Nearly 100 of Sonoma County’s premier restaurants are gearing up to serve delectable dishes at reasonable rates. From Rocker Oysterfeller’s Oyster PoBoy on a Soft Roll with applewood bacon, white cheddar cheese and remoulade in Valley Ford to Dry Creek Kitchen’s pan roasted New York steak in Healdsburg, the menus are sure to make your mouth water and keep your pocketbook plentiful.
Participating restaurants will offer three course prix-fixe dinners for $19, $29 or $39 during the third annual Sonoma County Restaurant Week taking place in eateries across Sonoma County from Feb. 27 to March 4.
Chefs will feature local ingredients and local wines of their choice to accompany the meals. The emphasis on farm-fresh food and local wineries means dining out during Restaurant Week is not only beneficial to the restaurant industry, but also to local food suppliers, farmers, wineries, and the economic vitality of Sonoma County.
“Some of the county’s best restaurants will be rolling out the red carpet and offering up great deals for locals to enjoy,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Mike McGuire. “This week has become very successful and we have high hopes that this will be the best year yet. I know that I will be out enjoying these special menus all throughout the week.”
The concept is simple. Show up to a participating restaurant and order from the prix-fixe menu. No tickets or special passes are needed. The only possible catch – the event has become very popular and seats fill up fast at participating restaurants. Event organizers encourage early reservations. It’s not often that you can dine at the region’s top restaurants for such low costs.
Each restaurant participates at one of the three price points – $19, $29, or $39 and the meals typically include a first-course hors d’oeuvre, soup or salad, followed by an entree and a dessert.
Bear Republic Brewing Company in Healdsburg has participated in the event for the past two years and has plenty to offer at the $19 range this year.
“We try to have local ingredients and the chefs come up with great ideas for our guests,” said BRBC general manager Marcin Fumankiewicz.
Bear Republic is offering either a caesar salad or French onion soup to start, with a choice of stuffed chicken breasts or winter veggie pot pie, followed by a homemade chocolate mousse.
“This event allows people to dine out with their families and afford the meal. Some of these restaurants, it could be $100 to $200, but this allows people to sit down and enjoy what they wouldn’t be able to. People really enjoy it and look forward to it.”
Fumankiewicz said culinary cities like New York will often have events like this in the winter when the restaurant business is slower.
The Michelin Star rated restaurant at Applewood Inn traditionally has a higher-priced menu but likes taking part in Restaurant Week because it gives people a chance to dine there who might normally think it is out of their price range.
Owner Carlos Pippa said the prix fixe menu breaks barriers for potential diners.
“Sometimes it helps people because once they come here and get to know us and see what they are able to get, we see people turn into regular customers,” Pippa said. “Normally, the price is a little higher than the $39 for restaurant week.”
But Pippa also said he feels good participating in a regional event that celebrates all of what Sonoma County’s restaurants offer in a combined effort.
“It’s a good thing to do all together and we get a little bit of notoriety ourselves.”
Applewood Restaurant, at the $39 price point, is offering a roasted beet salad, miso glazed black cod with dungeness crab and sauteed Chinese broccoli in a ginger broth, followed by cannelloni stuffed with mascarpone, figs and apricots.
The event is a joint effort of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board and the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau. It is in its third year.
The Bureau touts the emphasis on farm-fresh food and local wines, which means that dining out during Restaurant Week is beneficial to the restaurant industry, but also to local food suppliers, farmers, wineries and the economic vitality of Sonoma County.
“Sonoma County Restaurant Week also presents the perfect opportunity for locals to rediscover great Sonoma County restaurants, and for visitors to come and get a taste of California’s finest food and wine without breaking the bank,” according to a release from the Tourism Bureau.
Sonoma County Restaurant Week
What: A seven day celebration of the county’s farm fresh food and premier wine. Enjoy three-course dinner menus at $19, $29, or $39, depending on the restaurant.
When: Feb. 27 through March 4
How: No tickets or passes are needed, but the prix fixe menus are only available during each restaurant’s dinner service, as space is available. Reservations are encouraged as tables fill fast during Restaurant Week.
Participating restaurants include:
Healdsburg
Dry Creek Kitchen
Zin
Bear Republic
Spoonbar
Barndiva
Relish Culinary Adventures
Windsor
Charlie’s Grill
Chinois Asian Bistro
UME Japanese Bistro
Kin
Sebastopol
Peter Lowell’s
Café ClaudioÂ
Starlight Wine Bar
La Bodega Kitchen
Forchetta/ Bastoni
Hopmonk Tavern
French Garden Restaurant
GTO’s Seafood House
Henweigh Cafe
Sonoma Wine Shop
Guerneville
Applewood Inn Restaurant
Agriculture Bar & Kitchen
Geyserville
Rustic, Francis’ Favorites
Forestville
Corks Restaurant
Valley Ford
Rocker Oysterfeller’s
Monte Rio
Village Inn Restaurant
Bodega Bay
Duck Club at Bodega Bay Lodge
The Bay View Restaurant at the Inn at the Tides
• For the complete list of participating restaurants, go to www.sonomacountyrestaurantweek.org
• Tips, beverages, gratuity or tax are not included in the price.
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