Came here for a business lunch and loved it! If I lived closer, I would definitely come more often! Food: Amazing! Portions are smaller but great quality and taste. Definitely worth it. Service: super nice and quick. They are very accommodating and great! Ambiance: this place is super cute both inside and on the patio! read more

Willi's Wine Bar - Warm Spinach Salad, Goat Cheese, Dates, Cracked Almonds, Pancetta Vinaigrette and Chilled Oyster on the Half Shell with Cilantro Mignonette - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

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I visited Willi's in Santa Rosa with moderately high hopes based on so many wonderful reviews. Service seemed friendly, efficient, and courteous, and I was excited to try some new tasties! After receiving my salad and beverage though, service all but disappeared. After 25-ish minutes and finally realizing I hadn't seen my server in a while, I managed to flag down another member of the staff (not my server) who kindly offered to check for me, and who returned with the disappointing news that no such item had ever been ordered. Spoiler alert: it had definitely been ordered :( Had anyone at all checked in on me after the salad arrived, I would have inquired about the main I was waiting for and we would have figured this all out relatively quickly - and I probably would have left a more satisfied customer. (I should also note that the salad and the drink were both good, so I was looking forward to the rest.) Instead, I just asked for the check - and I left still hungry and rather disappointed. To add to the weirdness, the server gave me someone else's check at first, with many more items ordered than my drink and salad. I mention it to help characterize the unfortunate misfire vibe. Respect to the servers, I know they're working hard and there are a ton of things that contribute to situations like this - maybe an off night, maybe a gap in training, maybe unexpectedly slammed... maybe something else entirely - but regardless, Yelp is for reviewing one's experience with a business. My experience at Willi's was a bummer, and I am not sure I'll bother going back. read more

More and more, Willi's is becoming the all time favorite for me, and for my friends. It's an easy drive for us and we have never had a parking problem right out front. We were lucky to avoid the screaming baby on the front patio by enjoying a table on the side patio. Right away, the fine service began. Patience was a key factor, meaning the server's, as we read the menu like a mystery novel. And we all know perfectly well what is offered. A dirty martini with big, meaty olives is a fine way to start a meal. And we did. Later on we had Aperture Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp and elegant. Hits the right notes. Food? Did we have food? The grilled artichokes were plump and solid, just right. The asparagus were not to be outdone. Of course I was the only one who wanted carrots, until everyone tried them! "I don't like carrots, but I sure like these" said one of our guests. We had the skillet shrimp advocates on one side and the Moroccan lamb folks on the other side. We were all winners. A lovely espresso martini for dessert and our fine meal was done. Oh phooey, but we'll come back! read more

Willi's Wine Bar - Fat, delicious asparagus with pistachios in the sauce. - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

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My mouth is watering just thinking about the food at Willis. We visited during happy hour and sat outside in their front patio section. What we ordered: Nashville hot fries $7 - probably the best fries I've ever had. The flavor, delicious, the crisp perfection and these things were legitimately hot so beware if you can't handle the heat. Smash burger $9 - this was happy hour so I was not expecting a huge burger but thankfully I took a look at Yelp before ordering so I knew what I was getting. This smash burger comes on an everything steam bun which was different but in a good way. The burger was cooked perfectly and each bite left me wanting more. Goat cheese fritters $7 - I almost didn't order these but thankfully goodness I did. The depth of flavor you get from the combination of the creamy goat cheese, the kick of paprika and the sweetness of the lavender honey is something I'm still thinking about weeks after my visit. Pro tip: dip your Nashville fries in the left over lavender honey. You won't regret it. Crispy boneless wings $7 - black garlic, sweet chili, or buffalo hot are the flavor options. We went with the black garlic to try something different. These were good but probably the thing I could have skipped out of the everything I ordered. Overall, service was extremely quick but the staff felt a bit neutral rather than warm or friendly. If I could rate Willis a 10/10 for food I would but I'm stuck to just 5. I'd love to come back and try more food offerings and check out their wine list. read more

