Bradley Ogden?s Menlo Park restaurant delayed, aiming for spring 2014 opening | Peninsula Foodist | Elena Kadvany | Mountain View Online |

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Bradley Ogden?s Menlo Park restaurant delayed, aiming for spring 2014 opening

Uploaded: Dec 27, 2013
Menlo Park diners might have been excited to hear earlier this year that celebrity chef Bradley Ogden planned to expand his restaurant empire to the Peninsula city, aiming for a late summer opening. B.F.D, or Bradley's Fine Diner, was slated to replace the Gambardella's on Merrill Street across from the Menlo Park train station.

But months later, the space is still empty.

Why the delay? Timing, said Steven Hall, founder of public relations agency The Hall Company, which represents Ogden.

"The Houston restaurant Funky Chicken just opened and (we) want to get that fully operational before moving to another project," he said.

He added that the Houston restaurant was delayed due to permitting and they didn't "want to open back to back."

They're now aiming for a spring 2014 opening date in Menlo Park.

Hall passed along a description of B.F.D. from Ogden:

"It will be my Midwestern approach to my California style of food. Food that is inspired throughout my decades of cooking with the new veil of my son Bryan and the new age techniques and everything from wood burning suckling pig cassoulet to a whole roasted pork rack, to grilled trout, to homemade sausages with little stews, charcuterie plate with cheese. And there will be some fresh pizzas out of the oven to great salads and sandwiches, especially at lunchtime. Really fresh, fresh approach and everything from scratch and made in-house. We want a bar crowd, you know oysters, a fun place to hang out."

(Ogden's son, Bryan, is also a successful chef who recently helped open a Las Vegas restaurant and will also do so for Menlo Park.)

Ogden, a James Beard-award winning chef, cookbook author and restaurateur, owns a home (and restaurant at Santana Row) in San Jose. His Lark Creek Restaurant Group operates a total of 14 restaurants from Santa Clara to San Francisco, Napa, Larkspur, Walnut Creek and beyond. Menlo Park will be his first Peninsula outpost.
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Comments

Posted by dar es, a resident of Palo Verde,
on Dec 27, 2013 at 3:43 pm

unhappiness is missing the darbar buffet by moments...maybe you werent supposed to spend that 11 dollars. something else in the cards.


Posted by Bunyip, a resident of Adobe-Meadows,
on Dec 28, 2013 at 9:19 am

Yawn....


Posted by ryce, a resident of South of Midtown,
on Dec 28, 2013 at 4:40 pm

the best idea would be an organic quick chinese food place that had only a few itemns. a few good items is all thats needed. it could be no meat, just like fried rice ,regular rice ,some good sauces ,eggrolls some vegetable dishes. that's the only thing that doesent exist. some rich person could try this just to see how it would do.


Posted by hmmm, a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown,
on Dec 30, 2013 at 4:30 pm

The ogden empire seems to be spreading itself very thin. Not an exciting sounding menu for Menlo families and I think they will learn that this location is a bit of a dud -- not exactly a place to hang out. Their restaurants tend to be very pricey but, hey, better than a vacant storefront! Menlo needs reasonably priced, healthy family fare.


Posted by know more, a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park,
on Dec 31, 2013 at 4:53 am

They are trying to evict the Crepes restaurant, which has a long term lease. That is their main problem, not this nonsense PR release.


Posted by Elena Kadvany, a resident of another community,
on Dec 31, 2013 at 7:59 am
Elena Kadvany is a registered user.

hmmm: I think that Ogden\'s restaurant, if executed well, could actually be a good place for Menlo Park diners - and perhaps activate that corner. It sounds like the concept is less expensive and more casual than some of his other restaurants, but still serve high-quality California fare. But only time will tell!

know more: If you read the original Almanac article that reported Ogden was moving into the space, you\'ll see that Crepes Cafe\'s lease extends until 2019 and co-owner Helene Pascal was quoted expressing her excitement about the new restaurant: Web Link

Lisa\'s Tea Treasures did move out this fall and relocated to Los Altos.


Posted by BFD to BFE!, a resident of Menlo Park,
on Dec 31, 2013 at 3:54 pm

I am sad. I liked Gambardella's, Lisa's Tea, and Crepes Cafe. Not some yuppity-up BFD restaurant. Tell BFD to go to BFE!


Posted by suzy datt, a resident of Woodside,
on Jun 16, 2014 at 9:50 am

i think it will be wonderful to have a Chef like him in our city....known him for so long and he cooks awesome food .... love to have him here ...


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