People ask me about my favorite Sonoma County restaurants daily — and it still throws me. I freeze for a minute while the mental Rolodex fires up, get nervous about what stupid answer I might give, forget what we were talking about and dive into a missive on the latest restaurant. That’s a work question, loaded with qualifications and tangents.
No one asks about the restaurants I go to when I’m not working. The restaurants where I have a standing order, go with friends or take my family. As a Santa Rosa resident, I have my favorites and personal “Best Of” list. These aren’t the Michelin haunts, just everyday hometown picks I return to again and again.
Pizza: NY Pie
When it reopened in August, NY Pie had me at the hand-tossed crust and housemade Ranch dressing. New owners Doug Lyons and Freddie Peña did New Yorkers proud with their hand-tossed pizzas and giant cheese slices for $5.25. Though there are some gussied up pies in the lineup, mostly they’re Friday night noshers with beer and Netflix. 65 Brookwood Ave., 707-526-9743, nypie.pizza
Happy Hour: Belly Left Coast Kitchen & Taproom
Park yourself in the outside parklet and enjoy the sights and sounds of Fourth Street before dark. Happy hour margaritas and Moscow mules are $10, and I’m a frequent flyer on the elote skillet with street corn and tortilla chips for $9. 534 Fourth St., 707-526-5787, bellyleftcoastkitchenandtaproom.com
Italian: L’Oro di Napoli
Their Neopolitan-style pizzas have thin centers and signature charred crusts that need little more than a few toppings, and the margherita is a winner. I come for the deep-dish lasagna with layer after layer of thick pasta, Bolognese, Béchamel and San Marzano tomato sauce. Sitting upstairs is cozy and intimate, perfect for a date night. 629 Fourth St., 707-541-6394, lorodinapolisantarosa.com
Mexican: Sebastopol Road, Roseland
I’m all for neighborhood taquerias, but if you want real tlyuda, quesabirria, tacos, churros, chamoy and elote, you need to explore this Roseland thoroughfare. You’ll get many opinions about the best stuff, but I’m a fan of La Texanita, La Fondita, El Roy’s and Gio y Los Magos.
Pub Food: Goose and Fern
Where else can you get shepherd’s pie, sausage rolls or bangers and mash with a side of curry sauce? Fun and friendly with excellent food. 116 Fifth St., 707-843-4235, thegooseandfern.com
Breakfast: J & M’s Midtown Cafe
The Hollandaise. Bella Rosa coffee. Chilaquiles. Diner food with a chef’s touch. 1422 Fourth St., 707-545-2233, jm-midtowncafe.com
Brunch: Americana
It’s everything right with America — fried chicken, country gravy, eggs and home fries piled onto a plate. God bless the USA. 205 Fifth St., 707-755-1548, americanasonomacounty.com
Lunch: Zoftig
I promise myself I’ll get something other than the falafel wrap, but cave at the last moment. It somehow feels filling and healthy at the same time because, hey, it has hummus and vegetables and tahini sauce. 57 Montgomery Drive, 707-521-9554, zoftigeatery.com
Special Occasion: Augie’s
Classy yet casual, this downtown French bistro just ticks all the boxes. Luxe décor, warm baguettes, refined cocktails and continental classics like Boeuf Bourguignon. 535 Fourth St., 707-531-4400, augiesfrench.com
Coffee: Brew Coffee, Tea and Beer
I always find new art, health concoctions, coffee drinks and hard ciders at this neighborhood gathering spot. The Rainbow Toast is my go-to; my only complaint is that the best seats get snapped up early. 555 Healdsburg Ave., 707-303-7372, brewcoffeeandbeer.com
Burger: Superburger
The fancy-pantsy restaurant burgers are great, but this is my go-to for a down-and-delish fat patty with all the fixins. Great chocolate malts and tater tots seal the deal. 1501 Fourth St., 707-546-4016, originalsuperburger.com
Bakery: Marla
Crebbles (knotted croissant dough baked with maple sugar and sea salt) were my gateway drug to the Santa Rosa cafe. Then came the dark chocolate brownies, baguettes, walnut boules and chai lattes to hook me. Now Fried Chicken Frydays, pop-up pizza parties, seasonal dinners and the promise of chicken shawarma keep me coming back. 208 Davis St., 707-852-4091, marlabakery.com
Deli: Grossman’s
The closest you’ll come to a proper Jewish deli in Sonoma County. Bagels, bread and babka are baked in-house (the cheesy Khachapuri bread is a fave), and the sabich board with fried eggplant, falafel, pickled cabbage and piles of other Middle Eastern-inspired dips and sauces come with still-hot pita bread. 308 Wilson St., 707-595-7707, grossmanssr.com
Brewery: Cooperage
An ever-changing lineup of food trucks, my favorite sour beers (and beer slushies), trivia nights and incredible murals. Save me a seat. 981 Airway Court, Suite G, 707-293-9787, cooperagebrewing.com
Sushi: Kiraku
Nothing too fancy, but where I go for California rolls, veggie tempura and tonkatsu ramen with a girlfriend. Robot servers and race car sushi delivery are adorable. 1985 Mendocino Ave., 707-800-7699, kirakullc.com
You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats.