It’s shaping up as “the” restaurant in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

But is also will serve as a winery, events center, wedding locale, art gallery, furniture store, and appliance dealer.

“It” is the 2.0 version of the Redwood Cafe taking shape at River Islands at Lathrop.

Not only is much of the original version of the popular Modesto restaurant and celebration center either hauled in big sections or — in the case of brick walls — piece by piece from its former Modesto location where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ newest temple now stands and reassembled literally inside a new structure — but there are add-ons that are unparalleled when it comes to cuisine and culture.

It starts before you even reach the front door.

There are large rocks — some as heavy as 90 tons each — spread across the landscape that will be complete with natural gas fueled fires. There will be surrounded by numerous redwood trees brought on site in gigantic 48-inch boxes.

And such touches are merely whetting your appetite for awe and inspiring when it comes to a restaurant design.

That becomes clear when you near the front door of the two-story 16,000 square foot Tuscany-style restaurant that — thanks to the craftsmanship and careful attention of Hale Construction — has done a Jonah and the Whale act with much of the original 3,600 square feet of the Redwood Cafe trucked down Highway 99 and the 120 Bypass to River Islands.

The doors are massive — 10 feet by 20 feet — that you can almost open with just your pinky once the handle is turned.

They were made in China.

Those four words may conjure up the adjective “cheap” in the back of your brain.

They are anything but cheap, although River Islands President Susan Dell’Osso might call them a bargain given the $28,000 price tag is definitely south of the $100,000 such hand-fashioned with inlaid carving doors typically fetch.

And once you pass through those doors be prepared for eclectic cuisine and culture.

The menu offerings will range from pork schnitzel and octopus to lobster and meat loaf and everything in between from pastas, pizzas, and breads crafted on site from the Redwood Cafe’s various kitchens.

As for the interior touches that includes the familiar cultural art feasts the original Redwood Cafe offered along with new additions, the depths of what your eyes will savor will take shape as what promises to be the most talked about dinner house in the 209 draws near to a targeted Valentine’s Day opening on Feb. 14, 2027.

It’s a date shared with the new Super Bowl taking place in SoFi Stadium 166 miles to the south in Inglewood as the dove flies.

But when it comes to “wow” power an NFL-inspired halftime show may have difficulty competing with the Redwood Cafe’s two bars and various dining rooms including the outdoor Umbrella Room complete with five fire pits and a commanding view of the 3,600-seat concert and event center taking place next door.

Drive to the levee &

then go into the levee

The Redwood Café is literally built into a 300-foot wide levee adjoining the San Joaquin River.

Those entering from a “tunnel” entrance at the base of the restaurant where there is a circular driveway dropoff zone have access to the “downstairs” bar plus three winery-style dining rooms.

They include one dedicated to Somerston Holdings’ — the owner of the River Islands development company — Napa Valley winery by the same name in St. Helena.

One is the champagne room with offerings from a sponsoring winery and the other is the original Redwood Café wine dining room taken apart brick by brick and put back together at River Islands.

Those that have ventured into the space feel as if they are underground due to how the restaurant is blended into the levee.

There is also another downstairs wine cellar dining area that opens up to the demonstration kitchen that doubles as the wedding and event kitchen.

Like the stoves you can see that are in use or the numerous handcrafted tables and chairs of various designs in both the cellar dining area or those on the main floor?

Just scan a QR code and find out how you can buy one.

Intrigued by various art from local artists that will be on display on both floors and just have to have it? There’s a QR code for that too.

The demonstration kitchen is also being set up to livestream via podcast and to support culinary education classes from River Islands High.

You can also reach the cellar from the lobby by the main entrance where a stairwell facing an expansive bank of windows or take one of two elevators.

The other is for staff use off of the downstairs kitchen to move food and equipment to and from the expansive venue garden that features extensive landscaping and the gazebo from the Modesto location.

As for the lobby, it is the best vantage point to see how parts of the original roofs — including rain gutters and more — have been kept intact over dining spaces and the bar that was moved from Modesto and is now inside the new building.

There are five natural gas fire pits scattered about the outdoor dining area.

And things that couldn’t be saved — the redwood trees in Modesto — have been salvaged for creating redwood log benches near the wedding venue.

The restaurant is designed to sit roughly 200 people during dinner including at a “kitchen table” in the main food prep area that will feature red stoves.

The Redwood Café is expected to cost north of $10 million when it is completed.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com