Santa Rosa (and surrounding) Trip

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by cal_golden_beer, Aug 26, 2014.

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  1. cal_golden_beer

    cal_golden_beer Devotee (314) Feb 27, 2014 California
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    I'm going up to Santa Rosa this Sat-Mon (labor day) for a wedding. I'm looking for general food and beer recommendations but I have a few specific questions.

    I've been to the Russian River brew pub ~5 times but sadly never ventured out into the rest of the area. With 3 days, I now have the time to more deeply explore the area. My wife doesn't like beer so I'm looking for a few places with good food (plus if they have good beer but primary focus is good food). We're looking mainly for brunch and lunch suggestions as we already have dinner plans related to the wedding. We're mainly looking for suggestions in Santa Rosa but open to anything within a 15-20min driving radius as a second choice (or if you think it is a must visit).

    We live in SF so we're also looking for places to stop between SF and Santa Rosa.

    I've searched around this forum and this is what I've come up with so far

    Food
    Flavor Bistro - moonlight on tap
    Omelette Express - mixed reviews
    Wild Flour Bakery - Freestone

    Beer (breweries, pubs, bottleshops, anything beer related)
    BeerCraft in Rohnert Park
    Bottle Barn - BA'ers have said RR bottles are cheaper than at the brewery, really?
    Whole Foods @ Coddington - they have a taproom
    Russian River
    Lagunitas


    Questions:
    1. What am I missing from the list above?
    2. Is the Moonlight taproom open? I doubt it
    3. Will Russian River be crowded for the holiday weekend? I'm guessing yes x100
    4. When is it the least crowded? Does the crowd thin out as it gets late? I'm thinking about going after the rehearsal dinner on Saturday night.
    5. Will Lauganitas be crowded on Monday (labor day)? website says they are open 11:30-3pm.
    6. Is the taproom worth a visit? What about the tour? I've been on many tours and they are mostly the same (mash tuns, fermenters and bottling line), except for the free tasting part.

    Thanks in advance
     
    #1 cal_golden_beer, Aug 26, 2014
  2. hophead247

    hophead247 Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2008 California

    Flavor Bistro is a must for food and beer.
     
    #2 hophead247, Aug 26, 2014
  3. mapleneck

    mapleneck Devotee (382) Jan 2, 2010 California
    Trader

    Food:
    Dierk's Parkside Cafe
    Jeffrey's Hillside Cafe
    Spinster Sisters
    Naked Pig
    Belly
    Willow Wood and Underwood in Graton (the town not the casino)

    RR is a zoo so BeerCraft is the best place around here.
     
    #3 mapleneck, Aug 26, 2014
  4. theconductor

    theconductor Zealot (739) Nov 4, 2008 California

    I second Underwood! Willi's Wine Bar is an awesome place too. Tapas.
     
    #4 theconductor, Aug 26, 2014
  5. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    Lagunitas and RR are pretty much constantly crowded, though you might get lucky on Saturday night but I doubt it. I've been told at wineries that Labor Day is their busiest weekend, so I would expect a lot of folks to be in downtown Santa Rosa. If you get to those places right at opening, you'll be fine but any later and expect waits or just big crowds. That being said, I think Lagunitas is very much worth the visit. I actually prefer the pub experience there to RR's, but obviously like RR's beer more.
     
    #5 chcfan, Aug 26, 2014
  6. rmdownward

    rmdownward Zealot (648) Feb 10, 2007 California

    Bottles are more expensive at the brewery as they can't undercut their distributors. Laws and stuff.
     
    #6 rmdownward, Aug 26, 2014
  7. theconductor

    theconductor Zealot (739) Nov 4, 2008 California

    Not so much
     
    #7 theconductor, Aug 26, 2014
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  8. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    I've never heard of any such law. I was under the impression that it was more of a gentlemen's agreement situation.
     
    #8 chcfan, Aug 26, 2014
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  9. AptosBeerDrinker

    AptosBeerDrinker Initiate (0) Aug 9, 2011 California

    Since you're headed out to Freestone I would recommend Barley and Hops Tavern in Occidental. I haven't been in a couple years but I thought it was some of the best pub food I had ever had last time I was there. Nice little tap list as well.
     
    #9 AptosBeerDrinker, Aug 26, 2014
  10. cal_golden_beer

    cal_golden_beer Devotee (314) Feb 27, 2014 California
    Trader

    I don't think it is law or gentlemen's agreement. I think it is just a smart business practice, no matter what industry you're in. If you make a product that you sell to distributors/retailers and the general public, your distributors won't be happy with you if you undercut their prices when you sell to the general public as it takes away from their business
     
    #10 cal_golden_beer, Aug 26, 2014
  11. cal_golden_beer

    cal_golden_beer Devotee (314) Feb 27, 2014 California
    Trader

    Not sure if I'm going out to Freestone, I just listed it as on option. Is Wild Flour Bakery good enough to warrant a 20min drive from where I'm staying?

    I predict I will be feeling pretty lazy and not want to make the drive unless I'm handsomely rewarded with excellent baked goods.
     
    #11 cal_golden_beer, Aug 26, 2014
  12. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    Yeah, that's pretty much what I think of as a gentlemen's agreement. "We won't screw you because we're in business together."
     
    #12 chcfan, Aug 26, 2014
  13. AptosBeerDrinker

    AptosBeerDrinker Initiate (0) Aug 9, 2011 California

    If you're asking me, I would much rather spend my time driving out to Occidental then I would waiting an hour and a half for a table at RR.
     
    #13 AptosBeerDrinker, Aug 26, 2014
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  14. theconductor

    theconductor Zealot (739) Nov 4, 2008 California

    Or even the 20 minute drive to Healdsburg which could include a stop in Windsor for a couple of breweries and wineries.
     
    #14 theconductor, Aug 26, 2014
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  15. 395er

    395er Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2011 California

    We just did our first trip to Santa Rosa, and at one point were ready for some lighter food. Khoom Lanna in the railroad district did some nice thai food.
     
    #15 395er, Aug 26, 2014
  16. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    Santa Rosa is not a particularly interesting city. Healdsburg is one of my favorite towns in CA. If you are looking for a spot to hang out, have dinner, enjoy walking around, etc..... go there.
     
    #16 danscott, Aug 26, 2014
  17. cal_golden_beer

    cal_golden_beer Devotee (314) Feb 27, 2014 California
    Trader

    We're actually staying in the northern part of Santa Rosa, pretty close to Windsor. What suggestions do you have in Windsor?
     
    #17 cal_golden_beer, Aug 26, 2014
  18. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    Dry Creek AVA, Russian River AVA, Chalk Hill AVA, Green Valley AVA... I could spend a month in that area visiting wineries.

    Very generally..... If you like Pinot Noir, hit Russian River and Green Valley. Italian reds? Dry Creek. Whites? Chalk Hill.
     
    #18 danscott, Aug 27, 2014
  19. reefer_bob

    reefer_bob Savant (1,010) May 13, 2014 California
    Trader

    Venture down to Rohert Park and go to Bottle Craft. It's an AMAZING bottle shop. Amazing people.
     
    #19 reefer_bob, Aug 27, 2014
  20. theconductor

    theconductor Zealot (739) Nov 4, 2008 California

    I haven't been to either personally. Windsor has https://www.facebook.com/Oldredwoodbrewco and http://www.stfloriansbrewery.com/

    I've had beer from St Florians and thought it was solid.

    I've been to Patterson's Pub in Windsor a few times and enjoyed myself. Although it's not really a craft beer spot. Or at least it wasn't! http://www.pattersonspub.com/windsor_home.html

    If you like whiskey, there is no better place around than Jack and Tony's in Railroad Square in Santa Rosa.
     
    #20 theconductor, Aug 27, 2014
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