Saratoga News

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Susan Contino, director of sales for the Toll House, relaxes with a glass
of wine in the restaurant's new lounge.

Early birds check out Toll House's new look

By Anne Gelhaus

Renovations to the restaurant at the Toll House Hotel were recently completed, and management is offering "early bird" dinners to entice people to come see the changes.

Served daily from 5-7:30 p.m., the dinners are all priced at $8.95 and feature items from the regular menu at the Clock Tower Bar and Grill, formerly Le Restaurant. Early-bird entrées include leg of lamb, chicken breast teriyaki and, on the weekends, prime rib. General manager Dan Ponder says these dinners and the buffet Sunday brunch are the revamped restaurant's two biggest draws.

Ponder says both the restaurant's decor and menu changed along with its name.

"The whole idea of the renovation was to make the bar and restaurant more comfortable and to do a specialized menu," he adds. "We've achieved what we wanted to in that our business has picked up considerably."

The bar that serves as a gateway to the restaurant has been restyled into a lounge, with plush sofas and armchairs rather than bar stools, and a big-screen television and compact-disc player rather than live entertainment. A mantel and bookshelves have been built around the bar's fireplace to give it a more elegant look.

"It's become more inviting to the people who stay here," says Susan Contino, the hotel's director of sales. "A lot of guests are staying here for dinner now."

As part of the renovations, Ponder asked chef Jeff Lippold what he needed to run a first-class operation. The result was entirely new kitchen equipment, on which Lippold prepares his all-new menu. Appetizers include baked brie, a roast-garlic plate and a pâté of the day. Chef's specials, which change at least once a month, include dishes like baked seafood penne dijon served with tomatoes, mushrooms and corn.

The wine list features Santa Cruz Mountains vintages, and several microbrewed beers are on tap. Happy hour at the bar is Mon.-Fri., 5-6:30 p.m., and features free hors d'oeuvres.

Clock Tower Bar and Grill, 140 S. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos. Hours: Sun.-Thu., 5-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 5-10 p.m.; Sunday brunch, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 395-7070.