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"Amazing food, excellent service and great ambiance!! My husband and I went here for our 1st anniversary dinner. The food was excellent and…" read more »
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DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-licious.
Whoever yelped about their goat cheese croquettes deserves a big phat kiss with tongue. I am hooked. it comes with this honey lavender dipping thing and its out of this world. We got there towards the end of their sunday brunch but they couldnt have been more hospitable,even allowing us to bring Farrah in with us. Yes,we're one of THOSE coupes,now.
We got the croquettes,the beignets and the sliders. Everything was delicious,our waitress was sweet and attentive. We sat out in their backdoor patio,which is shaded and has a fountain. I am definitely stopping by here again when we come to Healdsburg to pick up our wine.
I've lived in Sonoma county on & off since 1973. I'm married to a 37 year constant resident of Sonoma County. YET, this was my 1st visit to BarnDiva. I avoid "tourist places" where I live, sometimes that's a mistake. BarnDiva food & dining rooms are worthy of locals loyalty.
Dinner: Wednesday nite fixed price family style. Price = $35 each. Add $15 for wine with every course. Get this, the wine pours are full 6 ounce goblets! Good stuff, too. Sonoma county higher end labels.
Start - Curry Panko fried calamari lettuce wraps. Delicious! LARGE portion. Wine: Enkidu Sauvignon Blanc.
Middle - Pork loin wrapped in bacon. Cooked on wood. Juicey, tender, flavor for miles. Clean high quality meat. Enough for twice as many people to be satisfied. We brought 60% of it home. Wine: Syrah (Whoops! Forgot the label!) - Good match for the meat.
Side of Mac 'with runny, creamy, piquant cheese with crunchy cheese on top. Oh Yeah! Good. Again big 12 ounce serving. We shared my bowl, Bambie brought hers home .
Dessert: Made right now beignets, hot from the fryer with Sharffenberger liquid chocolate and liquid raspberry dipping sauces. Lots of 'em and good as any I've had in N'awlins Loosiana.
Wine: Christopher Creek Port.
Ate on the back patio. sheltered from the first wet night of October. Brought the Labrador Retriever who was cooed over by all the staff and most of the other diners.
The 3 Servers who helped us were friendly, helpful, smart, fast.
Reading the previous Yelp reviews it is clear that BarnDiva has haters & lovers. Reports of horrible slow service point to management inconsistency. This was not my experience on this visit.
I'll be back again. Gets my Local Yokel recommendation.
People thought this was:
Some friends recently took us here and while the food was excellent and the waitstaff was very professional, THE HOSTESS WAS A COMPLETE MORON!
Not only was the hostess rude, but every request and inquiry seemed to put her out - as if we were asking for her first born child. Here's what went down:
We arrived on time with a 9:00 PM reservation as a party of 4 and the only two tables that were available were in the rear of the restaurant and very dark. The first table she sat us at was right next to the service computer. The other table was in the corner behind the curtain with zero overhead lighting and not a single candle. She also offered that we could sit in the backyard if "we didn't mind getting mud on our feet." Geesh!
I asked that she give us the second table behind the curtain but provide some candles so we could see our menus. She slammed one candle down on the table and it went out from the impact and she simply walked away. After a few minutes of trying to get her attention, I asked if we could have 2 candles so everyone could see their menus. HER ANSWER WAS "NO, WE DON"T HAVE ANY MORE CANDLES." Honestly.
The owner eventually came over and brought us another candle.
Shortly thereafter, two friends of ours showed up and we asked if we could all sit together. The answer was again "No" despite the fact that there was an empty table for eight not far from us that remained empty the entire night. We were unable to eat with our friends that evening. Lame.
Our server was professional and courteous, however, and the food was indeed excellent. It's just such a shame when a great kitchen and waitstaff can be so easily usurped by a rude and utterly inept hostess. Come on, people, your hostess is your first consumer facing representative!!! Busch league mistake. Somebody must be boning her.
Fire the dumb blond and we'll come back for a second round.
While I can't say anything about the food, I can certainly speak to the snotty, pretentious staff.
