Serving Suggestion: former restaurant needs TLC



Just half a mile up the street from our Eichler Homes neighborhood sits an old shell of a restaurant, Neptune's Table -- once a well known, old-school surf-and-turf in the 1960's to 80's. In its heyday, Hank and Tim Stroh ran this traditional white cloth establishment. Lobster dishes and Cornish hens were specialties.

It is hard to imagine (in its current state) that for 19 years it was also the home of the Raider Rooters Booster Club and visited frequently by Raiders team members for a weekly feast. Per R.E. Graswich, in a Sacramento Bee article dated May 1, 1998, "They toasted victory and vowed revenge, laughed and filled their bellies with beer and booze and chicken and baked potatoes and green beans and French bread."

Also per Graswich's article, restauranteur Hank Stroh owned many other Sacramento bars and restaurants: "Clunie Coffee Shop, Parkview Restaurant, Little Roma, Henry's Bottle Shop and Lounge, the Windsor, the Arcade, and others.... Among Stroh's armada of food halls and watering holes, Neptune's Table was his crown jewel. He bought it in 1967..."

According to my research, the building was designed by William Koblik and built ~1960. It was first occupied by The Red Rose, a cocktail lounge (with burlesque, per Patty Russell, a former dancer.) The Sacramento City Directory from 1962/63 then states the restaurant was home to "Raeders Gourmet Restaurant," later corrected to "Roeder's" in the 1965 Directory. In 1966, it was listed as "Vacant" and then it became Neptune's Table in 1967.

In the late 90's, Neptune's Table was simply "Neptune" under local chef David Soohoo.  Afterwards, for a short period of time it became the Highlander, a Scottish pub/restaurant. However, since 2004 it has been unoccupied. I would love to see this space turned into a coffee shop/diner such as Pann's in LA (the coffee shop in Pulp Fiction) more on their food here; Latif's in Turlock; or Jimmy's in San Jose. Or how about a tiki bar/lounge/restaurant like they had in-the-day here in town, such as the Zombie Hut or Coral Reef?

I'd love to hear any memories of this restaurant or other constructive ideas on how to bring this building back to life. Any local restauranteur or investor willing to step up to the plate -- literally?

19 comments:

Dane Henas said...

I ate there a couple of times as a kid when we lived in Fair Oaks! Little did I know that I would be living a few blocks away from it someday. I've stated on Yelp my dream of it turning into a hip, healthy, diner/coffee shop--with Eames chairs and artichoke lamps (just like in Pulp Fiction!--sure, a coffee shop CAN afford 3 or 4 $3,000 light fixtures!--and Quentin Tarrantino does look like Elvis--what's up with that??). I'm sure that by now people in the food biz have considered it--at one time there was talk that they would split it up and a Starbucks was going in part of it. That of course, never happened. If even Starbucks passed, they must either want too much for it, or the number crunchers didn't think the neighborhood could make it go--too bad!

Gretchen said...

Hear hear, Dane! I'd open up the front entirely with plate glass windows -- and raise the roof with a giant skylight to let in more light. I'd try to use multiples of a fun, inexpensive & colorful light fixture for effect (I *do* like your artichoke idea). How about these? http://www.lumens.com/product.aspx?pf_id=uu280550 A girl can dream, can't she?

Gretchen said...

How about these cuties?

http://www.lumens.com/Mini-Pendant-Lights/lona-Mini-Pendant-by-Besa-Lighting/uu178919/3002-3007-3259/Product

http://www.lumens.com/Mini-Pendant-Lights/Easy-Pendant-by-Kartell/PAAAAADFGKBLMGDB/3002-3007-3259/Product

http://www.lumens.com/Pendant-Lights/Capri-1-Pendant-by-Jonathan-Adler/uu235043/3002-3007-3012/Product

http://www.lumens.com/Pendant-Lights/Capri-3-Pendant-by-Jonathan-Adler/uu174314/3002-3007-3012/Product

Sigh.

Anonymous said...

actually ate there when it was The Highlander.

Okay Gretchen, are you considering doing something with it? I think you have some awesome ideas. And like you always say, we DO need a Tiki bar...

xoa

undercover caterer said...

Just find me a bankroller and I'm in.

Gretchen said...

I wish I could A! No experience though.

OK, other ideas -- just shooting from the hip here:

- Video arcade. Like Ground Kontrol in Portland. Seriously, there'd be no upgrading at all. Just fix the roof and add lots of outlets!
- A popular and likable bakery. Ahem.
- bounce house/kiddie indoor playground.
- A gym.
- A farmers' market.

Keep the ideas coming!

Gretchen said...

That would be fabulous, undercover caterer! *breaking piggy banks*

Macy said...

We moved up the street (40th and 13th) just before Highlanders closed. Sigh.

It would be fantastic to see a dim sum place there (it's certainly big enough) or...Canter's north(!)(http://www.cantersdeli.com/aboutcanters/), particularly since Pancake Circus' hours seem to be dwindling by the day...

I'd love to see Googie Time in that mall too!

Gretchen said...

Oooh, nice ones, Macy!

SacEichler said...

I think some sort of multi-purpose establishment might work. Maybe like some places that are restaurants by day and lounges at night. It would be kind of nice to have a kind of a suburban neighborhood lounge that's not scary and doesn't necessarily have to serve alcohol. If it does, maybe one of those places like in Portland that infuses it's own vodkas and makes killer martinis.

Gretchen said...

I'm all for killer martinis, SacEichler :)

Anonymous said...

Starbucks,NO! They are every where. Arcade,NO! Talk about asking for trouble in the hood... Bar,No! There is already one in this shopping center (Brownies). I do like the idea of a cool Coffee shop. I always thought the BEST thing would be a Hofbrau. Like
www.harryshofbrau.com
It would have a better chance of making it as a buisness since there is only 1 other Hofbrau in all of Sacramento. Sam's Hofbrau on Watt Ave. People drive from all over just to go there and it is always packed. This would bring in some great clientel to the shopping center. Great for large group meetings. You could even do a Sunday Brunch. I have no doubt it would be successful buisness. Some big bucks would have to go into it to start. It has to be nice. Harry's Hofbrau (The Carvery) in Livermore is really NICE and would have to be that kind of quality. Good food,good service,clean restaurant,convient location and parking = Success

Gretchen said...

I like the Hofbrau idea, Anonymous! Thanks for your input.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Gretchen. Maybe the owner of the building could call Harrys Hofbrau and get something going. I'm getting hungry! Your idea of windows and sky lights is a must to brighten the place up. I'm sure so many people drove by when it was Neptunes wondering what was REALLY in there. If there is a turkey roasting in the window you can bet they will stop!

JHPIII

Gretchen said...

You're on to something JHPIII. That would be a real crowd-pleaser and would bring the restaurant back to its meat and potatoes roots!

Anonymous said...

Looks like something is brewing with the building. I noticed construction workers inside and out taking measurements.... Anyone have any clues?

JHPIII

Gretchen said...

Hmmmm - I'm glad someone is looking! Will see what I can find out.

Unknown said...

I am Bryan Stroh and my family owned Neptune's. It is so interesting to see people still talking about the restaurant. Something that the neighborhood would buy into will be successful. I hate to say it but I don't think a coffee shop is the solution, it's all about demographics.

Gretchen said...

I think you're right about demographics, Bryan. What sort of business do you think would work? I sort of like the hofbrau idea.