Hi - going away with my bf. we have two nights in San Fran and three nights in Sonoma/Hotel Healdsburg. Anyone have any 'must try' restaurants? I suspect Dry Creek is a must...? One night is my birthday, so I'm also looking for something a little extra special.

Thanks all!!
Roodee

Martini House in St. Helena was our anniversary restaurant for 3 straight years until the "razzledazzles" dragged us kicking and screaming to Cindy's Back Street Kitchen also in St H.

Yeah, I can just picture Kal kicking and screaming.

Lucky you! You you will love the Dry Creek Kitchen, it's very nice. When are you going? The Farmhouse Inn in Forestville is supposed to be very nice. I'll find out soon and post a reort back.

The Alexander Valley Grille @ the Chateau Souverain was very good for lunch. Perhaps they serve dinner??? It is a very elegant, formal dining room, would be very good for a birthday celebration. ***kim***

Yeah, I'll bet Kal is a screamer,
Budman


Healdsburg Eats!

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,
Good for a little "nightlife"
as well.

Ravenous
A local favorite;steaks pasta,fish
very fresh local ingrediants

Madrona Manor
Continental cuisine in a richly
decorated Victorian setting.
Very romantic for a B'Day.

Santi
A short jaunt to Geyserville.
Excellent Italian food.

Cyrus
Located within the new luxury hotel
Les Mars, is getting early raves and
my industry friends say the buzz is
that it will be the French Laundry
of Sonoma County. Doug Keane is chef
(who helped opened Gary Danko in SF)
I know the room has to be gorgeous as an old boss,
Howard Backen of Backen Gillam Architects is the architect/interior designer, it will be sumptuos for sure!
It is going to be expensive-dinners are
3,4,or 5 courses and start around $50.

We shall see.....

Happy Birthday!Enjoy!
R5

R5, I didn't see the Bear Republic Brew Pub on your list? Isn't that special??

B'man


Had enough snow yet?

R5

We may have missed the big one -- just a little slush then maybe 2-3 inches tonight.

Yes, I'm sick & tired, tired, tired. I'm thinking the arc would be much better.

My sources are telling me we're going to have good weather this weekend out West. Maybe a sprinkle on Friday.

Thanks everyone! I'll report back when I return.

Wow.............Just snooped the board after a long absence and found this post.

Thanks RazzleDazzle for those great recommendations. Between you and Kal, you two have never steered me wrong yet!

We tried Martini House several weeks ago. Absolutely wonderful!!!! Cindy's Kitchen next time.

Thank You Corina!
Kal advised me on
Martini House for a few years,
so on Mr R5's B'day this January we
putted up valley and the whole place was heaven !

Being so close I have had numerous
occassions to eat at Cindy's Backstreet
kitchen-I think you will enjoy it as well!

I'm looking forward to trying Cyrus-
sounds quite exciting-we see how it
goes and what my industry buddies
have to say

Happy Travels!
R5

On the Sonoma side, Girl and the Fig was a really good place for eats.

Of course on the Napa side The French Laundry always is a "must try"

cyberUK, the girl and the fig is the first place we head when we hit Sonoma! We'll be there again soon, can't wait! What do you order there that you like? ***kim***

Hi Kim,

It really is a wonderful place, no?

I love figs, so anything unusual that uses figs will be tried.

I really enjoy their mussels w/ Pernod.
Their wine list is great,with some wonderful viogniers especially

I eagerly await my next "girl" dessert with fig/port ice cream.

Corina-
NEVER get between me or the lovely r5 when it comes to grub or an open bottle of wine!

BTW, I keep forgetting about the good meals I've had at The Wine Garden Cafe in Y'ville...BUT...I heard the Chef Michael Bilger recently left to return to the SF scene and the sous chef has taken over. Hope he doesn't screw with the quality....Ahhhhh...macaroni au gratin

Kal,honey, the wine Garden is still
flyin'high:

http://www.northbay.com/foodwine/gen...q4q04_qq1.html

*****R5*****

Mucho Mahalos, Sweetie.
Chef Ramos seems to be keepin' it real!

They are right about the job they did on the interior.

Roodee:

I third that on Girl and the Fig. We loved it.

In San Fran my faves are:

Tartine cafe/bakery in the Mission for breakfast/lunch/brunch - best croque monsieurs in the world

Bix is great for a special occasion with it's speakeasy atmosphere and live jazz.

Slanted Door - Ferry bldg. We did this when I was in town for my bday last year. Awesome.

Plumpjack Cafe - Pac Heights, incredibly fresh, high quality ingredients...my BF and I had one of our best long lunches there ever.

Rica - Fillmore St., awesome little nouveau tapas spot with incredible creative mojitos (pomegranate, etc.)

Have fun!

Hi CyberUK, I was very disappointed to see that the Imagery Artistry Viognier that I love is no longer on the wine list.

We loved everyting about our experience at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville. I highly recommend it for a special meal. ***kim***

Oh, I missed this thread the first time around! But... better later then never, so here's my advice to Corina: never get between Kal and the Dazzles even if the bottle is not opened yet!