Sebastopol
For BBQ lovers, you need to give this place a try, and as you all know, we love BBQ around here.
Healdsburg
Really great and consistent spot that is always a fun visit.
Petaluma
A French neighbor who has impeccable taste and is a great cook herself, loves this place so I’ve added it to the list.
Guerneville
Known for warm service and excellent food. Very cozy and welcoming.
Tapas!
Jenner
Coffee, live music, and a view of the river mouth. Magic in the right weather; just a café in the wrong.
Geyserville
Designed for a long, unhurried evening. On the list for a very special ocassion.
A place that actually lives up to the hype. So cozy and unpretentious with phenomenal food.
Santa Rosa
Voted 'Best Breakfast' in Sonoma County seven years in a row.
The definitive provisions stop for a day exploring Sonoma.
City of Sonoma
Right on the square, with the patio seating that makes the plaza worth it.
The retro exterior masks one of the most carefully crafted regional Mexican kitchens in the county.
The most accessible entry point into Sonoma's top tier. Saving this one for a very special occasion, likely our 20th wedding anniversary.
Cotati
Bodega Bay
Known to sell out almost daily. Tip is to order online or arrive early. Looking forward to trying the brisket.
Glen Ellen
One of the best values in fine-casual dining in the entire county.
The fish and chips, just named one of Sonoma's top 50 bites. The Sunday pub quiz sounds fun too.
Bodega Bay natives rave about this place. Looking forward to a visit.
The lox and latke Benedict with schmaltz hollandaise is what most people rave about but I haven’t tried it.
So many reasons. The food is outstanding. The vibe is perfect and easy always.
Occidental
More about the small-town morning feeling than cutting-edge cooking.
Noted for being above the typical Thai in Sonoma County. My neighbor raves about it. My standard is Kin Khao in SF and I hope this place comes close.
Intrigued by the pistachio-burrata pizza, and the lasagna's local reputation.
The garden-patio restaurant at MacArthur Place.
In the old Shed building - the building alone worth the visit.
I love a great food truck park, and this one rotates regional Mexican kitchens.
A rite of passage if you want to feel like a Sonoma native rather than a culinary destination.
Forestville
Trying to time a visit with the cinnamon rolls.
The ideal Healdsburg mid-afternoon move.
A neighborhood pasta shop from the Diavola family, on the list.
Windsor
A few friends have gone and raved. This one is high on the list.
Go early. The best pastries sell out. This is a pilgrimage stop in its own right.
The sunset over the Russian River mouth is legendary.
Valley Ford
I love a lazy Friday afternoon on the coast with a big tray of local oysters and this is said to be perfect of that. Will let you know.
Super-insider spot with a devoted following precisely because it's in the middle of nowhere and it’s comfort food.
The county's most authentic French bread and croissant.
Louisiana meets California with smoke sounds like an amazing combination. I love Cajun food and the idea of it paired with local CA produce is very appealing. Pending a visit.
A Japanese restaurant with Japanese food, not an American restaurant serving Japanese food is the local reputation.
This is a pilgrimage, not a restaurant.
Sandwiches and salads on the square when you want to grab and go.
One of the best Middle Eastern kitchens in the Bay Area, hiding in plain sight in Sonoma.
Kenwood
Same kitchen pedigree as Glen Ellen Star. Less crowded, less known. My friend Meredith raves about it, so it’s climbed on my list.
Six tables in 300 square feet with an outsized reputation.
Worth exploring on a weekday when the kitchen is at its sharpest.
Highly regarded in a community with many respected restaurants. The team is lauded as outstanding so excited to visit.
The plaza standby for French country cooking, with seats outside.
Spinster Sisters is where you go a spot-on meal that is fully seasonal. Other than a few dishes, including their incredible burger on Wednesday nights, the menu changes often.
Rohnert Park
The county's best North Indian, in an unassuming strip mall.
Serious cooking without any stuffiness.
Go for the food, not the view.