Graton Casino’s new casual American Bistro 101 has former Pullman Kitchen chef John Trunk at the helm. The all-day menu includes rotisserie chicken noodle soup, Maine lobster melt, seared ahi tuna Reuben, smash burgers, steak fries and a hearty bistro breakfast. (Bistro 101)
We’re Open!
Himalayan Grill and Dosa: The key word here is dosa. These thin Indian crepes filled with potatoes, paneer or other goodies are impossible to find in Sonoma County. Though the owners of this Petaluma eatery are from Nepal, they’ve nailed this fermented rice and lentil south Indian street food as well as thick momo and incredible apricot curry. 5306 Old Redwood Highway North, Petaluma, 707-665-0644, himalayanpetaluma.com.
Mezzeluna: I recently wrote about this new Greek/Turkish restaurant in Cotati that serves moussaka, spanakopita, saganaki and other traditional dishes. 8099 La Plaza A, Cotati, 707-992-0101, mezzeluna.com.
Bistro 101: Graton Casino’s new casual American bistro has former Pullman Kitchen chef John Trunk at the helm. The all-day menu includes rotisserie chicken noodle soup, Maine lobster melt, grilled bao buns, fresh salads and bowls, a seared ahi tuna Reuben, smash burgers, steak fries and a hearty bistro breakfast. Open from 7 a.m. to midnight, plant-based options. 288 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-588-7055, gratonresortcasino.com.
Breakfast plate from Bistro 101 at Graton Casino in Rohnert Park. (Bistro 101)
Bliss Sandwich and Boba Cafe: Why this pint-size boba shop looks like the inside of The Venetian is anyone’s guess, but the crystal chandelier and cloud fresco add a touch of class to their tasty banh mi and milk teas. 622 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-843-5879.
Mo’z Cafe: The sprawling Mary’s Pizza Shack space on Fourth Street has been reborn as an all-day breakfast cafe offering lunch and dinner options. If you’re a fan of the Crepevine, you’ll be right at home with their extensive sweet and savory crepe menu, omelets and Benedicts — not to mention the incredibly similar menu signage. The San Francisco-based eatery also offers cold and hot sandwiches, burgers, salads and pasta. 615 Fourth St., Santa Rosa
Nana’s Cafe: East meets West in this casual cafe at the Roxy Theater. Vietnamese sandwiches, beef stick kebabs and boba; breakfast sandwiches, crepes, wraps and burritos. 85 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.
Rinconcito Andahuaylino: New Peruvian restaurant at the Brickyard Center in downtown Santa Rosa is a sleeper but offers solid ceviches. 458 B St., Santa Rosa, 707-623-9230.
Tisza Bistro: After his Eastern European restaurant closed in 2020, chef Krisztian Karkus moved his schnitzel-making skills to the Windsor Farmers Market, keeping his loyal fans happy. But the question always remained: When will you reopen? After nearly a year of rehabbing the former Singletree restaurant in Healdsburg, Karkus has a brick-and-mortar again. Dishes include his famous Wiener schnitzel and jagerschnitzel, along with chicken Cordon Bleu, spaetzle and Viennese Sacher torte. 165 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-291-5193, tiszabistro.com.
Lobster XO with a table side pour of shiitake lemongrass tea over sushi rice from the Golden Bear Station in Kenwood. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Golden Bear Station: The buzzy, new Kenwood restaurant from the owners of Animo veers toward Italian, with obsessively crafted pizzas and homemade pasta plus Animo favorites, including lobster in XO sauce with lemongrass tea. 8445 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, goldenbearstation.com (no phone).
Allikai: The former culinary director of Stone Edge Farm’s EDGE restaurant, a $250 bespoke dining experience, has opened an approachable cafe and catering business focused on sandwiches, rice bowls, ceviche and desserts. Chef Fiorella Butron’s Peruvian upbringing, international restaurant experience and passion for holistic eating come together in this personal project. 678 W. Napa St., Sonoma, allikaigroup.com.
Trillium: Opened in November, this new Guerneville wine bar features small plates, including a Dungeness crab roll, ahi poke, charcuterie boards, salads and oysters. 16222 Main St., Guerneville, 707-604-5750, trillium.bar.
Crab sandwich from Fishetarian in Bodega Bay. (Fishetarian)
Dungeness crab season in Northern California seems to get shorter every year. In 2024, commercial boats weren’t allowed out until mid-January, meaning crab lovers are extra-eager to get a bite of the sweet crustaceans that live just off the coast.
These delicately-flavored crabs have meaty claws and yield a hefty amount of meat for their size, compared to King or Snow crabs. To get a taste during the short window that they are available fresh, we have put together a list of favorite restaurants for Dungeness.
Fresh and cooked crabs are also readily available at local grocers and seafood shops, like Anna’s Seafood in Petaluma (901 Lakeville St.) or Santa Rosa Seafood (946 Santa Rosa Ave.).
