Stonehouse Restaurant History

In January, 1848, John Marshall discovered gold in Coloma, a few miles from Nevada City, setting off the largest gold rush in history.

Tens of thousands of would-be gold miners-the 49ers-arrived by ship and wagon train from the entire world. They set up mining camps which grew into towns. Few of those towns survived, but among them is Nevada City, known as the "jewel of the Northern Mines". The Stonehouse Restaurant building, with its old stone walls and cave dug into the hillside, is one of the jewels of Nevada City.

A local businessman, George Gehrig, bought the property on which the Stonehouse sits and in 1882 built a brewery. With the help of Chinese laborers and Italian stonemasons, granite blocks were quarried locally to construct the "Old Nevada Brewery". At the same time, an authentic cave was dug into the hillside to condition the casks of ale.

The building originally covered the entire patio area and the cave was accessed from inside. Today, the cave entrance lies outside the building off the Stone Patio. Until the 1960s, the cave was also an entrance to a network of tunnels that ran beneath Nevada City. When the freeway was built, the tunnels were filled.

The building continued to operate as a brewery into the 1900s under several owners. It has also operated as a Chinese restaurant, bowling alley, stable, and even a dance hall. The building deteriorated but was restored by owners in the 1970s and 80s. Many of the antique fixtures were taken from the historic Kidder Mansion in Grass Valley. After renovation, the building stood largely vacant for more than 20 years, operating briefly as a micro brewery in the late 1990s.

It was the building and the history that spurred the current owners to create the Stonehouse Restaurant. It opened in February, 2004 after an extensive 6-month renovation. The magnificent backbar, built in Chicago in 1884 and said to have come from the notorious Chicken Ranch in Texas, was installed. An open kitchen, new dining room, and antique fixtures were added.

With respect for its Gold Rush roots, the Stonehouse focuses on California cuisine...from 1849 on. What did the miners eat? Lots of meat cooked over a fire-and fresh vegetables grown by the Chinese. Then, as California grew, the miners' simple fare gave way on special occasions to Victorian extravagance. A Christmas dinner might include nine or ten courses, with oysters, soup, salmon, a baron of beef, fruit, cheeses, desserts and more, accompanied by fine wines and champagne.

This food history inspired the restaurant's emphasis on fresh foods, much of it cooked on the wood-fired grill and rotisserie, and full of flavor! An excellent wine list complements the food. Now the Stonehouse is one of the finest dining experiences in the Sierra foothills, a place that attracts diners from everywhere for excellent food, excellent service, and an unsurpassed experience.