Things get cooking at Tiverton's Pine House Kitchen & Bar. See what's on the menu.
TIVERTON — Good things come to those who wait.
For roughly five months, Tiverton-area foodies hungry for a new local dining option have been living off morsels as they patiently follow the progress at 13 Crandall Road via social media.
Now staff is in place and chefs are "in house making magic together," as Pine House Kitchen & Bar gets things cooking.
The Tiverton spot has been bustling since Wednesday, April 3, when the restaurant debuted with a soft opening.
Led by Dartmouth resident Jared Machado, the restaurant is set to reinvigorate the cozy, cabin-like rustic building — complete with wraparound porch — which formerly housed Wally's Tap House.
"We've seen a lot of energy," said Machado, who noted the eatery has generated quite a bit of buzz over the past few months. Its Facebook page is already up to 2,300 followers eager to get a taste of what Pine House has to offer.
So what will Pine House be bringing to the table?
A menu chock full of "upscale casual comfort food" in a space that evokes "a really homey feel," Machado said.
Pine House is a family restaurant run by family, including Machado's wife, Patricia Machado, as well as his mother, siblings, aunts and cousin. Machado will man the kitchen, with help of a chef who came over from the Brazilian Grill in Dartmouth.
A lot of work went into revamping the long-standing building, and Machado said he's excited to finally share it with others.
Experience and inspiration found abroad
The Dartmouth native took a long and winding road — by way of South America — before landing at his dream job, picking up some valuable well-rounded experience along the way.
In his youth, Machado spent time living in Brazil with his father, and helping out at his bakery there.
Upon graduating Dartmouth High School, he studied to be a motorcycle mechanic in Daytona, Florida, then spent some time in Colorado where he launched a food truck with his cousin and brother and got into the "smokin' hot kitchen scene" — learning the ropes with barbecue and operating a smoker — before eventually returning to Brazil to help his dad operate his expanding bakery business.
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Machado's father, a native of Portugal who has lived in Brazil for the past 25 years, runs three bakeries in the S?o Paulo area, which bring the flavor of the states abroad.
Machado managed Boston Bakery — which featured Bean Town-inspired eats — but his dad's enterprise also included the New York-style Brooklyn Bakery.
"That's pretty much where I got a lot of my culinary experience," said Machado, who as a teen did catering at a Portuguese restaurant in New Bedford and attended culinary school while living in Brazil.
Right place, right time for Pine House
Six years later, in 2018, all roads led back to the SouthCoast. And after a five-year hiatus from the food industry, things finally aligned this past year for Machado to embark on his own culinary venture.
In January he got the keys to his Crandall Road restaurant after a months-long search for a spot that would be the perfect fit.
"If you open a restaurant in S?o Paulo and you're good, there's people. They're coming no matter what. Over here it's different, so it needed to be the right spot," he said.
This Tiverton space checked all the boxes, with plenty of parking, the busy Route 177/Stafford Road intersection and an attraction — Bally's Tiverton Casino — nearby, a liquor license, and outside patio. "If it had foot traffic, it would be 100% perfect," he said.
Menu with a little bit of everything
Machado's vision for Pine House fare is lofty, but his mission is simple.
"It's all about making you feel good after you leave here," Machado said.
Pine House won't specialize in just one type of food, Machado said, he wants to have something to draw in local foodies no matter what their mood.
So what can customers craving something new expect to find at Pine House? A little bit of everything, all made from scratch, Machado said.
"Everything is going to be homemade from the appetizers all the way to the desserts," he said.
On any given day, you'll find at least six appetizers, including chicken wings, a selection of burgers, chicken sandwiches, soups, salads and pizzas, choice of entrees, and plenty of daily specials to mix things up.
"You can come here for dinner every night. There's gonna be a lot of specials so you're not gonna get sick of it, there's always gonna be something different to try," Machado said.
Such plans include Fish Fry Fridays, where fresh seafood dishes — from scallops to fish and chips — will be the star of the menu.
Machado anticipates "melt-in-your-mouth" premium-cut steaks — with an eye toward partnering with local farms for their meats — specialty pizzas, artichoke crab dip, fresh-made potato chips, and made-to-order corn bread warmed in a skillet and served with honey butter among the Pine House's daily crowd pleasers.
A former vegetarian himself, Machado plans to offer vegetarian and plant-based options, such as a veggie burger and sandwich (fresh mozzarella with tomatoes, roasted red peppers, pesto and hummus on a hoagie roll). Also on his plate are plans for items like tofu steaks, veggie shepherd's pie and bean tacos.
They're also hoping to cater to the evening crowd with late-night bites for folks getting out of work late or stopping in after an evening at the casino just minutes down the road.
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You will see some Brazilian influence on the menu as well with things like their Caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail made with cacha?a, sugar and lime. There will be plenty of local craft beers on tap, an espresso machine and desserts for those seeking a post-dinner treat.
The goal, Machado said, is to offer food that wows at prices that won't.
"It's not going to be Providence prices or Newport, but it's going to be Providence or Newport — or better — quality food," he said.
Outdoor patio and summer plans
In addition to its indoor space that can accommodate roughly 100 diners and includes a room for events and special occasions, Pine House features an outdoor patio area that Machado is looking forward to unveiling as the weather warms up.
A high-top counter encircles the outdoor space, which when ready will include bar stools and tables, and can fit about 30 people. In the summer, a cocktail bar will be offered there as well as live music.
Machado hopes to eventually utilize part of their large parking lot and lawn area behind the building to host fun community events such as car shows and possibly pony rides for kids.
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When can we visit Pine House?
Machado said they'll be "easing into" welcoming the public.
Pine House doors are officially open, but for the time being dining is by reservation only — by phone or online — as they "continue getting up to speed," according to an update on its Facebook page Saturday, April 6.
Their soft launch will feature a "reduced menu," offering a taste of what's to come for lunch and dinner. Availability of the full menu will be announced soon. Check the Pine House Facebook page for updates.
Once things get rolling, Machado said their regular hours of operation will be Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
"I'm excited to serve people and get cooking," Machado said. "It feels good just to be back there again after being off the food thing for five years. Feels good to be back to what I know and what I'm good at."
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Pine House Kitchen & Bar opens in former Wally's Tap House in Tiverton
