Dining on a Dime: Sonoma Restaurant Week Picks

If you're bored of dining at the same old places this weekend is the perfect time to discover a new favorite. Take advantage of the best dining deal of the year: the second annual Sonoma County Restaurant Week.

You probably already known the drill. Until Feb. 27, participating restaurants will serve three course set menus, at $19, $29, or $39 per person, depending on the establishment--read, how fancy the restaurant is in real life.

Chefs are encouraged to incorporate local wine suggestions for the menus (not included in the price), so don’t hesitate to ask for help.

With over 100 restaurants participating throughout the county, dig through the menus and find one that excites you, or you can take my recommendation in each price class, and stick around Sonoma.

- $19
Saddles is “classic Sonoma." Specializing, obviously, in steaks it was recently named the “Best Beef Restaurant in California” by the California Beef Council. These guys know what they’re doing, and for $19, it’s cheaper than going to the grocery store. The wine list is very local and earned The Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence." Find it just south of the square at Broadway and MacArthur.

Menu: Saddles clam chowder or Saddles mixed greens salad; 10oz Prime Rib, cut to order served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes or Butternut Squash ravioli with rainbow chard and roasted chestnuts; Scoop of chocolate or vanilla ice cream

- $29
A small, quaint dining room, perfect for a date night. Plan ahead, reservations are a must. The café has perfected simple French food and thrives on excellent service; located on West Napa St. just off the Sonoma square.

Menu: Winter chopped salad of romaine & endive with classic Caesar
dressing; Pan seared chicken breast with balsamic jus over caramelized
smashed potatoes & winter vegetable; Callebaut chocolate silk cake with pecan fleur de sel crust

Well, of the $29 selections, I couldn’t leave out Harvest Moon, so here’s another…

- $29

A true supporter of everything Sonoma - small, local and delicious; located on the west side of the square.

Menu: Marinated beet and celery salad with mustard crème fraïche, soft
cooked egg, and tarragon; Sautéed Rock Cod with sautéed greens, fingerling potatoes; Bittersweet chocolate pot de crème with cocoa nib cookies

- $39

Definitely the most prestigious restaurant in the Valley and the recipient of a prestigious Michelin Star and the AAA Four Diamond Award. The décor was recently renovated, but still feels dated. Not that any of the details matter, it’s the best food around! Located in Boyes Hot Springs at the Fairmont Mission Inn.

Menu: Salad of frisee lettuce, “lardoons” of fourme d’ ambert, white wine
poached pears, candied walnuts, pear and walnut or seasonal soup or grownup macaroni and cheese (with lobster and black truffles); Whole roasted maitake mushroom five grain risotto, braised kale, sweet carrots, sauce soubise and crispy croquettes or  “Marin Sun Farms” Grass-fed filet mignon;  Chocolate and peanut butter crunch bar, banana ice cream, dried caramel or Cabernet poached pear and almond tart, crème fraiche ice cream, cabernet reduction.

Enjoy Sonoma Valley Restaurant Week and don’t forget to leave a comment on where you end up going!