Wow totally impressed with this restaurant. If you want superb service and exquisite cuisine then the Red Tavern is your go to dining experience . Ashley was the best server ever! Will definitely be back! read more

At this age and time, I shouldn't feel uncomfortable at any establishment. We understand that their customers are majority Caucasians but I'm the type that does not worry about that because if I love the food, I want to be able to go to the restaurant and enjoy my food. However, last night was the least comfortable experience at Red Tavern for us. First, customer shut the door on us while we we're about to walked in. The hostess told us to wait cu she's unsure if our table is ready, but she took the couple right away to their table without checking theirs as well. She asked and talked to the couple that shut the door on cus but no conversation but I felt this doesn't matter at the time. The place was packed so were the only non Caucasians there. I felt comfortable until we started noticing that no one came to our table for what feels like 10 mins or longer. Then he left and we waited again for him to come back to tell us the dishes that we wanted is "sold out" and that they didn't have make any soup. The sold out part I understand and don't at the same time. We didn't see people ordering that dish much which made us confused to why it's sold out. The previous time we went there it was a later time but we were able to ordered it. As for the soup, the table next to us ordered soup and we heard him said, "Here's your soup sir." That's why I asked him about their soup but he said they didn't make any. I thought I heard him wrong when he brought out the next table's food but my husband said he heard him said soup too. Since non of the stuff we wanted was out, I felt that we should've left at this point service was bad a different customer was giving my husband a funny look (like a confused and questioning why we're there look). I mean just because we're not Caucasians it doesn't mean we can't afford to be there. So anyways an he later we finally got out food and mine seems like it was rushed and burnt a little. My husband said he felt that his ribs had something pointy, like toothpicks, in the middle of the braised ribs so he couldn't enjoy it. After this experience we're not going back. We did not feel welcomed then given different information than other customers and their customers' reaction to us being there made it not worth going back for. If we know that we cannot afford this place, we won't be there or to any "high end" restaurants in Chico. It doesn't seem like a bad experience but for us it was. It's hard to understand the emotions and uncomfortable feelings that we went through unless you experience it yourself. read more

Their food and atmosphere is very high end with prices to match, but a investment in the gift cards you can buy at Costco 20% off is yours to use anytime I was a big fan of the Sunday Brunch on their beautiful patio with local musicians, unfortunately I think Covid might have been a contributing factor to its discontinuation (I'm thinking staffing issues as with other local restaurants that either had to close or cut back hour, even though they were very popular prior to Covid) this still doesn't take away from all their other meal options of superbly creative food with a gourmet flavor profile! My servers have been extremely knowledgeable about the food served and its ingredients (I have major food allergies and a latex allergy so I need to know things like did the prep chef cut themselves and need to wear a finger cot,since as far as I know they still haven't made a Nitrile or vinyl one, I have had anaphylaxis from a salad the food prep cook at a different restaurant wore so I ask this of my servers to save my life and not all are as kind about getting this information as the servers at The Red Tavern have been and all know allergies possible cross contamination. read more

My husband and I drove had our anniversary dinner here tonight and it was 10/10! Food, ambience, service was all amazing We're so happy we tried it out! Worth every penny. read more

Red Tavern - Tavern Caesar Salad , Frites , a pomegranate + ginger cocktail - New American Near Me - Chico, California

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Sat on the outdoor patio and had the best evening since I've moved back to Nor Cal. Chris (the new owner) was the server, she was a total doll and made some terrific recommendations. Away I went with ordering some of the deliciousness she advised. I inquired about a Riesling or Gewurztraminer, she brought out a sample of both and WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!! I decided on the Riesling (had 2 glasses, mmmm good). The appetizer ordered was the pan roasted artichoke with soy sauce aioli, it wasn't anything to write home about, a bit bland and super oily. However, it went well with the wine so I didn't complain :) The main dishes ordered were originally going to be the chicken enchilada's (which they ended up being out of, waaaaaaaaa!!!) Instead, I ordered the pan roasted chicken breast with creamy polenta an artichoke caponata (minus the capers, why? Because capers are GRODY) as well as the chicken skewers which were quite tasty. *See photos* Finally, the absolute BEST part of the evening...? The dessert. OH MY.GAWWWWD. I could have eaten 10 but chose to be a lady and only have a few bites.... the rhubarb mini pie with home made strawberry ice cream plopped on top.... #DIVINE. I've never known of (or really heard of rhubarb) anything much less a rhubarb dessert. I'm SO GLAD I tried something new, this dessert blew the roof off and now, I'm addicted. To compliment the outstanding pie, a port was also sent to the table, which was just as delicious! I'm pretty sure I'll be visiting Red Tavern just for dessert and wine, my new fav place on the Esplanade for sweets, awesome service and of course the magical little outdoor patio under the stars. I'm a fan! read more

