Dining in Santa rosa

Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, right in the heart of California Wine Country. Wine and food have always gone hand in hand, so appropriately, Santa Rosa is a hotbed of excellent restaurants that epitomize the wine culture of the region. The emphasis is on fresh ingredients, grown locally and paired with great wines. Santa Rosa offers an eclectic collection of restaurants to suit anyone's tastes or budget.

One of the most venerable fine dining restaurants in all of Sonoma County is John Ash & Co. Chef John Ash is world renowned as a pioneer in Californian cuisine. His restaurant places an emphasis on local produce and wine. Situated in a vineyard among breathtaking scenery, John Ash & Co. is a culinary and visual delight.

If John Ash & Co. represents the establishment in Santa Rosa, the new kid on the block and current trendy hot spot is Syrah. Named after the spicy, red wine, Syrah features California-French cuisine prepared by Chef John Silvers. The menu changes at least monthly, reflecting the bounty of the season, with a focus on local, organic, and sustainable products.

A new addition to the Santa Rosa fine dining scene is Willi's Wine Bar. Willi's Wine Bar specializes in small plate meals, all served in a rustic and laid back environment. Patrons can stop by and have a small snack, while sipping local wines from the impressive wine bar where every wine can be purchased by the glass.

Zazu, chef-owned by husband and wife team Duskie Estes and John Stewart, specializes in Italian comfort food. Zazu prides itself on actually producing much of their produce and meats. As much as 30% of their ingredients are grown on the farm on which the restaurant is located. Ingredients can be picked within minutes of being served at the table. On Wednesday nights, Zazu offers Pinot and Pizza specials, pairing fruity Pinot Noir wines with an Italian American staple, making the perfect combination.

Regardless of where a person chooses to eat in Santa Rosa, a bad choice cannot be made. Practically all restaurants in the area take advantage of the local agriculture and viticulture, providing diners with some of the freshest and most innovative food in the world.