New Monkey Cat owners take over legacy of fine dining

A star on the Downtown Auburn dining scene for 15 years, the Monkey Cat restaurant and bar has new owners. Longtime Auburnites Jared and Jennifer Turner have bought the business and have added new passion and new ideas while retaining the legacy of previous owners Jim and Trish Bril. The change in ownership follows the sudden death of co-owner Jim Bril in June. The 802 Lincoln Way restaurant has remained open since then and the Turners took the helm in November. "We've had a passion and desire to own a restaurant for some time," Jared said. "We've looked at other opportunities but this one was the right one." The Turners, who own a successful electrical and lighting business in Auburn, list off several reasons to love the Monkey Cat, from its menu to its staff to the building itself, wrapped in a green coat of ivy outside and featuring original hardwood floors and brick inside. In August, Trish Bril and the Turners started the process of a changeover in ownership. "We dined there prior to making an offer on the restaurant," Jared said. "We wanted to observe the staff and the flow of the restaurant. It was so impressive." Jim Bril was a guiding, steady presence on the Auburn restaurant scene, coming to Auburn from North Beach San Francisco's Fior d'Italia. The Brils would make the Monkey Cat a centerpiece of Downtown dining. Monkey Cat favorites like bleu cheese tomato soup and chicken cordon bleu are continuing to grace the menu but, more importantly, the Bril legacy of restauranting excellence is not being forgotten. The Turners have placed a favorite fedora of Jim Bril's above the front interior entrance to remember him by. And a sculpture — a favorite of Trish's — that customers have traditionally placed notes and wishes under, also remains in a place of honor. "They are still here in spirit — and both Trish and Jim will have something there in the restaurant that will always remain there, always be with us," Jennifer said.