Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [249]
Wolf House ★ ECLECTIC The most polished dining room in Glen Ellen is elegant yet relaxed, whether you’re seated in the dining room—smartly adorned with maple floors, gold walls, dark-wood wainscoting, and a corner fireplace—or outside on the multilevel terrace under a canopy of trees with serene views of adjacent Sonoma Creek. The menu adds fancy finishes to old favorites. At lunch that equates to a fresh grilled ahi tuna niçoise sandwich or a juicy half-pound burger with Point Reyes Original Blue cheese. During dinner, seared roasted Liberty Farms duck breast with wild stewed plums, cipollini onions, barley risotto, baked pears, and plum demi, or pan-roasted salmon with sweet asparagus, baby arugula salad, and sunchoke mash do the trick. The reasonably priced wine list offers many by-the-glass options as well as a fine selection of Sonoma wines. At brunch, locals love the nepalas rancheros (chorizo, pinto beans, roasted chilies, and fried eggs), Dungeness crab cake Benedict, omelets, and almond-crusted French toast.
13740 Arnold Dr. (at London Ranch Rd.). 707/996-4401. www.jacklondonlodge.com/wolf_house.htm. Reservations recommended. Main courses brunch and lunch $11–$15, dinner $16–$27. AE, MC, V. Mon–Fri 11:30am–3pm; daily 5:30–9pm; brunch Sat–Sun 11am–3pm.
KENWOOD
Moderate
Kenwood Restaurant & Bar ★★ CALIFORNIAN/CONTINENTAL This is what Wine Country dining should be. From the terrace of the Kenwood Restaurant, diners enjoy a view of the vineyards set against Sugarloaf Ridge as they imbibe Sonoma’s finest at umbrella-covered tables. On nippy days, you can retreat inside to the Sonoma-style roadhouse, with its vibrant artwork and cushioned rattan chairs at white cloth–covered tables. Regardless, the cuisine is perfectly balanced between tradition and innovation, complemented by a reasonably priced wine list. Great starters are Dungeness crab cake with herb mayonnaise; super-fresh sashimi with ginger, soy, and wasabi; and a wonderful Caesar salad. The main dish might be poached salmon in salsa beurre blanc, or prawns with saffron Pernod sauce. But the Kenwood doesn’t take itself too seriously: Great sandwiches and burgers are also available.
9900 Sonoma Hwy. (just north of Dunbar Rd.). 707/833-6326. www.kenwoodrestaurant.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses $13–$30. MC, V. Wed–Sat 12:30–9pm; Sun noon–8pm.
Inexpensive
Café Citti NORTHERN ITALIAN If a casual, tasty meal is on your itinerary, head to Café Citti (pronounced Cheat-ee), a roadside do-it-yourself Italian trattoria that is both good and cheap. You order from the huge menu board displayed above the open kitchen. Afterward, you grab a table (the ones on the patio, shaded by umbrellas, are the best on warm afternoons), and a server will bring your meal. It’s all hearty, home-cooked Italian. Standout dishes are the green-bean salad, tangy Caesar salad, focaccia sandwiches, and roasted rotisserie chicken stuffed with rosemary and garlic. Wine is available by the bottle, and the espresso is plenty strong. Everything on the menu board is available to go, which makes Café Citti an excellent resource for picnic supplies.
9049 Sonoma Hwy. 707/833-2690. www.cafecitti.com. Main courses $12–$16. MC, V. Daily 11am–3:30pm; Sun–Thurs 5–8:30pm; Fri–Sat 5–9pm.
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PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO
The City by the Bay.
GETTING THERE
By Plane
The northern Bay Area has two major airports: San Francisco International and Oakland International.
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Almost four dozen major scheduled carriers serve San Francisco International Airport (SFO; 650/821-8211; www.flysfo.com), 14 miles directly south of downtown on U.S. 101. Drive time to downtown during commuter rush hour is about 40 minutes; at other times, it’s about 20 to 25 minutes. You can also ride BART from the airport to downtown and the East Bay.
You can also call 511 or visit www.511.org for