Restaurants & Bars
Santa Rosa Bar Crawl
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Loud music, spicy tuna rolls, warm peanuts, big screen TVs, ambiance, dancing, and non-stop entertainment are just a small sampling of the awesome experiences we enjoy in our local downtown nightlife scene. Santa Rosa is packed with over 10 great bars in a small area, making its scene one of the best North of San Francisco for the ultimate Bar Crawl.
For starters, since its only 5 p.m., well begin with a toast and an ICB (Irish Car Bomb, for the newbies) at the new Stout Brothers Irish Pub. With much of the décor handmade in Ireland, this pub is sure to evoke that classic Irish pub feeling. As if the décor isn’t enough come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays for some great LIVE music! Also, for the daring try one of their five renditions of the classic Mac N Cheese plate or the Shepherds Pie which is supposed to be off the hook! Raise your pint and shot glass and ‘Cheers!’ to the start of a great Crawl! Let’s get this party started.
Moving right next door to Tex Wasabi’s Rock-N-Roll Sushi BBQ, we’re immediately thrown into a completely different world. The rockin’ music bumpin’, sushi chef chopping away, the riveting smell of the grill, and the kick ass bartenders all make Tex Wasabi a great place to grab a bite and hang out. Since it’s before 6:00 p.m. and this crawl is going to be long and taxing on the body, savor the moment and try some of their killer happy hour food specials. During 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday you can have a choice of Vegas Fries, Egg Rolls, 2 Pork Sliders, or a taco for $2 each. And for the seriously hungry, choose between Spicy Tuna Roll, Cali Roll, Jackass Roll, or 3 Pork Sliders each for only $3.
It’s time to head over to Third Street Aleworks and see what’s brewing over there. Third St. Aleworks is a brew house that not only offers an array of exceptional local beers, but also boasts sweet menu with loads of good eats. Their most popular beers are the Annadel Pale Ale, Bodega Head IPA, and American Wheat. A bartenders tip would be to try the Blarney Sisters Dry Irish Stout; this Guinness-style stout is poured through a nitrogen tap to give it an extra creamy taste. And, for the truly savvy, cruise to Third St. on a Wednesday to take advantage of BBQ Oysters for only $1.50! Buttered, pesto or dabbed in BBQ sauce, these oceanic treats are sure to be a hit.
After savoring a Bodega Head IPA, lets crawl on over to Ausiello’s 5th St. Grill for a quick beer and a glimpse at the Giants game on one of their many big screen TVs, 8 total. This place is ideal for those who like to socialize. Ausiello’s has a huge assortment of domestic and micro brews on tap. It has a great atmosphere where you are sure to find most of Santa Rosa’s chill locals enjoying a great conversation while wetting the whistle. To compliment your beer grab a bowl of their warm roasted peanuts, or if you still have room in your stomach try the chili cheese fries, a house favorite. Oh yeah, don’t forget they have Happy Hour and a Half from 5-6:30 p.m. and Happy Half Hour from 8:30-9 p.m., both with great drink and food specials!
What’s that? Just got a Barspace text from Stir: looks like Young Will is spinning some sick jams right now! Hasta Ausiello’s-we’re off to Stir. Moving through the crushed velvet curtains you enter into Santa Rosa’s premier cocktail lounge. With Young Will slumpin beats and strong perfectly prepared cocktails passing over the bar, this is a must-hit while crawlin thru Santa Rosa. Whether dancing up front, mackin at the bar, or lounging in the back, it’s always a great time to “Stir it up!”
After getting a little Stir crazy, it’s time to dance off the booze at the fresh-faced ultralounge, The Vine! Santa Rosa’s newest venue features a massive double-sided bar, VIP lounges, excellent mood lighting, and one of the biggest dance floors in town. The Vine features an array of top notch DJs like DJ Omar and DJ Jeffrey Paradise from San Francisco and one of the premier promotion companies, Hooligan Entertainment.
Let’s shake that boom-boom-pow on over to our final destination, the most crackin’ dance party in Sonoma County, The Club at The Cantina. Boasting a massive structure of a building, The Cantina encompasses a full dining restaurant with bar and patio downstairs, and two bars, VIP booths, DJ box, dance floor, and outdoor patios upstairs. Although the dining is great, we’re here to party. Luckily for us tonight’s party is hosted by the renowned Noizemakers and Ant Rocks the Party, and yea, they definitely rock the party!
This has been a great pub crawl, but like any good time it must come to an end. Santa Rosa’s nightlife scene is tops in Sonoma County, and thousands of loyal partygoers are grateful for it. So if you haven’t experienced the scene yet, what are you waiting for? Head to downtown Santa Rosa and check it out for yourself. Oh and even though we didn’t have time to crawl through Sweet Spot and Russian River Brew Co., these are all great places in the scene to see for yourself. Make sure to hit these spots as well and, as always, check out Barspace.tv for all the live action, great drink specials, and real-time announcements!
Cheers!
