Sonoma County features some beautiful coastline (with the largest town being Bodega Bay), wine country (especially around eponymous Sonoma and Kenwood), cute towns (like Healdsburg and Sebastopol) and some larger bedroom communities (Santa Rosa, Petaluma).
Roughly from South to North:
a suburb with a cute downtown core
Stockhome - downtown Petaluma, Swedish / Middle Eastern, Michelin Bib Gourmand
Della Fattoria Downtown Café - cafe/lunch place, rec'd by various folks including Eater for sourdough
Risibisi Restaurant - Italian with emphasis on seafood, formerly rec'd Michelin, Zagat
Central Market - rec'd by Zagat, formerly Michelin for "Cal-Med" food
Sugo Trattoria - informal (in a strip mall) but family friendly with farm-to-table ingredients, looks nice, rec'd Zagat, formerly Michelin
Luma Bar & Eatery - fancy pizza and more, formerly rec'd Michelin
Lunchette - looks like a nice/casual spot for salads, bowls, local ingredients etc.
Cucina Paradiso - rec'd Zagat, formerly Michelin
? Table Culture Provisions - fancy spot, seasonal, has good reviews
Blooms End at Neighboring Fields - bakery, rec'd Eater
Masa Sushi - in Novat
Sarmentine Organic French Bakery - outpost of Sebastopol place (see below)
cute little town that was the site of the "Bear Flag Revolt" that started the American takeover of what is today the US state of California
***Valley - nice Mediterranean-ish spot with local ingredients, etc. Kid-friendly. Michelin Bib Gourmand
? El Molino Central - Michelin Bib Gourmand
NW of town in Glen Ellen:
Glen Ellen Star - Michelin Bib Gourmand
biggest town/capital of Sonoma County; somewhat sprawling but downtown area is relatively cute/walkable
***Rosso - wood-fired pizza place rec'd Zagat, Michelin, just E of downtown near Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, nice pizzas (not quite as good as those in SF but pretty good), great salads (we loved the Ceasar), fried calamari, burrata, etc...back in ~2017 the pasta with meatballs was a tad overdone but nevertheless very tasty, great wine list.
??Sazon Peruvian Cuisine - rec'd Zagat, Michelin, SW of downtown near 12/101 interchange
Superburger - Zagat rec's their bacon cheeseburger with house BBQ sauce, NE of downtown on 1501-4th St
?Bird & The Bottle - rec'd Zagat, Southern plus Asian & Jewish flavors
?Spinster Sisters - rec'd Zagat for breakfast/brunch, including kimchee bacon deviled eggs, just S of downtown near Julliard Park and 12/101 interchange
?Dierk's Parkside Cafe - popular on Google/TripAdvisor, voted best breakfast in Sonoma County in 2016
Downtown:
The Naked Pig - looks nice, farm-to-table, but lukewarm reviews (mostly because of prices??)
"Railroad Square" (just W of downtown/Santa Rosa Plaza across 101):
Lococo's Cucina Rustica - popular on TripAdvisor
?Jackson's Bar and Oven - wood fired pizzas, sandwiches, other small plates, rec'd Zagat
North of town in Windsor (the next town up):
Himalayan Restaurant - looks liek good Indian/Nepalese
~10 min W of Santa Rosa, has a nice downtown area
Ramen Gaijin - rec'd Michelin (Bib Gourmand), Zagat
Khom Loi - Thai restaurant rec'd Michelin (Bib Gourmand)
Handline Coastal California - counter service place in a former Fosters Freeze, mix of seafood, burgers, etc., rec'd Zagat, we went here in 2017 and liked it in general (very nice fries, fish tacos) but a few dishes weren't quite as good (e.g. the fish burger had a huge bun)
The Barlow - a small ~mall of sorts with lots of places to eat & drink (and shop) including:
Fern Bar - looks nice/fun?
??? Sarmentine Organic French Bakery - looks nice...tartelettes look gorgeous...
Piala - Georgian restaurant, looks interesting?
Campanella - old school Italian-American place that has good Google reviews?
Wild Poppy Cafe - casual breakfast/brunch/lunch spot in former home of Fork Roadhouse, looks nice/cute?
(North in Graton:) Willow Wood Market Cafe - rec'd Michelin
~15 min N of Sebastapol, ~20 min W of Santa Rosa, mostly rural
??? Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant (aka "The Restaurant at Farmhouse Inn") - expensive but nice farm-to-table spot rec'd Michelin guide, looks exquisite!
they also have the Farmstand - serves a somewhat more informal lunch (appetizers, salads, sandwiches, etc), plus juices, smoothies, teas, coffee, other drinks, plus ice cream
??? Nightingale Breads - highly recommended by friends, great reviews
Russian River Pub - featured on food network
15 min N of Santa Rosa—probably the best food town in the county; nice central park area
SingleThread - 3 Michelin star expensive spot with fancy tasting menu, with a mix of California & Japanese cuisine; many of the ingredients come from their nearby farm...we tried to eat here a couple times during the pandemic but closures forced cancellations, and then their kitchen burned down! They are now reconstructed and apparently better than ever...?
***Barndiva - Former French Laundry chef, all local ingredients, Liz had "life-changing" chicken here, rec'd Zagat, Michelin --> we haven't been in a while but have heard that it's still good
Healdsburg Bar & Grill - nice but not too fancy, near Healdsburg Plaza with nice outdoor seating...not a place we'd go out of our way for, but good for "elevated comfort food", truffle oil French fries, burgers & milkshakes, mac & cheese, rec'd Zagat
Noble Folk Ice Cream & Pie Bar - right on Healdsburg Plaza, nice desserts made with fresh/local ingredients
?? Troubadour Bread & Bistro - inexpensive/informal bakery/sandwich shop run by SingleThread alums that also does a fancier tasting menu for dinner, rec'd Michelin
?? Guiso Latin Fusion - upscale Salvadoran/Caribbean/etc, looks nice
?? Valette - upscale California cuisine spot, looks like a place for a nice date?, rec'd Michelin
?? Spoonbar - California cuisine, looks nice (in H2Hotel)
? Little Saint - vegan place, looks nice
? The Parish Café - Cajun/Creole restaurant with good reviews, not too expensive
? Bravas Bar de Tapas - Spanish/tapas place with reasonably good reviews
? Preston Farm & Winery - not in town but NW of town, in addition to wine apparently has a farm/food stand??
? Dry Creek Kitchen - more expensive, somewhat haute cuisine place rec'd Michelin
just N of town in Geyserville:
Cyrus - super fancy/expensive 1-Michelin star spot
? Diavola - Michelin recommended pizza spot
[at some point we should check out the Russian River Rose Co!]
?Terrapin Creek - 1 Michelin star, rec'd by several Chowhounds
Lucas Wharf Restaurant
Spud Point Crab Company - closed Wednesdays and after 5 PM, clam chowder, crab sandwich
Drakes Sonoma Coast - fancy, in Bodega Bay Lodge fancy hotel overlooking water
Boat House - informal, fish & chips
Jenner (north)
*** Cafe Aquatica - cute spot with nice soups/sandiwches, etc
River's End Restaurant - rec'd by some Chowhounds, especially for the view
Freestone
Wild Flour Bread - rec'd by Eater for sourdough
(22 min N of Bodega Bay, 17 min W of Sebastopol)
Hazel Restaurant - looks nice!
(N of Occidental, ~30 min W of Santa Rosa)
Boon Eat+Drink - rec'd by Chowhounds' (Michelin bib gourmand, “hip”, California cuisine, good prices)