The Bodega Bay fishing fleet heads to open water as Dungeness crab season gets under way. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Bodega Bay
Spud Point: Always jammed, always great. A crab sammie on a soft roll and chowder comes with plenty of garlicky goodness. Locals will tell you this is “the” destination for local crab, and they’re not wrong. 1910 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-9472, spudpointcrabco.com
Fisherman’s Cove: Barbecue oysters are always my favorite here, but their crab sandwich on toasted ciabatta is another must-have. It comes with a choice of cocktail sauce or dill aioli. 1850 Bay Flat Road, Bodega Bay, 707-377-4238, fishermanscovebodegabay.com
Ginocchios Kitchen: You’re here for the sandwich — buttery, griddled slices of white bread hold huge chunks of freshly picked crab and a slice of melted cheese. It’s a messy affair and resplendently rich, so you could probably split one with a friend or take some home for later, especially since the chowder here is also required. 1410 Bay Flat Road, Bodega Bay, 707-377-4359, ginochioskitchen.com
Anello Family Crab and Seafood: Follow the bright orange crab signs to this dock-to-table family crabbing operation. Giant live crabs are pulled out of the tank, immediately cooked and put on ice. We’ve never had a crab this fresh, sweet and delicious. Ever. Open 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1820 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay, 707-232-8002, anellofamilyseafood.com
Crab sandwich from Fishetarian in Bodega Bay. (Fishetarian)
Fishetarian Fish Market: Their chowder game is strong, but you can also buy fresh crab, crab sandwiches and crab cakes at this super casual walk-up cafe. 599 Highway 1 S., Bodega Bay, 707-875-9092, fishetarianfishmarket.com
Gourmet Au Bay: A serious upgrade from coastal crab shacks, with a great selection of wines sold by the glass. A glass of crisp rosé will start things off nicely. Meaty crab cakes arrive in a sizzling mini cast-iron skillet with a nickel-size dollop of creamy aioli. Crispy-edged and full of crab, these are a winner. 1412 Bay Flat Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-9875, gourmetaubay.com
Inland spots
Bag O’ Crab: Combos are the best bet at this eat-with-your-fingers spot. Grab a bib and some wet naps and dive into mix-and-match plates that include Dungeness crab, king crab legs, clams, crawfish, shrimp and lobster ($31.95 to $83.95). 1901 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-843-7267. bagocrabusa.com
Simmer Claw Bar: This sprawling restaurant features a mashup of Vietnamese and Cajun cuisine. Seafood typically includes head-on shrimp, snow crab legs, King Crab legs, crawfish, Dungeness crab, Manila clams, mussels and lobster. You can mix and match or buy by the pound. Sauces (lemon pepper, garlic butter, Cajun or their signature Simmer Sauce) kick up the party. 595 Rohnert Park Expressway, Rohnert Park, 707-806-2080, simmerclawbar.com
Fresh Dungeness crab, caught right outside of Bodega Bay, at Tony’s Seafood in Marshall. (Tony’s Seafood)
Worth the trip to Marin
Tony’s Seafood: Now owned by Hog Island Oyster Co., this historic waterfront roadhouse is absolutely tops for seafood. During crab season, they offer local Dungeness crab hot or chilled with melted butter and lemon. Make sure to get a few oysters while you’re there. 18863 Shoreline Highway, Marshall, 415-663-1107, hogislandoysters.com.
Chef Douglas Keane of Cyrus. The Michelin-starred restaurant reopened in Healdsburg September 9, 2022 after being closed for about a decade. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Chef Douglas Keane is adding a new job title to his resume — author. The charismatic co-owner of Geyserville’s Cyrus restaurant recently sealed a book deal for a personal memoir and tell-all entitled “Culinary Leverage: A Journey Through The Heat.” The book will be published in January 2025 by Koehler Books.
In addition to personal anecdotes about his life, Keane hopes the book will inspire other restaurateurs to disrupt the status quo of unsustainable wages for restaurant workers.
“My book, a memoir and essay on this industry called hospitality is…honest, intense, raw, sad, promising and passionate,” Keane wrote last August in an Instagram post.
When Keane reopened Cyrus in 2022, a decade after shuttering his original Michelin-starred restaurant in Healdsburg, he implemented an audacious plan to provide a living wage to staff, who share tips and roles throughout each shift — a server may be helping in the kitchen or a cook bringing plates to the table. He also employs around 20 people, less than a third of the staff size of the original restaurant.
“I take a very deep look at myself and my chosen profession. Where did we both go so wrong and what did we get right? And equally important, what can we do better?” he said.
When it opened in Geyserville in 2022, Cyrus almost immediately received a Michelin star and has been praised for its creativity, attention to detail and for the equitable work environment Keane advocates.
Guests journey through the subdivided restaurant space, starting with a sparkling wine course in the Bubble Room, followed by a chef’s table seating in the kitchen, then the dining room and, finally, a Willy Wonka-esque chocolate room. Despite the $295 price tag per person, Cyrus’ multicourse menu is a relative value compared to other high-end Michelin restaurants.
Keane, who won Top Chef Masters in 2013, has been noodling on the idea of writing a book for years, saying that he doesn’t have all the perfect answers to ongoing financial inequities in the restaurant industry but does offer honest opinions. The book will name names and point fingers, Keane said, but he calls the book “part expose, part confessional, part hopeful.”
Working out of a refurbished chicken coop west of Sonoma, Jim Simpson named his business O.D.D. Parts Fabrication as a tribute to all that is Obsolete, Discontinued, and Difficult-to-Obtain in the automotive world. His shop and warehouse is an amazingly well-organized gearhead’s museum of lost treasures. (Erik Castro/For Sonoma Magazine)
You’d think that a guy who works on Ferraris and Lamborghinis would occasionally get to take one out on the road for a test drive. But Jim Simpson rarely even sees such fancy cars or their owners.
Instead, he’s the last resort—the fixer, the old-world machinist, the Geppetto of exotic cars—the one collectors from around the world seek out when an old, discontinued part breaks down on their vintage Rolls-Royce or Duesenberg or Avions Voisin.
In an age of mass production, Simpson makes precious one-offs. Most of the time, he’ll receive the broken part in the mail. Other times, he works from blueprints, photos, and sketches.
His job is to replicate that lost piece, often making it better than the original.
“We’re putting braces on the ‘Mona Lisa,’” he says, standing in the middle of a shop filled with so many gadgets—turn signals, wheel covers, lock cylinders, horn buttons—it’s hard to know where to look.
A gearhead’s museum of lost treasures
Working out of a refurbished chicken coop west of Sonoma, Simpson named his business O.D.D. Parts Fabrication as a tribute to all that is Obsolete, Discontinued, and Difficult-to-Obtain in the automotive world.
His shop and warehouse is an amazingly well-organized gearhead’s museum of lost treasures.
There’s a pedal-powered lathe he converted to run on electricity. An electroplating operation, hooked up to a car battery, that involves melting down pennies for zinc. And a wheel to spin and shine new wheel covers.
His trusty team is hard at work. In one corner, Steve Clark is busy building Ferrari license plate holders. Across from him, Matt Loftus is making a diaphragm for a carburetor in a Jaguar XJ6.
Nothing is thrown away, nothing is wasted at the Sonoma warehouse of custom machinist Jim Simpson. Racks of drawers contain small parts and samples. (Erik Castro/For Sonoma Magazine)Jim Simpson of O.D.D. Parts Repair & Fabrication in his workshop in Sonoma (Erik Castro/For Sonoma Magazine)
When a new customer walks in to pick up a metal rod he ordered, his eyes light up, seeing the shop for the first time. “It’s kind of a candy store,” Simpson says, midway through explaining how he can bend, cut, fuse, and bevel glass, and cast both metal alloys and plastic.
