Santa Rosa/Sonoma in July: Zazu? Where else?

[rruben1]

We'll be in Sonoma and then moving over to Santa Rosa for a week in early July. Has anyone been to Zazu? Bovolo? Farmhouse?

What other recommendations work for the Healdsburg and Santa Rosa area?
And what about Santi in Geyserville?

[Robert Lauriston]

Use the "search this board" feature to find reports on all of those.

Search for title:sonoma or title:"santa rosa" to find general topics on those places.

[melly]

Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg..one of Charlie Palmers.

[maria lorraine]

Man, Dry Creek Kitchen years ago went into an incredible slide down. Really bad. Are you saying it's back?

[maria lorraine]

Yes, Santi is quite good. Zazu also. I like Willi's Wine Bar on Redwood Highway just north of Santa Rosa more than the Willi's in Healdsburg. I love Ravenous in Healdsburg also. Great burger. Very nice wine list. Do searches on each of your cities and restos.

[Eat_Nopal]

Depends on what you are looking for?

[whiner]

I love Zazu -- I got there almost every time I'm in the area tasting. Reasonably priced, great food, very casual.

Farmhouse Inn is *wonderful*.

[monta8]

cricklewood in larkfield

[rworange]

What do you recommend at Cricklewood. There's not much about it on the web. The last review in the Chronicle when swordfish was $7.95 and wine started at $3 a glass ... the good old days
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...

All I'm finding basically is it is a favored meeting place for groups like the chamber of commerce.

Have you tried the new Starks Steakhouse by the owners of Willie's Wine Bar?

[monta8]

cricklewood great prime rib nice sides good bar starks very over priced

[rworange]

Thanks ... I had a beef craving recently and almost went to starks. Will keep cricklewood in mind

[Shana Ray]

In Healdsburg there is a new Italian restaurant called Scopa. There wine list is is mostly but their food is amazing!

Palette Art Cafe is a great place to eat, drink wine and listen to great live music.

Bovolo is a great place for a light lunch, not dinner. But if you are wine tasting in Healdsburg, I recommend getting lunch at the General Store on Dry Creek Road (usually a long line) or grabbing sandwiches and sides at Oakville Grocery (on the square) to take on a picnic.

As for Santa Rosa, Syrah is good or if you want to be downtown on 4th Street, Portifinos is a great Italian place or Tex Wasabis for its fun atmosphere!.

[rworange]

What have you tried at Scopa? Anything to skip?

[Shana Ray]

I tried the pizza and the gnocchi (both vegetarian) and both were amazing.

[rworange]

Thanks

[Melanie Wong]

Here's the menu for Scopa taped to the wall on Saturday, July 26.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniew...

It's a little different than the sample one on the website, and pizza prices are lower here. It was packed when I walked by at 6pm. Still haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I'd say it has the biggest buzz amongst my friends in the area.

[Imby]

We had a very satisfying meal at Zazu last night. Their "butcher's plate" appetizer of house-made charcuterie and various vegetables and cheese was a big hit. The small plate was more than enough for two of us and would probably be a decent app for four (or more, if paired with another app). Wife pronounced the Arctic Char a success (very crisp skin; served last night with harissa chickpeas) and my grilled lamb entree (with grilled artichokes and rosemary from their backyard) was generous in size and exceptional in flavor - none of the lamb-i-ness that turns off some people.

One nice touch - the wine list included 2 $5-per-glass options (though that's not what we had). Anyway, I thought the place was high quality and very Sonoma. Thanks to other hounds who recommended it on other threads.

[rworange]

Thanks for the update

[Eat_Nopal]

"and my grilled lamb entree (with grilled artichokes and rosemary from their backyard) was generous in size and exceptional in flavor - none of the lamb-i-ness that turns off some people."

Bummer... and I was excitied to try Zazu. Why are we so stupid about the way meat should taste?

[SEA2BA]

Rosso Pizzeria in Santa Rosa -- great wine list, great/unique/flavorful woodfired-oven pizzas

[Eat_Nopal]

I dissent... my last couple of trips have been regrettable. The Cesar Salad Piadini was terrible... the other pizzas are okay but honestly I would prefer most of the CPK pies. The Burrata has been dissappointing... and well its just overall a bad value.... I usually go to a restaurant, eat half the food & leave stuffed... at Rozzo after spending 30 / person with just a glass of wine... I leave hungry... and craving a Famous Star.