Visiting Windsor, CA need recs

[Karl]

I'm spending a week in Windsor and plan on hitting up the best that wine country has to offer. I'd love anyones recommendations on what I should see and where I should eat. I'm a completely non-picky eater and am looking for recommendations on what is the best the area has to offer, i'm willing to drive too. Also, a nice romantic date night spot would be helpful.

[ChefJune]

All these restaurant recommendations and no one's mentioned Zin in Healdsburg. Great food!

[Robert Lauriston]

link

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

[celeryroot]

I forgot Zin........the fried green beans are great

[tom246]

Don't miss Tomi-Thai, right in the heart of Windsor. Some of the best Thai we have had in the Bay area. Here is some information and a thread I posted last year.
http://www.tomi-thai.com/

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/737968

For breakfast you can't go wrong with KC Downtown Grill, also in the heart of Windsor.
http://www.kcsdowntowngrill.com/

Enjoy your stay!

[Karl]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I have one quick question though, what's the dress code for the nice date type places, should I be packing my suit or is that too much.

[Cynsa]

too much indeed. Sonoma county is chez casual -

[tom246]

As cynsa says, all places in Sonoma County are very casual.

[Robert Lauriston]

Not unless you have a reservation at the French Laundry.

[Cynsa]

the French Laundry is Napa...

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The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

[rkarraker]

Just a note of clarification: there are two Willi's: the original Willi's Wine Bar, which is indeed south of Windsor on Old Redwood Highway, almost into Santa Rosa. The other is Willi's Seafood Bar, same owners, and it's in downtown Healdsburg.

I've had good food at both, though I've not eaten there recently and can't recommend a specific dish.

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

[Robert Lauriston]

The Willi's near Windsor is the one I recommended. Haven't been to the other one.

[Kathleen M]

Second Willi's Wine Bar. This was the first place where I experienced the small plates concept so it has a special place in my heart. There is a good selection of wine by the half bottle and the glass, which makes it lots of fun to try different tastes of food and wine together. It has been quite a while since I've walked around Windsor town square, but remember strolling into a Vietnamese restaurant there that was quite good.

Robert is right that traffic can be a mess heading south from Windsor, and besides it's so much prettier and more interesting to head north or west. For your special date night, I'd recommend Farmhouse Inn, in Forestville (west on River Road from Windsor). It's a beautiful place, the service in perfect, and most of all the food is incredible. My husband always gets the duck three ways, and I've had tastes of that and agree it's wonderful. I usually order whatever fish is on the menu, because I've found that the chef has a special way with seafood. The sommelier is very knowledgeable and helpful, and can stear you to some great bargains, too.

I don't know where you are from, but our area does have some great Mexican food, and in Healdsburg my favorite is Taqueria el Sombrero. The chili rellano is so delicious! And Downtown Bakery and Creamery in Healdsburg is also wonderful.

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Farmhouse Inn
7871 River Rd, Forestville, CA 95436

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

[Karl]

Thank you for the recommendation, I checked out the Farmhouse Inn and it looks great. I live in Boston so I'm looking for any restaurants that have a more local feel, something that I wouldn't find in snow covered Boston. Are there any BYOB places?

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Farmhouse Inn
7871 River Rd, Forestville, CA 95436

[celeryroot]

Many Healdsburg and some other nearby restaurants have locals night where you can bring a bottle of Sonoma county wine for no corkage fee. Usually wednesdays. Otherwise you can bring your own but you will be charged a corkage fee.
Another place you might like is Madrona Manor. Also, Barndiva , Scopa, Baci, Bistro Ralph , Ravenous .

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Barndiva
231 Center St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Bistro Ralph
109 Plaza St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Scopa
109 Plaza St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Madrona Manor
1001 Westside Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Baci
336 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA 95448

[artemis]

Third Willi's.

Dry Creek Kitchen has no corkage for 2 bottles of wine from Sonoma County wineries. I had one of the best meals I have had in a long time at Dry Creek a couple months ago. The food was outstanding.

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Dry Creek Kitchen
317 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA 95448

[celeryroot]

Agree I forgot DC

[Bruce in SLO]

To avoid the construction to get to Willi's just follow Old Redwood Hwy. south from Windsor to the restaurant.

[Melanie Wong]

The freeway construction between Windsor and Santa Rosa is complete. Smooth sailing.

[Robert Lauriston]

Willi's Wine Bar.

The traffic tends to back up through Santa Rosa, so you might want to focus on heading north (Healdsburg, Dry Creek wine area) and west (Guerneville, Graton).

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

[celeryroot]

Windsor is only a few miles down the freeway from Healdsburg. Do a search and you will find lots of places.

[Cynsa]

Catellis Restaurant
21047 Geyserville Avenue
Geyserville, CA
http://www.mycatellis.com/

Cyrus Restaurant
29 North Street
Healdsburg, CA 95448
http://www.cyrusrestaurant.com/

http://www.restaurantmirepoix.com/Restaurant_Mirepoix/about_us.html
Restaurant Mirepoix
275 Windsor River Rd.
Windsor, CA 95492

Bistro M
610 McClelland Ave
Windsor CA 95492
http://www.thebistrom.com/Bistro_M/we...

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Restaurant Mirepoix
275 Windsor River Rd, Windsor, CA 95492

Bistro M
610 McClelland Dr, Windsor, CA 95492

[Melanie Wong]

I enjoyed my one lunch at Bistro M. Looking at the website, I see that it has a happy hour T-F, and $2 corkage on Tuesdays.

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Bistro M
610 McClelland Dr, Windsor, CA 95492