Easy Rider - Southern, Petaluma

190 Kentucky St, Petaluma CA 94952
(707) 774-6233
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-9pm; Sat-Sun 10am-1:30pm, 5pm-9pm
www.easyriderpetaluma.com

Last Visited: May 6, 2023

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 4 to 5 stars

Price: $$$

Petaluma's food scene is pretty happening for a small town - Italian is a staple and while there is a good variety of everything else, there hasn't really been a southern comfort food spot in Sonoma County, so it's fun to see a new place take this location.

Enter Easy Rider and you'll see their full bar.  Tables tend to be a bit tight in terms of space - for example, we sat in the booth across from the bar and if you happen to be a little larger, this would have been uncomfortable, but overall, they have made it cozy and rustic, using up every counter and corner that you can find.

The restaurant was packed on a Saturday night by 6pm, so reservations are definitely recommended.  If you live locally, consider the three course prix fixe menu for $44 - a terrific deal when most of their entrees are in the high $30 range.  Brunch is available on the weekends.  If you have to wait, there seems to be an abundance of drink choices to try.  

Ashley, our server, was very positive and had such a pleasant attitude.  She was not fazed at all by our declaration that we would share all of the entrees and made sure the bussers didn't take our plates away after the appetizer.  I really appreciated her service and attention to detail. 

- Hushpuppies - For our starter, we chose the bacon and cheddar hushpuppies which are served with a sweet strawberry and japaleno jam.  The hushpuppies exterior are a bit dark in color, but the inside is bright yellow and the flavor of the bacon and salt from the cheddar definitely comes out.  There were six in total.  The jam could be more jammy/thick, and the strawberry was definitely more prominent the jalapeno, but that was fine for our table since we can't tolerate a ton of spice anyways. Solid, but I would have preferred the oil to be fresher so that the presentation could be golden brown.  $13.75

- Braised Short rib - This was easily the best dish of the night.  The short rib is super tender and flavorful.  You don't even need a knife.  The potato puree is covered with gravy and topped with the meat, so you can't go wrong there.  The short rib was topped with some fried shallots, chopped parsley, and a horseradish cream.  While the menu mentions turnip and mushrooms, I think with our splitting all of the entrees that I missed getting these ingredients. They certainly weren't overwhelming.  In any case, I could easily eat this dish again.  The horseradish cream is pretty mild, so I wouldn't have minded if the horseradish flavor was stronger here.  Four stars. $37 

- Shrimp n grits - Four shrimp are served with four slices of andouille sausage cut on the bias and grilled.  The grits are topped with sauce creole and there is a small spoonful's worth of trinity pickles on the side.  The shrimp is tender and not overcooked and the sauce has a kick - so if you don't like spicy food, you should skip this one.  The grits are just the right texture.  For this price, I think another couple of shrimp would make it a better value.  Good, but the sauce can be a touch overpowering and possibly affected every dish I ate after this one. $33.50

- Berkshire pork chop - I was pleasantly surprised at how juicy this pork chop was when I cut into it.  It's thick and meaty - maybe it's brined.  With all of the other dishes, my palate might have been a bit distorted by the time I ate this, but the pork chop could be a bit saltier.  The cheesy grits don't have as much of a cheesy taste as just a regular grits taste.  The collards are slightly sweet because of the apple butter.  This was just okay, but the meat was done nicely.  If you want mild flavors, choose this one. $34.50

- Southern fried chicken dinner - This was my second favorite dish of the night.  Four pieces of chicken are breaded with a cornmeal crust and fried.  I think they probably brine the meat because I've never had a fried chicken breast this size that is this juicy.  The meat is served drizzled with calabrian chili honey and there is bacon truffle gravy on the side.  Mac and cheese and collard greens also come with the chicken.  The calabrian chili is not very noticeable, but the sweetness of the honey makes for a terrific bite with this thick crust.  Similar comment as above when it comes to the color being a bit on the dark side.  Nevertheless, the gravy makes it better, although I could taste the bacon more than the truffle.  Actually, had the menu not said truffle, I can't say I would have even noticed that was part of the ingredient list, but again, it could have been that creole sauce from the shrimp and grits dish that made it less noticeable.  The mac and cheese is awesome - even if you're not ordering the chicken, I wonder if you can get that as a side (it's not on the menu as a side dish).  Collard greens are ok - nothing to write home about here.  The sides make this a really good value. $35.50

The food and service make Easy Rider worth a visit.  In my opinion, there is a lot of good flavors going on, but some ingredients could be highlighted even more.  I'm really glad I shared the entrees so I didn't feel stuck with any one because depending on what you order, as noted, some flavors are mild while others may be too strong.  

The menu offers sandwiches and other sides as well as lighter fare.  The staff was all around friendly and made the evening enjoyable.  It's a fun atmosphere for drinks or night out with friends.  Note that they also charge a living wage surcharge on your dine in bill.

Vinoma Tapas Argentinas - Rohnert Park

5085 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park CA 94928
(707) 536-9215
Parking: gas station parking lot
Hours: Closed Mon-Wed; Open Thurs-Sun 11:30am-7:30pm
vinoma.net

Last Visited: September 24, 2022

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 4 stars
Price: $

I first learned about Vinoma through some news articles about where to find the best Bay Area restaurant, although you can't actually eat inside.  The headline about it being located next to a gas station sounded curious enough and since I've spent a good amount of time in Rohnert Park, I knew this cuisine definitely wasn't available there in the past.  Although I've had empanadas at various restaurants around the Bay Area, it was in 2019 when I had the opportunity to visit Buenos Aires that I had a chance to try one that was so good that I went back for more the next day.  While I was passing by a convenience store, slightly smaller than most 7-Eleven's in the states, I saw that they had a heat lamp pointing at multiple shelves of fresh empanadas.  Since I love a good Chinese curry beef turnover, I figured I had to try these local treats and I was not disappointed.  It seemed that a lot of people were stopping there for a takeaway lunch and when I passed by it an hour later, all of the empanadas were gone.  

To save time and avoid missing out on what might run out at Vinoma, I ordered online the night before and although I arrived earlier than my delivery time, they were able to accommodate my order.  It seemed that most people that came without ordering ahead received their empanadas in 15-20 minutes.  

A menu on the outside of the door, with photos, is available to help you decide what to get.  There's a discount if you buy a dozen.  And in case you forgot what you ordered, a picture menu is also sent with you when you pick up your order.  Vinoma adds a nice touch with each order - a fresh dahlia.  Since many may not be familiar with an Argentinian empanada, they help educate you by noting that each empanada is 3-4 bites and they recommend you get 4-6 per person.  There are meat, vegetarian, dessert, vegan, and breakfast empanadas available.  Brian, the owner, will answer any questions, and I watched him explain the same thing over and over to many new customers.  

- Canastita (open face empanada) - I tried one plum and bacon and one spinach and artichoke.  Both have a very flaky crust that is a bit reminiscent of eating puff pastry.  The plum is a rehydrated plum with a very intense flavor that pairs well with crispy bacon, fontina, and mozzarella cheese.  If you love a mix of sweet and savory, I would definitely recommend this one.  These empanadas also come out super hot out of the oven - to the point that you should use caution when eating them.  The spinach and artichoke canastita is mixed with onions, garlic, and monterey jack - for me, this was like eating a delicious bite of quiche, but of course, without the eggy quality.  

