New restaurants to open doors downtown

Healdsburgers and visitors alike will have more dining choices
this summer as new eateries are scheduled to open.
Chinese food, modern Yucatan dishes and bratwurst will be served
up around town to provide a casual yet modern approach to the local
dining scene.
The Wurst Sausage Grill & Beer Garden
Healdsburgers looking for a fun and affordable place to hang out
can visit Charles Bell’s new bratwurst spot just off of Healdsburg
Avenue on Matheson Street beginning in June. You will be able to
recognize this modern site by the huge fork hanging near the
entrance and the ten-foot brat painting, courtesy of Bell’s friend
and renowned local artist Sargam Griffin.
The industrial style esthetic will offer warm communal tables
and a front veranda beer garden providing diners a street-side seat
to eat sausage, drink local beers and soak up the sun.
Bell admits that the idea of brats is a little nostalgic for him
and although most of his ingredients will be sourced locally,
nothing can replace the Polish and Sheboygan that he remembers
growing up in Detroit.
“You can’t fake the brat and you can’t fake the polish,” Bell
said, noting that he will also source one more special ingredient
needed to make a childhood dessert.
Other offerings will include pomme frites, a condiment bar with
numerous mustard choices, milkshakes, salads and even a hamburger.
Beer on tap and in bottles will be a highlight but wine will be
served as well.
“I just want a place that is fun and that has a different feel
with more of a city flavor,” Bell said. “Somewhere people can come
with their laptop if they want and hangout and eat fries.”
Mateo’s Cocina Latina
Born in the Yucatan, Chef Mateo Granados brings traditional
recipes from home to Sonoma County. You may know him from your
local farmer’s market or from mobile dinner parties he hosts at
wineries around town. He will now give his unique style of French
preparation partnered with Yucatan’s regional flavors a permanent
home across the street from the h2 hotel in August.
The family style concept will mimic his other ventures with long
tables and benches to create a sense of community and offer a place
for people to make connections, Granados said.
Sourcing local ingredients and cooking seasonally will remain a
priority for Granados, and dishes will be kept simple but fresh.
Tacos, empanadas, comidas and a tequila bar will be the main focus
next to fresh salsas and seafood sides.
“We will offer several types of tortillas for people to chose
from for their tacos and then decide if they want Rosie Chicken,
Preston carne asada and pork chorizo,” Granados said.
The new eatery will also offer patio seating and can be reserved
for what Granados says would make a great place to host a taco-bar
party.
Happy Time
Many locals will be happy to hear that this past Chinese food
restaurant has new ownership and will be completely remodeled
before re-opening their doors next month. Karen Jin has worked in
the location for fourteen years and said that everything needs to
be replaced and new menu items will be added to ensure a fresh
concept.
“We will have cold noodle dishes in the summer and hot soups in
the winter,” said Jin. “We will keep some dishes and add new
Vietnamese dishes and soups.”
Jin and her husband will continue to work the front of the house
while their son will work in the kitchen. She said her hope is that
families come to visit her family for clean, fresh food.
Staff Writer Robin Hug can be reached at [email protected].