The Overland Bar in Redlands is one of the best spots in Southern California's Inland Empire to…read moreenjoy delicious food, perfectly prepared cocktails, and mood music played live on vinyl in a beautiful setting. It's a perfect place for a date or a night out with friends or family. The focal point of the main dining room is the bar, which faces the restaurant's entrance. Meticulously designed with a nostalgic feel, the bar features blonde wood shelves holding hundreds of vinyl records, carefully curated design objects, and a DJ booth neatly tucked into a corner next to the bar. The beer taps are elegantly minimalist, and every detail in the bar--for example, the old-fashioned glass syrup bottles--seems planned to give a nod to history (specifically the late 19th century, when Redlands was founded).
The main dining room offers plenty of comfortable seating choices, including a long bar along the center of the room. The patio is spacious and well kept. All of the spaces inside and out have music piped in from the bar. There are two restrooms just off the patio, and these are well-maintained. On busy nights, patrons can enjoy a drink in a standing bar area just off the patio.
I love that the Overland provides a choice of setting depending on the kind of night you're planning. A romantic date? Get a reservation to sit inside, and it feels intimate. Just hanging out? The bar is fun as the mixologists make excellent drinks and friendly conversation. Sitting at the bar after 7 PM, you can watch the DJs spin the platters. If you have a larger group or just like to eat alfresco, the patio is perfect.
The menu offers a really nice variety of drinks, including the pricier craft cocktails, more classic, moderately priced beverages, nonalcoholic drinks, and all sorts of beer and wine. The food menu is solid, with plenty of appetizers, salads, entrées, and a dessert. The real star is the tacos! These are very moderately priced at seven dollars apiece, and all three varieties are delicious! There is a potato taco, a beef taco, and pork chili Verde taco. I highly recommend these! The green salsa they provide is extremely mild, but they do have a variety of hot sauces on hand. It's worth mentioning that even a humble plate of tacos is served on nice ceramic dishes, along with good flatware and napkins.The espresso martini cheesecake is creamy and delicious, and the portion is really generous.
The staff seem to enjoy working at the Overland. The servers work hard to make sure your order is to your liking, and food comes out pretty fast. There's a good sense of teamwork among them. The staff is also accommodating about seating or any special requests. We've been there on a busy Friday night, and on a Sunday evening and late night. The Overland is always at least moderately busy, so reservations are strongly recommended. The city of Redlands should be very proud of this establishment. Go and have fun!