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Restaurant Listings
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| Price |
Typical Entree Prices |
| $ | Under $8 | $$ | Between $8 to $10 | $$$ | Between $10 to $20 | $$$$ | Between $20 to $30 | $$$$$ | Be ready to take out a loan |
Glen Ellen, Kenwood, Napa, Sonoma
Ad Hoc - American Homestyle
6476 Washington St, Yountville CA 94599 (707) 944-2487 Parking: in parking lot Hours: Dinner Thursdays through Saturday, Supper Sunday starting at 3pm
Last Visited: November 26, 2006
Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$$
The words ‘ad hoc’ mean ‘for this purpose’ and indeed, Thomas Keller has created a restaurant to showcase family style dinners for this purpose alone. The changing daily menu features four courses prix fixe $45. The first plate is salad, followed by the main dish, then a cheese plate – typically featuring a cheese from a Wisconsin coop, and finally dessert. It’s a lovely homestyle menu with simple local flavors. In some cases, you’ll find that the main course changes during the evening. If you have dietary restrictions or are vegetarian, I have heard that they will kindly accommodate. The menu varies – you can find anything from fried chicken to prime rib. Call the day of your visit to find out what is being served.
The décor is simple. According to the locals, they have kept much of it the same as it was when it was a café. Brushed chrome tables, a long bench with a cushion, dark colored wood, white walls, and large vases can be found in the restaurant. It’s for the most part an open space and the room is divided into two main sections – the side of the restaurant that faces the street has large windows that bring in the light. The bench seating along the wall in the middle of the restaurant separates it from the bar and reception area. The table with the pig figure acts as the serving station. I thought the pig might be displayed to represent tonight’s menu, but our server explained that the pig always remains on display despite the featured meat.
The servers wear white shirts with the words Ad Hoc on them in light blue, Converse style shoes, and jeans. It’s a casual atmosphere, but their demeanor is still very polite, and they are certainly friendly. The water and wine glasses are the same, regular tumblers, and some in the restaurant during my visit found this irking. They requested stems and proclaimed the instant improvement in flavor of the wine. I can’t confirm that there was a drastic improvement, so that part is strictly hearsay. When we were seated, the server greeted us, introduced himself, and asked if we had been there before. He explained that the menu was fixed and asked if we had any dietary restrictions. He then asked us what type of water we would like – still, bottled, or sparkling. When we said still, he said ‘Yountville’ with a smile. Then we were brought a carafe of chilled water.
We were brought bread in a basket along with a ramekin of butter. Too bad the bread wasn’t hot, but it was still good bread.
All items are presented family style unless otherwise indicated.
- Grilled Maine Diver Scallops and Winter Greens Salad – A scallop is split in half and skewered, then grilled. The skewers are placed on top of winter greens including gem lettuce, frisee, watermelon radishes, three types of mushrooms – oyster, shiitake, and one other. The dressing is made with sherry vinegar and oil. The scallops are warm, fresh, and tender, just lightly grilled on both sides. The dressing is perfect – not too sour, not too salty, but just right – a refreshing blend. Great.
- Snake River Farms Braised Kurobata Pork Short Ribs – The Kurobata pork is braised until tender and served with tondini beans mixed with bits of bacon and haricot verts. The beans weren’t as soft as I like them, but the flavor of bacon had infused the beans and tasted great. The haricot verts looked like they had been added at the last minute since the color was still a nice green, but the beans were tender. The short ribs were cut such that the meat was placed on top of a bed of ribs. The ribs were fork tender; each piece of meat melted in my mouth and was so juicy. The ribs were presented in a large ramekin with the beans and haricot verts underneath. Melt in your mouth wonderful.
- Carrots – Carrots are cut on the diagonal and sautéed in butter. They are then seasoned with salt, pepper, and have been sprinkled with fresh parsley. These carrots were so tender and sweet – straight from the garden. They were served on a plain white rectangular dish. Delicious.
- Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Coop Dante Cheese – A cutting board arrived with four cippolini onions, a ramekin of arbequina olives, and a sample of Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Co-op Dante cheese. The onions had been roasted until sweet. The server warned us that the olives may contain pits, and indeed, most did. These tiny olives gave balance against the cheese and the onions. Good. For me, the serving of cheese was a bit much, especially after the ribs, but the presentation was simple.
After the cheese course, the bread was removed from the table.
- Sweet Cornmeal Financier – Unlike the rest of the menu, the dessert is served individually. The warm cornmeal cake is served with sweet dried fruit compote comprised of raisins, cherries, and the like. The cake was golden brown on top, light, soft, springy, and almost crumbly. A small container of fresh vanilla whipped cream loaded with vanilla beans was given to us to share. Every bite was absolutely scrumptious and if you could fit more in your stomach, you would want to have another piece. It’s so comforting and wonderful with hints of butter in each bite. Magnificent.
The servers are kind, though the busboy could smile more and greet you as you’re leaving, but the host and the server acknowledged us as we left the restaurant.
There have been lots of rumors floating around that Ad Hoc will be transformed into Thomas Keller’s dream burger joint, but our server confirmed that plans are still in works, and to his knowledge, he’s employed for more than a few more months, so it’s likely that Ad Hoc could stick around longer than the original six months. Ad Hoc is a great way to try out the renowned Thomas Keller quality in a more relaxed setting. Excellent treats.
Basque Boulangerie
460 1st Street West, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 935-7687
Parking: street parking Last Visited: June 14, 2003
Food: 3 stars, 5 star pastries
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
First, let’s remind ourselves that this is a café, so when I talk about service, you’re really talking to someone behind a counter to order and then you hear your name when your food is ready. We’re not talking about a full service operation. You will even need to get your own silverware should you need any. Now that this is out of the way, we can officially begin.
Basque Boulangerie is a café bakery. There is a bar and small tables near the walls and windows as well as several tables outside. It’s a great place to go on a lazy Saturday morning for pastries and it’s excellent anytime for French bread. The menus are above the counters and the place reminds me of small cafes in Berkeley, but with a French twist. You’ll find locals and tourists alike in this place. The glass display counters show a variety of fresh pastries, both savory and sweet, and of course, cakes are available too. They also have a fine wine selection with the bottles on the wine rack above the bar.
The story behind Basque – once upon a time, the Sonoma French Bakery (SFB) was the place to go to get your French bread. It was well known by all, and tourists still as where it went. Well, back in the late 90s, SFB sold to another owner, and with it, they also sold the recipe for their great bread. An agreement was made that the previous owner would not open near that place for x amount of years, and just past that agreement date, Basque Boulangerie opened several doors down from SFB. Ah, the saga begins. Of course, the locals knew which place had the original owner, and the original owner of SFB was able to realize their dream of opening a café bakery.
There is a lot of variety available – soups, sandwiches, salads, pastries. There are always daily specials which include unique items. Daily soups, salads, quiches, sandwiches, etc are listed on a white board above the counter.
- Bread – Get any of their breads. They’re soft on the inside, and crusty on the outside. Great for parties too. They are available in many sizes and varieties – sourdough, sweet French, bague, baguette, seeded, etc. They’re so popular that Basque also sells its products to local supermarkets, baked fresh daily.
