“Wine Country” towns like Healdsburg, Sonoma and St. Helena may get all the attention in glossy travel mags, but there are plenty of great small towns in Northern California that are well worth exploring. Take Petaluma: During the last five years, the town has evolved from sleepy to hip-and-happening, while managing to maintain its small-town charm.
For highlights of “new Petaluma’s” coolest shops, cafes and restaurants, check out this story I wrote for Via, the AAA magazine.
Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy narrowing my picks down to a measly seven! If I’d had my druthers, my list would have included a few more places. Such as:
- Hiro's: Anyone who says Rohnert Park's Hana has the best sushi in Sonoma County hasn’t tried the fab fish at Hiro’s. It’s wonderfully fresh, gorgeously presented and the restaurant has a hip and stylish atmosphere. And no, city skeptics, it’s not just “good for Sonoma.” (I do like Hana, by the way, but it’s a totally different vibe.)
- Dolce Vita Wine Lounge: For only being open for a few short weeks, this place has attracted quite a following. The wines are offered in flights, by the taste, by the glass and by the bottle. Though the list includes some interesting Sonoma County selections, it also features some tasty and well-priced international wines. You can even buy a bottle (at a reasonable retail price) in the wine-shop part of the bar, and they’ll open it for you to enjoy in Dolce Vita’s modern lounge.
- Risibisi: You won’t find any lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs here, but you won’t miss them when you taste the alternatives—dishes like Warm Goat Cheese Yogurt Pannacotta, with Corn Cakes, Black Truffles and Pistachio Pesto; and Pappardelle with Braised Beef Short Ribs, Porcini Ragout and Shaved Parmigiano. I’ll admit that the restaurant can be inconsistent at times (ranging from good to excellent), but owner Marco and chef Fabio always make me feel like an old friend—and that keeps me coming back. Bonus feature: It's one of the only restaurants in town (sorry, but Denny's doesn't count) that serves dinner after 10 p.m.!
I could go on, but I’ll save that for another article. Besides, it’s making me hungry!
Anyone want to weigh in on their favorite “undiscovered” small towns?
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