Don’t Take It Off the Menu: 50 Sonoma County Dishes Locals Can’t Live Without

Truffle fries from Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin

If they ever took the truffle fries off the menu at Willi’s Wine Bar in Santa Rosa, we’d lose our minds. Same with the fig salad at Sonoma’s the girl & the fig or the scallops en croute at Healdsburg’s Valette.

We asked our readers what local dishes they can’t live without. Read on to find out what they said. 

Petaluma

Tuna Melt Piadina at Della Fattoria 

Tuna Melt Piadina at Della Fattoria in Petaluma—Photo by Beth Schlanker
Tuna Melt Piadina at Della Fattoria in Petaluma—Photo by Beth Schlanker

The Chicken Sandwich, Brisket and Ribs at Brewster’s Beer Garden

The Chicken Sandwich, Brisket and Ribs at Brewster’s Beer Garden in Petaluma—Photo by Heather Irwin
The Chicken Sandwich, Brisket and Ribs at Brewster’s Beer Garden in Petaluma—Photo by Heather Irwin

The Gordo Macho Burrito at Taqueria Mi Pueblo 

The Gordo Macho Burrito at Taqueria Mi Pueblo in Petaluma—Photo by Jeff Kan Lee
The Gordo Macho Burrito at Taqueria Mi Pueblo in Petaluma—Photo by Jeff Kan Lee

Family-Style Dinner at Volpi’s 

Any Family-Style Dinner (includes house-made Minestrone soup, freshly tossed green salad with house-made Italian dressing, pasta of the day, entrée with potatoes/polenta & vegetable) at Volpi's in Petaluma
At Volpi’s in Petaluma, any Family-Style Dinner includes house-made Minestrone soup, freshly tossed green salad with house-made Italian dressing, pasta of the day, and entrée with potatoes/polenta & vegetable

Swedish Meatballs at Stockhome Restaurant 

Swedish Meatballs at Stockhome Restaurant in Petaluma—Photo by New Rev Media
Swedish Meatballs at Stockhome Restaurant in Petaluma—Photo by New Rev Media

The Bruschetta at Sugo Trattoria

The Bruschetta at Sugo Trattoria in Petaluma—Photo by Jeff Kan Lee
The Bruschetta at Sugo Trattoria in Petaluma—Photo by Jeff Kan Lee

The Pizza Bianca at Central Market 

The Pizza Bianca at Central Market in Petaluma—Photo by Crista Jeremiason
The Pizza Bianca at Central Market in Petaluma—Photo by Crista Jeremiason

The BBQ Chicken Plate at What a Chicken 

The BBQ Chicken Plate at What a Chicken in Petaluma
The BBQ Chicken Plate at What a Chicken in Petaluma

The Joint at Sax’s Joint 

The Joint —aka "the biggest damn hot cake you ever did see" — at Sax's Joint in Petaluma—Photo by Noelle Aimee Mullen
The Joint — aka “the biggest damn hot cake you ever did see” — at Sax’s Joint in Petaluma—Photo by Noelle Aimee Mullen 

Santa Rosa

Craft Mac and Cheese at Bird & The Bottle 

Craft Mac and Cheese at Bird and The Bottle in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin
Craft Mac and Cheese at Bird and The Bottle in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin

Matzoh Ball Soup at Bird & the Bottle 

Matzoh Ball Soup at Bird and the Bottle in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin
Matzoh Ball Soup at Bird and the Bottle in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin

Greens and Things at Bird & the Bottle  

Greens and Things at Bird and the Bottle in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin
Greens and Things at Bird and the Bottle in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin

Roasted Chicken Sandwich at Zoftig Eatery 

Roasted Chicken Sandwich at Zoftig Eatery in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin
Roasted Chicken Sandwich at Zoftig Eatery in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin

Neoclassic Buffalo Wings at Jackson’s Bar & Oven 

Neoclassic Buffalo Wings at Jackson's Bar & Oven in Santa Rosa—Photo by Mina G. / Yelp
Neoclassic Buffalo Wings at Jackson’s Bar & Oven in Santa Rosa—Photo by Mina G. / Yelp

Truffle Fries at Jackson’s Bar & Oven

Truffle fries at Jackson's Bar & Oven in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin
Truffle Fries at Jackson’s Bar & Oven in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin

Rainbow Avocado Toast at Brew Coffee & Beer

Rainbow Avocado Toast at Brew in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin
Rainbow Avocado Toast at Brew in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin

Sandwich Cubano; Pollo Al Horno; Empanadas Rocky Style; and Canoas at El Coqui 

Sandwich Cubano at El Coqui in Santa Rosa—Photo by Jeff Kan Lee
Sandwich Cubano at El Coqui in Santa Rosa—Photo by Jeff Kan Lee

Tri Tip Sandwich at Canevari’s Delicatessen 

Tri Tip Sandwich at Canevari’s Delicatessen in Santa Rosa
Tri Tip Sandwich at Canevari’s Delicatessen in Santa Rosa