- Pastries/Cookies – You really can’t go wrong here. I love the pastries. Not much to say – they’re excellent.
- Sandwiches – Basque makes great sandwiches, especially the corned beef sandwich with sauerkraut. The roast pork sandwich can be a little on the dry side for my taste, but the prosciutto and brie is also great. Their chicken salad sandwich can be really nice too.
- Soup – The soup comes in those huge coffee cups. They’re great. Always hearty – be daring and try a soup that you might not normally go for. I haven’t been disappointed yet. They make a great chicken noodle soup.
My only bad experience here
- Salad – all in all, this was my only bad experience. Salad comes with bread. Nothing wrong with that. Most of the time, their mixed green salad with champagne vinaigrette is terrific. One time, it was like the greens weren’t washed and all I could taste was sand/dirt. You could feel that crunchy feeling in your mouth that isn’t supposed to be there. You could even scrape the plate with a fork and hear the granules. Gross. Aside from this, all the other items I have tried are without fault.
What café/bakery is without coffee. Everything that is brewed smells great. I usually go for the soup, so you’ll have to judge the coffee yourself. The hot chocolate is good though.
This is a terrific place to go to get a feel for Sonoma. When I’m at the Sonoma Plaza, I always try to stop off at Basque for lunch. They have such great bread – everyone loves it. It’s quaint charm is inviting, and it will continue to serve Sonoma for a long time to come. If you’re bored, go outside and sit at one of those tables. You’ll enjoy watching the people strolling the plaza. This place is a must try.
Bistro Don Giovanni - Italian/Country French
4110 Howard Lane, Napa CA 94558
(707) 224-3300
Parking: in restaurant parking lot
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30am to 10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 11pm
Last Visited: January 16, 2005
Food: 4 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$
Bistro Don Giovanni is located in Napa just off the St. Helena Highway. The red earth tones of the building nestled amongst a lush green garden might cause you to miss it if you aren’t paying attention. Once in the parking lot, you’ll find there is a lot of greenery in the garden, from potted plants and tall trees to fruit trees. As you walk up the steps of the restaurant which are lined alongside with topiaries, flowers, and other plants, you’ll find just past the terrace is a beautiful scene with a fountain in the center, serene and beautiful on a sunny day.
Once inside, you’ll see the beautiful fresh flowers in tall vases just past the hostess’ podium. On your left is a full bar with bottles of wine on the racks behind the bar, along with the usual bottles in front of the back mirror. Lamps hang from the ceiling above the bar. The restaurant colors seem to be an earthy red, yellow, and green.
On this second visit, we were seated in the side room. To get there, we were led past the bar into a doorway, then past the waiter’s station, and to the dining area. It sounds as unusual as described. I thought we were headed for a closet. It’s an inconvenient nook to go through, particularly when waiters are at the station itself. Along one wall of the room are large window panes that brought in a lot of natural light. There was a fireplace keeping the room warm and giving it a cozy feel, along with ceiling heaters to keep patrons warm. Large topiaries decorated the room along. Large artwork depicting people in multiple colors and a good sized rectangular mirror hung from the wall. The large tiles on the floor were an earthy brown. From the ceiling hung large stringed lights in soft yellow tones. The tables were covered with white tablecloths topped with white paper. In general, the tables were large and spacious. A table for four could easily seat six with lots of space between tables. The chairs were wicker colored in burgundy, yellow, and green.
The waitstaff is in professional uniforms consisting of white and black. Only the hostess seems to wear color.
The prices on the menu posted on the website have changed since they were posted, probably due to the new year. In general, the portions are okay, but seem to be on the small side for the price.
Upon our arrival, we were asked if we desired ice water or sparkling water. After ordering, we were promptly given focaccia bread, but we had to ask for olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The olive focaccia bread was soft on the inside, and crisp on the outside. Great focaccia bread.
- Fritto Misto – Calamari rings, rock shrimp, green beans, fennel slices, and onion slices are lightly battered and deep fried. The combination of seafood and vegetables are then placed on a square glass dish and served with spicy aioli. The aioli is served in a blue glass bowl, so the contrast of the red/orange cream color is great with the bowl. The batter is seasoned and complements the seafood and vegetables nicely. The addition of green beans and fennel seem to be inspired by Japanese tempura since Italian fritto misto doesn’t usually have these vegetables in them. Good. $10
- Bistro Back Door Salad – Harvest greens are paired with slices of Granny Smith apples, small chunks of blue cheese, and candied walnuts in a persimmon vinaigrette. The persimmon in the vinaigrette is very light, but there is a hint of its presence. It goes nicely with the greens, but I would prefer the persimmon flavor to be stronger. The menu mentions the presence of pears, but I didn’t seem to find any in my salad. The apples give the salad a refreshing crunch. Good. $8.75
- Pizza House Smoked Salmon – The pizza is topped with smoked salmon pieces, meyer lemon mascarpone, capers, small diced shallots, and crème fraiche. The pizza is then topped with arugula and shaved parmesan. The pizza crust was thin, light, and crispy. The flavors of the capers, shallots, and crème fraiche nicely accompany the smoked salmon. The creaminess of the mascarpone was noticeable, but the meyer lemon portion of it was lost on me. Overall, it tasted great on the first slice, but seemed to get saltier with more slices. Good at first, then average as the meal continued. $13
- Coniglio al’Latte – Milk braised rabbit. Rabbit is braised and served over soft polenta and broth. The quantity of rabbit seemed a bit on the small side, however, it was very tender and soft, falling off the bone. A chiffonade of lemon rind and onions are used in the braising process to counterbalance the gaminess of the rabbit. The flavor was light and lovely. The polenta was custard-like in texture, soaking up the broth so that it became lightly salted. Very good. $20
As for the service, I noticed that tables that came after us received their focaccia bread with olive oil already, and there was no need to ask for it. I’m not sure why that inconsistency occurred. The waiter for our table seemed to come back too frequently. I almost felt pestered. However, he was quick to pick up on our empty bread plate, and he was very polite, but just a bit too frequent in coming to our table. Service is proportional to price for me. If the price of the food is higher, I expect the service to be better. Two of my tablemates had requested water without ice, and were given a carafe to refill their waters. However, my water was ice water, and at the end of the meal, nobody came by to refill it. That was disappointing too. However, all of these things I could easily let go. The largest faux pas came from the staff member who boxed up our leftovers. He only asked if we wanted two of the three items, completely disregarding my remaining fritto misto. It would have been better for him to ask if I wanted everything boxed up rather than two of the three items. He was ready to throw one dish away for me. That downgraded their three star service rating to what it is now. This was just inappropriate. There was plenty of fritto misto left, and to disregard it just wasn’t right.
The atmosphere of Bistro Don
Giovanni is trendy. It’s a happening place. The food is good, but the service
leaves something to be desired. When waiting for the restroom, I observed some
of the staff’s lack of professionalism (though minor in the grand scheme), but
it’s important that people know that when they’re at work, they’re being watched
whether they know it or not. Overall, it experience was fine, and the food
presented in a nice fashion. Try it out for yourself, but be wary of the
service. If you want a leisurely lunch, it might be best to tell the staff at
the beginning of the meal to make sure that they are aware of your desires.
