Cuisine: San Jose’s historic La Forêt restaurant reopens for creekside dining.

Upscale French entrees — and maitre d’ Sami Deeb — are returning to the Almaden Valley

After being shuttered for five months, La Forêt — the upscale French restaurant nestled in San Jose’s scenic Almaden Valley — is again welcoming guests.

For now, because of coronavirus-era restrictions, they are being seated along the creek for the first time instead of inside the restaurant, a historic building that dates to 1848.

“We’re excited,” co-owner Maurice Carrubba said. “We’ve created a nice, safe environment out there,” with socially distanced tables on the grounds and on the balcony.

Greeting diners is legendary maitre d’ Sami Deeb, who has worked at La Forêt since 1982. The kitchen and wait staff have returned too, Carrubba said.

Most menu favorites are back. “The wild game offerings are what makes La Forêt La Forêt,” he said. Joining the elk, venison and other entrees are the ultrapopular tortellini, with sauteed porcini mushrooms, aged garlic and cream.

La Forêt was the first twostory hotel in California and originally housed workers from the quicksilver mines, according to the restaurant’s website. It operated as a boardinghouse until the 1930s, when it become the Cafe Del Rio. That restaurant operated for about 40 years. Chef John Davoudi and partner Mike Mashayekh made it La Forêt in 1978.

In 2017, current owners Maurice and brother Giuseppe Carrubba purchased the restaurant, and — to the delight of fans — maintained the French-Continental menu and staff.

The Carrubbas also own and operate Mount Hamilton’s Grandview, the 1884 roadhouseturned-restaurant located in the East San Jose foothills, and two Palo Alto restaurants, Caffe Riace and Osteria Toscana. All are now offering outdoor dining.

Details: La Forêt will be open 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. 21747 Bertram Road, San Jose. Reservations: 408 997-3458, www.laforetrestaurant.com