Healdsburg Restaurants

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In conversation with one of the locals, we asked for a recommendation for lunch. He gave us three suggestions. Since all were close by we checked out each one, finally choosing Healdsburg Bar and Grill.

We were asked to wait in the entry, where an immense wooden bar claimed most of one wall. Studying the menu, we considered the selection while waiting to be seated outdoors at an umbrella table.

Aside from an assortment of delicious salads, these lunch items were included on the menu:

Smoked Turkey Melt ($12)--turkey, cheddar, romaine lettuce, red onion and hickory smoked bacon
BBQ Pork ($12)--sweet pulled pork, romaine lettuce and red onion
Portabella Melt ($11)--eggplant, camazola, red onion, tomato and romaine lettuce

Tasters (a selection):
Beer-battered Potstickers in Chipotle sauce ($9)
Chipotle Fries ($8)
Garlic Fries ($8)
Steams Clams ($15)

In a few minutes, we were conducted to a shady table in the center of the patio. There was friendly chatter all around us, many people seeming to know each other.

My husband and I ordered Chicken Caesar Salads ($15.00 each), which were fresh and flavorful! Our grandson ordered a Cheese Pizza from the KIDS MENU. Other choices were:

Turkey Dog,
Pasta with Butter,
Sloppy Joe,
Mini Corn Dog or Cheeseburger--all priced at $7.

The restaurant also has an Oyster Bar.

Live entertainment is presented each weekend by local and national bands for the over 21 crowd. A bocce ball court is on the grounds for those looking for a little recreation. We enjoyed our meal and the pleasant atmosphere.

Favorite Dish: It's where the locals go

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Dry Creek Kitchen seemed a notch above the casual dining place. We asked to see the menu, but didn't see a thing our grandson would eat. However, for the gourmet...this might just be the place.

According to the literature, Chef Charlie Palmer uses the 'finest fresh seasonal produce, gourmet food purveyors and fine wines to form Dry Creek Kitchen". He is a former owner of Aureole in New York.

The menu offered Ahi Tuna Tartare ($18) or Jumbo Lump Crabcake ($14) as just two of the appetizers.

Mini Wagyu Beef and Foi Gras Burgers with Brioche Buns ($18), Miso Crusted Salmon with Carrot-Ginger Puree ($29) or Ribeye Steak and Eggs ($24) are just a few of the entree samples.

A wine trail luncheon tasting menu was available:

Seven-Tomato Guzpacho with Ambrosia Melon Sorbet and Herb Salad
Ahi Tuna Tartare with Chili Spiced Ponzu and Avocado Relish;
Painted Hills New York Strip Steak, Haricots Verts, Crushed Yukon Potato.
($45 per person, $70 paired with wine) Dessert is served with the selection.

Open daily serving lunch and dinner. See the website below for hours.

The Bear Republic Brewing Company looked like a casual, laid back sort of eatery as we approached.

We learned that this micro-brewery serves up hand crafted beers. Its Master Brewer (Richard Norgrove) received the 2006 Brewer of the Year award, while the brewery received the 2006 Small Brewing Company of the year award. For those who appreciate beer, this would seem a good endorsement!

The lengthy menu included these selections for lunch:

Jamaican Jerk Burger ($9.95)
Rocket Burger-topped with mild green chili, pepper jack cheese and cilantro ($9.95)
A VegiBear Sandwich-tomato, cheddar cheese, cucumber, sliced red onion, roasted red bell pepper and green chili aioli ($8.50)
a choice of wraps ($9.50) and many other specialty sandwiches prepared on homebaked bread.

Here's a special highlight: If you thrive on gathering up little bits of trivia, Monday Night is game night at the brewery!

Stop by Oakville Grocery and put together delicious food for a picnic lunch. Oakville sells just about anything you could want for a picnic lunch, from sandwiches to cheeses to salads to dessert items. The food is most definitely gourmet - somewhat pricey - but very good. You won't have a run of the mill lunch here!

After you've made your purchase, head over to one of the many wineries with tables for use by visitors. Dry Creek, Lambert Bridge and Pezzi-King are three nearby wineries with beatufiul grounds and several tables for picnicking.

A less pricey alternative to Oakville Grocery Store is the Dry Creek General Store located very close to the Dry Creek Winery. Dry Creek GS sells sandwiches, deli items, cheeses, chips, cookies, etc.

One website describes this store as a mecca for Harley fans. Bikers in the wine country? We must be talking about that new breed of white collar Harley riding banker and stock broker types. Anyway, they must have cleared out by the time I stopped there for a bottle of water.

I've had the pleasure of eating at the Madrona Manor on several occasions. The price fix menu changes daily and the selections usually include some of the regional specialties. As would be expected the Manor has an incredible wine selection. But it also offers an option wine pairing with your meal. This is such a great opportunity to try different wines with different courses, without having to purchase an entire bottle.
As an example of the delights to be found here, on my last visit I had zucchini flowers stuffed with goat cheese and lightly fried for an appetizer, followed by a melt in your mouth sea bass. I don't remember what my dessert selection was but I bet it was chocolate and I bet it was good. I do remember that it included a wonderful Port.

(OK, so it was a wine country weekend... naturally I don't remember it all!)

Website: www.madronamanor.com

Incidently, the Mandrona Manor also offers lodging and catering for special events.

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If you've looked at my Healdsburg Hotel page before you came here, you'll know we arrived a little earlier then expected because of the power outage the town had experienced earlier in the evening. We called from the hotel just to make sure they were open. I'm sure that because of the power outage that evening that there were only a few other diners that evening. Some of the other casual places in town had bigger crowds, but again we wanted to have a nice meal on the first night of our vacation.

I had looked at a number of restaurants in the area on the internet and reviewed what other's had to say about each one before deciding that A Devine Affair was the one which suited us. A smaller restaurant with a smaller menu (I much prefer restaurants that have under a dozen choices for dinner as you know everything will be a lot fresher), a cozy looking place and a place where you might get to meet the owner/chef. We did.

Since I have 8 pictures to share I will break this tip into 2 separate ones with the food pictures in the 2nd tip. Please continue to that tip now.

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It's easy to get a great glass of wine in a restaurant here in town. And, I guess you have to assume that when it comes to food, as well. I wasn't particularly hungry when we had dinner here so I ordered the beef carpacio. If this was the only meal I could eat, I would be extremely happy. The beef was very tasty, melted in my mouth and obviously very good quality. A small pile of micro sprouts accompanied my dish and a glass of wine was just yummy! My boyfriend had a heartier dish and it was very good.