664723 Wed Nov 04 12:19:06 -0800 2009 0 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 5155796 The menu is basically Californized bar food with burgers, sandwiches, sausages and appetizers using local ingredients. The Press Democrat said it perfectly “Mondo is a neighborhood place with beer-bar attitude” http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080807/LIFESTYLE/379552237?Title=Good-eats-Sonoma-146-s-Mondo-has-its-mojo-down-pat Mondo has 21 draft beers and 24 more in cans or bottles. Most are brewed locally. The daily specials menu includes $3 draft beers. I chose the $3 draft New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale with my sausage plate. All sausages are housemade such as the smoked hot beer sausage. Sauerkraut is also made in-house. The duck sausage was very good, nicely grilled with sweet/tart cherry accents. The smooth, lumpless mashed potatoes were a nice change from the usual lumpy mashed potatoes which restaurants make to give them that homey touch. If I want lumps, I’ll make them myself. The sautéed rainbow chard was good and the dish was finished with brown sage butter. There is housemade ice cream ($3) with housemade sauces for dessert (50 cents) . I made unfortunate choices for the combo - Buttermilk-crème fraiche with bourbon-caremel. Anyone who likes tangy fro-yo will like that flavor. However, the deep tang fought with the sweet sauce that tastes like butter rum candies. The taste combo was so jarring I can’t even say if the ice cream was good or not. The specials menu is available all day until it runs out. Other items available on my visit - Zucchini and white cheddar bisque with extra Virgin Olive Oil and grilled ciabata $7 - Grilled zucchini and Japanese eggplant sandwich with roasted peppers, basil pesto and chevre on ciabatta $8 - Hop Stoopid, strong hoppy ale - Langunitas Czech Pils Mondo has long been on my to-try list for the burger. However, the special looked like a good deal so the burger will have to wait for another visit. I liked the place a lot. The prices are reasonable, the menu interesting and it is comfortably casual without the seedy bar atmosphere. It is a pretty spare décor but at night with the lights lowered it wasn’t as noticeable. They do a nice job with the lighting. Even though it is dim, overhead lights are strategically placed so menus can be read easily and you can see your food. The outdoor patio has about a dozen tables, but it could be a little more attractive. It is just concrete, metal tables and wood fence. There’s two big screen tv’s in the bar area and live music on Wednesday and Saturday. Though they are usually closed Monday, the website says they will be open for Monday night football. There are lots of reasonably priced appetizers such as - Beer Battered Vella Cheese Chunks with Arrabbiata, with Fontinella or Habanero Jack $6.50 - Buffalo Style Chicken Wings with Buttermilk-Blue Cheese Sauce 6pcs./$5 - Mini Hot Beer Sausage Corndogs.$5 - Cheeseburger Sliders.$2.50 each The slider was a decent size. I’ve read positive things a number of places about the fried cheese. The Press Democrat link at the top has a swell photo of the buttermilk-panko onion rings It seems like a good place to grab a beer with friends. I’ll be back to try that burger. Wed Nov 04 12:19:06 -0800 2009 10264 rworange