A Sebastopol live and work loft gets a cleanly stunning renovation from Sebastopol-based mother-daughter interior design team Tama and Lauren Bell of Tama Bell Design. (Christopher Stark)
Think of the word “loft” and it may conjure up images of industrial-chic accommodations in New York City’s Tribeca or Soho. But suburban versions of loft living, while more unusual than their big city counterparts, can still be found and are growing in popularity. One such example is Florence Lofts in Sebastopol.
The “live-work project” at 7385 Healdsburg Ave. — at the corner of Florence Avenue — was built in 2008 and includes 12 eco-friendly units, each with 620 square feet of office space and 900 square feet of living quarters. When completed, the development was the first of its kind in west Sonoma County.
Now, mother-daughter design duo Tama and Lauren Bell of Tama Bell Design in Sebastopol have completed a remodel of one of the Florence lofts, elevating the look of the live-work space.
The new design is airy and serene with a few dramatic touches throughout. The tranquil tonal palette of whites, woods and brass is contrasted with bold design choices such as graphic black and white terrazzo countertops, jewel-toned tile and floral wallpaper.
Small details, like oversized walnut knobs, leather welting on the velvet upholstery in the dining nook, and brass sconces high on the wall, make the design sing. (Christopher Stark)
When the Bells walk through a new project looking for design cues, Tama says they always consider how to turn the space into the best version of itself.
“This house had orange floors and yellowed wood so it read like it was in a similar palette,” said Tama about the Florence loft. “We made some decisions about where to create contrast.”
The duo decided to “pull back” some of the color. They painted walls and cabinets white to differentiate them from the exposed wood ceilings. The burnt orange concrete floors were toned down with a charcoal epoxy finish.
They used a custom sliding screen made of wood and framed with steel to separate the work area from the kitchen. The sliding screen’s wood grid allows light to pass through, creating a sense of openness that is essential in smaller spaces.
Tama and Lauren decided to keep the larger spaces in the unit “clean and neutral” while creating more “design interest” in smaller areas — entering those areas is “a full experience,” said Lauren.
The two bathrooms feature black and white terrazzo countertops; it’s natural drama with a vintage feel, said Tama. One of the bathrooms has an emerald green tile backsplash while the other has colorful floral wallpaper. While these design choices are modern and bold, wood cabinets add a natural, down-to-earth touch.
‘There needed to be elements that were much more organic than some of the cooler modern elements,” explained Lauren.
In the bathroom, colorful floral wallpaper is a wonderfully bold design choice. Wood cabinets and a stone countertop add a natural touch. (Christopher Stark)An emerald green backsplash and black and white terrazzo countertops in a second bathroom. (Christopher Stark)
Modern and elegant light fixtures also help create contrast in the otherwise soothingly neutral and minimalist spaces. Brass long-arm sconces have been hardwired high on the walls to create downlighting — can lights weren’t an option due to the pitched ceiling. Organically shaped brass and glass wall sconces add more delicate beauty — proving that lighting, in accordance with the old design adage, is “the jewelry of the home.”
Small design details are “make or break for me,” said Lauren, and thus need to be carefully considered. In this loft, the Bells have successfully incorporated them throughout: the textured wheat raffia wallpaper in the main bedroom, the oversized walnut knobs in the kitchen, and the leather welting on the green velvet upholstery in the dining nook all help elevate the look.
Click through the above gallery for a peek inside the remodeled Sebastopol loft.
Tama Bell Design, 154 North Main St., Sebastopol, 707-861-9890, tamabell.com
Alta Tingle is a trendsetter who, unless you’re in the know, you might never have heard of. She opened The Gardener in Berkeley in 1984, pairing plants with elegant yet practical merchandise before this became all the rage in home decor. In 1994, she bought a 0.84-acre lot in Healdsburg at a time when this in vogue destination was still a sleepy country town.
