More Than Fresh
You don’t have to go to the big city to experience truly fine dining. You just have to head to Moonstone Bistro. Tucked away on Placer Street near Holiday Market, Moonstone has delighted the palates of North State food aficionados with everything from their delectable appetizers to the hard-to-chose-just-one entrees and sinfully delicious desserts.
Started in 2006 by Chef Che Stedman, and his wife, Tanya Stedman, Moonstone Bistro is a full-service dining experience with farm-to-table food, craft cocktails, local beers, and an extensive wine list from around the world. The dedicated crew, led by Dining Room Captain Curt Messer and Chef de Cuisine Megan Teren, is a big reason for the staying power and continued success of the restaurant.
Che Stedman grew up in Northern California but left to train at the Culinary Institute of America under four different master chefs. An award-winning chef himself, he gravitated back to California working in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he met Tanya.
The pair opened Emerald Restaurant in Garberville in 1999 and sold it to move to Redding and open Moonstone Bistro in 2006. For the past 15 years, the Stedmans have weathered everything from fires to the pandemic to remain that go-to place for a casual dinner with your loved one or a special occasion meal.
“We have servants’ hearts and want to do good in our community,” the Stedmans say.
Through it all, satisfied diners keep coming back to Moonstone Bistro because they know they’re guaranteed amazing food and a quality dining experience at a reasonable price.
Imagine starting with the delightful calamari crisped in rice flour, tossed with roasted peanuts and served with jalapeno-lemon gastrique and chipotle aioli and lime, prepared by their team including Captain Curt Messer and Chef de Cuisine Megan Teren.
Imagine it gets better with a Filet Mignon or New York steak with braised leeks in cream, Yukon mashed potatoes and marsala-glazed mushrooms, or the Mt. Lassen Steelhead, pan seared with basil-infused lamb sausage, roasted pumpkin and ponzu broth.
Imagine having to return to Moonstone Bistro because one trip simply isn’t enough to sample all the great things on the menu.
“We are living proof that you can start with nothing and be successful,” Che jokes. “We’ve been through the recession, fires, the pandemic, reopening with almost no employees and building a new patio.”
Moonstone Bistro is open for indoor and outdoor dining on their four-seasons patio – a byproduct of the pandemic that forced the Stedmans to be creative. Their solution is your benefit, as the patio offers a perfect setting for a romantic dinner, a business meeting or a casual get-together with friends all while enjoying Redding’s beautiful weather.
Moonstone is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday, although it’s available for private events.
“We don’t sit still well,” Stedman says.
