The Girl & the Fig
Sonoma, CA 95476
Phone: (707) 938-3634
- Price:
- $$$
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm
Editorial Review for The Girl & the Fig – by Marcia Smart
The Scene
Ensconced downstairs in Hotel Sonoma, this casual restaurant caters to locals and tourists alike. A sunny dining room with wood tables and art-covered walls is warm and charming, though the garden patio with shaded tables is best for balmy summer afternoons. While most servers are attentive and informative, others can be distracted.
The Food
To whet the appetite, indulge in the well-chosen selection of local cheeses. More healthful starters include a fig salad set off by salty pancetta, and crudités salad brimming with farm-fresh baby beets, haricots verts, heirloom radishes and tangy potatoes slicked in caper vinaigrette. Main courses are also recommended, such as a sweet butternut squash risotto balanced with Roquefort, and perfectly cooked thick-cut pork chops with cranberry compote sided by a rich chard gratin with a pillowy crust of béchamel. The warm fig crisp is a sweet way to finish; or try one of owner Sondra Bernstein's favorites, the lavender crème brûlée.
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Insider Tips
Branching OutThere aren't any Chardonnays, cabernets or zinfandels on the wine list. Look for California-grown French varietals like Viognier, Grenache and Syrah.
Flights of FancyTry a wine flight: Options include three samples of white varietals (like Marsanne and Roussanne) and a Syrah Flight.
Meal DealsFor $32, order the prix fixe for lunch or dinner Sunday-Thursday. It includes a three-wine flight, soup or salad, entree and dessert.
User Reviews for The Girl & the Fig
10/07/2007 Posted by noefresh
Found this place via opentable. Sounded really tasty, my wife is a serious Francophile. We arrived with our young son, who sleeps non-stop through meals and doesn't utter a peep. The hostess treated him the way Superman regards Kryptonite. But we are not easily bullied as a family and insisted on being seated as per our reservation. Anyways, from that point on things got better. The servers were nice enough. Salad was really tasty with pancetta and figs. Steak tartare well-prepared though not super fresh. Croque Monsieur was more of a ham and cheese sandwich. There was no hollandaise and the cheese was inside rather than the proper outside. Wine was good but not a huge selection considering the proximity to so many Sonoma vineyards. All in all a mixed bag. Some good food really poor attitude at the front door. Too many other excellent places in Sonoma to give this place our repeat business though.
Pros: Some tasty french standards, varied menu
Cons: Snobby attitude, not completely authentic, cramped
09/04/2007 Posted by m3initaly
It's not just the name of the restaurant that's great - it's the food as well. We were seating outside under an umbrella on their lovely patio, and we started with a couple mixed drinks a fig royale (like a kir royale but with fig syrup instead of grenadine) and a fig martini. Both were good. The green salad with grilled figs is a must - arugula, pecans, chevre, pancetta, and fig & port vinaigrette. Mom got an open-faced roasted pork loin sandwich with apple & apricot chutney, grilled country bread, and celery root salad that was surprisingly good. And I got a burger that was the most wonderful, gourmet burger imaginable with French herbs in the top sirloin patty, grilled onions, and mixed greens instead of lettuce. And my most favorite part of the meal was the lavender creme brulee. What a unique (and very French) recipe. The amount of lavender flavor was perfect - present in every bite but not overbearing. When I go back, the lavender creme brulee will be the first thing I order. Centrally located in the heart of downtown Sonoma square near the visitor center and Sonoma Mission, there are plenty of places to walk around and see before or after your meal. Definitely make The Girl and The Fig a part of your trip to Sonoma. This is my third time to visit Sonoma and the Wine Country, and this restaurant is one of my favorites.
Pros: dessert menu, outdoor patio ambience,
Cons: slightly pricey
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