With the help of a creative team, Tingle transformed the property, which was previously home to the Warm Springs Station Deli and Biker Bar, into a weekend getaway (in the main building), as well as a gallery (in a former barn) and a communal area (in the garden), which became the retail space for The Gardener store in Healdsburg when it opened in 1998. The popular store closed in 2022. Now, the two-parcel property (the main home and the former retail space) at 516-520 Dry Creek Road is listed for $1,650,000.
The main home, which was built in 1961, has an open living space and one bedroom, but additional nooks off the living space have been cleverly outfitted as sleeping areas. The bathroom has stone elements, and the chef’s kitchen has walnut cabinets and a wood-burning stove. The living space leads to an expansive deck. Rumor has it that many farm-to-table feasts took place here — Tingle is a close friend of slow-food pioneer and Chez Panisse owner Alice Waters.
Poppies, dahlias, chamomile and thyme grow in the gardens, which have a pergola and persimmon tree. The barn — The Gardener’s former retail space — is now being used by a nonprofit for yoga classes.
Click through the above gallery for a peek at the property.
Note: The Gardener enthusiasts can still shop Tingle’s stores in Berkeley and the San Francisco Ferry Building.
A waterfall and waterslide empty into the pool. (Open Homes)
The new owners of a 6.7-acre compound on 200 Frances Way in Petaluma will not have a dull moment.
The expansive property features 4,200 square foot of living space in the main residence, which has a den and home theater, as well as a 1,800-square-foot guest house and a 2,000 square-foot custom barn with a bar. It also includes tennis and basketball courts, manicured gardens and a pool with a water slide.
The price tag on all of this entertainment? $4,795,000.
The four-bedroom, three-bathroom main home has a light-drenched open floor plan with vaulted ceilings. Outside, a large deck with westerly views offers a spot to take in sunsets. A rock waterfall empties into the a pool, as does the water slide. There’s also an outdoor kitchen and pizza oven.
Click through the above gallery for a peek at the property.
For more information about the home at 200 Frances Way in Petaluma, contact listing agent Robert Rapp, robert.rapp@compass.com, 707-695-.9542, Compass Realty, compass.com
How much would you be willing to pay for a good bottle of wine? Twenty five dollars? Two hundred and fifty dollars? Two thousand five hundred dollars? How about $64,575?
That five-figure sum was the price paid for a five-liter bottle of 1969 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon, the top lot in Heritage’s March 22 Fine & Rare Wine Signature Auction. In total, the auction brought in $2,489,183 for the select wines that were offered.
The coveted 1969 Chappellet is one of four of these five-liter bottles that was produced by the Napa Valley winery, and the only one sold to the public. The other three bottles had been reserved for Chappellet family members. (Chappellet was founded in 1967 by Molly and Donn Chappellet and is now operated by a second generation of the family. Phillip Corallo-Titus is Vice President of Winemaking; Ry Richards is winemaker.)
“This is not a rare bird. It might be the rarest of birds,” Heritage’s Senior Director of Fine & Rare Wine, Frank Martell, said in a statement.
The bottle’s previous owner, Napa Valley restaurateur Alex Dierkhising, bought the bottle for $6,000 during the first Napa Valley Wine Auction in 1981.
The 1969 Chappellet vintage performed well at the recent auction, according to Heritage. In addition to the $64,575 for the five-liter bottle, two magnums of the vintage sold for $54,120 and a single bottle sold for $17,220.
Those may sound like high sums to pay for wine, but they are by no means the record. Wines produced by Napa and Sonoma winemakers continue to garner acclaim and be highly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors.
A six-liter bottle of The Setting Wines 2019 Glass Slipper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon sold for $1 million at a charity auction in New Orleans in 2021. That bottle was produced by Healdsburg winemaker Jesse Katz with grapes sourced from the Glass Slipper Vineyard in Napa’s Coombsville viticultural area.