Conchinita en Pibil at Delicias Elenitas Taco Truck

Delicias Elenitas Taco Truck in Santa Rosa
Delicias Elenitas Taco Truck in Santa Rosa

Breakfast Salad at Dierk’s Parkside Cafe 

Breakfast Salad at Dierk's Parkside Cafe in Santa Rosa—Photo by Charlie Gesell
Breakfast Salad at Dierk’s Parkside Cafe in Santa Rosa—Photo by Charlie Gesell

Tacos Al Pastor at Taqueria Molcajetes 

Tacos Al Pastor at Taqueria Molcajetes in Santa Rosa—Photo by Alvin Jornada
Tacos Al Pastor in process at Taqueria Molcajetes in Santa Rosa—Photo by Alvin Jornada

Gnocchi at Ca’ Bianca Ristorante Italiano 

Gnocchi at Ca' Bianca Ristorante Italiano in Santa Rosa
Gnocchi at Ca’ Bianca Ristorante Italiano in Santa Rosa

Duck Fat Fries at Beer Baron 

Duck Fat Fries at Beer Baron in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin
Duck Fat Fries at Beer Baron in Santa Rosa—Photo by Heather Irwin

Fish and Chips at Toad in the Hole Pub 

Fish and Chips at Toad in the Hole Pub in Santa Rosa—Photo by Terry K. / Yelp
Fish and Chips at Toad in the Hole Pub in Santa Rosa—Photo by Terry K. / Yelp

Pliny Bites from Russian River Brewing Company

Pliny Bites from Russian River Brewing Company in Windsor—Photo by Nancy T. / Yelp
Pliny Bites from Russian River Brewing Company—Photo by Nancy T. / Yelp

Hushpuppies; Fried Chicken at Sweet T’s

Hushpuppies at Sweet T's in Windsor—Photos by Heather Irwin
Hushpuppies at Sweet T’s in Windsor—Photos by Heather Irwin

Sonoma

Fig & Arugula Salad at the girl & the fig

Fig & Arugula Salad at the girl & the fig in Sonoma
Fig & Arugula Salad at the girl & the fig in Sonoma

Ahi Tacos; Nachos Verde; Mole Enchiladas; Seafood Cocktail; and Fish Tacos at El Molino Central 

El Molino Central in Sonoma—Photo by Jeff Kan Lee
El Molino Central in Sonoma—Photo by Jeff Kan Lee

Ahi Tuna Tartare; Truffle Fries at El Dorado Kitchen 

Ahi Tuna Tartare at El Dorado Kitchen in Sonoma
Ahi Tuna Tartare at El Dorado Kitchen in Sonoma

Glen Ellen

Brussels Sprouts at Glen Ellen Star 

Brussels Sprouts (with brown sugar bacon marmalade) at Glen Ellen Star
Brussels Sprouts (with brown sugar bacon marmalade) at Glen Ellen Star

Geyserville

Ten-layer Lasagna at Catelli’s 

Ten-layer Lasagna at Catelli's in Geyserville—Photo by Chris Hardy
Ten-layer Lasagna at Catelli’s in Geyserville—Photo by Chris Hardy

Salsiccia Pizza at Diavola 

Salsiccia Pizza at Diavola in Geyserville—Photo by Christopher Chung
Salsiccia Pizza at Diavola in Geyserville—Photo by Christopher Chung

House Cured Salami and Cheese at Diavola 

House Cured Salami and Cheese at Diavola in Geyserville—Photo by Christopher Chung
House Cured Salami and Cheese at Diavola in Geyserville—Photo by Christopher Chung

Healdsburg

Burrata; Gazpacho; Nonna’s Tomato Braised Chicken; and Tommaso’s Sugo Calabrese at Campo Fina 

Burrata at Campo Fina in Healdsburg—Photo by Crista Jeremiason
Burrata at Campo Fina in Healdsburg—Photo by Crista Jeremiason

Scallop En Croute; Ahi Poke at Valette 

Scallop En Croute at Valette in Healdsburg—Photo by Heather Irwin
Scallop En Croute at Valette in Healdsburg—Photo by Heather Irwin

Scampi at Baci Café & Wine Bar 

Scampi at Baci Café and Wine Bar in Healdsburg—Photo by Jeff Kan Lee
Scampi at Baci Café and Wine Bar in Healdsburg—Photo by Jeff Kan Lee

Graton

Polenta; and Open-Faced Egg Salad at Willow Wood Market Cafe 

Polenta dish at Willow Wood Market Cafe
Polenta dish at Willow Wood Market Cafe

Sebastopol

Mocha Shake at Screamin’ Mimi’s 

Mocha Shake at Screamin' Mimi's Ice Cream in Sebastopol
Mocha Shake at Screamin’ Mimi’s Ice Cream in Sebastopol


Written by Sonoma Magazine Staff

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