Petite Syrah, redux

Two-star flavors at a 1-star price at Santa Rosa's Petite Syrah

Spec ravioli at Petite Syrah
Spec ravioli at Petite Syrah

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Spec ravioli at Petite Syrah
Spec ravioli at Petite Syrah

 

First off, Chef Josh Silvers can’t escape his tasting menu. A casualty of his restaurant transformation last spring to a small plates menu, Silvers has brought it back to stay with four and seven courses ($50, $70). As ever, it’s at the chef’s whim and for the entire table.

Meanwhile, BiteClub did a taste through the new menu after Chef de Cuisine Ben Davies’ arrival, and the food has only improved. Davies (who a number of local chefs credit Mirepoix’s 2010 Michelin star to) has elevated the small plates lineup with Silvers to include a swoon-worthy 63-degree egg salad (imagine an egg cooked so delicately it turns to a sort of custard) with parsnip frisee, bacon and crispy pork ($11); Speck (a sort of ham) and smoked ricotta ravioli ($11);  a roasted pork tenderloin and creipinette with red cabbage and creme fraiche ($14) or pan-roasted Liberty Duck with black barley, shiitakes, pear and port ($16).

The quick take: These meticulous small plates feature 2-star flavors at a 1-star price.

Monday through Saturday lunch, 11:30am to 2:30pm; dinner from 5pm daily. 205 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 568-4002.

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9 thoughts on “Petite Syrah, redux

  1. My wife and I had dinner there last month, and I like the food in this format better than the old Syrah. I’m a big fan of small plates anyway, especially if the restaurant offers (as Petite Syrah does) small pours of wine to go with them. Did not try the tasting menu, since it was not available yet, of course. But the quality of what we had was really good. I will point out that my wife felt the choices offered the night we went were less interesting than the ones in the online menu. Of course we expect the menu to change with the seasons, but she had trouble finding something she really wanted that night. So she was a little underwhelmed.

    I’m still trying to decide if I like it better than its sister restaurant Jackson’s, though. There’s much to be said for the informality at Jackson’s. It’s a bit loud at times, but that’s part of the charm – especially if you’re there with a group of friends. Petite Syrah seems more of a quiet dinner for two kind of place.

  2. My wife and I had dinner there last month, and I like the food in this format better than the old Syrah. I’m a big fan of small plates anyway, especially if the restaurant offers (as Petite Syrah does) small pours of wine to go with them. Did not try the tasting menu, since it was not available yet, of course. But the quality of what we had was really good. I will point out that my wife felt the choices offered the night we went were less interesting than the ones in the online menu. Of course we expect the menu to change with the seasons, but she had trouble finding something she really wanted that night. So she was a little underwhelmed.

    I’m still trying to decide if I like it better than its sister restaurant Jackson’s, though. There’s much to be said for the informality at Jackson’s. It’s a bit loud at times, but that’s part of the charm – especially if you’re there with a group of friends. Petite Syrah seems more of a quiet dinner for two kind of place.

  3. Had lunch there today and it rocked! beet salad, Pork Belly &#38 Calamari w/ Chickpeas were stand outs

  4. My wife and I had dinner there last month, and I like the food in this format better than the old Syrah. I’m a big fan of small plates anyway, especially if the restaurant offers (as Petite Syrah does) small pours of wine to go with them. Did not try the tasting menu, since it was not available yet, of course. But the quality of what we had was really good. I will point out that my wife felt the choices offered the night we went were less interesting than the ones in the online menu. Of course we expect the menu to change with the seasons, but she had trouble finding something she really wanted that night. So she was a little underwhelmed.

    I’m still trying to decide if I like it better than its sister restaurant Jackson’s, though. There’s much to be said for the informality at Jackson’s. It’s a bit loud at times, but that’s part of the charm – especially if you’re there with a group of friends. Petite Syrah seems more of a quiet dinner for two kind of place.

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