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Excellent in all respects! Serious drinks, good food, and fine service. Chris and Rich have brought this place back from the slide under the previous owners. read more

#fatjared say...when you are able to order over half the menu options, and EVERYTHING is good, you know you found a winner!! I LOVE TRYING EVERYTHING!! I went here with 2 people I work with, and we all had $50 gift cards, so needless to say we went WILD! The cool thing about this place is they have a seasonal rotating menu! Some things are constant, but a lot of it changes based on seasons! My menu photos will show you descriptions of what we ordered! They are foodies like me so we decided ro try it all and share! The first course was the cheese plate and charcuterie! The smoked salmon on the charcuterie board was my favorite. The brie was super creamy, and coupled with the meat on some crackers or bread is amazing! The berry puree was added sweetness, and honey makes everything better! Next came fresh warm focaccia bread. The butter was amazing! Then came the meal, which was comprised of all apps and bites! A special was this butternut squash, which as you can see from my pic, has amazing presentation like everything. Talk about balanced though! The tomato sauce hits you first, then the great flavor of butternut squash, and the mint and cinnamon yogurt on top are great balancers, with a hint of spice from some coriander in the sauce at the end. MAN it was awesome! The beef cheeks were a bit gamy, and almost had a seafoodish taste, but SO tender! Best thing on the table though were the figs! Sweetness from the figs with some honey and a very bold goat cheese to go with it plus crunch from the crostini...UNREAL! I would venture to say nothing on this menu would be disappointing! Service was great, atmosphere was awesome, nice a quiet, friendly, everything you want in a restaurant! Nothing even came close to a complaint! Well done Res Tavern! read more

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Wow! We were so happy and impressed with our first experience at Red Tavern we can not wait to go back. The service was awesome from the moment we walked in to the second we left everyone we encountered was great. Our waitress Chis was amazing kind, fast, and genuine. Even with a mask on I could tell she had a smile the whole time. We sat outside which was not a problem at all as they have a heater for each outside table. My boyfriend had the filet mignon which was cooked perfect! I had the potato gnocchi, I can not recommend this any more, soo good. You will not be disappointed with dinner at The Red Tavern beyond amazing read more

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First word that comes to mind is pretentious. The median household income for Chico, CA is reported at $42,334. Having a menu that underperforms for the price charged in a small town is purely taking advantage of those visitors unaware. This is not SF. Two very small pieces of meatloaf for $28.00 or chicken for $26.00 which sadly was not cooked completely ensured we would not be repeat customers. White tablecloths and excessive pricing do not necessitate fine dining, especially when sitting on a bocce ball field. I will say our waiter was superb. He is commended on his attention and food descriptions. read more

Look. I don't know what to tell you. I've eaten all around Northern California on business and when my girlfriend and I went to Red Tavern we were blown away by the presentation and uniquely amazed by the taste. This is my first review, I got a yelp account for this and only this review. The patio is gorgeous, I highly recommend reserving a spot out there. We started with the Frites and Brussel Sprouts, the Frites were excellent, but the vinaigrette on the Sprouts was the part that really stuck out, I just couldn't get enough. I had the Meatloaf and my girlfriend the Filet Mignon, the best part of the Meatloaf dish was BY FAR the green beans and potatoes, not to say the Meatloaf was bad, it was incredible. I had just never had green beans so good. Anyways, I ended up eating my girlfriends Filet Mignon as well, not because it didn't taste good to her but because the portion was genuinely perfect for the price, she said it was the best cut of meat she's ever eaten (not a huge meat eater), she just couldn't finish it so I had to step in (not complaining). The owner comes over to check on us and wow what a great guy! Happy to be there and happy to help with anything wrong (there wasn't). I did not get the name of our hostess but she was spectacular, we got there right before the evening crowd and she had us feeling like royalty! I've never heard of requesting a hostess but I will next time I'm there! Overall, a tremendous experience and I plan on dining there consistently, if they would have me of course! read more

