Redding, California, is known for its outdoor adventures. But did you know that the restaurant scene is equally attracting attention? The talented chefs have perfected traditional entrées like steak at Jack’s Bar & Grill and created unique dishes that will knock your socks off at Lost Era. 

A common theme among the best restaurants in Redding is the farm-to-table mantra. Freshness and high-quality ingredients are paramount to creating dishes that keep restaurants like Nello’s Place full. 

I dined at several different restaurants during my five-day trip on assignment with Matador Network. During my visit, the folks at Visit Redding were eager to show me some of the best things to do in Redding and some of their favorite restaurants, like Lost Era, Nello’s Place, and Dill’s Deli. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and taste of the local cuisine.

So, whether you are on a road trip through Redding, or stopping for a few days, here are some of the best restaurants in Redding you will want to try.

Lost Era

One of the most unique restaurants in Downtown Redding is Lost Era. Housed in one of the oldest brick buildings in Downtown Redding, Lost Era is a casual restaurant inside an antique shop. The owner, Josh Mansfield, has deep family roots in Redding. His family has lived in Redding for centuries, which has helped him preserve some of Redding’s history. 

Lost Era has a growing fan base in the community because the food is unique and outstanding.  The chefs make one entrée per day and serve that entrée until it runs out.

During my visit, I had the carne asada tacos with roasted corn squash, shredded cabbage, pickled onion, chipotle lime crema, and salsa verde molejete, complemented by a roasted poblano and corn salad, and cilantro lime rice. The hefty portions and mouthwatering flavors keep Lost Era busy. It is a must-try while in Redding. 

The ever-changing menu is posted on Lost Era’s Instagram page. The community is excited that Mr. Mansfield is in the process of creating a full-service restaurant.   

Nello’s Place

Nello’s Place is an old-school Italian restaurant with classic red leather booths serving Redding customers since the 1980s. It is one of the nicest restaurants in Redding.

The extensive traditional Italian menu includes specialty dishes like steak Diane and saltimbocca and numerous traditional entrees like pasta, chicken, veal, and meat.

Hands down, my favorite item on the menu was the tableside Caesar salad for two. I am incredibly picky when it comes to Caesar salad. Nello’s Place uses classic ingredients, including a raw egg, plus a modern twist with a dash of Tabasco. The Caesar salad was one of the best I have ever had.

In addition to the Caesar salad, I also tried the calamari and the pasta primavera with garlic and olive oil, both of which were excellent. 

Reservations are highly recommended. We ate at Nello’s Place during the week, which was busy.   

Theory Coffee Roasters and Eden Bakery

Redding has an intense coffee culture. People in the area take their coffee seriously and want only the best coffee. Theory Coffee Roasters stepped up to the plate to meet that challenge. The award-winning coffee brings in lines of people waiting to get their coffee for the day. 

The owner, Sam LaRobardiere, initially started by roasting coffee as a hobby with a friend. His passion for coffee is evident in the details throughout the coffee house, combined with the delicate pastries and other breakfast items from Eden Bakery.

Evergreen

Evergreen is an inviting coffee house that serves delicious food. The light and bright café is known for serving Feast coffee, its in-house roasted coffee beans. Locals flock to Evergreen in the morning. It was hard to find a table during our visit because so many people were enjoying their daily Feast coffee and breakfast fix. I am not much of a coffee drinker, but when in Rome. So, I am not the best person to give a coffee review, but I can tell you my avocado toast was fresh and tasty. The waffles also looked really good. 

Feast coffee is strong and comes in multiple flavors. Evergreen is selective about the farmers it works with from around the world. Evergreen strives to provide the highest quality coffee beans and strong relationships with its coffee farmers. 

If you enjoy Feast coffee but don’t live in the area, you can order online. 

Evergreen switches gears at night and serves dinner and wine. 

Jack’s Grill

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That is the motto at Jack’s Grill. The casual steakhouse prides itself on perfectly cooked steak and is not interested in doing much else. The streamlined steak menu dates back eighty years to when men constructed the Shasta Dam and worked in the mines. 

Jack Young created a place where these hungry men could come after a full day’s work and enjoy a one-pound steak. Yep, that’s right, a full pound. The crowds of regulars at Jack’s Grill are proof of the perfectly cooked steak. 

While at Jack’s, I shared a salad, steak, and a baked potato. Jack’s doesn’t serve dessert, which was fine by me because I was so full from dinner. 

For non-meat eaters, you can order fried chicken or fried prawns.

For the history buffs, Jack’s Grill was a short-lived brothel, and if you ask around, you might be able to figure out where bullet holes were once shot at the wall. 