A friend and I who hadn't seen each other in a long time went there to hang out and enjoy a cocktail or two. The drinks were interesting and inventive, and I've nothing to complain about there But when the wait people are rude, inattentive, and almost absent - well, it ruins an otherwise good time, so I won't be back. It's too bad because the place itself is aesthetically pleasing and the backyard is terrific.
Not the wine country sort, I wouldn't have found this place otherwise, but this was the perfect locale for a recent wedding.
Very cool notes - great space, lovely people, DELISH vegetarian dish [specially prepared for the 2 vegetarians] - I heard the pork tenderloin and sea bass were excellent as well. mmm....goat cheese croquettes. Beignets with caramel sauce. OMG. Overall, super impressed with the food and probably the most fun I've had at a wedding so far.
The word AMAZING is often overused in life and on Yelp. But I just can't think of any other word to describe Barndiva.
AMAZING.
AMAZING.
AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING.
First, the decor: I went for brunch on a picture perfect Sunday morning, and sitting outside was a must. Their back patio is green with a mix of shady trees and full sun. Decor is minimal but reflects the cool touches found inside the restaurant - wire sculptures and other art pieces that are just the right mix of country and funky. Though we didn't sit inside, I wandered in to take a few photos of the art that's there - an awesome coat rack made from wooden shoes, and an old school library card catalog that's been converted to house their flatware.
The only thing more impressive than the decor was, of course, the food. Interesting cocktails (including an option to have the bartender create a drink based on your specific tastes), delicious coffee, and one of the best brunches I've had in a long time. Our table sampled the beignets, which were served with a heavenly raspberry puree and a decadent chocolate sauce. Main courses included eggs benedict served on English muffin bread and the best hollandaise imaginable; duck hash, served with poached eggs and the same delectable sauce; and - the best dish of the day - pain perdu with fresh berries and whipped cream. Imagine the best bread pudding you've ever eaten...now picture it fried, crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Now picture yourself pining over that dish for days to come!
It's a little pricey, but the fresh, local ingredients are expertly presented. We had a wonderful meal and I am already scheming about how and when I can return for dinner!
People thought this was:
This is for Sunday Brunch.
Cons: Wanted to go for dinner Sat pm, closed for wedding. Disappointing but no deduction. Took them 25 minutes to bring our Bloody Marys - they said they were out of Worchester sauce - WTF? So I think they actually had a dishwasher go over to Safeway and get some. I believe them because no one else was getting their bloodies. Then all of a sudden they were served. Slight deduction.
Pros: Dog friendly. Water bowl, shade; the pooch enjoyed some good people watching.
Food: literally the best breakfast I have had in 5 years. There were like 3 items I'm sure I would have enjoyed but went with the eggs-benny.
Cool hostess: remembered me from the day before when I made the reservation and then changed it again, and why I changed it. Most hostesses are out to lunch and wouldn't remember an in-person conversation two minutes ago let alone a phone conversation yesterday - no disrespect intended like I said cool hostess!
I wish I had the same experience as the other patrons of this place but unfortunately I can not. The best thing about the place was the wall art and the back patio.
Let's talk about the food first. The mac and cheese was downright generic and watery. The calamari was cooked just right but a bit too much celery salt (or another spice that tastes similar).
And I looove salt, my halibut was so salty, I kept reaching for my water.
The risotto with corn was also boring and tasteless. They do have a nice variety of wine so that is worth sitting at the bar for.
The bar service was good and the bartender we had does make some means cocktails. However our dinner service was quite disappointing. While waiting for our main course, we were never checked on and our water glasses were empty for most of dinner until I asked finally for a refill.
Oh and I can't neglect to mention to extremely smelly guys at the bar from different groups. They both knew the host so me thinks there is a trend.
Anyway, there are many other lovely places to frequent in the square that I would go to instead in the future.
