Squire's Redding Roadhouse Turns 10

A tavern that Mark Twain reportedly used to drink at became a biker bar. The biker bar — Bachelor’s Two — became McKenzie’s Redding Roadhouse. After 15 years, it became Squire’s Redding Roadhouse.

Today, the Roadhouse celebrates 10 years of business. Donna Roberts, one of the Roadhouse’s three owners, spoke with Patch about the restaurant’s history and what’s in store for the future.

“There is very little known for sure about this building except Mark Twain used to live opposite here — he owned the whole property over there,” Roberts said. “It’s been said he used to come into this when it was an old stagecoach inn-type place and write in the tavern. There’s no proof of that, though.”

At one point, the building — located at 406 Redding Road — was known as the Mark Twain Inn, offering travelers a place to lay their head. Over the years, the inn became a biker’s hangout, Roberts said.

Roberts, who operates the restaurant along with her husband, Chef Michael Roberts, and Louis Macol, the front of the house, said the Roadhouse has a little celebration planned for Friday evening to commemorate a decade of business.

“We are having a little party here on Friday to celebrate our 10 years,” Roberts said. “We’re going to have free champagne and hors d’oeuvres from 6 to 9 p.m, and the Bone Dry Band is paying from 9 to 1.”

Roberts said the Roadhouse is known for its lamb shank, pistachio sea bass and butternut squash ravioli.

“Our cuisine is American with a Pacific flair,” Roberts said. “We’ve got a Moroccan seafood stew, coconut curry sea bass. We offer traditional foods with a bit of a twist.”

Roberts said the Roadhouse is gearing up for its Oktoberfest celebration, which is held all October long.

“We offer our regular menu, along with a full German menu,” she said. “People start calling in June to ask when our Oktoberfest celebration starts.”

On Sunday afternoons in October, Roberts said, an oom-pah band plays at the Roadhouse to celebrate Oktoberfest.