When it comes to the 1969 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon, whether it will be uncorked by the new owner remains unknown. The only way to find out if the wine still tastes good, is to taste it but that may seem a risky endeavor for such a pricey bottle of red. If it’s been aged under the right conditions, it may very well taste terrific — although “the vast majority (of wines) will be past their prime by year 30 or 40, with a few very special exceptions,” according to Wine Spectator.
Chef Carlos Mojica Jr. was only 24 years old when he opened Guiso Latin Fusion in Healdsburg. (Alvin Jornada/The Press Democrat)
As a kid, chef Carlos Mojica of Healdsburg’s Guiso Latin Fusion restaurant remembers tagging along to his cousin’s soccer games with Santa Rosa native Dominic Ciambrone, a celebrity shoe designer whose up-styled kicks now command upward of $200,000 a pair.
The two recently reconnected at Mojica’s restaurant, sparking a food collaboration between Guiso and Canevari’s Deli in Santa Rosa, owned by Ciambrone’s father.
“I saw this as a perfect opportunity. Dom came to eat at the restaurant and loved it. I was like, if you want to do a collab, I’m in,” said Mojica. “Within a day, they said they’d love to,” he added. And the Cubano Cannelloni was born.
Mojica’s cuisine focuses on approachable, upscale Latin-inspired dishes including a Cubano sandwich. In developing the dish, Mojica said he fused Italian and Latin culture, creating pork-filled crepe with a Peruvian Aji Amarillo sauce sold at lunch and dinner at his restaurant and to-go at the deli.
“We’ve sold out almost every day,” said Mojica, who plans to create a new collaborative dish each quarter.
Find it at Guiso Latin Fusion, 117 North St., Healdsburg or Canevari’s Deli, 695 Lewis Road, Santa Rosa.
Philly Cheesesteak from Golden Steak Warriors pop-up. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Getting restaurant tips from readers is one of my favorite things about this job. No one is more passionate than a foodie with a hot scoop on a new menu.
I love to follow chatty social media groups like Sonoma County Foodies, Foodies of the North Bay and Save Sonoma County Restaurants, where y’all breathlessly share news about secret menus (Deb’s Kitchen in Petaluma has a secret PizzBirria in collaboration with Tacos Tijuana), and pop-up cookie pushers like Rustic Fig.
What I love most is that you aren’t praising the fancy-pants, Michelin-gunning, $500 dinner kinds of places. They’re neighborhood joints, Wednesday night takeout faves, hidden gems and vibrant new faces to the local culinary scene.
And though I keep a running list of them all, I’m embarrassed to say that the list is so long that it sometimes overwhelms me. Some, I write about in my BiteClub column, but even then, many get passed over.
So, I recently headed out for two weeks of intense eating to catch up on the raves flooding my inbox and Instagram feed.
My scale tells me I gained six pounds on this adventure, but hopefully, it was worth it for this extensively fat list of new, new to me and just plain worth seeking out Sonoma County food.
Crispy rice with peanuts at Viethai Cuisine in Santa Rosa (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Viethai Cuisine
When I ask the chef/owner, Sansanee, about the most popular type of pho at her restaurant, her answer is simple: “Do you like blood?”
Bun bo Hue is a much-loved noodle soup usually made with pork and pork blood. You love it, or you don’t, but the fact that it’s on the menu tells me everything I need to know.
The food here is the real deal. Run by a husband-and-wife team, the menu includes Southeast Asian street food like Nam Khao Tod (a crispy rice salad), corn fritters and satay along with spicy red curry, Pad Thai, Khao soi (coconut curry soup) and larger entrees.
Corn fritters at Viethai Cuisine in Santa Rosa (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
The pho (I got rare steak and brisket, no blood) is fragrant and nourishing, especially if you’re under the weather. Appetizers, like the crispy rice salad with bits of perfumed lemon grass and lime, are a must-try, along with the crispy fried pork with a tomato dipping sauce. Grab a Thai green tea with condensed milk, a sweet, refreshing addition to the meal.
I found the Pad Thai — a benchmark of a Thai restaurant — overly sweet without the smokiness of the wok, but a minor misstep that didn’t reflect on the rest of the lovingly crafted menu.
