I went out with my husband for a date night tonight.I have to say everything was phenomenal from the hostess to our very attentive and sweet waitress. The outdoor patio is so cute and comfortable I could have stayed out there all night. The pomegranate martini was the best drink I have ever had! My husband and I got gnocci and meatloaf and BOTH meals were out of this world. This place sure is a treat! They exceeded our expectations! I want to come back for my birthday. This places checks ALL the boxes! read more

The food was amazing and the ambiance was spectacular. It is pretty pricey but you pay for the quality of the food. I highly recommend this place and you should probably order the white chocolate bomb for dessert! read more

One of the best hidden gems for brunch in Chico! The food is AMAZING, they have an awesome champagne brunch deal ($5 bottomless with meal), and the staff is so friendly and professional. I love spending my Sunday mornings here! My only complaint is I wish they were open for brunch on Saturdays too! read more

I stopped into the Red Tavern while I was on a layover for work and simply put, it was phenomenal! Even better was the service. Linsey was so helpful in helping me and two coworkers get a table! Her kind smile and genuine politeness made for wonderful dinner! 11/10, would recommend! read more

What a delightful and delicious place. I have not completed my review of all the spots in Chico, but from what I can tell, this is most certainly one of the best restaurants in our area. From start to finish, it was all delicious, including the dessert, which resembled bread pudding. It was delightful, and I need to find a reason to return very soon. read more

As a constant traveler, I turn to Yelpsters for guidance in finding good food and, more importantly to me, excellent service. I like to return the favor when possible. I eat dinner out at least 4 times weekly, often more. I think I have a pretty good idea of the differences between OK, "good" and truly exceptional food and service. Believe me when I tell you that The Red Tavern has excellent food and service. Much has already been written about the seasonal menu. To the criticism that the menu is "limited", I would argue that the chef is merely "selective". Seriously, there are any number of places around Chico to find a steak, grilled chicken, or salmon with somebody's signature sauce. If you want a menu as large as Denny's, eat at Denny's. Nothing on The Red Tavern's menu will be found at Appleby's. What you'll find is an innovative menu of superbly prepared dishes that will be creatively presented. Further, the menu pricing is more than fair for the quality of food received. I have never experienced a service problem at the Tavern. My usual server, Lisa, who has served in the Tavern for more than 10 years, could not have been more friendly, witty, and accommodating. She treats me as well as Hemingway at Botin's. Bottom Line: This the best place to dine in Chico. The food is fresh, innovative, artful, and delicious. Service is attentive and swift (Lisa is a gem). In Chico, there's no place I would rather go for dinner, and I don't even play bocce. read more

Hidden gem for those seeking a treasure. Quaint ambiance with a quietly eclectic touch. Service was above and beyond; Zack the bartender took exceptional care of me, including an adventurous drink which I enjoyed trying. The food was beyond phenomenal, superseding the average palette to dimensional echelons of flavor. I would post a pic of the lamb chops I had, but I gobbled the velvety meat fown too quickly. Extremely high quality cuts- forgot to ask where they purchase their meat from. Overall- I was highly impressed by this hidden treasure. I can greatly appreciate a restaurant/bar that doesn't have any implications of a young, loud, rowdy crowd. Happy hour is reasonably priced, unformidable to even the most modest of budgets. So wonderful to actually get what I pay for. read more

I'm going to go with five stars, though in my mind the score is hovering around 4.5 because the service was a little on the slow side. I'm trying to think of a dish at our table that wasn't excellent, and I'm failing. My Alaskan steelhead salmon was perfect, as was TL's flatiron steak. The rest of our group made nice meals of small dishes and were happy as clams. The desserts were very good as well. The space is refined and elegant without being stuffy or pretentious. I went out on the patio and checked out the bocce court -- alas, it's winter and I wasn't able to take Tom's advice and sip a Buddha's Hand (love that stuff -- the only vodka that does it for me) while rolling a game. I imagined my Redding buddy at last year's bocce tournament on this very court, who by all accounts aimed sexually suggestive hip thrusts at his female opponent after taking a point away from her with a clutch roll. Dude......no. You know you're in a university town when the guy at the table next to you is explaining how string theory has made progress on Einstein's unrealized goal of finding a "theory of everything," and why it may always fall short of fully realizing that goal. In Redding, the neighboring conversation is more likely to be about how the guvvyment can't do nothin' right and that's why Sarah Palin should be the next POTUS. read more

