The hottest new restaurant in Healdsburg is a sandwich shop.

Actually, it’s a bread bakery by morning that turns into a sandwich shop during the afternoon and does a final quick change into an intimate chef’s counter at night.

Chef Sean McGaughey is the guy in the baker’s apron at Troubadour Bread and Bistro’s Le Diner, a French-inspired restaurant that takes over the nibble-size bakery five nights a week.

It’s the third collaborative project McGaughey and his wife Melissa Yanc have founded in Healdsburg, the buzzy Quail & Condor bakery that opened in 2020.

For McGaughey, making sandwiches and pastries just wasn’t the same thing as working in the kitchens of Single Thread, where he rose from executive sous chef to head chef over five years. His background in classic French cuisine, plus the precision he practiced at Michelin-starred Single Thread, were still calling.

“I thought that putting the same effort of cooking into making sandwiches was going to fill my tank, but it just didn’t,” he said on the heels of his first week of dinner service at the newly reminted Troubadour Bread and Bistro.

The concept is simple: a five-course dinner for $125 per person, preordered through exploretock.com. On Tuesday through Saturday, McGaughey and his small team cook a dinner of seasonal, locally sourced dishes such as duck a l’orange with crisp salty skin, Wagyu steak tartare with a cured egg yolk, petite escargot served in a Limoges tea cup with creamy veloute and roasted garlic and a thick tomato slice with tart sauce vierge and caviar.

Much of the produce comes from the Single Thread farm in Alexander Valley. It’s stunning stuff, especially in a boulangerie with just 20 seats, all stools pulled up to counter seating. Much of the cooking is done in simmer baths and low-temperature ovens, to take advantage of every bit of space in the tiny kitchen.

“We don’t have a lot of refrigeration either, so it forces us to be creative and constantly change,” McGaughey said.

The restaurant is refreshingly single-minded in its vision of elevated French bistro cuisine. The menu isn’t Cal-Ital or Mediterranean-French or another fusion. It’s just French, with all the unpronounceable but delicious sauces that have been perfected over centuries.

“I’ve always liked cooking French food. It’s always been in my repertoire. These are the techniques you learn (in school). Even Single Thread is very much of the French tradition,” McGaughey said.

“I also love the mix of grand French cuisine, the copper pots stuff. But, on the flip side, I like bistro favorites and want to elevate those,” he said.

The four best seats in the house are at the counter facing Healdsburg Avenue. There, you can watch people go by (and be watched, eating) in the evening hours. More private seats at the bakery counter are better for intimate dining, and groups of up to four can sit at a communal table. The vibe is a mix of irreverence (don’t miss the Andre the Giant homage in the bathroom) and old-school French, with antique mix-and-match Limoges plates and a clubby San Francisco cafe atmosphere.

McGaughey has teamed up with Single Thread alum Tiffany Spurgeon as the restaurant’s host. Spurgeon, McGaughey and his wife are all part of an ever-growing cohort of Single Thread alums creating new food businesses with the support of their former bosses.

“We weren’t really sure what this was going to be, but it’s turned into a secret date-night restaurant,” McGaughey said. “We’re untraditional but fun, and we’re not going to take up your whole evening.”

Troubadour Bread and Bistro dinner service runs Wednesday through Sunday by reservation. The shop is located at 381 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. Visit troubadourhbg.com.

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In a city full of high-end restaurants, it can be difficult to find a delicious meal that’s easy on the wallet. But if you know where to look, Healdsburg has a selection of tried-and-true establishments serving up tasty, budget-friendly fare. Click through the above gallery for 10 places where you can get a bite to eat for $15 or less.

Downtown Bakery & Creamery: This humble bakery by the downtown plaza has been offering affordable, delicious treats for more than 30 years. It sells fresh-baked bread, breakfast pastries, delectable desserts, sandwiches and house-made ice cream. The best part? Everything on the menu, save for large cakes and a bag of bagels, is under $10. Best bites include the fig bar ($3.50), sticky bun ($4.50), brownie cupcake ($3.50), baby fruit galette ($7.25) and grilled ham and cheese ($7). 308 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-431-2719, downtownbakeryhealdsburg.com

The Wurst Restaurant: Opened by a Detroit native, The Wurst is a casual hot dog joint that fuses Midwestern specialties and hospitality with fresh Sonoma County ingredients. Several of its items are imported from the Midwest, all the sauces are housemade and there are 16 local beers on tap. Best bites include the Detroit Polish ($12), the Chicago Dog ($12) with green relish, dill pickle spears, fresh veggies and mustard, and the Southwest Turkey Burger ($13) with grilled veggies, pepper jack cheese, avocado and chipotle sauce. Though they’re passionate about sausage, Wurst’s burgers always get top billing in Healdsburg. 22 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-395-0214, thewurst.com

