Sonoma Must See wineries/ restaurants? SF dinner?

16 years ago

I'm headed to a high school reunion this weekend in Danville, CA (East Bay) and to make it worth my husband's while, we're driving up on Sunday through Sonoma, staying somewhere (maybe Bodega on the coast, maybe in the valley) and heading back to SF on Monday.

Anyone have any recommendations for must-stop wineries for our trip on Sunday?

Would you stay the night on the coast (DH hasn't ever been to that part of CA and it's so beautiful) or would you stay near the wineries and do more on the way back to SF on Monday?

I want to stop at Muir Woods on Monday, and maybe Cliff House. We need to drop the car off at Oakland Airport on Monday before heading back to our hotel (and dinner) in SF for the night. DH wants to see Fisherman's Wharf and ride a cable car, and doesn't like Chinese... so I'm looking for dinner sugggestions in SF, too...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

foodonastump
16 years ago
For wineries, my trusty source suggests Peter Michael, but says it's difficult to get in, and Pride Mountain.
jojoco
16 years ago
I believe this one is in Napa, but worth the detour. Be warned, its nickname is "Del Blotto". My dh and I did a wine vacation a few years ago and this one was the highlight of our trip.
Jo

Here is a link that might be useful: you might like this one
Related Discussions
Mendocino Botanical Gardens - a MUST see!
Q
Comments (11)
Again, for those who might be going up to Mendo, we can heartily recommend the B&B we stayed at. The Agate Cove Inn is located on Lansing Rd., right by the ocean, about 1 mile just north of the town of Mendocino. It was far and away the best place we stayed during our long trip! They are duplex cabins, all with patios, full baths with jetted tubs, comfortable beds, nice little breakfast in the morning, extremely quiet and peaceful. We stayed in Zircon but really liked all of them - we were the only ones staying on a Sunday so hosts Roger and Lorraine gave us their master key so we could go into all the cottages to check them out. Emerald and Obsidian are the biggest and most luxe; Garnet has an extra twin bed for those who are traveling with a small child. As mentioned above, all of them have gas-fired stoves or fireplaces for heat, very easy to work (unlike some we've encountered) and the cabins are extremely well insulated and toasty-warm. The view from their front lawn, where they have two separate patios with lots of lawn furniture, is stunning. Bundle up, though, weather can be wildly changeable up there. The winds can be icy-cold one hour then warm up again the next! We made good use of Agate's blankets when sitting outside, even though we were all bundled up in Polarfleece, gloves, and hats, LOL. Here is a link that might be useful: Agate Cove Inn's website
...See More
Restaurants with gardens?
Q
Comments (16)
Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill in Chicago grows much of his own produce. Here's a blurb from a Chicago Botanic Garden trip this summer: "Participants visit Frontera Grill restaurant in Chicago for an exclusive behind-the-scenes opportunity. Rick Bayless, chef and host of the PBS Television show MexicoÂOne Plate at a Time, opens the familyÂs organic kitchen garden for a tour given by his professional gardener, Sarah Steedman. The tour is followed by lunchÂa comprehensive spread of Mexican food created with gourmet herbs and organic vegetablesÂin the restaurantÂs private party room." I know the Chicago Tribune and Chicagoland Gardening magazine have done spreads on his garden. It's on a city lot but is amazingly productive. V.
...See More
My laugh for the day... Not SF related... well, maybe a little...
Q
Comments (8)
hahahaha dotz!!!! I got that word from my mother. My housedresses are old sundresses, (some of them over 15 years old) so they're a little short or holey or inappropriate in some other way. When I get home from work, I'll throw one on to do housework. I ended up missing the exit off the freeway for the butcher so went to Costco anyway. And it wasn't busy. And it wasn't hot. And I forgot DD had an after school activity at school, so I had an extra 45 minutes and just hit the store like a fiend - with a list! Managed to get out of there only spending $150, which is a record for me. And, I must admit, $45 of that was for a bottle of Shalimar. I figured, you send me to Costco.... LOL. I've always wanted a bottle, and it's quickly becoming my favorite scent. I keep smelling my wrists. :) Oh, and DH doesn't even know I went to Costco, so he doesn't know I folded... So, the menu is: Red wine Cheese plate with crackers and meats and grapes Herb crusted lamb chops with pomegranate sauce on a bed of fresh cut corn and parsley Parmesan sprinkled Asparagus Quinoa with tiny bits of carrot and onion Blueberry tarts and vanilla ice cream I cleaned the house yesterday, got the asparagus trimmed and washed and in a glass tupperware. Sliced the cheese, washed the grapes. All I have to do today is prepare the meat, throw the quinoa and carrots and onions in the rice maker, steam the asparagus and toss it and make the blueberry tarts. And I cheated with the tarts. I bought some of those little mini crusts, pre-made. DH was grumbling that three lamb chops apiece were not enough. I laughed, I can only eat one. I know Gpa will probably only eat two. I can't believe I thought DH hated lamb all this time. He insists he loves it. Who knew??? I've cooked it and (in my memory) he always complains. And DD flat out does not like it (which I can understand, it's gamey). So..... I have to think of something to cook her, or something to go with the lamb that will match. I'll probably just do some herb crusted tofu with the pom sauce. I do a tofu side with a lot of meals I do, like teriyaki chicken... And she loves tofu. I just want to avoid the whole separate meal thing...
...See More
Store and restaurants you miss...
Q
Comments (79)
Interesting the impressions some have :-) There is a big difference between a department store......of which very few exist these days.....and large clothing stores. Nordstroms has never been a department store!! It started as a shoe store.....period! I remember shopping there in my late teenage years, as they were one of the few places around that sold Capezio shoes (which I loved and had a vast collection :-)) It wasn't until it combined with a woman's apparel store (Best's Apparel) that it became a clothing store, known as Nordstrom-Best and finally just Nordstroms. But it only sold shoes and clothes. That is NOT a department store!! Back in the day, Seattle had two, semi-upscale department stores - The Bon Marche and Frederick and Nelsons. The sold everything from soup to nuts....clothes, toys, furniture and antiques, appliances, kitchenware, fine china and crystal, linens, fine art, etc. And food.....both already prepared food, imported goods, a bakery and several restaurants. The Bon was acquired by Macy's in 2003 but still remains as the largest department store in the area. Frederick and Nelsons was even larger than The Bon and a step or two up in both quality and price. And F&N was where Frango's originated. F&N was acquired by Marshall Fields in 1929 but always operated under the F&N name. It was a huge store...12 storeys and occupied a full city block. It had multiple restaurants, a fantastic bakery, a candy kitchen (where Frangos and other candies were made), a post office, beauty salon, infirmary, a daycare facility and a reading room. It was known for its fabulous, animated Christmas windows and was where all the best Santa photos were taken :-) It was a Seattle institution! It closed with the demise of Marshall Fields in the early 90's. But that massive store is still there in the heart of downtown Seattle and is now the Nordstrom flagship store and corporate office.
...See More
lindac
16 years ago
Stag's Leap is lovely but it's in Napa...
sushipup1
16 years ago
Where is your hotel?