320 W. Third St., Suite G, Santa Rosa, 707-978-2292, viethaisr.com.
Luau Hawaiian BBQ
If you’ve been to Hawaii, you’ve experienced the magic of Plate Lunch — a massive serving of rice, macaroni salad and a protein like Kahlua pork, lau lau or katsu chicken.
It’s a grab bag of food influenced by the food traditions of China, Japan, Native Hawaiians and the mainland that humbles even the biggest appetites.
Mitote Food Park is my happy place. Maybe it’s the mezcal cocktails. Maybe the tlayuda (think Mexican pizza). Probably the quesabirria. Definitely, the filled churros.
This family-run food truck specializes in these magical wands of golden fried deliciousness, filled with evaporated milk, caramel, chocolate and strawberry.
Being a single woman of a certain age used to mortify me — until I realized the absolute freedom and happiness of being a single woman of a certain age.
So please, don’t feel the need to disturb me while I quietly sit alone, gazing out the creekside window of this historic cafe, eating a delightful Rueben sandwich and dipping my fries into a tub of Thousand Island dressing. I’ll bring my crew for pancakes and eggs next time.
Monti’s restaurant in Santa Rosa. (Sonoma County Tourism)
Gasp! Monti’s is closed?
The longtime Montgomery Village restaurant loved by lunching ladies and Sunday night prime ribbers is getting a much-needed rejuvenation over the next several months, according to owners Mark and Terri Stark. It will be shuttered — temporarily — as major cosmetic upgrades move forward.
“She’s getting a much-needed face-lift to provide a better dining environment,” said Terri Stark, whose restaurant group includes the recently-opened Augie’s in Santa Rosa, Willi’s Wine Bar, Bird and Bottle, Grossman’s, Willi’s Seafood, Bravas and Stark’s Steak and Seafood. Improvements to the restaurant, which opened in 2004, include new flooring, bar tops, bathrooms, expanded patios, new furniture and a new kitchen. Watch for lots of Mediterranean blue and yellow with rattan finishes.
Mark and Terri Stark are the owners of Monti’s Rotisserie & Bar in Santa Rosa. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)Tuscan Kale and Quinoa Chopped Salad from Monti’s in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
The menu will maintain its focus on contemporary Mediterranean dishes and keep fan favorites like the lamb burger, pizzas, and rosemary fries, but it will also add some homemade pasta and grilled fish.
Monti’s staff have been relocated to the Stark’s other restaurants during the renovation but will return when it reopens this summer.
“Monti’s isn’t broken, it just needs some much-deserved love,” Stark said.
The change comes as much of the nearly 75-year-old outdoor shopping center undergoes updates and revamps, including new stores and restaurants, including the recently-opened Shake Shack.
The famous Lemon Cloud Pie and Apple Pie from Betty’s Bakery and Fish and Chips in Santa Rosa. (Photo by John Burgess/Sonoma Magazine)
For three months, the new owners of Betty’s Fish and Chips shadowed longtime baker Susan Corso to ensure they got the famous Lemon Cloud pie just right. You don’t mess with a staple of the iconic Santa Rosa seafood shack, a family favorite since 1967.
In late October 2023, Dan Coleman and his fiance, Cassidy Salvato took the reins of the chippery after Corso retired, but only after securing all of the recipes. But Coleman is no newbie to the restaurant, having worked at Betty’s for over a decade, starting at age 17. When the Santa Rosa native returned home after opening a fish and chip shop in Las Vegas, the opportunity to buy the restaurant seemed right.
“The opportunity just opened up after 27 years and I picked up where I left off,” Coleman said. Corso and family members Brian and Lori Hall took over the restaurant in 1996 from the original owners.
Coleman and Salvato don’t plan to make any radical changes to the menu, aside from two new sauces — a dill and caper tartar sauce and ginger-soy Thai sauce that Coleman makes — though the restaurant’s traditional tartar isn’t going anywhere.
