People often ask me about my favorite restaurants, and I rarely have a great answer in the moment. I can tell where I ate last, but pulling from the mental archives on demand? Not so easy. As someone who eats (and writes about) food for a living, there’s just too much to sift through.
So, I took some time to dig in and curate my can’t-miss local foodie adventure guide, broken into two parts. First up: my top picks in Sebastopol, Santa Rosa and Petaluma. In two weeks, I’ll share part two, featuring my favorite foodie destinations in Healdsburg, Sonoma Valley and on the coast.
Let me know your favorites at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com.
Sebastopol
Psychic Pie
Think outside the slice with Roman-style pizzas. A thick, sourdough crust is cut into fat rectangles with seasonal toppings like chevre with fresh lemon and herbs; potato with chile oil, mozzarella and crème fraîche; or hot coppa with Estero Gold cheese, mozzarella and hot honey. Traditionalists fear not — pepperoni and plain cheese are always on the menu. Sold by weight rather than slice, you can mix and match a few flavors. Just don’t forget the housemade ranch dressing. 980 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol, 707-827-6032, psychicpie.com
Redwood Wine Bar
Natural wines are their calling card, but this under-the-radar restaurant turns out some truly tasty dishes. The smoky baba ganoush with warm pitas is a standout, along with seasonal salads, grilled maitake mushrooms with pistachio za’atar, and a braised lamb shank for the table. 234 S. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-861-9730, theredwoodwine.com
Lunch Box
My ultimate smashburger, the Burger Harn, gets everything right — from a juicy patty and classic Thousand Island-style sauce to shredded iceberg lettuce, American cheddar and a dill pickle. The soft Costeaux brioche bun takes it right over the top. Plus, hoagies, fried chicken sandwiches, chicken Parmesan sandwiches and tasty fries. 128 N. Main St., Sebastopol, lunchboxsonomacounty.com
A&M BBQ
Real. Barbecue. Long-smoked, dry-rubbed, killer sides. Sonoma County-meets-Deep South meat and three. Expect a long line and a no-frills “when we’re out, we’re out” vibe. Brisket is a specialty. 495 S. Main St., Sebastopol, Instagram.com/ambbqllc
Handline
The tortillas are handmade, the oysters super fresh, the burgers are great, but I go for the veggies. Esquites (grilled corn with lime) are a summer staple. Broccolini with mushroom aioli and pickled mustard seeds is another favorite. The Roots & Shoots salad features an ever-changing lineup of seasonal vegetables, sprouted lentils, arugula, basil pesto and sesame hummus. 935 Gravenstein Ave. South, Sebastopol, handline.com
Santa Rosa
Augie’s
Approachable bistro-style French classics like hearty onion soup, braised boeuf Bourguignon with creamy potatoes and bowls of steaming mussels swimming in creamy Dijon sauce that’s begging to be soaked up with a crusty baguette. Augie’s is a truffle-buttered kiss, where the Champagne starts flowing at 3 p.m. and the skinny fries come in a gold-handled rondeau pan because they can. 535 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-531-4400, augiesfrench.com
Stark’s Steak & Seafood
If you’re craving fat steak, a ridiculously decadent burger or the ultimate happy hour, this is your spot. ‘Nuff said. 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-6100, starkssteakhouse.com
J&M’s Midtown Café
Diner-style breakfast nirvana. Though the menu and the space are casual, the food is top-notch, including the world’s best Benedicts. Pull up a counter seat if you’re dining solo. Lunch classics like a classic tuna melt and a pastrami Reuben are standouts. 1422 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-2233, jm-midtowncafe.com
Dierk’s Parkside Cafe
If you know, you know. Most of Santa Rosa has spent a lazy Sunday morning or quiet lunch at chef Mark Dierkhising’s legendary cafe. 404 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-573-5955, dierksparkside.com
L’Oro Di Napoli
Their Neapolitan-style pizzas have thin centers and signature charred crusts that require little more than a few toppings — the Margherita is a winner. I come for the deep-dish lasagna with layer after layer of thick pasta, Bolognese, béchamel and San Marzano tomato sauce. Sitting upstairs is cozy and intimate, perfect for a date night. The new Petaluma location (208 Petaluma Blvd. North) features an expanded menu that includes additional pasta dishes and larger entrees, such as whole branzino and steak. 629 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-541-6394, lorodinapolica.com
Mitote Food Park
An immersive experience of eating and drinking in Sonoma County’s epicenter of Mexican culture. Food trucks circle a permanent outdoor patio (tented and enclosed) with home-style tacos, tlayuda, birria and tortas. 100 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, mitotefoodpark.com
Petaluma
Table Culture Provisions
After “scrappy beginnings,” according to the 2025 California Michelin Guide, this tiny restaurant with just a handful of seats offers one of my favorite tasting menus in Sonoma County. A mix of hyper-seasonal ingredients, French technique and a little humor, the menu reflects the personal journeys of Haitian-born Stéphane Saint Louis and his co-chef Steven Vargas. 312 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-5739, tcprovision.com
Stockhome
A family-friendly ode to Swedish cuisine with outstanding Swedish pancakes, meatballs and mashed potatoes (with lingonberry jam, of course) and gut-busting street food like the Tunnbrod Rulle, a mashup of Smoked German sausage, mashed potatoes, ketchup, mustard, iceberg lettuce and tomatoes inside a rolled Swedish flatbread. Plus, beef kebabs. 220 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-981-8511, stockhomerestaurant.com
Stellina Pronto
There’s (almost) always a line at this Italian bakery and pizzeria, which is saying something in sleepy Sonoma County. Michelin-quality pastries filled with hazelnuts, cream and plenty of panache are the opener for Neapolitan-meets-New York wood-fired gourmet pizzas. Limited seating. 23 Kentucky St., Petaluma, stellinapronto.com
Street Social
Street Social feels more like having dinner at a friend’s house than dining in a formal restaurant — and that’s exactly how owners Jevon Martin and Marjorie Pier want it. It’s hard to resist chatting with fellow diners in such a convivial space. Martin’s ever-changing menu is a celebration both of season and place, inspired by what’s perfectly ripe or fresh from the ocean. Farm-to-table isn’t just a label — it’s a manifesto — and that’s why you’ll rarely find the same dish twice on the menu. 29F Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, streetsocial.social
Water Street Bistro
Sitting outside by the Petaluma River with a warm latte is about as good as it gets. This friendly, come-as-you-are French-inspired cafe also has charm and excellent bistro cuisine. Grab a croissant, quiche or kouign-amann in the morning. Lunch is a heartier proposition with seasonal salads, their signature duck confit and irresistible butterscotch pot de crème or the devilishly delicious duck egg flan. 100 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, 707-763-9563, waterstreetbistropetaluma.com