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RESTAURANTS
Baily Wine Country Cafe / 2*
27644 YNEZ RD, TEMECULA; 909/676-9567
Even though it's in a mall next to a supermarket, not out among vineyards
as its appellation might suggest, Baily Wine Country Cafe is true to its
name in spirit. Fine local wines, tasteful lighting, gracious service,
and excellent California-continental cuisine make it easy to forget you've
left the wineries behind. Phil and Carol Baily (who also own Baily Vineyard
& Winery) created this upscale but casual restaurant with the intention
of providing visitors an affordable fine dining experience to complement
their vintages. Oenophiles will appreciate the cafe's wine list, which
features the largest selection of Temecula wines in the world (70). The
cooking of chefs Chris-topher Baily and Dana Ludwig is excellent, whether
you choose the freshly made crab cakes, the chicken schnitzel in lemon-caper
wine sauce, the grilled filet mignon topped with sauce bor-delaise, or
the blackened scallop and shrimp pasta. If you're on your way to the wineries,
stop in and the restaurant will make you a picnic lunch to go. $$; AE,
DC, DIS, MC, V; no checks; lunch, dinner every day; beer and wine; reservations
recommended; baily@baily.com; www.baily.com; Exit 1-15 at Rancho California
Rd and go east to Ynez Rd.
Cafe Champagne / 2*
32575 RANCHO CALIFORNIA RD, TEMECULA; 909/699-0088
You can't miss the herb garden as you walk into Thornton Winery's Cafe
Champagne perched on a north-facing terrace. It's located within steps
of the open-plan kitchen so that the snips of rosemary, thyme, oregano,
and other herbs can immediately make their way into the chef's Mediter-
ranean-inspired infusions, rubs, and marinades. Diners seated in the
courtyard can watch line cooks chopping vigorously, preparing executive
chef Steve Pickell's wine-complementary menu. Calamari sauteed in
garlic, lemon, shallots, dill, and Thornton brut arrives for a simple,
fra-
grant beginning to the meal. It's followed, perhaps, by a Cafe Champagne
Salad composed of fresh greens, spiced pecans, golden raisins, Gor-
gonzola, and champagne vinaigrette. Entrees such as pistachio-crusted
Colorado rack of lamb, Pacific prawns or sea scallops in black fettuccine,
and grilled pheasant breast roll out of ovens, off rotisseries, or off
the
wood-fired grill. Service by a young collegiate waitstaff is friendly,
and
the setting, especially on a warm afternoon or evening in summer, is con-
ducive to hours of relaxed dining. $$$; AE, DC, DIS, MC, V; no checks;
lunch every day, dinner Tues-Sun, brunch Sun; wine only; reservations
recommended; 4 miles east of 1-15 from Rancho California Rd exit. A\
Temet Grill / -k-k_______________________________
44501 RAINBOW CANYON RD, TEMECULA; 909/587-1465
Set just a short walk from its companion hotel, the Temecula Creek Inn
(see review in Lodgings, below), the Temet Grill glows at night like a
small lantern in the woods. Inside, a snapping oak fire often blazes in
the
stone fireplace in the bar/lounge just off the main dining room. Decor
in
the cathedral-ceiled dining room follows a Native American motif:
framed arrows, baskets, and other traditional craft objects hang on the
walls, while huge iron chandeliers float like blazing campfires overhead.
ffT An entire wall of windows overlooks the golf course and valley—there
isn't a bad seat in the house. The menu is equally inspired, featuring
chef
Stephane Baloy's herb-crusted Norwegian salmon with saffron risotto
and tomato-basil beurre blanc; excellent beef, such as a New York cut
in
green peppercorn sauce; and a rich veal scallopine with Marsala and
porcini risotto. Vegetarians will love the delicate, smoky flavor of
roasted-vegetable ravioli served in a basil pesto cream sauce along with
sauteed spinach. For breakfast, try the burrito of avocado, green chile,
scrambled eggs, salsa, and black beans. Lunches are strong on salads,
especially Asian chicken salad with ginger and plum vinaigrette. $$; AE,
445
INLAND EMPIRE
DIS, MC, V; no checks; breakfast, lunch, dinner every day; full bar;
reservations recommended; www.jcresorts.com; east on Pala from
Hwy 7 9 exit on 1-15.
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