Coupon code website Wethrift recently released a list of the top 10 U.S. cities that offer luxury experiences at an affordable price. The August list included two Sonoma County cities — and Sonoma ranked No. 1.
According to Travel + Leisure, the Wethrift study looked at 956 Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand restaurants as well as 348 luxury hotels across the country to come up with the 10 most affordable cities with 5-star experiences.
Seven of the cities on the list are located in California, and three of those are in the Bay Area. Healdsburg is No. 10 on the list and San Francisco comes in at No. 6.
Dish from Valley Bar + Bottle in Sonoma. (Eileen Roche/For Sonoma Magazine)
“Sonoma is the cheapest city for a 5-star experience, with an average restaurant price of just $43.75 and an average hotel price of $518,” the Wethrift team stated in their findings. “In Sonoma, you can enjoy restaurants such as Valley, then stay a night over at the Cottage Inn & Spa.”
Valley Bar + Bottle, also known as Valley, made it on our list of the best restaurants in Sonoma County this year. Favorite dishes here fall under the $40 mark — like the half chicken ($38) and the crispy rice cakes with ginger-scallion sauce ($14).
The best restaurants list also includes Sonoma’s Bloom Carneros, where everything on the dinner menu is under $30. We recommend the Tacos Dorados ($19): crispy rolled vegan tacos with sweet potato puree, avocado, salsa, cabbage and spicy pickles.
A room at Sonoma Creek Inn in Sonoma. (Courtesy Sonoma Creek Inn)
In terms of where to stay, Sonoma Creek Inn ranks as one of Wine Country’s best bargains. Additionally, Wethrift noted The Cottage Inn & Spa, on First Street, has the cheapest rate for “250 square feet of charm.”
Healdsburg, No. 10 on Wethrift’s list, is known for its upscale, high-price restaurants like Valette and SingleThread. But there are also some more affordable Healdsburg eateries, such as the Downtown Bakery, Otoro Sushi and the Wurst Restaurant.
Find more places to eat, sip and stay on a budget in Healdsburg and Sonoma here.
Nonna’s Meatballs made with beef, pork, pistachios and raisins then topped with marinara and ricotta from Campanella Friday, September 6, 2024 in Sebastopol. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Campanella’s Chicken Parm Pie says everything you need to know about the new Brooklyn-meets-Sebastopol Italian American restaurant.
The hand-tossed pizza topped with mozzarella, vodka sauce and fried chicken cutlets is a throwback to owner Tom Rutledge’s favorite childhood snack when visiting his grandparents in Brooklyn and Queens. That, along with arancini, eggplant Parmesan, meatballs and pasta with long-simmered red sauce, were the East Coast staples he dearly missed in his adopted Sonoma County home.
So, he built a restaurant to satisfy his cravings.
Pepperoni pizza in the corner table in the garden patio at Campanella Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Sebastopol. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
“We are putting our twist on the ‘red sauce’ kind of comfort food from back East,” Rutledge said. “That happy combination of East Coast and Sonoma County, both in the kitchen and the bar, is what we look for throughout the menu. The team nailed it, and we will keep refining it and improving, but they nailed it.”
Recently opened in the former Flavor Bistro location, Campanella is an unapologetic “red sauce joint” that channels the red-and-white-checkered tablecloth, candles in the Chianti bottle, garlic-scented family trattorias that are the lifeblood of Italian American neighborhoods along the Atlantic Seaboard. The mix of old-world and new-world flavors speaks to the 19th-century migration of Italians (primarily from Southern Italy and Sicily) to New York.
For executive chef Anthony Paone (also a Brooklynite), nonna-inspired recipes, including his Italian grandmother’s arancini, are the key to the restaurant’s authenticity. After years in California’s fine-dining scene, Paone thought his days of tossing pizzas and making red sauce were behind him, but he’s embracing the full-circle moment.
Arancini is a fried risotto ball with beef ragu, peas and mozzarella from Campanella Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Sebastopol. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
“The arancini, that was grandma’s and how she made it for my Sicilian grandpa,” Paone said. Filled with rice, peas, mozzarella and beef ragu with a side of marinara ($7), they’re as comforting as an old quilt.
Campanella benefits from an infusion of California’s farm-to-table ethos, and Paone is enthusiastic about where he locally sources the meat, fish and produce. Still, the chef is clear that he’s not about to start putting edible flowers on anything. Instead, he bumps flavors with fresh herbs and glams up a simple salad with Little Gem lettuce, housemade basil Ranch, Meyer lemon, curls of fresh radish and fried capers ($16).
