We will be staying at the Hilton in Santa Rosa for 3 nights. Would appreciate dining suggestions that are nearby or slight drive -- enjoy contemporary atmospheres and unique food but may even need a brewpub or something casual after wine all day....just some favorites of yours.

We just got back last month and had a casual dinner one night at Third Street Aleworks. Go for the Oatmeal Stout!! It's near the Downtown Santa Rosa Exit, a few miles from where you will be staying. If I can remember, the Hilton is a little North of the city. We stayed at the Hyatt and found it by accident. It's only a couple of blocks under the highway (101) from the Hyatt, on 3rd Street (duh). It's got to be the only brewpub in town. Reasonable, good variety of different types of food, and Great Beer!!

Mike' s Burgers in Cotati, about 20 minute drive south on 101 - www.mikesburgers.com
Tasty burgers that are creatively done.

If you can drive further south to Petaluma, Lombardi's make mean barbecued meat sandwiches.

I didn't want to recommend this (especially after wine all day),but the food at Willi's Wine Bar about 20 minutes along 101 north of Santa Rosa serves terrific food.

Sorry, no suggestions on Santa Rosa proper - didn't find anything worthwhile to suggest.

Well, now that the drive by out-of-towners have spoken, allow this Sonoma
local to share some truly superb
restaurants with you!

Zazu
3535 Guerneville Road
(just rated as one of the top 100
restaurants in the Bay Area!)

Syrah
205 5th Street
Josh Silvers doing fine cuisine

John Ash & Co.
at the Vintner's Inn on Barnes Rd.
He is a renowned Sonoma Co. chef.

Willi's Wine Bar
4404 Old Redwood Hwy
This is the Original Willi's!

For sushi
Hiro
On petaluma Blvd. North in Petaluma

across the street is the delicious
Central Market

For exhalted pizza, back in SR
La Vera
629 4th Street

Let me know if you have any questions!
R5

Is this Willi's any relation to the one in Paris?

<< Is this Willi's any relation to the one in Paris? >>

No. Just happened to have the same name.

As an out of towner (I live in the I did quite a bit of driving by Sonoma as my wife was assigned to work for a short period of time (thank goodness) in Santa Rosa.

Anyway, I remember Syrah and Zazu are to be quite good. Again, these are wine-heavy environment (althought, I'm sure beer and cocktails are available).

We found John Ash to be a bit worn and tired.

We were in Santa Rosa last month and took the short drive to Forestville and had an outstanding meal at the Farmhouse Inn. It is fine dining and you will definitely need reservations. www.farmhouseinn.com Cheers! ***kim***

Haven't been back to the Hilton since the remodel, please discribe your impressions. I had nice meals at the Hilton and also next door at Equis. The Fountain Grove Inn is also a nice place to stay. Love this location for easy access in all directions. If you have time, River's End in Jenner is fabulous for dinner, and I drove back to FGI alone with no problem. Looking forward to another dinner! Saw first whale there too!

Kim, have you stayed at the Farmhouse? The photo's look fabulous, love the warm color in the rooms!

Hi Bodi! No, I haven't stayed there. We wanted to look at one of the rooms, but they were all full that night we had dinner there.

I loved the quiet location of the place, very relaxing and quaint. BTW, we're finally going to tour Carmel Valley next month for the wine tasting! ***kim***

A few more things to catch while in Santa Rosa-- go to the Charles Schulz Museum, it is outstanding. You'll chuckle the whole time. Also, swing by the national headquarters of Canine Companions for Independence, which raises assistance dogs for people with disabilities. It will warm your heart. As Charles Shulz himself said (or was it Charlie Brown?) "Happiness is a warm puppy".