Black Bear Diner - American
201 W. Napa St, Sonoma CA 95476
(707) 935-6800
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Last Visited: 2003
Food: 2 stars
Service: 1 to 2 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Price: $$
Until I read the menu, I didn’t realize that Black Bear Diner was a chain. With Sonoma being such a bear city, it seemed appropriate for Black Bear to open up with its bear statues and the bear flag located out front. The controversy about having wood bear statues displayed about their premises surely woke up the locals, but they’re here to stay.
Black Bear serves typical diner fare. I found nothing impressive about the place except for the wait. We must have waited over half an hour for a table. Once we got our table, the food was of mediocre quality. Even the garlic fries weren’t worth raving about. The service was not particularly fast or attentive (hence the reason I had time to read the menu). In fact, the table that had ordered after us received their salads and soup before we did. We found the waiter to be stressed out and could use some additional training in customer/waiter interaction.
The atmosphere is okay. The menus share history about Black Bear’s start, and in the waiting area, you’ll find lots of Black Bear merchandise. Formally the location of Carrows, you can imagine the atmosphere fairly easily.
Overall, I found Black Bear to be barely bearable. It’s a wonder how they have remained open so long in Sonoma.
Butter Cream Bakery & Cafe - American
2297 Jefferson St, Napa CA
94559
(707) 255-6700
Parking: in parking lot or street parking
Hours: Cafe open daily for breakfast and lunch only, Bakery open daily
Last Visited: February 4, 2007
Food:
3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
I stumbled across Butter Cream Bakery as I was driving on Jefferson Street. The light pink and dark pink paint alternating in a vertically striped design on the sign and on the outside of the building drew me in immediately. Enter Butter Cream and smell the sweet aroma of baked goods. The glass display cases house napoleons, donuts, cakes, pies, Danish, and more. On the counter sit a plate of donut holes to try.
From the outside, you can see the soup special of the day, and at least one other special to note. The front windows stream in natural light and against one wall are a counter and counter stools facing the open kitchen. Along the other side of the wall is a long bench and above it are windows allowing you to view the bakery within. Funny signs on the wall entertain guests. There was ample seating today, but on a busy day, you probably would need to wait for a table.
The colors are fairly bright, but the focus is the pastries. It’s an old fashioned style place with great food – diner style. Hamburgers, sandwiches, soups, and breakfast items fill the menu. And with the bread baked fresh, it’s no wonder everything is a treat.
- Reuben Sandwich – Corned beef is sliced thin and placed within two slices of white bread along with sauerkraut and a slice of cheese. Choice of French fries or potato salad available. The texture of the corned beef is perfect and the melty cheese gives the sandwich extra flavor. It wasn’t too salty or too soggy, a problem found with many Reuben sandwiches. This was just right, although, the portion may be a bit small, but still excellent for the price. The potato salad is light and available for sale on its own. Yummy. A great Reuben. $6.90
- 1/3 Pounder – A ground beef patty is grilled and served on a toasted bun with tomatoes and lettuce. Pickles are on the side. Fresh hot French fries or potato salad are your choices for a side. It was a delicious and juicy burger and the fries were fabulous – crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Terrific. 4 stars. The second time I had this, I ended up forgetting to ask for no mustard, and this time, the burger was not as moist as the last – I suspect because our rather large party required more wait time between cooking and distribution. Only three stars this time and many places could rival them. $6.95
- Clam Chowder – Available in cup or mug, the clam chowder is hearty. It’s a bit on the starchy side for me, not because of flour, but because the potatoes have been in the soup a while and the consistency has changed. Accompanying the soup are four packages of crackers. Good, but not the best I’ve had. Ample medium sized pieces of clam. This is the main reason for the 3 to 4 star range as opposed to 4 stars.
- Club Sandwich – This triple decker contains a layer of bacon, lettuce and tomato and a layer of turkey, ham, tomato, cheddar, and lettuce. All of the bread is slathered with mayo. The sandwich is then cut in quarters, held together by a long toothpick and served with fries or potato salad. Fresh and good. $7.25
- Éclair – The éclair is available filled with custard or whipped cream. I opted for custard. It’s generously filled with custard and topped with a squiggle of chocolate cream. The pastry is light and delicious. For me, the size was perfect to be shared and leave you content. The chocolate can be a bit sweeet, but the combination of the custard with the pastry has just the perfect blend of sweet and a touch of salt. $3
- Apple Turnover – A large puff pastry filled with chopped chunks of apple. It’s the real deal. Delicious. If you can’t eat it there, buy one to take home. $1.40
- Croissant – I took this home and found it good. Not the best I’ve had, but better than store bought from the grocery store. The butter flavor could be stronger, but still quite enjoyable.
- Coffee $1.75
I have to lower the service from three stars down to the two to three range because the last two times, the service has been mediocre - not just fair, but mediocre. Today, I went for lunch, and they forgot silverware for half the table, and though they brought the drinks that were made to order, they forgot to bring water. They also didn’t come back to refill water. When we asked for it, which is the same time the food came, the waitress said, of course I’ll bring you water in a way that seemed to indicate she was planning on it, but by no means should patrons need to wait more than 20 minutes for water to arrive. Also, the last time I ordered the burger, despite my asking for fries, the same waitress forgot and brought me chips. I overheard her telling the short order cook that she didn’t know you could get fries with the burger, but the menu clearly says fries or potato salad. How I ended up with chips, I don’t understand. Finally, when taking our order and going around the table, she stopped asking what we wanted to drink after the second person. So I had to make my request at the end, and then she asked me if I had ordered yet. With a memory like this, it’s a wonder our dishes arrived at all. During my 2007 visit, the wait time also exceeded 20 minutes. My waitress this time was much more pleasant and on top of things, but wait time was still quite long. For an unknown reason, the food also made me very thirsty several hours after. This is atypical, especially since I have ordered these dishes before, but noted.
The burgers are huge and they have a great selection of desserts and pastries. Their apple turnovers are quite yummy. Sit behind the counter and watch the person at the grill – entertaining, a bit stressful, and a lot of action. A great find and a local hot spot.
Cal Italia - California/Italian
19209 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma CA 95476
(707) 938-1449
Open daily: Lunch 11:30am to 2:30pm, Dinner: 5pm to 9pm
Parking: in shopping center
Last Visited: May 29, 2004
Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Cal-Italia is located behind Gramma’s Pizza. The restaurant extends into the back patio where there is nice open air seating. Italian music plays in the background while you dine by candlelight. The tables are topped with white paper over table clots, and after ordering, you receive a basket of French bread. The walls have wallpaper on one side of the room and light colored wood paneling up to half the wall height. The chairs are upholstered, but only the back of the chair is cushioned. The cushioning on the seat is minimal, so don’t expect a soft surface. There are windows that peak out into the garden patio where they have large vases/pots containing color spots.
The restaurant can be fairly busy, so come early or late to avoid the wait. Dinner entrees are served with a choice of homemade soup (clam chowder, beef vegetable barley, minestrone, chicken rice) or a garden salad making the prices quite reasonable.
