The Locals got it right about Willi’s Wine Bar!

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Another Sonoma County treasure is Willi’s Wine Bar in Santa Rosa, CA. It may not look like one of the more fancy Napa Valley style restaurants, but it’s cozy interior, innovative menu and broad wine list make it a favorite for locals. It’s got a cool vibe and comfortable atmosphere and we really loved it!

We shared a bottle of one of our favorite wines: 2012 Wild Ridge Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast. A nicely balanced Pinot with rich texture and smooth tannins.

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Here are some of the incredible dishes we shared:

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Crispy Soft Shell Crab BLT – with tomato bacon marmalade, green goddess and fried green tomatoes. This was the most amazing dish of all. I could have made a meal of it alone!

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Curried Crab Tacos with apple, cucumber and mint – another great item but the flavor was a bit subtle and probably would have been better served as a first dish.

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Foie Gras Poppers – backyard apple & calvados chutney and vanilla bean fleur de sel. I loved these little guys! Easy to eat on a nice pastry shell with a rich, succulent “pop” of smokey foie gras. What could be better?

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Liberty Farms Pulled Duck BBQ served over white cheddar polenta. Super delicious creamy polenta with a healthy portion of tender bbq duck all nestled over a complimentary sauce. Yum!

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Roasted Bone Marrow with toasted brioche and red onion marmalade. I am always tempted to order bone marrow dishes when I find them on menus as they are not common to find. The tiny morsels of decadence are so succulent and yet so minimal, it always leaves me wondering whether it was really worth it. I’m guessing I will order it again:)

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Crispy Pork Riblets with pomegranate bbq, thai basil and pine nuts. These were tender ribs sauced with a great piquant and sweetened Asian flavor profile topped off with toasty aromatic pine nuts. A winner!

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Ok, not the best photo, but deemed one of the best dishes was their Scallop Dumplings with pea shoots, pancetta and sherry vinegar butter.

My dessert photos were not post worthy, however I have to tell you about their Warm Scharffen Berger Flourless Chocolate Cake with peanut butter caramel, vanilla bean ice cream and sea salt peanuts. It was to die for! The warm meltingly gooey cake with caramel (my fav) that was raised a notch combining it with peanut butter. Then offset with the cool ice cream to cut the richness of the cake and tantalized with the salty crunch of the peanuts. Ok, I’m not a big dessert eater, but this one was well worth the calories!

My guess is if you find yourself in Santa Rosa, you will be sure to have a good time at Willi’s Wine Bar!

 

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