best restaurants California – Butter, Bourbon, and Other Sins

If you’re in Sonoma County on a summer’s weekend and you find yourself without afternoon plans, Brewsters Beer Garden is the right spot for you.

Downtown Petaluma is one of the fastest growing cities in California. Packed with nightlife, events and a great food scene, it is a very fun spot to be. Sitting on the south side of Sonoma County, Petaluma has the southernmost AVA’s for Sonoma County wines, commonly known for its Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.

Besides wine, Petaluma is known for food. A wonderful scene it is, with a seemingly endless supply of restaurants found on any street corner in the city. Brewsters, considered a beer garden and not a restaurant, can still hold a light to any of the other amazing restaurants you’ll find in this city.

The Yard

The setup of the beer garden is that of a long backyard. Tables flow from the building deep into the back with a walled off alley on one side and a rustic, brick building on the other that creates a wall from the environment. Sticking with a rustic look, there are lots of antique decorations throughout this outdoor beer garden that tie the aesthetic together.

On the weekends it’s packed, loud, fun and young. The environment is lively and comfortable; not formal in any sense, but in no way trashy. Everybody seems to always be smiling and laughing, truly enjoying themselves.

Oftentimes there is a live band playing, quieting the crowd enough to hear the music, but in no way diminishing from the lively environment.

The Menu

The menu there changes on a daily basis, but you can bet on having some great barbecue no matter what the menu holds. Brewsters does their own smoking, so oftentimes you find 12-hour smoked meats like chicken, ribs, and brisket. They’ll melt in your mouth and leave you with the best hickory flavors you’ll find in Sonoma county.

Their amazing barbecuing is also accompanied by sides of different vegetables, fries, mac & cheese, etc. Personally, the fried chicken sandwich jumped off the page for me, and words could not do it justice. It was juicy, savory and crunchy; perfectly delicious.

Drinks

The beer garden shows off the vast amount of microbreweries there are in California. All of the beers on tap are unique and only a few come from outside of the state. You can find beers from companies like Lagunitas, Lost Coast and Barrelhouse on the draft list.

The beer garden also has a full bar, so any cocktail you’re looking for, they can make. Not much goes better than good beer or a hand crafted cocktail to go with southern style barbecue and live music.

Takeaway

Brewsters Beer Garden is a great summer day lunch or dinner spot. Whether it is for a fun date, a day out with friends and family, or just a quick beer, it really is unbeatable. Explore the downtown Petaluma nightlife, play pool at Buffalo Billiards, and make sure you check out Brewsters Beer Garden.

One of the most amazing culinary adventures you will find in Santa Cruz County, in the heart of Capitola, is Shadowbrook restaurant.

Capitola, a beach town that brings thousands of tourists annually, with some of the most gorgeous beaches and best vibes you will find in California, is just south of Santa Cruz.

If you visit the area, make sure to spend your day adventuring the boardwalk, seeing all the beauty it has to offer, and then check out the beautiful buildings in Capitola. Like Burano, the colorful island near Venice, Capitola is partially known for its gorgeous beaches and colorful buildings.

The town’s uniqueness rubs off on the restaurant, Shadowbrook, which has been around since 1947!

Shadowbrook’s Uniqueness

Shadowbrook lies at the bottom of a steep hill, directly above, and overhanging of a river. The location is tucked in and you cannot see the restaurant from the main street. If need be, the restaurant will give free transportation in retro taxis up to three miles from the restaurant.

Once you get to the top of the steep hill, you can either walk down the hill, through a forest of plants and flowers, or you can take a unique cable car, which will take you directly to the front desk of the restaurant crafted from recycled redwood. This restaurant’s recycled wood is all from used wine redwood vats from the early 1900s!

The restaurant itself has multiple indoor levels, all unique and themed, along with multiple levels of patios, including one on the same level as the river. Every table outside has an overhead heater that can be turned on by the customers through the touch of a button.

The experience beyond the food is worth the trip!

The Food at Shadowbrook Restaurant

Besides the salad starters, a lot of the starters are fish, including calamari and ahi poke. I ended up enjoying a baked brie dish, with a jalapeno jelly and crostinis on the side. They also have a small selection of soup, including a clam chowder which is supposedly the crowd favorite.

For entrees, the restaurant offers a few selections of seafood, including salmon, lobster tail, and scallops. There is also an assortment of vegetarian and vegan options, followed by a list of entrees containing meats. These entrees include filet mignon, chicken parmigiana, and osso bucco.

The Drinks

Accompanying the decent wine list and beer list, Shadowbrook is known for its unique craft cocktails. They use unique ingredients not found in most bars, and create a large list of cocktails, each with a fun twist.

I had a cocktail called the “Gold Rush” which was Larceny bourbon, mixed with orange blossom honey and orange bitters over ice. It was sweet and tangy; an amazing cocktail!

Final Words

If you are ever in the Santa Cruz area, Shadowbrook restaurant is a must. The retro cabs, cable car, and restaurant scenery are fascinating and fun. The place is amazing for a date, but it’s also a great place to go with your family! You can reserve a table up to 30 days in advance, which I would highly recommend. Also, there is a dress code, so check that out on their website before you go!