What is the driving time from Healdsburg to St Helena? We are staying in Healdsburg but really want to eat at the Martini House. We just don't want to have a long drive after dinner....

You could probably punch the directions into mapquest to get some idea.

50 mins.to 1 hr.It's about 35 miles.
The first 10 miles are freeway, followed by 15 miles of windy 2 lane hill roads,(I dislike driving this road
at night sans alcohol!)
then 10 miles of 2 lane road from Calistoga to St. Helena.

If you are going to drink and must eat there-take a cab.$2.80 to start and
$2.80 mile thereafter. Yup, you are looking at a $200.00 RT cab ride. Only you could answer if it's worth it.

We ate there just a few weeks ago
and it was a great meal. We were doing one of our many mini-escapes to
Calistoga, and we took a cab for the 10 miles to and from Calistoga.

Where else are you dining near Healdsburg ?

R5

I've driven that route maybe 40 times, except I go through the Alexander Valley & not the 10 miles of freeway that razzledazzle uses. It's a beautiful drive.

However, you don't want to do it at night after dinner & drinks.

Stu Dudley

Why not do lunch and flip a coin for who drives back. Their menu does look inviting.

Easier and quicker & beautiful---Healdsburg east to 128 (Alexander Valley Road) and south into Calistoga and St. Helena --
However, I also agree not the road for after dinner and drinks!!!

Thanks for all of the help. I think we will skip doing this for dinner since we must have wine with dinner--we are in wine country!

Is there another place you would suggest for dinner? We are staying at Honor Mansion in Healdsburg.

Thanks!

My list includes local favorites,
mine,as well as friends in the
wine and food industires in this area.

OK,here we go, you've got many choices:
For Hip and trendy, you have
Barndiva
-read about it here-
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...ve/2005/01/30/
CMGAB98FPN1.DTL
One of my favorites:
Willi's
Oysters and yummy small plates,
Ravenous
A local favorite;steaks pasta,fish
very fresh local ingrediants
Madrona Manor
Continental cuisine in a richly
decorated Victorian setting.
Those are all in town except Madrona Manor is a 5 minute drive.
Enjoy!
R5
Honor Mansion is an excellent choice,
BTW

For upscale dining and great food, try the Dry Creek Kitchen at the Hotel Healdsburg. www.hotelhealdsburg.com:)

We will be trying the Farmhouse Inn for dinner next month. Can't wait! ***kim***

Scenic Alexander Valley vs. 10 miles of freeway? Stu you da man! I would much rather take the route you suggested!

Okie, you must visit the Chateau Souverain winery and perhaps have lunch at the Alexander Valley Grille. Your server will present you with a wine cork upon completion of your meal which will be your pass to a complimentary tasting. Cheers! ***kim***

PS: there is a Botanica a few blocks from our house. Any spell casters out there want in?

ttt

Obviously there has been some editing on this post. It's a damned shame! My post included the following:

I have, like R5, driven the Alexander Valley area a great deal over the years. Drinking and driving is always something to be balanced very carefully. That being said, the Alexander Valley Road is curving and somewhat circuitous between Healdsburg and Geyserville. It is (even without wine tasting) much easier to navigate by daylight than at night especially for first timers.

The town of Healdsburg is a good one for walking about. As R5 says there are many good places to eat. I am a big fan of Ravenous and BarnDiva and Willi's are on my short list.


In my opinion, the dining room at Chateau Souverain and at Madrona are a bit stiff.

Hi, Okie!

I live in the Bay Area and I sometimes ask for advice on local activities in the Bay Area. These are some of the names I would trust for accurate and good information:

PamSF, especially for SF
razzledazzle, especially for the North Bay
Stu Dudley, especially for the South Bay
dovima, especially for the Monterey area
gualalalisa, especially for Mendocino
curmudgeon, who doesn't seem to post too much any more
Kal and faina can be counted on for humor
There are still a number of others: marilyn, loveitaly, kikahead, betsy...too many to mention! Besides I'm suffering from memory failure (happens often at my age!)
budman lives on the east coast but he's a perfect gentleman, so you can trust him too!

My apologies to those of you whom I've left out, but I just wanted to say that I've benefitted a great deal from your postings and do thank you from the bottom of my heart!

easytraveler
(Now, where did I leave my heart? )

<<Obviously there has been some editing on this post. It's a damned shame!>>

I agree, Pam. The bigger shame is that without posts like easytraveler's, first-timers to this site might be unfortunately misled. Thank you, easytraveler.

Okie, if you decide on Martini House, I would be interested in your review! We would like to try the place when we visit Napa Valley in May! Cheers! ***kim***

easytraveler,(and Pam and beachbum and Budman and razzle and mms and MrDudley) so true!
regards, Scarlett ( the recently deleted)

Author: Okie
Date: 02/21/2005, 02:59 pm
Message: Thanks for all of the help. I think we will skip doing this for dinner since we must have wine with dinner

Uh, I read here that Okie is not
going to dinner at Martini house-
looks like he decided that about 2 days ago.
Try to keep up, kim....

R5

Well, beachbum, thank YOU! Feeling somewhat embarrassed for being thanked for pointing out the obvious.

Of course, right after signing off, a bunch of other trustworthy names immediately came to mind: j-correa, grasshopper, SAB, and utahtea.

The lovely Scarlett can always be counted on for her southern charm and charisma!

Last but not least, beachbum for anything in Oregon!

Fodors rocks! >-

Sorry, Okie, but I can't help you with restaurants in that part of the neighborhood. I tend to eat at places whose names are lost forever to my memory. There was a lovely place - Mexican - somewhere in Santa Rosa - and then there was that wonderful Italian place in Cotati...

I am going to try again with this part of my post from yesterday. It was a statement about bad behavior on Fodor's.
I know Scarlett is a big Dorothy Parker fan and thought she would especially like the quote.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold".

Back to regular life now..it's a day off!