Restaurants

Sonoma County Restaurants with Authentic Wine Country Cuisine

Farmhouse Inn, Forestville

It’s easy to see why diners in Sonoma County are spoiled because few restaurants elsewhere use ingredients as fresh as those here — drawn from the farms, ranches, and orchards in their own backyards.

“Wine Country cuisine” has come to be defined as the dishes that celebrate locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, served in a way that shines a light on food’s natural flavor and freshness. Chefs coax the best from each food through inventive pairings, artful seasoning, and interplay of textures.

Who needs heavy sauces, loads of butter, and deep fat frying, when the food itself is so sumptuous?

Because in Sonoma County, each season brings fresh, new ingredients — the delicious menus change here, too. Exciting dishes are inspired by the bounty of local agricultural gems like Shone Farm of Santa Rosa, Lovelock Lettuce Laguna Farm of Sebastopol, Rafter Ranch of Santa Rosa, Stemple Creek Ranch of Valley Ford, Green Star Farm of Sebastopol, and many more.

Here are some favorite restaurants that have propelled Sonoma Wine Country cuisine into the spotlight.

Barndiva, Healdsburg

cocktail at Barndiva in Healdsburg Sonoma County — Barndiva, Healdsburg

Chef Ryan Fancher prepares beautiful, mouth-watering fare in a mahogany barn with pitchforks on the walls. The restaurant sits next door to Studio Barndiva, the art gallery of Barndiva’s owner, Jil Hales.

Farm-fresh goodness results in mouthwatering Barndiva dishes like sautéed Pacific swordfish with cracked crab and tomato confit or peak-season cauliflower soup with caramelized florets, fried capers, and sage.

Just a few of the local farms that Barndiva sources for the freshest ingredients include Bellwether Farms, Early Bird’s Place, Mix Garden, The Patch, Philo Apple Farm, and Preston Farm & Winery.

Glen Ellen Star, Glen Ellen

Chef Ari Weiswasser used to work at big-name places like the French Laundry and top-notch restaurants in New York. Now, at Glen Ellen Star, his cozy bistro with a wood-burning oven, he focuses on Sonoma Wine Country seasonal delights like Globe artichokes finished with local olive oil and parmesan, blistered shishito peppers decorated with citrus, and wood-fired pizza topped in mushroom, cured olive, and oregano.

Glen Ellen Star in Glen Ellen — Glen Ellen Star, Glen Ellen

Sit at the bar and watch the chefs in action in the open kitchen, or grab one of the 30 seats inside or on the patio. Just be sure to make reservations, or you’ll never get in.

Willi’s Wine Bar, Santa Rosa

Asparagus dish at Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa — Willi’s Wine Bar, Santa Rosa

At Willi’s Wine Bar, an iconic Santa Rosa roadhouse, you’ll find standouts like goat cheese fritters, Tunisian roasted carrots with mint, Moroccan lamb chops, and mushroom soup shooters.

In a beautiful 3,000-square-foot space, Willi’s serves international small plates, some wildly inventive and others comfortingly familiar. An open floor plan, soaring ceilings, brass lighting, and a 13-seat bar help capture the casual, laid-back nature of Sonoma Wine Country. You’ll find both locals and visitors enjoying a quick bite or lingering over a glass of wine.

SingleThread Farm, Restaurant & Inn, Healdsburg

Elegant, stylish, and down to earth all at once, SingleThread is a labor of love and talent for husband and wife team Katina and Kyle Connaughton. Since opening in 2017, this Healdsburg hotspot’s wildly creative, 11-course menus — designed by chef Kyle and using farmer Katina’s produce, eggs, honey, and olive oil — have earned a James Beard Award and three Michelin stars.

Table of food at SingleThread Farm Restaurant in Healdsburg, Ca — SingleThread Farm Restaurant & Inn, Healdsburg

Menus change constantly, depending on the chef’s inspiration and what’s fresh at the farms. Attention to detail (and optional Sonoma County wine pairings) make each dinner a special occasion.

Getting a table here can be a challenge, so be sure to plan ahead: Bookings are released on their website at 9 am on the first of every month for the upcoming month.

Farmhouse Inn, Forestville

Mediterranean board at Farmhouse Inn in Forestville — Farmhouse Inn, Forestville

This is one of Sonoma Wine Country’s most celebrated destinations, with chef Steve Litke focusing on the bounty of Sonoma County in a mouthwatering marriage of Italian, French, and Asian inspiration sourced from sustainably farmed seasonal ingredients.

Menus change based on the best from local harvests, and menu standouts may include tartar of yellowfin tuna and shrimp noodles with local asparagus, housemade artichoke ravioli tossed in parmesan foam with black trumpet mushrooms, and the signature rabbit in applewood-smoked bacon with Yukon potato and whole-grain mustard cream.

River’s End Restaurant & Inn, Jenner

In addition to breathtaking coastal views and an intimate romantic setting, River’s End offers internationally influenced menu items created with Sonoma County’s seasonal abundance. Working with the best local purveyors, chef Martin Recoder crafts amazing dishes featuring King Salmon and Dungeness crab fresh off the boat, local artisan cheese and dairy, Valley Ford lamb and poultry, and other tantalizing delights.

The dining room is small and intimate, with views of Goat Rock and the Russian River entering the Pacific Ocean from every table. Enjoy artisan bar creations with attention to detail and a stellar wine list, earning Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence since 2003.

For more ideas, read Best Restaurants in Sonoma County and Top Romantic Restaurants in Sonoma County. Find all Sonoma County Restaurants here.

Written by Sonoma Insider Carey Sweet