As I mentioned in my previous post, my friends’ parents had recently moved to Sonoma County, about 40 minutes north of San Francisco. This is where I stayed for the rest of my time in Northern California.
Ana’s Cafe & Espresso
On the first morning, Matt recommended a great spot nearby for breakfast burritos. Despite being on vacation, we didn’t leave the house until lunchtime. Ana’s Cafe & Espresso, tucked away in a small plaza next to a pet store, was quiet when we arrived, with just one customer reading the newspaper. Breakfast burritos, luckily, were an all-day thing.
Massive and hefty, these burritos came packed with eggs, cheese, and other fillings. I opted for the chorizo and potato combo. While the size impressed me, the flavors were underwhelming—the chorizo barely came through, and it was mostly potatoes. I saved half for a late-night snack.
Tomi Thai
Tomi Thai is a cozy spot that gets packed early, so we were glad we made reservations. Though I glanced at the menu, I knew I’d be ordering Pad See Ew, my go-to dish for judging Thai restaurants. It’s also my favorite over the more popular Pad Thai.
The portion size could’ve been a bit bigger, but the flavors were spot on. Thumbs up from me!
Chinois Asian Bistro
We continued the Asian food streak with dinner at Chinois the following night. Unlike Tomi Thai, Chinois was spacious and less crowded, and we made it in time for happy hour (before 6:30 PM). Their menu was impressively diverse, featuring Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, and even dim sum.
Fried Turnip Cake: Despite being described as pan-fried, the texture suggested it was deep-fried. Either way, it was delicious.
String Beans with Wood Ear Mushrooms and Chicken: Though I had hoped for Chinese long beans instead of string beans, the dish was flavorful and satisfying. Combined with other appetizers (fried turnip cakes, pork buns, and beef stew noodles), it was a filling and enjoyable meal.
Wild Sage Delicatessen
After touring the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, we stopped at Wild Sage Delicatessen for lunch. Their sign advertising “empanadas” had caught our attention, but the menu offered much more—soups, sandwiches, and beer.
I ordered the turkey and bacon sandwich with a cup of clam chowder. The chowder was standard but satisfying, and the sandwich was good enough to dip into the chowder for extra flavor. The service was excellent—friendly and accommodating.
McNear’s Saloon & Mystic Theatre
We ended the day at McNear’s Saloon. Despite mixed reviews from locals, the atmosphere wasn’t bad—TVs showing sports, decent draft beer options, and a wide range of food specials.
I had the American Graffiti burger, which came with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and Thousand Island dressing, along with fries and a cup of cream of asparagus soup. The soup was flavorful, the fries were standard, and the burger hit the spot—though one patty was slightly overcooked.
