Charlie Swanson is a seasoned veteran of the Davis restaurant scene. He started working at The Graduate at age 18, nearly 30 years ago.

“I became a partner in 1989, and the sole owner in 2001,” he said. “Over the years, I’ve probably spent more hours at The Graudate than at any of the houses that I’ve lived in,” Swanson said.

“But I’ve always wanted a second restaurant, where I could try new concepts,” he added.

Chef Jon Sanchez, a longtime friend of Swanson’s, likewise was looking for an opportunity to establish a new restaurant.

“I started in Old Sacramento with restaurants run by the Fat family — Fat City, and California Fats,” Sanchez said. “I worked for the Fat family for nine years, and learned quite a bit. They were great mentors, and they have a knack for bringing people in.”

Sanchez left the restaurant field for a time, and has worked in real estate for the past 11 years; his wife is Cary Arnold of Coldwell Banker-Doug Arnold Real Estate.

“But I have a passion for cooking, and I wanted to be a chef in my own restaurant, so after talking with Charlie Swanson about starting a restaurant, I jumped in,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez and Swanson spent a bit of time scouting possible locations, and refining their menu. They held blind tastings of various dishes at their homes. They built a wine list, favoring vintages from wineries in Yolo County and Napa County.

They worked out arrangements with several providers of locally raised meats and vegetables. They decided to visit the Davis Farmers Market twice a week to fetch seasonal fruit for mixing certain cocktails.

And on June 15, the partners opened their restaurant — Our House — in a Second Street location downtown formerly occupied by Aioli Bodega Española and Cafe California.

“We’ve been billing it as modern American comfort food in a cocktail lounge atmosphere,” Sanchez said. “The name Our House is part of the concept, because the menu features things that Charlie and I like to eat.”

Several family members are on the staff as well.

Swanson added, “We wanted some steaks on the menu, because we’ve heard people say ‘You can’t get a good steak in Davis.’ And we wanted the restaurant to be a community gathering place, where people of different generations can come sit down and have a glass of wine or a handcrafted cocktail, and then talk and mingle.

“Bring the kids, they’re more than welcome. It’s an old-school lounge, with a modern twist to it.”

During the initial weeks, Our House served dinner, Mondays through Saturdays. “We will be opening soon for lunch as well, Mondays through Fridays,” Sanchez said. And Sunday brunch is on the horizon sometime in the next few weeks.

Sanchez said he’ll still be showing houses to prospective buyers as time allows (“I just closed two escrows,” he added proudly). But as the managing partner of the new restaurant, Our House will be the main thing on his plate.

“This is a dream come true,” Sanchez said. “Charlie and I are diving right in to enjoy it, and hopefully we can make it successful.”

— Reach Jeff Hudson at [email protected] or (530) 747-8055.

OurHouse1W

Our House restaurant and lounge at 808 Second St. in downtown Davis has a relaxed, friendly vibe. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

OurHouse2w

Charlie Swanson, left, and Jon Sanchez are partners in a new restaurant and lounge in downtown Davis. Our House is at 808 Second St. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

OurHouse3w

Charlie Swanson, left, and Jon Sanchez are partners in a new restaurant and lounge in downtown Davis. Our House is at 808 Second St. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

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