By Virginie Boone

Through this Sunday, March 2, there’s no better time to support our local restaurant community than by enjoying one of the many meals and deals during Sonoma County Restaurant Week. Participating restaurants will have both a la carte and special tasting menus on offer showcasing the wide array of world-class cuisine we have here in our own backyard – and don’t forget to have a glass of wine.

Here’s a selection of where to go, especially if you love wine:

Arandas, Healdsburg: in the Hotel Les Mars, this Mexican hotspot is offering a $35 three-course lunch and $65 three-course dinner special and features a full bar, while the outstanding wine list has local wines from A. Rafanelli, Quivira, Dumol, Dry Creek Vineyard and many more.

Ca’Bianca Ristorante Italiano, Santa Rosa: a landmark in local Italian cuisine, Ca’Bianca is offering several three-course dinner menus for $60. The wine list is outstanding, with local selections from J Vineyards, Kokomo, Dutton-Goldfield, MacRostie, Balletto, Jordan, Hartford Court, Kistler and many more.

Catelli’s, Geyserville: A two-course lunch of salad with either pasta or The Ultimate Rex burger for $25 is an excellent way to go at this beloved fifth-generation Italian family-run destination, with many local wine choices, from Comstock, Bricoleur, Rochioli and more.

Dry Creek Kitchen, Healdsburg: Chef Charlie Palmer needs no introduction, a longtime supporter of all things Sonoma County, including with his wine list. This week enjoy a three-course dinner for $60. The wines are an endless series of temptations, from Rochioli Blanc de Noirs to multiple vintages from Aperture, Bucher, Trombetta, Nalle, Saini, Morlet, Williams Selyem and many, many more.

Farmstand, Forestville: Take in a two-course hyper-seasonal, locally grown lunch on the patio (or poolside) of the Farmhouse Inn for $35 and be surrounded by the beauty of the Russian River Valley vineyards all around.

Glen Ellen Star, Glen Ellen: The bastion of delicious Italian-inspired wood-fired food has a three-course restaurant week menu for $60/. Local wines by the glass and bottle change often, but recently included wines from Guthrie Family, Smith Story and others.

Goldfinch, Sebastopol: This week have a $35 two-course lunch or $60 three-course dinner at this wonderfully creative space, where wines by the glass include such stars as Dehlinger Chardonnay, Kanzler Pinot Noir, County Line Zinfandel and Bedrock Cabernet Sauvignon.

Hazel Hill at Montage, Healdsburg: Convince yourself you’re on a resort vacation overlooking the Montage grounds from its on-site restaurant, where this week’s deals include a $25 two-course lunch and $60 three-course dinner. There’s an impressive wine list but the property also has its own estate wine, Surveyor, made in partnership with Aperture winemaker Jesse Katz.

John Ash at Vintners Resort, Santa Rosa: One of the legacy restaurant names and important Sonoma County chefs, John Ash remains a landmark of great local food and wine. This week, have a $60 three-course dinner and bask in the award-winning wine list, chock-a-block with regional wines.

Seared, Petaluma: The three-course dinner menu for $60 looks outstanding at this steak and seafood palace, known also for its barrel-aged cocktails, while wines by the glass include selections from Cline, Rodney Strong and Sonoma-Cutrer.

Spinster Sisters, Santa Rosa: Three-courses for $60 from this chef-driven favorite will pair well with many of the local wines on the list or add a $40 wine pairing to dinner.

Valette, Healdsburg: Another great three-course dinner option for $60, Valette is a winemaker hangout in addition to an important supporter of our local wine industry through its award-winning list. From March 10-16 it will also be celebrating 10 years of Valette with a $95/person four-course celebratory meal or $175/person six-course “Best of the Best” with every day of the week featuring a special wine from area winemakers, from Jackson Family Wines to Silver Oak.

There’s more – see the whole list of participating restaurants here and go out and enjoy a meal.

Image by: Catelli’s