There is a new addition to downtown Riverbank called Daily Dose that is not only a café but also a bar and restaurant. Guests can get their daily dose of coffee, wine, beer, and sake-based craft cocktails along with small bites, breakfast, charcuterie boards, sandwiches, soups, and salads.
For several years, owners Janet Smallen and Randy Rocha discussed collaborating on a business so with the right timing and right location, Daily Dose was born. Rocha has a few business ventures including Black Sheep across the street from Daily Dose and has been in the restaurant industry for 10 years.
“When this came available, I thought it would be a good opportunity,” said Rocha. “This seemed like it would be a good idea especially being across the street and we could play off each other. I thought it would be a good one for Janet to start into it. She wanted to get into this business and she really wanted to do a coffee shop type of thing and that is what this was originally intended to be. We just took it and put a little twist on it. I think turned out pretty cool.”
The space originally was going to be a coffee shop called Café Bruin. The project was not completed, so Rocha and Smallen made some changes like the counter tops, and a few other things. They collaborated on the design and décor which Smallen called “rustic modern” and Rocha called “contemporary.” There is a social wall where guests take pictures in the lounge area. They have a few table tops and a booth in the back.
“I think all the feedback has been good,” remarked Smallen.
Rocha shared, “People have embraced us in the community really well so far. It is exciting to have that.”
Daily Dose has a coffee bar with all the specialty coffee drinks like latte, mocha, macchiatos, flat white, cappuccino and espresso shots. They have beer flights, bottled beer, and 16 beers on tap including some local and domestic options. There are some red and white wines on the list as well as an assortment of mimosas. The craft cocktails are made with rice wine.
“We do have a brunch on the weekends,” expressed Rocha. “It is a really fun atmosphere. We have a nice little nightlife going on here. It is a full menu. It is not a huge one but it is a good one. We serve food. People think we are attached to next door and that is misleading. We are different than them.”
For breakfast, guests can order their sweet crepes, waffles, breakfast burrito, breakfast sandwich, or a breakfast empanada. The lunchtime Italian sandwich has hard salami, mortadella, genoa salami, provolone cheese, with light mayo, lettuce and tomato that is on focaccia bread and drizzled with olive oil. They also serve up a toasted Cali club and slow-roasted prime rib sandwich.
They are excited to be a part of revitalizing downtown Riverbank and with the growth of the city they want to bring patrons some variety downtown. They hope that downtown Riverbank will turn into a destination like downtown Turlock or downtown Lodi. There are plans to collaborate with the surrounding businesses to offer deals and specials.
“We are trying to get these boutique style businesses going on over here,” added Rocha. “We do breakfast and lunch. It (menu) is small right now but we are working on it and will be expanding it. We are just figuring out where we will go with it and how we can get people to come down here.”
The new business venture opened during the Cheese and Wine Expo and plan to have a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting on Friday, Dec. 9 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Daily Dose is closed on Tuesdays and they have a happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, people can find them on Facebook and Instagram or on their website www.dailydosebistro.com. They are located at 3310 Santa Fe in downtown Riverbank.