The interior vibe is fresh, bright and clean with crisp green hues, splashes of red wallpaper, a wall of purposefully mismatched paintings, an inviting patio and a sleek bar.
Helen Janek, center, celebrated her 100th birthday with her daughter Nancy with a dessert gift from the staff at Campanella Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Sebastopol. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
And watching over all of it is an imposing picture of Nonna. Not anyone’s nonna per se, because the image was generated from a collection of grandma photographs from Rutledge, Paone and others fed into an AI image generator. With designer glasses, windblown hair and a perky scarf, this is Nonna 2.0, inspired by the past and firmly rooted in the present.
“My grandmother, the inspiration for this project, was always happiest when friends and family gathered around her dining room table. I know she’d be thrilled watching the neighborhood come and do the same thing here,” Rutledge said.
Best bets
Garlic Knots, $9: The little knobs of buttery, doughy, yeasty garlic bread are stupido good. Dunk unabashedly into housemade basil Ranch dressing served for precisely that reason — Va bene.
Nonna’s Meatballs made with beef, pork, pistachios and raisins then topped with marinara and ricotta from Campanella Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Sebastopol. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Nonna’s Meatballs, $19: Traditional style with beef and pork, breadcrumbs and ricotta with a twist. The Moorish influence on Italy brought ingredients like pistachios and raisins, adding almost imperceptible sweetness. Served with a side of marinara, not swimming in it. Bravo.
Italian Butter Beans, $13: I loathe beans in any form except dripping in garlic butter (clearly a theme), and so tender they melt in your mouth. You’ll love these even if you’re a bean hater like me.
Eggplant Parm with vodka sauce, ricotta and mozzarella from Campanella Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Sebastopol. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Eggplant Parm, $16: My freezer is stocked with store-bought Angelo’s eggplant Parmesan because I can never get enough. I’m thrilled with the housemade version at Campanella with layers of cheese, crispy breaded eggplant, vodka sauce and crunchy burnt-cheese edges. Next time, I’m not sharing.
Chicken Parm Pie, $28: If there’s a signature dish at Campanella, it’s this impressive pizza. The dough is straightforward with a crisp, leopard crust and soft (though not undercooked) center, just like a New York pie should be. Vodka sauce — a creamy tomato sauce that uses a splash of vodka as an emulsifier (the alcohol cooks off) — lays the base for chunks of fried chicken tenders and a heavy hand of melty mozzarella. If you’re a purist, go for the Classic cheese ($22) with Ezzo pepperoni ($5) that curls and crisps perfectly.
Braised Beef Pizzaiola, $32: A giant chunk of melt-in-your-mouth-tender beef braised in marinara sauce. Historically, the pizza-maker’s wife would put meat in the still-hot oven to slowly cook overnight. The polenta was OK but could use a little more flavor — then again, by the time we ate it, our taste buds may have been garlic-overloaded.
Steamed Clams with Linguini garlic, white wine and seasoned breadcrumbs from Campanella Friday, September 6, 2024 in Sebastopol. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Steamed Clams with Linguine, $26: You’re Frank Sinatra sitting with “The Godfather” and “Jersey Shore” casts. It doesn’t get more Italian American than this.
Sunday Supper and Specials, Market Price: There’s always something additional on the menu, and usually worth trying. Shrimp Scampi was one of our favorite specials, shrimp fettuccine loaded with garlic and all of the butter. Vampires be gone!
Cheesecake, $12: I am always dubious about cheesecake because it almost always disappoints. You will not be disappointed with this creamy, fluffy, tart and sweet slice with a buttery graham cracker crust and candied orange peels. If Rainbow Cookies are available, grab them as well.
Italian Rainbow Cookie from Campanella Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Sebastopol. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Meyer Lemon Fennel Spritz $13: Fennel-infused Limoncello with Prosecco, soda and lemon. I mean, how could you say no? It’s sweet and robust, so I diluted mine to even out the flavor and cut the booze a bit. Keep it classy.
Signora Blanca, $14: Charbay Meyer lemon vodka, Cointreau, lemon verbena syrup and an aquafaba foam. Naughty and nice.
Campanella offers some gluten-free pastas, as well as vegan and vegetarian options. Wine, beer and nonalcoholic cocktails are also available.
The former Oakville Grocery in Healdsburg has reopened as Acorn Cafe, serving breakfast, brunch and lunch. I stopped by for a quick bite and was wowed by the Tiramisu French toast ($16) made with brioche from Santa Rosa’s Goguette Bread, mascarpone sabayon (a rich cream sauce) coffee ice cream and a layer of cacao nib bark.