My partner has many dietary restrictions and Red Tavern has some great vegan options! The cocktails are rotating and great, I personally get the meatloaf every time. read more

Despite a quality (if not overpriced) meal, our experience dining here was ruined by the fact that we were "reprimanded" twice for reasons I felt were petty and unjustified. Once for taking a fan from a vacant table to help keep the many flies away from our food so we could better enjoy our very expensive meal. The hostess informed us that they generally don't allow patrons to move the fans. I explained the fly situation and she told us it wasn't fair to take a fan from a table with a reservation, despite the fact that we were actively eating and the other table remained empty. She said they had some kind of a fly deterrent she could place on our table, however we received nothing of the sort. A second time because my daughter put on her roller blades in preparation for our walk back home AFTER we had submitted our payment and were waiting for our card to be returned. I explained to our server that we were about to leave through the back gate on the patio but he said the owner requested she put her shoes back on to walk to the gate (literally about 20 ft from our table). While I can appreciate a fine dining establishment not wanting a 10 year old child roller blading around their restaurant, we were about to exit the restaurant promptly and she would be going directly from our patio table to the back gate...a 15 second venture at most. I felt that they were "watching" us astutely...not to ensure that we were enjoying our meal or in need of anything, but to make sure we weren't breaking any "rules". Sadly it seems irrelevant how the food tasted because the way we were treated left a bad enough taste in my mouth that I don't plan to return. read more

This is the best place in Chico, hands down. The food, no matter what you get is amazing and the wait staff lovely. It's romantic inside and even more so outside. It is bed to make a reservation but the bar area if you don't have one works too. If you are in Chico, this is the place to try! read more

We have enjoyed the food and the outdoor patio here in the past. Unfortunately, we won't be returning due to our experience this evening. We made a reservation over a week ago for 6 (noting that there would potentially be 7) on the patio. When we arrived, we were told "it's prom weekend" and we would be seated inside. We were told that messages were left to let us know of their decision to prioritize the prom go-ers rather than the Mother's Day crowd, which is what we planned to celebrate. I received no messages or would have cancelled the reservation as we do not enjoy dining there indoors. The owner was rude when the waitress let her know we would need another chair as the indoor table was set for 6. This prompted us to leave as the entire situation and lack of professionalism in managing tainted the celebration. read more

Excellent brunch on the patio! Chicken and waffles is amazing. Best I have had. The music is the best relaxing vibe, and bottomless mimosas for 6$ you can't beat. Great service. Great atmosphere. read more

Red Tavern - Filet hash (just okay) and chicken and waffles (excellent!) - New American Near Me - Chico, California

Great little restaurant in Chico. Prices are in line with the quality of food, so you definitely get what you paid for.

We went to Red Tavern early on Valentines Day. We sat at the bar for sparkling wine and appetizers. We ordered Brussel sprouts, oysters & pulpo (octopus). Each of the dishes were outstanding. The octopus reminded me of how it's prepared at some restaurants in Spain. The service was both professional and timely. I applaud Red Tavern for having Scharffenberger bubbles on the menu. It's a excellent wine for a fair price. While our favorite server was not working that night, we will most definitely return. read more

Quite possibly the best food in Chico. Patio is lovely during good weather and inside is more quiet then most restaurants which is good for ppl that are hard of hearing. read more

Nice but it needs a piano. They're not many places and she could go listen to piano music and it's always nice to listen to a good piano player so it would be nice if this restaurant had a piano and a piano player. read more

A lovely, quiet atmosphere to enjoy every, single delicious morsel. Our birthday party of four enjoyed excellent cocktails and the Alsatian Tartar Flambé in a relaxed atmosphere. We then ordered entrees, the Lobster and Shrimp Pasta, the Atlantic Salmon, the Grilled Petite Fillet Mignon, and the Mushroom Pasta (added chicken). We also ordered the roasted beet and burratta salad to share, and a couple of delicious glasses of wine. The birthdays girl chose the lava cake for her complimentary birthday dessert. I cannot stress how delicious every bite of every diners food was. This is a must go, and if you are lucky, as we were, you will be waited on by the extraordinary Sydney! read more

Delicious- had the meatloaf and it was comfort food at its finest! Ambience is very French bistro like. Service was friendly! I'll return for sure! read more

