01
Best overall pick
Salt & Stone
Vineyard Stretch Along Sonoma Highway • Seafood-Forward Wine Country Restaurant • Best For Relaxed Date Nights
Polished yet unfussy seafood, steaks, and local produce in a vineyard-framed setting.
Salt & Stone delivers the full Sonoma Valley package: a broad menu, thoughtful cooking, and a patio that looks out over the vines. The kitchen leans into pristine seafood, but you’ll also find satisfying pastas, burgers, and steaks alongside an extensive local wine list. It’s the kind of place where you can linger over oysters and a bottle at the bar or settle in on the terrace for a long, leisurely dinner.
02
Best wine-country courtyard
VJB Cellars
Courtyard Complex In Central Kenwood • Italian Marketplace, Cafe, And Tasting Room • Best Casual Wine-Country Lunch
Sunny Italian-style courtyard for wood-fired pizza, panini, and a glass of estate wine.
VJB Cellars feels like stumbling into a little piazza just off the highway, with an open courtyard ringed by food counters and the tasting room. Guests mix and match wood-fired pizzas, panini, salads, and gelato while sipping Italian varietals made on-site. It’s relaxed, kid-friendly, and ideal for a midday bite between tastings or a low-key afternoon with friends.
03
Top chef-driven Italian
Stella
Heart Of Kenwood Village • Wood-Fired Italian Restaurant • Best For Seasonal Pastas And Share Plates
Intimate, chef-led Italian spot with a wood-fired oven and a tight, seasonal menu.
Stella leans into bold, comforting Italian flavors, from blistered pizzas to house-made pastas that change with the seasons. The dining room is small and warmly lit, with a patio that feels made for lingering over another glass of Barbera. Expect thoughtful cooking, polished service, and a menu that rewards ordering a few dishes for the table and sharing.
04
Best for a laid-back night out
Palooza Brewery and Gastropub
Kenwood Shopping Strip On Sonoma Highway • Lively Brewery And Gastropub • Best For Groups And Families
Bustling taproom energy with elevated pub food, house brews, and plenty of patio space.
Palooza is where locals go when they want comfort food, a good beer list, and room for everyone at the table. The menu runs from burgers and wings to more chef-y specials, making it easy to satisfy a mixed group or post-hike appetites. Indoor TVs, outdoor seating, and regular events give it a social, easygoing vibe that contrasts nicely with the nearby tasting rooms.
05
Best new-school comfort food
Golden Bear Station
Highway 12 Just West Of Kenwood Center • Elevated Pizzeria And California Bistro • Best For Inventive Wood-Fired Cooking
Creative pizzas, housemade pastas, and Asian-accented mains in a stylish roadside roadhouse.
Golden Bear Station takes the bones of a casual roadside stop and layers on serious culinary ambition. The menu might pair a classic margherita pizza with a tonkatsu-inspired pork chop or a bright, seasonal vegetable dish, all cooked with care and plenty of flavor. It feels current without being fussy, making it a go-to for diners who like their comfort food with a few smart twists.