ReallyRedding

For more than 75 years, Jacks Grill has been serving Redding. The iconic standalone structure is a throwback to California Street’s rough and ready past. Jack’s longtime popularity and staying power is exceedingly scarce among Northstate restaurants. I regularly see patrons lined up at opening time daily, as below.

We hadn’t been for a long while. Let’s go.I’d heard they recently turned up the lights, and so diminished some of the charm. Hmm. 

Well, if they did indeed turn up the lights, then my vision has only gotten dimmer. It looks no different to me than it did 40 years ago.

Okay. Minus the thick fog of cigarette smoke, back in the day.The darkened setting lends Jack’s mysterious ambiance. This bar is usually full. A place to see friends and to be seen.

Below,  the legendary salad.  Straight-up ice-cold iceberg lettuce drenched in bleu cheese.No question, the lovely Karry’s fried prawns were perfection on a plate. My New York steak was nicely done. I asked for rare, and that’s what I got. The baked potato sour creme and chive accompanied by pats of butter are EXACTLY as I remember it, circa 1978.
Looking for trendy cuisine? Or hipster nouvelle? Get outta here. Go away. #BlankStare.
The bill arrives with a flashlight. I needed it.

Care for a slice of 1940, served up like smartphones exist only in sci-fi novels?

Yeah, Jack’s.

Way back before the internet, and when I was working for a mega-corporation, whenever a bigshot manager or corporate executive came to town, they all wanted to go to Jack’s. Famous even then. It has always so perfectly exemplified the full-on Redding – California Street experience.

No, this isn’t Applebees. Nor is it the Outback. Nope.

Jack’s is seriously just about as Really Redding as you can get.

 

If you are looking for a taste of funky, old time Redding, yeah… they serve that here at Old Millhouse Deli.
It’s been around a long time, and managed to evade much change. We are reminded of the relaxed and unpretentious restaurants and delicatessens that sprinkled Shasta County from the late ’70s. Places like Le Chamois on Market Street, or at least a half dozen other pecky cedar palaces whose names have faded over time. The vibe has not faded, however.Above, the fresh potato salad side. Below, the chicken sandwich is a standout, moist and satisfying. The lovely Karry had a BLT. We’ve eaten here countless times over the years. It’s one of the few restaurants near Whiskeytown Lake.

Looking for nouvelle cuisine coupled with contemporary atmospherics and free wi-fi? Old Millhouse has none of that. But if you want a course of authentic Old Shasta with a side of ’70s funk, well you just hit the jackpot.

The Old Millhouse Deli has a Facebook Page, but I’m not finding a website. It’s not that kind of place, really. They are semi-famous for epic pizza and music on the outdoor patio, but this drought year, you may not get that full experience. Also, the last time we were there, the sign out front was shattered into pieces, so you might need your GPS to even find the place.

Worth it.

4478 Eureka Way (Hwy 299W) Redding Ca 96001. Phone 241 9011.

Really, really Redding.

 

 

Another great Dunsmuir dining experience awaits you at the Dogwood Diner.
Here are some lunch dishes we’ve sampled. Often the “Panini of the Moment” is well worth trying, as is the Macro Bowl. Augmented by homemade ketchup and garlic aoli.
It’s within/adjacent to the Brown Trout Gallery Vintage Emporium, so you can shop for gifts and other necessities.  The emporium side has a creek flowing beneath it. You can see and hear it under the floor. Also they have a koi pond in the window. I mean, who doesn’t?
And this being Dunsmuir, you can watch the trains go by. They also offer outdoor seating.

Wednesday through Sunday – 8 am to 9 pm (Closed Monday and Tuesday)

Breakfast: 8 am – 11 am  Lunch: 11 am – 5 pm  Dinner: 5 pm – close

5841 Sacramento Avenue  Dunsmuir, CA 96025  (530) 678-3502

Menus and more at the Dogwood Diner website.

Well worth the beautiful drive from Really Redding.