Steve
11-05-2005, 03:01 PM
Sierra Gold 'ultratavern' latest to aim for upscale atmosphere, food.
By Ken White
Over the past 10 years, local taverns have attempted to outdo each other with better food and more upscale decor.
Continuing that trend is Golden Tavern Group's Sierra Gold, a new "ultratavern" at 6515 S. Jones Blvd., near I-215.
"As soon as you pull the door open, it's a totally unique experience," says general manager Rusty Oakes.
One of the decor's centerpieces is the VIP lounge -- complete with three TVs, chairs and sofas -- that can be curtained off for privacy.
Off to the side is a pool room with leather chairs and full-scale pool tables.
A large, 30-seat bar takes up the center of the room, with a dining area surrounding it that can seat 90 people.
Sierra Gold also has a second level with a banquet room with its own bar, video drop screen, sound system and six TVs. There's also a dance floor and it can accommodate live music. It seats 96 for dinner and can be expanded to 130 in a classroom-style seating arrangement. It holds approximately 200 for a live music event.
Nearby is a separate conference room with Internet access, flat-screen TV and conference call capabilities. It seats 12 but can hold as many as 14.
An elevator and stairs provide access to the second level.
For an added decor touch are black-and-white photos taken on the set of the John Huston film "The Misfits" by famed photographer Elliott Erwitt. Among them are classic shots of the film's stars, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift.
The menu, created by executive chef Vincent Martano and corporate executive chef Joe Romano, offers some of the items customers would expect to find in a tavern -- chicken wings, hamburgers, nachos, quesadillas -- plus some unusual ones, too.
Open 24 hours daily, Sierra Gold also offers breakfast items and a 160-bottle wine list. A wine sommelier and mixologist are on staff.
Starters: Flaming Hot Cheetos onion rings ($7.99); Asian-style ribs with a sweet and spicy sauce ($8.99); pan-fried potstickers with Asian slaw, soy and chili sauce ($7.99); Joey's BBQ shrimp with blue cheese slaw ($10.99); Cajun-style seared ahi with Asian slaw, cucumber salad and wasabi cream ($10.99); calamari and shrimp fry with banana peppers and sweet spicy dipping sauce ($10.99); and fillet satay with glass noodles and Thai peanut sauce ($10.99).
Soups and salads: Soup bowl with chicken broth, carrots, rice, tomatoes, red peppers, cilantro, meatballs and spinach ($4.99); clam chowder ($5.99); chili served in a bread bowl with onions, sour cream, cheddar and pepper Jack cheese ($7.99); grilled New York steak salad ($12.99); Cajun ahi salad ($12.99); barbecue chicken salad ($9.99); and arugula and pear salad ($9.99).
Entrees: Oven-roasted brick chicken rubbed in rosemary salt ($14.99); double cut pork chops ($14.99); 8-ounce Buffalo-style filet mignon ($24.99); 12-ounce New York strip steak ($20.99); sausage pasta with Italian sausage, chorizo, linguicia, rigatoni, roasted peppers, broccoli, herbs and Parmesan ($12.99); and sesame-crusted tuna block, pan-seared rare, served with seaweed salad and spiced dipping sauce ($14.99).
Entrees are served from 4 to midnight.
Extras: Seared ahi sandwich with Cajun spices, arugula, pickled ginger and wasabi aioli ($11.99); barbecue pulled pork sandwich ($8.99); popcorn shrimp po' boy ($8.99); grilled vegetable panini with roasted tomato pesto and mozzarella cheese ($8.99); and grilled chicken and pesto panini with arugula and Parmesan ($9.99).
Thin-crust pizzas, in 11-inch and 15-inch sizes, come in such varieties as three cheese, garden vegetable, Italian, white clam, Hawaiian, roasted pepper and artichoke, prosciutto and broccoli ($10.99-$18.99).
Desserts: Sierra Gold Zookie, a cookie baked in a skillet and served with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce, in a choice of chocolate chip or macadamia nut ($5.99); warm-centered chocolate lava cake with ice cream and chocolate sauce ($6.99); and apple cobbler with ice cream ($6.99).
