Cozy up to the Outdoors
European Yosemite Café and Courtyard
Sipping wine and looking out over the piazza, you quietly observe the other diners as they laugh, refill their glasses, and sway to the light jazz strains that pass by on the evening breeze. A fountain gurgles in the background, and the scent of fresh basil reaches your white-clothed table from the herb garden along the stone wall. You silently send up a prayer to the gods of wine and food and balmy nights, thanking them for this delicate, romantic experience in Europe … err … make that the European Yosemite Café and Courtyard in Manteca.
This light, breezy feel of the restaurant is no coincidence. Owner and executive chef Bobbie Kerkenes planned her eatery to be a bistro that could rival any in San Francisco, while giving patrons a close-to-home escape from the grind of everyday life. The Yosemite Café, named in-part for the street on which it’s located, is intimacy defined. From the cozy interior of the restaurant itself to the friendly wait staff, the seasonally fresh menu, and the local wine list, the experience is personally tailored for San Joaquin residents who expect nothing short of excellence.
The crowning jewel of the restaurant is its courtyard dining area, which stays open until mid-December. The outdoor space is capable of seating thirty-five to forty patrons on a busy Saturday night, when the restaurant is in its highest demand, much thanks to Main Street, a live jazz trio led by Ken Cefalo, owner of Tracy’s Main Street Music. Patrons dining outside are also treated to a surprisingly elegant setting, with flagstone on the ground, fountains located throughout, and vines crawling up the stone walls
. The tables are all shaded under large umbrellas, and, at night, white string lights make the Yosemite a date-night destination.
The restaurant is so romantic in fact, that lately it has begun hosting small events such as engagement parties and rehearsal dinners, with its first wedding planned this month. “We’ve been fortunate enough to have two separate proposals in our courtyard,” beams Kerkenes.
However, atmosphere is only half of the carefully balanced equation. Kerkenes has been in the restaurant industry for over forty years, and taken her lessons learned and applied them wisely to her establishment. A former luncheon owner (Bobbie’s Shamrock Grille in Stockton), caterer, television cooking show host (Creative California Cuisine aired on Continental Cablevision), and herb and vegetable gardener in Valley Springs, Kerkenes knows a thing or two about how to put out a meal.
She personally created the menu, and recommends a few of her favorites: “The three that I’m most proud of are the prime rib-eye steak that’s probably of the finest quality that you can find around. We are a notch above what most people can offer as far as that goes. I did that especially for the men. It’s charbroiled and rubbed. Our guests also love our blackberry chipotle duck, because our duck breast is just exquisite. The flavors that are in there just explode in your mouth. We get the spices from Napa. The chipotle just gives that sizzle, and it dazzles the palate. We also recommend our pork loin chop, which is charbroiled. Our ciabatta stuffing perfectly compliments the chop,” says Kerkenes.
Her brunch recommendations include the crab eggs Benedict and the ham eggs Benedict, which patrons have said rival anything they’ve tried at the finest hotels. “It’s an off the menu brunch with several courses,” says Kerkenes. “Coming from the Bay Area, and having been exposed to large buffet brunches, I realized we couldn’t do that here because of the space. But I designed that feel, so you have several courses and you have the feel of a more expansive brunch.” Only offered on Sundays, brunch also includes two complimentary mimosas or glasses of Champagne.
No matter which meal you visit for, know that you are in for a long, enjoyable meal meant to be shared with family, friends, or that special someone. “The reason why we call [the restaurant] European is for the lifestyle that the Europeans enjoy,” says Kerkenes. “It starts with the casual environment, then starting with something small [to eat] at the beginning, with different courses between—all small portions—and ending with dessert. When you walk out you feel just right, not heavy; like you’ve enjoyed an experience. That’s our motto, really, that it’s the experience.” SJM
European Yosemite Café and Courtyard
216 W. Yosemite Ave., Manteca, (209) 825-1108