/ By Michael Deignan Barspace.tv
The Dish
Close Encounters with California’s Coolest Cuisine Vol. 1
So, the economy is a downer, budgets and programs are being cut and jobs are hard to come by. Time to take a moment to focus on one of life’s sweetest, simplest pleasures…food! From Wine Country to So Cal, as Californians we are truly blessed to be surrounded by some of the most amazing dining experiences on earth. Going out for a meal is a relatively budget-friendly splurge that provides a couple hours respite from the worries of the world. An added bonus – many of the meals you experience will inspire you to test your culinary chops at home. Grab a couple of your closest friends and check out these California culinary hot spots.
Southern Sustinence
With airfares at an all time low, many are opting for mini-vacations in sunny Southern California. Luckily for us the restaurant scene in LA is an explosive adventure in food heaven. From glamorous to greasy spoon, the dining options in Los Angeles are endless and amazing.
The Griddle Café
You have deplaned and navigated the hellish LAX traffic. Your stomach is rumbling and your spirits could use some lifting. Fear not! In a mere 30 minutes you will experience an enchanting utopia of classic diner food fare. The Griddle Café, located on the border of swanky West Hollywood, dishes up visionary versions of American classics.
Servicing those in search of a hearty breakfast or lunch, The Griddle Café raises greasy spoon standards to heavenly heights. From egg specialties like the “Kicking and Screaming Breakfast Tacos,” to juicy burgers, to lighter options like fresh fruit and cottage cheese, any craving will be satisfied here. The highlight of the menu is the impressive selection of unique pancakes. The size of a large dinner plate, creations like “The Golden Ticket,” a glorious mix of banana, caramel walnuts and streusel, “Hear Me Roar,” blending strawberries and frosted flakes, or “Eyes Wide Open,” a shot of espresso and chocolate chips mixed in the buttermilk batter, will leave your taste buds feeling like they took a trip to Disneyland. Pair any of these breakfasts or lunches with Griddle Café’s fresh squeezed OJ or a pot of French press coffee and you will have given yourself an awesome start to your LA vacation.
The Dish Top Pick: Scotch on the Rocks Pancakes
Hmmm, hard liquor before 10am? Dare I? Not quite. Scotch on the Rocks is an ingenious, alcohol free, pancake creation. Thankfully, as I took my first bite I was already sitting down because this celestial cake would have surely knocked me to the floor. At nearly 12 inches in diameter, Scotch on the Rocks is a buttermilk pancake packed with coconut, pecans, oats and butterscotch chips, then crowned with a generous scoop of house-made coconut whipped cream. Think oatmeal cookies, plus butterscotch and coconut, gently folded into soft, sweet batter and griddled to fluffy perfection, crisp around the edges and gooey in the center. Being the proud parent of an epic sweet tooth, this pancake has become a legend in my mind. Paradise in a pancake: I guarantee Scotch on the Rocks is a breakfast experience you won’t soon forget!
Bay Area Bites
Those of us familiar with the North Bay may know Sonoma County’s Petaluma best for its former title as the Chicken and Egg Capital of the World. In recent years Petaluma has begun a transformation from a small country town to a burgeoning city awash in Wine Country culture. Enter Sugo Trattoria.
Arguably the best incarnation of Italian cuisine this side of the Mediterranean, Sugo serves artfully crafted Italian favorites. Blending recipes straight from the old country with modern twists and fresh California ingredients, dining at Sugo delights your palette and transports you to sunny Toscana. Sugo’s menu ranges from creative salads and appetizers to Panini, pasta (you must try the house-made ever-changing ravioli), risotto and meat dishes. All is executed in the uniquely Italian style of perfect flavor blend and balance – delicately accentuating the essence of each ingredient and creating harmony in each dish. A meal at Sugo is not complete without ordering one of the house-made desserts. The tiramisu and lemon panna cotta with raspberry sauce are not to be missed. Bonus: Visit Sugo Tuesday nights and enjoy “Tapinos,” $5 appetizers and $5 glasses of domestic and Italian wine. Buonissimo!
The Dish Top Pick:
Though each item I tried at Sugo was delicious and noteworthy, my favorite find is the Brushetta Trio appetizer. Slices of Artisan Pugliese bread are toasted and topped with delectable blends of fresh ingredients. When ordering the trio you pick 3 different combinations and are served 2 slices of each. My picks were the prosciutto, fig and brie, the “classic” tomato, pesto & basil, and the warm artichoke and walnut pesto. Though each of these holds their own as far as flavor, my favorite is the prosciutto, fig and brie. Velvety, salty prosciutto (traditional Italian cured ham) pairs perfectly with sweet fig and is brought together by rich, creamy brie cheese. All this combined with the crunch of the Pugliese crostini it is served over makes for the ultimate flavor experience: salty, sweet and savory all at once. A culinary coup d’etat, Sugo’s brushetta trio gets my vote for the best appetizer Wine Country has to offer.
/ By Jessica Medina
A tour of Sugo
