Situated in the heart of Sonoma Valley and close to Napa Valley on Route 12, Salt & Stone Restaurant in Kenwood CA is easily one of our favorite restaurants here in wine country. Conveniently located on Sonoma Highway (Route 12) about halfway between Napa and Bennett Valleys, Salt and Stone has a diverse menu of fantastic food and drink options, geared towards satisfying even the most sophisticated palate. Centrally located, with easy access to numerous wineries a mere stone’s throw away, the restaurant turns an otherwise simple stop on your wine tour into a fabulously well-rounded Northern California dining experience. Salt & Stone is open for Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner service on the weekends (Thurs – Mon) and for dinner service midweek.
Who’s ready for a drink?
Sophisticated Dining near Napa Valley
Salt & Stone has been our go-to restaurant for upscale casual meals, providing us with fantastic food, wine and mixed drinks ever since we discovered it after the end of quarantine in fall of 2021. On our first visit, I was immediately hooked by their huckleberry vodka based cocktail… and I’ve been sure to drive the bartenders crazy by ordering it (off-menu) on every visit ever since! My wife loves their Hendricks martini – the “RIP Jimi” – and we’ve both found numerous other cocktails to enjoy … I’m starting to think we go there too often! In addition to a slew of cocktails to choose from, the full bar menu is also loaded with excellent local wines & beers. If that isn’t enough options for you, there are also apertifs, digestifs, and other dessert wines and drinks.
DELICIOUS APPETIZERS AND EXCELLENT ENTRÉES AT SALT AND STONE
The food menu is the real star of the show at Salt & Stone, though… so if you’re looking for a bit to eat around your wine tasting schedule, you won’t be disappointed with a stop here! Opening at 11AM for Brunch on weekends, you can get a nice base of food in your belly before you begin your day of drinking fine wines… and since the bar doesn’t close until 9PM, you can certainly stop in for lunch or dinner as well!
multiple raw or cooked oyster options!
With several raw and cooked options, the oyster bar is a great place to start your meal… well, after you’ve requested a fresh bread basket with their famous salted butter! Our personal favorites are the Oysters Maitre’D, a selection of four oysters cooked in butter, garlic, and onion – which leave behind a salty brine perfect for soaking up with that soft bread! There are also several excellent appetizers – the burrata is our favorite, but good luck only picking one option! – and a handful of fresh-made salads as well.
The lunch and dinner menus are rounded out with a diverse, dynamic seasonal list of California cuisine focused land and sea entrée options. It’s a challenge to review the various individual dishes that we’ve had here, as they might not be available when you arrive. That being said, regardless of the time of year you choose to stop in and visit Salt and Stone, they will have plenty of delicious options on the menu. Chat with your server about your interests in order to find out what they recommend. Their professional waitstaff is friendly, knowledgeable, and ready with suggestions for your meal!
Whether you are stopping for a quick bite or a more lengthy multi-course meal, you won’t be disappointed by any of the fare you’ll find at Salt & Stone!
A Restaurant with the Best Outside Seating Options in Sonoma County
Salt and Stone has a variety of different seating options to choose from. Pick from a high top with stools or several traditional table under the covered patio out front for a breathtaking view of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and the Mayacamas Mountains surrounding you in Sonoma Valley. In addition, there is a lot of outside seating wrapping around and behind the restaurant. The outdoor space includes water features, numerous tables with umbrellas, and several cozy couches where you can sit and relax after a long day of wine tasting. If it’s too hot for you outside, there’s plentiful seating inside within at the bar area (no reservation needed) on the right, or in the more formal restaurant on the left side of the building (reservation suggested).
From their expertly crafted cocktails to sublime seafood, if you’re spending a day – or a weekend – exploring Napa Valley, Sonoma County, or even just the Bay Area in general, Salt and Stone has a broad array of selections to choose from! No matter what you’re looking for, Salt and Stone will have something to suit your needs, so stop in soon to check it out! You won’t be disappointed!
