Chef View
By Chris Murphy
Tye Bauer and the New Bauer’s Downtown Gastropub
It is all about the taste, and it is all about the care that goes into the unique foods that are served up as specialties. Tye Bauer has been a champion of hand-made flavors, competed on network TV cooking shows and delivered fantastic tastes on the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives show. But make no mistake, every journey to his restaurants is a culinary tour that you will not soon forget. Every serving is special and you know it is prepped with care. We are experiencing an amazing journey that is leading to a new Bauer’s Downtown Gastropub.
Raised in the bay area, Tye was the youngest of 7 kids. He explains “it was tougher when he was younger, but as the house cleared out, I had to fight less and I had less anxiety”. He was often described as “resilient” and that probably was a driving force for his energy, drive and quest to deliver innovative and creative food. He, his wife Niccol and his kids live in the LaLoma Neighborhood and regularly support community events and he is generous with his really limited extra time.
The original Bauers 66 1/2, made famous by the DD&D show, occupies a small space in McHenry Village on the Briggsmore side, behind Viera’s, featuring amazing sandwiches, burgers, meats and vegan options and tasty sides for over 10 years with Chef Tim Mercer. Bauhaus at the north edge of downtown on Downey is like finding a gem in each tapas plate. Each item is hand crafted with curated meats, vegan options, hand picked local ingredients with a story and a reason for each item on the menu. It is really a neighborhood hangout, many people cycling or walking to eat in the cozy space enjoying essentially custom made food.
Now, we find ourselves on 9th Street, the Old Highway 99. Originally called Front Street as it faced the Southern Pacific tracks. It was essentially the old “Skid Row” and that suits Tye Bauer just fine. “I like being on the edge in interesting places others may not want to go”. Tye and his team have completely renovated the building, formerly the Burnt End, Banana Joe’s and the Palm Gardens among other things. Butcher block tables, fresh new kitchen, monster 3 HP meat grinder, brick walls, seating for 60 with art by John Troxler @troxstar bringing it all together. Being by the train was really great and they have even embraced this location with a giant train mural and incorporated it into their logo.
Even more exciting is the new menu Chef Tim Mercer and Tye have prepared. One of the first things that got our attention is they are featuring sliced potatoes vs. the traditional fries. When you walk in the door, the first thing you will see is a meat aging and drying case that will supply specialty cured meats for all of the Bauer eateries. Super exciting will be the Duck Sandwich and the aged Rib Eye and the New York Strip steaks. Of course, he will continue to build on his already fantastic pastrami, his sausages and delicious fish presentations. Finally, diners will be amazed with the beautiful presentation of each dish and the care for the entire process. Tye is genuinely excited how this new larger space will be able to support his other smaller places.
Over the last few months, Tye has been on a “food as fuel” program, all clean, no booze and 100% focus as he and his team built the GastroPub at the same time running the other locations AND building his wife Niccol’s new Dharma Yoga Studio open now at 601 Scenic that will have the fitness programs along with a Vegan Raw food bar in 2020. Pretty amazing. Follow on IG @dharmayogamodesto
Local Modesto icon, Tony Serrano is one the important front line of Bauer’s projects, manning the kitchen at Bauhaus, telling stories, engaging the diners and will even soon bring his legendary coffee skills soon to Bauer’s Downtown.
Bauer’s Downtown Gastropub will be open Tuesday – Saturday from 11-3 pm and will start dinner hours in January. Beer and wine are available with a full bar coming in 2021.
What is next in the Bauer experience? There’s more in store, but we will leave that for another time.
The only hint we will give you is “3”.
Stay tuned.
Bauer’s Downtown
822 9th Street
Modesto, Ca 95354
Phone # coming soon
www.facebook.com/8229thstreetmodestoca/
www.bauers66.com
Tuesday – Saturday 11-3 pm
Team photo: L to R
Neetesh Narayan
Jessica Gilmer
Preston Vieira
Chef Tye Bauer
Tony Serrano
Brandon Hernandez
Greg Peterson – prep and line cook
Jovan Hernandez
Trevor Smallwood
Chef Tim Mercer
Joe Paisley – prep and line cook
