Wine Cellar re-opens with old favorites and new specialties
By Suzanne Cristallo
The Wine Cellar in Los Gatos' Old Town is open at last.
Locals have watched the renovation and grand openings of neighboring businesses but could see only closed doors and leaves collecting in the stairwell of the basement restaurant beneath Borders Books. But, inside, progress was being made. After four years of permits and patience, the Hauck family happily opened their doors on April 12.
They welcomed many old patrons among the throngs, who were delighted to find some favorite items on the new menu and the intimate atmosphere they remembered. Wood carvings of grapes and leaves made by a local artist in the 1970s have been carefully stored through the years, and now are being stripped and sanded for installation, once again, above the arched doorways.
"People were so gracious and supportive," relates Lisa Hauck, who, with father Larry, sister Julie and brother Steve, maintained a small office in the complex during reconstruction, where they kept their fax, telephones and desks for poring over plans. They kept local media informed of their progress with occasional press releases "which we found out were very optimistic," she says with a smile. "It's been difficult, but the owners (Federal Realty Investment Trust of Maryland) have been very responsive. Probably 99 percent of the design is ours."
The floor plan is the same as in the old restaurant, which the Haucks operated for seven years. What took so long to get going again? "We didn't get started [on construction] until two years after we closed," she says. In part, the owners were concentrating on promises to other tenants, and many problems came from the space itself--a basement requiring lots of structural work. In addition, new fire codes and requirements for the disabled had to be accommodated.
The result is 3,200 square feet of candlelit booths, wood-paneled walls, arched doorways, stone masonry and wrought iron. A new dimension is the full-service bar, which offers specialty drinks, such as the key lime pie martini, the wine cellar margarita and a cellar punch of Bacardi limon, amaretto and cranberry juice.
New and returning customers will be pleased to find several specialty items still on the menu: Swiss and Gruyere cheeses fondue, cheddar and ale fondue, cranberry chicken salad, French onion soup, tortellini and cranberry chicken.
Chef Gary Kjolhaug, who also cooks at Something Special Caterers, has collaborated with sous chef Lorenzo Mojica to create the menu, which includes grilled steaks, pork loin, four pasta dishes, three grilled pizzas and several large luncheon salads and vegetarian dishes. A la carte entrees run from $11 to $20. An extensive wine list, put together by Julie Hauck, includes local wines along with selections from Australia, Spain, Argentina, Italy and Portugal.
Outdoor seating on the patio above the eatery's entrance is coming soon, making a total of 100 seats available to customers. "We just hired two new servers, and being fit was one of the job requirements," Lisa said, referring to the long flight of steps to the patio. Live music is planned for after 10 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. "That's when we find people are looking for a little night life in a place where they can hear each other speak."
The Wine Cellar, 50 University Ave., Los Gatos. Open for lunch daily at 11:30 a.m.; dinner served until 10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. and until 11 p.m. Fri. and Sat. 408.354.4808.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
