Best Sonoma County Restaurants

In recent years, that reflection has become increasingly sophisticated and worldly as chefs and visitors flock here for tastes of the region’s bounty. 

The restaurants, from gourmand paradises to down-to-earth delis, all serve a ‘sense of place’ in their own distinct way, often with ingredients sourced from just a few miles away. Whether you’re looking for Charred Japanese Eggplant ‘Falafel’ (Valette), Brussels Sprout Toast (FolkTable) or Lobster Pot Pie (Wit and Wisdom), we’ve got an eatery for you.

Read on for details on our list of the best restaurants in Sonoma County, in alphabetical order because every single one’s a winner. 

Baker and Cook in Sonoma 

Run by a husband-and-wife team, this café draws-in grateful guests with fluffy and decadent beignets and croissants, and keeps them coming back for the rotating array of seasonal entrees. Try the Biscuits & Gravy. There’s a small outdoor seating spot, or you can grab it and go. 

Campo Fina in Healdsburg 

Do you like carbs? Campo has your number with their decadent and imaginative spins on pasta, pizza and potatoes. The Pizza Primavera (with spicy lamb sausage, asparagus, red onions, cream, Parmesan and fresh pea shoots) is as good as it sounds, as is The Old School in a Skillet (with four pork and beef meatballs swimming in tomato sauce, topped with smoked mozzarella and served with housemade Ciabatta). The vibe here is that of summertime in Italy.

Play a game of bocce while waiting for your meal. 

Catelli’s Restaurant in Geyserville 

Another pasta joint? Indeed. You can’t miss third-generation chef and owner Domenica Catelli’s edible love letter to her family, Italy and California. She and her family have been feeding generations of locals who congregate at the restaurant to celebrate life and create memories.

Try Nonnies Minestrone (hearty and bursting with local beans and veggies), Organic Truffle Fries and Chicken Parm over smokey polenta. 

Chalkboard Restaurant in Healdsburg 

Salad lovers will be in heaven here, but there are plenty of small bites (Crudo of the Day, and Pork Belly Biscuits for instance), pastas (such as Rigatoni a la Puttanesca) and meats (Cabernet Braised Short Rib anyone?,  all of which change with the seasons.

Chef Shane McAnelly specializes in small plates inspired by produce from Chalkboard’s 4.5-acre organic garden, and partner growers and ranchers.

Make sure to walk to the back to check-out the dog-friendly, delightfully-lit, canopy-covered patio where heat lamps allow for all-season dining. 

Della Fattoria in Petaluma 

This breakfast and lunch staple whips up some of the best European-inspired pastries and breads around, plus consistently delicious old-fashioned breakfasts (Corned Beef Hash) and lunch creations (Tuna Piadina in pan fried pizza dough with cheddar, pepperoncini and arugula).

Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria in Geyserville

Some nights are made for pizza. At Diavola, the wood-burning ovens deliver consistently tasty classics and newbies, like the Dictator, with marinated short rib, garlic, mozzarella, scallions, serrano chiles, kimchi, Kewpie mayo, and shichimi.

The House Cured Salami and Cheese selection is locally sourced and unbeatable. Dine inside or out on the whimsically shaded patio featuring colorful umbrellas.

Farmhouse Restaurant in Forestville, CA

This restaurant, within the bucolic grounds of a  luxurious boutique inn, is a Russian River Valley jewel. The Farmhouse menu rotates with the seasons, but look forward to dishes like Gazpacho of Asparagus with Hokkaido Scallop and Local Rack of Lamb with Thumbelina carrot, minced pea puree, pearl onions and Dijon mustard.

Choose the wine pairings and explore the depth of the region’s labels, as well as some International selections. Make sure to walk the inn’s gracious garden path pre or post dinner where you’ll meet the on-property chickens, housed in a rear coop, and the prolific suppliers of the restaurant’s egg dishes.  

FolkTable Restaurant in Sonoma

Just like its name, this is a warm, welcoming, homey spot where everyone is treated like family. The fare here is sourced from local purveyors and organic farms, resulting in simple and authentic but creative dishes that reflect the seasons.

Top Chef finalist Casey Thompson runs the show, dishing out instant comfort classics like an Open Face Croque-Madame and Garlic Grilled Lemon Caesar. 

The Girl and the Fig in Sonoma

A Sonoma Plaza mainstay for years, The Girl and the Fig delivers classic French food with a California heart. Featuring rotating seasonal fare, the restaurant keeps a few classics on the menu such as Steak Tartare, Crispy Duck Confit and Wild Flounder Meuniére. The Croque Monsieur and Frites is also a consistent standby. Don’t miss their creative cocktails, such as the Fig Kiss (Solano vodka, St-Germain, caramelized fig syrup, lemon, and mint.)Looking for a good time with family in Sonoma County? Read: Family-Friendly Options All Over Sonoma County

Glen Ellen Star in Glen Ellen

This tiny gem of a restaurant in tiny Glen Ellen is a revelation. Featuring the freshest ingredients in the most creative of preparations, Glen Ellen Star is a neighborhood spot that’s developed a destination-worthy reputation.