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Aug-31-Wed-2005/living/3073904.html
By Ken White
Over the past 10 years, local taverns have attempted to outdo each other with better food and more upscale decor.
Continuing that trend is Golden Tavern Group's Sierra Gold, a new "ultratavern" at 6515 S. Jones Blvd., near I-215.
"As soon as you pull the door open, it's a totally unique experience," says general manager Rusty Oakes.
One of the decor's centerpieces is the VIP lounge -- complete with three TVs, chairs and sofas -- that can be curtained off for privacy.
Off to the side is a pool room with leather chairs and full-scale pool tables.
A large, 30-seat bar takes up the center of the room, with a dining area surrounding it that can seat 90 people.
Sierra Gold also has a second level with a banquet room with its own bar, video drop screen, sound system and six TVs. There's also a dance floor and it can accommodate live music. It seats 96 for dinner and can be expanded to 130 in a classroom-style seating arrangement. It holds approximately 200 for a live music event.
Nearby is a separate conference room with Internet access, flat-screen TV and conference call capabilities. It seats 12 but can hold as many as 14.
An elevator and stairs provide access to the second level.
For an added decor touch are black-and-white photos taken on the set of the John Huston film "The Misfits" by famed photographer Elliott Erwitt. Among them are classic shots of the film's stars, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift.
The menu, created by executive chef Vincent Martano and corporate executive chef Joe Romano, offers some of the items customers would expect to find in a tavern -- chicken wings, hamburgers, nachos, quesadillas -- plus some unusual ones, too.
Open 24 hours daily, Sierra Gold also offers breakfast items and a 160-bottle wine list. A wine sommelier and mixologist are on staff.
Starters: Flaming Hot Cheetos onion rings ($7.99); Asian-style ribs with a sweet and spicy sauce ($8.99); pan-fried potstickers with Asian slaw, soy and chili sauce ($7.99); Joey's BBQ shrimp with blue cheese slaw ($10.99); Cajun-style seared ahi with Asian slaw, cucumber salad and wasabi cream ($10.99); calamari and shrimp fry with banana peppers and sweet spicy dipping sauce ($10.99); and fillet satay with glass noodles and Thai peanut sauce ($10.99).
Soups and salads: Soup bowl with chicken broth, carrots, rice, tomatoes, red peppers, cilantro, meatballs and spinach ($4.99); clam chowder ($5.99); chili served in a bread bowl with onions, sour cream, cheddar and pepper Jack cheese ($7.99); grilled New York steak salad ($12.99); Cajun ahi salad ($12.99); barbecue chicken salad ($9.99); and arugula and pear salad ($9.99).
Entrees: Oven-roasted brick chicken rubbed in rosemary salt ($14.99); double cut pork chops ($14.99); 8-ounce Buffalo-style filet mignon ($24.99); 12-ounce New York strip steak ($20.99); sausage pasta with Italian sausage, chorizo, linguicia, rigatoni, roasted peppers, broccoli, herbs and Parmesan ($12.99); and sesame-crusted tuna block, pan-seared rare, served with seaweed salad and spiced dipping sauce ($14.99).
Entrees are served from 4 to midnight.
Extras: Seared ahi sandwich with Cajun spices, arugula, pickled ginger and wasabi aioli ($11.99); barbecue pulled pork sandwich ($8.99); popcorn shrimp po' boy ($8.99); grilled vegetable panini with roasted tomato pesto and mozzarella cheese ($8.99); and grilled chicken and pesto panini with arugula and Parmesan ($9.99).
Thin-crust pizzas, in 11-inch and 15-inch sizes, come in such varieties as three cheese, garden vegetable, Italian, white clam, Hawaiian, roasted pepper and artichoke, prosciutto and broccoli ($10.99-$18.99).
Desserts: Sierra Gold Zookie, a cookie baked in a skillet and served with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce, in a choice of chocolate chip or macadamia nut ($5.99); warm-centered chocolate lava cake with ice cream and chocolate sauce ($6.99); and apple cobbler with ice cream ($6.99).
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Aug-31-Wed-2005/living/3073904.html