- Clam Chowder – All the soups are homemade, and you can definitely tell that the clam chowder is not from a can. The menu describes it as chock full of clams and outrageously good. I found it chock full of clams, though they were orange, and reminded me more of mussels in color than clams. I couldn’t identify the type of clam. I also disagree with the outrageously good. It had a lot of the typical ingredients – celery, onions, etc but it didn’t have that creamy consistency that I enjoy so much. It was a little too thin for me though the flavor was okay. I would say it was okay and you might even call it good, but nothing outrageous about it.
- Garden Salad – A combination of fresh iceberg lettuce and mixed greens are topped with two slices of Roma tomatoes and marinated mushrooms. Choice of dressing. The salad looked very fresh.
- Drunken Butterflies and Smoked Salmon – The description of this dish lists that it is a heavenly combination of smoked salmon and vodka in a light creamy wine sauce. My curiosity was piqued by the words drunken butterflies. I figured that drunken referred to the wine sauce and vodka, but I didn’t expect bowtie pasta to arrive at my table. The pasta was topped with the seasoned smoked salmon that had been cooked with dill. The flavor and aroma of the dill was very strong. The entire dish was garnished with tobiko (red fish roe) and scallions. The flavor of the dish as a whole was okay, but something didn’t seem to balance. The flavors had married, but something about it didn’t seem right to me. Perhaps it was that the spices didn’t pair together well to balance one another out. The food was also very rich, and after about half the plate, I couldn’t eat anymore. $14.95
- Veal Picatta – Three pieces of veal are sautéed with a butter lemon caper sauce until golden brown. The veal was served with a flavorful wild rice pilaf and seasonal vegetables which included carrots, zucchini, squash, and peppers. The vegetables were nicely cooked – still leaving a little crunch and not soggy. The wild rice was also flavored well. The veal at first bite was good, but the cut of veal was fair. The veal looked nice, but the texture wasn’t as tender as it could be. $13.95
When giving the ratings, I reminded myself that the atmosphere of this restaurant is more of a family owned home style cooking more than an upscale facility. There seems to be a lot of potential for Cal-Italia. There are a lot of locals who enjoy eating here for its food and reasonable prices, but it doesn’t match my taste. Food presentation is good, and overall flavor is at least average. However, the meal itself was fair as described in the entrees critiques.
Carneros at The Lodge - California/Mediterranean
1325 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 931-2042
Parking: in parking lot
Last Visited: April 4, 2004
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 2 to 4 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$
The Lodge opened up a few years ago and made an impression in Sonoma. I have visited the Carneros restaurant twice for dinner and once for lunch, and the food quality has been good each time, albeit, my first impression was better than the two most recent visits.
The décor can be described as fancy. The kitchen is open and the colors of the dining room are warm yellows, dark reds, and greens. The carpet is patterned to include all the colors and the walls are a warm yellow. The table cloths are white and the napkins are a light yellow/ivory. The chairs are a light colored wood with red cloth backs.
- Wild Mushroom Pizza with Truffled Arugula - A thin crust pizza is topped with a variety of wild mushrooms and arugula tossed in truffle oil. It’s a nice combination and the mushroom flavor along with garlic is noticed in every bite. Very nice. $11
- Oven Roasted Fish with Baby Vegetables – This dish doesn’t seem to be available on the current menu. This trendy dish was in style a while back and the server would remove the bone from the fish at your table. It was served with a light green sauce and baby vegetables (carrots and squash) accompanied the fish. It was a new presentation as the fish head and all were included. However, it’s not one to boast about value, but certainly uniqueness. Good.
- Crème Brulee – The sugar on top was nicely brown, with a bubble or two that had been burnt. The Tahitian vanilla beans lent the custard a nice flavor.
During my latest visit, I enjoyed a Sunday brunch, or at least, the food was good.
- Coconut French Toast with Bananas and Rum Butter– Four triangles of fluffy French toast are topped with warm bananas and toasted coconut flakes. The toast is served with warm maple syrup and the entire plate is sprinkled with powdered sugar. Mint is used as garnish. The flavors were nice, but under one piece of banana was an unidentified stringy item, and well, let’s not go there. I’ll assume the best for now. The toast was nicely golden and not mushy or too moist nor too dry. Aside from the unnamed item, it was just about perfect in flavor and texture, although, I didn’t notice the rum butter. $11
- Cornmeal Pancakes with Lemon Curd and Fresh Blueberries – Three golden pancakes are topped with warm lemon curd and a blueberry sauce with a few cooked blueberries in it. The pancakes are served with warm maple syrup and again, the entire plate is sprinkled with powdered sugar. The pancakes had a fluffy texture and overall, the flavors matched well. The portion is large and you should find it filling $10.50
- Sides: Bacon – Four large strips of bacon are cooked until crispy without being burnt. The bacon was cooked nicely and didn’t have an oily feel. Good.
- Sides: Sausage – Three medium links of sausage are cooked until golden brown. The lengths of the links are medium, but the diameter was unexpectedly small. The sausage was however packed with flavor, but one of them had a broken casing which dried it out due to the small diameter. Otherwise, the flavor was good.
So you may be wondering about my earlier comment. The meal was enjoyable because of the company, and the service of the wait staff was personal since we went with some regular patrons. They were very good about filling the coffee and teapot, but during this experience, three of the people at our table had received their food, sides and all. However, I being the fourth person, waited more than ten minutes for my meal. Eventually, my order came to the table, but it’s one of those experiences that can’t be described as positive. The staff offered several apologies and didn’t charge for my portion of the meal, but the reason given for the delay was that the kitchen was backed up. This dropped their service score from four stars to two stars and the atmosphere score dropped to a 3 to 4 range. The food score was dropped to a 3 to 4 range due to the unnamed item. Since I couldn’t positively identify it (at least I’m hoping it’s not what I think it was), I dropped it from four stars.
Before the brunch experience, I had intended to say that I didn’t have plans to return to Carneros because there was nothing particularly outstanding about it. Although the food is good, there are plenty of other wonderful places to try. After this experience, I can safely say that I won’t be back on my own choosing. For me, it’s inexcusable that a kitchen is backed up to the point that three of four people at the same table would receive their meal and one wouldn’t. It shows poor organization in the kitchen, and that’s just not acceptable. I hope that you have a better experience if you choose to visit.
Depot Hotel - Italian
241 1st St W, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 938-2980
Parking: street parking
Last Visited: June 18, 2003
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$
The Depot Hotel has been part of Sonoma’s history. Just off the Sonoma Plaza, people have come to love the Depot Hotel. It has rooms with a lot of windows bringing in the natural light, and outside, there is a little pond/fountain that makes for a nice atmosphere in summer. People especially enjoy the fireworks here during the 4th of July.
Service was good and the atmosphere was nice, but I didn’t find the food particularly impressive. They have a wide array of choices on the menu. I went on an evening when they had a surf and turf special. It was okay, but nothing particularly good or bad. Certainly not as splendid as what I have heard. However, I would give the Depot Hotel another try to find out what the hype is all about, but at this point, I’m just not understanding the appeal.