“If you’re looking for a weird item, keep us in mind,” Simpson tells the customer. It could be the company motto.
Later, a machinist with a thick Ukrainian accent calls to talk through pricing for a 1936 Rolls-Royce restoration project. Good-natured and quick to laugh through a bushy moustache, the polymath Simpson hardly ever stops talking, going on about almost anything—politics, 3D printers, Russian vloggers, Italian shoes, steampunk style, recumbent bikes.
In the niche world of elite vintage car restoration, Simpson has earned the reputation as a maker of missing puzzle pieces. “He makes what they call the ‘unobtainium’ parts—the stuff you can’t find anymore,” explains one client.
From fine arts to fine cars
Simpson likes to say he was born “when a pickle was a penny.” Growing up in Orange County in the 1960s, his family garage was the neighborhood hangout. It’s where Simpson built tricked-out soap-box cars and later a fiberglass Devin kit car. A hippie with hair down to the middle of his back, he rode the rails across the country and into Canada and Mexico as a teenager.
A few years later, after earning a fine arts degree, his first job was repairing washing machines and refrigerators at an appliance store. Migrating north to the Bay Area, Simpson worked at several car parts shops, before eventually going into business on his own in 1990.
Today, at 73, he’s still an old hippie at heart. He worked out of his home garage until about eight years ago, when his wife busted him for carrying a cauldron of molten aluminum through the kitchen.
Simpson’s workshop contains all manner of rare and rehabilitated machinery, from metal lathes and die-casting equipment to circuit boards and small electronics—all remarkably well organized. (Erik Castro/For Sonoma Magazine)
The maker of missing puzzle pieces
For Simpson, it’s all about the chase and the thrill of solving a puzzle. Along the way, he wants to make the client happy and make a buck at the same time. But ask him if he’s a good businessman and he shakes his head.
“I’m way too friendly,” he says. “Nice guys finish last.”
Hearing this, Loftus leans his head into the room to add, “You’re a very good salesman, but not necessarily a good businessman.”
Simpson can’t help but agree. “We never have anybody complain about price, so we must be doing something wrong.”
But word of mouth among super-wealthy rare car collectors keeps him in business. In the niche world of elite, vintage car restoration, Simpson has earned a reputation as the maker of missing puzzle pieces— a tricky endeavor when said puzzle company probably went out of business 75 or 100 years ago.
“He makes what they call the ‘unobtainium’ parts, the stuff you can’t find anymore,” says Elliot Siegel, a retired Chicago commercial real estate developer who hired Simpson to replicate parts for two Maseratis and an Alfa Romeo. “Sometimes people will send him drawings, and he has to create something from scratch. He’s an Old World craftsman. Instead of making fine jewelry, he’s making parts for vintage cars.”
All manner of tools are organized in Jim Simpson’s workshop in Sonoma. (Erik Castro/For Sonoma Magazine)Colleague Steve Clark has been a tinkerer all his life. (Erik Castro/For Sonoma Magazine)
An award-winning automobile
Reno collector Steve Hamilton, who owns more than 80 exotic cars, including Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Duesenbergs, and Delahayes, first hired Simpson to restore a Ferrari 400i electric side mirror that no one else could fix.
When it came back in perfect working condition, he challenged Simpson with an almost trivial pursuit—replicating a matching tortoise-shell-covered perfume bottle that was included among the vanities in the backseat of a hand-cranked 1907 Renault.
Back then, cars came with vanity collections, like you might see in a limousine, including ashtrays, clocks, and in this case, left and right perfume bottles for the ladies. Missing one bottle, Hamilton sent Simpson the original for reference.
“To tell you the truth, when he sent them back, you could not tell the original from the replica,” says Hamilton.
In 2021, the 1907 Renault with the now-perfect perfume bottles won first place in the preservation category at the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, widely considered one of the most prestigious car shows anywhere. “There’s nobody else who could have done what he did,” says Hamilton— before rattling off the next round of cars he plans to bring into Simpson’s world.
O.D.D. Parts Fabrication. 707-738-9661, oddparts.net
Additional Sonoma County luxury establishments that were recommended by Forbes include Farmhouse Inn (pictured) and Farmhouse Inn Restaurant in Forestville and Hotel Les Mars in Healdsburg. (Farmhouse Inn)
U.S. News & World Report has announced its 2024 list of “Best Hotels in the USA.” This year, more than 20 properties in Sonoma County made the cut, with Montage Healdsburg taking No. 41 on the list, which features more than 4,700 hotel properties. Acqualina Resort & Residences in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, took the No. 1 spot for the second year in a row.
“As the travel landscape evolves, there is a shift toward meeting the needs of modern travelers. The hotel industry is striving to offer culturally authentic experiences and high levels of customer service, recognizing that today’s explorers seek connections with their destinations,” said Zach Watson, senior travel editor at U.S. News., in a press release.
According to U.S. News, rankings are calculated using a combination of factors, including each hotel’s “star rating,” “the aggregate opinion of published travel experts,” and “the overall customer satisfaction expressed in online guest reviews of luxury hotels and resorts provided by TripAdvisor.”
The digital media company also released a number of other best hotel lists, including Best Hotels in Canada, Best Hotels in Mexico and Best Hotels in Europe. In total, the 14th annual Best Hotels rankings highlight more than 37,000 hotels across more than 400 destinations worldwide.
The full rankings for the 2024 Best Hotels in the USA can be found here.
Click through the above gallery to see the Sonoma County properties that made this year’s list. Napa hotels are listed below.
