Gone But Not Forgotten: Closed Sonoma County Restaurants We Miss

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Arrigoni's, Santa Rosa: This longtime downtown Santa Rosa deli was a favorite business lunch spot, with everything from giant slices of frittata to sandwiches and mix-and-match salads. The owners have given their blessing to Gerard Nebesky, who recently transformed the space into Gerard’s Paella y Tapas. (Photo by John Burgess)

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Gary Chu’s, Santa Rosa: In the late 1980s, upscale Chinese food was a hot trend, turning old school takeout on its ear. We all got hooked on martini prawns, mu shu pork and General Tso’s chicken, and Chu’s was the place to get it. (Photo by Charlie Gesell)

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Syrah, Santa Rosa: Chef Josh Silvers spent more than a decade perfecting the art of rare duck with cherry port reduction, seared foie gras and pan-roasted scallops, defining the food scene in the early 00s. Silvers continues at the popular Jackson’s Bar and Oven just across the street from his legendary restaurant. Replaced by the Pullman Kitchen. (Photo by Mark Aronoff)

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Traverso's, Santa Rosa: Long before Whole Foods, generations of Santa Rosans went to this family-owned specialty market. Carrying imported salamis and cheeses, along with breads and hard-to-find wines, the tiny market just couldn’t survive a move to Fountaingrove. In October 2017, the new building burned in the wildfires. The old location is now Luther Burbank Savings. (Photo: George Traverso)

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William Traverso, left, George Traverso, Louis Traverso, Enrico Traverso, Mike Rossi and Al Peri, in a 1968 photo used for a print advertisement when the market was located on A Street, between 2nd and 3rd streets, in Santa Rosa. Photo courtesy Traverso's Market.

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Narsi's Hof Brau, Santa Rosa: Another victim of a changing demographic, this Coddingtown cafeteria was all about French dip sandwiches, roast beef and mashed potatoes. A heated battle resulted when the restaurant’s lease wasn’t renewed. Replaced by Jack’s Urban Eats (now closed). (Photo by Crista Jeremiason)

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Monica Pozzi, right, and her daughters Leann, 23, center, and Kailee, 19, toast to their last meal at Narsi's Hof Brau on Wednesday, March 10, 2010. The first time Monica Pozzi ate at Narsi's was 20 years ago, when she was pregnant with Kailee, and Leann was only two years old. (Photo by Christopher Chung)

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Flavor Bistro, Santa Rosa: The bustling downtown bistro was a meeting place for business lunches, casual dinners and everything in between. The sudden closure, with no explanation, left many scratching their heads. Still no word if owners will ever reopen elsewhere. (New bar coming soon). (Photo by Christopher Chung)

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The roast duck breast is served at Flavor restaurant in Santa Rosa on Thursday, December 5, 2013. (Photo by Conner Jay)

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The beef in puff pastry is served at Flavor restaurant in Santa Rosa on Thursday, December 5, 2013. (Photo by Conner Jay)

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Cafe Saint Rose: Chef Mark Malicki was a breath of fresh air in the struggling SOFA district — long before it was cool. His imaginative dishes challenged the status quo. Malicki still serves up his unique dishes at the funky Casino Bar & Grill on some Friday nights. Replaced by Criminal Baking Co. (Photo by Jeff Kan Lee)

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Strawberry-blood orange heart-tarts at Cafe St. Rose. February 21, 2008. (Photo by Jeff Kan Lee)

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Ravenous Cafe & Lounge, Healdsburg: Folks still miss the burgers and friendly bar at that once stood at the current Bravas Tapas restaurant in Healdsburg. (Photo by Mark Aronoff)

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Zin, Healdsburg: It came as a shock when owners Jeff and Susan Mall closed shop and moved to Mexico. Zin was an iconic Wine Country destination with a Southern twist. The couple have returned, creating a bean to bar chocolateria called Volo. Replaced by Valette. (Photo by Jeff Kan Lee)

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Bistro Ralph, Healdsburg: A lot of folks took this one hard, lamenting the end of chicken paillard, shoestring fries and chicken livers from the historic Healdsburg spot owned by Ralph Tingle. Replaced by Brass Rabbit. (Photo by John Burgess)

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Cyrus, Healdsburg: Chef Douglas Keane’s Michelin-starred restaurant was on the way to making serious culinary history as Sonoma County’s most celebrated dining experience when the Top Chef Masters winner packed up his knives. Though Keane has gone on to success with Two Birds/One Stone in St. Helena, we’re all still waiting to hear when Cyrus 2.0 will rise. Replaced by Chalkboard. (Photo by Crista Jeremiason)

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Scopa, Healdsburg: Ari Rosen’s weensy Italian bistro was a favorite industry hangout as well as a commercial and critical success, but concurrently operating the larger Campo Fina just down the street proved too much, and Rosen and his wife consolidated. Replaced by Duke’s Common. (Photo by Jeff Kan Lee)

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Humble Pie, Penngrove: Back in the day, Penngrove’s Black Cat Bar was the rage and the addition of Miriam Donaldson and Josh Norwitt’s adjoining homegrown, homestyle cafe made the tiny hamlet destination-worthy. The couple now run Wishbone in Petaluma, a favorite brunch hangout. (Photo by Jeff Kan Lee)

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Yanni’s Sausage Grill, Penngrove: The husband and wife team that created a sausage empire moved onto bigger digs, but the new owners of Yia Yia, The Grateful Greek have kept Yanni’s sausages on the menu. (Photo by John Burgess)

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Restaurant Eloise, Sebastopol: A restaurant far ahead of its time in exactly the wrong spot. The New York couple had a brilliant menu of adventurous dishes — many of them using offal — but Sonoma County just wasn’t ready yet. Replaced by La Bodega Kitchen. (Photo by Jeff Kan Lee)

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Applewood Restaurant, Guerneville: Oh, what to say about this. A wonderful destination restaurant for years fell on hard times, then a series of talented and well-intentioned chefs (Jamil Peden, Ben Spiegel) brought the space back to the dining forefront, and then suddenly, the restaurant closed. Months later it was back as a strange “chefs are the waiters” concept, and then it was gone.  (Photo by Alvin Jornada)

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Papa's Taverna, Petaluma: This Lakeville Highway Greek restaurant seemed to always be crumbling around the edges, but after a few glasses of ouzo and dancing, no one much cared. Now, the space is truly crumbling, with no new owner. (Photo by Beth Schlanker)

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Hot Box Grill, Sonoma: One of the most under-rated restaurants in Sonoma County, Chef Norman Owens mixed his high-end dining experience with imaginative comfort food. We still remember the duck fat fries with Béarnaise fondly. Replaced by Cochon Volant. (Photo by Jeff Kan Lee)

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Fremont Diner, Sonoma: Closed its doors, unexpectedly, in June 2018. Shortly thereafter, reopened as Boxcar Fried Chicken. (Photo by John Burgess)

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Fremont Diner's beloved fried chicken lives on at Boxcar Fried Chicken. (Photo by John Burgess)

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Cricklewood, Santa Rosa: A staple of Old Santa Rosa, where prime rib and cozy encounters were de rigeur. (Photo by Jeff Kan Lee)

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Chloe’s French Cafe, Santa Rosa: Though the cafe itself didn’t burn in the October 2017 fires, the damage was extensive, and owners moved back to full time catering in Windsor. (Photo by John Burgess)

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Willi’s Wine Bar, Santa Rosa: The original Stark’s restaurant burned to the ground in the October 2015 fires. Reopened in new Santa Rosa location 19 months later, in May 2019. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)

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Guests at the new Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa, on opening day. (Photo by Heather Irwin)

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