16 Mile House reopens

Just under a year after the Sixteen Mile House doors were closed in downtown Millbrae, the historic site was reopened this week offering dinner and drinks with historic ambiance.

Local restaurateur Peter Liu, who owns Peter’s Cafe on Millbrae Avenue and El Camino Real, bought the landmark last year because of the central location and rich history for the area. But purchasing the business wasn’t enough to get things up and running. Liu needed to do major renovations to have his vision of the site come to life.

Today, the Old West-style frontage is only part of the history held within. The restaurant was established in 1861 but wasn’t built at its original location on El Camino Real until 1872 by the Sanchez family. Jose Antonio Sanchez was a famed Indian fighter in the Mexican Army who came to San Francisco as young child with his parents in 1776 as part of the De Anza Expedition. After 44 years of service, Sanchez was awarded the Buri Buri Rancho — a 14,000-acre site upon which the Sixteen Mile House was built.

In the 1970s, the original building was torn down because the $50,000 price tag to restore the building was too steep.

The place was resurrected on Broadway with a plain front until a few years later when the old-time facade was built to resemble the original building.

Liu took pride in including such details throughout the restaurant with old photos, newspaper clippings, a button urging the public to "Save the 16 Mile House,” and a stage coach.

Tradition carries through in the menu which is steak and seafood and no pasta, said Liu. A double-cut, one-pound pork chop dinner runs for $22 compared to the 24-ounce T-Rex T-bone steak for $45. Items from the water range from the $22 calamari steak to the $45 lobster tail dinner. Desserts follow suit with cheesecake, chocolate cake, apple pie and a cowboy ice cream scoop as options.

Because of the meat-heavy menu, wine selection was of great importance to Liu who features wine from all over California, as well as a few imports.

The first diners were treated to a buffet Tuesday sampling the hearty offerings while the wait staff offered appetizers tastings such as the roasted garlic and dungeness crab spread toasted over sourdough bread.

Until the opening Tuesday, Liu kept the new digs under wraps keeping the windows covered until the very last minute. People walking through downtown would wander in just to get a look at the refurbished restaurant.

Anyone who had eaten at the Sixteen Mile House previously will notice big changes in the decor.

"It used to be very dark and dingy with old wallpaper,” said Terrie Aquino who works across the street. "It’s a great new place to dine in Millbrae.”

The opening not only promises a new selection of food downtown, but a boost for the area in general.

"This is a very significant restaurant, new business and will be a driving force for economic activity in the downtown,” said City Manager Ralph Jaeck during his inaugural lunch.

The Sixteen Mile House is located at 448 Broadway in Millbrae. It’s open 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with the bar open until about midnight; closed on Monday.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.