241 691 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 933-3823
Parking: in parking lot
Last Visited: October 9, 2005
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 to 5 stars
Price: $$$$
A number of locals have praised Deuce for its excellent food, so I decided to give it a try.
The outside of Deuce is painted a light yellow color. It’s hard to miss as you pass by its corner lot. Walk into Deuce and the outdoor patio seating as you come from the parking lot, or you can walk in the other entrance into the hall. You’ll notice the rich colors of the wood floors, the wood arches, and moulding along the wall. The walls are sponged yellow and the rooms are divided by archways and glass doors. One of the doors had a beautiful wood pattern with glass in it that looked like a flower or sun. Stained glass accents add to the color.
The décor add a modern touch to the restaurant. Local art is on display depicting various subjects. Metal flowers are created by twisting in such a fashion to be functional as lighting and drapery rods. Classic wood hutches hold the napkins, computers, wine glasses and more and serve as stations for the servers.
The staff’s greeting was friendly as we entered the restaurant. The tables are covered with white tablecloths and white paper. Salt and pepper shakers, silverware, napkins, and a candleholder are the only items on the table. After being seated, we were given water and a plate of bread and butter.
The dinner menu is one page with First Act and Second Act listed. The first act included soup, salads, and appetizers. The main item on each line is printed in bold capital letters. One of the people who recommended Deuce said the calamari was excellent, so of course, we had to try it.
- Crispy Calamari/Roasted Poblano Chili Aioli/Fresh Lime – Calamari is lightly battered and deep fried until golden brown. A wedge of lime is served on the plate along with a ramekin of roasted poblano chili aioli. Five stars. The batter was lightly flavored and wonderfully crispy. There wasn’t too much batter either. The aioli was also very good, though thinner than I expected. This aioli sauce is thin enough to be poured out of the ramekin, but has enough spice to give the calamari a kick. Very good. Of all the dishes I tried, this was my favorite and worth every penny. As an appetizer, it easily serves three to four people. $7.95
- Grilled Succulent Pork Chop/Potato Lyonnaise/Tender Romano Beans/Sauce Poivre - A large thick pork chop is placed on top of the potato lyonnaise and sauce poivre (pepper sauce). Large romano beans are leaned against the pork chop. The pork chop was grilled to the point of being charred. It was almost black. Cut the chop and inside I found it pink and juicy, but the initial look was a bit frightening. The potato lyonnaise is comprised of potatoes and onions with fresh parsley sprinkled on top. The pepper sauce was made witha red wine reduction and the potatoes and onions had begun to soak up the sauce. Overall, I found the sauce to be a bit on the bland side. It had a nice finish and consistency, but lacked the salt that would bring up the flavor of the pork. The pork quality was very good and it turned out to be quite tender; had it not been charred, it would have been just right. The beans were tender and fresh. Overall, the presentation was spoiled by the charring – it just seemed as though oil from the meat had caused it to burn. Fair. $19.95
- Grilled Colorado Lamb Chops/Mashed Potatoes/Baked Sweet Tomatoes/Sauce Nicoise – Two lamb chops are placed on top of mashed potatoes. Three baked tomatoes are placed around the plate perimeter. The lamb chops were also a bit charred, but not to the level of that found on the pork chop. This was a bit better. The chops were tender and juicy as well, but contained a bit more fat than desirable, but that helped to make them more tender. The mashed potatoes were fine, but the sauce nicoise also didn’t contain enough salt to bring up the flavor of the lamb. The tomatoes looked a bit out of place. The tops had been removed, and doing so made them look a bit wrinkled and dry. They were sweet, but not enough that I would label them as sweet tomatoes. Average. $22.95
- Pots de crème - All of the desserts were approximately six dollars. I selected pots de crème to check out their dessert presentation. The pots de crème arrived in a speckled coffee cup (placed on a saucer) topped with whipped cream and chocolate powder. It was rich and creamy with rich chocolate cream under the whipped cream. It was a full cup, but based on the presentation, not worth the price. So what would have made it worth it? A handmade cookie wafer or cookie cigarette and the rich chocolate and cream in a formed chocolate cup would have done the trick. The contents though were still good. $6
Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. She was very attentive to our needs, constantly checking to see if refills on our drinks were needed and asking how the course was, without being overbearing. In terms of service, I was extremely pleased; it was virtually flawless. If others modeled their staff against that of Deuce, they couldn’t go wrong. Heather is a superb member of the waitstaff.
Overall, the hype probably gave me higher expectations for my visit to Deuce. The service was excellent, and the calamari is a must try. As for the rest, I would try other items before returning to these. It’s also very good for those who like their food with less sodium.
Doce Lunas - Fusion/California cuisine
8910 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA 95452
(707) 833-4000
Parking: in shopping center
Last Visited: July 27, 2003
Food: 2 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$$
Doce Lunas is located in the heart of Kenwood. When you walk into Doce Lunas and sit, you’ll notice lots of interesting plates on the wall. For those who love collections, each plate is unique and you’ll find the collection quite enjoyable. There is patio dining available, and a number of seats in the dining room have a view of the open kitchen. Just above the kitchen wall is a blackboard listing the menu. This is especially difficult for older patrons, since there some seats require you to strain to properly see the menu. I visited Doce Lunas for brunch.
- Chicken teriyaki – The chicken teriyaki was nicely presented over rice accompanied with vegetables in a black iron pan. The chicken, though tender, didn’t have the fresh taste that is desired. It tasted like it had been frozen. The sauce soaks into the rice, and the portion is good, but there wasn’t anything spectacular about this dish.
- Poached egg over crab cake over a muffin - The crab cake was good, but also not spectacular. This dish is accompanied with fried potato wedges. I found the English muffin to be a bit soggy, so wasn’t particularly impressed.
At this time, I find no reason to return to Doce Lunas. Service was slow since there was a large party on the patio. In fact, I found the servers to be a bit snobbish and noticed them talking about our table in an unfavorable light which dropped them from 3 star service to 2 stars.
Five Nine Nine Thai Cafe
599 Broadway, Sonoma CA 95476
(707) 938-8477
Parking: street parking
Last Visited: January 12, 2007
Food:
3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 1 to 2 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
We entered Five Nine Nine Thai Café on a cold Friday evening. This restaurant, formerly La Poste, has been given some good reviews by some friends, so I had to see for myself.
When you walked into La Poste, there was this curtain that wrapped around the door. It was a bit odd, like a magic trick or game show – behind door number 1…. After being seated at the table closest to the door, it becomes quickly apparent how much cold air the doorway lets in. It’s even worse on a busy Friday night as people without reservations try to get a table and those who opted for take out come to get their food.
The white decorated ceiling remains the same as before. Above the mirror runs a ledge in the rear corner where various figurines and pottery is displayed. The art featured are eclectic Thai drawings and some unusual looking objects. The blackboard at the rear of the restaurant is leftover from its La Poste days. In the window hang icicle Christmas lights and snowflake trinkets. The room temperature is fairly cool, especially with the incoming cold, despite the small space heater in the front of the restaurant.
