Top Sonoma County restaurant picks from a food critic

This article originally appeared in Sonoma Magazine People often ask me about my favorite restaurants and I rarely have a great answer in the moment I can tell where I ate last but pulling from the mental archives on demand Not so easy As someone who eats and writes about food for a living there s just too much to sift through So I took particular time to dig in and curate my can t-miss local foodie adventure guide broken into two parts First up my top picks in Sebastopol Santa Rosa and Petaluma In two weeks I ll share part two featuring my favorite foodie destinations in Healdsburg Sonoma Valley and on the coast Let me know your favorites at heather irwin pressdemocrat com Sebastopol Psychic Pie Think outside the slice with Roman-style pizzas A thick sourdough crust is cut into fat rectangles with seasonal toppings like chevre with fresh lemon and herbs potato with chile oil mozzarella and cr me fra che or hot coppa with Estero Gold cheese mozzarella and hot honey Traditionalists fear not pepperoni and plain cheese are inevitably on the menu Sold by weight rather than slice you can mix and match a minimal flavors Just don t forget the housemade ranch dressing Gravenstein Highway S Sebastopol - - psychicpie com Redwood Wine Bar Natural wines are their calling card but this under-the-radar restaurant turns out a few truly tasty dishes The smoky baba ganoush with warm pitas is a standout along with seasonal salads grilled maitake mushrooms with pistachio za atar and a braised lamb shank for the table S Main St Sebastopol - - theredwoodwine com Christopher Chung The Press DemocratWindow seating area at The Redwood natural wine bar in Sebastopol on Friday Feb Christopher Chung The Press Democrat Trail Pita and Dip with pickled fresh vegetables served with Chickpea Hummus with Zaatar left Seasoned Labneh with herbs Baharat and Baba Ghanoush with Sumac at The Redwood in Sebastopol on Friday February Christopher Chung The Press Democrat Fried Potatoes with piment n aioli at The Redwood in Sebastopol on Friday February Christopher Chung The Press Democrat Christopher Chung The Press Democrat fileThe Burger Harn from Lunch Box in Sebastopol Christopher Chung The Press Democrat file A Roots and Shoots bowl with sprouted lentils roasted delicata squash grilled celery root trumpet mushroom conserva chicory and apple salad with a pomegranate pumpkin seed tahini and topped with Estero Gold Cheese Photo taken at Handline in Sebastopol Wednesday Feb Beth Schlanker The Press Democrat John Burgess The Press DemocratCounterclockwise from left the selection of daily oysters include Totten Inlet Olympias Washington Chelsea Gem and Hog Island Sweetwater from Handline in Sebastopol John Burgess The Press Democrat Show CaptionChristopher Chung The Press Democrat of Window seating area at The Redwood natural wine bar in Sebastopol on Friday Feb Christopher Chung The Press Democrat Expand Lunch Box My ultimate smashburger the Burger Harn gets everything right from a juicy patty and classic Thousand Island-style sauce to shredded iceberg lettuce American cheddar and a dill pickle The soft Costeaux brioche bun takes it right over the top Plus hoagies fried chicken sandwiches chicken Parmesan sandwiches and tasty fries N Main St Sebastopol lunchboxsonomacounty com A M BBQ Real Barbecue Long-smoked dry-rubbed killer sides Sonoma County-meets-Deep South meat and three Expect a long line and a no-frills when we re out we re out vibe Brisket is a specialty S Main St Sebastopol Instagram com ambbqllc Handline The tortillas are handmade the oysters super fresh the burgers are great but I go for the veggies Esquites grilled corn with lime are a summer staple Broccolini with mushroom aioli and pickled mustard seeds is another favorite The Roots Shoots salad features an ever-changing lineup of seasonal vegetables sprouted lentils arugula basil pesto and sesame hummus Gravenstein Ave South Sebastopol handline com Mussels Frites with cider shallots and Dijon cr me fra che from Augie s French Tuesday November on Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa Photo John Burgess The Press Democrat Santa Rosa Augie s Approachable bistro-style French classics like hearty onion soup braised boeuf Bourguignon with creamy potatoes and bowls of steaming mussels swimming in creamy Dijon sauce that s begging to be soaked up with a crusty baguette Augie s is a truffle-buttered kiss where the Champagne starts flowing at p m and the skinny fries come in a gold-handled rondeau pan because they can Fourth St Santa Rosa - - augiesfrench com Stark s Steak Seafood If you re