No Hope for Southern Pacific Smokehouse

Hopes of a quick-turnaround on a new restaurant in place of the closed appear to be completely dashed. 

In the legal notice section of the print version of the , a “Notification of Sale of Collateral” says that the furnishings, fixtures and equipment of Southern Pacific Smokehouse at Vintage Oaks shopping center will be sold on-site at 8 a.m. Jan. 9.

The notice began running Dec. 31, four days after the closure was announced on Facebook.  Inquiries regarding the sale are to be directed to Eric Tausend at 415-954-4400.

Now that it's less likely that another ownership group will sweep in and keep it open as a restaurant, what do you think ought to move into that spot? Add a comment below.

BOCA REVIEWED

A review of in the Marin IJ should get the word out about one of the best restaurants in Novato. The meal started off well for reviewer, Tanya Henry, who was “smitten” with the homemade pickles that come as an appetizer. Henry called the 12-ounce asado ribeye "perfectly executed" and also reviewed the ravioli with chicken and the yellowfin tuna.

That's good to know because in all my trips to Boca, it never occurred to me to order anything but one of their delectable grass-fed steaks. 

It should be noted that Boca has one of the happiest Happy Hours in town, judging by the lively crowd. Another great deal is on Tuesdays when customers can get 50 percent off full bottles and half bottles from the extensive wine list.

THAI BISTRO FOR SALE

News from skimming the Craigslist ads shows that is listed for sale at a price of $65,000 after 16 years of operation in its location in the beleaugered Square shopping center. The transition comes less than six months after Villa Roma Sourdough Pizza, a west Novato mainstay for more than three decades, shut down a few doors away.

The Thai Bistro listing says the 2,000-square-foot eatery has a beer and wine license, fully-equipped kitchen, permits, licenses, equipment and inventory and rents at $2,800 a month. The agent is Maria Neff at 415-699-9393.

NO SOL FOOD FOR YOU

Will the popular San Rafael eatery Sol Food expand into Novato? 

Maybe Novato Patch was asked to follow-up on this or maybe we were hungry and initiated the call, but a long-awaited and unsigned e-mail reply from the establishment said that while they are flattered, Sol Food is not looking for new locations and only delivers as far as Marinwood. The score is 3-0 with San Rafael locations shutting out Novato.

For more info on their newest takeout-only eatery, La Bodega, click on this to a San Rafael Patch article.