Located on an obscure road in obscure Graton (near Sebastapol), there is a salad that haunts me. That brings me back, time and time again. Shall I list the ingredients?
Frisee. Pancetta lardons. Poached egg. Parmesan. And a touch of bliss.
Frisee aux Lardon Salad. An absolute gem. Eating lunch at the Underwood Bar & Bistro is one of my favorite excuses to conduct some wine related business. The european bistro-like atmosphere is enough to make you want to linger over the small tapas lunch menu with some manchego cheese, serrano ham and a glass of Merry Edwards Pinot Noir for the rest of the afternoon hours. Or if you’ve brought a bit of a larger appetite, go for the regular lunch menu featuring aforementioned salad, herb lemon risotto or moroccan lamb sandwich. Just be sure not to pass up on the frites.
Graton is a quaint little strip, dare I say town?, that once was apple-cannery central to the area. Now more like winemaker central, the restaurants in the area have grown with the region’s winemaking, offering delicious european-inspired, but still california-fresh, creations that pair quite beautifully with the region’s wine. The Underwood is the sister restaurant to Willow Wood Cafe, located across the street, another favorite spot offering divine polenta dishes. Both are highly SCL recommended.
A local’s favorite – the kind where if you go enough times, the bartender greets you by name and starts making your drink right on cue – the Underwood is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday and they also feature a late night menu on weekends. Belly up to the vintage bar, order that bliss of a salad and rub elbows with the winemaking crews from the area, quite possibly the exact crew who made that wine you’re sipping alongside the manchego.
Mmmm…The Underwood – have you been yet? If not, go. Go soon.
The Underwood Bar & Bistro: 9113 Graton Road, Graton. 707.823.7023. Open Tues-Sat, 11:30-2:30 for lunch, 5-10 for dinner. Bar remains open between lunch and dinner. Late night menu available after 10 on Friday/Saturday.
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