The Story of Danville’s Bridges Goes Beyond the Food
Tuna stacked atop avocado and sticky rice at Bridges.
On any given weekend at Bridges in downtown Danville, you’ll find smartly dressed couples, families, and wedding parties. It’s the place to be not only for a casual dinner but a celebratory occasion.
It’s also the place to enjoy a bit of cinematic history. Its dining room and kitchen were the setting for the big reveal scene in the beloved movie, “Mrs. Doubtfire.” On a wall leading to the restrooms, there’s even a framed movie poster signed by the late-great Robin Williams, the star of the film.
The success of the movie really put the restaurant on the map. It’s been wildly popular ever since.
When Chef Kevin Gin’s mom told him at age 12 that he was getting old and needed to figure out what he wanted to be, he immediately said “a chef.”
Built in 1989, the restaurant’s name refers to building connections between East and West, according to Chef-Partner Kevin Gin. The former Chinese restaurant there was torn down after the land was purchased by a wealthy Japanese businessman, who spared no expense in creating Bridges. Five types of Japanese wood were used, as well as imported Italian marble, European tiles, and even 24 karat gold painted onto the walls.