Guest room at Stanly Ranch in Napa. (Auberge Resorts Collection)
Napa Valley hotels on this year’s list
Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection, Napa: (No. 116) Located south of downtown Napa on 712 acres of vineyards and farmland, Stanly Ranch offers easy access to popular locales in both Napa and Sonoma counties. 200 Stanly Crossroad, Napa, 866-618-5382, aubergeresorts.com/stanlyranch
Meadowood Napa Valley, St. Helena: (No. 182) Following the Glass Fire in 2020, the family-owned estate reopened in 2021 with 36 lodge-style rooms and suites. 900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena, 707-531-4788, meadowood.com
Carneros Resort and Spa, Napa: (No. 202) Set on 28-acres in the Carneros region, just across the county border between Sonoma and Napa, the majority of the resort’s accommodations are cottages, making it feel more like a neighborhood (with amazing yards) than a hotel. 4048 Sonoma Highway, Napa, 707-299-4900, carnerosresort.com
Bardessono Hotel and Spa, Yountville: (No. 226) This Napa Valley hotel has been recognized as one of the most eco-friendly properties in the United States. 6526 Yount St., Yountville, 707-204-6000, bardessono.com
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection, Calistoga: (No. 243) Lounge by the resort pool or opt for a soak in one of five geothermal pools. 755 Silverado Trail, Calistoga, 707-266-7534, aubergeresorts.com/solage
Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford. (Auberge du Soleil)
Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford: (No. 293) A stay here makes you feel like you’ve been whisked off to France, without having to get on a plane. 180 Rutherford Hill Road, Rutherford, 707-963-1211, aubergeresorts.com/aubergedusoleil
Harvest Inn, St. Helena: (No. 437) Nestled in a rare forested stretch of Napa Valley, this property is ideal for those looking for a quieter experience. 1 Main St., St. Helena, 707-963-9463, harvestinn.com
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, Calistoga: (No. 449) Napa Valley’s first and only resort set in a working winery. The property’s restaurant Auro boasts a Michelin star. 400 Silverado Trail, Napa, fourseasons.com/napavalley
Alila Napa Valley, St. Helena: (No. 564) This adults-only property offers a number of wellness experiences including yoga and sound baths. 1915 Main St., St. Helena, 707-963-7000, aliliahotels.com/napa-valley
Grand Reserve at the Meritage, Napa: (No. 677) Located across the street from its sister property, The Meritage Resort and Spa, the dog-friendly hotel offers standard rooms and suites with full kitchens. 850 Bordeaux Way, Napa, 888-965-7090, meritageresort.com
Napa Valley Lodge, Yountville: (No. 951) Family-owned and operated, this hotel is an ideal starting point for a stroll through town. 2230 Madison St., Yountville, 888-944-3545, napavalleylodge.com
Hotel Yountville Resort & Spa, Yountville: (No. 1042) Featuring 80 luxury rooms and suites, complimentary perks of a stay here include breakfast bites and coffee, parking and bikes to roll through town. 6462 Washington St., Yountville, 707-967-7900, hotelyountville.com
Archer Hotel Napa, Napa: (No. 1074) The rooftop sundeck features one-of-a-kind Napa views and pool just six inches deep surrounded by lounge chairs. 1230 First St., Napa, 707-690-9800, archerhotel.com/napa
The Meritage Resort and Spa, Napa: (No. 1427) Along with a pool and spa, the property features a six-lane bowling alley. 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa, 866-370-6272, meritagecollection.com/meritage-resort
The Westin Verasa Napa: (No. 1485) Location, location, location! This hotel is easy walking distance to the Napa Wine Train, Oxbow Public Marketplace and downtown Napa. 1314 McKinstry St., Napa, 707-257-1800, marriott.com
North Block Hotel, Yountville: (No. 1695) North Block Hotel offers 20 rooms centered around a communal courtyard — complete with comfy chairs, a fireplace and fountain. Tucked away in the back of the property, the pool and hot tub area is the perfect lazy day hiding spot. 6757 Washington St., 707-944-8080, northblockhotel.com
The mineral pool at Indian Springs in Calistoga. (Indian Springs)Menu items at The Restaurant at North Block in Yountville. (North Block)
Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa: (No. 1801) Built originally as a private estate, today, it features 345 guest rooms and suites, two PGA championship golf courses, nine tennis courts, three bocce and pickleball courts, three swimming pools, and a spa and fitness center. 1600 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, 800-532-0500, silveradoresort.com
Indian Springs Calistoga: (No. 1885) This historic property is best-known for its Olympic-sized mineral pool; built in 1913, it’s reportedly one of the largest pools in California. 1712 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, 707-709-8139, indianspringscalistoga.com
Andaz Napa: (No. 1918) With 141 rooms and suites, this hotel is great for those wanting to make their homebase downtown Napa. 1450 1st St., Napa, 707-687-1234, hyatt.com
Napa River Inn, Napa: (No. 2034) With primo views of the Napa River, this hotel dates back to 1884, serving the community as the Napa Mill until the mid-1970s. 500 Main St., Napa, 707-251-8500, napariverinn.com
River Terrace Inn, A Noble House Hotel, Napa: (No. 2095) As its name implies, this hotel offers easy access to the river walk. It’s also close to downtown. 1600 Soscol Ave., Napa, 707-927-2217, riverterraceinn.com
SENZA Hotel, Napa: (2144) Located less than five miles from downtown Napa, this hotel is studded with art, inside and out. 4066 Howard Lane, Napa, 707-253-0337, senzahotel.com
Guest room at SENZA Hotel in Napa. (SENZA)
The Estate Yountville: (No. 2323) The 22-acre stretch in downtown Yountville is home to two hotels: Vintage House on the north end of the estate and Hotel Villagio to the south. 6481 Washington St., Yountville, 877-351-1133, theestateyountville.com
Southbridge Napa Valley, St. Helena: (No. 2435) Located in the heart of downtown St. Helena, this under-the-radar hotel offers complimentary parking and continental breakfast. 1020 Main St., St Helena, 707-967-9400, southbridgenapavalley.com
Wine Country Inn, Napa: (No. 2702) More than three-quarters of the property’s 29 accommodations overlook vineyards. Breakfast and parking are complimentary. 1152 Lodi Lane, St. Helena, 707-963-7077, winecountryinn.com
Marriott Napa Valley Hotel & Spa, Napa: (No. 2959) About a 10-minute drive from downtown Napa, this property hosts a daily wine hour and yoga. 3425 Solano Ave., Napa, 707-253-8600, marriott.com
Vino Bello Resort, Napa: (No. 3198) Studio, one- and two-bedroom suites that sleep 2-6 guests make this a popular spot for traveling families. 865 Bordeaux Way, Napa, 707-251-1900, extraholidays.com
Vineyard Country Inn, St. Helena: (No. 3601) Located on Highway 29, the boutique inn features 20 suites with a king or queen bed and a fireplace. Breakfast and parking is complimentary. 201 Main St., St. Helena, 707-963-1000, vineyardcountryinn.com
Best Western Plus Inn At The Vines, Napa: (No. 3882) All suites and rooms come with a microwave and refrigerator, making it easier for people traveling on a budget. 100 Soscol Ave., Napa, 707-257-1930, innatthevines.com
Hotel Indigo Napa Valley, an IHG Hotel, Napa: (No. 4368) This pet-friendly hotel is 4 miles from downtown Napa; it boasts a pool and 24-hour fitness center. 4195 Solano Ave., Napa, 707-253-9300, ihg.com/hotelindigo
Designed by local architect Jacob Lehrer, for himself, his wife and their six children, the structure has cathedral ceilings and lots of rectangular windows providing light and nature views. (Peter Lyons)
A midcentury home in Santa Rosa’s Rincon Valley, built in the mid-1970s, is a perfect example of how there’s a timelessness to good design.
