By Darlene Brace
In downtown Jamestown, a new restaurant called Encore recently opened. Encore is located at 114 East 3rd Street, that was formally Forte next to the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. It is now owned by Mallary and Derek Dawson, who purchased the location in February 2025, and Encore officially opened on June 6th.
Mallary stated that she is from the Jamestown area and that she is of Italian descent. She has worked in the restaurant industry for many years and was previously employed at the Italian restaurant Gialy’s, where she met her husband. After Gialy’s closed, she was inspired to open her own Italian restaurant.
As you enter Encore, you will find yourself in the bar area, which is one of two rooms in the restaurant. You’ll immediately notice a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere enhanced by Italian décor. It features a gallery wall that showcases photos of Mallary’s Italian ancestors, along with a shelf displaying authentic Italian glassware. The bar area offers a lively ambiance with bar seating and a couple of small tables near the windows, providing seating for small intimate gatherings with a view of the city.
The second room serves as the main dining area and can accommodate about forty people. It offers a quiet and charming dining experience for couples or small groups, while also being able to cater to larger parties (reservations are recommended). Soft jazz music plays gently in the background, enhancing the relaxing atmosphere. There is no dress code, so you are welcome to come dressed casually or in more dressy attire, while enjoying the Italian-inspired surroundings.
bring your family and friends to enjoy a slice of Italy as you savor the fl avor at
Encore in downtown Jamestown.
Encore is a restaurant that specializes in Italian cuisine with a moderately priced menu. For starters, the menu includes tasty appetizers, salads, and zuppa del Giorno soup. Entrees include homemade Italian dishes such as Bolognese, spaghetti and meatballs, rigatoni, and chicken parmesan, along with other traditional Italian meals. Encore also offers a selection of steaks and other non-Italian entree options.
Starting June 22nd, they will be serving Sunday brunches that will offer sweet and savory dishes as well as a Bloody Mary special that includes chicken fingers, sliders, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks. The brunch menu will also feature bottomless mimosas you can purchase along with the purchase of a brunch entree. What a fun and tasty way to start off your Sunday.
To enhance your dining experience with some entertainment, Encore will be offering live music every Saturday night that will include a variety of acoustic musicians. The music will be from 8-11pm. On June 20, Encore will host Marley Ohl who was the winner of Warren’s Got Talent of 2023, and she will be performing a variety of music to entertain the crowd for their first night of live music.
Since Encore has only been open for a short time, they are still planning some additional things. Moving forward, they are planning on having theme nights and currently Tuesday nights are Martini Night where martinis are half price. You can look forward to other theme nights coming soon.
Also, moving forward, Encore is hoping to have some special things going on for the Lucy Fest weekend in early August. Stay tuned for information on this as Encore is planning some special menu items as well as cocktails that will be named after comedians.
If you are looking for more information about Encore or are interested in viewing the menu, go to encorejamestown.com or their Facebook page. You’ll find updates about live music entertainment, specials, and events.
Mallary expressed excitement about owning Encore. She stated that Encore will provide a relaxed atmosphere in a charming setting, where customers can enjoy an intimate dining experience and that it will redefine dining in downtown Jamestown. The restaurant features rich, soulful flavors of Italy along with Italian decor. The dining menu combines timeless Italian traditions with some steaks and other non-Italian dishes to ensure that there’s something for everyone. Bring your family and friends to enjoy a slice of Italy as you savor the flavor at Encore in downtown Jamestown.