Itinerary for Healdsburg/Yountville trip

[di82]

We'll be staying in Healdsburg for 4 days and Yountville for 3 days in August. Let me know what you think of our planned itinerary, additional suggestions, etc. I'm only planning one meal a day as we'll likely be out tasting and what not during the day and I think one significant meal a day is the most our time, waistline and budget will allow. And you'll notice one glaring absence from our list- TFL reservation line and your never ending busy signal, I hate you... Anyway, here's the list- thanks in advance.

Healdsburg

Day 1- Cyrus

Day 2- Zin

Day 3- Madrona Manor

Day 4- Willi's Wine Bar

Yountville

Day 1- Redd

Day 2- Bouchon

Day 3- Ad Hoc

[whiner]

I had never had first hand experience with Zin before this past Saturday. I must say, I was quite pleasantly surprised. Especailly for the reasonable prices on the menu, this was an excellent dinner, on par with The Girl and the Fig and Zazu, which are my two go-tos in Sonoma after a day of wine tasting (though Zazu usually wins out). I'm deffinitely going to incorporate Zin into my Sonoma regimen!

[Shana Ray]

I would also recommend skipping Zin in Healdsburg and replace it with Palette Art Cafe. The food, atmosphere and service is much better.

-----
Palette Art Cafe
235 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA 95448

[wandasue]

Palette Art Cafe is a gem. Had a wonderful salad with beets and goat cheese. Lovely space off the main drag - very serene.

Had a marvelous meal at Bouchon. If the kitchen was still under renovation, we couldn't tell by the service - attentive without being stuffy- or the food - baccala begniets! (sorry about any misspellings!)

Bistro Jeanty was comforting and familiar w/ the man himself on hand that night.

Of course we're tourists, as were almost all patrons in the two Yountville places. Perhaps the locals see a different class of food 7 service when the hordes have gone.

The best meal of the trip was at Quince in SF. I think we were the only tourists there!

[5 and Dime Eater]

links

-----
Ad Hoc
6476 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599

Bouchon Bakery
6528 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599

Willi's Wine Bar
4404 Old Redwood Hwy, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Cyrus Restaurant
29 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar
344 Center St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Madrona Manor
1001 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Redd
6480 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599

[Piperdown]

Or if you still want Bistro food replace Bouchon with Bistro Jeanty. It's a bit more traditional Bistro, but really serves great food.

-----
Bistro Jeanty
6510 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

[di82]

Thanks. Has Bouchon really declined so much? I just ask because my gf and I really liked it the last time we went about 2 years ago. But if it has, I wouldn't want to ruin our good memories. I will definitely consider Bistro Jeanty and Ubuntu.

If we decided to add another more high-end place, any thoughts on La Toque- the menu looks really good.

[Carrie 218]

Two years ago they were not going through a remodel whilst trying to stay open. It has definitely suffered because of it. Recent reports are all mediocre and most of us living here are waiting until the construction is done and they get back on some steady footing before going back.

[maria lorraine]

I adore the place (given certain conditions) and last time we went to eat there (I'm a semi-regular), the kitchen couldn't prepare a lot of items.We walked, and had a beautiful French bistro meal on the patio at Bistro Jeanty -- the mussels in red wine, with that great grilled baguette that they do, plus the frites and side of Bearnaise -- and with a great bottle of Sancerre -- it was perfect. Really. Very good tomato soup -- known far and wide -- there also. It comes with puff pastry so it looks like a dome when it arrives. Your spoon cracks through the puff pastry and dives down into the creamy dreamy tomato soup. Good cassoulet there also, but it doesn't seem like a summer item. Very good tarte tatin there also,
good with the small glass of late-harvest wine -- may even have been Sauternes -- from there.

If French bistro food is what you want, that is.

[wandasue]

We will be eating at both Bouchon and Bistro Jeanty next weekend. We're semi-regular visitors from the East Coast and have eaten at both before. I'll report back on our experiences. We love both.

[Carrie 218]

Skip Bouchon and replace it with Ubuntu. Read around the boards a bit and see that Bouchon is going through a major renovation and has taken a dive for the time being.