Parque 1055
Relaxed sophistication
Parque 1055
1055 E. Main Street
Santa Paula, CA 93060
(805) 619-1055
$$-$$$
Pet-friendly
Head east on Main Street, just past the museums on 10th Street, and you cross into a section of town that is generally viewed as, well, less than upscale. [Polite cough] Pedestrian traffic thins, and a few homeless appear huddled in doorways. As you approach the corner of Main and S. Ojai Street, though, something else becomes apparent: business is rebounding.
Parque 1055—an expansive restaurant, bar, and event space—recently celebrated its grand opening, offering fresh California Cuisine with distinctive twists, wines sourced from the California Coast, and refreshing cocktails. The interior is sleek, clean, and minimalist. A selection of pop music from the last few decades plays over the sound system. Despite its air of sophistication, it also feels relaxed and down to earth.
Inside and out, Parque 1055 suggests casual sophistication.
My husband, mother-in-law, and I made dinner reservations for the main dining room and were sat in a booth that managed to feel both spacious and cozy. My husband ordered the sand dabs from the appetizer menu, which were tempura fried and served with fried potatoes and a bright lemon remoulade. My mother-in-law sunk her teeth into a classic—and generous—burger on a brioche bun. The side of shoestring-style fries was, hands down, amazing and instantly addictive, fried to a nom-nom-nom crispiness.
I had the sea bass served with a side of red onion, tomato, and grilled grapes. Yep, grilled green grapes. Grilling them, as it turns out, mutes their sweetness and brings out an oh-so-subtle roasted flavor. The acidity of the onion/tomato/grape salad cut nicely through the oil of the sea bass, which was tender and tasty, topped with capers for added salt.
For drinks, my husband ordered the “No Bad Days” cocktail (jalapeño infused tequila, mezcal, pineapple, lemon, ginger), which to me at least, had just the right amount of mezcal smokiness. My mother-in-law had the Dos Topas lager from Topa Topa Brewing, which provided a light and easy-drinking (4.5% ABV) complement to her burger.
I ordered the Storm “SBC” Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara. Although I expected a down-home-plate California Pinot with plenty of fresh strawberry and cherry flavors—and it did deliver on that promise—this one surprised me with its depth, suggesting the meaty, leathery notes of an aged New Zealand Pinot. It was a solid pairing with the sea bass.
Burger and fries, sand dabs with lemon remoulade, sea bass with onion/tomato/grape salad.
After we paid our tab, we spent some time exploring the space and were delighted to see that the owners have chosen to honor both the history of Santa Paula and of the building itself with vintage photos and plaques. (See photos below.) I can’t speak for all Santa Paulans, but the ones I know (including me) are always wary of new businesses that seems to lack a basic regard for the city, its character, and its storied past. If we want impersonal national or regional chains, we’ll go to a strip mall, thankyouverymuch.
Tributes to Santa Paula history.
Turns out, Parque 1055 occupies a building that dates back to 1929 and once housed the Rosenauer & Reynolds’s Chevrolet Agency. Designed by Roy C. Wilson with touches of Spanish architecture, it became the home of Brown Motors in 1952. Its iteration(s) in the intervening years before Parque revamped it are vague.
Other plaques and photos honor the profound impact of the St. Francis Dam disaster that flooded the Santa Clara River Valley and killed more than 400 people in 1928. There are also nods to the age of Prohibition, including a medical prescription for ethanol that was allowed under special exemption during that time.
The real bonus here, though, is Parque’s beautiful outdoor seating area, replete with space-age-looking heaters and a hypnotic water feature. I returned the next day and sat in the courtyard with my dog, listening to other new patrons marvel at how “nice!” and “sophisticated” Parque is.
“Santa Paula’s got a fancy new restaurant!”
I, for one, welcome our new alien heater overlords. Hawt!
The one downside: It is pricey, especially given the portions. To give you an idea, my sea bass was $33, and the sand dabs were about $20.
Our recommendation: Make reservations for payday and/or when you’re feeling particularly flush with cash, and check out the happy hour for more wallet-friendly options. Friday night saw a livelier crowd, so if you’re looking for a more animated and/or date-night/girls’ night vibe, the weekends are your best bet.
Happy hour:
Monday–Friday, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM