best restaurants in Sonoma County – 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.

Healdsburg, California, the heart of Sonoma County’s wine region is one of the fastest growing regions in all of California. The town, becoming known for its beautiful scenery, diverse terroir, high end wines, and ever expanding food culture, has caught the attention of many. Thousands of people flock to the town for barrel tasting weekends, and other large events, with peak seasons filling up the town’s plaza.

Right at the corner of the plaza, a new two-story restaurant named The Matheson has hit the scene. The two-story restaurant, joined by its Roof 106 cocktail bar above, is the newest, hottest restaurant in Healdsburg.

First Impression

The Matheson restaurant — Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/themathesonhbg/

The first thing you see, walking through the doors of the Matheson is a beautiful interior, modern, but fanciful decor, a 360 degree bar, an open kitchen, and a whole wine wall with automatic dispensers dedicated to both Sonoma County’s amazing wines and other high-end wines from around the world.

After being greeted by a hostess, you can grab a drink at the bar, a glass of wine from the wine wall, or even venture to the roof for a cocktail with a view of the plaza. The rooftop is absolutely gorgeous, with a full, wrap-around bar inside, with comfortable seating, and a more casual feeling. When you step onto the patio, you have a perfect view of downtown Healdsburg, seen from the firepits and couches lining up the sides of the patio.

The Food

pizza and wine outdoor seating — Image Credit:https://www.instagram.com/themathesonhbg/

A wide menu awaits you if you eat at the first-floor dining room. Chef Dustin Valette has outdone himself. You can find everything from woodfired pizza to a tasting platter of sushi. The most amazing part is that you could not go wrong with either.

If you decide to eat at Roof 106, you will find a smaller menu, with a more approachable feel. You can still get a variety of pizzas and appetizers, including shishito peppers that are out of this world.

The Drinks

mixologist pouring a drink — Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/themathesonhbg/

The extensive number of wines you can find on the wall as you enter the restaurant is astounding. Many wines are from Sonoma County, but you can still find wines from notable wine regions like Bordeaux, Mendoza, and Napa.

While enjoying a meal prepared from a menu built by chef Dustin Valette, you might as well try his personal wine, Valette. Valette cabernet sauvignon is a beautifully crafted, Sonoma County cabernet, made by Healdsburg’s own, and world renowned winemaker, Jesse Katz.

The cocktails are their own craftsmanship. Each one is unique and equally as amazing as the last. My recommendation is the modern margarita, which is clear with ingredients crafted by the Matheson team. It is an amazing balance of sweet and tangy and is not lacking in alcohol.

Takeaway

The food scene is amazing in Healdsburg. You will find everything from local burger joints like Healdsburger, to three Michelin star restaurants, like Single Thread. Go check out the wines, the scenery, and the restaurants, but do not forget to stop and check out The Matheson while you’re at it!