“If the wheel isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” Coleman said, considering adding a few new items, including a brisket sandwich for non-seafood eaters.
If you haven’t been to Betty’s in a minute, best bets include their battered Icelandic cod (no, it’s not beer battered, and yes, the recipe is a secret), fish tacos, housemade clam chowder bread bowl and fresh fruit pies, especially the Lemon Cloud.
4046 Sonoma Hwy., Santa Rosa, 707-539-0899, bettysfishandchips.com. Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.
This article was originally published Sept. 15, 2018.
One of 2018’s most buzzed-about benefit art auctions took place in Sonoma County Saturday, Sept. 15. But if you weren’t among the exclusive few to attend, or happening to drive down Grange Road in Bennett Valley, you might very well have missed it.
While most in Sonoma County were busy enjoying their Saturday evening — browsing their social media feeds, watching a Netflix series, maybe taking a sip or two on a glass of local wine — Leonardo DiCaprio was hosting a “zero-waste live auction benefit” at Jackson Park Ranch in Santa Rosa.
The invitation-only event, organized by DiCaprio’s charitable endeavor The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) in partnership with Jackson Family Wines, raised $11 million for projects addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity. The auction brought the total financial impact of LDF to over $100 million, according to the foundation.
During the evening, LDF and DiCaprio also made donations to support disaster relief efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Florence, and to the Just and Resilient Future Fund, which supports “recovery assistance for the most vulnerable” following last year’s wildfires in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake counties.
Naomi Campbell arrives at the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala at Jackson Park Ranch on September 15, 2018 in Santa Rosa, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation)Catherine Deneuve arrives at the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala at Jackson Park Ranch on September 15, 2018 in Santa Rosa, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation)
Celebrity guests
The event was co-hosted by DiCaprio and Laurene Powell Jobs, philanthropist and widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs. Julia Jackson, a second-generation proprietor of Jackson Family Wines and environmental philanthropist, was the co-chair. Among the 350 guests were actors and celebrities such as Catherine Deneuve, Edward Norton, Naomi Campbell, Tobey Maguire, and Mark Ruffalo.
Also attending the event was world-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, and Coldplay singer Chris Martin, who gave a live performance of “My Heart Will Go On,” the leitmotif of one of DiCaprio’s early movies, “Titanic,” as well as “Viva la Vida,” and “Something Like This.”
The annual auction, which previously has taken place in glamorous spots like St. Tropez, featured works by Wayne Thiebaud (the starting bid for this piece was $3,000,000), Frank Gehry, Richard Prince, Ai Weiwei and David Hockney, among others. All art work had been selected by DiCaprio’s art advisor, Lisa Schiff, and was auctioned by Sotheby’s.
The Jackson family provided the Sonoma County location for the event and also donated an auction lot to help raise funds for LDF’s global environmental efforts.
In addition to the auction and live performances, the evening included interactive experiences such as garden-based rooms that highlighted individual wine affinities using color and texture. There even was an appearance by a live hawk.
(L-R) Katie Jackson, Julia Jackson and Mark Ruffalo arrive at the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala at Jackson Park Ranch on September 15, 2018 in Santa Rosa, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation)Chace Crawford arrives at the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala at Jackson Park Ranch on September 15, 2018 in Santa Rosa, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation)
Sustainable food and wine
The zero-waste, sustainable event used 100 percent renewable energy and locally sourced foods. According to People magazine, DiCaprio had requested a sustainable menu, which was created by chef Kyle Connaughton of Single Thread Farms in Healdsburg and executed by Justin Wangler, Executive Chef at Jackson Family Wines. Vegetables and herbs for the dinner were sourced from the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens.
The first course was aptly named “Summer in Sonoma” and included vegetables with a creamy tofu sauce and seafood, all from local food suppliers. The second course was heirloom tomatoes with homemade tofu and pickled wasabi leaves, followed by an entree of roasted turbot with heirloom squash and Sonoma mushrooms. For dessert, guests enjoyed a sesame semifreddo.
