Animo opens, bringing Basque-Korean food to Sonoma

With the fastest rehab in memory of an old building with major problems, Joshua Smookler and Heidy He opened their Animo restaurant next to McDonald’s on Tuesday.

It already looked better in the last couple of weeks with fresh cream paint on the outside and what appeared to be a cleanup.

Radiating confidence, the former New Yorkers opened Animo here as what they call an “American Korean restaurant focused on hearth cooking.”

As expected, the menu is super interesting with appetizers of salads from wedge, Bib or frisée ($16 to $18); edamame, asparagus, or Boquerónes toast ($14). Steak tartare, Uni, Manila clams or lobster XO run from $25 to $42.

Whole fish include Spanish mackerel, Madai, or turbot, some to serve more than one person and cost from $42 to $180. Choices of Iberico pork cuts are $52 to $56, and there is a Harlan burger at $25.

Great cuts of dry-aged New York strip or ribeye range from $48 to $65. The sides look good including peppers, spinach, carrots, Hen of the Woods mushrooms, Kimchi fried rice, and rigatoni ($11 to $22), all followed by desserts of burnt cheesecake, or crème fraiche ice cream or Whistle Pig and maple. 18976 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma. Until their new website is up, make reservations via RestaurantAnimo@gmail.com.