NOT FOUND: o club1.jpgIt's nice to go out to eat. It's nice to eat at a "Mom and Pop" type restaurant. Sometimes "nice" means white linen tablecloths.
It's even better when that experience doesn't involve a long drive or a drive in - two of the factors often involved when you live in the neighborhood and want to get a bite to eat. We have listed some of the best of the best, from barbecue to boba, in this article every month, but if you're looking for romantic, or even just a bit upscale, there are only so many options in a 5 mile radius.
NOT FOUND: o club2.jpgSo I submit to you, have you been to the "O'Club" lately? The restaurant inside the Lion's Gate Hotel and Conference Center on McClellan has had a face-lift. Modern colors have brightened the dining room. The bar has been upgraded. New furnishings, including posh sofas, make it feel more like a lounge than a local watering hole. Longtime caterer Mama Kim, is now in charge of the menu bringing a sophistication not seen before at "O".
And they are not done yet. There will be a fire pit added to the patio and live jazz from award winning musicians. The hospitality staff already is kept busy with the daily private events held with the thousands of employees inside McClellan Park. This new look and feel brings an excitement and expectation of even more business with a restaurant open for lunch and dinner in an intimate setting that makes you feel like you got away for the afternoon, without having left your zip code.
NOT FOUND: o club3.jpgThe Valentine's dinner will be celebrated twice - with seatings on Saturday the 12th and Monday (true Valentine's Day) the 14th. Four courses start with a choice of appetizer including Dungeness crab parfait with grapefruit and avocado crema, or lobster and roasted pepper bisque. (It feels fancy just to say that.) A mixed green salad follows with shaved fennel, goat cheese, strawberries and candied pecans. A vegetarian option of porcini mushroom gnocchi will be provided, but omnivores will not be disappointed. Decide on duck, halibut or filet. If these plates are any indication, culinary creativity has struck North Highlands.
NOT FOUND: o club4.jpgO'Club is not just for a special day - but for any day. What makes this "new and improved" eatery a real treat is that while Mama Kim has worked in kitchens for more than 3 decades - this is the first restaurant she can call her own with her brand of "California cuisine". Confused over what that really means? Consider diversity of palate. Envision Thai peanut sauce, fish tacos and Vietnamese-style sandwiches sharing space with sweet potato chips and cheeseburgers. The Portuguese sausage and clam soup is phenomenal. Unique, spicy; perfect for a cold day.
NOT FOUND: o club5.jpgDesserts include creme brulee, truffles, German chocolate cake and that's not even touching the special menu they will have this month for the lover's holiday. Here's just one so that something is left to the imagination:
White chocolate lemon cheesecake with gingersnap macadamia crust and blood orange syrup.
Need we say more?
It's $45.00 per guest for the Valentine's meal. Call the O'Club at Lion's Gate for reservations.