TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; New investors, a new look and a new menu will change the face of Moody’s Bistro and Lounge this fall.

Moody’s is partnering with the ownership of the Truckee Hotel to remodel the restaurant and revamp the restaurant’s menu to focus on shareable portions and affordable after-work plates and drinks. Moody’s will also add a casual, sidewalk seating area on the newly renovated pedestrian corridor along Bridge Street.

Following the completion of work on Moody’s, the new ownership group will begin working on upgrading and repositioning the historic Truckee Hotel.

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Moody’s Bistro and Lounge closed for business on Oct. 31 to work on the remodel. The restaurant will re-open in its new form in early December.

When it re-opens, Moody’s white-tablecloth dinner feel will be replaced with a casual, open atmosphere that reflects the new restaurant’s transition to a place where locals and visitors will feel welcome grabbing a beer or a glass of wine and sharing a plate off of the expanded menu. Moody’s new shareable portions will continue to be complemented by a full dinner menu.

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and#8220;People have always thought of Moody’s as a place to have a fancy dinner, and we are going to change that,and#8221; said Moody’s owner J.J. Morgan. and#8220;The food will still be Moody’s quality, but the new evolution of the restaurant will focus on a menu that invites patrons to grab a bite to eat and a drink without feeling like they are committing to a fancy evening out.and#8221;

Many of the elements that locals and visitors love about Moody’s will stay the same. The menu will continue to feature local ingredients from local farmers and ranchers. Moody’s dedication to live music will not change. The restaurant will continue featuring renowned jazz acts from across the country, adding to the list of Moody’s performers that already includes luminaries like Mose Allison, Will Bernard and Paul McCartney.

Owner J.J. Morgan, who founded the restaurant with Mark Estee, will take charge of the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. Estee, who is opening a new restaurant on Reno’s riverfront named Campo, will be involved in directing Moody’s transformation.

and#8220;There are a lot of hip, casual, affordable spots in San Francisco right now and we are going to bring a lot of those elements to this transformation,and#8221; said Morgan. and#8220;We are going to add a lot of shareable items so folks can grab a quick bite, hang out and have a glass of wine, but not have to be so committed to a full dinner. We will still have great entrees but we are coming back more relaxed and casual. Times have definitely changed and we are changing with them.and#8221;

Morgan said Moody’s commitment to the community, exemplified by programs like the Jazz Artists in Residence which has brought together local students to learn from some of the greatest jazz musicians in the region, will remain strong during the transition.

and#8220;The Truckee and North Tahoe community has been the backbone of Moody’s success over the last decade and we are excited to bring Moody’s into its next decade of operation with a new energy and a new focus,and#8221; said Morgan.

and#8212; Submitted to aedgett@sierrasun.com