The wine selection, put together by Jackson Family Wines, featured Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from the winery’s premium portfolio, including Galerie, Brewer-Clifton, Cambria, Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, Hartford Family Wines and Vérité.
DiCaprio had requested a sustainable menu, which was created by Chef Kyle Connaughton (pictured) of Single Thread Farms in Healdsburg and executed by Jackson Family Wines’ Executive Chef Justin Wangler. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
An outspoken climate activist
Leonardo DiCaprio has been an outspoken environmentalist since he founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) in 1998. In 2016, he used his Academy Awards acceptance speech for best actor to urge his audience to reject the “politics of greed,” and support leaders willing to take action against climate change.
“Climate change is real, it is happening right now, it is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating,” the actor said.
Over the last few years, DiCaprio has donated at least $20 million to help advance the United Nations climate negotiations, protect the environment and endangered wildlife, and spread public awareness about the dangers of climate change.
In July 2018, The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) announced that they are partnering with Jackson Family Wines.
The partnership was initiated by Julia Jackson as she “continues to build on her family’s commitment to sustainability and pursue her passion to foster awareness of environmental issues and create change through social impact, innovation and philanthropy.”
As part of this collaboration, Jackson Family Wines will also become LDF’s exclusive wine sponsor, and will serve its environmentally conscious wines at LDF events.
“My father, Jess, and my mother, Barbara, built our family wine business over the course of three decades. One of the most impactful lessons they instilled in me was that we should never take nature for granted,” said Julia Jackson.
“We have a responsibility to give back just as much as we take. That is why I am so excited about our collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which provides critical support for projects and organizations that are defending our vital species and eco-systems.”
Choosing a restaurant is one of modern city-dwellers’ greatest conundrums. Sure, it sounds simple, but have you ever tried to get four people to agree on one restaurant?
I thought not.
This is a list (inspired by Texas Monthly’s “The Good Place” article) we hope will answer that question and possibly end a few family arguments. Maybe it will take some pressure off entertaining visitors from out of town. And maybe I’m making it as much for myself as I am for you, because the obvious choices never seem to be at the tip of my tongue.
The rubric is simple: These are restaurants that are dependably good, have experienced staff and are rooted in the community. They’re the kind of places everyone has been to, or wants to go to, or has heard good things about. They’re places I personally frequent with friends and family.
The restaurants I’ve chosen are all about consistency and comfort, not “it” factors or multicourse meals. They aren’t newcomers.
Are they all “best in class” restaurants? Nope — that’s far too subjective. I learned long ago that world-class chefs and outrageously creative menus don’t often generate consensus among a wide swath of eaters.
Another important factor is the menu: All of these can cater to varying diets and food preferences, making them crowd-pleasers.
Inevitably, I’ll leave out a favorite neighborhood haunt or obvious choice from this list, but that’s what makes it fun. Let me know your favorite spots at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com and we’ll update this list from time to time.
Click through the above gallery for a peek at some top dishes at each restaurant.
