BarView and Food View
By the ViewCrew
It’s the holiday season and I’m sure the one gift that we all want is the gift of time. If your calendar is like mine, you are booked solid through New Years and we hang on to every spare moment we can. But it’s important to stop, look up, take a breath, get a tasty drink and enjoy a holiday moment. The ViewCrew has done some heavy lifting to help you find a magic moment this season. We are hard at work researching your next cocktail so stay tuned at www.modestoview.com
Let’s tour.
Fuizo is a ViewCrew go to by Chris Murphy
For dinner and a movie, it’s a perfect location. It’s also mission control for Rockin’ Holidays, Music in the Plaza and May the 4th. Wes and the team always deliver a good line of holiday drinks and treats. One of Modesto’s most famous holiday drinks is the Grinchtini. It’s green with creme de menth, Mozart chocolate cream liqueur with a holiday sugar and white chocolate rim that is delicious. Another fave is the Clausmopolitian with citrus vodka, pomegranate liqueur, Triple Sec and rosemary. One of the most striking is the Jack Frost, with tequila, blue Curacao, coconut cream, lime and sugar rim. If you are making a quick bar visit, try the warm giant pretzel or the Gorgonzola cream roasted steak bites. If you are staying a while, look for a new fall menu with fish of the day and new cambazola mushroom cream sauce filet and a new fall chicken. All ages welcome
Fuzio Bistro 1020 109th St. Modest 209-557-9711. @fuziobistro
Wildfire Public House by MJ Mangano
The name alone lets you know this is a warm place to get some holiday cheer. Take a break from your busy holiday errands with a place at the bar. Great food, tastes, service and people watching and get ready for Santa’s Spiked Milk & Wings. A merry mix of Fireball-kissed, house-spice eggnog paired with sweet Thai chili wings — the official combo for keeping Santa’s cheeks jolly and rosy all night long! Take time to explore their menu of holiday treats. All ages welcome
Wildfire Public House 1533 Oakdale Rd. Modesto 209-521-8667 @wildfiremodesto
Intermission by Chris Murphy
This is a beautiful place for a special holiday moment. Located on one of my favorite corners, Intermission takes you to another place. Before or after you take in a vintage film or concert, settle into the velvet seats, soak up the retro art deco ambience and enjoy Hot Buttered Rum this winter. If you are looking for something refreshing and lighter, the Cranberry Mule is just the thing. Starting with Tito’s vodka, ginger beer and cranberry juice, garnished with rosemary. If you need a bit of nosh, besides the famous State Theatre popcorn, you can get house-made meatballs, with a tomato sauce and toasted bread. Easy to eat, tasty and satisfying. Intermission is all ages, open 5 pm Thursday – Sat
Intermission, 1301 J St. Modesto, Ca 209- 527-4697
@intermissionmodesto. All ages welcome.
Dress up for the Boardroom, by Chris Murphy
Get into a classic retro fall vibe and hang out with Sinatra and friends at the Boardroom, Always elegant, with a great new food tasting menu, you can enjoy some warming fall favorites. Roberto, Stephanie and the crew will make sure it’s perfect. We started with a Fall 75,crafted with passion fruit and gin, and with a special smoked rosemary. Refreshing and smokey at the same time. The Christmas Tree will be one of your holiday faves. Cream de banana and vanilla with coconut liqueur and simple syrup are all shaken into a frothy treat with coconut rum and a mint garnish. It’s beautiful and tasty blend of flavors. To finish, we warmed ourselves with a Campfire. Rich white chocolate liqueur, and Licor 43 (a ViewCrew fave) with muscat, and shaken and frothed into a rocks glass with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
If you are hungry, the Boardroom bites are tasty and offers a range from salads to flatbreads. We tried the spicy chipotle chicken sliders and that really hit the spot.
Boardroom 1528 J St. Modesto 209-409-8665 @theboardroom209
Open at 3 pm Wed-Sat 5 pm on Tuesdays. 21 and over.