- Empanada - For the traditional style of empanada, I ordered traditional beef which is ground beef with scallions, red onions, spanish olives, chopped eggs, and spices.  This was yummy also, but less novel than the plum and bacon.  The texture of the dough seems different here because of the fold, but still tasty.  If you prefer a spicy version, they have that available too.  The other empanada I tried was ham and cheese made with diced hickory smoked ham, bechamel, and fontina.  This was also quite good, but there was something about walking down the street in Buenas Aires, where those may have been fried and even flakier that I can't quite compare these to.  Both are still good and worth trying.

Empanadas are $3.89 each or $3.44 each if you purchase a dozen or more.  

If you're in the area, this is definitely worth checking out.  Avoid the lines and order ahead. 

Simmer Vietnamese Kitchen - Petaluma

299 North McDowell Blvd, Petaluma CA 94954
(707) 762-4288
Parking: in shopping center

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$

Last Visited: April 27, 2013

Simmer opened up about three weeks ago, so word is just getting around Petaluma about this place.  A couple of friends told us that it was worth trying, so of course, we had to go. 

With Simmer, Pho Ngoc Tranh, and Thang Long, we now have three Vietnamese restaurants in Petaluma.  Thang Long started it all, but as can be seen from the date of my review of them, I haven't been back in a while.  Pho Ngoc Tranh, located in the OSH shopping center, opened up in 2012, and that seemed to be good for competition.  Simmer is located in the same shopping center as Thang Long, albeit on the far side of the shopping center, but it's going to be interesting to see if Petaluma can sustain this many Vietnamese restaurants within a close distance of each other.

Walk into Simmer and notice that the space is very open.  Once you get past the shelves holding Asian figurines, you'll see the rather large fish tank in the rear with beautiful brightly colored tropical fish.  Just outside, along the window are lots of newly planted green bamboo plants; the colors of the restaurant are warm and inviting.  The rather large head statue in the rear is a little unusual - it's about the height of a small toddler, but it still seems appropriate.  What seemed slightly unfinished is the very bare side wall opposite of the windows.  A large painting or series of paintings would spruce that up a bit. 

We were greeted by one of the waitresses who seated us near the window.  Their one page paper menu seems like a good way to help locals feel comfortable with the selection and less daunting than what you might find in the city.  Pho, vermicelli noodles, fried rice, curry, stir fry, are typical items that you will find on the menu, and there's even a few kid's menu dishes available.  The waitress was very friendly and happy to answer questions for those new to the menu.  Ice water arrives in a tall glass with a thin slice of cucumber. Orders are taken by the waitress on an electronic device.

- Combination Pho - Individual plates of bean sprouts, sweet basil, sliced jalapenos, and a lime wedge arrived which was a nice way to cater to small town locals unaccustomed to the typical shared plate of garnishes/condiments.  The piping hot soup broth in the bowls was delicate, but slightly salty on its own.  Eaten with the other ingredients, the soup is more balanced and flavorful.  Fresh slices of red and yellow onion accompanied floated in the bowl along with rice noodles, beef brisket, tendon, tripe, a meatball, and slices of rare eye round steak.  It was nice that they had put the eye round steak on top, so most of it had not cooked through, giving the customer the option to eat it rare or plunge it into the broth further.  I thought the quantity of meat and noodles were ample and matched the price charged for the bowl.  I also appreciated that the noodles were not served in the bowl in a clump and had been loosened a bit (not always the case in the city).  While it isn't the best quality of meat that I've had in pho, it was certainly acceptable.  Good.  Regular $8, Large $9.50

While the food rating is good, you should consider that I only had one dish.  As for service, the staff is friendly, but may have a tad too much commentary, though not unprofessional - I think the staff may still be feeling this out a bit.  I noticed that they asked patrons where they were from and whether they worked nearby to get a sense of whom was coming in - this was fine - what is a little strange is to comment that our order of two bowls of the same pho dish is easy, good, and direct.  Another oddity - it's weird to hear Biggie Smalls playing on the radio in the background - they may want to consider another channel to cater to a more diverse audience.  Attention to detail seems to be the key - my friends told me that they had to request the dish of condiments when they ordered their pho, so that issue has been resolved, but things like no chopsticks in the silverware holder (it seemed that all tables except ours had chopsticks) and making sure that napkins are stocked (we had none at our table, although the server did bring them eventaully), would help improve the experience.

Overall, Simmer is a good find and I would be willing to go back.  Pricing is higher than what you might expect to find for this dish in San Francisco, but reasonable compared to local competition.  Amongst the three Vietnamese places in Petaluma, I would rank them first in the pho category and service.

Addendum - California, Yountville

6476 Washington Street, Yountville CA 94599
(707) 944-2487
Parking: parking lot
Hours: Thursdays - Saturdays 11am-2pm
http://www.adhocrestaurant.com/addendum/

Last Visited: March 30, 2013

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Located behind Ad Hoc, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, you can grab a lunch box or 'hunger relief to go' at Addendum.  Behind the parking lot is the path to Addendum and the little house where you can order a lunch box, dessert, and Ad Hoc goods like t-shirts or fried chicken mix.  I've heard of Ad Hoc's friend chicken for a number of year's now and this was a perfect way to enjoy it while sitting at picnic tables in Ad Hoc's garden of raised beds.  It's a scenic and peaceful location.

All lunch orders are $16.50 and come with a piece of cornbread, baked beans, and potato salad.  You get a photo holder that holds a piece of paper with your name on it and when your order is ready, Ad Hoc staff walks it from the kitchen in the main building to the garden area.   Orders of four or more can be placed ahead via email.

- BBQ Pork Ribs - You can select pork ribs or pulled pork.  I went for the ribs and got three bones.  The sauce has a prominent chili powder flavor and the meat is tender.  It wasn't the best pork ribs I have had, but it was acceptable.   I would have liked there to be some bark on the ribs and for the meat near the bone to be more infused with flavor. 

- Buttermilk Fried Chicken - Three pieces of fried chicken - a drumstick, a chicken breast, and a thigh are battered and fried.  The skin is nice and crispy and sprinkled with some sea salt, but the color was a little darker than what I was expecting.  The meat was very juicy - even the white meat.  However,  some of the chain restaurants offering fried chicken offer a slightly better product. 

- Sides - The cornbread is moist and sweet.  The baked beans are also on the sweet side and could be served hotter.  The potato salad is a combination of purple and yukon gold fingerling potatoes coupled with caper berries and fresh herbs.  I thought the potatoes were a little on the hard side.  You can see that all of the ingrediences are of good quality, but I've had better potato salads. 

Overall, if you happen to be in Yountville, it's a nice stop, but it doesn't make it on my list of food to drive for.  There are definitely options in the Bay Area that offer better individual entrees.  Service could be more friendly as the staff walks around and delivers your food - something definitely felt missing in terms of warmth of the servers - they're professional, but are much better during regular restaurant service.

Pho Ngoc Tranh - Vietnamese, Petaluma

1390 N. McDowell Blvd, B1, Petaluma CA 94954
(707) 665-9888
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Daily 10:30am - 9pm
http://www.phongocthan.com

Last Visited: May 12, 2012

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

I saw a friend check in to Ngoc Tranh and was excited to find that another Vietnamese restaurant has opened up in Petaluma to give Thang Long some competition.  Thang Long has been able to monopolize the Petaluma Vietnamese food marketplace for a long time.