We attended a friend's wedding here last weekend and it was great! They had both the ceremony and the dinner/reception at the garden and it was just right. Food is great and healthy! The chairs are under the tree shades and there's an outdoor bar for drinks. The sand may be a little annoying though, especially if you just polished your shoes. But, the garden was simply elegant and such a wonderful ambiance for a wedding. The after-ceremony cocktail and after-dinner dancing were all held indoor with an open bar. Fantastic! There's enough room for dancing and seats.
I especially like how it's right in the downtown area so you can walk into the park and check out the other shops, if you have time. For the out of town guests, they were able to do some wine tasting and check out other parts of sonoma and napa.
I love the architecture of this amazing barn. The huge doors in the back, the patio with it's lavish garden and the ambiance on a warm July night was magical. My husband and I shared a very exquisite anniversary dinner here.
We ordered the special which was sea bass and shared a salad. The food was scrumptious and our waitress was very upbeat, enthusiastic and helpful. She helped us pick a wine that would pair well with the fish and her choice was perfect.
There weren't many people out that night but it was mid-week. They have a big barbecue on Wednesday nights and I'd love to return for that. They do it in the patio. I got a peek at the Wednesday menu and it looked really good. Many things caught my eye like the watermelon salad!!
I will definitely return. It's sad so many people gave this place such low ratings but from my personal experience, it doesn't get better than this. A warm July evening, a beautiful barn-turned-restaurant, eating alfresco in a Sonoma garden, food that was all grown organically and sustainably by nearby farmers, and a huge wine list also from local vineyards. I love the whole concept! I highly recommend Barn Diva to anyone who loves these things.
WEAK.
The wine selection is good, and having sampled a quarter of their menu on, the chicken and dumplings with morel mushrooms was fabulous.....but... the lamb we had was entirely forgettable. The only part of the $40 appetizer sampler worth mentioning was the lamb sausage. The rest is uninteresting.
The service is awful. Seriously, we got seated and waited 15-20 minutes for our waitress. She never showed, someone else finally came over and apologized for her and took our order. Every course (appetizers, salad, entree, dessert) had a looooong gap because they were in no hurry to notice us.
The still water tasted off.
The raspberry tart is just a plain tart that someone stuck raspberries on top of.
When they boxed up the entree my wife couldn't finish, they actually didn't include most of it, which I didn't notice until we got home. I have a feeling a busboy ate well this evening. that's the only thing of the meal we really enjoyed.
The DJ that came on around 10pm on friday night was awful.
It's a better club scene for single people than a place you go for a upper end meal. Because of the wide gap between price and actual quality delivered, avoid avoid avoid avoid.
PS Look at the other reviews on here. Many look "canned".
Unless you're looking to cruise the bar for companions. It seems to be a popular nightlife destination.
People thought this was:
We had a fantastic lunch at Barndiva this past weekend. Service was friendly and efficient and I loved the huge patio adorned with vintage furnishings. This patio would be the perfect place for a celebration, whether it's a wedding or birthday party.
On to the food: my sliders were three mini bites of goodness (topped with both cheddar cheese and bacon - BACON!!) And the Barndiva fries? Good Lord, I'm not sure how they make 'em but I was too busy stuffing my face to ask. The Goat Cheese Croquettes looked fantastic and are at the top of my list to try next time.
Next time? Damn straight there'll be a next time. See you soon, Barndiva!
People thought this was:
This is a review for Barndiva as a wedding venue.
We had our wedding here in August 09 and our guests are still talking about the food at the wedding. It was even better than I could have imagined. True, we did not get to taste our menu before the event - we actually were still finalizing the in-season menu the day before the wedding; but we booked Barndiva because we trusted the chef to make amazing food our guests would like. And believe me, they liked it. A lot. They were also really accommodating with vegan options for me and nut-free meals for certain guests.
The space itself worked really well for us as venue. We had the ceremony and the reception at the restaurant and people kept telling us how magical the whole evening was. More than anything, Barndiva made wedding planning simple. No cars shuttling people from ceremony to reception, no mandatory shutdown time for the reception (and everyone could walk home after partying all night), no hassle of multiple vendors, and no trip across town for a unique place to take formal wedding shots.
