Restaurants in Redding, CA

Many people come to Redding, California, to see Shasta Dam, so it’s only right an eating tour begins at a restaurant called Damburger, where the motto is, “Best hamburger by a dam site.” Open since 1938, Damburger cooks burgers in what some short-order joints call the French style, meaning a relatively small (1/6 pound) patty of ground beef is squished down on the grill hard enough that it flattens to the point that its edges turn crisp and degree of doneness no longer is an issue. That’s what to eat at this culinary time warp, although adventurous sorts might want to sample something called the Dam Thing, which is a burger atop a pair of hot dogs. For beef of a different sort, Jack’s Bar & Grill (also opened in 1938) offers all the usual cuts, plus a dish called Jack’s Stack, which is bite-size pieces of sirloin and filet sauteed with onions, peppers, and gravy, all piled atop sourdough bread. It’s a pricey place — a meal for two easily hits $100, but ultra-casual. One other must-eat dish in Redding is a PLTA at The Sandwichery. That’s crisp pastrami, lettuce, tomato, and avocado, preferably on toast.