Sequoia is one of those places where you’ll find both locals and out-of-towners rubbing elbows at any given time.

Whether you’re just stopping in to wet your whistle (and appetite) at the bar, or visiting from another area for an elegant dinner, Sequoia’s got enough charm to go around.

Stopping in one early evening, I pulled up a stool in the cozy lounge area…and decided to chat it up with the barkeeper, Don, a man who’s been obliging libation requests for a grand total of 58 years! If he can’t pour you a good drink, no one can. I sipped mine while perusing the menu.

After many minutes of deliberation and banter with Don, I decided to try a few items. First things first, I recommend the Artichoke Dip, a nice portion of three cheeses mixed with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and just a bit of spinach. I enjoyed this version so much because it was chocked full of chokes, without the overkill of spinach filler. The sun-dried tomatoes were a sweet finish to the buttery toast and cheese combo.

Equally as delicious were the Ahi Lettuce Wraps…seriously, some of the best I’ve ever tasted. The crusted tuna was seared rare, served in lettuce pockets intermingling with sautéed vegetables, onion sprouts, orange-ginger sauce, wasabi and sweet red chili sauce. This is a dish that pleases all of the senses! Also pleasing was the Crab Cake B.L.T. Hmm…crab and bacon…enough said.

I’ll have to visit again soon to check in on Don, and to check out brunch…I’ve heard it’s fabulous.