Restaurateurs open new venture in Paso

The owners of downtown Paso Robles’ Italian restaurant Il Cortile Ristorante have opened another eatery, this time with a Spanish flair.

La Cosecha Bar + Restaurant opened Friday at 835 12th St., Suite A.

With 22 employees, it boasts nearly 2,200 square feet and is the latest addition to a high-profile block facing City Park.

Last week, Brown Butter Cookie Co. announced it was opening in the Acorn Building. The news came after downtown businesses Firefly Gallery, Artisan restaurant and new retailer Paso Robles General Store moved into the space vacated by A&R Furniture.

Owned by husband-and-wife team of chef Santos and Carole MacDonal, La Cosecha offers small plates, entrees and desserts featuring seasonal local produce, proteins and grains accented by fruits, roots, herbs and spices imported from Latin America and Spain, a restaurant spokeswoman said.

Dishes include steak over rice with fresh sautéed plantains in Peruvian spices as well as pasture-raised chicken marinated in regional Honduran spices and imported hams, sausages and chorizo.

The interior is outfitted in sustainably sourced décor, including a bar reclaimed from Paso Robles’ Windfall Farms.

“Our goal was to honor tradition while mixing it up with a fun and inviting ambiance,” Carole MacDonal said in a statement. “The reclaimed wood reflects our belief in sustainable and reusable goods, while the hand-blown glass sconces provide a modern, clean edge and demonstrate our commitment to local artisans.”

II Cortile Ristorante opened at 608 12th St. in downtown Paso Robles in 2009.

This story was originally published July 8, 2013 at 9:55 PM with the headline "Restaurateurs open new venture in Paso."