Bacon & more bacon!

Really, really love bacon? You must visit RESTORE Kitchen, Craft Food, Beer & Wine, a gastro pub that’s sure to please bacon lovers and frankly all others looking for a fun eatery in the Inland Empire. My dining partner and I often meet in Redlands at Famous Dave's to catch-up and enjoy their BBQ and drinks, but we decided to try something different this time. Scanning the Internet, I found RK's fun menus and two locations to choose from in Redlands, CA. We decided to meet Thursday afternoon for a late lunch and early birthday celebration at their Lugonia Avenue location near Citrus Plaza.

We almost didn’t go in. It’s the corner location in a small business strip and next to an auto shop, but we remembered the menu so ventured inside. Tables are snug with a sports bar vibe, and service was smiling and prompt so we choose a table and ordered our predetermined appetizer, Pig Candy & Green Apple, Praline nut-crusted smoked bacon crisps, smoky pub-salted green apple, caramel and chocolate beer dipping sauces 8. Also, offered as dessert, it’s definitely sweet, tasty and messy. Thankfully, our server quickly brought us hand wipes for our sticky fingers.

Catching my eye, the menu describes the RK STUBBORN Fountain Sodas as containing only Fair Trade Certified Cane Sugar, no high fructose corn syrup, and natural favors. Trying the hand-crafted root-beer/cream soda sure sounded good, but since we were celebrating we choose a carafe of house Rosé with cream soda — delicate and definitely on the sweet side.

Next bacon course: Cheese Sandwich on Spent-grain Sourdough, Swiss, provolone, cheddar cheese, a scoop of Mac’n Cheese with Pulled Pork, hardwood- smoked bacon, tomato, avocado 14. This large sandwich is definitely enough to share, especially when considering 3 courses. It came with "Today's Slaw"—a kicking apple and turnip combo, and alongside the "Handheld" was a quite tart house-made dill pickle adding a little sour to the dish—Kale Caesar or fries are also a choice.

What birthday celebration doesn’t end with bacon? We choose the PB&B Bread Pudding, French Toast style egg-dipped coconut milk bread pudding, Craisins, peanut butter and maple syrups, chocolate beer sauce, walnuts. Served with hardwood-smoked bacon $11 with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ‘cause, well, ice cream and bacon go together for birthdays, right?

So, there it is—a 3-course oink-oink meal. We noticed our neighbors ordered a Pub Hamburger—the kind that’s too tall to politely get your mouth around without a squash-down. Burgers are also available wrapped in butter lettuce for those avoiding breads. Another guest attacked the overflowing New York Philly Steak Roll with a fork. We noticed a large salad which had to be the Inland Kale Ceasar, Seasonal baby kale blend, cilantro ceasar dressing, roasted pumpkin seeds, red onion, shaved Parmesan, white anchovy $12, and several more delicious looking meals being served to guests. We wanted to ask for a taste, or at least hear their reviews, but decided not to intrude on our fellow diners who all seemed to enjoy their RESTORE Kitchen experience.

Ready for a nap, we decided to go snoop out their other location which was a drive across town and closer to old-town Redlands. Their menu is also intriguing with POT ROASTED BEEF CHEEKS, USDA choice, beer-braised, pot-roasted organic vegetables and bacon cheddar mashed potatoes $20—yes, more bacon. Their breakfast menu is definitely worth taking a look at for a future weekend visit. And, the FARMER’S MARKET ROAST BEET SALAD, Seasonal baby greens, roast beets, apples, dried fruit, candied walnuts, radish, red onion, pineapple shrub syrup vinaigrette $13, is definitely calling my name so we've got to give this location a try as well.

Overall, dining at RESTORE Kitchen is a food and drink adventure for the curious budding foodie. Simply reading their menu will inspire you to try not-your-usual everyday combinations at home. Better yet, dine out and let the RESTORE team prepare and serve you their creations. I bet those that wander in for a workday lunch quickly bring friends and family back for a super weekend breakfast at the pub, or head over to their sister cafe on State Street for the extended menu. The Lugonia location offers a lot of monitors for viewing sports so come prepared to share some fun eats and arrive early on big game days. Gluten Free and Vegetarian dishes available.

RESTORE Kitchen

Craft Food, Beer & Wine

1711 W. Lugonia Ave #101,

Redlands, CA 92374

Phone 909-798-4179

RESTORE Kitchen on State ~ RK on State

Farmhouse Cafe and Supper

615 W. State Street, Redlands, CA 92373

Phone 909-307-0026

'Get Restored' www.restore.kitchen

Sunday Monday thru 7 am - 8 pm

Thursday 7 am - 9 pm