Santa Rosa
Ausiello’s Fifth Street Bar & Grill: Eating at most bars means rolling the dice, but this family-owned pub has great burgers to go with your beer, wine or tonic of choice. Cozy, friendly and a super spot for sports-watching. 609 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 707-579-9408, ausiellos5thstreetgrill.com
Eggs Benedict at Dierk’s Parkside Cafe in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Dierk’s Parkside: Breakfast classics done with a chef’s touch. Corned beef hash, biscuits and sausage gravy, fried chicken with biscuits and an only-in-Sonoma County Country Benedict with scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms, spinach and oven-dried tomatoes on a crispy baguette. It’s a Hollandaise hug on chilly mornings. 404 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-573-5955, dierksparkside.com
El Fogon: For Californians, tacos and burritos rank equal to pizza for Taco Tuesdays or really, any day. El Fogon does it right, with top-notch birria, impressive machete (a foot-long quesadilla filled with meat, cheese, sour cream and tomato) and straight-up street tacos. 623 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-575-0574; 6576 Oakmont Drive., Suite A, Santa Rosa, 408-872-9953, elfogontacoshopca.com
Michelada at El Fogon Taco Shop in Santa Rosa. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
Riviera: Locals have been flocking to this Italian kitchen for more than 25 years. Family-owned and downright neighborly, it has familiar pasta dishes (I’m all about the Gnocchi Riviera), classic Caesar salad and tiramisu that are best bets. 75 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-579-2682, rivieraristorante.net
Willi’s Wine Bar: Before I was a food writer in Sonoma County, this was the spot I went to for a “fancy” date — once upon a time, chef Mark Stark’s foie gras poppers were one of my favorite dishes. After 20 years, the restaurant continues to impress me even though I’ve eaten at far fancier digs since. The full bar makes it a great happy-hour stop, and their wine list is highly approachable. The menu stays consistent (the Tunisian carrots are still around), and the focus on small plates keeps things interesting. One of my favorite “off-duty” hangouts. 1415 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-526-3096, williswinebar.net
Tunisian carrots from Willi’s Wine Bar in Santa Rosa. (Willi’s Wine Bar)
Cloverdale
El Milagro: The choices in north Sonoma County can be limited, especially for a group. But this family-owned Mexican kitchen is always a great choice. The menu goes far beyond taqueria standards, with regional Mexican cuisine like pumpkin-seed mole sauce with chicken, pork ribs with nopales in tomatillo sauce and a la carte street tacos. The extensive menu also has familiar favorites like carnitas, fish tacos and wet burritos. Bonus: El Milagro now has a Healdsburg location as well (14 Matheson St.). 485 South Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, elmilagrocloverdale.com
Petaluma
Acme Burger: The burgers are big and juicy (and you can still get a simple single for $6.95), but the addition of fried chicken and fried rock cod has elevated the menu far beyond fast food. Their iconic lunch deal is $10.99 for a burger, fries and a small drink, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Daily soups are especially good, and the kid’s menu is a bargain. Seasonal milkshakes are delicious, too. Walk-up ordering keeps things moving, and you can get in and out almost as fast as at In-N-Out. 550 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati; 1007 W. College Ave., Suite D, Santa Rosa; 330 Western Ave. and 701 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Suite D1, Petaluma, acmeburgerco.com
Brewsters: Casual outdoor seating at picnic tables makes this a good choice for a crowd, especially with a play area for kids and a dog-friendly policy. A great beer and cocktail selection keeps everyone content. The wide-ranging menu is casual, with some lovely upscale touches like duck-fat fries with garlic aioli; buttermilk fried chicken sandwich with bacon and goat cheddar; and ahi tuna poke with fried wontons. And there’s excellent house-smoked barbecue to boot. 229 Water St., Petaluma, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com
At Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Cucina Paradiso: With upscale Italian food that isn’t stuffy and always hits the mark, this is a good choice for a third date, a dinner with parents or a work dinner (there are several larger tables to accommodate groups). The authentic menu gets high marks for its portion sizes and consistency. Prices aren’t cheap, but you won’t leave disappointed over a poorly executed dish. 114 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-782-1130, cucinaparadisopetaluma.com