WAIT TIME LONG AND CATERPILLAR IN MY SALAD. I've gone to Red Tavern on 3 occasions before and had the food be delicious and the servers extremely nice and welcoming but this 4th time today was odd. I ordered a take out of my usual order of the filet mignon and ceaser salad at 7:30pm. They told me to come at 8:15 to pick it up. I arrived a bit late at 8:20 and they said it was a 10 more minute wait. I didn't mind so I waited but didn't get my food until 8:40pm. I understand covid has made restaurants extremely low staff so the wait wasn't too much of a problem to be honest, and I left a 20% tip. But when I got home and opened up my salad to eat it there was a full living and moving caterpillar on my top lid (meaning it had been laying atop my salad). I understand again though that these things can happen and that nature occurs like this so I called to complain respectfully and they apologized and comped my salad. They also said that they would talk to their kitchen and runner staff to make sure this doesn't happen again and that they already wash their vegetables in a 3-wash process. I don't have any ill-feeling towards Red Tavern but honestly I threw away the salad cause it put me off so much and it ruined my appetite for the rest of my meal. I definitely think I'm gonna stay away from Red Tavern for a bit even though it's currently my favorite restaurant inI just hope no one else has this situation in the future. read more

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This is our absolute "go to" every visit to Chico. Food is really good, they can handle fish really well...it's all good. Good cocktails and service is very friendly and professional. A lovely outdoor dining patio has made our Covid times easier. read more

This was my first time at this restaurant, i read the reviews and booked a table for 12 for our Company Christmas party. Absolutely everything was perfect. All of the entrees were perfect and came out together. The wine, the appetizers, dessert, all spot on. In a time when good service at a restaurant is challenging, Red Tavern couldn't have been better. Thank you read more

Adding to D.A and Richards response. I am the husband that moved the fan. It was clear staff could not give a fan, they were being used. 15 minutes after a table cleared I had enough of the flies. Literally 15 flies flying around one plate. The fact that the hostess confronted me about moving a fan from an empty table, a table that remained vacant for an additional 20 minutes was uncalled for. She was very rude about it to be honest. Not what I call customer service. You guys should take a page from Urban Kitchen, Nashes or Sierra Nevada. read more

Well I always dislike giving negative reviews, but I have to be honest about this experience at Red Tavern. It was not a good experience at all. We sat there for a good solid 10 minutes to start waiting to be greeted, and to put in our drink orders. After 10 minutes we ordered our drinks, which I got a Bloody Mary ( I will say a very good Bloody Mary). There were about 4 people who walked by us the entire time, we did not get or waters refilled, we did not receive the bread basket that every other table had, and the people working were more focused on everything and anything else but paying attention to us. Please note, we were one of 3 other tables, it was not busy at all. Then I ordered my food which came out wrong. I think the server is to blame here . read more

Been there at over 5 times in the last few years, and quality of food is inconsistent. Service is usually good. Went for Valentine's Day weekend, and the menu had changed from the on-line menu, and was difficult to find something for me to eat, as I don't eat red meat and don't like mushrooms. Luckily I eat fish, but the Halibut was so dry it was pretty much inedible. And the scarce (but good) sauce wasn't enough to make up for that. My fiancé got the seafood pasta dish, and although the fettucine pasta was good, it was meh...salad was the best thing about the dinner, but for the prices should've been better. My fiancé said that the food tasted like left-overs (not fresh). read more

It has been about five years since went to the Red Tavern. Twice in fact, once for lunch and then, a couple of weeks later, for dinner. I was a little disappointed both times. The restaurant is intended to be fine dining but it did not quite reach that level. Five years went by. By chance a friend and I have birthdays very close to one another. We decided to go to Red Tavern for one dinner, and, if we liked it, to come back again for the second honoree a couple of days later. The food is much improved. The Portuguese fish stew was so lovely. I had it on both occasionsn. Ameatloaf entrée was declared just a touch dry, but very tasty. The coq au vin also got high marks. The dessert was a trifle too sweet(although reasonable bines could disagree on what too sweet is) service was consistently high, but not quite too. A full five stars level. I don't want to quibble: two people can eat the same dish on different days and have a slightly different impression of the food. But overall I would say our weekday meal was not quite as tasty as the weekend meal. For service was very good. They had a full house both occasions, and the staff seem to manage it well Red Tavern has looked much the same, and been decorated the same, as far as I recall. It would benefit from some sound deadening decor, but otherwise, I think the building is charming. In warmer weather, the outside seating is both comfortable, and with a European flare. I certainly would recommend it and think the quality is worth the price. read more

