Owen's Bistro

Owen's Bistro Restaurant Review:

Owen's Bistro, a highly personalized venture of young restaurateurs James and Denise Kelly (the place is even named after their son), is another indication that the Inland Empire dining scene is coming of age. The intimate restaurant, which feels a bit more like San Francisco than suburban Inland Empire, is housed in a century-old building with worn brick that's livened up with splashes of orange. The cuisine is Californian, with equal influences from Europe, and the prix-fixe-only menu changes frequently to showcase fresh seasonal produce. Among starters might be the "suspended" salad with romaine, truffle vinaigrette, flatbread and pecorino. We are particularly fond of the artfully presented mushroom cream soup laced with blue cheese. Slow-braised pork shoulder is rich with pepperoni sauce, panzanella salad and wilted spinach, while shrimp and fennel ravioli cooked with feta and tangerine butter is a lighter alternative. Pan-seared rare salmon is set on a hot river stone with braised greens and bacon vinaigrette. Finish with banana cake or an almond panna cotta with coconut whipped cream. The wine list, though limited in selection, is affordable. "Throwback Thursday Nights" offer old-school music and specials featuring dishes like Steak Diane, Beef Wellington, escargots and bananas Foster, alongside live entertainment on the patio.