Woolgrowers

When I visit my family in Bakersfield, California, I cannot miss going to Woolgrowers. Located in the old downtown area of Bakersfield, Woolgrowers is surrounded by some of the oldest and best restaurants I have ever eaten at. The fare is Basque through and through, from the cabbage soup with beans, bread and salsa to the pickled tongue and oxtail stew. While I have never tried either of the latter items, I can live off the soup, bread with salsa, and salad (aka: the set up). "The Set Up" is the basic part of the meal traditional in Basque restaurants. Everyone gets the set up and, if it is dinner time, you also get spaghetti (fatter noodles than traditional spaghetti), french fries, green-onioned cottage cheese, and gelato for dessert. These items are all served family style and keep coming until you can't eat anymore.

Woolgrowers is a non-traditional, family-style restaurant in that everyone at the table can have the set up, along with an additional item (the main course). Main courses usually change depending on the day of the week. They range anywhere from the aforementioned oxtail stew to fried chicken to lamb chops to filet mignon. The restaurant also seats like a normal restaurant, meaning you can make reservations or just pop in (although that is not encouraged due to the restaurants popularity).

Traditional family-style Basque restaurants offer two main courses depending on the night of the week. Also, everyone is served at the same time, like 7:30pm, at long tables. You could sit across from someone you don't even know!

So, if you are ever in my old neck-of-the-woods, be sure to stop in and enjoy a little Basque experience! If you can't find it, just ask anyone, they'll know how to get there!!