You have to check out Red Tavern. This place's quality has come and gone over the years as ownership and chefs have changed, but they are firing on all cylinders right now! My entire meal was prepared with finesse and included gourmet items like Jamon Iberica and Foie Gras. Really, really good!!! Rivals the quality and types of offerings we are used to in San Francisco. UPDATE: it seems the owner is now the executive chef. The menu has become boring and they have lost their creativity. And execution is lacking -- our salmon was badly over-cooked. Sad to see this happen to what I used to consider Chico's best fine dining. read more

After revisiting I was pleased to enjoy an outside alfresco diner with friends. My previous visits had sour reviews for this or that but tonight service was on point and our meals were delivered hot and freshly prepared to out delight. read more

One of the best restaurants in Chico. Service is amazing, food is incredible, owners are thoughtful... highly recommend.

Excellent food, very different with a flare! Place was clean and has a very nice atmosphere

Had a bad experience at the Red Tavern!!! Waiting an hour for the food is just not ok. We will never go back! I would not recommend anybody eating there. We were ignored most of our time there. We have a 5 year old autistic daughter. And she can be difficult at times... I don't see this place lasting very long. Covid-19 or no covid-19.... Red tavern is a DIVE!!!! DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY OR TIME AT THIS PLACE!!!! read more

Several people recommended this place and sadly it was a huge let down. Right off the bat I felt like an annoyance to the staff , even though we made a reservation... Once we were seated waiters and waitresses avoided our table and eye contact for 30 min, helping everyone around us. Really just not the vibe at all! As we left they wished us a good nice as if they had helped us. Good stuff, do better Red Tavern read more

Three stars because it was average. We enjoyed the ambiance inside and the waitress was attentive. The Cesar salad was lacking flavor. Meatloaf: I had this dish. The first several bites were tasty but I got bored after that. I also didn't care for the peach chutney so I scraped that off the meatloaf. Filet mignon: One person in my party got this. No complaints from him about the taste, but he mentioned the high price so I would guess he was not blown away. Gnocchi: The other person in my party got the gnocchi, and she was NOT a fan. Many comments were made that they tasted store bought and rubbery. She was highly under the impression that they were in fact not homemade as described on the menu. The sauce was okay, but it seemed kind of greasy (in appearance, at least). We shared the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Not quite sure why it's called "pudding" (like bread pudding I guess) when the description calls it cake? It's cake. It would have been better if it was served warm. And it was a little dry. Seemed like a pre-made frozen dessert to me. Doesn't make my list of recommendations, but I wouldn't turn down an invitation to return. read more

The best restaurant in Chico by far. The ambience is classy and relaxing. Our server Maggie was attentive, answered all our questions, and gave amazing recommendations. The food was PHENOMENAL. We had appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts. We asked to have a slow pace and the courses were timed perfectly for it. The standout stars were the octopus, the halibut, and the sticky toffee pudding. Will definitely be returning here whenever we are in town. read more

I've always found Red Tavern to be a great location with amazing service and local ingredients. Their menu items tend to be unique - this is the first place I ever had rabbit - and the food is always delicious. Recently I have popped in to have a few of their signature cocktails and was not disappointed. Their cute bartender makes a great drink and had a smooth Texas accent to go along with excellent service. Sure can't complain about that! I'll be bringing my ladies there for happy hour soon to be sure. read more

I had not been since before COVID. I don't recall it being very good the last time either. My guests picked the restaurant as it was to be a little celebration, my treat. One guest order halibut, as did I. I have never seen halibut sliced thin, and seared (cooked) to dry! Both of us agreed is was very strange and very disappointing. It was served over succotash, which was also overcooked and seemed a very odd pairing. The Steak Riso was a lite meal, for a man. All in all, with beverages etc. it was way overpriced for the quality of the dishes. read more

Thursday night. No reservations for 4. The hostess was gracious and sat us at a table outside by a heater. Drinks came beautifully prepared-no waiting. Meatball appetizer and broccoli/cauliflower Appetizer was delicious. Dinner perfection. Thank you Chef! Thank you hostess, thank you bartender, and thank you to our waiter. My only suggestion is do not put the silverware in the glasses, set them on the table. read more

Hubby and I used their new online ordering system for my birthday last week. I ordered filet mignon and it was perfect...so delicious. Hubby had Mary's chicken and we shared a cheese plate. The food was cooked wonderfully and looked beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed my birthday meal! read more