As another reviewer noted, Lukka is not for the type-A bride. He was borderline inaccessible during the pre-planning process, but all my questions were eventually answered and time-sensitive material was handled on time. It worked for me, it might not for other brides. All that said, when it came to the big day, Lukka turned on the charm and ran the show like a seasoned professional. I seriously could not have been happier with how he managed the wedding. Second only to the truffle mac and cheese, Lukka is the most talked about part of my wedding. Our guests were blown away with how much he went out of his way to make sure everyone was happy and taken care of. People thought I hired him as an outside wedding coordinator. In fact, I found out afterwards that he even called the airline for some of my friends who had to leave the wedding early to catch a flight just to make sure their flight was on time (and so that they could have as much time as possible at the wedding). So I've got nothing but love for Lukka, as unconventional as his wedding planning demeanor may be.
And I have nothing but the highest recommendation for Barndiva as a venue. Great space, great food, great people and all in a great town.
This was the 3rd time I have been here. Fist time was good, Second time was bad but passable for another try. Third time was just terrible!
Went here on Saturday night with friends and were seated promptly with our reservations. In less than 20 minutes we had drinks and appetizers and orders taken. Over 1 hour later no dinner entrees are to our table yet. When the management was approached there seemed to be a communication breakdown between him and us because he seemed to think there was no problem with that and wasn't too concerned.
Once the food was received 1 entree was cold even though it was suppose to be a hot dish, my food was mediocre at best. I had the shepherd's pie with lamb.
Once we were done eating our food the waiter offers a desert menu and we ask if the management is comping it considering the terrible service so far and of course, the bill came and no comp.
Bad service, terrible management, mediocre food.
People thought this was:
This is a great place for a real good martini amongst good-looking rich people. If you can consider the food and food service as a secondary matter of little importance, then you can have a great time just hanging out.
The food and/or service was weird. We ordered the beer batter shrimp (good); Diva salad (great poached egg; no salt?); and decided to order "the works" (cheese and salumi board) rather than separate cheese and salumi plates. It all showed up at the same time!
"The Works" did not appear with any bread, crackers, or honey, and was a board with four cheeses, three salumis and six shot glasses of condiments. The server was going to find out with the fourth cheese was, but never did. The bread was eventually asked for, when approached about how we were doing, arrived five minutes later. The cheese came with no cheese knives, and had a hard rind on two of the chunks. We had only one serving plate.
The deserts was eventually ordered, while trying to salvage the dinner. Bingo...wrong desert for my wife, so we waited and shared mine, and it was weird.
Servers were not coordinated: Two different people asked about being done, and we asked to have the left over salumi boxed; but still waited for that to happen. Two different people asked to take dessert order, and it still came out wrong.
Overall, it seemed like, nice, shiny, servers, three of them, at about 80%. Multiply 80% three times and you get about half good.
The salumi, three, seemed to be real standard issue as well, with two of them being almost identical. No "sausage" on "The works?"
Good location; good desserts; good drinks; weird service; no big deal food. Get a little drunk; eat desert and go. It's more an after dinner treat than fine dining.
People thought this was:
I'd give 'em a solid 4 stars but the guy in charge of weddings never returned my calls/emails (multiple) after we'd already met with him and discussed menu ideas, etc. How odd!
Clearly I'm not holding more than a star against him on that since the food when we lunched there was deelish. Loved the cheese croquettes (heavenly w/honey to dip them in), good salad and amazing chicken! I was surprised at how much I loved the chicken. Dessert was also really really good, just can't remember what it was now! It's been many months. Still a little sad our wedding + reception won't be here but we found a better spot I suppose. ;)
Great location for walking around Healdsburg after lunch, plenty of parking and loved the arty store next to it (same owners I think). Backyard area great for outdoor dining on nice day, indoor space open with fun artwork. Everything local/seasonal for most part.
