Among the fringe benefits of backyard traveling in The Wine Country is the way you can so easily conjure up the feeling of being in some charming overseas locale, while blithely bypassing the airport.
If it is Paris that calls you, the new Centre du Vin bistro in Sonoma’s oh-so-Euro looking Ledson Hotel, will transport you to some atmospheric alley in the City of Lights.
Never mind that no one is actually speaking French. The Old World-style hotel overlooking the Sonoma Plaza has lightly repackaged its former Harmony Lounge into a classic bistro with wooden tables and chairs, fresh paint, a little softening of the Italian marble floors and new sidewalk seating.
The menu has gone casual. Dive into some Grilled Chicken Paillard or Croque Michele.
The bistro, steps away from the Sebastiani Theatre, provides one way to take in the Ledson Hotel’s brick and wrought iron Parisian atmosphere without booking a room. But if you are among the fortunate with income for a luxurious night away — don’t you love the idea of dining and drinking to your palate’s content without worrying about getting behind the wheel — rooms are $350 a night weeknights; $395 a night on weekends.
A. Lea
Beautiful looking, but unless you only want wine, stay away from Centre du Vin.
I had the chicken paillard, which was dry and overcooked and under seasoned. when I asked for salt I never received any, though a nice patron from the next table gave us theirs. The fact I never got any salt was one thing, but my husband said the person I asked for salt from (owner? manager? he wasn’t our original waiter, who was fine, if inattentive – since he never came back to offer us fresh ground pepper or ask how things were until we were almost done) said under his breath “Salt? What is that?”. And if I had heard that reply at the time I would have happily replied “to give your lousy food some god-damned flavor.”
I expect a restaurant to give me salt when i ask for it, and while i do recognize it means I’ve insulted the chef, the food was not properly cooked or seasoned.
And even though they have their faux french thing on, then didn’t have any mayo for their “frites” when I asked for some.
Pretentious, lousy service, and they can’t even cook a chicken breast properly. Spend your money elsewhere.
May 22nd, 2011 6:38 pm