Branch House Riverfront Bistro

Branch House is a cute shop and limited menu restaurant next to the Turtle Bay Exploration Museum and the Sundial Bridge. 

It took me a few minutes to walk to Branch House from the Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge, where I was staying. It is a convenient place to grab a cup of coffee or tea and a bite to eat before heading out for the day. There are plenty of coffee options, but the breakfast menu is small. I opted for a croissant, which was perfect to start my day. 

I also ate at Branch House for Wine Down Wednesdays. We opted for the charcuterie plate and grilled cheese sandwich (there is no such thing as too much cheese) while listening to live music. After dinner, we headed to the Redding Garden of Lights to check out over one million holiday lights.

RAW

RAW is a modern upscale restaurant and bar with an extensive menu that caters to more than just sushi lovers. The 170-seat restaurant was designed to serve both sushi and non-sushi eaters. RAW would be perfect for Gary and me since I love sushi, and he won’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.

I ate at RAW for lunch with several people who enjoy sushi. We asked the chef to surprise us with his choice of rolls. Everything that came out was tasty, including the chicken wings. RAW takes pride in providing its customers with the freshest quality fish. The owner goes the extra mile to have the fish he serves flown in Japan. Non-sushi eaters may enjoy menu items like Pho, the blue cheese mushroom burger, a steak filet, and puffy tacos. 

RAW is a terrific option for anyone looking for a fun night out, delicious food, or even a drink at the bar. 

Dill’s Deli & BBQ

Dill’s Deli is an extremely popular sandwich shop serving traditional sub sandwiches and smoked barbeque. Locals flock to Dill’s Deli. It was very crowded when we arrived for lunch during the week.

I opted to create my sandwich, but you can order off the menu with several creative sandwich choices. The barbeque meat and chicken options are popular, too.

I recommend that you order ahead to avoid the wait at the restaurant. Dill’s Deli is also a great idea if you want to pick up lunch to eat while out on the trail or the river fly fishing.

Damburger

In 1938, a young entrepreneur realized he had a built-in lunch audience at the construction site at Shasta Dam. Bud Pennington started selling smashburgers, and he created a following.

Today, Damburger is in a permanent location in Downtown Redding. The menu is predominately burgers (even vegetarian), hot dogs, and French fries.

We stopped in for lunch and were not the only ones. The crowded restaurant is old school, with a counter, stools, and several tables inside and out. Even though I wasn’t hungry when we stopped in, I couldn’t help myself. I tried and enjoyed the Damburger with the works and fries. If you are starving, give the triple patty burger a try.

Mosaic Restaurant

If you are looking for a homey-feeling restaurant with something on the menu for everyone, then Mosaic is a solid choice. Mosaic is located at the Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge and Turtle Bay Exploration Park and offers a full bar, lounge area, and restaurant.

I ate at Mosaic for breakfast and dinner. The small breakfast menu offered traditional breakfast options. The larger dinner menu includes pizzas made in the stone oven, pasta, and meat dishes. My favorite dishes were the Brussels sprouts and the charcuterie plate.

If you are in Redding on a Monday night, stop into the bar with live music.

The Park

One of the more unique restaurants in Redding is The Park, a food truck park. Carnegie Park has several food trucks, but the area also has games like life-size checkers, corn hole, and firepits. The Park is an open-air family friendly experience in Downtown Redding that is sure to bring a smile to your face.

You can check The Park’s Facebook page to stay up to date with hours of operation, music performances, and events like Small Business Saturday and the Christmas tree lot. 

Redding Farmers Market

Farmers markets are set up five times a week throughout Redding, including at the Sundial Bridge. Instead of a traditional restaurant, consider heading to a Redding Farmers Market where you can shop locally grown food and handmade products or enjoy freshly baked pastries and prepared foods.

Cask & Cleaver

Cask & Cleaver’s cheese and charcuterie boards became so popular that the owners opened a storefront in Downtown Redding. While not a traditional restaurant, Cask & Cleaver makes grab-and-go cheese and charcuterie plates perfect for a picnic while on a hike or a bike ride. While in the shop, you can create your own picnic or check out their local products like jellies, honey, and more.

Redding Market Place

Redding Market Place was designed to be a focal point in Downtown Redding for visitors to congregate and relax. The open-concept hall will feature restaurants, bars, and shops. I had a chance to see Redding Market Place while under construction. Scheduled to open in late 2024, it will make a great addition to the neighborhood. 

I hope you enjoyed this list of the best restaurants in Redding. Drop a comment and let me know if any additional restaurants you think should be added to this list.

If you are traveling to Redding, you might also like my complete guide to a road trip from Half Moon Bay to Santa Barbara, the most romantic hotels in Northern California, and the best places to visit in California.