Easter is Last Day for Hamilton Cafe

After six and half years, owner Zoran Matulic is closing his doors after service this Sunday. A deal for someone else to buy the business fell through, he explained. Matulic said he will eventually move to the South Bay.

“With two kids in college, I’ll get some part-time work in one of my friend’s restaurants there,” Matulic said. 

He said he was selling the restaurant's equipment and fixtures to the city of Novato, which is the landlord. But when asked about back rent he owes, he said the fixtures and equipment would go to satisfy that debt. Matulic asserts that he owes only a few months of rent.

Ron Gerber, head of the Novato Redevelopment Agency, said, “I have no knowledge of any deal for the equipment.” He went on to say that he could not comment on any ongoing legal matters.

The bottom line is that the city eventually will lease the restaurant fully equipped.

Mill’s in the rumor mill

The rumor mill is churning away again in Novato’s restaurant world. Once again, the word is that in the downtown area is for sale. The plot gets deeper and sources say that the building on Redwood Boulevard is in contract to be sold and will then be demolished. What would replace it was not part of the scenario.

The landlord, Osama Atallah, has been operating the restaurant for the past 18 months, and said he is negotiating for the sale of the building only. The main proviso in the contract will be that it would then be leased back to him and he would continue to run the restaurant.

Omelet House for sale; Chaat debuts in San Rafael

For the second time in a year, restaurateur Surinder "Paul" Sroa is selling the . He owns the renovated building at 807 Grant Ave. and the adjacent property, which houses his popular Indian restaurant two doors away in Old Town.

He is retaining the Omelet House building, which has office space on the second floor. Last year, Sroa sold the full liquor license that was part of the Omelet House’s assets. Sroa also owns Lotus restaurant in San Rafael and Café Lotus in Fairfax. He bought the Omelet House in early 2009; it had been family run for 32 years.

Recently, Sroa opened Lotus Chaat & Spices at 1561 Fourth St. in San Rafael, a 120-seat casual café and store. He’s serving small bites or snacks (chaat is a popular Indian street food). You can buy spices and ingredients for Indian cooking and take cooking classes on Mondays.

Toot Toot: Southern Pacific Rounding the Bent

The managing partner of the Southern Pacific Smokehouse, Rick Riess, said if all goes well — that means the final OKs from the health and building departments —  the doors of the new Vintage Oaks restaurant will open in a couple of weeks, more or less on schedule.

But don’t bother to call for reservations because they won’t be taking them right off the bat. It will be first come, first served for barbecue, live music and much more.