The newest addition to downtown Turlock's emerging culinary scene is actually an old favorite, reimagined with a focus on modern California cuisine.
Wellington's, a British gastro-pub that has been a Turlock nightlife haunt since 1999, has closed its doors for good. In its place is now 10 East Kitchen & Tap House.
“We felt like we needed to make a change by breaking away from the sports bar scene,” said 10 East co-owner and general manager Derek Walker. “So far we’ve been very blessed because the food has been received extremely well by our audience. We don’t want to be known for the late bar scene. That’s not what we’re all about anymore.”
Although still located on the site of the old Southern Pacific Railroad station at the corner of Main Street and Golden State Boulevard and under the same ownership, everything else about the downtown restaurant is new. New executive chef, new menu, new atmosphere.
10 East Executive Chef Sam Bans created an eclectic menu that provides a fusion of cuisines.
“We put a lot of thought into the food we created,” said Bans. “Our cuisines have a global influence to satisfy every customer’s needs. We also have the perfect wines to pair up with our food."
The new menus include items with a Caribbean flare like the "Jerk" chicken wrap, alongside Southern fried chicken and waffles, brick oven pizzas and wild boar burgers. Also new to the restaurant are smaller offerings, under the "Shared Plates" section of the menu.
“We want to differentiate ourselves from other restaurants in Turlock,” said Walker. “Our food is changed seasonally so we have brought different flavors to the surface.”
Alongside the revamped menu is a new beer, wine and spirits experience at 10 East. Over 60 different types of beer dominate the renovated bar area, with beers such as Firestone Walker’s “Wookie Jack,” Lost Abbey’s “Judgment Day” and the infamous India Pale Ale.
“We have over 18 of the best beers on tap,” said Walker. “We have the best of the best in our bar. We are trying to incorporate every style out there to appeal to everyone’s taste. We rotate our craft beer on a daily basis.”
Walker described his new cocktail drink, pineapple upside-down cake — a combination of cold house Cake Batter Vodka mixed with Disaronno Amaretto, pineapple juice and Grenadine — as “sophisticated.” The Dead Comedian’s cocktail menu named after deceased comedians, has earned rave reviews from customers, said Walker.
“Lots of effort was put into creating these cocktail menus,” said Walker. “They’re a little more time-consuming to make than other drinks but the taste makes it all worth it. We worked with pretty much everybody to make sure our food and cocktail drinks can go hand in hand.”
The new 10 East is open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Limited menus are available between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., and for late nights.The bar is open until 12 midnight Monday through Wednesday, and until 12:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
For more information, call 669-1010.