As we walked in, one of the two waitresses/hosts was on the phone and another was in the back. She pointed at the three available tables by the door, and when we asked about the one in the corner, she shook her head. The second waitress then appeared and let us know the one in the rear was reserved. Wearing a polo shirt over a long-sleeved shirt and a long apron over jeans, one waitress looked more professional than the other whom was wearing the same outfit with a hooded sweatshirt on top of the polo shirt. The hooded sweatshirt had a college name listed on the front. When we were seated, one came with the menus and asked us if we wanted anything to drink.
On the table are a tiny salt shaker and a tiny pepper shaker. A small decorated aluminum bowl holds sugar packets. Two forks, a knife, and a spoon are set on a white paper placement along with a napkin.
After ordering, it took quite some time for the food to come, but tonight was rather busy. There appeared to be at least two people working in the kitchen, but it’s hard to tell since you can only see the kitchen from the open doorway. However, our observation of service during our wait period showed that there is great room for improvement. The people who came in wanting a table were asked if they wanted to “chill out” and come back, or if “you guys” would prefer one thing over another. “Do you guys need more time?” was a common question no matter the age of the patrons at each table. The professionalism of one of the waitresses was greater than the other which is how the rating is not just 1 star, but in the range of 1 to 2 stars.
- Chicken Satay – Six skewers containing a piece of chicken each are served in a large white leaf-shaped dish with a small container of peanut sauce and a small container of marinated cucumbers, bell peppers, and red onion. Romaine lettuce tips are used to garnish the plate. The chicken was tender and had been marinated. The pieces of chicken are chunky as opposed to flat, and had a nice mild flavor. The marinated vegetables tasted good – the cucumber had been deseeded and cut into chunks. There was only a small piece of bell pepper. The red onion looked like it had been cut, but the pieces never separated. Four stars. $6.95
One of the reasons for the low service rating was the appetizer course and related service. We were given small white square plates for our appetizer. When the waitress came to remove the plates, she dropped one of the skewers which brushed against my dining companion and then fell to the floor. She took notice of this, but made no apology. Also, she left the skewer on the floor which serves as a trip hazard. This lack of response exhibits the nonchalant attitude of this particular wait staff member and needs to be acknowledged. It’s unacceptable and hinders me from returning. Although the waitstaff were younger in age, this showed a lack of training.
For the main dishes, we were given larger green square plates.
- Eggplant with beef – Served in a green bowl that sat on top of a paper doily on a green plate, eggplant mixed with beef, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, onions, and Thai basil are served in a sauce. This was the worst dish of the evening, and I give it two stars. The beef, cut thin, was overcooked and chewy. There was more meat than eggplant in this dish, and with a dish of this size, there was notably not enough eggplant. The eggplant itself lacked prominence in the dish both in presentation and flavor. The overall flavor of the sauce was okay, but I wouldn’t order this again. Much better eggplant can be had elsewhere. $7.75
- Pad Thai with Chicken and Prawns Served on a square white plate with a wedge of lime, the noodles were al dente and nicely flavored. Red cabbage is cut into fine and toasted peanuts are also placed around the noodles. A few sprigs of cilantro top the dish. There is also some chicken breast in the dish as well as two prawns. You’ll also find some bean sprouts, chopped green onion, and small cubes of tofu. I gave this dish three stars. It would have earned more stars had there been more prawns and if the chicken had been more tender. Also, some of the peanuts had been toasted too much adding a touch of bitterness, but not enough to overpower the dish. $7.50
- Chicken Pumpkin Yellow Curry – Served in a medium sized white bowl on a paper doily on a green plate, the pumpkin pieces are cut into chunks and cooked with chicken, green and red bell peppers, carrots, coconut mil, and Thai basil. The flavoring of this dish was nice, but the chicken was a again slightly overcooked. I would give this item three stars also. The portions are small relative to other Asian cuisine, but the curry is great over rice. $8
- Brown Rice – Served in an aluminum bowl with a rather large spoon, it’s a small portion. It’s cooked like most other brown rice. $1.25
The majority of the dishes are available with chicken, pork, beef, or tofu. For a slightly higher price (about $2 more, they are available with prawns). The menu offers some typical Thai dishes, and the flavoring is nice. The meat is slightly overcooked for the most part, especially the beef, but the satay makes up for a lot.
Overall, I found the room to be a bit crowded. There are only two tables for four, and six other tables for two. You can put some more tables together to get a table for six, but even then, you’ll find the space quite small. The rush of cold air hits almost everyone except the bench seat in the rear.
Service leaves much to be desired. Although the wait staff said goodbye as we left, I found their overall demeanor to be almost disturbing and their level of service was insufficient. Take out was popular this evening, and that might be the better way to tray Five Nine Nine.
The Girl and the Fig - Country/French
110 West Spain Street, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 938-3634
Parking: street parking
Hours: 11:30 am to 11pm
Last Visited: January 2, 2004
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$
The Girl and the Fig first opened in Glen Ellen quite a number of years ago. They then expanded and opened a new location on the ground floor of the historic Sonoma Hotel, and in 2003, opened a new restaurant in Petaluma. There tag line is “cuisine de campagne avec une saveur francaise” which is translated to Country Food with a French passion.
The entrance of the Sonoma location leads directly to face the vintage bar. Upon entering the dining area, one finds a lot of earth tones which include mustard, orange, dark green, and burgundy. The walls chairs are yellow and the tablecloths are mustard topped with white paper stamped with the Girl and the Fig logo and a squiggle of orange atop the stamp. Each table is adorned with a bright orange candle holder, an orange flower, and ornamented with a silver fig. The chair seats are upholstered in either dark green or burgundy fabric. The windows are draped in green fabric. Along the walls, one sees pictures of a lady with figs or flowers, depending on the piece. The lamps are in the shape of upside down cones and illuminate soft yellow lighting.
Windows along one wall bring in more light and along an adjacent wall, the tables are set against a bench upholstered in more green fabric. Most of the other tables are set in the center of the room. After ordering is complete, rustic country French bread arrives at the table.
- Soup of the day: Leek and potato soup – A creamy green soup is served with several homemade seasoned croutons. The soup had good flavor but didn’t follow the typical look or taste of potato and leek soup. I would definitely put this under a country style version. It’s not white or very creamy, but rather light in flavor and texture. $6.50
- Quiche Lorraine – The menu mentions that the quiche comes with matchstick frites, but surprise, it also comes with a green salad. Although the website makes mention of this, it’s not clearly written in the menu nor is it mentioned upon ordering. This is one of those points of improvement. If something isn’t clearly mentioned, I might have ordered a salad as a first course and then been disappointed upon the arrival of the quiche dish. The salad is lightly dressed and slightly sweet; the greens are fresh. A healthy slice of quiche is served along with the salad and a mound of matchstick frites. The slice of quiche filled with a mixture of egg, cheese, and bacon, was thick, but surprisingly dark in appearance. The crust on the bottom of the quiche was a bit tough on the bottom and required a knife to cut through. The crust on the side could be flakier and more delicate. The filling has good flavor and is light and fluffy. The matchstick frites though plentiful were a bit disappointing. They weren’t as crunchy as expected, and though seasoned nicely, they were tough to handle. If you want matchstick fries, you’ll probably enjoy the Pik Nik brand original shoestring potatoes. I expected the consistency to be more like these with a distinctive crunch, but perhaps I had different expectations. $10.95
Other dishes ordered but not tried included a Crabcake ($9.95) starter and a Croque Monsieur ($10.95). The single crabcake came atop a mushroom ragout (both chantarelles and button mushrooms) with a meyer lemon confit. The presentation is rounded out with pomegranates scattered around the golden lemon sauce. The croque monsieur, lightly grilled bread sandwiching prosciutto and cheese could be grilled less – it came rather dark in appearance also. It also seemed a bit greasy and according to my guests, it didn’t meet typical French croque monsieur standards.
