From Arrigoni's to Zin here are some of our favorite Sonoma County restaurants from the past.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
The roast duck breast is served at Flavor restaurant in Santa Rosa on Thursday, December 5, 2013. (Photo by Conner Jay)
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)
Strawberry-blood orange heart-tarts at Cafe St. Rose. February 21, 2008. (Photo by Jeff Kan Lee)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Fremont Diner, Sonoma: Closed its doors, unexpectedly, in June 2018. Shortly thereafter, reopened as Boxcar Fried Chicken. (Photo by John Burgess)
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)
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)
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)
Guests at the new Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa, on opening day. (Photo by Heather Irwin)
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Restaurants are a reflection of every community. Part gathering spot, part arbiter of local tastes and part entertainment venue, where we eat out says everything about who we are. And with changing tastes and changing times, they come and go, leaving behind memories for all who visited. Click through the gallery for some of the most popular Sonoma County restaurants that are gone, but never forgotten.
Voters in the midterm elections can stay at a number of Sonoma and Mendocino hotels for an average of 20...
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Another restaurant, gone too soon, is Restaurant Mirepoix in Windsor. Great French food.
Wow there are some old timers commenting here. The Golden Bear Lodge. And Rogers drive in. The Golden Bear Lodge was not on Los Alamos Road; it was way out Mark West Springs Road. On Los Alimos Rd was the steak place The Highland House. Rogers had burger place on Sebastopol Road, and the other on Guernville Rd at Cleveland. I liked that they put mustard on the burgers, not ketchup. Double burger with chopped onions, relish, some lettuce. The Topaz Room predated Flavor by a few.
Golden Bear Lodge, spectacular food and serene setting.
Chinese Kitchen, Mi Ultima Refugio, Carla’s Charcoal Pit.
Yes, all of those Jewel were a gem!
I propose Chloe’s re-open in Windsor where the old Saigon Bistro used to be!
Ingram’s Chili Bowl, Fiori & Grace, and now Carmen’s at Town and Country (other location is smaller with less character, but still great food!) Will miss Carmen’s neighborhood feeling at Town & Country
Jeff Mall was 50% owner of Zin Restaurant. His wife Susan Mall was not an owner of Zin Restaurant nor was she involved in the founding of the business. When the business was sold, the Malls took the entire proceeds of the sale including the shared owed to Scott Silva, co-founder and general manager of Zin, and moved to Mexico to evade Silva’s lawsuit. The case has since been settled but not before Silva ended up paying more in legal fees than the $63,000 they took that was owed Silva. They, together with their lawyer, conspired to steal the money owed to Silva.
Not needed Scott.. not needed… no need to worry though… your rich boyfriend will take care of you.
Flavors suddenly closed down with no explanation not true the reason for the closure was the renovation of the downtown square took so long and with all the construction their restaurant business was affected this was printed in the Press Democrat some time ago
Roger’s Drive Inn!
Roger’s had the best onion rings and fries!
Makai –
Try the beer-battered onion rings at Ozzie’s Grill. OMG are they wonderful!
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I will miss the Vineyard’s Inn out on Hwy 12.
So many.. The Topaz Room, Bunny’s Country Kitchen..The Chinese Kitchen…Lena’s…So many
Bunny’s Country Kitchen and Mel’s Patio were Santa Rosa Icons!
How could you miss Cafe LoLo? Such a great iconic restaurant in downtown Santa Rosa for more than 10 years beginning in 1994.
Exactly, one of the original best!
What is the point of showcasing restaurants that are and have been closed? Business is tough enough for current restaurants- especially in light of the economic fallout from the wildfires and new delivery apps putting the people who are in the service industry at risk for jobs.
Chill out, let people remember things that can put a smile on their face?
I miss Moosetta’s. Not only were the piroshki, pastries and soups awesome, but it was a really great place to work.
Moosetta’s was wonderful in their original location. Piroshkis, Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup and pastries to die for! I made the mistake of visiting a smaller, later location several years ago and trying their piroshki. It was just awful, and I ended up with food poisoning. Yuck.
My wife and I ate lunch often at Chloe’s and the risotto at Flavors was out of this world. Would love both to come back.
One of the most unique was The Golden Bear Lodge on Los Alamos Rd.
I miss Aram’s in Petaluma
Really miss Ravenous and Chloe’s.
I miss rendezvous downtown Santa Rosa, it was a great little spot. Surprised it wasn’t mentioned in the article.
Papa’s taverna was in Petaluma, the sign is still there but the building is long gone.
Papas Taverna was not in Guernville. It was in Petaluma. It was an experience for sure if you ever went !
Hi, thanks for the note. We have corrected this.
Chloe’s. 🙁 Just looking at the photo brings tears to my eyes.
Sure wish the family would re-open their French cafe “someplace.”
I agree. My wife and I would eat there often. Since Chloe’s has closed we seldom eat out.