Tiramisu French toast at Acorn Cafe in Healdsburg. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
The all-day menu from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. also features a locally-sourced Benedict with brown butter Hollandaise ($18), zesty shakshuka ($18) with two poached eggs, tomato sauce, eggplant and green olive tapenade, a fried chicken sandwich ($21), breakfast burger ($19), salads and espresso drinks.
From 3 to 5 p.m., stop by for snacks (the kitchen is closed) and a glass of wine or beer. Takeout salads and sandwiches are also available. I’ll dive deeper into this Healdsburg newcomer’s story in October.
Molcajete Poblano of roasted poblano chile, chicken, chorizo, queso Panela, onions, radish and cactus from Los Molcajetes Bar & Grill in Rincon Valley on Wednesday, September 9, 2020. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
The owners of Los Molcajetes have opened a third location at the former Kina’s Cafe (19101 Sonoma Highway) in Sonoma.
The lengthy menu at the new restaurant focuses on seafood, including ceviche, aguachile, mixed seafood plates, a seafood molcajete, a whole fried perch and fish tacos. You’ll also find empanadas, nachos, shareable parradillas for a family, salads, sandwiches and chicken, beef or pork platters.
“Mojarra Frita” deep fried Mojarra fish with rice, black beans, a garden salad with a margarita from Los Molcajetes Bar & Grill in Rincon Valley on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
The menu includes a glossary to help English speakers wade through Spanish descriptions (did you know “zarandeado” is a method for grilling fish over an open flame?)
Other locations for Los Molcajetes are at 1950 Piner Road and 6599 Montecito Blvd. in Santa Rosa. losmolcajetesbarandgrill.com
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that Los Molcajetes was a Guy Fieri favorite featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2018. The Fieri favorite is Taqueria Molcajetes on College Avenue.
Chef Stephanie Izard will appear Sept. 25 at Women In Conversation in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy photo)
When chef Stephanie Izard won Top Chef in 2008, she was the first woman to hold the title. In the 17 years since her trailblazing appearance, she remains one of only six women to cook their way to the top of the culinary competition.
Being a female chef has never been an easy road in the male-dominated industry, but Izard sees hope on the horizon as more women embark on culinary careers.
“You can be a chef. You can do all of these things. We see our industry is starting to become a little bit more diverse and have a lot more women that are running kitchens,” Izard said in a 2023 interview with OK! Magazine. “It’s fun to just feel like there’s a little bit of impact from that and ongoing love of being a woman in the industry.”
Since the Top Chef win, she’s been an Iron Chef winner, received several James Beard awards, authored two books and become a mother to her now 8-year-old son, Ernie. Izard owns six restaurants: Cabra, Girl & The Goat (with locations in Chicago and Los Angeles), Little Goat and Duck Duck Goat in Chicago. Acclaimed for her global flavors and locally sourced ingredients, Izard advocates nose-to-tail cooking (roasted pig face is a fan favorite) and has made goat a signature menu item.
Chef Stephanie Izard will appear Sept. 25 at Women In Conversation. (Courtesy photo)
Despite her full plate, Izard continues to be one of America’s most recognized women chefs, launching a line of globally-inspired sauces and spices, recently competing in chef Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions (filmed in Santa Rosa), and filming a cameo for season three of The Bear.
Izard spoke to The Press Democrat before her Sept. 25 appearance at Women in Conversation in Santa Rosa.
What would you be if you weren’t a chef?
A scuba diving instructor!
What has changed most in your life since winning Top Chef?
That was about 17 years ago; so crazy to think about! So much has happened and so many opportunities. It has been a wild ride ever since. While I get to do really cool events and travel and other TV opportunities, I am still just a chef who works at my restaurants and works with my team, which hasn’t changed at all.
What advice would you give a woman starting in the restaurant industry?
It is a very supportive industry, especially with other women. Find people you trust to talk to and go along the journey together. Be mindful of the places you choose to work. Make sure they are as excited to work with you as you are them! And that you are excited about what chef you will be working alongside.
Do you cook differently at home after becoming a mother?
I really don’t, although I strive to be more like my mom who was an amazing home cook and made us really great meals from all over the world every night of the week.
You’re known for your nose-to-tail cooking; why is it so important for people to understand eating the whole animal?