My husband and I have been enjoying Red Tavern's delicious food and great hospitality. Loving the take-out during this "shelter at home" time. We look forward to our next Red Tavern treat!! read more

3/12/16 We have been here for brunch and the food and service was amazing. We had dinner here 15 years ago and it was great. Nice to know after all of this time we could have another amazing meal. Hats off to the chef, our server and the rest of the staff. If you're looking for a nice place to have a date or a business dinner don't think twice. 4/10/16 Seven of us show up for brunch right when they open. The resteraunt is completely empty and the hostest is unwilling to put two tables together so we could all eat together. Way to go from 100 to 0 Red Tavern. We ended up at 220 at the Diamond Hotel downtown and had amazing service and a great meal. read more

Three stars may be generous for a restaurant we go to maybe once a year, always hopeful, generally disappointed. I wanted something light. Soup, salad, maybe an appetizer? The one soup on the menu wasn't being served last night. Oh well. The Caesar Salad. My wife and I both felt the dressing was too lemony bright, but otherwise the salad was ok. We were asked whether we wanted more bread, we said "Yes," but none came. My wife enjoyed a plate of Gnudi, a bit of a "pasta" novelty. I found my Albacore tuna very dry, totally overcooked, a rookie kitchen error on a night when the patio area was busy, but the restaurant inside virtually empty. In fairness, the waiter offered to bring me another piece, but service was very slow, I didn't want to wait while watching my wife finish her meal, and I also don't like the idea of throwing food away. While sipping our drinks and waiting for food, I noticed dishes being brought out by servers uncertain where to take them, and one table of three sent a dish back. So. This $100 could have been better spent. Had I bought ingredients with it, we could have feasted at home on better prepared food. That's perhaps the best solution to dining in Chico. read more

Excellent brunch on sundays. Authentic unique and wonderful dishes. Service is outstanding both at table or at the bar. Lovely patio. Kids menu on brunch is amazing. Great date spot read more

This is my go to spot when I'm in Chico. The food is delicious and I love that the menu changes often according to what is in season. It's how you know it's FRESH! I was lucky enough to be a part of their themed night! We made a reservation for Portuguese night. It was all sooooo delicious and the atmosphere is amazing with their live music. Our servers are always more than helpful and the owners are often working side by side with them. Long story short, this place is worth every penny. read more

Red Tavern - New American Near Me - Chico, California

This restaurant is very low-key from the outside. It is nice on the inside. Artwork for sale on the walls. The service is good. The food is very tasty, but not inexpensive. This is not a place I would go on a regular basis, due to the price point, but a place I would return to for a special occasion. I do not mind spending the money because the food was tasty, the service was good and the ambiance is nice. Not stellar ambiance, but nice. read more

Eat before you arrive and plan to eat 2 hours later. The menu was limited and if you want your 6 potato pieces fried in duck fat then you're in luck. I really never leave negative reviews, but the investment of $12 for two over easy eggs and 6 potato pieces was a bit pricey.... had to change the order because they ran out of the special omelet and they did not offer any other options except for the 4 on the limited menu. Oh well. Try, try again! read more

Red Tavern - Just the wall. Here for Brunch and they ran out of the omelet special. Hmmmmmmm.... - New American Near Me - Chico, California

Rude waiters/waitresses. Can think of 10 other fancy pants places that have good service for high prices. Lame place. Don't go. This is the kind of place that will give you a fist full of something on a plate and charge you $30. read more

Just enjoyed a martini and a fillet. Wonderful! I'll be back! Thank you Chris and Rich for forming a great restaurant.