LoFi Luxury – by Chris Murphy
Lofi Labs takes crafting cocktails to a new level with a beautiful bar, lounge and attached restaurant. Lauren Jamieson and Heather Collins have mixed up some holiday treats, one that has a smokey warmth and another that’s a cordial, to match the elegant wood bar and vintage back bar. We start with the warming “Sable”. Starting off with a Don Fularno tequila and blending in maple syrup and a coffee liqueur in a crystal pitcher with some mole bitters, then stirred. Finished with an orange zest on the rim and you can wrap yourself in this warmth. For a cordial, you get a cranberry and pear flavor with a house made cranberry cordial mix, pear vodka, fresh pear and bitters. An orange peel zest is fired over the drink, moistening the rim.
If you want one of the most luscious bar bites in town, you need to try the Butternut squash raviolis, cooked in brown butter with pine nuts. Amazing. Lofi Lounge is 21 and over, restaurant is all ages.
LoFi Labs 1323 J St. Modesto. 209-550-9033 @loficocktails
Tresetti’s, A downtown classic – by Abigal Power
Tresetti’s is more magical during the holidays – an especially perfect spot to watch the Celebration of Lights Parade on December 6th or for an “après” cocktail after Rockin’ Holiday or Modesto on Ice. The holiday cocktail menu is live and the ViewCrew recommends the Holiday Spice (gin, amaro, white creme de cocoa, egg white) and the S’moretini (vodka, bourbon cream, amaretto, and cream) for a delicious holiday boozy treat. Pair it with the year-round burrata cheese and fruit plate (or the roasted garlic and brie!) and you’ve got the perfect evening in one of the coziest, hall of fame bars in town. Enjoy! Cheers! All ages are welcome. Sláinte!
Tresettis World Caffe 927 11th St Modesto 209-572-2990
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday-Thu, Until 10:00 PM Fri-Sat
At Secret Garden, you can treat yourself to breakfast, lunch, milkshakes, dinner, cocktails, mocktails, all day long! This is the best spot for fun cocktails in an elevated “best hits” diner – perfect for kids and families. With hall of fame breakfasts (See: California Benedict, Kid’s Chicken and Waffles, Chilaquiles), mimosa flights, hearty dinners (See: spaghetti and meatballs!), full cocktail menu, and real espresso creations – you can get it all. The staff is friendly and service is quick! The holiday menu is so fun and the View Crew recommends the Mrs. Claus Margarita (cranberry, tequila, Cointreau, rosemary) or the (no-booze) Peppermint Marshmallow Latté. You can’t say that Secret Garden doesn’t take decor or holidays seriously – it’s a delight for your eyes and your tastebuds every time! Not in the mood for a diner? Full-bar experience on its own off to the side of the entrance! All ages are welcome. – Abigail Power.
Secret Garden 2401 E Orangeburg Ave Ste. 20 Modesto 209-846-9559
Open Everyday 7 to 9 pm
Kimoto by Middagh Goodwin
Melting Snow is the ideal holiday cocktail to enjoy with delicious sushi. Made with Perfect Snow unfiltered sake, lemon juice, Grand Marnier, and a touch of grenadine. Something a little different, but with big flavor. It is tangy, tart, and totally refreshing.
Looking to enjoy a holiday-themed cocktail that will take your taste buds on an island vacation? The Kaliki-Mai Tai is a tropical twist on a classic Mai Tai. A blend of white and aged rums, lime juice, orgeat, orange liqueur, allspice, and cinnamon syrup. If you are a fan of tropical drinks, you can’t go wrong. Open daily for lunch and dinner. All ages welcome
Kimoto Sake & Sushi 1809 McHenry Ave, Modesto 209-579-9690 @kimotosushi
Needless to say, this is just a sample of the holiday treats and menus in Modesto. We will be posting more on our socials @modestoview and if you have some recommendation, email us at info@modestoview.com<mailto:info@modestoview.com> or @modestoview messages
