Last night I finally got the chance to dine at Scopa, an Italian restaurant on Healdsburg’s plaza that I’ve been eager to try for some time now. They’re open for dinner only, so it’s been logistically tough to make it work. The evening was fantastic, filled with awesome food, a really wonderful atmosphere (including opened streetside windows we dined beside, a detail oh-so-small, but something I’ve missed dearly since my NYC days), wonderful friends and a stunning molten chocolate soufflé with mint anglaise sauce, a duo I’m still dreaming about. (How can your mouth not salivate at that photo?! Sidebar, but I think molten chocolate soufflés should be the only dessert offering at every restaurant, as it is at Scopa. Wait. That might be crazy talk, but if there had to be only one…)
I’ll be posting Scopa’s review soon – once I have time to edit my awfully dark pictures (mental note: night photography class stat) – but all of the above motivated me to put to paper, I mean world wide web, the grand list of delicious Sonoma County restaurants to dine at and review soon. All in the name of SCL of course. It’s a tough job, I know; but I’m willing to make the sacrifice for you, dear readers.
Some of these I’ve been to before (and are eager to get back stat), many I have not. Below is the top 10 List, both to give a sneak preview of dining experiences to come on SCL and also see if I’m missing anything you’d love to see reviewed or perhaps a hidden gem I’m not yet privy to. Let me know any additions you might have in the comments section. In the meantime, bon appetit!
(in no particular order and far from comprehensive)
1) Zazu – Santa Rosa
2) Bovolo* – Healdsburg
3) Cyrus – Healdsburg
4) Taverna Santi – Geyserville
5) Syrah – Santa Rosa
6) Restaurant Eloise* – Sebastapol
7) Central Market* – Petaluma
8 ) Hana – Santa Rosa
9) Bistro des Copains** – Occidental
10) Zin – Healdsburg
10.5) Della Fattoria* – Petaluma
(* = indicates I’ve been before and it comes fully SCL recommended, i.e. if you get a chance to go before the official SCL review comes out, you won’t be disappointed in the least. Go. Go now.)
(** = as recommended by an SCL reader whose highly selective tastebuds can be trusted.)
a few things.
a. i’m immensely impressed by your frequent blogging…if only i was so disciplined with my own blog!
b. i’ve been to zazu. so awesome. the blind tasting menu is also a treat. (and an inspiration, obviously.)
c. the bistro des copains also comes recommended by sophie’s cellars in monte rio. when should we go?
Grazie Devon. I’m eager to try Zazu, ever since I fell in love with their sister restaurant, Bovolo, in Healdsburg. Divine pig over there. I think a date is in order for both. My paparazzi photo taking during dinner is always buffered a bit by a companion.