I think at this point, most chefs do the same. There are a multitude of reasons: food cost is great, there are a lot of bits of the animal that are tastier than the cuts you find at the grocery store, and it is more respectful of the animals we raise for food.
What’s an ingredient you can’t live without?
Red Boat fish sauce!
What’s your secret food obsession?
Kewpie mayo (though I don’t think it’s a very big secret!)
What inspires you most about Sonoma County?
I travel to the area often for work and just always feel at peace. Such a beautiful landscape! There are also some really great restaurants and, of course, wine all around. Everyone that lives up in Sonoma County seems really happy and let me know that it is a great place to be.
BikeHealdsburgBike Healdsburg, the first party bike in Sonoma County, offers several different tours: a morning exercise tour, a daily history and architecture immersion, a wine-tasting and nibbles excursion and a bar crawl. Click through the gallery for a taste of the experience.
It seems like ages since Sonoma County pivoted to appointment-only experiences in the wake of the pandemic. If you long for the days where you could escape to Wine Country on a whim, we have good news.
“As long as you are willing to be flexible and have a sense of adventure — spontaneity is back,” said Tim Zahner, Sonoma Valley Tourism executive director. “Planning is for when you absolutely need to have it right: anniversary or special trip. But if you want to take off for a few days, come on up.”
While an impressive roster of elaborate, sit-down Wine Country experiences require reservations to assure attentive service, there are arguably just as many that embrace spur-of-the-moment options.
Walk-in Wine Experiences
Ram’s Gate welcomes guests to its Sonoma estate without reservations for a variety of experiences, ranging from a guided five-wine seated tasting to The Caviar Experience, which pairs Ram’s Gate wines with caviar from Tsar Nicoulai.
In Healdsburg, J Vineyards & Winery welcomes walk-ins daily for its Signature Tasting of five Russian River Valley wines. And it never hurts to ask about availability in the Legacy Lounge.
Tasting area at Dutcher Crossing winery in Geyserville. (Courtesy of Dutcher Crossing)
For $20, spontaneous tasters can sip and swirl their way through current release wines at Dutcher Crossing in Dry Creek Valley.
“Guests can also bring their own picnic and enjoy views of Dry Creek Valley from our dog-friendly back lawn,” said proprietor Debra Mathy.
Winery dog Lady is known to stop by the tasting room to say hello and check if visitors brought extra snacks.
Though vino may be the main draw, there’s more to Sonoma County than just wine. Enjoying the great outdoors is a year-round perk in these parts. From waterfalls to whale sightings, spontaneous hiking opportunities are seemingly endless. Stroll in the shadow of towering redwoods at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve; enjoy breezes from the Pacific Ocean while exploring Jenner Headlands Preserve; or picnic amid native and Asian flora at Glen Ellen’s Sonoma Botanical Garden, all without having to plan ahead to secure reservations.
Bike Healdsburg offers both wine tours and a bar crawl. (Courtesy of Bike Healdsburg)
Don’t discount guided tours when considering a last-minute getaway. Family-owned and operated Bike Healdsburg, the first party bike in Sonoma County, welcomes visitors who roll into town at the last minute. Bar crawl tours remain available on the website until the hour before the tour, and right up to the start time if there’s a tour already booked that still has space. The Bike Healdsburg website is the best way to snag a spot. If you don’t see availability online, don’t hesitate to call or text.
“It never hurts to ask,” said co-owner Jessica Pilling. “Because we are a small operation, we have flexibility. We have some groups that want to deviate from our set tour times because of their travel schedules or what not, and we are often able to accommodate them if they call.”
There are countless opportunities to eat well in Wine Country without a dinner reservation. Here’s a list of our favorite local restaurants that we love to revisit, but it just scratches the surface. Bringing your dog along? Spread Kitchen boasts a dog-friendly patio. Want to check out some food trucks? Santa Rosa’s Mitote Food Park serves up tasty Mexican eats. About two miles away, Shokakko offers Asian-inspired street food, and Gabacool Provisions pops up all around with New York-style pizza.
Stay the Night
No hotel wants to leave a room empty. Checking a property’s website or even calling the front desk can help when hunting for the best last-minute room booking. Select hotels even offer perks, like easy access to sought-after Wine Country experiences.
“We’re delighted that in our first couple of years, we’ve already established a great number of winery partners,” said Emily Glick, co-owner and general manager of The Stavrand in Guerneville. “Most notably with Marimar Estate, which provides a complimentary Classic Tasting, small charcuterie plate and preferred availability to all of our guests.”