craving fat steak a ridiculously decadent burger or the ultimate happy hour this is your spot Nuff mentioned Adams St Santa Rosa - - starkssteakhouse com J M s Midtown Caf Diner-style breakfast nirvana Though the menu and the space are casual the food is top-notch including the world s best Benedicts Pull up a counter seat if you re dining solo Lunch classics like a classic tuna melt and a Pastrami Reuben are standouts Fourth St Santa Rosa - - jm-midtowncafe com Dierk s Parkside Cafe If you know you know Preponderance of Santa Rosa has spent a lazy Sunday morning or quiet lunch at chef Mark Dierkhising s legendary cafe Santa Rosa Ave Santa Rosa - - dierksparkside com L Oro Di Napoli Their Neapolitan-style pizzas have thin centers and signature charred crusts that require little more than a sparse toppings the Margherita is a winner I come for the deep-dish lasagna with layer after layer of thick pasta Bolognese b chamel and San Marzano tomato sauce Sitting upstairs is cozy and intimate perfect for a date night The new Petaluma location Petaluma Blvd North features an expanded menu that includes additional pasta dishes and larger entrees such as whole Branzino and steak Fourth St Santa Rosa - - lorodinapolica com Mitote Food Park An immersive experience of eating and drinking in Sonoma County s epicenter of Mexican tradition Food trucks circle a permanent outdoor patio tented and enclosed with home-style tacos tlayuda birria and tortas Sebastopol Road Santa Rosa mitotefoodpark com Table Values Provisions chef St phane Saint Louis serves a collage of late spring bites for two including squid-ink madeleines asparagus cappuccino and golden orbs of Indian pani puri filled with Dungeness crab salad Kim Carroll For Sonoma Magazine Kim Carroll For Sonoma Magazine Petaluma Table Lifestyle Provisions After scrappy beginnings according to the California Michelin Guide this tiny restaurant with just a handful of seats offers one of my favorite tasting menus in Sonoma County A mix of hyper-seasonal ingredients French technique and a little humor the menu reflects the personal journeys of Haitian-born St phane Saint Louis and his co-chef Steven Vargas Petaluma Blvd S Petaluma - - tcprovision com Stockhome A family-friendly ode to Swedish cuisine with outstanding Swedish pancakes meatballs and mashed potatoes with lingonberry jam of program and gut-busting street food like the Tunnbrod Rulle a mashup of Smoked German sausage mashed potatoes ketchup mustard iceberg lettuce and tomatoes inside a rolled Swedish flatbread Plus beef kebabs Western Ave Petaluma - - stockhomerestaurant com Stellina Pronto There s almost perpetually a line at this Italian bakery and pizzeria which is saying something in sleepy Sonoma County Michelin-quality pastries filled with hazelnuts cream and plenty of panache are the opener for Neapolitan-meets-New York wood-fired gourmet pizzas Limited seating Kentucky St Petaluma stellinapronto com John Burgess Press DemocratGrilled Pork Porterhouse with au jus and local stone fruit from Street Social John Burgess Press Democrat John Burgess Press DemocratWatermelon shishitos feta urfa and black lime from Street Social John Burgess Press Democrat John Burgess Press DemocratWarm zucchini bread with tomato jam and corn butter from Street Social John Burgess Press Democrat John Burgess Press DemocratFresh Nectarines with Straus vanilla ice cream and a peach caramel from Street Social Petaluma John Burgess Press Democrat Show CaptionJohn Burgess Press Democrat of Grilled Pork Porterhouse with au jus and local stone fruit from Street Social John Burgess Press Democrat Expand Street Social Street Social feels more like having dinner at a friend s house than dining in a formal restaurant and that s exactly how owners Jevon Martin and Marjorie Pier want it It s hard to resist chatting with fellow diners in such a convivial space Martin s ever-changing menu is a celebration both of season and place inspired by what s perfectly ripe or fresh from the ocean Farm-to-table isn t just a label it s a manifesto and that s why you ll rarely find the same dish twice on the menu F Petaluma Blvd N Petaluma streetsocial social Water Street Bistro Sitting outside by the Petaluma River with a warm latte is about as good as it gets This friendly come-as-you-are French-inspired cafe also has charm and excellent bistro cuisine Grab a croissant quiche or kouign-amann in the morning Lunch is a heartier proposition with seasonal salads their signature duck confit and irresistible butterscotch pot de cr me or the devilishly delicious duck egg flan Petaluma Blvd North Petaluma - - waterstreetbistropetaluma com