Red Tavern - Chico, California

Andrew S.

I've been here a few times now and the experience has always been great. The food, the service, the atmosphere, all perfect. Whether it's just my wife and I or a group of 10+, they always manage to handle things perfectly.

I particularly love to sit out on the back patio on a nice evening, they sometimes have live music which gives the best vibe for a nice dinner.

Their menu changes, not too often mind you, so what I've had may or may not be on it when you go. In the 3-4 times that I've gone, I've ordered different cuts of steak that might be available at the time and they're always cooked perfectly and well-complimented with the sides.

It's one of the classiest places to dine in Chico, excellent for a date night or a low-key celebration with friends and/or family. The personal touches are all over this restaurant and the owners are wonderful hosts with an excellent staff.

Mary P.

Good food and cozy atmosphere! Located in the heart of chico is this unpretentious building where the Red Tavern is located. They open at 430pm and happy hour specials are available until 6pm. The place is somewhat small but they were packed by 530 pm today (december 20). We ordered the 10 ounce steak and the 11 dollar happy hour shrimp. The shrimp was awesome with butter and garlic. We split the steak but it was too rare for me. Dessert was a eggnog cheesecake which was delicious! Shae (our waitress) was friendly and attentive. The owner came by a few times to check on us which i thought was a very kind gesture. They have a full bar and outdoor seating with heaters. Overall a good experience and would definitely come again! See receipt for pricing.

SherryBChico B.

Amazing, attentive and friendly server anticipating our needs. The food had wonderful combinations of tastes and consistencies. We tried everything on the Happy Hour menu. We'll be back to explore more.

Erik O.

Finally made it to one of the top 5 restaurants in town according to the local foodies. Wish the locals had a little more class and had more in their wardrobe besides blue jeans.
Moved here in July, and chose it for my birthday dinner. Could never have sat outside in Michigan this time of year. Unfortunately because of all the rain the mosquitoes were worse than a spring in the upper peninsula.
Sydney was an excellent waiter.
Appetizer was substantial and delicious, l recommend.
Beat salad was unique, my late father would have loved.
Scallop special was a must, should become a standard.
Filet Oscar was larger than expected and perfectly cooked. Bernaise sauce tasted more like hollandaise. Lobster claw was dry, and Oscar is usually crab. Why smash asparagus into whipped potatoes to make a tower? Try laying them like a lean-to.
Lava cake and Gelato that tastes like ice cream is to die for. Only noteworthy dessert item by far.
Will be back.

Denise D.

Where do I begin. The dining room was so noisy, we literally couldn’t hear each other. The meal: Rib Eye special. Awful! So tough, I had to shave off slivers of meat just to be able to chew it. The scalloped potatoes had good flavor, but dry and warm. And only 4 perfectly cooked green beans… our server was great and kept apologizing for the noise. Honestly, this used to be my favorite restaurant in Chico. I can say I will never go back after this experience . I called the next day to talk to manager/owner. The asst. manager was put on the phone. He seemed uninterested in what I had to say and said he had already spoken to our table the night before. Pretty much……oh well attitude. Horrible! So disappointed ☹️

Susanne B.

My partner and I passed through Chico on Sunday night, and at the advice of a friend, decided to dine at this establishment. We were not disappointed!

On Sundays, Red Tavern is open for supper service from 5-8. We arrived about 20 minutes early, having no other errands to run, and sat in anticipation, watching several more cars pull in awaiting the opening of the doors. We did not have reservations, and I would highly recommend making them, as the place filled up quickly.

The ambiance is lovely-- darker earthy tones on the walls, highlighting beautiful art. The lighting is indirect in most of the building, creating soft illumination, bright enough to read the menu, but muted enough to create intimate atmosphere. Soft jazz music wafted through the restaurant, as an unobtrusive backdrop to the many tables of people holding various meals and celebrations.

The service was exceptional. Our server was Connor, who was friendly, knowledgeable of the menu, and more than willing to answer questions on everything from preparation of menu items to wine pairings and more. Our glasses were never empty, and any time we looked like we even thought about having a question, someone would lowkey come make eye contact and ensure our needs were met. Staff has clearly been trained to work as a team-- ensuring everyone in the restaurant has full glasses, clean silverware between courses, and more.

The food... oh Lord, the food. As is our custom, my partner and I cruised the menu and set our plan, finding the food that hooked our eager palates, and pairing it with a wine which would compliment the meal.

We perused the European-inspired menu, contemplating a number of dishes which caught our eye-- duck confit ravioli, a filet mignon with an authentic Bordelaise sauce, gnocchi, and other rich fare. For starters, we settled on the Alsatian Tarte Flambe, a house-made, flaky, buttery savory pastry, topped with fromage blanc, bacon, honey, figs, charred shallot, and arugala, finished with a cherry vinaigrette. The pastry was utterly decadent, melting in the mouth beneath the fusion of tastes and flavors on top.

For our main course, we chose the sea bass-- a tender cut of fish served over a creamy celery root puree, and topped with a savory sauce. The bass was flaky, warm all the way through (something that can be challenging with such a cut of fish), and supported the creative flavors paired within the dish.

The meal was also served with an artisan, ciabatta-type bread, soft, warm, and paired with a compound garlic butter. The garlic was chopped small, but not fine, accompanied with shallot and parsley, in a way which created an earthy texture to each bite of baked goodness.

For dessert, we ventured out with a spice cake, plated with scratch-made butterscotch and a scoop of vanilla gelato. The cake was delightfully dense without being heavy, and the gelato was a bright and lively counter-balance to the confection.

We paired all of this with a 2021 Dry Creek Vineyard (Sonoma County) Old Vine Zinfandel-- a wine durable to the whole meal, its mocha and pepper nuances counterbalancing both its own berry overtones, as well as the fusion of flavors throughout the meal.

Near the end of our meal, Connor asked us, "Thoughts on the sea bass?" to which I responded, "I think we'll be back very soon for more!"

Kudos to the owners and team of food wizards who have created such a culinary delight as Red Tavern. We will also be trying their Italian sister restaurant, Rione, the next time we are in Chico. Can't wait!

Brent K.

*2023 edit*
The food is still amazing. The staff is still top notch. And the place is still one of the best places my wife I like to go for an upscale date night. They even paired a wonder red wine with my lamb tonight. It was perfect. Also I'm pretty sure I could eat like 8 of their creme brulees.
Original review
Super fine dining experience. From the attentive wait staff to the delicious appetizer and entree, this place is a Chico treasure. My filet was cooked perfectly and was so soft and delicious, I never wanted it to be finished. Also the lavender creme brulee is a fresh twist on my favorite dessert. Can't wait to go back!

Tyler G.

Took my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner, and it did not disappoint! I arranged for some chocolates and a card that I bought to be left at our reserved table, which made the evening super romantic. The food is easily some of the best in all of Chico! I had the Filet Mignon Bordelaise, and he had the Coq Au Vin