Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [247]
Inexpensive
Basque Boulangerie Café BAKERY/DELI If you prefer a lighter morning meal and strong coffee, stand in line with the locals at the Basque Boulangerie Café, the most popular gathering spot in Sonoma Valley. Most everything—sourdough Basque breads, pastries, quiches, soups, salads, desserts, sandwiches, cookies—is made in-house and made well. Daily lunch specials, such as a grilled-veggie sandwich ($6.25), are listed on the chalkboard out front. Seating is scarce, and if you can score a sidewalk table on a sunny day, consider yourself one lucky person. A popular option is ordering to go and eating in the shady plaza across the street. The cafe also sells wine by the glass, as well as a wonderful cinnamon bread by the loaf that’s ideal for making French toast.
460 First St. E. 707/935-7687. Menu items $3–$12. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 7am–6pm.
Black Bear Diner DINER When you’re craving a classic American breakfast with all the cholesterol and the fixin’s (perhaps to counterbalance that wine hangover), make a beeline for this old-fashioned diner. First, it’s fun, with its over-the-top bear paraphernalia, gazette-style menu listing local news from 1961 and every possible diner favorite, and absurdly friendly waitstaff. Second, it’s darned cheap. Third, helpings are huge. What more could you want? Kids get a kick out of coloring books, old-timers reminisce over Sinatra playing on the jukebox, and everyone leaves stuffed on omelets, scrambles, and pancakes. Lunch and dinner feature steak sandwiches, salads, and comfort food faves like barbecued pork ribs, Cobb salad, fish and chips, and burgers—they grind their own beef. But unless you like old-school run-of-the-mill diner fare, your best bet is to dine elsewhere.
201 W. Napa St. (at Second St.). 707/935-6800. www.blackbeardiner.com. Main courses break-fast $5–$8.50, lunch and dinner $5.50–$17. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 6am–9:30pm (closing varies on weekends, depending on business).
Della Santina’s ★★ TUSCAN For those who just can’t swallow another chichi California meal, follow the locals to this friendly, traditional Italian restaurant. How traditional? Ask father-and-son team Dan and Robert who proudly point out Signora Santina’s hand-embroidered linen doilies and discuss her Tuscan recipes. Their pride is merited: Dishes are authentic and well flavored, without overbearing sauces or one hint of California pretentiousness. Start with traditional antipasti, particularly sliced mozzarella and tomatoes, move on to one of the nine authentic pasta dishes, or opt for spit-roasted chicken, pork, turkey, rabbit, or duck—or a selection of three. Perk: You can guiltlessly order a bottle of wine since many choices here go for under $40. Portions are huge, but save room for dessert, like the creamy panna cotta. Though the inside’s small, a huge back patio covered in blooming trellises is full practically every night in the summer (the wait’s never too bad), and they’ve recently tented part of it, so you can eat back there in winter, too, weather permitting.
133 E. Napa St. (just east of the square). 707/935-0576. www.dellasantinas.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses $12–$18. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am–3pm and 5–9:30pm.
The gnocci at Della Santina’s.
Harmony Lounge ★ CONTINENTAL Fronting Sonoma Square, the Harmony Club is not just a looker, with its elegant Italianate dining room with dark woods, high ceilings, marble flooring, and a wall of giant doors opening to sidewalk seating and Sonoma’s plaza. It also delivers in food and live entertainment. Go for sidewalk seating during warmer weather (they also have heat lamps), sit inside, or hang at the carved wood bar. Either way you’ll want to face the piano when the restaurant hosts a special-occasion performer, often one of the region’s better talents singing jazz standards. Alas, the only letdown is the variety of the wine list, as this spot is owned by Steve