Sprouts & Shutters: Descanso Bar & Restaurante Spices up Piedmont Avenue

By AUTUMN JOHNSON

Descanso (verb): Spanish for rest, relax.

Rest is something that restaurant owner Chris VavRosky does not do very often these days. Since working to prepare for the launch of his dream three weeks ago, VavRosky has been working some seriously long hours. The work has paid off. VavRosky opened the Descanso Bar & Restaurante on Piedmont Avenue on September 11.

VavRosky’s work is truly a labor of love.

VavRosky said, “On the tiny Caribbean island of Tobago, while watching an inter-island soccer game during Carnival, I heard a referee yell, ‘descanso!’ after he blew the whistle for half time. Both teams headed to the sideline, had some beers together and relaxed for a bit. The game resumed after a long intermission and it did not matter who won, but instead it was about being together and enjoying the company and a way of being.

“Inspired by ‘descanso,’ my late wife, Heidi, and I dreamed up a design and menu that reflects our travels and life together. Our wanderings around the world took us through many magical places—the Caribbean, Central and South America and all over Mexico.”

VavRosky describes the menu at Descanso as a distinctive combination of “BBQ meets Latin.”

“The flavors are influenced by the areas I lived in and visited through out the Caribbean, South, Central Americas as well as multiple places in Mexico,” VavRosky said. “The BBQ aspect has been taught to me by a team member who is a current pulled pork champion, focused on the low and slow cooking techniques necessary to make award-winning meats and smoked veggies. Together, we have a unique offering of food that will be the best thing you have ever put in your mouth! This, along with my mixology background, gives me the ability to put a pairing of food and infused cocktails together.”

Even the tortilla chips at Descanso are unique. Why? You will just have to try them and see for yourself.

Follow Descanso on Facebook.

Descanso is located at 4148 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland.

Photo Credit: Michael Collins

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