Designed by local architect Jacob Lehrer, for his family of eight, the home is sleekly modern with cathedral ceilings and windows with 180-degree views of the surrounding redwoods. Clean architectural lines allow the window-framed nature scenes to accent the interior.
The five-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom home on 222 Twin Pillar Way sits on 10 acres and is currently listed for $2,425,000.
Inside, original deep-toned oak floors and cabinets offer bold contrast to the home’s white walls. Stonework fireplaces—made from site-quarried rocks—double down on the effect. Contemporary light fixtures in black take this contrast further.
The kitchen boasts new appliances and quartz countertops, and the bathrooms have been fully remodeled in a manner that blends with the vintage home’s style.
Outside, a pool and several seating areas offer lots of space to enjoy the forested setting. The property includes trails and a seasonal waterfall. Click through the above gallery for a peek inside.
For more information on 222 Twin Pillar Way, please contact listing agent, Tracy Reynes, tracy.reynes@compass.com, 707-775-7654, Compass Realty, 135 W Napa St Suite 200, Sonoma, 707-775-7654, compass.com
Phoenix hosted Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Super Bowl Tailgate in 2023. This year’s event will be in Las Vegas. (Courtesy photo)
Celebrity chef Guy Fieri is throwing a Las Vegas Super Bowl tailgate party for 15,000 of his closest friends, and you’re invited — provided you can get a ticket because they’re going fast.
Phoenix hosted Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Super Bowl Tailgate in 2023. This year’s event will be in Las Vegas. (Courtesy photo)
The Mayor of Flavortown hosts 25 restaurant pop-ups, musicians Dustin Lunch and Diplo and plenty of Guy-approved cocktails (including Santo Tequila, a spirits company he founded with musician Sammy Hagar) at Guys Flavortown Tailgate. The event will be held at a football field just off the Las Vegas Strip, across from Caesars Forum and next to the Linq.
“Holy moly we are BACK. This Tailgate is on fire – the perfect mix of food, drinks, tailgate fun, and music… It’s a recipe for success. I can’t wait to see 15,000 fans step off the Strip and into Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate – Better with Pepsi!” said Fieri in a press release.
Phoenix hosted Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Super Bowl Tailgate in 2023. This year’s event will be in Las Vegas. (Courtesy photo)
A limited number of free tickets are offered by registration at guysflavortowntailgate.com, but for guaranteed access, tickets are $49.99. Guy’s VIP Clubhouse tickets are $399.99 per person, and VIP Tables start at $5,000. High rollers can rep elbows with celebrities at a VIP table on the event stage or rent a private suite for $100,000.
This is the second Super Bowl event Fieri has hosted, with his Phoenix tailgate in 2023 attracting more than 10,000 attendees. For more details, go to guysflavortowntailgate.com.
The great room has a wood-burning stove and skylights offering light and views of redwoods. (Brian McCloud Photography)
A chic Russian River home, nestled in the redwoods, has hit the market. The two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom dwelling on 17565 Old Monte Rio Road is listed for $623,000.
The renovated house was built in the 1920s and is perched on a hillside allowing for river views. Views of towering redwoods can be enjoyed from the balcony as well as from inside, including via skylights.
Bathed in light and awash in modern updates, the home’s interior can hold its own alongside the natural setting. White appliances and countertops and gray cabinets shine in the kitchen. Wide-plank wood floors offer a weighty base, and whites and grays outfit the bathrooms — with a heated ceramic tile floor to boot. The great room gets even cozier thanks to a wood-burning stove. And skylights showcase far-away treetops as well as up-close textures of tree trunks.
A matching auxiliary structure can serve as an office, studio or workout room — complete with stunning views. A covered outdoor dining area extends the season for alfresco living.
Light fixtures are a witty mix of both modern and vintage-styled pieces — there’s even a rustic antler chandelier. Layered styling (with happy blasts of red) by Woodland Stylists reveals the show-stopping potential of this Monte Rio gem. Click through the above gallery for a peek inside.
For more information on 17565 Old Monte Rio Road, contact listing agents Sandra C White, 707-486-2131, 707-823-2502 or Russ White, 707-486-9558, 707-823-2501, Sonoma County Properties, 9056 Graton Road, Graton, sonomacountyproperties.com, russandsandra.com
Boscaiolo Pizza with fontina, mushroom medley and truffle from the Golden Bear Station Thursday, January 11, 2023 on Hwy 12 in Kenwood. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Chef Joshua Smookler tested nearly 100 pizza doughs for his new restaurant, Golden Bear Station in Kenwood, and he’s still tweaking it. The moisture, the flour, the “secret ingredient” he declines to share, the temperature of the wood-fired oven, and even the weather are all critical to the final result — a crust dotted with leopard spots, neither too burnt nor too raw, but just right.
Golden Bear Station, which Smookler owns with his wife, Heidy He, is a departure for the couple who opened the critically acclaimed Animo in 2022. Where that now-shuttered dining experience focused on live-fire cooking with Mediterranean and Korean influences and luxe ingredients like whole turbot, Golden Bear is an homage to Italy. Mostly.
He and Smookler shrug off being pigeonholed into specific categories, and the new menu, which leans heavily on gourmet pizzas and pasta, also includes a hamburger, tuna crudo, whole lamb saddle, and the Asian-inspired pork chop in dashi broth, or lobster in XO sauce with lemongrass tea, which was previously on the Animo menu. (Animo is slated to reopen in 2024 with a new concept).
