El Paseo Makes its Debut

El Paseo, the iconic downtown Mill Valley restaurant space taken over by local residents Tyler Florence and Sammy Hagar in late 2009, opened quietly on March 19 after a .

Florence’s El Paseo appears to balance his wish for hyper-locally sourced ingredients with the reality of his national celebrity chef stature. Chef de Cuisine Preston Clarke, formerly of JoJo and Jean-Georges in New York City, presents a meat-centric menu (see full menu at right) of steaks and chops with the obligatory seared salmon and mushroom risotto options for local flexitarians. 

Point Reyes blue cheese is called out on the menu and there is a commitment to locally aged, all-natural, humane-certified beef from Creekstone Farms in Kansas.  Oysters are sourced from both coasts but there is no mention of Marin’s Drakes Bay, Tomales or Hog Island. Signature southern dishes such as Pimento Cheese appetizer and Chicken Fried Steak entree dot the menu, a trademark of Florence’s cooking and menu style.

The interior, designed with Lori Yeomans of USA Interior Design, who designs all of Florence's restaurants, is warm and inviting with lots of exposed brick, dark leather and classic white table settings. Locals will notice that the eye-drawing bookshelf theme at his shop down the street is omnipresent in El Paseo, including the bathrooms.

But where or where has the planned adjacent bakery gone? It has morphed into El Paseo’s bar and lounge – the perfect spot to enjoy the extensive wine list and partner Hagar’s Cabo Wabo tequila.

Currently open for dinner only, plans are in the works for a mom-and-kid friendly lunch menu. Stay tuned.

The 411: El Paseo, 17 Throckmorton Avenue (entrance in the alley), 415.388.0741. Hours: Nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are recommended.