Street in San Jose. Hope it’s in time for Oktoberfest.
Coming soon to Santana Row is the highly touted Urban Plates, with a reputation for serving up wholesome organic foods. Their chargrilled steak is grass-fed and grass-finished, their chicken is cage-free, their salmon sustainably raised and their Ahi tuna is wild-, pole- and line-caught. The menu will include wholesome salads, chef-crafted sandwiches and slow-cooked braises.
