Good Eats: What’s new in dining

OUR REGION IS HOME TO A GROWING and vibrant restaurant scene — from farm-to-fork dining to roadhouses to burger joints. Here are some restaurants and delis that are opening this fall:

OL’ REPUBLIC ROADHOUSE
The restaurant is serving lunch and dinner along with its award-winning beer at what had been the Old Five Mile House on Hwy. 20 near Nevada City.

It is an imaginative menu, with recommended beer pairings. Snacks and appetizers include a homemade soft-warm pretzel, arti- san cheeses, and chicken wings. “Precious Gem” is a salad of Little Gem lettuce, blood orange supremes, levain crouton, roasted beet, lemon goddess and chervil.

Dishes include “Da Brat,” pork sausage with marjoram, white pepper, caraway, sauerkraut and mustard; “Red Nose” pizza, with tomato sauce, three cheeses, mush- rooms and herbs; and a house-ground burger with bacon jam, lettuce, onion, Celtic Red mustard and provolone.

This spring owners Jim Harte and Simon Olney also opened a taproom in Rancho Cordova’s growing barrel district. Ol’ Republic’s brewery and original taproom is in Nevada City. OlRepublicRoadhouse.com

LEFTY’S FRY HOUSE
The two left handed chefs and co-owners of Lefty’s Grill — Chris Duncan and John Cammack — are opening Lefty’s Fry House, a casual eatery next to Sierra Cinemas in Grass Valley. The menu features Lefty’s signature fish and chips, sandwiches on naan bread, fresh salads, garlic fries and more. LeftysGrill.com

WATERSHED
Energetic, young restaurateurs have renovated what had been The Owl Grill & Saloon on Mill St. in the historic downtown. Watershed is focusing on new American cuisine. It will have a Victorian theme, with some historic decor retrieved from the National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City. Facebook.com/WatershedGV

WILD EYE PUB
The pub is a vibrant, multi-use venue, anchored by a local-foods eatery, full-service pub, and a tech-rich event space and roomy stage. It is in downtown Grass Valley in a renovated building that used to be home to the Swiss House. WildEyePub.com

PINE STREET BURGERS
The owners of the popular South Pine Café and Pine Street Burgers opened a second hamburger restaurant across from the Pine Creek Shopping Center in Grass Valley. PineStreetBurgers.com

THE HAM STAND
Upscale salumeria on Zion St. in Nevada City specializing in Italian-style cured meats, barbecue products and specialty cuts. Small party catering and pick up platters available. Delicious deli sandwiches. TheHamStand.com

LA GASTRONOMIA
An Italian deli on South Auburn St. in Grass Valley offering hot sandwiches, wood-fired pizza, imported meats and cheeses, among other items. LaGastronomia.us