From starters like Spring Pea Soup and a Simple Green Salad, to Brick Chicken, Wood Fired Whole Fish, Housemade Rigatoni Pasta, every dish is utterly delicious. Grab a seat at the tiny chef’s counter for a front row seat to the kitchen action. 

Josh Ash & Co. in Santa Rosa

The divine Vintners Resort hosts Josh Ash & Co. within its bounds, serving up seasonal wine country classics like ½ Rocky Brick Chicken with Castroville artichokes, and Roasted Corvina Seabass with Good Faith Sevillano olives. Start with the Mini Jalapeño Pepper Jack Corn Muffins with Tequila Lime Butter.

Bring a sweater and enjoy the al fresco seating on the heated, open-air terrace and tented lawn areas. 

Layla at MacArthur Place in Sonoma

Set in a gem of a resort, Layla offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, delivering healthy and indulgent fare. Think Roasted Chicken Pavé, or Porchetta braised with red cabbage, fennel & apple salad, pickled mustard seed, apple crema. Pair with an imaginative cocktail like Naked & Famous, with Madre Mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol and lime.

The large and airy dining room is matched by an equally spacious patio that’s surrounded by verdant gardens.

Lou’s Luncheonette in Sonoma 

Fried chicken enthusiasts, rejoice. Whether you want a basket of Tenders, Country Fried Chicken, or Nashville Chicken (half spicy fried), you’re going to love the perfect ratio of crisp crust to tender interior. The biscuits are buttery and decadent, and the standard-issue sides (Collards, Mac N Cheese, et al) are spot on. 

The Madrona in Healdsburg

Located within the gorgeous, historic, and newly renovated Madrona Hotel, the restaurant features a charming dining room as well as ample outdoor space.

Celebrated chef Jesse Mallgren draws inspiration from afar, while using ingredients gleaned locally for delectable surprises like Purple Sprouting Broccoli (grilled and pickled, with farro and a poached egg) and Corned Beet Tartare (with caraway, nutritional yeast and grilled bread).

Before or after your meal, wander the property and the half an acre of gardens, the bounty of which fills the kitchen, bar, and hotel guest rooms with the scents and flavors of the region. 

Santé at Fairmont Sonoma Mission in Sonoma

Santé is the signature restaurant of one of Sonoma’s most popular and gracious resorts. Here, the wine is as much a priority as the food; the restaurant’s wine collection has been honored by Wine Spectator for its regional Napa/Sonoma focus.

Every selection pairs beautifully with the locally sourced cuisine. Try the Pacific Oysters, Bison Carpaccio, Grilled Maitake Mushroom, and save room for the Lavender Crème Brulée. 

SingleThread in Healdsburg

More than a restaurant (a three Michelin star restaurant at that), SingleThread is also a farm and a luxurious boutique inn.

Executive Chef Kyle Connaughton changes his small plate, eleven course, classic Donabe cuisine menu daily, based on wife Katina’s harvest from the farm where she oversees an heirloom fruit orchard, vegetable and flower beds, olive trees, beehives, and chickens.

The farm’s bounty also provides Katina with the organic goods for her dramatically designed tablescapes and dish presentations. Dinner doesn’t come cheap ($300 a head), but you will remember the experience forever. 

Tasca Tasca in Sonoma 

If you love all things Portugal, you’re going to dig Tasca Tasca. The word Tasca means tavern or pub, with Chef Manuel Azevedo creating an incredible Portuguese home in Sonoma, from the food and drinks, to the music, to the sports (soccer!) on TV.

Grab multiple tasting plates of cheese (try Queijo de Sao Jorge, and see how it plays with Pt. Reyes Blue), items from the garden (Kale Salad with Anchovy Dressing) and sea (Bacalhau, or Salt Cod Cakes, plus Monterey Squid Salad with White Beans). 

Valette in Healdsburg

For a cozy, farm-to-table spot that delivers epic meals, locals head to Valette. Chef Dustin Valette coaxes incredible complexity from the humblest of ingredients, like the Charred Japanese Eggplant ‘Falafel’ (with white bean hummus, cilantro emulsion, almond relish and pickled turnip) and the Cognac and barrel aged soy infused Mushrooms.

If you’re feeling adventurous, select Chef Valette’s ‘Trust me’ Tasting Menu to experience his true artistry. Trust us; you will not be disappointed. 

Wit and Wisdom in Sonoma

Celebrity Chef Michael Mina opened Wit and Wisdom on the grounds of The Lodge at Sonoma to much fanfare in 2020. Luckily, it was justified. The restaurant has built a strong local following in addition to drawing visitors from afar. This is elevated comfort food at its best. From the shellfish towers to the Lamb Sausage Pizza and Lobster Pot Pie, there’s no way you’re leaving hungry.

Dine indoors or out on the spacious but cozy patio.