Barndiva

Sonoma County’s Healdsburg, is an epicurean destination that’s home to the industry recognized farm-to-table restaurant, Barndiva. Here, local produce and seasonal ingredients combine to make creative cocktails and innovative dishes that are served in an elegant barn-like setting. 

Known for showcasing local talent and suppliers, Barndiva has been described as a celebration of all things local. While the owners have a farm in Philo, the food is also sourced from farmers, ranchers and small batch purveyors who live and work in the surrounding area.

Located in the heart of Healdsburg, this cozy spot is home to a luscious backyard, art gallery and a restaurant. The atmosphere is posh yet comfortable. In the back garden, wisteria and ivy bring a magical touch to the space. There’s even a massive outdoor table that is the ideal setting for a meal with a group of friends or a party.

Inside, a world-class and inventive cocktail program is busy at work. At Barndiva, cocktails have been elevated to an artform. Throughout the bar, there are bowls of fine ingredients that are incorporated into these divine concoctions. We ordered:

• The Corpse Reviver made with Botanist Gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, Lemon, St. George Absinthe
• The Grand Slam Fizz made with Sipsmith Strawberry Smash Gin, Lime, Lemon, Cream, Orange Flower Water, and Soda
• The Belly Rub Shrub made with Sonoma Brothers Vodka, Turmeric and Beet Shrub, Ginger, Galangal, Lime, and Soda

While the cocktails kept us entertained and refreshed, a delicious set of dishes were prepared for us back in the kitchen. We dined on the following for brunch:

The Green Goddess Salad with sprouts, crispy shallot, and farm vegetables. While I’ve always loved Green Goddess Salad, Barndiva’s interpretation was substantial in size, yet light and delightful.

Next came the Bulldog Burger with Flannery Farms dry aged beef, bulldog sauce, English muffin, fermented pineapple, and jalapeno. Sandwiched between delicious pineapple and jalapeno, the burger was succulent and well made. The meat was not too minced up, therefore I was able to get a sense of the quality of the Flannery Farms beef. Delicious!

The Fried Chicken Toast is a truly unique dish that saw chicken embedded into a sliced piece of brioche which was then fried. Kewpie mayonnaise and bulldog sauce were drizzled on top. The result was somewhat like a croque monsieur but with fried chicken instead of cheese, ham and egg. This dish certainly left an impression on me!

With that, we made our way home talking the entire way about how good our meal was. It’s no wonder Barndiva has a Michelin star. The food was excellent, the service was kind and attentive, and the drinks were superb. You can bet that I will be back!