Turlock’s Table 26 sold, almost closed, but staying open with new team, menu items
When new owners took over the upscale Turlock eatery Table 26 last fall, they had planned to close it and reopen another restaurant in its place.
But they realized the wisdom of that old saying, “Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.” And instead of completely overhauling the Geer Road eatery, they’re keeping much of the menu as is, and adding some new items. But the additions won’t be new to you if you’ve ever eaten at Oakdale’s Firenze Ristorante.
The new management team of Table 26 is the same team behind the popular Italian eatery in Oakdale. Principal owner Victor Esaloo, district manager Ray Ashak and executive chef Rogeh Yousefbadal have some 35 years of experience in the restaurant industry.
When they came in October they originally wanted Table 26 to become a second location for Firenze, and intended on changing its menu to all Italian cuisine. But then they looked at their reservations and realized they were booked solid through the holidays and into January.
So they kept the menu as is through the holiday months, adding some daily specials from the Firenze menu. Then they started hearing from the customers, many of whom who had been loyal followers of the restaurant’s farm-to-table American cuisine since it opened in 2015.
“People just loved this place, and kept telling us,” said Esaloo, who also owns four Eddie’s Pizza locations in Stockton. “We realized it was too popular to change.”
Instead they will be incorporating some of Yousefbadal’s Firenze menu items at Table 26 — including more fresh-made pasta dishes and seafood.
The restaurant closed at the start of this week for some minor renovations. They are expanding the size of the walk-in refrigerator in the kitchen and doing some interior touch-ups on the paint and decor.
But, Ashak said, when it reopens Feb. 5, diners shouldn’t notice too much of a difference. They’re keeping its slate gray color scheme and all of its tables and dishware. You can expect some more world-themed artwork on the walls. But, otherwise, the 6,000 square foot restaurant — which was a Golden Corral and Sweetriver Saloon before becoming Table 26 — should look mostly the same.
Table 26’s new menu
Popular menu items like the ahi poki nachos, Korean chicken bowl, and most of their steaks — including big sellers like the prime rib and ribeye — are all staying. They’ll be adding some Firenze Ristorante favorites like seafood ravioli, linguini romano, gnocchi con pesto and lasagna. Also new is the grilled salmon with a lemon caper sauce over risotto rice which I tried and you should definitely order because yum. But don’t worry, Table 26 fans, the glazed soy salmon is also staying on the menu.
The price point will remain largely the same, around $28 to $38 for steaks and $18 to $24 for pasta dishes.
Yousefbadal, who serves as executive chef for both restaurants, said they plan to switch the menu seasonally. So look for new dishes and in-season additions regularly. They will continue to have lunch service, but incorporate more of the dinner menu and regular specials.
They also plan to start having a brunch buffet on Sundays and continue the bottomless mimosas service. Down the road they hope to install a wood-fired stone pizza oven on the restaurant’s patio. Firenze offers 10 pizzas and five calzones from its own wood oven, and they want to bring some of them down to Turlock as well.
Most of the Table 26 staff of close to 40 employees was retained in the sale. The restaurant can seat 200, and has a private banquet room that can fit 70. There is also a full bar and wine menu, plus craft cocktail menu.
“We want to continue to be a top place for people to go for fine dining in Turlock,” Ashak said. ”We know it’s all about the quality of the food and the customer service. So we want to thank the community for their understanding during this time and invite them back when we reopen.”
Table 26, at 2600 Geer Road in Turlock, will reopen Feb. 5. Its hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more information call 209-668-2300 or visit www.table26.net.