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Tried this place out and arrived just in time for happy hour! The hostess in the front was very welcoming. Sat in the bar near the window where there was a great view of the TV and outside with great sunlight. Ordered happy hour sparkling wine, which was delicious, along with scallop dumplings. Chef's kiss! Special thanks to my server, Rafael, who was very attentive and pleasant. read more

Willi's Wine Bar - Scallop Wonton w/o Pancetta - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

My biggest regret is that I didn't go to Willi's famished, as I could only have a few bites here and there of what the other diners in my party had. Those bites, however, were exquisite. We shared a number of small plates: the French Green Bean Salad, Local Crimini Mushroom Salad, goat cheese fritters, Truffled French Fries, Wild Chanterelle Mushroom Mac & Cheese and Filet Mignon Sliders. Without a doubt, the mac & cheese was our favorite -- ordered a second serving, in fact. This was followed closely by the goat cheese fritters. The filet mignon sliders were also extremely delicious and tender. Finally, even though we didn't think we had room, we had the Meyer Lemon Pudding Cake for dessert. Save room. This and (according to my friends who had eaten there several times before) the other desserts are amazing! Our server, Shane, couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating, and made great suggestions to us. It was packed on a weekend, so a reservation is a must! read more

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It's just not the same, like what it used to be back in 2022 when they first opened at this location. Every dish used to be exponential and now about half the dishes we got, were delightful. The beet salad has been a solid staple and still brings freshness to the table. Make the scallop BLT one thing you get (we got seconds) as it was a fun twist on a classic sandwich. The flourless cake was moist and actually better without the overpowering peanut butter mousse. Could pass on the other items we got. Service was friendly, quick, and vigilant. Lots of patio seating which is great for warmer weather season coming up and a decent happy hour everyday 3-6 with great prices (although drinks matched the price point). To note; menu items are VERY clearly labeled if they are GF, can be made GF; and not celiac safe (due to shared frier) which made decision making a little easier. read more

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This is a good place to go if you want to share a bunch of small plates with friends and grab drinks. A bit pricey, though the food was good. We had oysters on the half shell, oysters Rockefeller, a cheesy bread, short ribs, pork belly pot stickers, lamb chops and halibut. read more

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We were heading from Sonoma to the airport with some time to spare and stumbled upon Willi's Wine Bar. It's tucked away in a neighborhood with a few other local spots, and honestly, we weren't sure what to expect--but we were pleasantly surprised! The patio is super charming, with a vibe that feels straight out of a European café. Inside, the space is absolutely gorgeous--everything from the furniture to the bar top and light fixtures feels luxurious and thoughtfully designed. We happened to arrive during their daily happy hour, which was a great bonus with really reasonable prices. We grabbed seats at the bar and ordered the WWB Smash Burger--definitely worth trying, though keep in mind it's on the smaller side. We also loved the marinated olives. The bartender was fantastic and recommended a few cheeses from their selection--all were delicious and beautifully served with crackers, jam, and honey. We couldn't resist the oysters either, and they did not disappoint! If we lived nearby, we'd be regulars. We're already thinking about stopping by again on our next trip to Sonoma! read more

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I feel like a buffoon. I have been here before, loved it, but can't find my review! In a nutshell: A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Food: "A" as in gorgeous assortment from their "Earth" section, delicious through and through from truffle fries, to beets, to warm skillet bread to the fresh green bean salad to the soup to the cheesy skillet bread with an essence to the pickled onion that suspiciously tastes of pure joy! My friends had more meaty stuff like the lamb chops and squid ring-things, but I am into their veg-veg-adjacent menu! I'm so into this place. While other restaurants I've fallen in love with make me want to smile, this one makes me want to shout. I'm a fan! read more

What a great spot! We met up with some friends for lunch who had been here before and had glowing recommendations... I couldn't agree more with them! It was a totally delightful and delicious lunch experience. Our server was fun and friendly made it easy for us all and had good suggestions. I ordered an old fashioned which was good.. the true star here was the food. We started family style with the calamari, which is one of the few ocean foods I enjoy lol! This was light and delicious, the orange chili dipping sauce was delightful and totally unexpected. I could have taken some of that to go! Next we shared the roasted beets salad... I personally am not a fan of beets but this salad had me going back for seconds! Followed by the potatoes and pear gnocchi. This had a cheese flavor with tiny pieces of pear and baby gnocchi. It was a tasty treat... apparently they used to have a Mac n cheese that was out of this world... I'm a tad disappointed I didn't get to try it out lol! Next on our tasty little afternoon was the Liberty Farms Pulled Duck with polenta - I've had duck several times but this was by far the best I've ever had. It wasn't gamey at all and had amazing flavor! Then they brought out the Brussels sprouts and welp that is one of my favorites almost anywhere I go so of course I loved it! We finished off the meal with the filet mignon sliders. It's a good thing these were last because I would have ordered more! They were delicious!!! I loved every bite! After hanging around chatting for a while we ended up with an ice cream complete with crunch and caramel and all around deliciousness. This would be an easy place to come back to. It's so fun and so good! read more

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Nice wine bar! Small food menu, but quite an extensive wine and cocktail menu. We grabbed a spot at the bar where Justin (I think!) was our bartender. We each got something different--one friend had a tequila flight, one a wine flight, and I got the princess peach cocktail (kind of like a peach margarita). My friends also got the prawns and green beans, which they enjoyed. Would come back! read more

Willi's Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

I will go on record that the food is outstanding. Every dish nuanced and flavorful. Portions are very small though.... It's expensive and the pricing seems a little high for the portions. The service was ok - not good. I feel if the prices are this high and the portions this small then the service should be really top notch. Alas they seemed somewhat disinterested and didn't come out to check very often. All of that said we will go back because the menu is very innovative and spans a wide variety and the atmosphere for a late afternoon lunch was chill and relaxed. read more

HOLY MOLY. Is it possible to give this place more than 5 stars? Seriously... What an experience. It's beautiful and a great size space. Trendy and fun, loud but not too loud, incredible service, phenomenal dishes. I'd been looking forward to dinner here for weeks and honestly, the experience exceeded my expectations. Our server was excellent and our table of 6 ordered a LOT OF FOOD. And drinks, of course. Everything was FRESH and FLAVORFUL. Unique but familiar dishes that had everything I could have wanted. I am not even sure what my favorite bite was, but man, I'd do this dinner all over again in a heartbeat. Pictures attached, but here is what we ordered: - Goat cheese fritters - Roasted bone marrow - Butternut squash soup + grilled cheese - Roasted beets - Roasted carrots - Filet Mignon sliders - Ahi tuna tartare - Truffle fries read more

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Great spot for happy hour or regular lunch/dinner. Small plate style so it's easy to share multiple orders. My friend and I started with their Bordeaux wine flight and enjoyed everything we ordered: -truffle fries with truffle aioli -grilled octopus -curried crab tacos -Moroccan Style Lamb Chops -Dean's pork ribs We weren't expecting the proteins to come with carbs too which was why we ordered the fries but the fries were def worth it. We saw every table getting them. Everything was delicious. The ribs and lamb chops were tender and flavorful. They didn't skimp on the crab for the tacos. All the flavors worked well together, especially with our wine too. We originally wanted the mission fig toast but they ran out of it at the time we were there. Service was very quick and friendly. We were so full we boxed the rest of the ribs, truffle fries and couscous that came with the lamb chops. The restaurant has a warm ambiance and could make for a great any time outing - date night, friend, family, coworker outing. Has cute indoor decor and lighting, with also outdoor seating. Prices are decent. Def see myself coming back! read more

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I visited Willie's wine bar about eight years ago before they redid the space due to the fire. I remembered how amazing the food was so I was excited when we were going through the area. I'm looking for a lunch spot. Every one of the small plates that we got was unbelievable and I think that this is one of the places that you can really order whatever types of food you like and you won't be disappointed. My favorite were the fried goat cheese balls, the curry tacos with crab, and the scallop dumplings. I was glad that we had more than just two people that we were able to try more things... read more

Willi's Wine Bar - Curried Crab Tacos with Apple, Cucumber & Mint - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

I've been to Willi's several times including their original location. Willi's has a relaxed vibe and is consistently good. I'm a fan of small plates - I love ordering several items and sharing them all. I always order one of their wine or bubble flights a unique offering in a restaurant setting and it's just fun while you're having lunch. This last visit I ordered fried calamari served with orange chili gremolata, warm skillet bread ( Gruyère, sea salt, green olive tapenade), goat cheese fritters ( smoked paprika & lavender honey) and truffle fries with truffle aioli. The goat cheese fritters were my favorite- there weren't any left over to bring home. I debated placing an order to go. This is great place for a date or a family meal. The restaurant is bright and airy and also has heated patio seating. Service was quick, checked on us often to fill our water, clear plates and make sure we had everything we wanted. I'll be back. read more

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Everything was amazing. The Arugula salad was perfectly balanced. The lamb was rich, savory & had perfect texture. The mocktail was delicious with a perfectly balanced tart flavor to it. read more

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While in Sonoma for a few nights we stopped in here for cocktails before having dinner elsewhere on a weeknight. The bar here was rather busy when we arrived, but we still got a couple of seats at the bar. Service was excellent at the bar, the bartender was very helpful and knowledgeable. They have a very nice wine list, flights, and a great cocktail program. The food we saw coming out looked great, but as I mentioned, we only went for drinks. Definitely would return! read more

Willi's Wine Bar - The Last Word - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

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Wow, what an amazing spot. Goat cheese fritters were perfectly fried and the lavender honey was such a deliciously unique flavor addition. The shrimp were next. Crazy flavorful with a bit of spice, acid, and salt. The star of the show was filet mignon sliders. Top 5 bernaise sauce of my life, with steak that cut like butter over a popover type roll. Unreal. Next for the savory, was the duck bbq. Think elevated pulled pork, the sauce was deep and delicious. Chocolate banana bread pudding to finish it off. Highly recommend this place. read more

Willis is always great! Happy hour is super fun. Great spot for plates to share, food drinks and lovely service.

The service and the food was really good however I got food poisoning. After paying the bill, I broke out in a sweat and felt faint and rested in my car. After 10 minutes, I dashed back into the restaurant to the bathroom. I dropped my friend off and got sick again then realized I had food poisoning I called the manager when I got home and he said he was sorry and thanks for letting him know. I asked if he wanted to know what I ate , which he said, sure. Then again apologized. I thought he at least should have offered a comped meal or at least an appetizer. But no read more

This is my second night in a row coming here. The service is phenomenal, the food is perfect for small bites and tapas style dining, and the wine selection is very generous. It's a cute, cozy little spot with welcoming ambiance. I've discovered the best Grenache I've ever had through their wine list. I will absolutely be a regular here. read more

Willi's Wine Bar - Happy hour menu 3-5 daily - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

NOTE - when you click on the link to the website, and then use that link to make a reservation, it makes it for Willis raw and seafood bar, NOT the wine bar. I mentioned it to the front desk but she didn't seem to care lol. Came in here before dinner for a few drinks and appetizers. The drinks were solid but I had to come talk about the pork belly potstickers - they were incredible. We had a good time, the service was good, and the vibe was very cool. I'd come back! (And I'd like to try Willis raw and seafood too?) read more

I love being reminded why i love YELP. My girl friend & I were looking for a local restaurant to try & i came across Willi's Wine Bar. It was about 10 mins from where we were staying, kind of hidden in a small area. We arrived around 6, so it was a bit busy - so we were sat in the outside seating area since we didn't have a reservation & thankfully there were heaters outside! We both ordered Flights, I got the Chardonnay flight & she had the Rose Flight. Crab tacos were delicious, loved how it was a wonton style taco. Wagyu sliders with the creamed spinach??? AMAZING! The sauce was perfect literally. Now the best dish to both of us was the Mushroom truffle Mac & Cheese!!! i enjoy finding local restaurants in different cities, I can definitely see why this restaurant is a top favorite in the area! Hannah was great with all of our recommendations. read more

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First time trying this place and was not disappointed! They allow dogs in the patio area which was a major plus. We were seated right away and our waitress was so nice and attentive. The menu was vast and our waitress gave us some good recommendations. We ordered the chilled oysters , arugula salad , pot belly potstickers and the flash fried calamari! Everything was so good and delicious but my absolute favorite was the calamari! It had this spicy-sweet sauce coating so each bite was amazing! Great ambiance and I love how it's in a shopping center in the middle of the suburb! Definitely wanna come back to eat here and try out the other tapas items! read more

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We've eaten at Willi's Wine Bar several times and food is always tasty. They have a fun menu with good variety. It is mostly small plates you can share, but sometimes there are only three items to share between frequently a table for four. That is irritating. Skillet bread, calamari, bbq duck, pot stickers, warm spinach salad, bruschetta, and scallop dumplings are especially delectable. Service is good and ambiance works well for different sized groups. People rave about the wine list that includes reasonable to very pricey bottles. They have Russian River and Henhouse IPA's as well as other local brews albeit a little pricey! You don't go there to save money but rather eat and drink and enjoy. I enjoy Willi's Seafood in Healdsburg as well. read more

Had a show at the LBC and my husband and I decided to get dinner last minute before the show. We didn't have reservations and they didn't have any same day openings. We decided to risk it and try to snag two seats a the bar. There's not that much parking so my husband dropped me off at the front so I could get some seats as he looked for parking. To my luck I was able to grab the last two spots. We ordered three things: curried crab tacos, the lamb, and the mushroom truffle Mac and cheese. You can tell Willie's is part of the stark restaurant family. They have a couple items that you can find at their other restaurants and it's a small/med plate shared concept. Curried crab tacos were so good, fresh and light. Lamb was nice and tender but a bit small portion wise. I'm glad that we got the Mac and cheese because not only was it good but filling. Would come back in the future, there are a lot of other items I would like to try. Overall 4.4/5 stars read more

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0 stars. Horrible BAD service! Food was not good and were too small to even enjoy. The quality was not impressive AT ALL, you can make them it at home, it would probably be better. The restaurant had dark lighting with no ambiance. Poor and disrespectful service and overpriced food... never coming here again!!! Save your money.. Nobody in our party enjoyed this place and you are not walking out with any leftovers. The plates took 2 bites to finish and really poor quality food AND service. Disappointed... Avoid this place!!! read more

Willi's Wine Bar - Too small and poor quality food. - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

We've been coming here for years, and while the food is consistently good, the service has gone way downhill. What is incredibly frustrating is their long-standing policy of bringing food out "whenever it's ready." They even tell you this at the table, as if it's normal. But it's not. What ends up happening is half the table gets their food while the other half sits waiting -- sometimes for so long that the first plates are cold by the time the rest arrive. Every other restaurant manages to serve a table together, so I don't understand how this place thinks it's acceptable or how they get away with it. Our most recent visit was especially disappointing. Our server was friendly, but we waited an unreasonably long time, and again, part of our group had no food for a long stretch. One dish never arrived at all, and when we asked to have it removed from the bill, the server implied she had seen it on our table -- basically suggesting we were lying. That was shocking, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable. It's such a shame, because the food really is great. But the way they choose to handle service -- and the dismissive attitude when things go wrong -- ruins the entire experience. Unless this policy changes, it's hard to justify coming back. read more

I went on a Saturday mid afternoon to grab a quick bite to eat and drink at the bar. I was sat down immediately. The bartender/server was super nice. I ordered the filet mignon sliders, calamari, and arugula salad with a cocktail called business time (pretty much a margarita with a Blanco tequila). The filet mignon sliders were my favorite. It wasn't too noisy and the Saturday football game was on. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Warm and inviting with eclectic bites and a great selection of wines from small, local producers. Santa Rosa strong!

What an excellent happy hour! I dropped in during their 3-5 happy hour and had an espresso martini (7) a glass of bubbly (6) marinated olives (4) and goat cheese fritter bites (6). (And one non happy hour wine) The prices were excellent and so was the food and drink. Espresso martini did what is what supposed to do, the snacks were delicious and so rich they were filling, and the wines were hella good. I tried this regular price (2 oz for 4.5) vavasour Sauvignon blanc, which was absolutely delicious- it was citrusy and sharp, yet slightly sweet. Would go back for happy hour or regular hour lol. Everything was amazing. read more

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This was my favorite restaurant from our Santa Rosa trip. The food was the best we'd had, the ambiance was cozy-nice, and the drinks were delicious. Everything we had blew our minds. Recommend the goat cheese fritters, mu shu pork crepes, and the chocolate banana croissant bread pudding. Pro tip - get it with ice cream. That chocolate banana bread pudding is one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. Would return and would recommend! Drinks: Spicy Paloma Midtown Food: Goat cheese fritters Butternut squash soup + grilled cheese Mu shu pork crepes Chocolate banana croissant bread pudding read more

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Very cool wine bar with great small plates. I would not go here for a meal but for apps and drinks it's a great place! The service, food and atmosphere were great. read more

We popped in for happy hour only to discover a very good smash burger A soft poppy seed bun, flavorful meat, great sauce. The fries were hot, spicy with a tasty goat cheese sauce. The martini pretty good for a happy hour drink. All-in-all a good value... read more

Willi's Wine Bar - Such a fun evening, food, wine, friends made for a perfect special occasion . - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

First of all, let's talk price -- everything is so affordable it feels like you're getting away with something. I kept looking at the menu like, "Wait, that's it??" Honestly, I should've just ordered two of everything off rip. The goat cheese fritters? Ridiculously good. Lightly crispy outside, warm and creamy inside -- perfect bite after perfect bite. The beet salad was fresh, sweet, earthy, and paired beautifully with the goat cheese and microgreens. I didn't even know I liked beets like that! Calamari came through hot, crispy, and seasoned just right -- no chewiness, no grease overload, just straight flavor. And don't even get me started on the Rockefeller oysters -- rich, garlicky, and baked to perfection. I also did the white wine flight, which was a whole vibe. Each pour had its own character -- crisp, floral, citrusy -- and matched up beautifully with everything I ordered. Oh, and I have to mention the wine cellar. I forgot to snap a pic (rookie move), but trust me -- it's massive and has a dreamy, Instagram-worthy aesthetic. Definitely peek in while you're there. Cozy, cute, delicious, and shockingly affordable. Next time, I'm ordering double and bringing more friends. Willi's is a lowkey gem. read more

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We went for Happy Hour and sat at the bar. Great prices for happy hour, $8 cocktail and good $6 martini. Due to allergies didn't eat, otherwise would have ordered one of the enticing happy hour food options. The service was friendly, unpretentious, and professional. The drinks were spot on with a good presentation, temperature, and flavor. The Bar is modern, clean, and chic, the outdoor seating is a bit lackluster as it's situated in a bit of an odd location next to a grocery store. Overall, solid. read more

Willi's Wine Bar - Passion Project - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

My wife and I were looking for a nice restaurant for a New Year's Eve dinner and discovered Willi's Wine Bar. What a great restaurant tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood. The friendly and helpful hostess mentioned that there was Happy Hour seating outside and we love a good happy hour:). She helped set up a warm heat lamp next to us. We sampled almost every happy hour dish: Smash Burger, Tracey's Almonds, Marinated Olives, Boneless Chicken with Lemon and Goat Cheese Fritters. My wife is vegetarian and was able to get the Caramelized Brussel Sprouts without chorizo. The service was great. We will definitely be back:) read more

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I've tried this restaurant 3 times in the past three years and I keep hoping that the food will improve. It still disappoints me. We ordered 6 dishes. The Tunisian carrots were limp and horribly ovrrcooked; the potstickers were wet with a salty overpowering gravy sauce. The halibut was okay. The bread tasteless, the brussell sprouts tasted stewed and were not well executed. I don't get why people like this place. It was one of the worst dinners I've had in a long time. The service and ambiance were fine. read more