428660 Mon Aug 06 20:23:51 -0700 2007 10 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2819970 My wife and I are leaving for our honeymoon in wine country next week. We'll be spending one night in Santa Rosa, and another in St. Helena. Any recommendations for restaurants in these two locals. In St. Helena I was thinking of Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen (saw it featured on a Food Network show). Anyone eaten there? Thanks in advance!! Mon Aug 06 20:23:52 -0700 2007 113765 ewallace001 1 2820093 In Santa Rosa try Syrah or Zazu. If you don't mind a short drive and if you can get reservations, go to the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville - very special. Mon Aug 06 21:13:39 -0700 2007 2819970 19703 Cheese Please 1 2820365 I haven't tried Zazu yet but I've heard multiple GoodThings about it. Another recommendation for the Santa Rosa area is Willi's Wine Bar (the one in Santa Rosa, near the Wells Fargo Center). Had an anniversary dinner there in June that was excellent and special. Delicious small plates, tapas style, and you can get wine served in smaller pours so you can try multiple varieties without getting very toasty. (-: Here's a link to a local review for Willi's: http://biteclub.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=585948 It might be out of your way a tiny bit, but Underwood, in Graton (less than a half an hour's drive from Santa Rosa downtown, I'd estimate) is another place I would recommend. And it's a very nice drive, especially near twilight, if you take the right roads. You can see lots of lovely rural Sonoma county. Here's a link to a chowhound review from someone whose taste I trust (-: : http://www.chowhound.com/topics/412737 Tue Aug 07 00:26:02 -0700 2007 2819970 93480 chocolateninja 1 2824100 Some very recent threads on St. Helena are on this board. You may also want to consider Healdsburg for restos on your Santa Rosa night. Many better options. Farmhouse Inn is spectacular but a short drive into the country. Use the "Search this board" link above with St. Helena, Santa Rosa, and Healdsburg as your search terms. Lots of resto recs are already here. Tue Aug 07 21:46:56 -0700 2007 2819970 18222 maria lorraine 2 2824277 I absolutely loved Willi's Wine Bar last week. Wed Aug 08 00:03:25 -0700 2007 2824100 104142 PulledPork 3 2824623 Will Willi's Wine Bar or the Seafood place in Healdsburg require a reservation on a weekday night? Wed Aug 08 06:53:27 -0700 2007 2824277 35525 Frodnesor 1 2824291 For honeymooners I think Farmhouse will be your very best bet for most fabulous experience for both towns and worth the drive. I drive from St. Helena to eat there... Zazu is tasty and offers a very personable ecletic experience that gives true flavor to a sense of place. The cooking, the wines, everything is very west Sonoma County and I like the food. Recently had terrific fried rabbit w/lavendar. For an interseting anti-establishment place in Santa Rosa with good cooking and a prix fixe menu of $35 there is Cafe Saint Rose. As for Saint Helena there is quite a bit being talked about right now on boards. Wed Aug 08 00:25:45 -0700 2007 2819970 20074 Madge 2 2824295 Replying to add placelink for Cafe St. Rose, etc. Wed Aug 08 00:46:47 -0700 2007 2824291 93480 chocolateninja 3 2824297 Thanks for doing that and being a good chowhound citizen. Saw your post just now, went to the Places page to be sure the website was added, and when I opened it, http://cafesaintrose.googlepages.com/ , a very heartfelt statement from the owner/chef introduces the menus for the week of August 8. Wed Aug 08 00:51:50 -0700 2007 2824295 10039 Melanie Wong 2 2824897 Second on Cafe Saint Rose... if you tire of sugary experiences on your honeymoon and are ready for a Meatpacking District reminscent type haute/nice hole in the wall. Wed Aug 08 08:12:14 -0700 2007 2824291 42572 Eat_Nopal 1 2824859 On our last trip to the Napa/Sonoma area (about a year ago), we tried both Willi's in Santa Rosa and CBK. Loved Willi's. Disappointed w/CBK. Wed Aug 08 08:00:59 -0700 2007 2819970 11195 LAWoman