We had Brunch on Sunday. It is a must for all. The food was presented so beautifully and delicious we sat on the patio on a beautiful day. The waitress were the best but the owners made our day by helping to take good care of us. It certainly was a pleasant experience and will be back many times. Thanks again owners read more

This place is amazing. Local, high-quality ingredients with a changing seasonal menu! Best scallops I ever had. Sunday brunch is an amazing deal only $4 for bottomless mimosas & an amazing menu! Pictured: amazing blt & pancakes. read more

Red Tavern - Sunday brunch!! $4 bottomless mimosas w / pancakes & blt! - New American Near Me - Chico, California

After my four years in Chico, I am confident in saying that the Red Tavern is one of my favorite restaurants in this town. It has an intimate atmosphere which is both inviting and eye-pleasing. If you're up for the challenge, there is a boccie ball court found within the outside section which helps set a laid back mood; rarely found in upscale restaurants. At one point, our waitress had to leave work for some reason and ended up transferring our table to the service of another waitress. Upon her arrival, this new face apologized for the wait and offered to comp our wine and desert. Environment: 5 stars Food: 4.2 stars read more

The meals that I've had there for dinner have been great. Their baked chicken with sage is still one that I think about... But I recently went there for brunch and was left a little underwhelmed. My eggs benedict came out cold and didn't have a ton of flavor. I might give them another shot some day since their dinners have always been great, but there's many other breakfast places in town that are much tastier. A glass of wine and bocce on their back patio is a real good time! read more

We recently held our annual holiday dinner for our leaders at The Red Tavern. Rich was amazing to work with as he helped me to create the perfect night for our team. When I arrived everything was ready for us and our server Jess (I hope I remembered her name correctly) was waiting for me and went over all the details so the night would be perfect. The food was outstanding and everyone enjoyed being able to pick from a menu just for us. What a wonderful night! Red Tavern really cared about our experience and took amazing care of us. Thank you Rich and crew for a wonderful night celebrating our team. We truly felt like royalty as we dined with you. If you have not been to Red Tavern I highly recommend that you go. They have a perfect combination of excellent service, peaceful beautiful atmosphere, and excellent creative menu. read more

Favorite dinner place in Chico! Love the food, but the Ginger Peach martini (with fresh ginger) is why I keep going back!! I appreciate how they change up their soups and specials. But the zucchini bisque has to be some of the best soup I have ever had. Love that the couple own the place keeping it more personal. Andrew is always a great server. Always try to eat and shop local. read more

Red Tavern has been our restaurant of choice for special occasion since 2006 when we first moved to Chico. It WAS the closest thing to Bay Area level dining. Tuesday evening, we took our exchange student out to Red Tavern for his farewell dinner. I was surprised and disappointed at the poor service and mediocre food. Even though the restaurant was only about 40% full, our waiter seemed distracted. Many little things were off, but three significant issues compelled me to write this negative review 1. My husband and I specifically requested to change what came with our entrees. After an unusually long wait for the entrees, they arrived without the changes. The server said, "Oh, didn't they (the kitchen) do that?" I was surprised that he hadn't caught and corrected the problem himself. He went to the kitchen, then returned to tell us that it actually had been his mistake, and that the kitchen was working on getting us the grilled asparagus that we had requested. When I was nearly done with my entree, the asparagus arrived, and the server made a joke about how we got to keep eating, rather than apologizing. 2. He had another server try to sell us dessert, and then had this other server drop the check. I couldn't help but think that he didn't want to hear any complaints from us. 3. I was prepared to pay the high prices that Red Tavern charges, because in the past the prices were commensurate with the food quality. This time, the food was mundane, servings were very small, and it seemed like the kitchen didn't quite know what to do with this season's produce. Red Tavern used to be a high-end, destination restaurant where we could go knowing that we would not have to deal with poor service. At this level of dining, a significant mistake like incomplete entrees should have at least warranted an offer of a free dessert. We barely received an apology, and even that was insincere. We wont' be returning. read more