Had a great weekend enjoying all the fantastic amenities Healdsburg has to offer. To celebrate a girlfriends wedding we started out with amazing seasonal treatments at The Spa Hotel Healdsburg. Sparkling wine by the pool, what a great way to start ...a four-day extravaganza! Next we had lunch on the outside patio at Dry Creek Kitchen. The new lunch offerings are incredible. I highly recommend the Chicken Paillard Salad. River Rock Casino provided complimentary transportation to insure fun & safety. Great idea RRC. A huge "THANK YOU" to DiVine Pizza who presented VIP standards and the best pie's for our "Old School Slumber Party." "Michael and David we owe ya one." It all ended with the most amazing wedding ceremony at Bardiva, which they transformed into a 1940's secret garden. The food and service (not to mention scenery) were outstanding. It really is great to enjoy Healdsburg as a guest. We are so blessed.
We brought our relatives here from France to show them what we thought would be a nice taste of the SoCo experience. We were wrong. We waited soooo long for our server, and then when she arrived she told us we "couldn't order our appetizers first because the kitchen was so busy they might all quit and walk out." We laughed at what we thought was her joke, but she was serious. She actually wouldn't let us order! Seriously! She took a drink order and returned 20 minutes later with them. Only then were we "allowed" to order. When we asked for menu suggestions, she said she "didn't really drink wine" and that the menu wasn't totally familiar to her. There isn't any excuse for an inept server at a decent restaurant--that is what training programs are for. Everything remained slow. The wine we ordered at the same time as the food arrived 25 minutes after the food arrived. What is the point of wine if it is not be be enjoyed with the meal? The salumi platter was the highlight of the meal, but the weak service was unforgivable. We won't be back and felt embarrassed in front of our guests.
People thought this was:
Barndiva is always an option when I have friends visiting. Food and wine selection is good and the Healdsburg square is a great spot to walk around pre/post dinner.
The trendy, modern interior kinda defies the surrounding Sonoma county vibe but the patio is inviting and a cool place to hang out on a warm summer evening.
Food is served small-plate / tapas style so be ready to fork out some dough is you are a big eater like I am. They also have a nice selection of fru-fru house cocktails for all the overdressed, drunk sorority chicks up from SF for a day of wine tasting. Goat-chees croquettes are a must-have.
I got married at Barndiva on Saturday and couldn't have imagined a more perfect wedding day! The setting feels magical, especially at night with the lights in the trees. Lukka the manager did an outstanding job. His style is fairly laid back during the planning phase, which I appreciated but if you have more of a type A personality, you may not feel as comfortable. On the day before the wedding, he walked us through our rehearsal several times and gave us tips on what he thinks looks best in the space. On the wedding day itself, Lukka was there every minute of the way taking care of us. He really set me at ease and there are so many subtle ways in which he made the day truly special, pressing a tall cool drink into my hand during the post-ceremony photos (it was a scorching day), bringing me a band-aid within seconds after I sliced my finger during the cake cutting, offering to replace my entree with a fresh one because it had been sitting for a few minutes while I was walking around greeting guests, holding a light over my dad's shoulder so that he could read from his notes during his toast, checking in with me several times after midnight to confirm how much longer we wanted to keep going and letting me know how much our bar tab was running and last but not least rocking out with me on the dance floor! He was awesome and played a big role in making this the best day of my life! And the food was delicious; he was accommodating with our menu requests and everyone loved the late night snacks. I am looking forward to going back to Barndiva every year to celebrate our wedding anniversary!
People thought this was:
We attempted to book Barndiva for our wedding. It was an epic disaster. We met with Lukka a few times and were genuinely impressed, but his follow-through is nonexistent. He took forever to return phone calls and emails, and did not set our minds at ease that, during the wedding planning and on the day of, we'd be in capable hands.
The last straw was when he stated that Barndiva does not do tastings when booking a wedding. I find that incredibly presumptuous, and we took our business elsewhere. It ended well for us, since we loved our wedding site--Healdsburg Country Gardens.
I hate this place. I hate this place. I hate this place. I hate this place.
The cocktails are fine, some are almost interesting.
The service is less than eh. The food is below even worse. Expensive, and the food has yet to come out a) correct or b) tasting good.