Thai BBQ Chicken at Thai House Noodle Soup in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Santa Rosa’s Thai restaurant lineup is expanding with the addition of Thai House Noodle Soup (1899 Mendocino Ave.) and the soon-to-open Khao Soi Thai Zen (1169 Yulupa Ave.).
Red curry at Thai House Noodle Soup in Santa Rosa (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Thai House replaces Cozy Plum Bistro and offers standard Thai dishes — Pad Thai, green papaya salad, curry — along with standout soups served hotpot-style with a portable burner, keeping the soup bubbling away at the table. Don’t miss the pho-esque Thai Boat Noodle Soup with beef; Tom Yum Noodle Soup with ground chicken, peanuts, wontons and garlic oil; or the comforting Racha Noodle Soup made with instant noodles, prawns, ground pork, galanga, lemongrass and condensed milk.
Khao Soi has not yet opened, but the menu posted in the window and online includes hot pot soups, whole fried fish with garlic sauce, and Khao Soi, a Northern Thai curry with steamed egg noodles.
The Hog Island Oyster Co. pickup window in Petaluma. (Courtesy of Remy Anthes)
Hog Island Oyster Co., a popular seafood establishment on the Sonoma-Marin Coast, has opened a Petaluma pickup window on First Street. The menu features oysters, shellfish (clams, mussels, prawns) and other local catches, including squid, abalone and geoduck clams.
Customers will also be able to pick up kitchen staples, including Hogwash mignonette, cocktail sauce and miso nori butter, as well as Hog Island merch.
Oysters from Hog Island Oyster Co. are now available at a pickup window in Petaluma. (Courtesy of Remy Anthes)
Orders must be placed online or over the phone for pickup from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays.
Parish Cafe in Healdsburg. (Photo courtesy of siponthisjuice.com)
Chef Ari Rosen of Healdsburg’s much-missed Campo Fina and Scopa restaurants will host a one-night-only dinner at The Parish Cafe (60 Mill St., Healdsburg) on Sept. 27.
The menu includes arancini, meatballs, cotoletta (an Italian-style schnitzel), salad and beignets. Kids get their own dinner seating from 5 to 6 p.m. (parents can stick around inside, but the meal is focused on peer-to-peer noshing). Tickets on OpenTable are $25 for children and $65 for adults. Reservations required.
Beignets at Parish Cafe in Healdsburg. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Throughout the fall, the Healdsburg restaurant will offer other specialty dinners, including Parish Nights (Oct. 24 and 25) with an a la carte menu featuring Parish favorites and new Cajun dishes, including crawfish etouffee, Yaka Mein (Louisiana-style ramen), Louisiana blue crab cakes and fried chicken frisée salad.
Chef Ralph Tingle (of Bistro Ralph) will continue his evening appearances featuring his signature Chicken Paillard from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15, and Dec. 12 and 13. $75 per person.
The Sausage Emporium, just opposite the Plaza on Napa Street in Sonoma, serves a variety of sausage sandwiches and salads to tourists and locals alike on Wednesday July 14, 2021. (Photo by Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune)
Sausages are out, global cuisine is in at Mozaik, the forthcoming restaurant from the owners of the Sausage Emporium in Sonoma. Owner Miranda Ives is sunsetting the sausage-centric focus of her Sonoma Plaza cafe (31 East Napa St.) for a more expansive menu that will include dishes like Kashmiri short rib tacos, pork belly naan flatbread and Ethiopian Berbere-spiced chicken.
Ives, who is also the founder of Hare and Hatter Café, Emporium Wines and Beanwrks, hopes to create a convivial communal space for lunch and dinner at Mozaik, as well as weekend brunch and social hours from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday.
Miranda Ives, co-owner of the Sausage Emporium on Napa Street in Sonoma, on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. (Photo by Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune)Charcuterie board from Sausage Emporium in Sonoma. (Courtesy Sausage Emporium)
“We are evolving from Sausage Emporium to Mozaik to better reflect our growing vision and the diverse culinary experiences we want to offer our guests. While Sausage Emporium has been a beloved local favorite, we’re excited to introduce Mozaik, which allows us to expand our menu and bring a wider variety of global flavors to the table,” Ives said.
The Sausage Emporium on the Plaza opened in 2021 after long construction delays during the pandemic. Before that, Ives and her mother, Linda Welch, operated Hare and Hatter at the El Paseo Alley from 2017 to 2019.
Mozaik’s opening, according to Ives, is a moving target but is slated for late September or early October.
