Sonoma dining recs??

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey
In Sonoma area, can anyone recommend or discourage certain restaurants?...

Farmhouse

Madrona Manor

Dry Creek Kitchen

Any other "can't miss venues"

Thanks!

. . . . Pete
 
Pete,
Considering your list, I will make the assumption that you are speaking of Sonoma Valley not just the town of Sonoma.
In Healdsburg: Campo Fina is recommended - and right next door is Bergamont Alley, a great wine tasting bar.
Geyserville: Diavallo Pizza is recommended; wonderful pizza, good list.
I know little of Santa Rosa.
Glen Ellen: The Fig Cafe is recommended; bistro food and no corkage - give me some notice and I'll meet you there.
In Sonoma: Cafe la Haye, The Girl and the Fig are recommended. I can also meet you there.
Best Mexican food on earth - El Molino Central in Boyes Hot Springs (just north of Sonoma) - I can walk there.
Other possibilities depending on your preferences.
Best, Jim
 
Jim, thanks! The email address I have for you might be too old.

And, yes, our home base will be Healdsburg.

. . . . Pete
 
Robert, I saw where Single Thread Farms was supposed to open in June; however, it appears that it really has "just opened". I didn't see any commentary/reviews on its operations/product.

On another venue, I've seen mixed reviews on Dry Creek Kitchen.

. . . . Pete
 
My information is a little old so administer with salt:

My friends and I have been to Madrona Manor a few times over the years. Nice grounds and building. Kitchen is good but darn if I can recall anything they did. The last time we were there, a waiter spilled an entire tray of amuse bouche shot glasses filled with pureed cucumber down a woman's back. (Charlene was wearing a backless dress and so she was particularly not amused.)

If you're willing to drive to Jenner you can go to River's End. Great ocean view.

If you're willing to drive to Guerneville you can go to Applewood Inn. That was really good.

If you're willing to drive to Monte Rio you can go to Village Inn. Quiet place on the river. (Will there be any water in November? There's very little when I'm there in summer.)

When in doubt, swing by Mom's Apple Pie in Sebastopol. They probably aren't using local Gravensteins by now but all the pie are good.
 
in Healdsburg Scopa is right on the plaza and shouldn't be missed. (owned by the same people as Campo Fina)

Bergamot Alley for wine (nothing from the new world though) you can also bring food from campo fino into bergamot.

other places i can recommend are Barn Diva, Chalkboard, Parish (for Po' boys or gumbo), Bravas ) for tapas, The shed for sandwiches or coffee, the french bakery (can't remember the name) right on healdsburg ave is great for lunch, flying goat for coffee.

Bistro Ralph's on the plaza attracts a lot of locals and is kind of an institution in healdsburg. the vibe is fun but th food is pretty average. oddly enough, the wine list is pretty boring.

that should get you started.
 
madrona manor is a beautiful place but the food is hardly memorable. i'd stay away from dry creek kitchen.

in Sebastopol (not too far away) is "The Barlow"is worth the drive. on an old apple processing site, it's now full of shops, restaurants, wine tasting rooms. Wind Gap is in there and worth hitting. Kosta Brown is right next door i think.

if you are into beer at all, Russian River Brewing is in Santa Rosa which is pretty close to Healdsburg.

i've never been to Hana in Rohnert Park but it's suppose dot be very good and have very deep sake list.
 
Related question -- any thoughts as to which hotel makes the most sense at/near SFO for an easy jaunt for a morning flight?

Thanks!

. . . . . Pete
 
the hotels near the airport are kind of blah to be honest. i'd stay in the city and get the hotel to drive you to SFO or take the BART train which is very efficient and theres no traffic to deal with.
 
Bill, Yes, and I hear the St Francis might be a good choice...plus it has a tasting room if there is still any urge to tasting.

The Huntington, an old favorite, is too far away.

. . . . Pete
 
I'll echo Bill's advice: rental cars at SFO are a royal PITA to return. You're far better off getting a ride or using public transit. If you're not leaving at the crack of dawn, staying in SF proper does make a lot of sense.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
If you're willing to drive to Jenner you can go to River's End. Great ocean view.
Click to expand...

Man, oh, man, that view is stunning. But if not staying over in one of the picturesque cabins, the food at said resto isn't really worth the detour.

Though I shall always remember it as the first place I ever had Littorai.
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:

Robert, I saw where Single Thread Farms was supposed to open in June; however, it appears that it really has "just opened". I didn't see any commentary/reviews on its operations/product.

On another venue, I've seen mixed reviews on Dry Creek Kitchen.

. . . . Pete
Click to expand...

I have a reservation for dinner and a weekend stay in early January.
 
pete- a drive out to Bodega Bay (about an hour or so) and then up the coast along the sonoma coast beaches is pretty awesome.

also, a visit to the Armstrong Redwood Forest in Guernville is equally awesome.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top