The patio is nice, but the service (I don't think I've ever been somewhere with so many snotty employees - must be something they look for in the interview) It totally ruins the experience for me. I am not a tourist, I happen to know that people who live in this area, can and are nice people, and not all of them are behave like this.
If you are a tourist, please don't hold this place against us.
People thought this was:
I really wanted to like this place since it is right down the street from our new home in Healdsburg. The space is open and the patio looked fantastic. The bar was a nice size and looked like a great place for some cocktails with friends. We should have just done that.
We made the mistake of having dinner here and it was for the most part a disaster. Our server was pretty obnoxious and had this air about him when we would ask him challenging question about the menu/wine list. Hey, we know food and we figured he'd be the best person to ask. Not so, he just wasn't friendly whatsoever (balding older man).
They clearly put in the wrong order for my entree and it was brought out about 8 minutes behind everyone else's dishes. Our server never bothered to even apologize. My husband's duck was cold and when he sent it back they sent it back to him with a completely different set up. Weird. The cheese plate had some great cheese on it but on Spanish cow's milk cheese (I believe) was clearly bad. It just had that ammonia taste and smelled like a REALLY ripe Epoisse. When we let the person clearing our cheese plate know that the cheese was bad he just kind of shrugged it off.
All in all it was not the greatest of meals and for 3 courses it took about 2.5 hours. Wwwaaaayyyy too long.
I'm glad there are some other great restaurants in Healdsburg since I don't plan on returning to Barndiva for anything other than perhaps a cocktail.
People thought this was:
Simply amazing food. We went here for brunch based upon the other reviews on Yelp and we were NOT DISAPPOINTED. It exceeded our expectations. Call ahead to make reservations if you want to sit outside on the patio or be willing to wait. All of the food is so fresh, it tastes like they picked it from their garden out back. The heirloom tomatoes are a must! So is the coffee, they buy local, grind it fresh for you and serve it in an individual french press. What coffee connoisseur could complain about that?
We rushed over and worried that we wouldn't get in at Barndiva - we were told elsewhere that on a Friday night and with no reservations it would be nearly impossible for us to find a place to eat dinner. Well - surprise - Barndiva was nearly empty - 7.30 on a Friday night.
The space is interesting - very light and airy. Service was good - very attentive. The food was just so-so. I would say that the best item (value and taste) was the salumi platter.
Would I go back? Probably for a drink rather than for food. Although it really does try too hard.
People thought this was:
Gorgeous, stylish space, both in the indoor and outdoor section. It looks like a modern loft-like version of a barn, with enormously long windows and artistic touches throughout. Our favorite part is the outdoor seating area: a huge garden (bring your dog) with many tables and seats and heating lamps.
We came for brunch and had the three cheese omelette and the pan roasted char + garlic quinoa. Both dishes were totally well executed and delicious. They also have a full bar, a great crowd, reasonable prices, and are situated right next to many tasting rooms in downtown Healdsburg.
People thought this was:
Barndiva rates a 4.5 for ambience and surroundings indoors and out, an easy 4.5 for the surprising professionalism of its youthful staff...and yet I can't quite get my arms around the food here. It's good, but I'd like to see more passion...I'd like to see more of the items come off the plate, so to speak.
For me, lunch is better than dinner, and the next time I dine there I'm going to keep it simple with a steak and frites...not fish, which for me last Saturday was overcooked and a bit bland. Still, I root for these guys and think it's worth a stop, simply because it makes for what I regard as an authentic Healdsburg dining experience. It's simply a fun place to eat...with reasonably good food and some not too shabby eye candy (of course I'm only talking about my wife here...come on, who do you think I am...the governor of New York?!).
People thought this was:
I love, love LOVE Barn Diva! This spot perfectly encapsulates the wine country chic that I was educated on this past weekend. Coming here and sitting on the back patio was like taking a mini- European vacation... minus a few thousand dollars. :) Which all went towards the drinks. I had an Old Dave? Or was it a New Dave?... some lemony magical mixture. This was my short departure from wine the rest of the weekend.