Shelton’s Natural Foods Market: Doubling as a health foods store and deli, Shelton’s has long been a dependable market for nutritious grub at a fair price. The sandwiches are piled high with fresh ingredients and the hot bar is always stocked with prepared specialty foods, such as rotisserie chicken, barbecued ribs and lemon fettuccine Alfredo. Best bites include the Crunchy Veggie sandwich ($10.99) with pesto, sprouts, cucumber, tomato, onion, avocado, almonds and cream cheese on light rye and the Sonoma Special ($12.49) with smoked turkey, pepper jack, avocado, red onions, lettuce and tomato on sourdough. 428 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-431-0530, sheltonsmarket.com

Taqueria Guadalajara: An unassuming hole-in-the-wall Mexican eatery, Taqueria Guadalajara is one of those places most adored by regulars and locals in the know. Fresh ingredients, generous portions, friendly staff and reliably affordable eats make this taqueria a true dependable gem. Best bites include the regular tacos ($3.69 each), chicken tostada ($6.65) and regular burrito with carnitas or al pastor ($10.75). Do yourself a favor and order a housemade horchata ($3.25) speckled with fresh bits of cinnamon. 125 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1052, ordertaqueriaguadalajara.com

Plank Coffee: Sure, you could stop by this quaint coffee shop and pick up an artfully prepared latte or cappuccino, but why not sit down for a while to enjoy a farm fresh breakfast? From pastries to sandwiches, with plenty of vegan options, Plank Coffee has a healthy selection of morning dishes that won’t break the bank. Best bites include the housemade ginger cookies ($3.95 each) croissant, egg and cheese sandwich ($9.50), bagel, egg, cheese and tempeh bacon sandwich ($12.50) and breakfast burrito ($13). 175 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-395-0572, plankcoffee.com

Otoro Sushi: This sushi restaurant and fish market sources fresh fish and other ingredients from local farmers’ markets, and imports other select quality, sashimi-grade fish from around the globe. Otoro excels in beautiful, colorful sushi rolls, light and crispy tempura, a cozy modern ambiance and fast, friendly service. Best bites include the miso soup ($3), spicy garlic edamame ($6), salmon skin roll ($8), spicy California roll ($8) and tempura veggie roll ($10). 1280 Healdsburg Ave., Suite 101, Healdsburg, 707-756-3932, otorohealdsburg.com

Big John’s Market: This family-run grocery store has been around for almost 30 years, selling everything from organic produce and local baked goods to housemade sausage and sushi. In addition to carrying items from dozens of local purveyors, Big John’s Market has its own sandwich deli, hot bar, pizza oven and burrito bar for affordable, made-to-order lunches. Best bites include the Fitch Mountain sandwich ($10.99) with chicken breast, bacon, provolone, tomato, avocado and chipotle spread; the Center Street sandwich ($10.99) with prosciutto, fig, blue cheese and olive spread; and the Funghi pizza ($9.99) with fontina, oven roasted mushrooms and thyme. 1345 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-7151, bigjohnsmarket.com

Flakey Cream Do-Nuts & Coffee Shop: Flakey Cream has been a dependable breakfast and lunch staple in Healdsburg since 1960, providing locals with housemade doughnuts and freshly brewed coffee in a casual dining atmosphere daily. But this is much more than a doughnut and coffee shop. The vast menu includes farm-fresh egg breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches and salads. Best bites include the regular glaze donut ($2), jelly-filled donut ($4), three-piece French toast ($12) and the classic breakfast burrito ($14). 441 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-433-3895

Summer’s Market & Deli: Built in the ’50s and reopened in 2014 as Summer’s Market & Deli, this old-fashioned, farm-to-market delicatessen offers gourmet sandwiches, wraps, salads and even housemade ice cream. The friendly staff carefully craft every sandwich with the right balance of ingredients, and the sides, like coleslaw, pesto pasta and macaroni salad, add the perfect touch to any lunch. Best bites include The Kevin with turkey, smoked gouda and fresh veggies on a dutch crunch roll ($8.99); The Jeff Reuben with pastrami, swiss, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing on rye ($9.99); and The Dirty Jerk with turkey, bacon, cream cheese, tomato and lettuce on a sour roll ($9.99). 557 Powell Ave., Healdsburg, 707-756-5004, summersmarketanddeli.com

Lola’s Market: A one-stop-shop for fresh, seasonal produce, quality meats, grocery items, baked goods and traditional Mexican food, Lola’s Market shines as a reliable grocer selling affordable fare. Next time you’re in need of mangoes, tomatillos, dried chiles or conchas, you’ll want to head over to Lola’s, and be sure to grab something from the kitchen while you’re there. Best bites include the al pastor taco ($2.99), quesadilla on a corn tortilla ($3.49), chicken torta ($8.99) and carnitas super burrito ($9.99). 102 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-473-0607, lolasmarkets.com

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