Located in the OSH shopping center in the former location of Jerome's BBQ, Pho Ngoc Tranh has remodeled the interior so that the bright colors on the walls and dividers, semi-open kitchen, and new furniture give the restaurant a very fresh, clean feel.  Open for about two months now, Ngoc Tranh is a family-owned restaurant.  Their menu features a lot of very appetizing photos to help you decide what to order and to educate customers about what to expect from their dishes.  Ngoc Tranh also seems very tech savvy in that their take out menu even contains a QR code (those funny squares with blotches in between that you scan to your phone).

It feels like they are still working through some of the kinks of a opening a new restaurant.  Service is warm and friendly, but not particularly fast - it seems a little amateur in nature in how they serve bowls of noodles and other plates.  The check also takes a while to come. 

- Special Combo Beef Noodle Soup - Rare steak, well-done brisket, flank steak, tendon, tripe, and beef balls are served in hot beef broth with vermicelli noodles.  These noodles were a bit wider than what you typically find at most Vietnamese restaurants.  A plate of lemon wedges, jalapenos, bean sprouts, and thai basil were also served with the soup. While the flavor was good and the broth was fairly light, I found the quantity to be smaller than what I expected.  The price point is about a dollar too high, especially after considering the quantity.  Presentation is clean and simple. $7.95

Ngoc Tranh offers a lot of the typical items found at Vietnamese restaurants including spring rolls, Vietnamese sandwiches, vermicelli, and BBQ meats.  In the display refrigerator out front, desserts like 3 color pandan jelly entice patrons.  One of the more unusual items that they service is imitation chicken over noodles listed in the vegetarian section of the menu. 

The flavors are good and the service is friendly, although there is room for improvement.   These prices will hopefully be sustainable in this area, but are notably about 10% higher than what you would find in places with greater competition.  It will be interesting to see how locals respond to some of these new offerings.

Phyllis' Giant Hamburgers - American, Santa Rosa

4910 Sonoma Hwy, Suite B, Santa Rosa CA 95409, (707) 538-4000
924 Diablo Ave, Novato CA 94947, (415) 898-8294
Parking: parking in front
Hours: 11am to 9pm daily
http://www.phyllisgiantburgers.com/
Last Visited: October 19, 2010

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$ (prices shown are from 2007)

Phyllis’ in Santa Rosa came with quite a bit of fanfare from the local newspaper anticipating its arrival. The fact that it’s on Highway 12 where everyone can see it probably helps too. It replaced the once popular Heavenly Hamburgers. Phyllis’ made a name for itself in San Rafael as being the Best Burgers in Marin. It then opened up a store in Novato, and now Santa Rosa.

The interior is reminiscent of an old diner (black and white checkered floor) with a big plasma television in the back playing recent DVDs. Outdoor seating is available also. I had a hard time deciding what to select from their menu since there were so many choices, but found service to be okay, though not spectacular. Considering nobody else was in line, I think service overall could have been a touch friendlier, especially since one could tell it was our first time coming to the restaurant. Menus are displayed on large signs behind the counter. There are six signs each with different information, so it can be a bit overwhelming. A Dreyer’s ice cream display sits next to the counter.

- Giant Burger (1/2 pound) – I chose the classic giant burger which was grilled and served on a sesame bun with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Ground chuck is used. I thought it was good and the size was generous for the price. It had a grilled flavor, but had potential to be even better. $4.95

- Chicken Club – All of their chicken burgers are served on a French roll with cheese. We selected jack cheese to go with our club which included mayo, bacon, lettuce, and tomato. I have to admit this was nothing special and I probably could have made the exact same thing at home with less grease. Okay. $6.95

- Curly Fries – Of all the food we had, this was the most surprising. We ordered a large curly fries and the quantity was enough to render us unconscious. For those with a large appetite, you probably could have shared the large curly fries amongst three people, and for small appetites, even four people. The fries are a terrific deal and very fresh too. Very good. Regular $2.50, Large $3.75

I didn’t know it until I got home and read the menu, but grilled onions are available at no charge. You just have to know to ask for it since they don’t offer it. The other note on service is that I saw others being offered a pickle with their burger. I wasn’t offered a pickle with my burger so I was disappointed about that.
It wasn’t the best burger I’ve ever had, but it was far from the worst. It’s definitely a few steps above fast food. It’s good for a beef burger, and if you’re looking for a fries fix, this would be an excellent choice.  Since my visit to Santa Rosa in 2007, I went to the Novato shop in 2010 and found the quality to be consistent.  The place is a little bigger in Novato and still good.

Tov Tofu - Korean, Santa Rosa

1169 Yulupa Ave, Santa Rosa Ca 95405(707) 566-9469
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Hours: Tues-Sun 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm-9pm, Closed Mondays

Last Visited: August 13, 2011

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Shirley had suggested I try Tov Tofu and specifically, she noted that the seafood pancake was a must have item.  With that, it was a no brainer when Alice said we should check it out.  We arrived this warm evening and were a bit surprised that there didn't seem to be a cooling system of any type in place.  I'm not sure if there is central air conditioning or if they own a fan, but the doors were wide open and as a result, the flies had joined us.  This made the atmosphere slightly less appetizing, but we stayed nonetheless.

The decorations are fairly simple.  There is a lot of newer style wood paneling and burgundy vinyl chairs.  The large windows bring in good light.I noticed a Bible verse on the wall in Korean.  Located in the Whole Foods shopping center, it's a convenient spot with lots of easy parking.  The waiter was very friendly and happy to answer questions, but seemed to disappear for long periods of time since he was the only one that seemed to be serving this evening. 

We received seven small plates including side dishes such as kimchee, preseved tofu strips, pickled cucumber, preserved beans, seaweed, and other items.  These side dishes are known as banchan and I always find them fun since nobody seems to make them the same way. 

- Glass Noodles with Sauteed Vegetables - Glass noodles are stir-fried with beef, carrots, spinach, and soy sauce.  This was a well flavored dish and colorful too, but I still feel it was priced a tad too high.  $8.50

- Seafood and Green Onion Pancake - Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the green onion gives this savory pancake a good contrast in texture and flavor in combination with the seafood inside.  I think grated potato is what is creating the crispy texture.   It comes with a soy sauce based dipping sauce.  This is definitely unique and an enjoyable and filling treat. Very good.  $13.50

- BBQ Beef and Vegetable Bibimbab - Rice is cooked and topped with with barbecued beef, kimchi, egg, and vegetables (spinach, mushrooms, carrots, daikon radish, and bean sprouts in sizzling stoneware.  This was very colorful and tastedfine, but fairly average in the world of bibimbab.  If you haven't had it before, think of a very hot in temperature rice dish.  When mixed thoroughly with the spicy red sauce, it will warm your insides.  $13.50

While the food is authentic and has good flavor, I found the dishes to be a little on the small side or rather, that the prices were higher than what I would expect to pay considering the portions we received.  The glass noodle dish was probably the most expensive when it comes to value.  Tov Tofu is nice for a change of pace in Sonoma County and offers a flavorful selection, but the service and pricing have opportunities for improvement.  Small adjustments to these would draw a larger following of both regulars and visitors.

Sushi Hana - Japanese, Sebastopol

6930 Burnett Street, Sebastopol CA 95472
(707) 823-3778
Parking: Street parking or parking lot across the street
Open Daily

Last Visited: August 19, 2006

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Walk into Sushi Hana and find that its layout is slightly awkward. The area directly facing the doorway has some seating, and then to your left is the register and the sushi bar. Making a slight U-turn leads you to the main dining area. During my first visit on a Friday evening when I sat at the sushi bar, I found the restaurant to be fairly empty. During my most recent visit on a Saturday night when I sat at a table, the place was packed. Wednesdays and Saturdays are special because they serve discounted sushi starting at $1 a piece and rolls starting at $3 each.