Went again. Absolutely blows my mind how good this place is. Best in Chico by far. If you have a date, take him/her here! I'm telling you, you won't be disappointed. Incredible restaurant. read more

A friend and I came here for dinner and had a great time! The menu changes quite often, which might be tricky to gauge what you're looking for in food. I had the duck and was impressed. Good food, service, and atmosphere. read more

My wife and I have been past this place for months. We had wanted to other places in town for a special occasion and this was the only place where we were able to get in to get a table. We sat on the patio and the service was great. We both chose a special of lambchops, polenta and chard. The food was cooked correctly and was of the right temp. We definitely will be going back. read more

The best experience on the patio. So pleasant, courteous servers, pandemic responsible... Make a reservation, sit on the patio, get a mandarin margarita, negroni, filet mignon and gnocchi and it will not disappoint! read more

I can't say enough good things about Red Tavern. Although I've never had a bad meal there and the service has always been spot-on, nothing has matched the outstanding experience we had there this past weekend. We were a party of 45 (that's right, forty-five), there to celebrate my mom's 90th birthday. As a one-time San Francisco fine dining restaurateur who's managed many a large event, I was the pointman for the party and, from the first phone call to the last sweep for forgotten purses, camera, etc., the experience couldn't have been more professional and, for me, carefree. Not only did the kitchen put forth a great meal focusing on the freshest, seasonal ingredients, but Liz and her waitstaff, from bussers to servers, defined caring professionalism with their attentive, solicitous service. Rich, the owner/manager was the perfect host. We worked via phone calls and emails for more than a month setting up the shindig and he couldn't have been more responsive, concerned, and helpful (I know what an event like this requires and Rich scored top grades on all elements). He helped us put together a two-course, three-entree dinner (a salmon, a chicken, and a vegetarian pasta) with a thoughtful selection of eight different wines and three different craft beers (well, it *is* Chico). We had a dessert option but opted to bring in our own birthday cake as dear ol' Mom has a passionate affinity for carrot cake and strawberries. I had the perfectly seared salmon filet but was able to taste the other options and know I wouldn't have been disappointed with either. The staff treated us like we were the most important people in their lives that night. From the second I walked through the door, I no longer felt like I was hosting a party, the crew stepped up and made sure I knew I too was a guest. At no point did I feel like the party was ever out of their control and I heard nary a word of criticism from any of my mom's 45 friends and family members. They were never hovering but always seemed to be there when we needed something. And always with a friendly smile and caring attitude. While the party was mostly adults, the couple of youngsters in the group were well-provided for and never seemed out of place. I want to thank Rich, Liz and everyone else at Red Tavern for making Mom's 90th such a wonderful experience. Having grown up in Chico and remembering the bad old days when the concept there of fine dining included a salad bar and cruise ship-quality food, Red Tavern far exceeds even my wildest dreams of a Chico dining renaissance. read more

I may upgrade to 5 stars when I go back. To preface my review, I had been here years ago. It was one of the biggest disappointments in town by price and portions. My folks came to town around Christmas and everyone was booked. So I reluctantly went back. The restaurant has completely changed. While expensive, the staff were tremendous and the food was delicious. Portions were very generous. Afterwards, I found out that ownership changed a few years back. I will be back and if everything stays as it was a couple of months ago, I will gladly give it the extra star. Update - I went back with my parents and upgraded from 4 stars to 5 stars. The meal was still pricey but the atmosphere and service was tremendous. I was not the biggest fan of my main course but it was described perfectly and it just wasn't as good as my wife and parents' meals. We stayed longer than average and were no rushed to leave. I would definitely ask questions about the menu because the staff do a great job of describing what you are getting. read more