A Burger Named Harlan from the Golden Bear Station Thursday, January 11, 2023 on Hwy 12 in Kenwood. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Lobster XO with a table side pour of shiitake lemongrass tea over sushi rice from the Golden Bear Station Thursday, January 11, 2023 on Hwy 12 in Kenwood. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
However, what binds the menu together is just how extraordinary everything is.
Take something as simple-sounding as cacio e pepe or bucatini pasta with pepper. Here, it’s elevated to include seven different kinds of pepper, giving it a spicy punch that lingers on the tongue. There’s an option to add fresh uni, adding a creamy, briny, sweet accent to the pasta that elevates it even further. Pasta Bolognese is equally impressive, with meat and tomato sauce sticking to every centimeter of the fresh pasta that’s made in-house.
Raw scallops are thinly sliced into disks and stacked in basil oil, green tomato, and finger limes, again a flavor bomb of sweet mollusk, tart citrus, and aromatic vegetable notes.
Owner Joshua Smookler finishes and checks each plate before delivering to the tables at the Golden Bear Station Thursday, January 11, 2023 on Hwy 12 in Kenwood. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Pork Chop Tonkatsu-style with sweet onion dash broth from the Golden Bear Station Thursday, January 11, 2023 on Hwy 12 in Kenwood. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Pizzas are a highlight, perfectly cooked without the bitter notes of char. The soft, chewy dough has a puffed crust and enough heft in the middle to hold onto the Boscaiola pie, topped with fresh mushrooms, sharp fontina cheese, and truffles. The pork chop is breaded katsu-style with umami-laded dashi sauce pooling under it.
He is deft at providing wine (or beer) pairings, usually featuring approachable wines that aren’t too precious to drink with the hearty dishes.
While the menu will inevitably evolve, there’s no doubt that the obsessive amount of time and practice will lead to even more revelatory menu items. That’s the draw of Smookler and He — their passion for exhaustive research on even the simplest dishes.
8445 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, goldenbearstation.com (no phone).
Lamb roasted over a live fire with shiso, nori, and housemade ssamjang at chef Joshua Smookler’s Animo. (Kim Caroll/for Sonoma Magazine)
Whenever I visit a new place, I’m eager to find restaurants that serve up the true flavors of the region. That’s not always an easy feat when Google-optimized lists, pumped-up Yelp reviews and sales-driven picks top the online search results.
As a longtime dining editor in Sonoma County, I want to be your guide to the essential, “most Sonoma” restaurants that locals and visitors should know. My selection of best restaurants is entirely based on the impressions of someone who has dined for a living in this area for nearly 20 years. No one paid to be on this list. I don’t accept free meals or any other compensation in return for positive reviews.
If you’re a visitor to Sonoma County, you’re in for an incredible gastronomic experience. Here, chefs take pride in using ingredients grown just miles away and that are often still warm from the sun when they reach the kitchen. This is what makes this area so special and these 30 restaurants stand out.
The selection criteria
In order to make this list, restaurants need to feature local ingredients on their menu, which should change with the seasons and reflect the land and waters around us. This list also highlights chefs whose skills and attitudes I respect.
Those are not the only qualifiers. Sonoma County also is home to a large Latino population who’ve brought the recipes and flavors of Latin America to this region. Latino chefs and restaurants are not only part of the local food scene, but continue to shape it in a significant way and therefore are also included on this list.
Not every eligible restaurant has made this list. I’ve had to make difficult choices for the sake of brevity. I hope you’ll look through sonomamag.com to find some of the great spots I’ve left out.
Please note that prices and menus change frequently — the dishes I’ve mentioned here may no longer be available by the time you read this. Click through the above gallery for favorite dishes and a peek inside each restaurant.
Sonoma Duck, Kosui pear and turnips are plated for service at Cyrus in Geyserville. (Chad Surmick/The Press Democrat)
Best Sonoma restaurants $$$$
Cyrus
Chef Douglas Keane and business partner Nick Peyton have created a mix of opulent, painstakingly-created European and Japanese small bites arranged with culinary tweezers and served on bespoke ceramic dinnerware. It doesn’t get much more pinkies up than their $295 prix fixe, 17-course meal. The minimalist restaurant interior with wrap-around windows highlights the lush vineyard setting. Tickets for the Dining Journey are released two months in advance at exploretock.com/cyrus.
Tasting menu: $295 per person (excluding wine pairings). 275 CA Highway 128, Geyserville, 707-723-5999, cyrusrestaurant.com
Single Thread Farms Restaurant
A 15-plus-course tasting menu at this three-Michelin-starred restaurant is not just a night out, it’s an event. Chef Kyle Connaughton’s micro-seasonal dishes are inspired by his time in Hokkaido, Japan, and the bounty of the restaurant’s farm. Reservations are required for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The wine list is one of the best in the area, and that’s saying something.
Tasting menu: $425 per person (excluding wine pairings). 131 North St., Healdsburg, 707-723-4646, singlethreadfarms.com
Rhubarb and green tea with almond cream from SingleThread in Healdsburg. (SingleThread)The Art of Plating dinner with SingleThread’s Kyle and Katina Connaughton. (SingleThread)
Best Sonoma restaurants $$$
Animo
(Temporarily closed — check out casual sister restaurant Golden Bear Station in the meantime)
Whole Spanish turbot is a signature here, along with Iberico pork and duck. The tiny restaurant is centered around an open kitchen with a fiery hearth that’s part of the entertainment. The menu is Basque-meets-Korean-meets-Californian and owners Josh Smookler and Heidy Mu keep things interesting by constantly updating their dishes.
Kick back in this expansive art and dining space for a craft cocktail, The Gallery Burger (a hamburger stuffed with cheese in a Bordelaise sauce) and thoughtful conversation. Watch for upcoming events that highlight environmental visionaries.
237 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-431-7404, barndiva.com
Bloom Carneros
There’s so much to love about this Sonoma hideaway, from its welcoming dog- and kid-friendly patio to the audacious (but delicious) wines from Kivelstadt Cellars. Chef Jennifer McMurry has elevated the menu with outstanding farm-to-table dishes that reflect both season and sense of place. It’s an unpretentious way to really dive into the best of what Sonoma County has to offer, all in one spot.
