There’s change in the air, and it’s not just the leaves turning. Apples are ripening, and thoughts turn to turnovers, although not the kind that’s happening in downtown Los Gatos.
ASA Los Gatos, at the former home of Grill 57 near the Los Gatos Best Western, planned a quiet opening the first week of October, after which they’ll be open daily breakfast at 6 a.m. and closing at 1 p.m. sharp.
“We need to clean and prepare for the dinner service,” says owner/chef Andrew Welch, who was waiting for a new coffee machine to be installed when we spoke. He had just staged the first breakfast buffet for hotel guests, contractors and friends.
ASA Los Gatos will also be open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Expect to see items like seared albacore with coriander and pistachio basmati rice, Liberty duck breast, organic veggie paella and sautéed clams on the dinner plate.
It’s too late to have a cigar, but you can grab a cocktail instead. The Soda Works Bar has now opened in the former cigar shop adjacent to Nick’s in the Soda Works Plaza. Beloved local bartender Jason D. Seele is mixing up some Silicon Valley-inspired drinks in his new digs. Try a purple-hued Violet Hour with Ford’s gin and crème de violette, or a Man and His Mule, a riff on a Moscow Mule, featuring Ketel One Citroen with pink peppercorn syrup, green Chartreuse and ginger beer.
Among other new places to check out is Namaste Indian Food, which is open for lunch as well as dinner, open at 35 E Main St., where Nick’s on Main all began. Namaste has other locations in Monterey and Santa Cruz, and is it’s next to the shuttered yogurt shop that is still looking for a new tenant. Namaste is open daily, serving Indian curries and tandoori chicken.
Things Still to Come
Down the block from Namaste, the former I Gatti space at 25 E. Main is about to become Sidecar Modern Tavern. According to first-time restaurant owners Adam Chick (Los Gatos born and raised) and Josh Allen (general manager at four Silicon Valley restaurants), they want patrons to leave their cares behind and have some fun at what they hope will become the local neighborhood gathering spot. Both have years of successful experience in the hospitality industry, and started working on this concept 4½ years ago.
“We’re planning fun cocktails based on house-made ingredients that embrace the seasons,” says Chick, who notes the popularity of sherry and kombucha-based drinks at the moment. “We’re also sensitive to the low-calorie, low-alcohol preferences of much of the Valley’s demographic.”
They plan to offer an array of small sharable plates that are creative and playful, and will present an a la carte menu offering fish, steak and chicken, with the option to choose from a number of sides. They hope to open by the first of November.
The Pastaria & Market is moving from Main Street to the former location of OPA! on North Santa Cruz Avenue by early November. It’s not clear what will go into the previous location. Pastaria, which dates to 1995, is hiring a pizzaiola to operate the wood-fired oven and will be able to expand beyond a takeout pasta shop and deli, allowing for more diners to enjoy its traditional Italian cuisine on premises.
Hapa’s Brewery is set to open in Los Gatos between the Toll House and ACE Hardware in early 2020. Hapa’s established its first location in Midtown San Jose in 2017 and has become quite the gathering spot for locals.
Southern Kitchen plans to roll out dinner service sometime in October. They are also working on a new concept to replace the former Le Boulanger Bakery, with a focus on wholesome clean food, unique organic craft cocktails and nutrient-dense farm to table foods. Expect that to open sometime in January 2020.
Oren’s Hummus will take over the space currently occupied by The Walking Store, which will transition down the road to Gymboree. Besides hummus, Oren’s also specializes in falafel, pita bread, sweet potato fries, kabobs and skewers.
As for what’s happening at the former VIVA location next to Whole Foods, Jim Stump is apparently taking it over.
