California Food and Wine Blog

Archive for the ‘Chico’ Category

We were trying to find an upscale bar or lounge to have a romantic evening at for our 3rd anniversary and the first place we tried was absolutely packed.  So we decided to stroll the streets of downtown Chico and see what we could find.  Thankfully we came across Monk’s Wine Lounge which was a place we had glanced at before, but their specials board outside caught our eye this time.  As soon as we walked through the door we knew it would be the perfect place to have a relaxing evening.  The tables were spread out, the people weren’t obscenely loud, and there were several couches and lounge chairs towards the back.  We opted to get a couch so we could really just kick back.

We ordered a bottle from Sicily, unfortunately I forgot to record what we ordered.  The wine was a newer vintage at 2008 which was my only concern, but it turned out to be a nice light red which was what we needed for the night.  After a glass each we ordered the mushroom bruschetta and crab cakes.  They were reasonably priced around $10 each.  It was probably about 15 minutes before we received the food, but time passes quickly here since you are comfortably talking with whoever you are with instead of raising your voice and straining to hear.  Each appetizer came with two portions, which was perfect since it was just two of us.  The mushroom bruschetta was unlike any bruschetta I have had before.  It was elegantly plated and served as a long slice of a baguette topped with mushrooms, olive oil and a few herbs.  It wasn’t exactly the perfect pairing with our wine, but the bruschetta was excellent.  Easy to eat, bread was crisp but not flaky, mushrooms were delicately seasoned, the oil was light, and the herb blend was just enough.  The crab cakes paired incredibly with the wine.  It’s hard to say if it was the crab cake itself or the sauce they serve it with.  The crab cake was light, but held together well.  It was seasoned very well and the sauce wasn’t too heavy, there was no need to use lemon on it like I so often do other places.  I’d recommend both dishes as great starters.

Mushroom bruschetta and crab cake

Taste Rating:

Value Rating:

Overall Rating:

We went here for a brunch one morning and I was quite skeptical of the place.  It looks run down and has several “great deals” painted on the window.  However, as soon as we walked through the door we were greeted by a very pleasant man and seated immediately.  The waitress was also cheerful and immediately brought us a water and coffee and offered $.99 mimosas.  Hard to pass up considering in San Luis they are normally around $6.  The mimosas were delivered quickly in a champagne flute and were just as good as the $6 mimosas in SLO.

I ordered a breakfast skillet and Jessica ordered a breakfast burrito.  Both were served in just over 5 minutes.  They were piping hot, the skillet was actually still sizzling!  The steak in the skillet was very well marinated and cooked through, but still tender.  Everything about the food was well done, especially for the bargain pricing.  It was cheap, but you felt like the cooks and the servers actually took pride in their restaurant unlike the people you run into at a Denny’s or IHOP.  This place was perfect for a brunch and I could see how if they are open late they would be a fantastic place to stop for a midnight meal.  I will definitely be going back next time I’m in Chico.

The breakfast burrito and fixings

Taste Rating:

Value Rating:

Overall Rating: