This spot is an absolute gem. Every dish was refined and packed with surprising flavors. The menu presents itself humbly, but what arrives at the table is exceedingly impressive. Each dish shows thoughtful construction with the right balance of flavors. The cocktails were smart and crafted in ways we'd never experienced before. The staff is just the owners, an assistant chef, and a waitress. It was a low-volume, high-quality experience typical of a Michelin starred restaurant. Do not skip this place. On a personal note... they were the nicest crew. Very passionate. read more

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What a gem! Golden Bear Station served hit after hit! We started with the hen of the woods mushroom, followed by the little gem salad, and finished with the loup de Mer, paired with fried bread. All, fantastic! Service matched the food. Suggestions were spot on, staff was friendly and fun. It's a special place that understands and cares about the customer experience. The time flew by, and I look forward to returning. Thank you GBS! read more

Went last night with friends for a birthday ....that Bib Salad was PERFECTION, and I drank the dressing with the serving spoon once everyone had their share. So fortunate it was the first night the salad returned to their spring menu. I might give my right arm for that dressing recipe ;-) The Korean rice cake/bolognese was very good, toothy satisfying chewiness to the rice "coins"- Really, we devoured everything, the "fish and chips" mixed fish tar -tar, if you will, with tortilla chips, miso Ora Salmon, pork chop, the insane mushroom starter with sweet onion frothiness. Also, the interior is really beautiful and super intimate. Can't wait to return when I next visit Sonoma friends. read more

The review stating Golden Bear Station is closed is INCORRECT! Heidy confirmed the restaurant is open Wed-Sun. This was absolutely the BEST steak I've had stateside. A very close contender to Extebarri in Spain. I dream about it. Also the Sugo di Salsiccia (Sausage Ragu) was also amazing. We were sad when Animo closed, but so happy to have this incredible team back at GBS. read more

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I was a huge fan of Animo, so I was expecting big things from Golden Bear Station. The food and service was amazing. We were greeted warmly and show to our table promptly. The food style says Italian but it's really Italian Korean fusion. If you want an adventure in flavor and something unexpected GBS is a must My favorites were the short ribs, mushrooms and the pasta, but they have so many excellent choices. This is definitely a place I'd come back to try the whole menu. Too bad it's so far. The restaurant has a warm fireplace beautiful open kitchen. The seats are comfy and things are well spaced. Just a more fitting venue than Animo. If your are up for some inventive Italian with Korean mix this is your place. read more

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This is a rare 5/5 star review from me. Golden Bear Station is excellent on all fronts: food, playing, service, aesthetics, vibes. I came here to celebrate my bday! They added a candle to my cheesecake which I appreciate. We couldn't stop raving about each dish. The tastes and textures, the layers and nuance of flavor made this meal a gorgeous sensory experience. I loved their old restaurant ANIMO and am glad to see some of the same items on the menu, and the same high quality food. This place is a gem. I highly recommend and I'm very excited for the next time I go back. Dinner: Hen of the Woods Oysters Bin salad Truffle Udon Ribeye Potatoes Basque cheesecake Coffee with cream and sugar in a cute cat mug!!! read more

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Wanted to love this place. The starter with cherry tomatoes and white anchovies and warm breadlettes was terrific. But the Caesar salad wasn't good. The dressing as odd; the lettuce was too vein-y, and the bonito flakes just got soggy. Other dishes at our table okay, but nobody felt like returning to this place. I hate saying this, but you should know. read more

Heidy was an amazing hostess and the food and atmosphere were amazing. Such a relaxing, yet refined interior and the Korean twists on all of the Italian dishes were amazingly delicious. The cocktails were great and the tuna with hot tomato water and basil oil was like tuna tartare, but Michelin level. So flavorful and delightful. The bread and butter featured no ordinary bread. The mantou was hot, light and slightly sweet. We tried the Tteok-bokkii for a twist on bolognese at Heidi's suggestion and it was so delicious and the ribeye was also good. My husband picked the sundae for dessert and it was sinfully delicious. We will be back! read more

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Great place! Co-owner came out and visited us frequently. Everything was excellent. favorites were the pasta (lumache), the hen of the woods mushrooms, and the pork chop. the only knock was the oysters, they were really tasty, but overpriced for six small oysters. But my dining companions wanted them so.... The place doesn't look like much from the outside, but the interior is really gorgeous. Limited wine list by the glass, but what we had was really good. it's beer and wine only. great job - we'll go again for sure! read more

Golden Bear Station - Lumache pasta - our favorite dish - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Came here for bday celebration. The clams with chorizo and vietnamese fish sauce was quite delicious and an experience. The duck is roasted over an open fire with charcoal and wood! we went up and talked to chef. he said i i tell you how i make this duck then i would have to kill you. he was cracking jokes all night. super down to earth guy! Duck turned out incredible! The korean steak was interesting. it was bland actually. i think you are supposed to get the flavors from all the accoutrements that comes with the dish! 100/10 experience because of Chef - i heard him say to another table : i watched some youtube videos and then made the food read more

Golden Bear Station - roasted duck - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Frankly Animo may have been the best meal we ever ate and the only thing close is Jacob and Heidi's new joint Golden Bear Station. I WILL NEVER not eat here when in the region! Sublime tastes and care with a responsible price point and enormous wine list. read more

Golden Bear Station - Monster mixed greens salad, small soccer ball just amazing. - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Best steak in Kenwood & sonoma County. If you looking for tasty good quality food this is the place. Cheap people will always find a way to complain about something but hey you dont like to spend $ cook at home you own food. read more

Golden Bear Station - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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My wife and I recently enjoyed our second dinner at Golden Bear Station, and it did not disappoint. We booked in on a Friday night and brought another couple from the neighborhood. We were greeted with a warm hello and smile from co-owner Heidy as we entered the cozy dinning room, were sat immediately, and enjoyed a round of tasty and creative cocktails ahead of our meal. Heidy made some amazing suggestions from the menu and away we went. Every single dish was a masterpiece, prepared lovingly by head chef Josh and his small but skilled staff in an open kitchen that provides a great show in the background. Three of my personal favorites we the Hen of the woods mushroom starter, the Sugo di Salsiccia, and the Prime Rib which was prepared to perfection. We ate family style so that everyone could enjoy all of the dishes, and I'd HIGHLY recommend going that route as well. The vibe was relaxed, upbeat, and fun, and the service was a 12 out of 10. If you're looking for a new eatery in the Valley of the Moon, look no father. Golden Bear Station is a can't miss experience. read more

Golden Bear Stations parking was easy. The restaurant is a charming with an elegant country farm house vibe. The owner is so welcoming. I rarely see a wine list as long as Golden Bear Station's. We started with the appetizers: Beau Soleil Oysters-Half shell, mignonette Boquerones-Spanish white anchovies, with roasted tomatoes (my favorite app) Manilla Clams Truffle, Parmigiano Reggiano (also loved these) We shared everything between 8 of us. For the main dishes we had: Chicken Kiev Creamed Spinach, tomato arugula salad Lamb (always a favorite) and Loup de Mer-Sea Bass (I loved this dish) Save room at the end though! We had the Basque Cheese Cake. It looked like it was burnt but it is not! Oh my goodness, SO Good! I added a few photos! Hope you love it as much as we did!!! read more

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Oh my goodness! You HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME! We got into Sonoma early evening, checked into our hotel cottage and debated whether to go out to eat. We had a beautiful room with a foreigner and cosy patio with space heater. Ordering a pizza sounded good. Suddenly we changed caught a 2nd wind and changed out minds. Started looking for spots and Golden Bear Station popped up. Sounded interesting and like it didn't require much effort because after all, it's a diner, right? Oh boy were we pleasantly surprised!!! This certainly is no diner, rather a culinary experience that is unforgettable! It just happens to have a sophisticated Cali/Asian menu, lovely wine selection, in a Sonoma-meets-NYC diner cool yet country chic decor. I could gush on forever about this place! The main point is it may be one of our favorite dinners ever (and we've been everywhere from upscale to Mom & Pop holes in the wall. The service and genuine warm welcome when you enter clearly marks a staff that takes great pride and joy in providing their guests a night to remember. Later I learned that our lovely greeter who doubled as our waitress was Chef's elegant wife. She sat us at a corner table where candles glistened on the table under lights that were perfectly dimmed. In the background played music with a low beat reminiscent of an NYC vibe too, but without overpowering what is certainly at center stage... the food. Each dish was special and wowed. We can't wait to go back again!! read more

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Simply put, this place is SO GOOD! Our gracious concierge Lim Ann at the Kenwood Inn & Spa gave us a short list of restaurants to check out in the area and we are so glad we chose the Golden Bear Station after looking at each menu! The owner Heidy was a picture perfect hostess - warm, friendly and fantastic in introducing and help selecting a great line up: Each dish is delicious and different, in the best way possible, from anything we have had. I am having a hard time picking my favorite out of the whole evening - the tomato water was the perfect enhancer for the tuna, my husband was happily hogging the anchovies plate, mixing the egg yolk into that tasty dipping sauce was a fantastic addition for the mushrooms... and those pastas were truly chef's kiss! We can taste the freshness of ingredients and passion for good food in each plate. Heidy also suggested the perfect white wine after I described what I like. We also enjoyed the modern/clean yet still cozy ambience of the restaurant, it has a nice mixture/ layers of material and texture, lighting is pleasing as well. Golden Bear Station was a wonderful highlight of our week long California trip. read more

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Literally no complaints about my visit to Golden Bear Station! When I first arrived, I was confused that there would be a restaurant right on the Sonoma Highway. But upon entering, I was super impressed with the modern decoration and the homey feeling of the restaurant. The open kitchen was a huge plus! The staff were super friendly and welcoming to my party of 8. Our hostess helped us build the perfect meal and offered plenty of recommendations as well as wine pairing. I would definitely recommend making reservations because it got quite packed during our meal. With such a large party, we decided to do everything family style. We started off with the Hen of the Woods - and even though I am not much of a mushroom person, I loved the texture and the onion puree. The sauce that came with the clams were amazing and I loved how they gave you rice to soak all of it up. The pasta was delicious, personally preferred the Lumache more but I thought the tteok-bokki was an interesting fusion option. The sauce with the sea bass was great as it was so light and complemented it perfectly. The duck breast was tender and pork chop plus lamb chop both grilled to perfection. To top things off, the basque cheesecake was amazing not too sweet or burnt. Golden Bear Station is definitely a very special restaurant and I had one of the best meals here, I will be back! read more

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Tonight I took friends of mine (who were visiting from SoCal and Philly) to dinner at Golden Bear. What a treat! Heidi spent time talking with our table...and Josh (co-owner and chef) was also so friendly and talking about the menu changes. They have really brought a new level of food with the Korean influenced additions. Truly spectacular Korean short ribs...and gorgeous meat and quality. We were so impressed! Thank you @Heidi and Josh for continuing to bring excellence to Kenwood! Love the new menu! read more

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Incredible food! Inventive but accessible. Every dish was delicious. Excellent cocktails too. Gracious and efficient service - not too fast or too slow (perfect pace is hard to find). Heidy and Joshua are talented and amazing restaurateurs. A valley gem! read more

My boyfriend and I decided to try this place for our New Year's Day date night and I must say, it definitely lives up to the hype. The inside is intimate without being noisy or cramped, the wait staff attentive and friendly, and the food was delicious. The fire made it toasty inside which we really appreciated since it was pouring outside. The kitchen is exposed to the seating area and we really enjoyed getting to watch the chefs at work. If you come here you should definitely try the Tteok-bokki, and if you're into mushrooms the hen of the woods dish was a pleasant surprise. read more

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This is a sleeper restaurant for some reason. Fantastic food and warm environment. It's pricier than the average place but well worth it. Top 3 restaurant in Sonoma county. If you haven't been you are missing out. read more

The salad was a work of art. I keep trying to describe it, just beautiful and so delicious. Service =excellent. A must visit in Kenwood. read more

Sorry but I don't get the hype. Went for the first time a couple evenings ago and won't be running back. Serivce was friendly but not very attentive and they weren't overly full - we got there early. We shared a Chrysanthemum Salad which I did like alot - unique. Husband had the Fennel Sausage which was tasty but soggy - weird. I had the Bolognese pasta - ok but nothing to rave about. Bread was yummy - not complimentary though. We shared a bottle of wine $25 corkage - about par for the course around here. Odd menu - I just don't get it! sorry read more

Golden Bear Station - bolognese pasta - ok but nothing special - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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After being away from home for a week. I decided to surprise my wife and go on a date. We went right at opening time (4:30pm) without a reservation and I seriously had my doubts that we would get in. I would not suggest trying this. As chance would have it, we were incredibly lucky and got a seat. To say that my wife and I are secretly obsessed with the food that Chef Josh creates would be an understatement. Everything he makes is pure gold! Even the salad (which I'd rather skip) left me dumbfounded. The only way I can describe it is bliss. Every single bite of my meal from start to finish was pure bliss. The sausage pizza: I honestly can say that I've never had squash blossoms. But am happy to say this was my first. The toppings, ratios and flavors were spot on. The crusts balance between chewy and crunchy was perfection. Dough was well made, and the firing was great. The mushroom dish was amazing! I love the delicate crisp zing of the lemon in the aioli versus the robustness of the mushrooms umami. Stole that word from Chef Heidy. But it really does describe it perfectly. And it's a fun word to say:) The clam pasta was fantastic. The pasta itself was cooked al dente, clearly homemade and was spectacular! The cheese used in the sauce was wonderful, captivating and very complimentary to the entire dish. When it came time for dessert, my wife was ready to throw in the towel. But I was ready for one last round. We opted for the panna cotta to share. I was not expecting grilled pineapple. Which was amazing! The tropical flavors were wonderful. The guava reminded me of our anniversary in Hawaii this past year. When I foraged and ate like 4 million guavas on our hike:) None of the flavors were too far forward in any of the dishes. When I eat Chef Josh's food, every ingredient seems perfectly placed. Like a flawless flavor melody. Stairway to heaven comes to mind. Or perhaps Aerosmith's dream on. Thank you Chef Heidy, Chef Josh and team! Our date night was perfect! read more

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I was heartbroken when Animo closed but Golden Bear Station is yet another stop on the ride to the best meal of your life! Chef Joshua and wife Heidy have unbelievably done it once again! We'll make the drive from SF again soon! It's that good! Food: 5/5 If I was a writer, I'd write a romance novel about the food. Even though they are only in their first week of opening, everything we tried was a hit. Their take on the Caesar Salad could turn me vegetarian. The mushroom and truffle pizza was AH-mazing!! I've had many award winning and famed pizzas, including Pizzeria Bianco in PHX, and all the delicious ones in SF, but THIS has blown all of those out of the water in terms of flavor and texture. I am usually not one to finish the crust (I know, my mom would be disappointed) but I ate every single delectable bite of the crust too. Leave room for dessert! The pana cotta was decadent and I am soooo happy to see the basque cheesecake from Animo made it on the menu. The wine selection is always impressive too. You can tell they've been in Michelin starred restaurants for a while. Service: 5/5 Impeccable! Meal service was on point. Being greeted at the door by the chef is humbling and they get the door for you on your way out to bid you a good night as if you're visiting their home. Ambiance: 5/5 How cute is this place! It is warm and inviting from the candles on the tables to the flower arrangement. P.S. while this is a homey Italian place, make no mistake that this is not your average place where you'll need or want to make any modifications to the dishes. There are lots of random pizza and burger joints like In n Out if you feel the need to tell the kitchen how to cook....that's just animal-style of you read more

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Absolutely EVERYTHING was fantastic including the food, service, ambiance, and even the restrooms (with attention to detail like mints and toothpicks)! Heidi took amazing care of us, and after decanting our special bottle of wine, recommended another to the table that was equally as good. Joshua made sure that the ribeye was unworldly, and melted in my mouth. The salmon was among the best I've ever had - so tender because it had been marinated for 2-days. The pasta was ridiculous, potatoes crispy and unique, the lardons frisée texturally perfect, and the clam/chorizo dish was crazy delicious. And I'd recommend the cheesecake for dessert. There were 6 of us at the table, and there were tons of mmmm's throughout the evening. One of the best food experiences I've had in a long time. read more

this place was amazing. The oysters were absolutely fabulous and I recommend them to anybody even people don't like oysters cause this will change your mind. I got spicy tuna and it was out of this world, the texture, perfect, and had a bit of citrus in it. It elevated it to next level. and we got this rice cake pasta it was amazing as an appetizer for my main. I got the 32 ounce tomahawk steak. I had to split it between two people because it was so utter read more

Golden Bear Station - Also, they had a cool bathroom - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Excellent cuisine overshadowed by unprofessional and discriminatory service. Our visit to Golden Bear Station was deeply disappointing--not because of the food, which was, to its credit, quite good--but because of the unprofessional and frankly disheartening behavior of the host, who also appeared to be a co-owner. My girlfriend and I arrived first for our reservation and were met with a cold, unwelcoming demeanor. There was a distinct "What are you doing here?" energy that left us feeling judged, perhaps due to our age or appearance. We confirmed our reservation, were seated, and did our best to shrug off the uncomfortable greeting. Ten minutes later, our other two guests arrived--older, more traditionally dressed, and perhaps exuding what the host perceived as "money." The shift in her attitude was almost theatrical. Suddenly warm, attentive, and engaging, she gave them the kind of welcome we had clearly been deemed unworthy of. It was an unmistakable display of selective hospitality based on shallow assumptions--something no reputable establishment should ever tolerate or perpetuate. Adding to the discomfort, I was dealing with stomach issues that evening and brought a small probiotic beverage with me--something the restaurant does not carry. I politely asked if I could quietly consume it at our table. Rather than responding with compassion or even a courteous denial, the host seemed visibly annoyed by the question and made no effort to conceal her irritation. It was an interaction devoid of empathy and basic decency. To be clear: the food was beautifully prepared, and the flavors were excellent. However, great food cannot redeem the feeling of being judged, dismissed, and treated as less-than due to assumptions about age or wealth. This experience was enough to guarantee that neither we, nor our families or friends, will be returning. A restaurant may serve wonderful food, but when hospitality fails this profoundly, the entire experience is tainted. For a place that charges premium prices, one would expect dignity and professionalism--not elitist posturing. read more

Our favorite restaurant in wine country. The food and service are consistently spectacular, the environment wonderfully comfortable and intimate. Every item on the menu would be a "must-have" dish at another restaurant. Most recently we were floored by the tuna, which transported us to the peak of summer on a dreary, rainy winter day. read more

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This restaurant is really something. Delicious takes on classic Italian dishes, made their way. You can tell the chefs are food and design lovers, which goes far for me. A great spot for sophisticated foodies. read more

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What a special place! Food, service, and ambiance was great - can't wait to come back! read more

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A Very cute and quaint place for dinner...the staff and owners were very nice and helpful...they explained the menu and even demonstrated how to put an entree' together...there are many Items on the menu with an Asian flair...and the ones we ordered were delicious...the Hen of Mushrooms and the Clam appetizer were so good...everything we ordered was an upscale version of that dish...the Pepe de Cacio was delicious with shaved Mushrooms on top...the Ice Cream Sundae had pecan pie on the bottom and was to die for! Thank you Heidy for a memorable dinner...it truly is an eating experience... read more

Hey y'all! The dynamic duo, husband and wife team, Heidy and Joshua, keep elevating the dining experience you can get at the Golden Bear station restaurant in Kenwood, California. We have been enjoying their hospitality since they originally opened Animo restaurant in Sonoma, and we were one of the early adopters at Golden Bear Station. Chef Joshua seems to have a mission of delivering new and inventive menu options and at the front of the house, Heidy keep everyone happy and satisfied, too. We were just here a couple weeks ago and we always enjoy the slight tweaks and updates in their menu offerings. But last night, we were totally surprised and very happy to see another reinvention of the dining experience there at the Golden Bear Station restaurant. What's new are a handful of reimagined Korean specialties, which now include appetizers, rice, and of course, Korean barbecue, and an innovative assortment of green leafs for lettuce, wrap. Once again, we highly recommend a culinary excursion to this "always fresh" restaurant. You may be surprised... But you won't be disappointed. read more

What a lovely place. Great open kitchen with tables that are not crammed together. Service was super efficient and friendly. Love the fact that it's a couple who own and run the place. The highlight for me was the miatake mushroom appetizer which had an egg yolk and a crazy onion foam.. I normally hate foams. The pizza with its great dough was solid as well. Only knock is I wish the amatriciana had more kick to it. My daughter thought the French fries were fabulicious as well. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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This was such a good option for a bigger size group. There were 10 us. They had a family style menu ready to choose from. For the price it was, the food was delicious and we had so much of it. The service was also super friendly. We loved!! read more

Golden Bear Station - Hen of the woods mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Small intimate restaurant in Kenwood. Overhearing other customers, the owner chef previously owned another restaurant and Golden bear is apparently more causal that his original place. They were pretty busy for a Sunday night so make sure you make reservations. We got the mushroom app which was 5/5. I love a good mistake mushroom dish. For mains I got their branzino and my husband got their pork chop tonkatsu style . Both dishes were 4/5. For dessert we split a passion fruit panna cotta. Good passion fruit flavor but didn't like the consistency of the panna cotta. Service was 5/5, servers very attentive and professional. read more

Golden Bear Station - Hen of the woods mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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I rarely if ever, give one star... added a second. . And in this case, they should be getting 4. In fact through out the meal, we kept saying, that this may be our new favorite spot and thinking of guests to bring next time.. but, a host (co owner) who was incredibly rude at the conclusion of the evening left us stunned. To be fair, the food was impeccable. Really the chef goes out of his way to prepare and deliver a dish both stunning and delicious. The bib salad could also have been a center piece for the table had it not also been one of the best salads I've ever eaten.. yes, that excited over salad. The rigatoni was exceptional and the sea bass perfect. The prices at first appeared to be a bit high, until you realize it's family style with each dish plenty for two. The service was great.. So what happened, we stopped by on our way through Kenwood and thought we'd see if there was room at a restaurant we hadn't tried. The host looked and said they had a table, so sat us. We ordered and food was presented in a comfortable pace set by the server, cook etc. the wine arrived and we ordered the entire meal fairly quickly. When it came time to clear the plates, the server asked if we were interested in desert. We were about to decline, when the host rushed over, sent the server away to retrieve our bill and told us we couldn't order desert because she needed this table and we needed to go. No apologies, no real explanation.. just a desire to shew us off.. and she left .. as we sat there dumbfounded. I checked our attire, it was fine, we had showered .. so no odd odor.. just a very rude send off. now to be fair we did come in without reservations, there was a couple who had just arrived and were sitting in the wait area, but as we were finishing our wine and waiting for the bill, they were seated at an empty table.. so.. we finished, paid (and yes, left a good tip as it's not the server's fault) and got up to leave. On the way, I did stop and let the host who incredibly is the co-owner know that the way she handled what ever situation she had, was inappropriate and extremely rude. She began to say a weak, apology; but that we were "walk ins". Which I guess means lower class of client in her mind. I let her know that was not a good excuse and still not appropriate, if she had a reservation that she was concerned about, let the "walk-ins"know that they will need to hurry, or speed up the delivery between course or simply let the perspective dinner know that you wouldn't be able to accommodate them that night; before sitting them... and if for what ever reason you need to hurry a guest along, then start with an apology and maybe even an explanation.... all would have been more appropriate and not ruined what was until that point, a perfect night. read more

Golden Bear Station - The chef is fantastic - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Yes. Go. Take my money. Came here on a Saturday night. Was busy. Had to get reservation 2-3 weeks early. It's like a whole in a wall off the side of the highway. Nicely decorated. A spice of motorcycle here and there as the owner rides a Ducati. Fantastic couple. Really dedicated to the art of food and this restaurant. To note: candle at the table is real! Be careful for kiddos. And fresh tulips. The wooden chairs also have those animal skin rugs for cushion... Nice touch. The bathroom is located outside through the door next to the kitchen. Parking is alongside the restaurant, you walk in and it's an open kitchen to the front of you and the reception/register is to the left. Legit wood fired oven for the pizza. Ordered: 1) Scallops- yes. amazing! Tomato and scallops. No idea what the green sauce is but it went well together. 2) Chopped salad. Yes order, note- no dressing on the side. Premixed. However, let me tell you. Someone at the table who doesn't eat any salad with dressing was able to tolerate it. So, try it!! 3) margerita pizza- yes. nicely baked. Everything from the tomato sauce to the cheese and dough.. perfecto!! 4)sea bass- yes. holy crap. Its the WHOLE fish. So good. Crispy skin- ate it all and I never eat the skin. 5) basicola pizza- another good one. Full of mushroom and truffle. Margerhita was better though. 6) bolongase pasta- yes!! a must order. Noodle was cooked so perfectly with the sauce and meat. Brought me back to Italy. 7) side- kimchi fried rice. Yes! So good. Came with a sunny side egg. Yummmmmmy. 8) cheesecake- yes. Fluffy mcfluffy how did it ever get so fluffy. Light and right amount of sweetness. 9) panna cotta- okay. Compared to the other desserts I would get the other two. It was good! I was thrown off by the ice cream and super light panna cotta on the bottom of the mango sauce. 10) brownie to share- yes. Chocolate wasn't sweet at all. Dark chocolate for sure and ice cream on top. Every dish and service is worth the penny. Only thing missing is a wheel barrel service because I shoved all the food into my stomach and couldn't walk out the front door... help. The bill came out to be $300, wth, the amount of food and quality, I was expecting $500 for three people. Wow! Definitely on my go to when I am back in the area. Thanks so much!! read more

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What a fantastic restaurant! Heidi, the owner, is delightful and accommodating to allergies. All natural ingredients (no canola or soy!). We enjoyed the bibb salad, clams, rice cakes (a must have), dover sole, halibut, and cacio pasta. All perfectly prepared and delicious. The ambience is cute and quaint with candles. This was our favorite place and restaurant during our stay in Kenwood and Napa. Thank you Heidi! read more

Yes, you want to eat here, I don't care who you are. Go ahead and make a reservation now. Now for the review. FIRST: Be warned that some people are posting "nasty" 1-star reviews of this restaurant for some reason, claiming that plain old folks like me are posting these bogus 5-star reviews. They are full of $hit and ignore them. Food: The yellowtail sashimi with brown butter, white soy, and citrus was... kind of boring? The execution was flawless, and every single individual flavor was good, and the fish itself was slightly warm, which helped to bring out the aroma, but there just isn't much there to work with. Nothing wrong with it, just boring for my palette (but people call me the umami bomber, so I'm biased). Your taste buds may enjoy this, if you enjoy tasting raw fish relatively unflavored. I might even order it again - it's not bad, but nothing to rave about, except perhaps the audacity to plate such a simple dish here is notable. And thank you too for that simplicity. I had the "Hot Honey" pizza, and let me tell you that the *only* other slice of pizza heaven within an hour's drive - known as PizzaLeah - finally has competition. My first slice passed my "will it stay erect?" test, which is where I hold a slice the way a New Yorker would when walking down the street, folded in half. This pizza doesn't droop and stands erect. That speaks to the structure of the dough and baking process. Beyond that, the flavor profile was off the charts awesome. Just the right balance of tomato sauce and toppings. This pizza also passed the most difficult test of being taken home in a box and then eaten cold for breakfast the next day and loving it. Lastly, there is the side order of pastrami kimchi fried rice, a dish that remarkably echoed a dish I'd just made up a few days earlier for myself: Pastrami potato latke with kimchi (equally good, btw). The dish was well executed and I liked the taste, but I found the pastrami lost in the dish; I would have preferred larger chunks of pastrami, basing that off my own cooking experiments, but this is such a slight criticism. Wine: They have a reasonably good wine list featuring local wines, nothing too amazing there. Their choices for wines by the glass are limited to 3 whites and 3 reds, which I think is too severely limiting given the quality and diversity of the food, and the Golden Bear should consider adding a few more choices, to bring them up to par with most restaurants. For desert, we had the Basque style burnt cheesecake, which was refreshingly lighter than a traditional cheesecake and I thought it was a nice way to finish off with something sweet without being too heavy. Service: The service was excellent and was the perfect balance of being attentive without being annoying or absent. The food came out quickly. Atmosphere: was good, actually I could even call it great. Of particular importance: It's not noisy so you won't need to shout to talk across the table, and there's plenty of space between tables. It's very comfortable. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the atmosphere, and I love it. It doesn't get 5 stars because it didn't rise above being merely really good to being wow, 5-stars! So, there it is. They are currently booking up weeks or months in advance so book early to get a spot. read more

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