The carpets are dark green and the tables are wood with glass on top. The chairs have a wood back and dark green cushions. Fresh flowers sit in a vase on top of each table along with white paper placemats, chopsticks, and a napkin. Seating is also available at the sushi bar. Upon our arrival, we received a glass of water with a half of a slice of fresh lemon in it. The walls are a combination of brick and mirrors. There is a fish shaped blackboard displaying the specials and another board behind the sushi bar displaying the same information. Photos are hung around the room. The lighting from the windows give the room a slightly brighter feel.

P told us what a great place this was, especially for its Wednesday and Saturday specials which are available all day.

- Miso Soup – During both visits, I tried the miso soup. Flavor was very similar both times, but there were two differences. The temperature of the soup the first time was much hotter – the second time it was steaming, but only lukewarm. The first time, the tofu blocks were not cut as neatly, and the second time, they were cut much cleaner. Finally, the second time, there was an overload of green onions sprinkled into the soup which overwhelmed the miso flavor. I guess it depends on timing and who is putting your soup in the bowl. $1.50

- Maguro – The maguro was good. It was fresh and tender with clean flavors. $4

- Albacore – The albacore wasn’t as good as the maguro. Fair. $4

- Tako (Octopus) – The tako was rubbery. It was like chewing gum – not as fresh as it should have been since a fresh octopus would be crisp in comparison. $3.50

- Inari (Deep Fried Tofu) – This was fairly standard stuff. A sweet and soft tofu shell filled with rice. Good. $3

- Hamaichi (Yellow Tail)/ Hirame (Halibut) – Since both of these came on the same plate, I had a hard time telling one from the other. One was very tender, and the other was more chewy. I ordered another one of the tender ones by indicating where it was on the plate (since I had asked the server to identify which was which for me), but I’m not sure the second plate came back with what I wanted since the texture was right in the middle compared to the first pieces. $4

- Unagi - When I had the unagi during my first visit, it was fine. When I returned for some on the Saturday evening, I found it wasn’t quite as good. Perhaps it was because it was warm when I sat at the bar, and cooled when I sat at the table. Just okay. $4

- Rock and Roll (Eel and Avocado) – The unagi is rolled with avocado and drizzled with sauce. The flavors aren’t clean, so it’s hard to tell if the flavor is better in a roll or better as sushi when both are of good quality. However, it was better in a roll compared to the pieces of unagi I ordered as nigiri sushi this evening. $4

- Sake (Salmon) – The salmon is available smoked or fresh. We selected fresh and it was good. $4

- Toro – The toro had a nice flavor – tender. Not the best toro I’ve had, but good. $9

- Blue Fin Tuna – Same thoughts as the toro – fresh and good. $9

- Pink Lady – The pink lady was described as salmon skin with tobiko, cucumber, gobo, and dried saved bonito. I wouldn’t get this again. Of the dishes I tried during my first visit at the bar, this was my least favorite – lacking texture, lacking flavor. I prefer my salmon skin to have a little meat on it and for the skin to be toasted extra crispy – that’s not the case here. $6

- Lobster Roll #1 – I liked this roll, but you don’t get much lobster. The flavor is nice and does taste of lobster. Fresh, but could be a larger quantity with chunkier pieces of lobster. That would make it better $8

My server during the second visit took time to warm up. When he arrived with the water, he just stood there as though we were going to order. He didn’t greet us or make any statements about taking the order, which I found to be odd. After asking him some questions when our plate arrived, he responded, but it seems odd to have a server so quiet. He also checked back frequently enough when he saw the puzzled look on our faces, but there is much room for improvement.

Overall, the food experience is so-so. My first visit at the bar was better than my second at a table, and the service leaves something to be desired, though as always, it depends on who your server is. Going on Wednesdays and Saturdays is a bit risky. The way I see it – they clear out inventory on these two days which is great, because inventory is being cleared out, but it’s also bad because that means it’s not at the peak of freshness. If you want inexpensive sushi and your palate is not picky, then you might find it fine on Wednesdays and Saturday, but if you’ve had really good sushi, I would say pass. Perhaps Thursdays and Sundays are the best days to go.

Papa's Taverna - Greek, Petaluma

5688 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma CA 94954

(707) 769-8545

Hours: Closed Mon and Tues, Wed and Thurs 11:30am-2pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am-10pm

http://www.papastaverna.com/

Last Visited: July 9, 2011

Food: 3 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 2 to 3 stars

Price: $ to $$

It's been more than a few years since I've been to Papa's Taverna.  I had a craving for Greek food and met a friend out here for dinner one evening.

Their website says that they're under new ownership.  Maybe that's part of the reason I felt the place had changed.  I had come here many moons ago for a family dinner and had found the place rather charming for our table of many guests, but now it seems like it could use a renovation and remodel.

Enter the restaurant in the evening and you'll be given the option to be seated near the band or in the other dining area.  I chose the area away from the band because the sun was about to set and this room offers views of the water, boats, and other scenery.  The decor seems a bit dated and less than wow.

The service to start the evening right from the start could have used some improvement.  The server was abrupt and trying to be both host and server with plates in her hand.  I wouldn't have minded waiting for her to finish serving first before coming over to seat us.  Once seated, the order process was fine, but her timing for checking on us was a bit off.

- Fried Calamari - Although the frying oil was fresh and the color on the calamari was good, the batter was too soft and it seemed like frozen calamari that had been breaded versus breading done in house.  The cucumber slices and pieces of tomato addded a nice freshness, but I still found it lackluster.  $10

- Mousaka - Greek vegetable, meat lasagna.  Served with a half Papa's horiatiki salad.  The salad is served first and comes with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta chunks.  I really liked how this feta wasn't too salty.  The presentation of the mousaka could be more pleasing - the darkened edges make the pasta look dry.  The flavor was ok.  The vegetables were alright, but nothing to write home about. $18

- Pork Gyro with French Fries - The gyro was tasty with the toasted pita bread and fresh vegetables with the grilled meat.  The pita is grilled until warm and slightly crisp.  The amount of thick cut french fries are good and they were fried to an acceptable crispness. I would have liked them to be even a little crispier.  Of the dishes tried, the gyro was probably one of the better dishes of the evening.  $14

While the server was pleasant, her overall demeanor could use some polishing.  The atmosphere is old and outdated.  Pricing on their menu is a bit high for dinner entrees.  If prices were lowered $2 to $3 per dish, I would find it more palatable for my wallet considering the overall ambiance.

Papa's Taverna might be a good place to go to watch the belly dancing or hear live music, but it's a bit expensive considering the service and atmosphere.  The gyro is a good choice.

Sam's For Play Cafe - American, Santa Rosa

2630 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa CA 95403
(707) 528-2929
Parking: in parking lot
http://samsforplaycafe.com/
Last Visited: April 17, 2004

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$

Sam’s For Play Café is located in front of the Comfort Inn. It’s a little hard to find the entrance, but enter as though you’re heading for the Comfort Inn. Upon entering the restaurant, you’ll see the glass case displaying a variety of shirts and apparel proudly displaying the Sam’s logo. Also directly in front of you will be the specials board and the counter seating.

The décor of the place is homey. There are old knick knacks on shelves above the windows ranging from bottles to cans with old labels from probably 25 to 30 years back. The windows have short curtains that have a blue checkered design. There are colorful posters displayed and there is an old black wood stove in the restaurant which now serves as the napkin and utensil bar.