Our favorite restaurant in SF is the North Beach Restaurant. I hear that the Cliff House restaurant is excellent, too.

If you want to try a lot of Sonoma wineries, just park and visit the tasting rooms around the Sonoma Plaza and definitely eat at the Girl and the Fig, which is wonderful. You don't need to drive to all the wineries if you just want to taste. (Jim's cousin works at one of the tasting rooms, and they represent about 10 or 15 different small wineries that don't have big touristy tours.)

I'd stay in or near Sonoma. Drive up via the coast, cut over thru the Russian River country, then to Sonoma.

Sounds like a lovely trip.

Here is a link that might be useful: North Beach Restaurant
bbstx
16 years ago
If you are going to be in Oakland on Monday what about Monday Nights at Chez Panisse? $60 for 3 courses. Check the Chez Panisse website for the menu for a particular Monday night.

DH and I were in the Napa / Sonoma area year before last. My favorite winery for the architecture was Artesa. It is in Napa, but if I recollect correctly, it is close to Sonoma.

The Hess winery had beautiful art. It is in Napa, too, though.

Here is a link that might be useful: Chez Panisse Monday Nights
dancingqueengw
16 years ago
Zuni Cafe in SF. Order the roasted chicken. Best I have ever had bar non. It does take about 45 minutes but worth it. Enjoy your trip. We also really liked Jessup Cellars for wine.
Lars
16 years ago
I can't remember the name of the restaurant I went to last in Sonoma, but it was on 1st Street, just south of Spain, right on the main square, and it was Italian. There are so many great restaurants just on the main square (or within a block) that you can walk around and read the menus to make up your mind. If you are an Eagles fan, visit Sonoma Mission Inn, aka Hotel California (I helped design some of the guest room furniture there), which has an excellent restaurant, or at least it did when I was working in Sonoma back in 1982 or so. Even though it's wine country, wine by the bottle will be expensive, but very good.

For wineries, I really like Sebastiani, even though it's very large. Still, they have a very good tour, and it's better than Napa. I liked the smaller ones as well, but I don't remember any names, but the Sebastiani tour is really good. I've spent quite a bit of time in Sonoma, and I truly love it, especially for its small town atmosphere. I've never been attracted to Napa, however, even though I lived in San Francisco for 12 years.

For SF restaurants, I like to go to Clement Street around 6th Avenue and find a popular Vietnamese place. I avoid the touristy spots like Chinatown. Try to find a local resident to recommend what is currently good. A lot of the restaurants that get good on line reviews are severely over-rated. You need to talk with a local, for restaurants in the city, as they change quite rapidly. Sonoma has a much slower pace, however.

Lars
Bizzo
Original Author
16 years ago
you guys are awesome!
I was just able to get back on line - traveling can mess you up that way...

I now have some great ideas, for sure. thanks!!
Bizzo
Original Author
16 years ago
and Lars, that is too cool!!!
jakkom
16 years ago
I love Sonoma, but if you are in that area, make the call to see if you can snag reservations for dinner at Cyrus. It is one of the finest restaurants in CA and is up the road on Hwy 101. Its only real rival is the French Laundry in Yountville (Napa Cty).

If you are dropping a rental car off at the Oakland airport, take BART back to the city, and eat at Boulevard, which is off the Embarcadero St. station (first SF stop) at One Mission St. The building is beautiful and historical; it is the sole survivor of the fires that ravaged the area after the 1906 earthquake. It was one of the first Pat Kuleto designs and remains one of the classiest-looking, sophisticated without being stuffy. The food is simply the best bistro food in a town full of excellent restaurants. I've been going to Boulevard ever since it opened almost 20 yrs ago, and it's better now than ever.
socalgirl_2008
16 years ago
Scomas in SF is one of the best seafood resturants around

Sonoma Must See wineries/ restaurants? SF dinner?

Comments (11)

foodonastump

jojoco

Related Discussions

lindac

sushipup1

bbstx

dancingqueengw

Lars

Bizzo
Original Author

Bizzo
Original Author

jakkom

socalgirl_2008

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Sonoma Must See wineries/ restaurants? SF dinner?

Comments (11)

Related Discussions

BizzoOriginal Author

BizzoOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Bizzo
Original Author

Bizzo
Original Author