Farmhouse Restaurant, Forestville CA

Cuisine=*(0-20) Ambiance=!(0-5) Price=$(Simple-Full)
Approximate Price per person excluding tax, beverage + tip=$. Simple=appetizer + main course; full= best available multi-course meal.

As We Like It has been serving the gastronomically enlightened community since 1989.

    Forestville, Sonoma County

    Farmhouse *(18.5) !(4.0) $(42-100) tel=707-887-3300, Fax=707-887-3311 www.farmhouseinn.com.  7871 River Road at Wohler,  Dinner 5:30-9:30 P.M. Thurs.-Mon.
    Situated at the gateway to the Sonoma Wine Country, this charming country Inn and restaurant is most deserving of its 1-star Michelin rating. Reminiscent of many similar places we have enjoyed in France and Italy, the decor is charming without being too cute. Soft lighting, appropriate jazz and classical background music, appropriate glassware and utensils, as well as pleasant, knowledgeable wait staff all enhance the fine dining atmosphere. Even the fresh Della Fatoria bread with fresh, chilled unsalted butter is just the right touch. Fabulous starters included a perfectly seared chunk of Hudson Valley foie gras (poached quince, smoked duck breast, house made brioche, port gastrique) and a marvelous seared Maine diver scallop over a bed of heirloom squash risotto with roasted black trumpet mushrooms and a winter truffle beurre fondue. “Rabbit rabbit rabbit” was a very interesting rabbit trio of apple wood smoked bacon wrapped loin, roasted rack and confit of leg with whole grain mustard sauce, along with al dente fresh vegetables and fingerling potato. A nicely done, medium rare, Colorado rack of lamb came with baby artichokes, flavorful goat cheese mash potato and a bit too much of the black olive Madeira wine sauce. Make sure to save some wine and room in your belly to split one of their top notch domestic and imported artisanal cheese courses. Superb desserts of Valrhona chocolate soufflé with bourbon creme anglais and warm panatone bread pudding with poached winter fruit and Grand Marnier cream left us with a sweet taste in our mouth for the ride home. The comprehensive, reasonably priced California-imported wine list includes many fine selections by the glass or half bottle; corkage is $35.00 if you bring your own. We found a bottle of our own family 2005 Puccioni Old Vine Zinfandel (www.puccionivineyards.com) to be a perfect accompaniment to the meal. This place just keeps getting better and better; we can’t wait to return.