I lived right around the corner from this place for 7 years. After that, I still frequented the Esplanade and downtown for another 11 years. I left to go to college and finally 6 years later I have dinner with the family here while visiting for Christmas. This is definitely "old Chico" which is what i loved the most about it. My parents always run into people they know here which is another reason why I miss and love Chico so much. I ordered the swordfish which was A-MAZING. The service was a little slow at first but then got rolling and was very helpful as well. Excellent food! Excellent service! read more

This is a restaurant that I and my husband have traveled passed many times on our visits to Chico. My son who as well travels by this place and always thought it must be a pub/ small plate bistro. Boy we we wrong!! The restaurant is a top notch cloth covered tables, full fledged restaurant with a choice of outdoor seating. The hostess was warm and inviting. The restaurant walls are decked with the most awesome, creative paintings from local artists. (which I think is fantastic!) Once we were seated our waitress was prompt, friendly and gave us all the restaurant specials du jour. We were there to celebrate my sons birthday so we wanted a different dining experience. They have a great wine menu and classic cocktail menu. My husband and I choice a delightful watermelon vodka drink. I wish I remembered the name , but trust me is was yummy. We shared with my son a full bodied French red wine blend about $64.00 well worth the cost. Scrumptious with a Cabernet forward taste. We chose the potted crab as an appetizer... mmmm, so good!!! We next had lovely house salads with a most incredible Green Goddess dressing... sinfully good. My husband and I had the dinner special which was a prime New York Strip Steak with fingerling potatoes and fresh asparagus. The steaks had a rice herb butter pat which melted and made it even more tasty if you can imagine. My son ordered the seafood pasta which he said was so yummy. We had to try dessert. Each of us had something different and we were all so happy. We are pleased to have dined here. We will most definitely return.. trust this is a hidden jewel. read more

Funny. On February 15, I posted a 2-star review of this restaurant based largely on the gross lack of professionalism I experienced while enjoying a bottle of wine at the bar on Valentine's day. As is usually the case when I post a negative review (which is not often) I follow up on the site a few days later to see if others have experienced the same, and to see if management cared enough to respond. To my shock -- Red Tavern Management had deleted my review as though it never happened. Ladies and gentlemen: When used properly, Yelp can be a very effective tool to let a business know if it is on or off track. When customers speak honestly and intelligently in detailing their experience (as I had) it gives management an opportunity to identify and improve shortcomings in daily operations. If the management CARES about their business -- it affords them the opportunity to reach out to negative reviewers to dig deeper on issues, as well as solicit a chance to invite the customer back and "make it right." That Red Tavern did precisely the OPPOSITE by deleting my review and neglecting to contact me IS A HUGE WARNING SIGN that the "new ownership" of this restaurant is not concerned with making people (customers) happy -- they are only concerned with "looking good" on Yelp. Don't believe me? Let's see how long this "4-star review" stays on the site. To Red Tavern: You have a huge potential in a town like Chico which is very limited in its fine dining options. If you are serious about realizing this potential, you would address negative reviews with the same zeal that you pat yourselves on the back with positive ones. You can never grow if you only listen to those who tell you you're great all the time. If you're not serious -- as I suspect you are not -- go ahead and delete this review as you did my last and I will make sure that everyone I know in Chico thinks twice before entering your establishment. read more

I went to the red tavern this past Friday and we had a large group, probably about 35 to 40 people. We had four courses for all of us, appetizers, a salad, an entree, and dessert. All of which were delightful! The service was wonderful and they even stayed open late for us! The owner organized the event with us and made it as painless as possible! The outside patio where we sat, was a very pleasant setting with lighted lanterns, candles and a bocce ball quart. I will definitely go back for dinner or if I have an event to plan! It was an overall amazing experience. read more

