Restaurant Week in Sonoma Valley

Sonoma County Restaurant week is next week, in case you didn’t know.

What does that mean?

It means it’s a week when restaurants try to introduce themselves to new customers, bring in not-so-new customers who might have been staying away due to COVID concerns, or just give regulars some pretty good deals on food.

All of this is designed to help out our restaurants during slow times, which January and February usually are. But those months definitely took a dive this year and last, thanks to the pandemic.

Some restaurateurs want to boost business, some are happy enjoying all the business they have, some have trouble finding enough workers, and others can’t afford to give any discounts with rising food prices.

Seven restaurants from Schellville to Kenwood have opted into the Restaurant Week game this year.

Here they are with their “deals,” running from south to north this time.

Kivelstadt Cellars & WineGarten

Notice this offer is for lunch only and includes wine pairing. KC is not open for dinner.

The $25 menu includes: a mixed green salad of baby lettuces, white wine Meyer lemon vinaigrette, and Parmigiano-Reggiano, paired with 'Family Secret' Sauvignon Blanc.

The second course is half a Mary's organic Cornish hen, buttermilk brined and smoked and with house Alabama barbecue sauce, paired with 'Sibling Rivalry' Estate Pinot Noir. Menu is just for guests 21 and better. 22900 Broadway, Sonoma. tastingroom@kivelstadtcellars.com.

Taub Family Outpost

The business verlooks Sonoma Plaza at the northwest corner of First Street West and West Napa Street, but the upstairs dining room is not accessible for handicapped customers. Full bar and shop.

Lunch: Potato leek soup with fried leeks and a grilled cheese sandwich on sourdough with red onion jam and choice of fries or salad. ($25)

Dinner: green salad with radishes and goat gouda cheese or spinach lumache marinara with olives, capers and Parmigiano-Reggiano, followed by a Meyer lemon tart with lavender whipped cream or affogato vanilla ice cream with espresso. ($35) 497 First St. W., Sonoma. 721-1107 or info@taubfamilyoutpost.com.

Sausage Emporium

Serving breakfast, lunch, and “evening eats,” Sausage Emporium on Napa Street across from Sonoma Plaza. For Restaurant Week they are offering their Scotch egg with a choice of “seasoned or garlic” fries for $15.

According to their menu, their Scotch egg is a “pasture-raised egg wrapped in seasoned heritage pork sausage coated with Emporium crust” and accompanied by housemade pickled vegetables, mustard, and a salad garnish. Normally $14, this special with fries is $15 all day.

Also as a special you can get an “Emporium colossal cookie” and Emporium label Sumatran regular coffee ($5). Open daily except Monday for breakfast and lunch. Ground Sumatran coffee and sausages for sale retail. 31 E. Napa St., Sonoma. 934-8814.

Harvey’s Donut Bar

Harvey’s makes mini donuts all day on a vintage donut machine, you choose toppings, and the little donuts come by the dozen or half dozen in a paper cone bag. They also offer espresso drinks, craft root beers and “smiles.”

Special menu includes one-half dozen donuts and a “hot bevie” such as coffee, tea or hot chocolate ($5), a dozen glazed mini donuts with choice of glaze and one topping ($4), or two gluten-free donuts ($6). 414 First St. E., Sonoma in the El Paseo Courtyard, Sonoma. 246-5928 or harveysdonuts@yahoo.com.

Delicious Dish

A roadside restaurant and café serving lunch and to-go dinners with a coffee cart available. Delicious Dish still caters to San Francisco tech companies and donates food to Sonoma Overnight Support (SOS).

Their special Restaurant Week menu includes a lunch and wine pairing with pickled strawberry and red onion salad on red leaf lettuce; a Bodega Bay crab sandwich on Martin’s potato bun with Meyer lemon mayo, green onion and butter lettuce with a glass of Lovemore Sauvignon Blanc (21 and up). ($25)

Another special will be a Reuben sandwich and waffle cut fries and a Model Bakery chocolate chip cookie ($15); Iowa Maid-Rite ground beef sandwich and a Straus chocolate malted shake ($10) and a “Sweet Spot” 12-ounce Straus shake with organic vanilla or chocolate base to which you can add fresh fruit or other flavors ($5). 18709 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. 721-4231 or eat@deliciousdishsf.com.

Santê

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn offers a dinner menu of a duck prosciutto salad with black Arkansas apple chicory salad or salt-baked heirloom beets with Kumquat tofu, hazelnuts and sorrel. Second course is an oxtail tart with oyster purêe or pan seared wild black cod with English spinach and mushrooms, followed by a Bellwether Farm fromage blanc custard with red wine-marinated berries and fennel pollen or a dark chocolate hazelnut torte with espresso whip. ($55). Full bar. 100 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma. Smi.reservations@fairmont.com.

Salt & Stone

With gorgeous Sonoma Valley views in Kenwood, Salt & Stone offers both lunch and dinner menus for Restaurant Week.

Lunch: Soup du jour or salad du jour; Shanghai chicken salad with crispy noodles and lots of vegetables; cauliflower gnocchi with local mushrooms, Laura Chenel chèvre walnut arugula pesto; or half Dungeness crab melt on sourdough with avocado, tomato and Gruyere gratin with salad or fries, or a lamb burger with cucumber and feta on a ciabatta bun with salad or fries, plus chocolate mousse dessert. ($25)

Dinner: Choose among soup du jour, French onion soup or a butter lettuce salad with dried figs and blue cheese. Entrée choices are between crisp-skin salmon, red wine-braised Australian lamb shank, chicken under a brick with buttermilk mashed Yukon potatoes, or gluten-free and vegan cauliflower gnocchi with mushrooms and walnut-arugula pesto. Dessert will be “of the day.” ($35) 9900 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood. 833-6326 or kristam@saltandstonekenwood.com.