Lunch entrees: $17 to $24. Dinner entrees: $24 to $41. 22900 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-938-7001, bloomcarneros.com
Central Market
Dressed in his chef’s coat, Tony Najiola looms large over the dining room — watching every dish go out, visiting every table to ensure his patrons are happy — but he never imposes. The open kitchen, dining room and bar feel airy, with views of the wood-fired oven and the line. But it’s the food, frequently sourced from Najiiola’s Muleheart Farm, that really does the talking here. Instead of foams, potions and powders, the food is just food.
The Gallery Burger with fresh thyme, gruyère, caramelized onions with a table side pour of bordelaise sauce from Studio Barndiva in Healdsburg. (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Sushi Grade Ahi Tuna with avocado, kewpie and served with chips from served with Twice Removed Rosé from the taps at Bloom Carneros in Sonoma. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Glen Ellen Star
This unassuming little cafe in Glen Ellen is a constant critics’ darling. Chef Ari Weiswasser’s deceptively simple wood-fired dishes showcase the best ingredients in the county, with much of his produce coming from a farm just behind the restaurant. It’s easy to shrug at simple menu items like tomato pie with esplette pepper, but it’s divine, along with seasonal wood-roasted vegetables, brick chicken or whole fish with fava leaves and new potatoes.
Entrees: $26 to $68. 13648 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-343-1384, glenellenstar.com
The Madrona
The Madrona, formerly Madrona Manor, has become a design-forward hotel with a mix of contemporary and historic furnishings and an entirely new take on their food program. Chef Patrick Tafoya has created a food program that’s both elegant and approachable — much like the colorful dining room and outdoor patio decor. The restaurant is open to the public for brunch, lunch and dinner, offering up daytime dishes like Chicken Paillard, burgers, steak frites and pizzas and more elevated dinner menu featuring seasonal plates like black cod with caviar cream or a New York strip steak. Dinner entrees: $25 to $56. 1001 Westside Road, Healdsburg, 707-395-6700, themadronahotel.com
Table Culture Provisions (TCP) has become one of the hottest dining tickets in Sonoma County as owners Stephane Saint Louis and Steven Vargas have rolled out their Michelin-worthy seven-course tasting menu. During the Social Hour, from 4 to 5 p.m., TCP also offers an a la carte menu of snacks and larger dishes. Reservations highly recommended.
If you’re a fan of natural wines, this is one of the best places to find locally-sourced, small-batch bottles and wines by the glass. The food, however, is no afterthought at this wine bar. The menu is loosely defined as “international small plates,” so you’ll find a mix of dishes. The hummus plate is outstanding, with locally made pita. Still, the changing lineup of crudos, seasonal vegetables and larger entrees, like braised lamb shank or semolina crepes with honey butter, is outstanding.
Dinner entrees: $19 to $42. 234 S. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-861-9730, theredwoodwine.com
The Shuckery
Raw oysters are a Sonoma County staple and I love the small, unassuming Kumamotos at The Shuckery. Dedicated to the humble oyster, this cozy cafe is a shucker’s dream. Try the Bingos, grilled oysters with Cognac, mayonnaise, Parmesan and garlic. Larger entrees, like the whole fish for two, are worth the trouble. There’s a full bar and outdoor seating.
Entrees: $20 to $43. 100 Washington St., Petaluma, 707-981-7891, theshuckeryca.com
Delicata Rings in beer batter with house ranch dip from Table Culture Provisions in Petaluma. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
The Guava Sour with St. George Citrus Vodka, guava nectar, lime, estate orange oleo, Lillet, Black Salt and a mist of Absinthe from Hannah’s Bar at the Madrona in Healdsburg. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Street Social
With just six tables and 300 feet of dining space, Street Social, is unavoidably intimate, even at its busiest. Chef Jevon Martin is a chef’s chef. You’ll likely find other culinary giants nibbling away on dishes like Kurobuta pork riblets with fish sauce caramel and chicharrones, or Meyer lemon curd with brown butter crumble.
Chefs Melissa Yanc and Sean McGaughey, the owners of popular Quail & Condor bakery, have expanded their repertoire to include this sandwich shop by day and French bistro by night. For “Le Diner,” McGaughey plays with French classics like escargot with parsley veloute, herb salad with black sesame and coq au vin with pommes Lyonnaise. Reservations only.
Le Diner prix fixe menu: $125 per person. 381 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, troubadourhbg.com
Valette
Chef Dustin Valette’s eponymous restaurant somehow manages to be luxurious and casual at the same time. A locals’ favorite, it features carefully curated ingredients and imaginative food experiences. Go for the “Trust Me” tasting menu that gives the best insight into Valette’s talents.
Trust Me tasting menu: $ 20 per course; minimum five courses. Entrees: $29 to $51. 344 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-473-0946, valettehealdsburg.com
Willi’s Wine Bar
Mark and Terri Stark own seven restaurants in Sonoma County, each worth checking out, but Willi’s Wine Bar best reflects their culinary vision. While the original Willi’s burned in the 2017 Northern California wildfires, the new location serves many of the same small plate dishes, an excellent wine list and cocktails. Favorites include the goat cheese fritters, Tunisian roasted carrots and Liberty Farms duck with smoked cheddar polenta.
Shareable small plates: $8 to $21 each. 1415 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-526-3096, starkrestaurants.com
Le Diner at Troubadour Bread and Bistro in Healdsburg. (Emma K. Morris)
Best Sonoma restaurants $$
Americana
The Farm Trails sign hanging over Ryan and Samantha Ramey’s cozy Railroad Square restaurant is the first hint that they take farm-freshness seriously. It’s a perfect breakfast and lunch spot, offering elevated takes on diner favorites. We’re ridiculously fond of their fried chicken sandwich, bone broth French onion soup and burgers with onion rings. The couple also owns Estero Cafe in Valley Ford if you’re headed for the coast.
Dinner entrees: $18 to $39. Breakfast and lunch dishes: $15 to $25. 205 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 707-755-1548, americanasr.com
The Barlow
This 12-acre outdoor market is chock-full of excellent restaurants. You can’t go wrong with any of the 10 eateries here; fortunately, you don’t have to pick just one. Graze the day away, nibbling on anything from fried chicken, grilled cheese, tacos and pizza to oysters and sushi. And while all of that might sound a little pedestrian, you’ll be ridiculously impressed with the foodie-cheffy vibes here.