Service is friendly and the atmosphere is warm. I have been to Sam’s several times before, but it’s been a while since my last visit. For my tastes, I find there are better places to eat in the area. One thing I do like is that entrees come with soup or salad and toast, but aside from the bargain pricing, food quality is average, and well, keep reading.

- Clam chowder – Creamy clam chowder is served with crackers. The soup was too salty this evening.

- Salad – Green salad with a slice of cucumber served with your choice of dressing. Most of the greens were fresh, though the cucumber had probably been sitting all day. The croutons are great though.

- Prime Rib Dinner – A cut of prime rib is served with your choice of potato (baked or mashed or French fries) and seasonal vegetables. Salad or soup and toast are also included. The vegetables consisted of a mix of zucchini, onions, and bell peppers this evening. The prime rib was okay. It wasn’t the best cut of meat, but the flavor was okay. Just keep your expectations in line with the restaurant that you’re in. We had asked for medium, but it turned out to be more of a medium well. The baked potato was fine, and the vegetables were seasoned lightly. $10.95

- Chicken Strips – Four large chicken strips are fried and served with honey mustard dipping sauce. You can also ask for ranch dressing. Again, salad or soup and toast are included along with potato and vegetables. We got French fries with this dish and they tasted great. The oil was fresh, so the chicken strips and the fries were excellent. $9.95

Although service was fine, the first glass of water I asked for had a piece of bread in it. When I told the waitress, she eagerly replaced it, but my second glass of water also had bread in it, albeit this was a much smaller piece. What kind of water does this place have? Or maybe the question is what’s in the pitchers holding the water? Anyhow, this was not impressive, and made me feel uneasy. Stick to typical food and I think you’ll be fine. Keep your expectations in check, and check your water. Everything else should go fine after that.

Paige's Diner - American, Santa Rosa

1039 West College Ave, Santa Rosa CA 95401
(707) 579-8479
Parking: in shopping center parking lot

Last Visited: November 21, 2004

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 stars
Price: $$

Paige’s Diner is located in the G&G shopping center. It’s a small place with a lot of windows. The tables are dark brown and the chairs are also dark and cushioned. It’s reminiscent of late 80s décor.

On the walls, you’ll find posters featuring rainbows and multicolored fish. The rear of the room holds the kitchen and a counter strewn with many magazines. I didn’t get a close look, but in general, it seemed disorderly. The front of the room contains a television showing some sports program, and a neon board featuring the specials for the day.

Paige’s is open for breakfast and lunch. We came late into the lunch hour and found the place to be fairly empty and except for two other tables, had the place to ourselves.

For full sandwiches, you can receive a choice of a cup of soup, side salad, fries, and cottage cheese amongst other things is available as your choice of side. They also have half sandwiches with side available for a slightly lower price.

- Clam Chowder – This clam chowder came as a side to a sandwich. I found it too thick. Although there were a lot of potatoes and some clams, and the flavor was good, the texture seemed a bit off. The soup was on the verge of becoming separated. It was rich and creamy, but barely slipped off the spoon. Not quite right for me - fair.

- Roast Beef Melt – Roast beef is placed between white bread spread with lots of mayonnaise. The good thing about this melt was the roast beef is real roast beef, not sliced deli meat. However, to keep the toasted bread from being soggy, there is also a lot of mayonnaise, so much that it will squeeze out of your sandwich. It’s got good flavor and the meat is juicy. Good. $8.25 (full sandwich with side)

- Chicken Strips – Chicken strips are located in the starters section of the menu. Available in buffalo style or crispy, we selected crispy. Five strips of chicken breast meat are served with choice of ranch or barbecue sauce. We selected ranch. The chicken strips were fine, but the ranch was too liquid. It seemed homemade, or at least home mixed, and had the wrong consistency. It barely stuck onto the chicken. Good chicken, bad dip. $6

The service was pretty bad. Although we were promptly greeted, it just didn’t feel very friendly. The cook rang the bell twice, and even after that, it seemed a good five minutes before our dishes came. We knew it was ours because we were the only people who hadn’t received food yet, and had it not been for one of the busboys asking the waitress if an order was up, we may not have ever gotten the food.

Despite the local radio stations recommendation to go to Paige’s, I wouldn’t recommend a trip. The food is okay at best, but there are so many places to try - this one would drop low on my list.

Pupusa Salvadorena - El Salvadoran, Santa Rosa

1403 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa CA
(707) 544-3141
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: December 28, 2006

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

I had never heard of a pupusa until recently. Working in a company with a lot of folks with Hispanic origin has allowed me to enjoy a number or new feasts for the eyes when it comes to the cafeteria and watching what everyone eats for lunch. It’s especially fun watching what everyone brings for potluck days. As you drive on Highway 12 from Farmers Lane towards Sebastopol, you’ll see the business off to the right side next to 7-Eleven. I knew I needed to stop in there one of these days, and having my coworker tell me what a pupusa is really made it that much more appealing.

A pupusa is often described as two corn tortillas sandwiched together and stuffed with pork, cheese, squash, beans, or the like. It has a comfort food feeling about it with the warm dough reminding me a lot of Chinese green onion pancakes, though less fried and not as glutinous.

When I arrived, I seated myself and was quickly brought a menu. The place is painted a bright blue with three booths with red benches on both sides of the restaurant. Tables fill in the center. Around the room, you see pictures of El Salvador. It’s a casual place, and from what I’ve heard, the owner used to make the same pupusas for her friends to eat and decided to start her own business. It’s great to know you’re supporting small business owners.

The waitress was friendly and asked me if I was ready to order and wanted anything to drink. Since I was waiting for friends, I told her I would have some water and wait to order. She was very kind, checking in on me until friends got there, and when we had questions about how we should order, she made recommendations about how many pupusas to get and that we should consider our empanada as dessert rather than a main dish.

Each item is plated separately, and she announced the food upon arrival. We were given salsa (in a container that you would normally see containing maple syrup) and a bowl of curtido to share. The curtido is pickled cabbage, carrots, and some chili flakes. It’s fairly mild in flavor. I started to think about how the curtido seems like a less spicy version of kim chee, though for the curtido, the cabbage is sliced thin.

- Pupusa Revuelta – Pork – This pupusa is filled with ground pork. It’s juicy on the inside, though not bursting, and is lightly grilled on the outside. Very good. $1.75

- Pupusas de Ayote con Queso – My coworker suggested I try this one out. It contains squash (zucchini perhaps?) which provides a nice texture contrast compared to the cheese with which it is paired. It’s got a slightly more al dente mouth feel than the pupusa revuelta. $1.75

I had originally ordered a pupusa containing rice and beans, but when I made the switch to the squash and cheese pupusa, the waitress smiled told me that this one was a better choice.

- Empanada Plantanos con Leche – This is a fried plantain with cream inside. It’s an interesting texture since the outside is crispy, then it’s softer, and the center is even softer. The cream was different than what I expected, but it wasn’t too sweet. Good. $1.50

The salsa helps flavor the pupusa and the curtido gives it a nice balance so that the grilled food is balanced with something vinegar in flavor. This is common in Asian cooking as well, not to mention German with their sauerkraut.

Prices at Pupusa Salvadorena are outrageously low. You can hear the making of the pupusas in the back from the sound of the dough being slapped between someone’s hands as it is formed. It’s home style cooking in a low key environment, and it’s comfort food. The simple menu provides some great treats. Check this place out.

