Sol Food Puerto Rican. $. Flavorful, authentic and homestyle at this Puerto Rican eatery, which is as hole-inthe-wall as they come. Lunch and dinner daily. Two San Rafael locations: 732 Fourth St. 415.451.4765. 901 Lincoln Ave. 415.256.8903.
N A PA CO U N TY Angèle Restaurant & Bar French. $$$. Thoroughly French, but not aggressively so. Lunch and dinner daily. 540 Main St, Napa. 707.252.8115.
BarBersQ Barbecue/ California. $-$$. An upscale ’cue joint with a high-end chef and high-end ingredients. Gorgeous chipotle-braised short ribs and pulled pork. Lunch and dinner daily. 3900-D Bel Aire Plaza, Napa. 707.224.6600.
Bounty Hunter Wine country casual. $$. Wine shop and bistro with maverick moxie for the wine cowboy. Premium bottles for sale, also. Lunch and dinner, Tues-Sun; open late, Thurs-Sat. 975 First St, Napa. 707.255.0622.
Compadres Rio Grille Western/Mexican. $-$$. Contemporary food and outdoor dining with a Mexican flavor. Located on the river and serving authentic cocktails. Nightly specials and an abiding love of the San Francisco Giants. 505 Lincoln Ave, Napa. Lunch and dinner daily. 707.253.1111.
Gilwoods Cafe Diner. $-$$. Classic hometown diner, specializes in the homemade. Breakfast and lunch daily. 1320 Napa Town Center, Napa. 707.253.0409. 1313 Main St, St Helena. 707.963.1788.
Red Rock Cafe & Backdoor BBQ American. $-$$. Cafe specializing in barbecue and classic diner fare. Messy, delicious. Lunch and dinner daily. 1010 Lincoln Ave, Napa. 707.226.2633.
Redd California cuisine. $$$$$. Rich dishes balanced by subtle flavors and careful yet casual presentation. Brunch
15
SMALL BITES
Spinster’s Success Santa Rosa’s South A neighborhood is in a constant state of near-revival, but the Spinster Sisters might just complete the task. Everyone, it seems, is talking about this new restaurant. On a recent visit, casually dressed folks sat around the expansive bar, sipping wine and nibbling on small plates of olives, ricotta and calamari; the ambiance only improved at sundown, when ceiling lamps began glowing softly. The food is “new American,” and it’s made in a kitchen helmed by former Santi chef Liza Hinman. To start, we ordered the deviled egg with bacon and kimchi ($3) and a warm, heavenly goat-cheese crottin with caramelized figs, arugula and grilled sourdough ($11). When I admitted to the server that I didn’t know how to pronounce “crottin,” rather than making me feel like a dunce, she said, “Don’t worry, I don’t know how to pronounce it either!” We paired the meal with a Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA ($6), one of many quality beers on draft. Small plates shared familystyle seem to be the way to go here, but we also ordered the crispy chicken thighs with white beans, arugula, grilled nectarines ($16) and the grilled hangar steak with roasted corn cake, tomato and avocado salad ($21). Crispy Kennebec fries, made-to-order and served with a tangy and sweet sauce ($6), completed the meal. This is definitely a restaurant that merits a return visit. Spinster Sisters, 401 South A St., Santa Rosa. Open Tuesday–Friday, 7am–10pm; Saturday–Sunday, 9am–10pm. 707.528.7100. —Leilani Clark
at Redd is exceptional. Lunch, Mon-Sat; dinner daily; brunch, Sun. 6480 Washington St, Yountville. 707.944.2222.
Ubuntu Vegetarian. $$$$. Some of the most remarkable specimens of high-end vegetables and fruits available on a restaurant plate. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 1140 Main St, Napa. 707.251.5656.
Zuzu Spanish tapas. $$. Graze your way through a selection of tasty tapas in a lively rustic chic setting with a popular wine bar. Bite-sized Spanish and Latin American specialties include sizzling prawns, Spanish tortilla, and Brazilian style steamed mussels. Lunch, Mon-Fri; dinner daily. 829 Main St, Napa. 707.224.8555.
NO RTH BAY BO H E M I AN | AUGUST 22–28, 201 2 | BOH E MI A N.COM
Piatti Italian. $$-$$$.Rustic, seasonal, Italian food. Kidfriendly. Lunch and dinner daily. 625 Redwood Hwy, Mill Valley. 415.380.2525.