During my visit, I felt that service was directed more to the people who the wait staff thought would pay the bill, but at least all the water glasses were constantly replenished and we were far from neglected. The atmosphere during the lunch period was quiet earlier in the lunch, and as the afternoon passed, the restaurant became fuller and noise level increased. Overall, the food was nicely presented, but it has room for improvement, both in the description on the menu as well as in quality.
Glen Ellen Inn- California cuisine/Fusion
13670 Arnold Dr, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
(707) 996-6409
Parking: street parking
Last Visited: November 23, 2003
Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Glen Ellen Inn – even the name incites a feeling of warmth. The cinnamon and other earth tones of the walls are also inviting. When you walk into the building, you see the bar and tables, and there was a very strong scent of vinegar coming from the kitchen the day that I visited.
The interesting thing about this place is the toilet paper stand in the bathroom. Rather than a holder on the wall, there’s a shiny stand holding a single roll of toilet paper. The restroom also had five chairs just sitting there. Maybe the bathroom makes for an ideal storage spot, but I couldn’t help but feel like the room was waiting for an audience.
One of the best things about the Glen Ellen Inn was the beginning of the meal and the end. Upon our arrival, we received hot savory scones. It seems to be rarer and rarer that hot bread is served, and on this cold day, it was very inviting. At the end of our meal, we were given warm spice cookies. It’s these little touches that make this place special.
Okay, onto the meal itself. All sandwiches are served with choice of soup, salad, or potatoes.
- Artichoke and Sonoma Jack Sourdough Melt – Served with red bell peppers and mushrooms. I’m not sure where the sourdough was, but the sandwich was a melt. It was served on the same homemade rosemary bread that the other sandwiches were served on, so I was a little disappointed having prepared myself for some good sourdough. The sandwich is flavorful, but not the best it could be. $9.95
- Pulled Kahlua Pork Sandwich – Served with caramelized onions and red bell pepper aioli. The pulled pork was very tender and accompanied with a nice dressing. There is a lot of succulent meat in the sandwich, and it is also served on homemade rosemary bread. Since the bread is very homestyle, it tended to break apart fairly easily although it was sliced very thick. The bread itself had a crumbly texture that just didn’t seem to fit the sandwich appropriately. I think I would have liked the pulled pork on a roll instead. $10.95
- Lobster Bisque – The soup was a brilliant orange/coral color that matched the décor and served in a big bowl. A light green oil is lightly drizzled on top of the soup. Once upon a time, I had some lovely lobster bisque on a cruise ship, and it was really good, with small chunks of lobster in the soup. This didn’t quite compare. There weren’t any lobster chunks in this soup. The taste of wine or sherry was very strong – too strong. It overpowered the soup to the point that I couldn’t taste the lobster flavor anymore. Portions vary – some people at our table got a large helping. Mine was noticeably smaller. I wasn’t particularly pleased with this bisque. Maybe I should have gotten potatoes instead.
We sat on the covered patio which is heated during winter. The chairs were not the most comfortable, but as long as you don’t shift your weight much, you’re fine. The table has tea light candleholders that have these metal leaves wrapped around the glass. The service was attentive. I liked the water glasses – they use the thin kind. The meal was not the best I’ve had, nor the worst.
Gramma's Pizza
19029 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 938-1003
Parking: in shopping center
Hours: Sun through Wed: 11am
to 9:30pm, Thurs through Sat: 11am to 10pm
Last Visited: May 21, 2006
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Gramma’s Pizza also has a restaurant in the back, so though the kitchen is shared, the service and atmosphere are notably different. Gramma’s is more of a pizza place where the restaurant in back, Cal Italia, is more of an actual restaurant. At Gramma’s you order your food at the front counter, and there are four booths on the side. When your number is called, you pick up the food, so that’s the end of the service. The décor is simple with wood all around and tile floor and booth style tables. As I mentioned above, the kitchen is shared, but the clientele they are reaching is slightly different in front than in back.
- Personal pizza special – The personal pizzas are good if you like crispy crust. It’s not overly crispy, but it must be something about having a little pizza with few toppings (it comes with one of your choice, but you can add more for an additional cost of 55 cents, 10 cents more than the last time I wrote, with a 5 topping maximum) and lots of melted cheese – it’s quite good. You also get a small soda accompanying the special. It’s not as good as the old bargain of $3.59, but it’s still reasonably priced under $5
- Gramma’s combo – This is a great combo especially if you like sausage. The makings of a typical combo pizza is topped with lots of additional sausage – it’s quite good.
- Buffalo wings – The wings have a nice flavor (available in mild, medium, or hot), and are served with ranch or blue cheese dressing. The outside of the wing is slightly crisp, but the wings are moist and delicious. The sauce isn’t slathered all around the wings, but have become infused into them. The wings are accompanied with prepackaged celery sticks, but unfortunately, the celery is seldom fresh. During my 2006 visit, they eliminated the celery sticks during one visit, which is okay, but I was still expecting them to appear. However, upon a second visit in 2006, the celery sticks were back. Also, the wings were a bit on the greasy side – flavor was still good, but not broiled to be slightly crispy, so not quite as good as before. This same taste and texture was confirmed the second visit in 2006 as well. After these most recent visits, I have felt extremely thirsty. Inconsistent wings these days. Was $5.25 for 10 pieces or $7.25 for 15 pieces, now $6.25 for 10 pieces and $8.50 for 15 pieces
- Buffalo chips – The pizza dough is brushed with oil and seasoned (your choice of mild, medium, or hot) and baked. The dough is then cut into triangles. Basically, it’s the size of two personal pizzas for the small order. The buffalo chips are served with your choice of ranceh or blue cheese dressing. These taste great. They’re a great alternative to breadsticks, and the seasoning has that extra kick. Great. Was $2.75, now $2.95 small order, large order also available
- Philly Cheesesteak – I thought I would try something new. Philly Cheesesteaks are one of my favorite things, and so it seemed to be a good choice. A soft roll with a crisp outside is filled with thinly sliced beef that is chopped and cooked with diced onions and green bell peppers. This is topped with cheese and served hot on the roll. I found the sandwich to be fair. It was okay in flavor, but could be more flavorful. The diced vegetables, presumably the same ones used on pizzas, kept falling out of my sandwich. The meat was slightly overcooked and not as tender as it could be. The other complaint I have about this is that the picture shown the take out menu looks so much more appetizing with large pieces of vegetables instead of the diced ones. False advertising. Fair. Was $5.65, Now $5.75
I’ve been going to Gramma’s since they first opened. There are several things to note. First, when we visit frequently, we often notice that Gramma’s isn’t consistent. When they’re on, they are very good. The pizza is crispy outside and soft inside. The buffalo wings are just about perfect. However, on a bad day, the pizza is soggy and almost cardboard-like. Sometimes it’s even cold. The buffalo wings get soaked in oil and the flavor is overwhelmed by the presence of oil. Gramma’s also needs to get fresher celery sticks (see above). We also noticed that the $5 pizza specials when they sell medium or large pepperoni or cheese pizzas aren’t anywhere near the quality that they can be. I would discourage you from taking them up on the $5 offer unless you don’t mind cardboard crust. Depending who is at the front counter, service varies as well. I have dropped the service from three stars to two stars due to repeated lack of friendliness in the last five visits. Now that they have the gelato bar open, which is also the dining area for the counter service, the person behind the bar should act as a greeter, but they don’t. Also, the owners, in the time that I have started going, have never bothered to greet the customers in the hall or otherwise. I’m not sure I’ve seen them crack a smile, and in such a small community as Sonoma, you really need to be customer service oriented, which means not only great food, but building relationships, so there is great opportunity to improve the service.
