OBO' Italian

Dining News: OBO' Italian by Selland Family Opening in 4 Months

Obo

OBO' Italian, the newest restaurant by the family who own and run The Kitchen, Ella and Selland's Market Cafe, is scheduled to open in 120 days, family patriarch Randall Selland announced via Twitter on Monday.

According to construction permits filed with the city, there will be outdoor seating added to the East and West sides of the building. Specifically:

Exterior Addition of seating patios at east side and west side of building. Patios and details to match the existing south patio details.

A separate permit pulled for the location calls for "remodel to include new kitchen build out: new restroom, new bar, new walls, new sushi bar."

This, presumably, is for the future home of Kru, the beloved sushi bar moving from its current J street location to bigger digs.

The Selland Family describes OBO' Italian as "a casual, food-centric dining experience and feature a full bar and patio dining, as well as take out and catering."

Chef Kelly McCown, former chef at Ella who spent the three years with former L Wine Lounge owner at Goose & Gander in St. Helena, returned to the Selland Family fold and helped create the menu. However, with construction extending beyond the four months initially predicted by Selland in March 2015 due to the complexity of cohabitating with another restaurant, McCowan has moved on to become chef at The Kitchen. At the time McCowan's appointment was announced, Selland said he would find another chef to helm the kitchen at OBO' Italian.

When it opens, OBO' Italian will be located at 3145 Folsom Blvd., and can be found online at http://www.oboitalian.com/.

* This post has been corrected. Selland tweeted 120 days, not 180 days as previously reported. The post headline and text have been changed.

More News:

Eat, drank and be meaty: SN&R’s food reviewers dish on the year’s foodie fixations, trends and tastemakers - What a year. With SN&R’s expanded food section, we dished out more reviews and tasty-related news than ever before. Per usual, many restaurants opened and several others closed. Chefs changed jobs and new small-scale food businesses emerged. Even still, there was plenty that didn’t make it in print—or simply merits repeating. Here’s to hoping our reflections on 2015 help inspire your next meal. Janelle Bitker, Garrett McCord and Ann Martin Rolke in Sac News & Review.

Guy Fieri wants off the hook for remaining Johnny Garlic's restaurant locations - Guy Fieri, the bleached blonde catchphrase megaphone currently starring in one of the Food Network's top-rated programs, "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," is seeking to end his involvement with a restaurant chain named Johnny Garlic's. Alyssa Pereira in the SF Chronicle.

Popular local bakery getting new location - Pushkin's Bakery is getting a bigger location, the locally owned business announced Wednesday in a video featuring a giant traveling human cupcake. The bakery, which opened in 2013, is currently located at 1820 29th St. In early April, it plans to open a new location in a site under construction at 1813 Capitol Ave. The new store will be in the Young Clifford project, which is expected to include four condominiums above the retail space that Pushkin's will occupy. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Big changes at three Sacramento area restaurants stir the dining scene - Silva’s Sheldon Inn in Elk Grove has changed ownership, as husband-wife founders Doug and Barbara Silva have moved on. (It remains open for business.) The couple opened the restaurant in 1988 with a menu that still features meat, fish and pasta in an atmosphere of “simple country elegance.” The restaurant is housed in a century-old building of local historical interest. Why the change? “Barbara felt she was ready to retire, and I realized I was probably ready to change my future as well,” said Doug Silva. Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

SacFoodies Take K Street - ‘Tis the season for holiday gatherings, and as you would imagine, the annual SacFoodies holiday celebration isn’t just your average potluck. We like to spice things up a notch (often literally), and this year was no different. Last week, the SacFoodies crew paraded down K Street with our Local Roots Food Tours guide, in search of all the best bites and sips we could find. If you haven’t experienced a Local Roots Food tour, we highly recommend it! It’s a great way to get a quality sampling of the hottest spots in Sacramento. Check out their different offerings here. Sara Ortega and Brittany Gillmor on Sac Foodies.

Continue reading "Dining News: OBO' Italian by Selland Family Opening in 4 Months" »


Dining News: Kru to Cohabitate with OBO' Italian by Selland's

Obo

It's long been known that Kru will move to a larger restaurant and that the space currently occupied by Kru would be a new restaurant concept by Kru owner Billy Ngo. But now the Sac Bee's Bob Shallit confirms what's been rumored for months - that Kru will split the former Good Eats space with OBO' Italian by Selland's.

“There will be Selland on one side, Kru on the other,” said Barbara Mikacich, whose family has owned the 11,000-square-foot Andiamo location at 3145 Folsom Blvd. since 1989.

She said Wednesday that Kru officials still need to sign a few documents but “it’s all fine.” Both eateries could be open by year’s end following completion of tenant improvements, which include adding a wall to separate the two dining ventures.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

More News:

Returning soon: Roseville Sonic Drive-In expected to reopen - A Sonic Drive-In restaurant once connected to the Abe Alizadeh family is reopening under new management in Roseville. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

North Border Taco truck goes brick-and-mortar - The sign is up at North Border Taco, the brick-and-mortar version of the local food truck at 3721 47th Avenue, and it reads “Mexican Food With Attitude.” It’s not serving crazy, edgy spins on traditional Mexican food, rather, Tex-Mex: lots of shredded cheese, rice studded with cilantro and the occasional smattering of crispy bacon. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

Want to peruse more brews? Let’s tap into local experts - So, I decided to ask a bunch of people in the beer business to give me their picks – not their all-time favorite brews and not the beers they think folks would like. I wanted to know the beers that have them excited today, and why. There’s something here for everyone, from big and bold high-alcohol beers to low-alcohol session beers. I’m not including the prices here, since they depend on where you’re shopping. If “barrel” or “sour” is in the name or description, expect it to be pricy (and worth it). Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Continue reading "Dining News: Kru to Cohabitate with OBO' Italian by Selland's" »


Dining News: Namaste Deli Replaces Tootsies

20150224_221343044_iOS

Tootsies, a popular spot for Capitol staffers to indulge in frozen yogurt and snacks at 11th & L, has been replaced by Namaste Deli.

