RANDOLPH - Changes are happening in Randolph, N.Y.!
Many businesspeople are taking advantage of the Main Street Grant to repair, reface or remodel their place of business. Randolph Auto Supply on Jamestown Street was the first to be refaced, with Randolph Retail on Main Street following, both converting the exterior to the way it may have been when the building was built. Senn-Sations Salon and Day Spa made their entire services handicap accessible and roofed, painted and added the original late-1800s shutters to their beautiful Greek Revival House. Pete's Place has new stools, cooler and sign and will have a new awning, front door and windows in the spring.
Oregano's Restaurant is the latest business to make improvements, with a new exterior and interior, complete with the removal of walls and the addition of columns, arches and hardwood floors. Iron sconces adorn the stone-look walls which feature a Van Gogh, Mona Lisa and The Creation of David prints, as well as a few surprises painted in the niches by well-known Jamestown artist Gary Robert Peters Jr.
Article Photos
Daman Holland, new owner of Oregano’s Restaurant in Randolph, is taking the eating establishment in a totally new direction.
Photo by Beverly Kehe-Rowland
The original plan for the decor was a sage green and brown palette, but a friend and advisor convinced the new owner to go with the Mediterranean flavor.
''A lot of the things that we changed had to grow on me and now I'm to the opposite end. When (patrons) walk in I want them to think they left Randolph,'' says new owner Daman Holland. ''I want them to get a sense of walking into a different country with the music, decor and the way they are treated. I want them to feel it is an experience they want to repeat.''
But that's not all that's new at Oregano's, or shall we call it ''the new Oregano's?'' Holland is taking the eating establishment in a totally new direction, which will be exciting and fun for the former patrons as well as the new ones. Not only will the restaurant have a Mediterranean decor, but a revamped menu, including some of the old favorites, but with several new dishes being added.
He invited several townspeople to spend a few hours in the establishment recently to see what direction they would like to see the restaurant go. He learned there was a desire to lean more toward fine dining for evening meals, something Randolph did not have. He has applied for his beer and wine license and will offer both with dinner. He also learned there was a desire to have more breakfast location options in the area on Sundays and has made the decision to open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Sunday breakfast.
''A lot of the food that we offer pairs well with wine and many people like to have wine or beer with a meal. Even though we will have our wine and beer license, there will be no sit-down bar. We don't want people to get drunk, just to be able to enjoy a glass of wine or beer while they dine.''
Even though many former favorites are still on the menu such as burgers, stromboli, calzones and the popular pizza and salad buffet at lunchtime on Wednesday, there have been several new additions. An 8-ounce strip steak and a ribeye steak has been added, as have several pasta dishes including Palermo Pork, which is a battered flat-iron pork steak that has been sauted with tomatoes, onions and black olives served over angel hair pasta and dusted with feta cheese crumbles. Chicken Fara Diavolo is another new menu item consisting of a grilled, spicy chicken breast in a rose sauce served over angel hair pasta. Other items new to the menu are ravioli, vegetable lasagna and a Greek salad. A special feature will be filet mignon seared with ginger brandy.
''The entire staff has been trained to make sure we solidify. I want standards up there,'' he says. ''When people come here they're going to know that they're going to get a high quality meal.''
''Our new motto is 'Forever Friends, Forever Family - Oregano's.' We want to establish a rapport that causes the customers to want to come back. We want them to tell their friends 'Hey, I went to Oregano's and you HAVE to go there!'''
A grand opening is planned for Tuesday, Nov. 29, beginning at 11 a.m. There are dine-in and take-out specials, giveaways and other exciting things planned. A 10 percent discount will be given to members of AARP, AAA and to veterans. The new Oregano's Rewards Program offers a free large pizza after five large pizzas have been purchased.
Oregano's is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for lunch and dinner, Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for all three meals and on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast only. Specials include a free kids' breakfast Saturdays and Sundays with purchase of adult breakfast choices, a take-out pizza special of a 16-inch pizza with one topping and 10 wings for $16, and a free dessert with any dine-in meal purchased. They are closed on Monday. Private parties may be booked all days, including Mondays.