Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Here's some more important guidance: Lunch is drastically underrated here.
At lunch, many places use the same chefs, the same ingredients, and often, the
exact same menu—but for less than dinner. If you don't mind cutting into your
wine-touring time (aw, come on, how many places can you visit in a day, any-
way?), do your gourmandizing at lunch and go easy on dinner.
I don't include places that specialize in breakfast, because many B&Bs offer
continental breakfast. If you want to break the bank, there are plenty of opportu-
nities—including the French Laundry, named by countless millionaires as literally
the best restaurant in the world—and everyone you meet will suggest that you
visit three or four of these expensive places without really stopping to consider
how much you'll be paying.
If a restaurant listed here has three or more dollar signs listed with it, then
there's probably a corkage fee, charged for opening a bottle of wine that you don't
buy from one of them. Those start around $15, so don't presume that you'll be
saving money by bringing your own wine.
In addition to these places, the not-very-famous-but-ought-to-be burrito carts
(p. 228), used by many vineyard workers, are also a prime resource.
AROUND SONOMA
$ Just one room with a few tables and a diner-style counter, Juanita Juanita 555
(19114 Arnold Dr., Sonoma; % 707/935-3981; www.juanitajuanita.com;
Wed-Mon 11am-8pm; cash only) is a terrific find for a wide range of flavorful
Mexican food. The cook seems to never simply throw things together: The
chorizo is crumbled and perfectly charred, the enchiladas smooth and full of
moist meat (in fact, they're so good that they sometimes sell out by around 7pm).
Anything costing more than $6 will be so massive you may regret ordering it, but
staff is friendly and doesn't sniff at packaging leftovers. Don't be put off by the slo-
gan: “Food isn't properly seasoned unless it's painful to eat.” That's more a cute
promise to people who like it spicy than it is a mantra that you'll find in every
dish. Dinner wraps up by 8pm, so don't plan a long evening.
No, they don't serve warm puppies at The Warm Puppy Café 9 (1667 W.
$
Steele Lane, Santa Rosa; % 707/546-7147; www.snoopyshomeice.com; Mon-Tues
11am-6pm, Wed 11am-5pm, Thurs-Sun 11am-9pm; AE, MC, V). It's really just the
resident food counter at the Snoopy's Home Ice skating rink—you know: pizzas,
burgers, and other snacks it feels good to eat when you come off the ice. In fact,
countless parents do eat here as they watch their kids frolic on skates through the
plate-glass windows. This was Peanuts creator's Charles Schulz's daily breakfast
habit from 1969, when he built this place, to 2000. His favorite table, the round
one to the right of the fireplace, is still held in his honor. I think this place is pretty
great because it's so homey and has such a strong community feel. Order the
Snoopy special, a hamburger served with fries inside a dog dish, or the Peppermint
Patty, which is a mint hot chocolate. The museum dedicated to Schulz's legacy
(p. 225) is right across the street.
$-$$ The roadside Italian joint Cafe Citti 55 (9049 Sonoma Hwy./Route 12;
% 707/833-2690; www.cafecitti.com; Sun-Thurs 11am-3:30pm and 5-8:30pm,
Fri-Sat 11am-3:30pm and 5-9pm; MC, V) is the kind of place popular with local
office workers and retirees who want a solid meal without paying a lot for it—the
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