Every town needs a gathering spot, and Palooza is Kenwood’s community hub.
This casual gastropub and brewery has a solid handle on beer-friendly food — burgers, wood-fired pizza, crispy chicken sandwiches, wings and baby back ribs — but also features upscale salads and entrées that are great for date night. Seasonal cocktails and weekly specials are always a good choice, and we love sitting on the covered patio with 180-degree views of Sugarloaf Ridge.
After 11 years in business, a rarity in the restaurant world, owners Jeff and Suzette Tyler have found a sweet spot in the growing Kenwood dining scene.
The vibe
Come as you are, whether that’s a post-soccer game lunch with the kids, after-work cocktails or a girlfriend brunch. Corrugated metal and dark wood walls keep the inside cozy-comfy year round, but it can get a bit noisy when the restaurant is crowded. If the weather is nice, opt for outdoor seating.
The food
Barbacoa tacos ($20) filled with seasoned braised beef, chimichurri sauce and avocado crema are a best bet. We also like the messy-but-tasty ahi poke nachos ($22) with crispy wonton chips, fresh ahi tuna and sriracha aioli. Half pound-burgers ($22) are made with a mixture of chuck and brisket with the Palooza logo iron-branded into the brioche bun. Finish the meal with a warm chocolate chip cookie drizzled with chocolate ganache, vanilla ice cream and sea salt ($13). The falafel plate ($22), with lemony tzatziki sauce and grilled pita bread, is very shareable and vegetarian-friendly. Beet salad with whipped goat cheese and a petite arugula salad is a great light-lunch option.
The perks: Dog-friendly patio, full bar, good beer selection, family-friendly.
The tab: Most dishes range from $15 to $26. Larger entrées like pan-seared salmon risotto and ribs are $31-$38.
The deals: Happy hour from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Sunday at the bar, with doorbuster pricing on wine, beer and well cocktails.
The service: Highly experienced servers who know the menu and put guests at ease. Wait times were minimal.
Fun fact: Owner Jeff Tyler used to own a popular downtown Santa Rosa hot dog cart.
The spot: 8910 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-4000, paloozafresh.com
You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats.