Summer Brings Change to Local Restaurants

Anyone who has dined at the previous location has noticed its odd setting on the second floor of a building that houses several clinics. “The landlord wanted the whole building to be medical,” restaurant manager Carsten Cole said. The restaurant, owned by Ray Rodriguez, maintained its warm ambience and popularity despite the clinical surroundings.

Nevertheless, it was time for a change. On July 16, the staff began transferring the entire operation to its new location at 972 Main St. All went smoothly, and the the restaurant re-opened August 1. On Saturday, I caught up with Cole at their new site.

Green Valley Grill is no longer hidden on the second floor of a nondescript business building—it’s now clearly visible from the busy north end of Main Street. The site features two outside dining areas. As I entered the large dining room, the kitchen staff was busy preparing for the dinner hour, and all the tables were set.

The wine rack and bar shelves conspicuously lacked bottles; according to Cole, they await approval of the new liquor license—change of address requires a new application—and expect to offer wine and liquor by the first week of September, as well as music in the lounge.

Although the restaurant will no longer be near Green Valley Road, they will keep the old name.

“It reflects the agricultural history around here,” explained Cole.

Indeed, the new dining room is decorated with colorful framed local produce labels. The menu also remains the same, “to keep it as familiar as possible for our customers,” Cole said. They continue to focus on wood fire grilled meats and seafood and fresh local produce.

Cole reports that dinner hours have been busy, and the lunch crowd is now even bigger than previously. No doubt, customers are drawn in by the scrumptious lunch menu items, for example:

• Sherry Roasted Garlic & Brie Cheese appetizer
• The Elvis Prawn Salad
• Asian Ahi Tuna & Prawns Linguini
• Wood Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak
• Wood Grilled Eggplant or Portobella Sandwich 

“I’d like to thank all our customers,” Cole said, reflecting on the recent transition, “Their support has been tremendous.”

On the other side of town, and in Hollister, Tiffany Ella King is a busy woman. She now runs Café Ella in Watsonville, Ella’s Italian Restaurant in Hollister, and a full-service catering business. If that isn’t enough, you can also order lunch delivered anywhere in the Watsonville city limits ($3 fee, minimum order $20).

On July 22, Café Ella added special Friday night dinners to their regular menu; the dinner menu is in effect from 5-8 p.m., along with wine and beer. The Friday dinner menu changes every week.

To keep spicing things up, Café Ella is serving a special 5-course dinner with four wines at Morgan Winery in Monterey on Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. On the menu:  

• 2010 Monterey Sauvignon Blanc with roasted black mission fig stuffed with fresh chevre (goat cheese) and crispy prosciutto
• 2009 Santa Lucia Chardonnay with baby porcini parmesan risotto
• 2009 Twelve Clones Pinot Noir with Morris Ranch Grass-fed beef shank with olives, sun-dried tomato and tarragon tapenade
• 2008 Monterey Syrah with white chocolate parfait and wild huckleberries

Change can be difficult, but for Green Valley Grill and Café Ella, change serves up delicious food and drinks for their customers.

Green Valley Grill: 972 Main St. Mondays through Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9:30 p.m.  Saturdays, 5-9:30 p.m. (831) 728-0644.

Café Ella: 734 East Lake Ave. Hours: Mon—Sat. 6 a.m.—4 p.m. Friday dinner served 5—8 p.m. 831-722-0480. ellakingthe@yahoo.com Catering: 831-638-0338.