Their store next door is also great... I wasn't able to go in, but stared through the window at 3 in the morning and hazy, wishing I had a store like that :) Great memories.
The cocktails here are amazing. I love to come and sit at the bar. The bartenders are the best here, especially Brandon! There must be a "handsome" criteria to work here because everyone is! They make the greatest drinks and the atmosphere is fun.
The food is..eh.. I like to eat somewhere else and go there after for drinks. The patio is nice to sit and lounge with a group of friends after a long day at work or for a nice intimate setting with the sig. other.
Full disclosure: The manager of the restaurant and son of the owners, Lukka, is my sister's close friend and someone I've known for years.
The restaurant itself is a great space - huge ceilings but still somehow cozy and inviting - not cold and antiseptic as modern buildings can sometimes be. The decor is really a mix of country and modern statement pieces - you can tell that they put a lot of time and thought into it. There are lots of large, longer tables, so (with a reservation), this place is great for larger groups.
We were there on a Saturday night and I was really, really surprised how packed the bar area got - it seems like the place to be in Healdsburg. Unfortunately many of the locals failed to impress, but our crowd was big enough to allow us to avoid avoid avoid. I sure hope that the show "The Pick-Up Artist" gets taken off the air soon - so many guys seem to think they have what it takes to follow in their footsteps. Please, no.
Lukka was playing a great mix of music after about 10 (when the diners became the drinkers) and everyone, staff included seemed to really be enjoying themselves.
In terms of the food, we got to sample a number of different dishes, but my favorites were the amazing frites, homemade ketchup (if this is a trend, I love it! More homemade ketchup please!), tender steak with chard and baby carrots and the fish special of the day - some kind of Mexican whitefish in a spicy carrot sauce. Delicious! The cocktails were spectacular and we even got to try some wine that the bartender makes himself. Finally, we had a few desserts that were also great - a trio of apple-based desserts and chocolate-based desserts. Oh, and lest I forget, one of the best appetizers was the wilted spinach salad with buttery-soft chunks of pork belly. How can you not love pork belly?
All in all this is a beautiful space and a great restaurant - highly recommended if you're in the area.
People thought this was:
The food here was great. I love goat cheese, and our appetizers had plenty of it. My meal was overall wonderful, and the right amount of food. We were seated outside, which was beautiful, and there weren't many people at the time. The wait staff was very friendly. It's pretty pricey, but it's part of the wine country experience.
People thought this was:
Rockess little joint.
A little bit country. A little bit rock and roll.
Interesting drinks. Cilantro? Parsley? Nutmeg?
Grab your bar seat! Hold on 4 yer' dear life, cause if yer' fellin country, you'll damn near fall off your stool at this joint! specailly if some boys from cyrus take you there (WONT YOU TAKE ME WITH YOU - yes, im from minneapolis)...
food - next time.
'this were my place, i'd straigh up putta-special section for bar-diving. plunge, fall, dive - seewhathappens?
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We almost didn't go here because the name sounded so weird - but that would have been a huge mistake!
Barndiva is a great restaurant that really stands out among the other establishments in Healdsburg. It is located just south of the main square, in a huge, modern barn, beautifully decorated inside and out in a modern rustic style (see pix).
The back garden is the perfect setting for a leisurely weekend meal. We enjoyed the fresh air as we sat under the trees and sipped a delicious Bloody Mary Reading the menu, everything sounded wonderful, and we were happy to see that they source all of their ingredients locally - down to getting the eggs from their own farm!
First we shared the roasted beet salad, which was just great. All of the ingredients were bursting with just-picked freshness, and it was dressed perfectly. Fresh horseradish mixed in with the creme fraiche gave it a nice bite.
For my main, I had the Eggs "Benny" which was just a slight twist on the classic, using raisin-walnut bread as the base. Again, it was the quality and freshness of the ingredients that made the dish - I can almost taste that creamy Hollandaise sauce now!
My friend had the omlette with pumpkin, spinach, parsnip and fromage blanc. It was like tasting the harvest. The flavors blended perfectly and it was cooked just right.