Lunchette: Not only are the grab-and-go salads and grain bowls excellent, but owners Naomi Crawford and Joel Baecker are conscious owners who source locally, aim for zero waste, are active in the community and are just darn good people. The trout salad with roasted beets, carrots, pickled raisins and preserved lemon dressing is my go-to, along with their tart Meyer lemon pot de creme. You’ll also love the Tahini Bowl with organic brown rice, chickpeas, pickled cauliflower and spiced sweet potatoes. 25 Fourth St., Petaluma, 707-241-7443, lunchettepetaluma.com
Sax’s Joint: Breakfast paradise with a ’50s vibe and gigantic portions. They’re famous for their plate-size cinnamon rolls. Friendly waitstaff make everyone feel welcome. Expect to wait if you’re rolling up at peak weekend breakfast times, but it’s so worth it. 317 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com
Sebastopol
Fern Bar in Sebastopol serves the “Euphoria,” a fruit forward nonalcoholic gin “free-spirited cocktail.” (Courtesy of Fern Bar)
Fern Bar: Though the menu may not be for everyone, I often end up here with friends when we’re trying to decide where to grab a drink. Fernbar’s craft cocktails are their calling card, but I’m always intrigued by their ever-evolving starters and shared plates. A current favorite is the okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake), but I’m dying to try the aged beef dumplings and savory Vietnamese crepe (bahn xeo). Chicken-liver toast with plum rosemary jam is always on my order, and the stuffed roti with butter chicken can’t be beat. 6780 Depot St., Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-861-9603, fernbar.com
Sonoma
El Dorado Kitchen: This hotel restaurant always delivers, with a wide variety of dishes from fancy dinner selections (caviar, Wagyu beef carpaccio, filet mignon) to a “I just went wine tasting all day and want something simpler” dishes like a vegan rice bowl with mushrooms and seaweed and beet salad with orange yogurt. Every meal (breakfast through dinner) has inclusive vegan plates that are every bit as good — if not better — than other selections. Burgers and shrimp tacos and great lunch choices. The restful garden patio is a nice meetup spot, and the bar is a nice single-person dining experience. 405 First St. W., Sonoma, 707-996-3030, eldoradosonoma.com
Girl and the Fig: Legendary bistro-style French cuisine at this destination restaurant. Relax on the patio, sit at the polished wood bar or meet friends in the friendly lemon-yellow bistro. Steamed mussels and frites, duck liver mousse or duck confit are great picks. Fig and arugula salad is a required order. 110 W. Spain St., Sonoma, 707-938-3634, thegirlandthefig.com
Windsor
Spring Harvest Gnudi with housemade ricotta dumplings, zucchini, crooked necked squash, cherry tomatoes, spinach and basil from Grata Italian Eatery chef/owner Eric Foster Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Windsor. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Grata: The Gnudi Alla Vodka is a comfort go-to, along with the Cacio e Pepe with tons of zingy pepper and Parmesan that speaks to your inner child. Dishes like goat cheese and ricotta ravioli with local wild mushrooms and pea shoots are a more Cal-Ital twist. Make sure to try whatever seasonal risotto is on the menu. Happy hour is a steal of a deal. The outdoor patio is our favorite spot to eat. 186 Windsor River Road, Windsor, 707-620-0508, gratawindsor.com
Kin: Kid-friendly and adult-endorsed is a rare combination in a restaurant, but Kin has it down. Burgers and dips are excellent, Kin macaroni and cheese is decadent (also in a pizza version) and tempura-battered and fried pickles are crowd-pleasers. More grown-up entrees like lasagna Bolognese are excellent. Reasonable prices for a family dinner. 740 McClelland Drive, Windsor, 707-837-7546, kinwindsor.com
Sweet T’s: Anyone who can’t find a tasty dish on this menu is clearly a grouch. Memphis barbecue nachos with smoked brisket (vegetarian options available) is the place to start. Fried chicken with biscuits and Southern sides (creamed corn and braised greens are excellent), barbecue plates, Key lime pie and a Texas margarita are what we’re all about. 9098 Brooks Road S., Windsor, 707-687-5185, sweettssouthern.com
Pecan Pie from Sweet T’s in Windsor. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
On the coast
Spud Point: Though I have favorites for chowder, fresh crab and barbecued oysters elsewhere, this always-packed spot is unrivaled for its Dungeness crab sandwich (and I do love their garlicky chowder). Crab cakes (only available on the weekend) are also excellent. What makes this an undisputed “good place” is its consistently excellent quality. 1910 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-9472, spudpointcrabco.com
