Ferrante at the helm of Jake's

Found in the heart of downtown Tehachapi, Barbara Ferrante's Jake's Steakhouse has been a town favorite for the past 20 years. From their delicious prime rib and steaks, to their delectable pastas and seafood, it is clear to see why Jake's has held the town's favor.

While the business is still for sale, Ferrante wants to let everyone know that she is still here and in charge. Getting here early in the morning, she spends her day dealing with vendors, ordering supplies, scheduling, making repairs, and then enjoying a nice meal for herself before leaving at 5 p.m. One of Jake's biggest changes (apart from some inside remodeling) is the fact that lunch is now being served all week long from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., instead of their previous Monday-Friday.

"We've had a lot of people asking us to be open on the weekends, so I'm glad Barbara made that happen," says lunch server Alexis. While the lunch menu is delicious, the bar and dinner menu starting at 3 p.m. is what draws in the crowds, with the house specialty prime rib and a cocktail to pair it.

To keep Jake's looking new and fresh for the crowds, Ferrante took away the white tablecloths and upgraded the tables to a nice shiny finish, moved the bar booths to the back room, and replaced them with tall, sleek pub tables. The artwork of local Tehachapi landmarks is being spread throughout the restaurant to maintain the warm steakhouse atmosphere, and new artwork has been brought in for the bar, giving it a more sophisticated feel.

And those aren't the only changes Ferrante has planned. "We're planning on serving a small brunch on Sunday mornings and we're working on creating a new dinner menu starting November," she tells us. Some new items that will be featured are steamed clams, crab cakes, a half-pound Black Angus burger, and the return of the New York steak. "But don't worry!" Ferrante reassures, "We'll still have our prime rib and baked potatoes!" All steak for Jake's is purchased directly from Harris Ranch in Coalinga, California, rather than from a distributor, which helps account for the delicious flavor found in Ferrante's food.

Patrons need not to worry about too many changes happening at Jake's. Though the inside looks different, many familiar faces inside will help you feel at home. Their bartender, Ginger Loli-Benedict, comes back to town every other weekend to see many of her loyal customers at the bar and Ferrante is still continuing her service to the community by supporting the Have a Heart Humane Society and other local Tehachapi non-profits.

"Until you hear from us, WE'RE STILL HERE!" says Ferrante, putting ours and the town's worries at ease.