PLACERVILLE, Calif. — A familiar name on Placerville’s historic Main Street is preparing for a new chapter.
Deb, the local business owner behind Mattywags and Treehouse, has announced that she has taken over the Enchanted Forest Restaurant at 372 Main St. and plans to build on the restaurant’s established identity while expanding its offerings and operating schedule.
“We are on to a new adventure!!” Deb announced to the community.
The announcement marks a significant change for a restaurant that has become known for turning a meal into an experience. The Enchanted Forest has featured a fantasy-inspired setting, fondue, desserts, themed beverages and entertainment in its Main Street location.
The restaurant’s website describes the concept as an immersive dining experience drawing on Celtic and Irish traditions, Renaissance Europe and fantasy themes. Its menu has included fondue, crepes, pasties, steak, seafood and vegan and gluten-free options.
From Closure to a New Opportunity
The transition follows a complicated chapter for the Enchanted Forest.
In September 2025, the restaurant announced that it would close after the building at 372 Main St. was sold. The Sacramento Bee reported that the restaurant’s then-owner, Kaitlyn Keyt, had operated the destination for nearly six years and that the restaurant was scheduled to serve its final meals in October 2025.
Local economic development records also documented the sale of the Enchanted Forest building in 2025.
Now, less than a year later, the property is again associated with an operating restaurant venture. A current business-directory record lists Enchanted Forrest Restaurant, Inc., at the 372 Main St. address, with a July 2026 filing date.
Deb’s announcement provides the first public indication of her plans for the restaurant’s next phase.
More Days, More Menu and More Entertainment
Deb said the new operation will not simply reopen the doors and repeat the past.
She plans to increase the number of days the restaurant is open, expand the menu and add “wonderful fun entertainment” for customers.
“I am so excited!!!!” Deb wrote in announcing the transition.
That approach could give the Main Street business another opportunity to capitalize on one of Placerville’s strongest assets: its historic downtown district and reputation as a destination for dining, shopping and tourism.
The Enchanted Forest has previously marketed itself as more than a conventional restaurant, emphasizing atmosphere, themed décor and special-event dining. The restaurant’s online materials also promote private parties, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and other gatherings.
The business has also received attention beyond El Dorado County. In 2024, the restaurant appeared on Food Network’s “Best Bite in Town” and won the episode’s best-bite competition for its Gold Miners Irish Pasty Pie, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Hiring Underway
Before the new operation can get fully underway, Deb is looking for employees.
The hiring announcement lists openings for:
- Dishwashers
- Hosts
- Bartenders
- Cooks
- Fondue preparation
- Dessert preparation
- Additional positions
Deb said applicants can text (909) 697-5461 to arrange an interview.
The hiring push suggests the restaurant is already moving into the preparation phase for its next opening, although Deb has not yet announced a specific grand-opening date.
“I will keep you posted on the Grand Opening!!” she told the community.
Another Main Street Chapter
For Placerville, the change represents more than a new restaurant operator.
Main Street businesses are part of the city’s historic commercial core, where restaurants and independent shops help drive both local activity and tourism. The Enchanted Forest’s location at 372 Main St. places the business directly in the heart of that downtown corridor.
The restaurant’s previous incarnation built a following by offering something unusual: dinner wrapped in a fantasy setting. Deb now appears ready to take that established concept and give it her own local-business imprint.
The details of the new menu, entertainment schedule, operating days and grand-opening date remain to be announced.
For now, the message from the new operator is simple: The forest isn’t finished.
It is getting ready for another chapter.
Sources: Enchanted Forest Dining Experience · Sacramento Bee coverage of the 2025 closure · City of Placerville Economic Advisory Committee records