The best bargain by far is the mini-pizza special. Gramma’s also offers salads and soups. They have a wide variety of specials available and have won awards for their buffalo chips and buffalo wings.
Gramma’s can be an excellent experience, but be forewarned of their consistency which varies greatly depending on the day.
Happy Dog - American
18762 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 935-6211
Parking: small parking lot on the side, minimal street parking
Last Visited: April 21, 2006
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $
Happy Dog has been an institution in Sonoma for many years. As you enter the valley, you’ll be welcomed by that yellow dog with black spots as you pass by their establishment. This dog is painted on the outside and inside of the buildings.
Since my last visit, there have been a number of upgrades. Although the tables and arcade games remain the same, the floor is now tiled and the countertop has been replaced with slab granite.
- Hamburger – A charbroiled patty (and it is charbroiled when you order it and done right behind the counter) is served between a toasted sesame bun lightly slathered with mayonnaise. Lettuce, a slice of tomato, onion slices, and pickle slices are the only other ingredients. You add your own additional condiments. It’s juicy and delicious and sure to fill your stomach. If you prefer larger portions, a double cheeseburger is also available. Each is wrapped in paper and ready to go. The cheeseburger is fantastic too. One thing that makes these burgers so great - the buns are delivered fresh daily. Regular Hamburger $3.35 / Cheeseburger available for $3.75
- French Fries – A tray of thick cut fries are served fresh. Just a little crunchy on the outside, it’s sure to hit the spot. Great. I only wish there were more. :) $1.85
- Onion Rings – There are about eight onion rings. They are lightly battered and fried until crispy. They’re not the huge rings, but they’re not overly battered either. Good. $1.45
- Fish Burger – Although I didn’t eat this one myself, I saw that the fresh was very fresh and didn’t taste fishy at all $4.65
- Chocolate shake - Ever so delicious and creamy, it will be a superb treat that accompanies any of the burgers, or just enjoyed alone. Decadent and rich, it tastes ever so good.
Fried chicken patty burgers, grilled chicken burgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, and corn dogs are other available options.
It’s a classic place with fresh tasting hamburgers. They’re juicy and delicious and certainly will warm your belly.
Harvest Moon Cafe - California/Mediterranean
487 First St West, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 933-8160
Parking: street parking in the plaza
Hours: Dinner Sun - Thurs 5:30 to 9pm, Fri - Sat 5:30 to 9:30pm
Last Visited: March 12, 2006
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$
Harvest Moon Café recently opened in January of 2006. Thanks to the P family for bringing us here. The décor is earthy and warm with sunset orange paint and some rustic teal or green depending on the lighting. Olive branches surround the light fixtures and a general olive theme is seen on the menu and in other locations. There’s a bar in the rear and some bar seating facing the kitchen area as well. It’s a cozy atmosphere with tables somewhat close together. The music playing on the stereo reminded me of some Italian style music and some jazz-like tunes.
Chef Nick Demarest, formerly of Eccolo and Chez Panisse in Berkeley, opened this restaurant with his wife Jen, a pastry chef. The cuisine is reminiscent of that of La Haye just off the square. The style of cooking brings a delicate quality to the dishes, with light richness (which although seemingly contradictory, you’ll know what I mean when you taste the flavorful sauces).
Upon our arrival, we were asked if we wanted still or sparkling water. After ordering, we were provided with rustic bread. What was strange is that although we had four people, we were only given two pats of butter, and thin pats at that. I felt like they were restricting us a bit, but we asked for more and were given more.
Most appetizers are between $7 and $12. There’s an emphasis on local ingredients and the menu changes daily to reflect that.
Beet salad with frisee – Sweet yellow, red, and purple beets are coined and plated with frisee in the center. I don’t know my lettuces well enough, but I think arugula accompanied the frisee. The ingredients were fresh and flavorful and presented simply. Two crostini spread with gorgonzola accompanied the salad. Very good.
Other appetizers available this evening included artichokes with prosciutto and chopped egg, sardines with salad, and baby lettuces. There were about six or seven choices available for dinner entrees this evening. All ranged between $17 and $24. Most listed below had fancier names, but I didn’t take home a menu this evening, so these descriptions will be fairly general.
- Pasta with ahi tuna and olives – A hint of garlic and onions are the base for a pasta mixed with green olives, cubes of ahi tuna, and spinach. The presentation is colorful. The pasta is similar to spaghetti, but with larger diameter and very al dente. The olives add flavor to the light mix of tender tuna and spinach. I liked the concept of this dish, but being a fan of sushi, I would have liked it even more if the ahi had been rare inside, but this was still tender and delicious. Good.
- Pork scallopine with fava bean stew – Two pieces of tender pork are pan fried with lots of pepper and a light sauce. Fava beans are stewed with diced pork pieces – perhaps a bacon or ham that give the beans lots of flavor. Spinach is sautéed with garlic and accompanies the pork and fava beans. The overall flavor is rich, yet not too heavy. The pork is juicy and is probably one of the best pork dishes I’ve had in a while. If you like thin pork chops, this is one to try. Very good.
- Swordfish with Sicilian salsa verde and rapini – Swordfish is served over brocolini/rapini sautéed in olive oil. The swordfish is topped with a salsa made of green olives, onions, and fresh herbs. Also accompanying the fish are Yukon gold potatoes that are slightly browned until crispy on the outside. The fish is delicate and the flavorful salsa gives it a lot of additional texture. I didn’t get to try the rapini, but it had great color and looked very fresh. The potato is yummy. Good.
- Brisket with chicken and homemade sausage in a light broth – This dish had an interesting name that I had never heard before. The meat was sitting amidst light caramel colored broth along with tender carrots and vegetables. The sausage round is wrapped in kale that creates an interesting presentation. The brisket and chicken were both very tender and flavorful. The chicken was boneless and moist. The sausage had nice flavor and is on the denser side; the presentation of the sausage certainly made it interesting and added color to the presentation. Good.