Somewhere along the way between Napa and SF

[klo4c]

Any suggests for dinner somewhere on the SF-Napa drive?

Midweek, prefer Marin but E. Bay would work, too. We're looking to meet a Napa friend halfway so he doesn't have to come into SF and we don't have to drive to Napa. Tasty food is important but ambience is too (if not moreso, t's gotta have personality). Plus we'll want the chance to linger and relax with a good friend.

Know anything in Novato or even Petaluma?

[Tripeler]

Moylan's in Novato is a nice place with great food and even better beer.

[wolfe]

Moylan's Brewery & Restaurant has better than average pub food. per Civil Bear but Waterboy disagrees and prefers Dempsey's Restaurant and Brewery. Notice the difference in which function comes first.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/755231#6159567
http://www.chow.com/restaurants/1725/...

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Moylan's Brewery & Restaurant
15 Rowland Way, Novato, CA 94945

[Robert Lauriston]

The food at Moylan's is maybe slightly above average by brewpub standards.

Vin Antico in San Rafael has good food and is a pleasant place to linger.

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Vin Antico
881 Fourth St, San Rafael, CA 94901

[Malcolm Ruthven]

Le Garage in Sausalito is my current favorite Marin restaurant. It's a French bistro in a casual on-the-water location with great food at reasonable prices. It's popular and it's noisy when crowded in case you're sensitive to that.

A few photos: http://ruthvenphotos.com/gallery/lega...

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Le Garage
85 Liberty Ship Way Ste 109, Sausalito, CA

[CarrieWas218]

If you are asking a Napa resident to drive to Sausalito, you may as well ask them to drive all the way into the city -- it only another 5 or 10 minutes in an hour-and-a-half trip...

[wolfe]

Provided you eat the the Richmond or the Marina.

[Malcolm Ruthven]

The original poster said "prefer Marin". I do believe that Sausalito is in Marin.

[pininex]

Sol Food is always a zoo with people hovering for the few available spots. I would do Boca in Novato.

[Malcolm Ruthven]

I agree about Sol Food; Puerto Rican/Cuban food in a very casual setting (picnic tables). If the line looks long, know that it moves quickly. But right on your way on Hwy 12 outside of the town of Sonoma is Fremont Diner, a roadside diner with simply great food. Much has been written about it here.

A few photos of Fremont Diner:
http://ruthvenphotos.com/fremontdiner

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Sol Food Puerto Rican Cuisine
901 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901

Fremont Diner
2660 Fremont Dr, Sonoma, CA

[wolfe]

The place link shows they are open 9-3. Are these hours incorrect

[Malcolm Ruthven]

I don't know if the posted hours for Fremont Diner are correct. I did skip over the "dinner" part of the original question, though. I've only been for lunch. It would be worth calling and asking their hours.

[Robert Lauriston]

The Fremont Diner closes at 3 on weekdays and 4 on weekends.

Sol Food is pretty bare-bones and not terribly comfortable, not a place I'd want to linger.

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Fremont Diner
2660 Fremont Dr, Sonoma, CA

[rabaja]

Not for this poster, but just an FYI, Fremont Diner plans to be open for evening service sometime this Spring.
I'm guessing on weekends, and for the Summer. We shall see.

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Fremont Diner
2660 Fremont Dr, Sonoma, CA

[CarrieWas218]

The drive to Petaluma is just as long from San Francisco as it is to Napa.

I would recommend Sol Food in San Rafael (which is still a bit of a drive from Napa, but the best food along that route).

I'm sure some others will have some Marin recommendations.