Remember that parking at the OrCol will run you at least 35 bucks. BART will be crowded but you may want to consider it rather than drive your "Beast of Burden" to the show.

This is a very well run company and their beer sanctuary is very popular. Did you notice the staff hanging around in the parking lot scoping out people returning to their cars? They watch for obvious drunks and have definitely prevented many many DUIs. Lagunitas is first in line whenever there is a fundraiser or community event. They are the poster bros for good community relations.

When asked about the source of the fire, officials said simply "Local and sustainable".

Love the place, had my first morels there, hope they get back open soon.

I'm very partial to Ajanta on Solano in Berkeley.

Civil bear is correct, the citizens can freeze but the fennel, raddichio, raspberry compote wood fired pizza (with sea urchin foam) must not be hindered,. Selah!

Lachu recommended low medium, which I found to be just right. The dish is subtley spiced and too much heat will overpower the flavor.

I had been missing going to Ajanta lately so I went in late last night and had the most wonderful meal. Lachu Moorjani introduces new entrees once a month and the addition this month was out of this world. The dish is from Mumbai and incorporates almonds, many spices, and boneless chicken thighs. Visually, the dish is sort of beige, but one forkful and you'll be seeing colors. Truly one of the best dishes I've ever eaten at Ajanta. The accompanying sides include a fantastic baby basmati rice (Kalijira?) that is very delicate with a small piece of fried onion on top. The apricot chutney goes especially well with this dish but I wouldn't recommend teasing it up with any achar (spiced pickles), the flavor is mild and needs very little to accent.

As usual the service at Ajanta was exceptional, and I never had to ask for water refills. I skipped the appetizers this time but their tandoor portobello and the new crab cakes are always excellent. A fine masala chai topped off the meal.

So if the winter's chill is getting to your bones, head over to Solano and treat yourself to one of the best restaurants in the whole bay area. It may be a few rupees more than your average curry house, but the quality and preparation are off the charts. I view it as the Chez Panisse of indian restaurants.

www.ajantarestaurant.com

Went there with two friends tonight and it was full with 5-6 parties waiting for tables. It's still in the honeymoon phase so you may want to try mid week. It's pub grub, nothing fancy, but they didn't miss with any of our orders. Good sweet potato fries, not greasy or limp, are a rarity. Pub Republic does them right with a good chipotle sauce to dip. The burger was well cooked. Good selection of micros on tap, and pretty efficient servers. A sports bar basically with better food. Enjoyed it, will return.

http://www.pubrepublicusa.com/

Has anyone done an "artisanal" twinkie yet? Say creme anglais inside Victoria Sponge?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/din...

I posted a peeved WTF post about this place awhile back. I must retract it. I went there the other day and everything was flawless despite a big crowd.

Now Bauer has reviewed it so give it a few weeks to cool off. But it rocks seriously.

Went yesterday, great melons! Another week at most. Get them now or wait till next year.

Duarte's in Pescadero is not what it used to be but even now their artichoke soup and green chile soup are really good if over priced.

I would recommend the Tlacoyito with either Alambes or the chicken topping. Also the Huarache is a good choice. I got one of each and was full. Just one would not be enough for me. They make very good Jamaica (hibiscus tea) as well.

Buen provecho!

Go the minute they open. It fills up immediately afterwards.

I went once with friends just for drinks and it's a very nice place. Phil plays fairly often in the bar for free so check the website for free bar gigs. I haven't eaten there but the reports are generally favorable.

Still a fustercluck at the front counter but when you finally get your food, it's very good. Worth the effort but go at off hours for faster service.

Sadly, the north bay's only yucatec restaurant appears to be finito. Its tough row to hoe for restauranteurs these days. Support your local eateries, they may not survive if you wait.

Outstanding restaurant! The service had no flaws the night I went. I had the Jack Satan cocktail which was very tasty, small, pricey and not particularly potent but well "constructed". The food was fantastic. The three salsas were each very good. The duck enchiladas were terrific and the colorado sauce and cheese toppings were perfection.

But seriously, the best service you could possibly ask for. Despite only being open a few months, this place is humming along very smoothly.

What others said about G-ville is true. I would suggest Santa Rosa as there are more hotels there and you may find more accommodation bargains. It's a good spot centered between Dry Creek, Healdsburg, Sonoma and to some extent Napa. Cloverdale is hotter than blazes most of the time, a good ten to fifteen degrees hotter than just a few miles south. Welcome! And do visit the coast if you can spare the time.

The WF in Sebastopol is notorious. I'm a WF fan and I won't set foot in there. Mombos is good but it's still just a pizza.

Sadly this place bit the dust this week. There were indicators that it was hurting, ie quiet as a tomb when it should have been jumping. The food was great but it never took off.

Try Kubler, it's a swiss-style (clear) absinthe that is well regarded and pretty inexpensive. Around 40 bucks a liter. Stay away from the Czech absinthes, they tend to be pretty nasty. Also beware of any bright green absinthes. Many are artificially colored. Extremely good absinthes are being made in the U.S. by craft distillers - St George, St Germain, Ridge, Sorciere, Marteau, and Pacifique. Don't be afraid of the Wormwood.

Glad you enjoyed the Hole. Its on my regular list for breakfast and lunch. Try the biscuits and gravy if you get back there for breakfast. The soups with lunch are excellent as well.

I definitely agree. The Hole is the place to eat. Fantastic place.

But as far as seafood goes? I don't really know of many Sebastopol places that focus on seafood. If you are driving 116 to or from Seb., I recommend both Lynn's Thai and Mai Vietnamese in the little Apple Valley shopping center in Cotati. Both have great menus and are very good value.

http://www.lynnthai.com/index.html

http://maivietnamesecuisine.com/

I hope their purveyers/ food sources do the same to them.

You will love Mai, it is the gold standard. But keep trying new places and you never know what you will discover.

I have to admit, I'm not a fan of Thang Long either but I remember it being better than NT. I have not been to TL for several years though so take it with a cup of fish sauce. Let me know what you think if you go.

The old Jerome's BBQ location (North McDowell and Old Redwood Hwy) now holds a Vietnamese restaurant less than a month old. I stopped in this afternoon and gave it a shot. It's very nice and clean inside with orchids along the entryway. The menu is fairly small with your usual Pho and Bun bowls, but they also had banh mi. I got a pork banh mi and a five spice chicken rice plate. I hate to say it but I wasn't really impressed with either one. They weren't bad but they weren't great either. I want to try more on the menu. Cheesy V pop videos play on the flat screens. Hoping it will get better but nothing beats Mai in Cotati.

http://www.phongocthanh.com/

Loved reading your review and thanks for supporting Lana, George, and The Athenian. I must try the bugatsa.