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My disappointment is immeasurable and my day was ruined. My bf and I came here for valentines day and had arguably the worst experience we've ever had at an establishment of this caliber. The staff was cordial enough (though I do feel like a few of the staff members had an air of pretentiousness towards us), but the food itself (the most important thing) was subpar at best and inedible at worst. The creme brulee was the texture of a scrambled egg, the steak had no seasoning and was undercooked, the sponge "cake" (if it could be called that) was the texture of a well used, dehydrated, kitchen sponge (nearly inedible). I've had moister saltines. Small portions as well. On top of that, they tried to charge us for the dessert (dessert that was included in the exorbitantly priced $68 a plate three course meal) until we pointed it out and asked someone to change it. $170 out the door to leave hungry + airplane food quality cuisine. Save your money and time, go elsewhere. read more

This dinner was a mixed bag... service was fairly spotty and the food was good and eh at the same time. The price at the end of the night did not match the quality of service or the food. I was lucky our waiter opened the bottle of wine that I brought (which was awesome), but that was the end of that... never refilling our glasses and a different waitress insured our waters were full. When I perused the menu, a lot of intriguing choices jumped out at me. I finally went with the carrot and ginger soup and the smoked strip steak with brussel sprout hash and duck fat potatoes; sounded great. Initially, I was totally impressed with the chef that combined all of these things. The soup was great, a nice root veggie with an intense kick from the strips of ginger... then the entree arrived: the brussel sprout hash was superb and the potatoes rocked... but the steak... I ordered it medium and it was cooked very inconsistently. Some sections of steak were raw and chewy and other parts were medium well and tender. Quite the problem. The smoked steak was packed with flavor but the raw chewy parts made me wonder why I was paying so much for this entree. I felt as if more care went into the potatoes and brussel sprouts than the steak. Frankly, I think my entree was around $28; I have had better quality food elsewhere for less. Blondie's pork chop, which I tasted, was great... but not trimmed. Half of her pork chop was inedible fat. Yes, I get it that fat can be great when cooking meat, but this was different... as if someone didn't do their job of proper butchering. When it was over, I was done... paid my bill and wouldn't have had dessert if it was free. Bar has been lowered for RT with a doubtful return. read more

The Red Tavern is a favorite place for my parents to go for their birthdays and I am lucky enough to join them on such special occasions. Each time I have come here and some times it has been within a matter of weeks, the menu is a bit different. They have delicious food and the wine is amazing. I must say that although i do enjoy dining with my parents to this decadent place, the food, although delicious, could be better for the price you pay. However if there is duck - go for it because last time it was there, i indulged and enjoyed :] Oh and if you like Bocci ball - they have a court Enjoy :] read more

Despite what Yelp thinks, we live in Magalia, not Sacramento. We were taken to tables outside, which was a good call. It was quiet. There were heaters, but we had much appreciated fresh air. But then... We ordered the three course meal. The soup was not even room temperature. I'm sure the health department would love that. It took two requests to get a bowl of hot soup. Where was the bread? Then the meals arrived. My steak was excellent . It only took two requests to get a steak knife. The pork chop was not pork with some fat; it was fat with some pork. Then dessert. We ordered the same thing. One dessert arrived. If it was a double (since we ordered the same thing), then the portion was skimpy. Or, if it was a single, then we were short one dessert. We were fortunate, though, in being seated before had a chance to put one of those really low class paper table cloths on the table. So, a 90 minute round trip drive for what should have been an enjoyable experience was downgraded due to careless food preparation and mediocre service. The server was nice and friendly. We would prefer professional and attentive. We won't be going back. read more

Rich and Chris, the owners, thoroughly enjoyed presenting the dinner and wine tasting event we came to with another couple. The meal and the personal service exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend this restaurant and if you can go when they have an event, all the better. read more

Just had dinner with some great friends. Awesome job RT!!! This was a birthday party for my friend. The services was good and the food, Rib Eye, was outstanding. You worked with my wife in planning a great night night for the B-Day girl. read more

Red Tavern - Had a small birthday party for a dear friend. The meals were all great and the service was awesome!! - New American Near Me - Chico, California

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