Redford, An Unapologetically American Tavern

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The former Ambassador space in the Tendernob has been totally revamped and is opening tonight as Redford, an American tavern. Owned by Hugo Gamboa, Adam Snyder, and Justin Roja, the former two of whom also own The Brixton in Cow Hollow, and designed by Parisa O'Connell, Redford has a rustic/nostalgic vibe, with a vintage tractor wheel behind the bar, a 48-star American flag framed on the wall, and light fixtures made from old bread boxes. The whole front wall was knocked down to put in windows and the skylights were put back in place, making it much lighter and brighter than its dark, clubby predecessor.

Like The Ambassador, it's primarily a bar with some bites, like pizza, fried chicken, mac and cheese, and a burger. The drinks are more casual than mixology-heavy, although bar manager Luke Shifflette (Taverna Aventine) has some classics like a Sazerac, Old Pal, and Moscow Mule on offer to complement the 10 drafts and 20-odd bottles of beer and wine. The most unusual features of the menu involve whiskey: there are six whiskey and wine pairings (like petite syrah and Pappy Van Winkle), as well as a $25 whiskey board with four shots of the whiskey of the month (it's for sharing, guys). See the full food and drink menu here.

The 2,800-square-foot space is roomy, with seating for 22 at the downstairs bar and 12 at the upstairs bar, plus another 56 at the tables. And though The Ambassador's famed $2 Tuesdays have gone the way of the dodo, there's still a happy hour weekdays from 5-7 pm, with $4 drafts, $7 wine by the glass and cocktails, and half-off bottles of wine. Hours are daily from 5 pm-2 am; they may also add weekend brunch in a couple of months. As for the name, they claim it comes from the word for a river's crossing and is meant to paint the restaurant as a place where friends cross paths; we'll have to see if a certain Sundance Kid buys into that line of reasoning or just dials up his lawyers.

· Details On Redford, Headed To The Ambassador Spot [~ ESF ~]
· The Ambassador Ends Thursday; Redford Is On The Way [~ ESF ~]