Try the Terrapin Cafe. Recommended on several sites.
http://www.terrapincreekcafe.com/

Also the Spud Point Crab Restaurant. Guess their specialty.
Highly recommended for clam chowder.
http://www.spudpointcrab.com/

Went to Dinucci's Italian Dinners in Valley Ford. Food was ok, but the fresh fish was great. My wife still talks about it.

Thank you Rasta'...appreciate your following the thread and continuing to chime in with helpful replies!!
Any problems with places being closed come fall? It happens here in the East, so I'm just checking...

Hoping to rejuvenate this thread a bit...I realized that I didn't say that I'm going in the fall and had concerns about recommended places being closed that time of year.

I'm also wondering if I have the right idea about travel time...is it reasonable to plan about 2 hours for the drive from SFO to Bodega Bay? ( Leisurely pace without stops) And from there, about an hour to Santa Rosa?

It is slow going out to Bodega Bay, depends on traffic.

Lunch at Rivers End in Jenner, at least a glass of wine to enjoy the view. Russian River meets the Pacific ocean. Maybe an hour to Santa Rosa would be correct. Most places are open in the fall, it is the nicest time of year on the coast.

Nancy,
Jenner appears to be a bit further up the coast; how long would you anticipate to get there from the SF airport and is it worth the extra time compared to Bodega Bay?

Are you going on to Point Reyes? We ate at the Station House Cafe at Point Reyes Station and it was yummy. http://www.stationhousecafe.com/

HMMMM, hadn't thought about stopping there, but it may be a perfect fit. How long would it take to get there from SFO? We will be getting hungry on the early side after a x-country flight that starts at dawn's first light...

Asssuming RT to/from SFO, I would suggest you do Highway 1 down from BoBay at the end of your trip. Nice leisurely drive. It will take much longer than you think, but worth it.

Stop at the Cowgirl Creamery on this trip and bring some cheese home. You won't regret is.

Jenner is beautiful, you won't feel like driving up there after a long flight. Don't under estimate the traffic from SFO across the GG Bridge up 101, its nasty! Beat the commute traffic. Highway 1 up the coast is beautiful but slow going, lots of curves etc.

haven't been for a while but why not SFO to Santa Rosa, then to BB thru Sebastopol and Occidental... If you can't find a perfect open restaurant, there's always a picnic!

Thanks everyone...I did a pretty poor job on my initial in query; didn't give enough information. Sorry.
We are planning a fall visit to Sonoma and will arrive SFO mid-morning.
I was thinking that it might be fun to change things a bit this trip and travel up the coast to Bodega Bay for lunch and then over to our lodging in Santa Rosa. We haven't done any travel on the Sonoma Coast yet, and arrival time seemed to fit for making a lunch stop over there.
We are thinking of making a winery stop or two or three
on the way to the hotel and I'm always open to suggestions for new places to try,so please speak up if you have a favorite to share.

I assume you will be taking Highway 12 from Bodega to Santa Rosa. There are many wineries on that road, check out winecountrydriver.com BR Cohn, not sure about the wine but he makes Olive Oil,vinegar, wine and manages the Doobie Bros too. A nice place to stop. Google Highway 12 wineries in Sonoma Co. They all charge for the tasting, but usually waive the tasting fee if you make a purchase.

In Bodega Bay there is Terrapin Cafe, everything is casual up that way. Downtown Santa Rosa has many good restaurants, Guy Fieri has his Tex Wasabi's there if you are into that.