Pizzeria Capri - Sonoma

1266 Broadway, Sonoma CA 95476
(707) 935-6085
Parking: in shopping center parking lot

Last Visited: November 1, 2006

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

I haven’t been to Pizzeria Capri for more than ten years. The last time I went, they had just opened in Sonoma. We had brought a coupon – yes, those things really do get you in the door – and the staff’s reaction was so poor that we never went back despite its convenient location just a few miles from downtown.

Upon walking in the door, we were immediately directed to a seat. There isn’t a host, so it’s bit of a frantic hustle and bustle, but the lead waitress seems to have things under control. The rest of the staff is a bit flighty in comparison. More about this below.

The décor is simple. Older wooden tables, some with the finish rubbed off, simple chairs, and two televisions – the larger television is in the rear room and a smaller televisions is above the counter. A wall with openings separates the rooms. The large windows make the restaurant feel slightly bigger, and the yellow walls with brown trim gives the place a fresher look. However, the floor and the tables show the wear of the establishment, and the overall look is a bit dated. Pizzeria Capri is a great candidate for Restaurant Makeover, but it has its charm. Posters of past local events line the walls. After ordering the pizza, we saw the calamari and were tempted to try it.

- Fried Calamari – A plate comprised primarily of fried calamari rings and few tentacles is placed on top of a larger plate and served with two ramekins. One ramekin contains marinara sauce. The other contains ranch with a dollop of pesto sauce. The calamari is deep fried until the light batter is just golden and placed on a plate that has been lightly covered in chunky marinara sauce. Coarsely chopped parsley tops the dish. The calamari was tender and the coating was light and flaky. The sauces were more than ample, and we appreciated that since many places tend to skimp on dipping sauce. The pesto adds color and flavor to the ranch dressing. Very good. $8

- Pizza: Capri Special – There are a number of choices in pizza topping combinations. The Capri special didn’t list the specific toppings, but I figured it would be a combination of meat and vegetables. Our medium crust pizza (not thick, not thin) was topped with red sauce, cheese, bell peppers, green onions, mushrooms, sausage, pepperoni, salami, and olives. Great. The crust was crispy on bottom and the pizza had a nice flavor. It wasn’t too soggy nor too dry. It had just the right texture and dipping the crust in the ranch sauce from the calamari made it even better. $18 for medium

- Milk $2

As for the service, the young bus boy was a bit inexperienced. Although he took our individual plates when we had finished with our calamari, he didn’t take the main dish despite it being empty. He’s polite in asking if he may take your plate, but not quite experienced enough. Also, when he answered the phone when I initially called, he could have been more professional.

If you’re a local, look for coupons in the advertising mailer. There were many locals there, and the food is pretty good. Other entrees include standard pasta fare which is available a la carte or with choice of salad or soup.

Sift - Bakery, Cupcakes, Santa Rosa

404-A Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa Ca 95401
(707) 703-4228
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mo-Th 10am-8pm, Fr-Sa 10am-9pm, Su 12pm-6pm
http://www.siftcupcakes.com/

Last Visited: July 17, 2011

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars

Price: $

Walk into Sift and smell the sweet scent of sugar throughout the shop.  The case displaying sweet treats is very inviting and calls you to peruse it.  Cupcakes at Sift Cupcake and Dessert Bar go for $3 each or $30 per dozen.  They also offer cupcake chocolates for $2 and frosting shots (the thought of that just scares me) for $1.50 a piece.  French macaroons, ice cream sammys, whoopie cookies, and profiteroles are available too. 

I opted to try one of their Sonoma County famous cupcakes - Peach Me I'm Dreaming - It's a vanilla cake with a graham cracker crust, filled with peach jam, and topped with peach mousse and white chocolate shavings.  I found the cupcake to be good.  I would have liked the cake to have a lighter texture and not to fall apart quite so much, but that's just my preference for cake.  I appreciated how the filling and frosting weren't overly sweet, but a nice balance of quantities as well as the attention to detail.

It's hard to judge a place by one cupcake alone, so I'm definitely willing to go back, but would look to trying one of the chocolate or red velvet versions.

Chinese food to-go boxes make this an easy treat to pick up and share with a friend.

There are also now locations in Cotati, Napa, and there's even a cupcake truck. 

El Gallo Taqueria - Mexican, Petaluma

1367 North McDowell, Suite 140, Petaluma CA 95954
(707) 763-7111
Parking: in shopping center

Last Visited: June 3, 2006

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$$

El Gallo Taqueria just opened up in the new Kohl’s shopping center in Petaluma. It’s bright orange and sunny décor is inviting. The large panes of glass in the front of the shop stream in lots of light. In the rear is a large flat screen tv. This evening and during my second visit, it was showing the soccer game. There are rooster figures on the wall and a large glass rooster containing garlic and other decorative foods. The open kitchen allows the aroma to come to your nose. There’s a salsa bar in the middle of the restaurant with lime pieces, various salsas, and vegetables.

The local radio station was raving about El Gallo Taqueria, so I thought I would give it a try. Upon our arrival, we received warm chips and were told to help ourselves to the salsa bar. Service was friendly.

- Super Burrito – I selected chicken, but other meats are available. A good sized burrito comes in a soft flour tortilla. Inside were sour cream, guacamole, rice, beans, and salsa. The overall flavor was good. The chicken strips inside my burrito were freshly grilled. Good. I wouldn’t expect anymore for the price. $5.95

- Fajitas – Shrimp – The fajitas are available with shrimp, chicken, or steak. They’re served with pico de gallo, guacamole, rice, refried beans, and three tortillas. The shrimp is grilled with green peppers and onion strips. It’s grilled after ordering and comes out steaming hot. The rice is perfectly moist, and the refried beans have a fine consistency. All was very good. There were only seven shrimp, which was a bit disappointing that there weren’t more, but overall, the flavor was terrific. The only point of improvement is being a little more generous with the shrimp. $10.95

Most items range from $4.50 to $11.95 in price. The typical item menus are included – enchiladas, burritos, tortas, tacos, and even burgers. They also have kid’s plates available. I will probably try one of their combination plates in the future (prices for those range from $5.95 to $6.95).

During my second experience, the service was not quite as friendly, though close. The place is somewhat empty for a Saturday evening, so the location may not be so good for drumming up clientele. The lack of signage from a side view is likely hurting them, but the food is still good. This time, there wasn’t any pico de gallo in the salsa bar which was a little disappointing, but some came with my dish.

- Enchilada and taco combination plate – Choice of meat for both items is available. The shredded beef enchilada came in a very soft tortilla topped with sauce and cheese. Great sauce. The taco is available with a crispy shell or soft. The crispy shell is drizzled with a little enchilada sauce and lightly sprinkled with cheese over the center. The taco comes with lettuce and pico de gallo. Since breast meat is used, it can be a little dry. This combo plate also came with rice and refried beans. Since the items are not made to order, it’s more like hot plate, warm food, but still good flavor. $6.96

- Taco Salad – With a choice of meat, you receive a tostada shell (very light and flaky) containing refried beans, rice, lettuce, meat (I selected shredded beef), pico de gallo, two dollops of sour cream, and two dollops of guacamole. There’s a light sprinkling of cheese on top (dried, not fresh). The meat is fresh and warm and the salad is good. The only thing I would improve is adding more lettuce and using fresh cheese. Great flavor though. $6.95

The chef was very sanitary – he took our order, and visibly washed his hands before beginning to cook. Not every place does this. The only thing I would change is the air circulation. Since the kitchen is open, it’s hard for the fresh air to be circulated. They try to accomplish this by keeping the door open, but I don’t know what they do on a cold or rainy day. Nevertheless, it’s a great place to try out. The ingredients were fresh, the service, friendly, and the chips warm. If you’re interested, they have tamales that are Central American style that are wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks. So far, all of the dishes I’ve tried have been fresh and good. Need I say more?