Eating there gives you one of those "life is good" moments, when you feel happy and privileged to live in the Bay Area and experience the bounty of our environment. In a setting as lovely as Barndiva, the feeling is intensified even further.
I can't wait to try Barndiva for dinner - it will definitely be my first stop on my next trip to Healdsburg!
People thought this was:
A lovely, unique dinner.
Although many have said this place is unconventional, I kinda liked it. My friend and I had the eggs benny and the biscuits and gravy. The B&G came with really small biscuits, but good sized sausage patties. I totally thought the sausage would just come in the gravy, but NO. It was the best B&G I've ever had. The gravy was seasoned perfectly and the sausage tasted homemade.
My friend's eggs benny was good too, but nothing really to write home about. They were your basic eggs benny. I also had their bloody mary, which was made with Rain vodka (an organic vodka) and I could taste the difference and would order it with Goose next time. It had an odd taste that I couldn't get over. And if I can actually taste the vodka in a Bloody Mary, what does that say about the juice part.
Overall, I'd come back for brunch the next time I'm in Healdsburg, but there's a lot more available to try.
When traveling, some people want to go to places where the locals hang out. Barndiva isn't for those people.
If when you come to wine country you want to make sure that you never actually meet any locals, then Barndiva is the place for you! Outside of the staff, you'll be surrounded by fellow tourists.
People thought this was:
Nothing better after a day of wine tasting than an evening at Barndiva. Some friendly Sonomaites told us we "just haaaad to go there," and wound up meeting us for dinner. Town gets especially packed during Jazzfest, but the friendly staff hooked us up with a long table and tasty American-bistro eats: croquettes w/ goat cheese, short ribs, and frites. The salads are delish! They have a healthy wine menu, but their cocktails are worth a try. Barndiva almost fills the hole that Tastings left when they up and went to Hawaii.
Staff and ambiance are in happy zone with hallmark service. One of our out-of-town friends decided to play a game of pass-out on their lawn. The staff didn't even bat an eye as we helped her exunt stage left, likity-split. Kudos! The structure is a rustic barn redo, with a spacious, comfy feel. Great for group outings after a tough day of Sideways.
People thought this was:
Sitting at the bar with a girlfriend, chatting it up with the bartender and various locals, getting served special concoction martinis -- with fresh plucked rose petals no less - long & short: the bartender looked like a twin for an ex - I think he was picking up on my freaky vibes. Needless to say, he was under my spell. ;) ... Sounds to me like the making of a great spot!
I would have to say this spot was the most happening in Healdsburg. Great intimate feel - the outside looks like a renovated house. You walk thru the tree lined walkway and into the restaurant. Dimly lit. Humm of people chatting and drinking. People bustling about.
We ordered a few of the small plates: artisan cheese plate (DELISH), & scallop ceviche (YUMMMMM) - then split the main dish of steak frites. All the food was terrific. Yes, as many have said, it is pricey. However, each dish was very generous of portion, so in my mind it's totally worth it.
Stop in. Settle up to the bar. Take in the locals. Keep your ears peeled - you'll hear some HILarious stories. Order some delectable and intoxicating cocktails. Eat up. Call it a night. Out.
People thought this was:
3.5 stars
I really wanted to love this place. The duck spring rolls appetizer left a lot to be desired. I had halibut with pesto on a bed of cucumber in a melon puree -- very interesting, refreshing and delicious.....
Staff and service were friendly and attentive.
The outside patio is a great spot -- but as noted in other reviews, the table is too small and the chairs are not very comfortable.
People thought this was:
"amazing decor and really good food. could not imagine how a "contemporary/modern" barn would look like until i stepped in here. Goat cheese croquette dipped in honey was really good. amazing seasonal, local, organic dishes"
Healdsburg, CA
Category: French
Healdsburg, CA
Category: Restaurants
Healdsburg, CA
Category: Italian
Healdsburg, CA
Category: Restaurants
Healdsburg, CA
Category: Italian
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