A new restaurant has opened in a familiar spot in the Rancho Santa Fe village. Local resident Jennifer Fields took over the former Rancho Santa Fe Bistro and rebranded as Paseo last month, offering up a new menu with outdoor dining on the patio while a complete transformation is underway indoors.
The last few weeks have been a blur of activity as Fields is in the kitchen, busing tables, greeting customers and overseeing the restaurant construction.
“I didn’t realize how busy we were going to be,” Fields said. “We’ve had a really nice showing of customers, they’re so supportive and it’s been amazing.”
Fields moved to Rancho Santa Fe from Las Vegas in 2019, following family who had also moved to the town she fell in love with. While she is fairly new to the Ranch, she quickly became immersed in the community. She is an active local tennis player and former golf professional, playing a part in Rancho Santa Fe Rotary’s Taste of Rancho Santa Fe in October, and getting involved and giving back at R. Roger Rowe, where her youngest child is in the fourth grade. Her older daughter and son are both Torrey Pines High School alums.
After playing tennis matches locally, Fields ended up at The Bistro nearly every day, becoming one of their most loyal regulars. She became friends with Mozy Jahanguiri, who owned the eatery (once the Pantry) for the last 12 years. In chatting with Jahanguiri, he learned about her 24-year background in hospitality, which included time at golf clubs and casinos, including 10 years at the Bellagio.
Back in February, he asked if she would want to take over the restaurant when he retired and after the smallest bit of hesitation, she accepted.
Paseo restaurant owner Jennifer Fields with her children Emma and Tad. (Xuncharted Media)
Fields officially took over ownership on Nov. 1 and set to work cleaning up and re-imagining the space, plans are taking shape for a restaurant “rooted in gathering as friends, family and community.”
While the interior is still hidden under wraps, the patio is open for service with all new furniture, including banquettes, and refreshed landscaping designed by Rancho Santa Fe’s Plantology owner Roxy Najafian, making use of the historic pots on site.
A plaque outside denotes the historic building’s local landmark status—it was the first Rancho Santa Fe School, and had the first graduation over 100 years ago in 1924 with just one student. Fields has put in over $800,000 inside—new paint, fixtures and furnishings for an overhaul that is “clean, fresh and classy while keeping the coziness.” The bones of the historic building, the brick and beautiful exposed wood beams will remain, while removing The Bistro’s wine racks and cabinetry will make room for more tables inside and the side doors will open up out into the interior patio.
By the beginning of the year, the neighboring space will open as Paseo’s market and bakery serving up baked goods, and treats such as crepes and milkshakes alongside grocery staples.
Tears unexpectedly flood her eyes when Fields thinks about her vision coming to life—it’s always been a dream of hers to have her own place.
Paseo will eventually be open seven days a week and Fields plans to open Friday, Saturday and Sunday for breakfast. On the menu right now are appetizers like baked brie, flatbreads, house-made meatballs and lamb lollipops. Lunch and dinner options includes choices of pastas, seafood and steak, the Paseo burger and salads. For the updated menu, Fields brought in the famous La Scala chopped salad from the Beverly Hills restaurant—the Paseo Chopped Salad features organic iceberg and romaine lettuce, Italian salami, mozzarella and chickpeas, served with a tangy Parmesan vinaigrette.
A kids’ menu includes chicken fingers, fries, sliders, pasta and mini pizzas, and for dessert they serve apple pie a la mode and affogatos.
As construction continues inside, Fields’ goal is to be able to welcome customers inside to serve Christmas Eve dinner…and then to host a big New Year’s Eve blowout.
“I love community, I love to entertain, I love to socialize,” said Fields. “This is what I was meant to do.”
Paseo is located at 6024 Paseo Delicias,Suite C. Currently they are open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch, with dinner service from 5-9 p.m. For more, visit paseorsf.com