Thai House - Santa Rosa

525 Fourth St, Santa Rosa CA 95401
(707) 526-3939
Parking: street parking or nearby parking lots
Last Visited: February 1, 2007

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Thai House is located on the second floor, so when you are walking on the street, look for a staircase and a sign – both are a bit obstructed from view by the other nearby restaurants, but be on the lookout and you’ll see it.

Thai House has been in downtown Santa Rosa for quite some time. They’re especially known for their seating and regulars also receive special treatment. The seats are interesting. The main dining area has regular tables and chairs. In the rear, there is a raised area with short tables, creating floor seating. They provide thick cushions, both flat (for you to sit on) and triangular ones (for leaning) that are covered in gold fabric. It definitely creates an authentic feel. The area with the raised seating is decorated with dark walls, dark carpet, and outlines of Thai figures. Guests are required to take off their shoes before entering this section. The tables are situated such that two long tables are on the sides of the room and smaller tables are located at the very rear just behind the small set of stairs.

It’s been about six or seven years since my last visit. Having visited many of the Thai restaurants in Sonoma County, when I compare Thai House with the rest, I found the ambience at Thai House nice, but better food can be found in the area. This recent visit confirmed my previous observations.

This evening, we had a large party of over ten people. The Christmas decorations were still present with Christmas lights on the railing along with a garland of green synthetic material. Upon my arrival, the staff pointed out where to go (my view of the table was blocked by the wall dividing the room with regular tables and chairs and the room with the raised floor. It would have been better service for the waitstaff to actually walk us to the location considering it wasn’t very far away and would have added a personal touch. When we ordered, the waitress stayed at the corner of the table and looked at us as we each stated what we wanted. Surprisingly, the acoustics aren’t bad when everyone is quiet. The wait staff typically wear authentic Thai clothing too.

- Satay – Five skewers of grilled chicken (beef also an available choice) are served with a small cucumber salad and a small dish of peanut sauce. The chicken had noticeable grill marks and were placed on a bed of lettuce. Presentation was nice. The cucumber salad had a nice flavor and there were small pieces of red onion. The peanut sauce was thick and had good flavor also. The chicken was dense and lacked flavor. It took a bit of effort to remove the chicken from the skewer which seemed to indicate that the meat was overcooked. Fair. $6.95

- Yellow Curry – You can select chicken, beef, or tofu curry. I selected chicken. The curry made with coconut milk is smooth and creamy. Chicken breast is cut in pieces and cooked with potatoes, red and green bell peppers, and the curry sauce. All is served in a shallow oval dish. Good flavor, though the portions are small. The curry is served medium, so if you like spicy, be sure to ask for increased heat. I liked how there weren’t too many vegetables stuffed in as filler, but it wasn’t outstanding. $9.95

- Pad Thai – Rice noodles are cooked with your choice of chicken or tofu. I selected tofu. The tofu comes in small cubes and along with the rice noodles, there are bean sprouts, chopped peanuts, and on the side, you’ll see shredded lettuce topped with a wedge of tomato. These side vegetables aren’t particularly traditional, but you often see it as decoration. I found this dish to be okay. The noodles were a little too al dente for me – not quite the way rice noodles should be, so just okay as a dish overall. Flavor was good, although there was also an excess of chopped peanuts. $7.95

- Rice – The quantity of rice was good since the bowl tended to be bigger, but not perfect rice quality and texture. Okay. $1

- Thai Iced Tea – This was a large tea and the flavor was good, but the complaint I have is that at bottom of my cup, there was a small pile of tea leaves, and unfortunately, it wasn’t leaves, but very fine powder which basically ruined the overall drink when I was finishing it off. Good tea, but presentation with fine tea at the bottom isn’t acceptable for a sweet drink. $2

When our fellow dining companion asked for peanut sauce, he was not told he would be charged extra for it, which seems like something you should inform the customer of or just provide it for free. They also add 18% gratuity for large parties.

I felt most dishes could have been served hotter in temperature, and the curry could be hotter in flavor, but considering the large group, it may have cooled down during transport. The food was placed on carts and brought into the room. The seats are not comfortable, especially if you sit on the railing side (as opposed to the wall side) since there is no place to lean. Sitting across from someone at the table also ends up in either very uncomfortable Indian style seating with legs asleep at the end of the meal or a friendly get to know the person across from you all out footsie war. Worse yet, it could be feet in your lap for dinner. Check out the Thai House for atmosphere, but food and service are fair to okay.

Mary's Pizza Shack - Sonoma, Novato, Santa Rosa

18636 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma CA 95476, (707) 938-3600
535 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa CA 95405, (707) 538-1888
121 San Marin Dr, Novato, CA 94945, (415) 897-6266
Parking: in parking lot
http://www.maryspizzashack.com/

Last Visited: June 16, 2011

Food: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Mary’s has been around for a long time. I remember them being in Sonoma for more than 20 years and their history goes back even further to 1959. Mary Fazio leaves the legacy of fine homemade food, and now has 15 locations in Sonoma County and nearby areas. The Boyes Springs restaurant is large with two dining areas inside and outside dining is also available. The kitchen is open and you can watch the pizzas being tossed. The excess crust is used to make breadsticks that anyone can enjoy. The atmosphere of the restaurant is casual.

The food at Mary’s is good, but it used to be even better. The salad quality can vary, but most of the time, its fresh - sometimes I think that is the best thing. The next best thing is of course the pizzas, though they do offer a variety of pasta dishes.  All of the entrees are served with soup or salad and iced tea, coffee, or hot tea. In Sonoma, Mary’s serves warm sourdough bread from the local Basque Café with each meal (at least in Sonoma).

- Mary’s Salad – Iceberg lettuce is dressed and topped with one slice of salami, shredded carrots, sliced mushrooms, three bean salad, a slice of egg, and mozzarella. When its fresh, it’s great. Simple and good. House $3.95, Large $7.10

- Spaghetti and Meatball – Spaghetti in tomato sauce is topped with a gigantic meatball. Sometimes the pasta is not al dente, but the flavors are always consistent. The meatball is always large and hearty. Good. $10.65

- Mary’s Combination Pizza – This is my favorite pizza of all the combinations available. It’s topped with cheese, salami, pepperoni, cotto salami, sausage, and mushrooms. It’s a great combination of flavors and a sure flavor parade.

- Meat Lasagna – Another one of my favorites. A good portion - the lasagna noodles are layered with ricotta and meat sauce. Always hearty, it’s topped with more mozzarella, and it’s always good. $11.95

Sandwiches are also available for those who prefer them over pizza and pasta dishes.

The service is sometimes inconsistent at Mary’s. Depending on your server, your dining experience can vary widely. Sometimes, it’s excellent and up to 5 stars, and other times, it can be as low as 2 stars. The pizza quality is probably the most consistent thing of all.   While the food quality may vary, I still think Mary's offers a good value to larger crowds - I've had a few larger group lunches with people from work at the various Mary's.  Hopefully, they can step up the quality of both food and service, but in general, it's still got reliably good options.

The Villa - Italian, Santa Rosa

3901 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 525-7755
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: December 26, 2005

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

The Villa has been around for a long time. It’s known for its excellent views of Santa Rosa, the multiple dining areas, and the reasonably priced food. Set atop a hill, the restaurant offers a view of the city lights which are particularly nice on clear evenings. Parking is ample.

