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Dewz: Dining excellence since 1997
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By RICHARD PALOMA

Dewz owner Scott Aspesi has one overall goal for patrons who come to his restaurant on J Street in Modesto: For their dining experience to be something never to forget, from the food to the service.

One of the city’s premiere fine dining establishments with crisp tablecloths and cloth napkins and more than 450 wines from which to choose, it has a great bar and two main dining rooms serving tasty, fresh entrées in ample portions. The wine list at Dewz is the real highlight with selections from around the world, with regions from all over the globe well represented.

“There are plenty of places in the Central Valley to eat, but very few to dine,” Aspesi said. "When they leave here I want them to remember that the service was spot on.”
Aspesi, who has been in the restaurant business for over 35 years, said that if the dining fare is great but without good service, it takes away from the experience of going out to eat. The same can apply if the service is good and the food is bad.

“That’s why we specialize in creating a fine dining experience that you will never forget,” Aspesi said. “Our staff is dedicated to continually refining our customer service to find new, better ways to enhance your dining experience and we always go above and beyond.”

Aspesi added that diners will feel every penny was worth it and not a waste of time.

“It’s in the details of service we provide,” Aspesi said.

Opened in 1997, Dewz specializes in new American cuisine with great influences from France and Asia. Executive chef Vincent Alvarado has been with Dewz since day one with outstanding recipes and expanding on the culinary ideas from both Scott and Judy Aspesi.

“It’s almost unheard of to have your executive chef stick around that long,” Aspesi said of Alvarado, a graduate of the Columbia Culinary College. “He’s our rock of Gibraltar.”

Chef Alvarado described his menu creations as an “eclectic mix of California cuisine.”

With Alvarado, Dewz has established not only a rotating menu of local ingredients but two house mainstays they are known for – their Angus New York steak seared and broiled with a bleu cheese-butter crust served with bacon mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables and their soy-glazed Chilean sea bass with broth, smoked shitakes served with edamame, crispy red yams, scallion garlic spinach and kabocha mashers.

“Our lamb shank is amazing,” Alvarado said of his rosemary-braised lamb shank and Syrah roasted tomatoes with caramelized onion, baby carrots, baked garlic mashers and orange gremolata sauce.
Dewz has many enticing appetizers on their menu including calamari, Blue Point oysters, beef Carpaccio, and braised pork belly with apple cider jus.

“Our calamari by far is head and shoulders above any other in the area,” Aspesi boasted.

Dewz has become renowned for their service level, recognized in 2012 when OpenTable released a list of the top 100 restaurants in the U.S. that its users say had the best service. Dewz was ranked equally of only 10 California sites with other fine dining notables such as French Laundry in Yountville and the Addison at the Grand Del Mar in San Diego.

The restaurant has also been recognized by Wine Spectator over the years winning their Award of Excellence in 2002, 2003, 2004 and Best Award of Excellence in 2011. Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards recognize those restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine, and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.

“I didn’t think much of it at first because I knew where we stood,” said Aspesi, noting that a good wine list goes hand-in-hand with excellent cuisine. “I started getting customers who would travel from afar just because we were Wine Spectator Award winners.”

On Tuesdays Aspesi hosts a Taste and Tapas affair in the restaurant’s wine bar. The event, open to only 20 reserved patrons, is a five-course wine sampling, paired with food prepared by Chef Alvarado for a cost of only $35 per person.

“A good chef needs a fine selection of wine,” Aspesi said. “This is one way for guests to sample both.”

Aspesi and the Dewz staff are committed to the meticulous preparation of each plate to assure that their guests enjoy the finest of dining experiences.

Dewz Restaurant

1505 J Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Hours:

Mon-Thur. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
Saturday 5 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
Sunday Closed

Reservations: (209) 549-1101