Union Hotel - This restaurant has
kept itself up through the years updating their service and menu to meet the
times. A very popular place for any family gathering or ceremonial occasion.
Their half roasted chicken is very good. A full menu including pizza in this
landmark of Occidental. They have also opened two new restaurant in Santa
Rosa. Give it a try or go back again for a sweet memory of traditional Italian
food.
3731 Main St
Occidental, CA 95465
707-874-3444
Union Hotel at G&G Shopping Center
1007 West College Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-544-3444
Union Hotel at East Santa Rosa
280 Mission Blvd
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-538-6000
Ca' Bianca - This is regarded as everyone's
current favorite. It is truly a "hidden treasure of warmth and charm".
An enticing menu features dishes from varied regions of Italy. Leave the kids
at home and enjoy a romantic evening.
835 Second St
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-542-5800
The Villa - We joke about
how this place always has a two for one discount. Beautiful views and warm
interior. It remains one of the most popular places for standard Italian fair.
3901 Montgomery Dr
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
707-528-7755
Chef Patrick - If you can make it through the uninviting, sometimes raucous
bar at Pat's to the back room where dinner is served, you will find excellent
service, and a marvelous menu with a creative French and Italian flavor. Lots
of great seafood. I think Chef Patrick is the best kept secret in Sonoma County.
Main Street
Guerneville, CA 95446
No website 707-869-9161
Main Street Station - This would
be my favorite just because I love the owner, Suzi, and I play there at least
once a month singin' my jazz stuff. The food is great, and I love the ambiance
- casual and fun! Where else can you get top notch entertainment every night
for $5 bucks? Their prime rib is a favorite, they have wonderful country style
pizza and sandwiches, and their seafood is fresh and tasty!
16280 Main Street
Guerneville, CA 95446
707-869-0501
Negri's - I don't know what's
kept this place going for so long? They cram you in there, give you a plate
of iceberg lettuce with two olives, a pepperoncini, a lump of cottage cheese,
and some thin vinegar dressing. Then comes the over-boiled minestrone soup,
a plate of pasta you could use for glue with some nondescript sauce, and some
protein purportedly beef or chicken. Oh yeah, French bread and butter....
Have a few stiff drinks before you venture in and you'll probably have a good
time.
Negri's
3700 Bohemian Hwy
Occidental, California 95465
707-823-5301
Unfortuantely some of the most memorable Italian restaurants in west Sonoma County have disappeared.
Ristorante
Capri - My hands down favorite place for family dinners and romantic dinners
with my husband. Sadly, the owner, Luigi, passed away a few years ago and
left an empty space in my heart and palate. I loved their gnocci and caesar
salad. In my former life as a junior high teacher, I took my graduating class
there for a memorable dinner. I miss Luigi.
Ristorante Rio in Guerneville and Ristorante Del Mar in Bodega Bay. - If I could find the chef who owned these places, I would make him cook for me. Mark is all I remember. I think he might have moved to New Orleans before the hurricane - oh my.... I simply adored what he could do with lobster stuffed shrimp in a lemon sauce and angel hair pasta! Mark! Where are you?
Buck's - This famous restaurant ran for over 45 years in Guerneville. Off the beaten track, just two blocks off Main Street, Ida DeWitt presented countless diners with the best time they ever had. She passed away this last year. She was not only a great chef, but a charming hostess, and tall tale teller. Buck's is for sale if anyone is interested. The stellar beauty of hand hewn redwood can never be duplicated. Someone should buy it and turn it into what it deserves to be.
If you get a hankerin' for some of the flavor the Old Buck's, Ida's son,
Jonathan, has a place just out of town, Jonathan's Grill at George's Hideaway,
where he packs 'em in every night. Take a walk on the wild side of Sonoma
County and give him a try. You won't be disappointed.
Jonathan's Grill
18100 Hwy 116
Guerneville, CA 95446
707- 869-3360
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