Editor’s note: This story was published in Sunday’s edition but did not include numerous photos. It is being reprinted today in its entirety.

CHICO >> Working at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Tap Room in North Carolina while also running his own barbecue restaurant, Johnny Harris heard stories of a legendary marinade from a California city called Chico.

Sierra Nevada employees from the town told him about Basque Norte, a local steakhouse with this special marinade. Curious and wanting to improve his barbecue restaurant, Harris reached out to the Chico steakhouse in 2012. They sent him a whole case of the marinade — for free.

“I’m here to thank them,” Harris said, 13 years later, waiting in line for his first time at Basque Norte.

Stuart Allen and his parents opened Basque Norte in Paradise in July 1975 “in the sticks,” as Allen put it. They were inspired after living abroad in Spain as a military family. Three years into the business, Allen met his wife-to-be Susie at a local breakfast joint she worked at.

“I conned her into marrying me,” Allen said.

On Friday, Basque Norte celebrated its 50-year anniversary of serving the Chico community signature dishes from the Basque region, which spans parts of Spain and France. Through the years, Stuart and Susie Allen’s children worked at the business, and during Friday’s anniversary, the Allen grandchildren dined and also sang a song for customers.

“My dad worked so hard,” Athena Allen, Stuart Allen’s daughter, said. “It’s pretty incredible to have a successful restaurant this long — especially making it through COVID.”

And while the restaurant is family run, non-blood related employees described it just the same.

“We fight like siblings,” said employee Emily Ramos, smiling at fellow waiter Devon Souder.

Ramos worked at Basque Norte all through her college years. Now graduated, she is a full-time teacher but is happily working at the restaurant during school break. Why? She loves Stuart and Susie Allen, she said, adding that every employee gets a birthday cake from Susie Allen on their birthday.

Community, cuisine

Customers echoed the family sentiment. Many regulars noted as soon as bartender Elias Ferrini sees them walk through the door, he’s working on their drink order, never needing to ask.

“Everybody knows everybody here,” Ferrini said.

Couple Barry and Bonny Hogue said they moved to Chico three years ago and have been dining at Basque Norte ever since. Friday’s 50-year celebration marked the end of the restaurant’s annual summer break. The Hogues were anxious for the reopening because they had 25 pounds of plums from their fruit trees they planned to give the Allens.

Luckily, they were able to gift the plums ripe and on time before enjoying their drinks. In addition to the plums and the gratitude of Johnny Harris, the Sierra Nevada employee from North Carolina, Susie Allen said one of their customers gave them a $100 gift card. Gratitude flowed both ways between the Allens and their loyal diners.

Mike Bray, a lifelong Chicoan, remembers dining at Basque Norte’s current location back when it was a different restaurant, the Green Barn. After it went out of business and Basque Norte moved in 1984, he and his family have continued dining there for decades.

“It hasn’t changed a lot,” Bray said. “It’s great straightforward food. I’d say it’s the best steakhouse in town, and I’ve eaten at all of them.”

For food, waiter Devon Souder recommends the chicken picada, deep fried shrimp, lamb and the ribeye. For drinks, Ferrini noted the lemon drop is well liked, made with his homemade sweet and sour. He also said the sangria is popular and the martinis are “notoriously strong.”

Keeping with the homey feel of the restaurant, Basque Norte operates using a cash register from the 1930s and does not use a point of sale system. Everything is handwritten.

“It’s like old school,” Ferrini said. “It’s a very special place.”

Basque Norte is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m., located at 3355 The Esplanade.