The Capitol Morning Report has the details:

New owners Babita Chanda Becha and her husband Ken bought the business in November and decided to give it a fresh start...They changed the name to make it clear that it's a deli serving sandwiches, salads and other items...

They will continue to serve a variety of sandwiches and frozen yogurt that Tootsies was know for. The hours of operation will be Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Read the entire story in the Capitol Morning Report.

They also report that the owners intend to "introduce hot dishes including chicken curry over rice and chicken tamales to the menu."

Namaste Deli is located at 1121 L Street, across the street from the State Capitol.

More News:

An intense yum: Shake, Devine Gelateria & Cafe - It may seem like a waste to blend gelato into a milkshake—its denser, creamier texture gets lost. But with less air than American ice cream, gelato's flavor is much more intense. Therefore, the resultant gelato shake is more intense. Therefore, not a waste at all. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

Selland family’s OBO to share space with another restaurant - OBO will have 4,700 square feet and will share the building with another high-profile restaurant, which has yet to be made public. Selland’s new restaurant will have ample outdoor seating and a full bar. For those who still crave a certain famous pasta dish at Ella – the pappardelle pasta with poached egg (a dish created by Zimmer) will find a permanent place on its menu. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Big Sexy Brewing gets Sacramento location - A planned Sacramento brewery now has an address, in addition to a memorable name. Big Sexy Brewing Co. has signed a lease for a space at 5861 88th St., according to James Thompson, co-owner and director of sales and marketing. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Meals and reels served up at 4th Sacramento Food Film Festival - Fans of movies and food—which is to say, virtually everyone—can partake in some delicious viewing at the fourth annual Sacramento Food Film Festival, which will pair food-related films with culinary experiences at locations throughout the city from March 19-29. Jessica Rine in Sactown Mag.

Work finally begins on 700 K, where developers envision new life for old buildings - West of the Grant building, Insight Coffee Roasters is one of four identified future tenants for the building. Red Rabbit is looking at a bar/restaurant space toward the western end, while the owner of Kru sushi wants to do a "Japanese speakeasy." Shady Lady's owners also have plans for a retail space. The exact number of retail tenants will depend on whether some use both a first-floor and basement space, or knock out a wall, but will probably be around 14 to 16, Miry said. Ben van der Meer in Sac Biz Journal.

Continue reading "Dining News: Namaste Deli Replaces Tootsies" »


Dining News: OBO' Italian by Selland Family to Replace Good Eats

Good_Eats

In a move that's been rumored for more than 9 months, the Selland Family will be opening OBO' Italian at the spot formerly occupied by Good Eats restaurant/market.

Good Eats closed in that spot in August 2011, after barely a year in business.

I wrote at the time that I hoped a Selland's Market Cafe would fill that spot. It's not exactly that, but the Selland Family describes OBO' Italian as a "a casual, food-centric dining experience and feature a full bar and patio dining, as well as take out and catering." I actually asked Randall Selland years ago about whether he would consider adding a Market Cafe location in the old Good Eats spot, but he said there was concern that it could cannabalize the business of their popular East Sac location.

Chef Kelly McCown, former chef at Ella who spent the last three years with former L Wine Lounge owner at Goose & Gander in St. Helena, has also returned to the Selland Family fold. His first project will be to "help" Selland Family Corporate Executive Chef Ravin Patel open OBO' Italian.

OBO' Italian is expected to open in late 2015, and will be located at 3145 Folsom Blvd.

* Picture taken May 25, 2014.

More News:

South (Southern Restaurant) – Tradition Reinvented - Meet N’Gina. She and her husband are the proud owners of the new midtown restaurant, South (weheartfriedchicken.com). I had the pleasure of sitting down with her and getting to know her as well as what her restaurant has to offer. Kelli Gould in Girls on the Grid.

Asian N Cajun: Awesome sauce - We’re not sure if this is the best example of the Asian-Cajun genre in Sacramento, but it’s a good start. While it’s a great spot for some salty, fried comfort food, it doesn’t quite have the range of flavors that several of the other spots in South Sacramento do (Firehouse and Crab City in particular seem to be doing more fun, inventive stuff). Still, after a few squirts of lemon, the sauce at Asian N Cajun is pretty awesome. Jonathan Mendick in Sac News & Review.

Five new places to get a drink in the Sacramento region - If you want to reward yourself after a busy week, visit one of the many hot spots that recently opened in the Sacramento region. Here's a handy guide to some of the area's additions. Featuring Pre-Flite Lounge, Track 7 Natomas, Cask & Barrel, Dragas Brewing and Pure Life Juice Co. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Chili's closes Eureka Road location in Roseville - Chili's Grill & Bar has permanently closed one of its restaurants in Roseville. The location at 1516 Eureka Road closed in late January due to a lease expiration, according to a spokeswoman for restaurant operator Brinker International Inc. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Pre-Flite 2.0 quietly opens downtown - But Pre-Flite lives on, and the second iteration held its soft opening Wednesday at 1011 10th Street, a basement spot that was once an old bank vault. Find the entrance in the graffitied Jazz Alley between J and K Streets—there’s no sign to help you. Owner Jason Yee brought over a bunch of artifacts from the old Pre-Flite, including the stewardess mannekin, odd lamp affixed with origami cranes, posters, signs and, best of all, the former entrance doors. You know, the one that states happy hour is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and everything costs 65 cents? Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

Continue reading "Dining News: OBO' Italian by Selland Family to Replace Good Eats" »