Dry Creek Kitchen
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Phone: (707) 431-0330
03/16/2008 Posted by cowtippler
I have been to the Dry Creek Kitchen on several occasions between 2005 and as recently as December 2007 at Christmas and after happening upon the poor reviews here - I felt I needed to put by two cents here. My main goal as an avid foodie is to find food which has been taken care of and served by people who actually like what they do. The December dinner was a great experience - I was able to make reservations and also easily change them for Christmas eve for four people. We all had the fixed price dinner with wine and where served by someone we had not had on a previous visit. The waiter was friendly and informative, and allowed for the right amount of time between courses (very important for a 6 course meal) and checked on us no more or no less than what we expected. They were also kind enough to substitute out one of the courses which contained an item which one of our party was allergic with no problem and the substitution was of the same level of quality. In short - a wonderful staff. In terms of the food - I cannot say enough good things about the menu and the attentiveness to flavor and texture. This is not a bland, boring meal that you sail through and say it was good or great - it is food that demands attention and draws the diner in to experience the flavors. It is not to say that this is some sort of stuffy, snobbish fare of miniscule proportions so delighted in by some of today's "top chefs", but rather a series of small dissertations on the essence of a particular flavor. The filet mignon is perfectly seared, the pork belly something that I would ask for on my death bed and the various soups and risottos are perfectly portioned and just exactly what you want in a meal - something familiar from childhood mixed with something new. I have also frequented The Farmhouse Inn, Manzanita (avoid), and Zen in Healdsburg, but always come back to Dry Creek Kitchen.
Pros: Fixed price dinner, warm and friendly staff, easy to make reservations
Cons: There isn't a place like this in LA!
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