Chef Dino Bugica’s wood-fired pizzas are just one aspect of the Italian-inspired menu at his northern Sonoma County restaurant. Pasta and brick chicken are on the dinner menu, too, as is excellent house-made salumi. Don’t miss the more casual Geyserville Gun Club next door.
Entrees: $24 to $33. 21021 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, 707-814-0111, diavolapizzeria.com
The Handline “Inglewood” burger features pastured beef, St. Jorge fonduta, iceberg lettuce, spicy pickle relish and thousand island on a toasted bun. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Handline was built on the site of the old Foster’s Freeze in Sebastopol and they continue to keep soft serve ice cream on the menu. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
El Milagro
This Cloverdale restaurant serves regional Mexican cuisine that makes the drive north worth it, running the gamut from pumpkin seed mole and guisado (slow-braised stew) to simple flautas and tacos. Everything is made from scratch here, following authentic family recipes.
Entrees: $20 to $22. 485 S. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, 707-894-6334, elmilagrocloverdale.com
Handline
This family-friendly, fast-casual restaurant focuses on sustainable seafood, tacos and great burgers in the coastal California tradition. Handmade corn tortillas, excellent al pastor, soft serve ice cream and fresh daily produce never fail to impress. The expansive outdoor patio is another plus.
Entrees: $15 to $23. 935 Gravenstein Ave. South, Sebastopol, handline.com
Pizza Leah
Leah Scurto puts every bit of her soul into making dough, sauce and cheese as perfect as possible. Her pizzas come in two styles: thin-crust round pies that are 12 or 16 inches or square-pan pies made in limited quantities. The Old Grey Beard is a great place to start.
Pizzas: $21 to $30. 9240 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 116, Windsor, 707-620-0551, pizzaleah.com
Rocker Oysterfellers
It’s no surprise that oysters — raw, baked or barbecued — are menu favorites here, but this unassuming roadhouse has so much more on the menu. It’s a perfect brunch or happy hour destination focusing on local seafood (crab cakes and fish tacos are insanely good), Southern-inspired classics (beignets, shrimp and grits) and cocktails.
Seasonally-inspired dishes change frequently, but this is a spot that anyone you’re dining with can enjoy. Chef Liza Hinman has broken up her menu into distinct sections with local seafood (the house-smoked trout pate rocks), local veggies (the mushroom hand pie is a must-order), pasture (steak, duck), local cheeses and sweets. Sit outside under twinkle lights on the casual patio and soak in the Sonoma vibe.
This super-buzzy restaurant, wine bar and bottle shop is all about letting yourself enjoy the mystery of the menu. The menu doesn’t dally with long, overblown explanations, but you can’t go wrong no matter what you order. Favorites include Dungeness crab roll, fried artichokes, tuna poke with fermented chile, a comforting half chicken with leeks and prunes, and crispy rice cakes with scallion-ginger sauce. Open for dinner and brunch, with unusual and unexpected small-production wines.
Fried chicken with cucumber and coconut peanut curry from Valley Bar + Bottle on the Sonoma square. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Best restaurants in Sonoma $
Acme Burger
“Burger” is a state of mind here. Sure, there are plenty of excellent beef options, of the grass-fed, locally-sourced kind. But the hard-to-pick-one lineup also includes Willie Bird turkey, plant-based patties, buttermilk fried chicken, ahi tuna, Bodega rock cod and seared pork belly confit, all sandwiched between soft, sesame buns.
Single burgers are $6.75; fancier burgers, fried chicken, fried fish and BBQ pork are around $11.75. 1007 W. College Ave., Suite D, Santa Rosa; 330 Western Ave., Petaluma; 550 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati, acmeburgerco.com
Hidden away in a strip mall, this Salvadoran pupuseria isn’t the least bit fancy, but serves up some of the best “Latin fusion” dishes around. Go for the pupusas, for sure, along with sweet corn tamales and tropical burritos made with marinated meats and served with tropical salsas. Mix things up with a pupusa burger — a choice of meet sandwiched between two pupusas.
Entrees: $11 to $17. 217 Southwest Blvd., Rohnert Park, 707-242-3160, donjulioslatingrill.com
El Fogon
Come here for top-notch tacos, tortas and antojitos (snacks), plus Mexican street food faves Tostilocos, machetes (a long corn tortilla filled with meat and cheese) and pambazo (a red sauce-soaked sandwich).
Entrees: $8.99 to $15.99. Tacos: $2.99 to $4.99. 6650 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park; 623 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, elfogonca.com
A variety of Mexican dishes served at the Mitote Food Park in Santa Rosa. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
Chicken pupusa combo plate with rice, beans, slaw, crema, and hot sauce from Don Julio’s Latin Grill & Pupusas in Rohnert Park. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Mitote Food Park
Roseland is the heart of Santa Rosa’s vibrant Latino community and is a must-visit for antojitos (snacks), tacos, agua chiles and tortas (among many other delicious dishes). Mitote, a new food truck park, serves up some of the most authentic Mexican food on this side of the border. You’ll find plenty of outdoor seating and a a full bar featuring mezcal cocktails at this year-round fiesta.
Most dishes are under $15. 665 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, mitotefoodpark.com
Pupuseria Salvadorena
This locals’ spot, frequented by Salvadorans, serves up no-frills comfort cuisine from Latin America. Pupusas, a masa dough filled with cheese or other ingredients, are top-notch, along with fried empanadas and tamales.
Pupusas, tamales and empanadas are between $2.50 and $3.50 each. 1403 Maple St., Santa Rosa, 707-544-3141
Taqueria California
The ultimate bite of carnitas straddles the line between crispy crunch and soft, melty meat. This humble taqueria has the magic touch, avoiding the leathery, tough strips of meat that others pass off as carnitas.
Tacos are $4 to $5 each. 6560 Hembree Lane, Windsor, 707-836-4242.
Phoenix hosted Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Super Bowl Tailgate in 2023. This year’s event will be in Las Vegas. (Courtesy photo)
Phoenix hosted Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Super Bowl Tailgate in 2023. This year’s event will be in Las Vegas. (Courtesy photo)