The dining areas are spacious and work well for small tables and groups. There is a separate dining room that is ideal for larger parties. The setting is pleasant and in winter, there’s a cozy feeling about the place. Most of the rooms have large windows bringing in lots of natural light during the day. In the evening, the mirrors placed along the large columns create a nice effect while making the room brighter by reflecting light from the lamps above. The high ceilings give the restaurant a nice elegance.

There is also a bar featuring sports programming. Multiple dining areas are available.

White tablecloths adorn the tables. Upon arrival, you’ll receive bread and butter. All entrees include choice of salad or soup which seems less common these days, so that’s certainly part of the appeal.

The dishes at The Villa vary. The fish of the day is usually a safe bet. It’s typically salmon or a mild fish and served with a lemon butter sauce. The pasta is not as good. It’s usually gone past the al dente stage and is too soft. The sauce also gets watered down by the pasta water and the pasta dishes I have tried are typically disappointing. The cuts of meat are average, but I think the fish is their specialty.

The Villa is great for those seeking a bargain, but food quality can vary. Atmosphere is nice, and service is good, but not outstanding. Also if you plan to eat here and are on a budget, the local newspaper offers a 2 for 1 deal every week.

After my most recent visit, I revised the comment about the meat. Both the prime rib and lamb were very nicely done. See comments below.

I selected the salad today, and the salad was very fresh. Fresh romaine, a cherry tomato (although one of the salads didn’t have any tomato), and cucumber slices were part of the salad. Great. The only down side was that as our salads were presented, some waiters offered freshly ground pepper, but ours did not (and I like fresh cracked pepper on my salad).

- Prime Rib – A prime rib is cooked to your taste and served with a small cup of au jus. A baked potato and vegetables accompany the meat. The potato and prime rib were just about perfect. I asked for medium and got between medium and medium well. The vegetables weren’t very good though, at least not to my taste. The broccoli was overcooked. The portion was quite satisfactory, and great for the price. ~$14

- Roasted Rack of Lamb – Three lamb chops are served with penne pasta and vegetables. See vegetables comments above. The lamb was very nicely done, not overcooked, but juicy. Mint jelly accompanies the lamb. The penne would be better on its own rather than accompanying the dish (in fact, I ate it the next day and preferred it this way since it didn’t detract from the lamb). I would have preferred a baked potato over the penne. Another great bargain. ~ $15

Both of the dishes I tried this evening were good value and the meats were good quality. I’m not sure of the pizzas and pastas, but I would still recommend the fish since multiple visits have proven that safe. Service this evening was fair. There was a narrow walking area behind one of our seats, and the staff continued to use it despite other routes being available. This was distracting as you could feel them brushing against the seat each time they passed by. I observed the bussing staff having good rapport with one another and working well together in general, but the waiters were fair in their service. See salad comment above. Also, my steak knife was not clean, and it took a while to grab the attention of the staff to get a replacement. Our water glasses were not checked frequently and the check took a long time to come to the table. Service was downgraded from three stars to the two to three star range. The food this evening was better than past experiences, and the specials menu is a great value since they come with soup or salad. Fortunately, the setting is nice in the evening. The Villa has a lot of room for improvement, but it’s a good bargain overall.

Simply Vietnam - Pho, Vietnamese, Santa Rosa

966 North Dutton Ave, Santa Rosa CA 95401
(707) 566-8910
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Mon to Sat 10am to 9pm, Sun 11am to 5pm

Last Visited: June 21, 2007

Food: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Formerly the home of Cam Ranh Bay, Simply Vietnam has added some finishing touches to the restaurant along with a fresh coat of paint. Although the fare remains the same, the fresh earthy colors, new furniture, and unique décor has made Simply Vietnam stand out from its predecessors. The rooms are painted with a color brighter than terra cotta, but not orange. There is a tree and other leafy metal sculptures decorating the facility that are unique and interesting to look at. The ceiling fan looks like large leaves.

During the three times I have visited, twice for lunch and once for dinner, the restaurant has been fairly busy. Twice there have been only two younger women on the wait staff, and once it appeared to be two brothers.

On each table is a black basket containing the usual pho seasonings (sricha chili sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, regular chili sauce, and more) and a chrome container holding fork and knives as well as chopsticks. A napkin holder is also set on each table.

During the first visit, the place was bustling. Everything moved at a fast pace. During my second visit, the floors were rather dirty, and the table we were seated at was wet. I downgraded the rating for atmosphere from three stars to two to three stars. The third visit was a little slower in pace, and it seemed like they had finally found the groove in which they fit. Things ran smoothly without a rushed feeling and I upgraded them back to three stars for atmosphere.

- Egg rolls (3) – The egg rolls contain minced pork, prawns, and mixed vegetables. They were plated and cut before served. The egg rolls were served with a sweet vinaigrette sauce. I found them to be a little darker than I prefer, okay in flavor, but also lacking the juiciness I like. Okay. $4.25

- Combination Beef Noodle Soup – This noodle soup contains rare sliced steak, well done brisket, meatballs, and tripe. Each pho comes with a side dish of bean sprouts, Thai basil, jalapeno, and lime. The menu says mint comes with it also, but mine came with cilantro instead. During my first two visits, I found the pho to be very good. During my most recent visit, the well done brisket had some soft bones on them, and I found them difficult to eat. Overall, good, but the last time left a bad impression because of the brisket alone. Flavor was still good. Small $5.25, Large $5.75, Extra Large $6.75

- Coconut Juice – Refreshing, coconut juice is a standard. $2

Overall, I found that Simply Vietnam is a good stop for lunch or dinner, reasonably priced, and friendly. The presentation is nicer than some of the other Vietnamese restaurants, and the tables themselves are spaciously placed, offering more personal space. They offer typical Vietnamese dishes such as bun, pho, or rice dishes with grilled meat. The new décor has added sparkle to the place, and I would certainly return.

Old Chicago - Pizza/Italian, Petaluma

41 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 763-3897
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: January 4, 2004

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Old Chicago Pizza is known for its deep dish Chicago style pizza, just as the name says. It is located upstairs and the aromas from the kitchen are absolutely inviting. Just follow your nose. Upon entering, you face the bar and see the brick walls and lots of dark wood chairs and tables.

The staff is attentive and ready for any questions you may have. It’s a casual and informal atmosphere, and on a cold evening, the heater is on inside, so you’ll feel comfortable and at home.

The menu is simple – multiple sizes available and deep dish or thin crust are your options. They have basic toppings – pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, olives, and tomatoes, but you won’t find salami. They also have the “gourmet” toppings available such are artichokes.

Our dinner was basic, but very filling.

- Dinner salad – A basic green salad with a few types of lettuce and greens and red onions. Your choice of dressing is available. Simple and a decent portion – enough for one person without the quantity being too dainty or overwhelming. $3.75

Deep dish pizza with pepperoni and chopped olives – Basic cheese pizza is available, but we went for two toppings. Flavorful pizza and thick crust with crispy outer crust. It was great. I wasn’t expecting the olives to be chopped, and I typically like the olives on pizza to be sliced, so it would be nice for that to be clarified on the menu. Other than that, a very satisfying deep dish pizza.

Double crust pizza is also available, but note that it will take around 30 minutes for preparation and cooking. It’s a nice place to go if you’re looking for some deep dish pizza in the area, but don't compare it to real deep dish or Zachary's in Berkeley - it just isn't the same. Thin crust is also available for sizes small and up.