If you find yourself in downtown Winters, you’re a quick walk away from several fantastic local restaurants. One of those places is Preserve.

Preserve, located at 200 Railroad Ave. in the heart of downtown Winters, offers community members and those visiting locally sourced seasonal food in a sustainable setting.

Along with an expansive, exciting, and fresh menu that features subtle changes based on seasonal flavors, co-owners Sara and Cole Ogando mentioned they take pride in showcasing the bounty that grows locally in its peak while preserving the rest to highlight in another form from season to season. The extremely popular jalapeno jelly sold by the jar and highlighted on their menu is a perfect example of just that.

“At Preserve, our philosophy is rooted in the belief that exceptional food is a celebration of community, sustainability, and the rich tapestry of flavors that our small town of Winters has to offer,” Sara said. “We strive to showcase our respect for the town, honor the history of the farmland that surrounds us, and preserve our family and local traditions in every plate we serve at our restaurant.”

Upon walking into Preserve, you’ll notice a modern, elegant restaurant with a horseshoe-shaped bar near the front.

However, if you’d like some privacy for your gathering or have an event coming up, Preserve offers plans based on how many people will be at your party, whether it’s 10, 40 or even 100.

“Winters, as of late, has become a sought-after destination for various celebrations,” Sara said. “At Preserve, we really enjoy hosting these gatherings whether it be an intimate wedding on our covered patio, a birthday bash in our Back Alley, or a corporate event in our Chef’s table room. People are looking for a unique space and we enjoy creating authentic experiences for them.”

Chef Gene Hall, who has now been there since September 2022, remains at the restaurant. Hall began dining at Preserve several years before being hired. He worked at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch in Saint Helena right before joining the Winters’ establishment.

“Chef Hall is a great chef to work with,” Sara said. “It’s been fun to collaborate with him as he is very aligned with us regarding his goals and aspirations for the menu. Being a customer for years prior, he was familiar with our menu and concept and has brought a lot of knowledge and consistency.”

A recent addition to Preserve outside of the menu is a fun new way to elevate your dining and drinking experience via a three-tier membership program.

Tier one is the “Locals Only” membership, which is free to Winters locals and offers weekday discounts for those living in a 95694 zip code.

Tier two is a “Select Reserve” membership for $20 per month. With this membership, customers gain access to their own personalized locker located in Preserve’s Back Bar, to which they can purchase hard to find liquors to be placed in their locker. Tier two members also receive priority seating in the restaurant and bar and occasional discounts or promotions.

Tier three is the “Premium Vault” membership. For $100 a month, your locker is stocked four times a year with a plethora of limited-stock and hard-to-find liquors, housemade products, and local swag. It also includes complimentary tasting sessions for new arrivals, exclusive invitations and tickets to special events and dinners, an honorary “locals only” card good for discounts on food and drinks, and priority seating in the restaurant or bar.

Continuing on a limited basis is the collaboration with neighbors next door, Chuys Taqueria, called The Back Alley, located, as you may have guessed, in the alley behind both restaurants. While it was closed for winter, Sara mentioned that the Back Alley has now re-opened for the spring through fall.

“It is a fun addition to the town,” she said. “It brings a casual, laid-back ambiance, which is a refreshing contrast to dining within the main restaurant. We see a lot of families there with children and friends meeting for a last-minute bite to eat, and it serves as a great spot to grab a drink while you wait for your table inside of Preserve.

Sara mentions that it is on a weather-dependent schedule due to being outdoors, so she recommends checking in with Preserve prior to heading on over by either calling the restaurant or browsing their website or social media.

It has also quickly become a sought-after event venue, with its vibrant backdrops providing many photo opportunities.“We are pleased to have been able to unlock the potential of what once was an unused space into something special that locals and visitors can enjoy,” she said.

Preserve is open six days a week for dinner, starting at 5 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m. Lunch is offered Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday Brunch is offered and runs from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

While Sara is confident anyone can get a spot for lunch or dinner on a whim during the week, she strongly recommends making a reservation to ensure you get a table on the weekends. Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant or via its website.

“We love our town and love being a part of the community,” Sara said. “We look forward to creating memorable experiences for everyone who walks through our doors, familiar faces and newcomers alike.

Those interested in checking out the menu or information on booking the venue can visit preservewinters.com/.

For those interested in live musical performances, the Preserve has you covered as well, as they are excited to present the upcoming Winters Live at the Opera House concert series.

“We take over the Opera House for the evening and put our own spin on enjoying live music,” Sara said. “Our chef has created light snacks and dessert from the Preserve kitchen, our bartenders have batched out fan favorite cocktails along with local beer and wine for guests to enjoy, and we kick the night off by hosting a “Happy Hour” at the Opera House for guests to arrive and get situated prior to the concert starting.”

The first performance kicked off in March and featured “The Big Jangle — A live Tom Petty Experience.” This past month, performances featured “The Fog City Swampers — A Live Creedence Clearwater Revival Experience” on April 12 and “Damage Inc., Northern California’s Premier Metallica Tribute to the Cliff Burton Era” on April 25.

Upcoming performances in late May and June include:

“Pete Floyd- A Live Pink Floyd Experience” — Saturday, May 31, 2025, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

“The Allmond Brothers — Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band & Southern Rock” — Saturday, June 7, 2025, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

“Ronstadt Revolution — A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt: — Saturday, June 14, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

“James Garner’s Tribute to Johnny Cash” — Saturday, June 20, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

“Sun Kings — A Beatles Tribute as Nature Intended” — Saturday, June 27, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

For more information and the full list of upcoming performances, please visit https://www.preservewinters.com/live.