Healdsburg, CA

Single Thread Restaurant (update), Healdsburg, CA., 5/7/25

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exterior – 131 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Single Thread was first visited in Dec. 2018 when it had just been elevated to a 3 Michelin star rating.   The physical room has aged well and the service is still first-rate.  This trip we ‘shot the wad’ and stayed in one of their upstairs guest rooms.  There are 5 of them, all nice-sized, very modern and a good bit of food comes with your room in the form of snacks and breakfast, which was on par with dinner.  Chef Kyle Connaughton and wife/Head Farmer Katina bought the property and a 5-acre farm in 2014, opened the restaurant in 2016 and the farm now provides much of the produce served in the 10-course tasting menu.  The farm-to-table menu has major Asian influences to it and a seasonal theme – this one was about ‘Mid-Spring in Sonoma.’  Pairings are available as is an extensive wine list.   Nicely no supplements were offered for sale for the menu.  Everything was good but nothing crossed into the spectacular zone for me, which at this price it should.  It’s a restaurant that rates highly on many lists and one you should visit if you’re in to farm-to-table but bring your platinum card and plan to spend around 3 hours. Continue reading →

Summer’s Market & Deli, Healdsburg, CA., 5/8/24

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exterior – 557 Powell Ave, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Summer’s Market and Deli was an “old-fashioned neighborhood market.”  They sold a variety of snacks and drinks as well as sandwiches and wraps, coffees and ice cream.   The day we went they also had smoked sandwiches but had already sold out of some meats.  It was a large place with a number of tables to eat at and some interesting decorations.   Brightly lit, it was helped by a wall of windows across the front.  Friendly staff took the order and prepared our selections quickly.  The bread on both was quite soft and a tad floury.  The crunch roll was supposed to be topped with crunchy stuff but it was just as soft.  The bread overall was too much in proportion to the fillings.  They had quality ingredients but none of them stood out on the flavor scale.  It felt like a healthy quick snack but not a place I’d frequent regularly.  Maybe with different choices I could have left with a better impression.  Let me know if  you go and have other reactions. Continue reading →

Troubadour Bread and Bistro, Healdsburg, CA., 8/23/23

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entrance – 381 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA., 95448

Troubadour, in downtown Healdsburg, is owned by Single Thread veterans Melissa Yanc and Sean McGaughey who bring the quality that their past experience would lead one to expect at a tiny bakery/sandwich shop by day and a French inspired prix fixe menu at night.   Founded in 2021, the place is getting lots of press and people for their evening service as well as their ready made sandwiches.  Desserts are on display, if you desire that too, as well as a huge array of beverages, stocked mostly for the evening service but available to daytime visitors.  It’s a small place with counters facing the windows on 2 sides and one larger middle table.  There were also some tables outside that people took their food to eat at. Music is in the background and a large jug of ice water is available with cups.  You place your order with the friendly clerks and pay up at the same counter and then it’s time to enjoy some really delicious sandwiches.  They were thoughtfully assembled and cut in half.  Both were on fabulous breads made in house.  This has my highest recommendation as well as me hoping I’ll get back for dinner too! Continue reading →

Valette, Healdsburg, 3/12/22

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building – 344 Center St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Valette is a medium-sized restaurant in Healdsburg, CA in Sonoma County.  It was the dream of two local brothers to create a dining experience featuring local farmers, winemakers and artisans.  They craft the menu around these local items along with sustainably raised meats.  Chef Dustin Valette is the kitchen partner and Aaron Garzini is the wine partner.  They have also opened a huge, more casual venue in town but their father often makes the ’rounds’ of dinner guests at Valette.  It offers Chef Valette’s ‘Trust me’ tasting menu, with a minimum of 5 courses at $18 each (a 5 course is required if you have a party greater than 7) and optional wine pairings offered.  There is a corkage fee ($25-45) if you want to bring your own wine. Continue reading →

SingleThread Restaurant, Healdsburg, CA, 12/5/18

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building
building

SingleThread Farm, Restaurant and Inn opened in December 2016 and is a large corner building in Healdsburg, an hour and a half drive from San Francisco.  Upstairs they have some elegant rooms to stay in and downstairs they have a large kitchen and several dining areas.  There is a roof top terrance for some courses but it was not in use the night we were there.  The building is quite modern, with soft lighting  and music, set with large bare wood tables, a wood ceiling, gold wood tiles on some walls, some faux fire places, a bouquet of flowers and herbs from their garden on top of your napkin and lots of bench seating filled with extra cushions for back support.  They only seat about 52 people but some early diners’ tables were turned.  The reservation system is a pre-pay one with no refunds but you can try and re-sell tickets if you can’t use them.  Service was wonderful with most every person who approached our table addressing us by name.  Pacing is at a good rate and portion controls allows you to easily get through the surprise tasting (pairings are available) but will not leave you hungry.  At the end of the meal they do present you with a copy of the menu. Continue reading →

Healdsburg SHED, Healdsburg, 12/5/18

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building
building

The SHED was a large place that opened in 2013.  It sold cooking/kitchen supplies, take out food, produce, and had a dining area.  Unfortunately the owners, Doug Lipton and Cindy Daniel announced that it would shut its doors Dec. 31, 2018.  They intend to still have an online presence where you can buy things but no more dining opportunities or brick and mortar facitilties, according to several articles I read.  I have no other information about what did happen but decided to share the meal just in case they reopen or you find these folks developing another concept.  The seating area was divided by a service bar and the small space behind the bar had a wall of windows to some patio seating.  On the other side of the bar there were stools and some tables, but they had a lot more shoppers looking over their space.  We were there for lunch and so there was plenty of light due to the windows as well as the general bright lighting a store will tend to have.  There was some background music and the walls around us had shelves containing books, items and lots of jars of vegetables.  The small marble tables were set fairly close and mostly were suitable for 2 people.  The wine list was limited and did include carafes of wine.   Continue reading →